asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been approved in the West Midlands during the past five years.

1,340 for schemes of 10,000 sq. ft. and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were issued to industrial concerns developing in the Merthyr Tydfil area in each year from 1966 to 1972; how many square feet of industrial space they represented in total; and what was the actual number of jobs resulting from such developments.

Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the proportion of private and commercial vehicles exported by the British motor industry in each of the years 1969, 1970 and 1971, respectively; and what estimate has been provided for his depart- ment from the industry in respect of the current year.

The proportions of total production exported in 1969, 1970 and 1971 were 47, 44 and 41 per cent. respectively. Any estimates for the future would be highly uncertain, but indications from industry suggest exports accounting for some two-fifths of total production, so long as international competitiveness does not deteriorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to improve liaison between his Department and firms engaged in exploiting North Sea oil and gas.

I am satisfied that liaison is satisfactory. The firms concerned are the Department's licensees and there is regular contact between them and my officials.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decision of policy he has made in regard to present regional development inspired by the growth of the North Sea oil industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are of course fully aware of the importance of the impact of North Sea oil and are keeping under continuing review the effect this will have for industry and the regions generally.Associated projects in development and intermediate areas which qualify for assistance will be considered in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what provision is being made in licences issued for the exploration of North Sea oilfields for the surrender of some of the areas involved, within a given period of time.

The terms of the licence provide that not less than half the concession area shall be surrendered at the end of the initial six years period of the licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a further statement on the Government's review of development area policy; and if he will state the Government's proposals to improve the situation in the development areas.

I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to the right hon. Member on 28th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many inquiries from firms interested in projects in the development areas were dealt with by his Department last year and for each of the previous five years;(2) how many inquiries for projects in development areas have been dealt with by his Department in the first two months of 1972; and how this compares with similar periods for each of the previous five years.

I regret that the information in the form requested is not available. The numbers of requests for literature about the assisted areas received at headquarters from industrialists and their advisers were as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the criteria used by his Department in granting special development area status.

The changes in special development area coverage announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18th February, 1971, were based on the need to deal more effectively with the problems of the older industrial centres which, with the impact of structural change, had been experiencing unacceptably high levels of unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that tax allowances are proving a sufficient inducement to attract industry to the development areas; and if he will make a statement.

Tax allowances are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. They are, however, only one of a number of incentives designed to encourage the development of industry in the development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with his Department's machinery for dealing with inquiries from firms interested in the development areas; what changes he contemplates; and whether he will make a statement.

The present arrangements seem to be working well, but if the hon. Member has any specific suggestions for improvement, I would be pleased to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to amend the Civil Aviation Act, 1949, to restore to the citizen the right to sue airports and airlines for noise nuisance caused by aircraft in flight.

Successive Governments have declined to remove the protection provided by the Act. To remove it would put in hazard the future of a major industry of considerable importance to the economy. The right course is to make every effort, as the Government are doing, to contain and reduce aircraft noise.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the latest position regarding research into means of reducing aircraft noise by the adaptation of existing aircraft.

As I said on 13th March, 1972, so far as British engines are concerned, the Government are urgently considering a programme of work aimed at the possible development of commercial retrofit equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he will be making on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to the European Commission about their proposal that the European Economic Community should establish a new regional development fund.

The commission has proposed this fund as one possible means of carrying into effect the Community's regional policy. We have made it clear that we would have no objection and that we would expect it to assist in tackling the problems of declining industrial areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he has given to the representations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants regarding the effects on company law of British entry to the European Economic Community.

Arrangements exist as part of the Accession Treaty for the consideration of the views of future Member countries. I am informing the president of the institute that we shall make full use of these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to ensure that there is a ceiling on the percentage of uplift permitted to be added to retail prices in the furniture trade.

No. If a customer considers that a retailer is asking too high a price, he should look elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the position of the European Free Trade Association non-applicant countries in regard to separate trade agreements with the European Economic Community and the part being played by Her Majesty's Government in these negotiations.

Negotiations between the E.F.T.A. non-candidate countries and the Community began in December, 1971. The aim is that they should be completed by the middle of the year and that the agreements reached should come into force on 1st January, 1973. Her Majesty's Government are following closely the course of the negotiations and are represented as observers on the various negotiating bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to complete his review of regional policy; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 7th February, to a supplementary question by my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Kenneth Baker).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he now has for introducing legislation to implement the recommendations of the Crowther Committee on consumer credit.

It is taking time to consult and consider the many complex proposals in this report and I cannot yet say anything about legislative plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set up a working party to consider long-term plans for combating unemployment.

No. I believe that present methods of considering these problems do provide the information needed to combat them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to ban the importation of whale meat into the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the interests of conservation of the species and in view of the example of the United States Government, he will take steps to ban the import of all whale meat and whale meat products.

I assume my hon. Friend is concerned with the conservation of whale species, and I would refer him and the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel) to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rye (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine) on 15th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ban the import of whale products into the United Kingdom.

I assume that my hon. Friend is concerned with conservation of whale species and I would refer her to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Rye (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine) on 15th March.—[Vol. 832. c. 118.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions have been carried out under the Trade Descriptions Act for misdescription of free range eggs.

I am aware of four prosecutions concerning the misleading use of this term; three were successful on one or more counts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with the present security and warning arrangements for the wreck of the "Richard Montgomery" in the Thames estuary; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The security precautions have recently been strengthened and the lighted buoys, fog signals and notices give adequate warning.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to assess the landing facilities, air traffic and safety regulations and operating facilities at British airports generally following the setting up of the Q Short Take-off and Landing Study by the British Aircraft Corporation, and German and Swedish companies, details of which are in his possession.

I understand this study has not yet reached conclusions on specific aircraft characteristics. However the Department is assessing, in consultation with industry, the broad spectrum of quiet, reduced and short take-off and landing aircraft types, including aerodrome, A.T.C. and other operational aspects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on British trade with South Africa.

Our exports to South Africa last year were £395 million compared with £332 million in 1970. Our imports were £241 million compared with £258 million in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Government now propose to take to control the importation of man-made fibre textiles.

We are urgently considering representations from industry on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will use his powers under the Weights and Measures Act to ensure that liquid and powdered detergents are sold in standardised quantities.

I have this question much in mind, but I hope we can work towards E.E.C. standard quantities and I am consulting to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to protect the consumer from deception by the manufacturers of cosmetics which are sold in small containers concealed within larger ones.

The Weights and Measures Act, 1963, requires packages of cosmetics to bear a statement of the weight or capacity or contents on the outer container. I agree that the variety of permissible units makes comparison the more difficult. I am discussing a rationalisation of these units with the trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will use his powers under the Weights and Measures Act to ensure that hair sprays and lacquers are sold in standardised quantities.

I am looking further into the current marking requirements, but it is virtually impossible on technical grounds to prescribe standard quantities for commodities which are sold in aerosols.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on his policy towards the economic development of joint civil and military airport facilities throughout Great Britain.

I am always ready to put reasonable requests for civil use of military airfields to my right hon. and noble friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on Government assistance to industry in development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if investment incentives are included in his review of regional policy; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply on 7th February to a supplementary question by my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Kenneth Baker.)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek to amend the Insurance Companies Acts to ensure that all firms of insurance brokers have manage- ment and financial control independent of any particular insurance company or group of companies.

I will consider this suggestion in the course of the present review of insurance legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that the level of unemployment in the Mexborough and Wombwell Employment Exchange areas is now more than twice the national average; and if he will now grant development status to the Dearne Valley constituency area.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 13th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now state his policies for maximising Scotch whisky exports.

The Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will continue to help the industry expand its exports and are always ready to discuss with it its particular problems in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give the average time which it takes him to reply to correspondence from Members of Parliament where the subject matter requests him to take action as laid upon him by the Companies Act, 1948.

It would not be possible to answer this Question without disproportionate expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications his Department have at present for vacant Government advance factory space in Scotland.

Six applications are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the cost of assistance to the shipbuilding industry as a whole based on the same rate per job saved or retained as pertains in the case of Gavan Shipbuilders.

Help given to the shipbuilding industry promotes its competitiveness as well as assisting employment. It would be impracticable to disentangle the two purposes with a view to making comparisons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is now taking to aid shipbuilding and ship repair in the North-East.

These industries benefit generally from the measures taken by the Government to expand the economy and in the North-East from regional aids. So far as the shipbuilding industry is concerned I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my answer earlier today to the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what instructions he has now issued to the Central Electricity Generating Board as a result of the increase in coal prices.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now, in view of the Wilberforce Court of Inquiry Report, particularly paragraphs 32 and 63, recommend the establishment of a Royal Commission for the Mining Industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 9th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why Drakelow Power Station was only sending out 330 megawatts out of a possible 2,170 megawatts on 1st March, despite adequate fuel supplies.

As the hon. Member has already been informed, the position in individual power stations is irrelevant. The operation of the generating system requires that the fuel supply situation be looked at as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the Ministerial Aerospace Board is co-ordinating civil projects; and if he will make a statement on the future programme of the Board.

I am responsible for policy on civil aerospace projects. In cases where the Aerospace Board may have a part to play, my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I will hold meetings as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will carry out an investigation into the British boot and shoe industry, with particular reference to the effect of in creases in footwear imports and decline of exports.

No, I am not prepared to undertake a general investigation. Competition is certainly keen in home and export markets, but I know the British footwear industry is giving close attention to ways of facing up to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will carry out an investigation into the British boot and shoe industry, with particular reference to the effect of increases in footwear imports and decline of exports as a result of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Wallace).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the interests of regions such as the North, he will examine the pattern of orders placed by Her Majesty's Government, and give general directions to the nationalised industries for which he is responsible to do likewise, with a view to the more effective assistance of industry in these regions.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 15th February. The nationalised boards already give preference, other things being equal, to firms in the development areas.—[Vol. 831, c. 60–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now take steps to ensure that all imports of electronic equipment conform to British Standards Institute standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the importation and use in domestic apparatus of electrical components which do not conform to British Standards Institution specifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ban the import of electrical and electronic consumer durable goods containing components which do not conform to British Standard Institution specifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, having regard to the need to avoid the imposition of tariffs, import quotas and other restrictions in dealing with the problems of undercutting imports of radio, electronic, ball-bearing and other components from the Far East, he will take steps to ensure that such imports comply with British Standards Institution and other specification requirements which are demanded of British manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.

In order to improve quality and to exploit the benefits of standardisation, the Government have given full support to the BS 9000 scheme of standard specification and quality assurance for electronic components. The Government support includes giving a strong preference to BS 9000 components in their own purchasing, and making the services of the Ministry of Defence quality assurance organisation available to ensure that components manufactured under the scheme are to the standards specified.But I have no power to compel manufacturers to comply with this scheme. I consider it would be wrong to prohibit imports which do not conform to the BS 9000 standards unless a corresponding statutory obligation were laid on British manufacturers.Similar considerations apply to ball bearings and other components, and also to electronic equipment and other goods that contain any of these components.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what negotiations are taking place between the gasboard or any regional board and private undertakings to sell off any part of the gas board undertaking; and if he will make a statement.

The disposal of particular assets by area gas boards is not a matter for my right hon. Friend. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind he should write to the chairman of the area board concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he is satisfied with the operation of his Department's policy of encouraging nationalised industries to favour manufacturers in development areas on the basis of fair competition, when placing orders for plant and equipment; and if he will make a statement;(2) what criteria he has suggested to nationalised industries in pursuit of his Department's policy of encouraging publicly owned concerns to buy the produce of manufacturers located in development areas on the basis of fair competition;(3) if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all orders valued at more than £100,000 placed by nationalised industries with firms located in development areas since the introduction of the policy of encouraging such purchases by publicly-owned industries on the basis of fair competition.

:The Government consider that contracts preference schemes are a useful aid in increasing the flow of orders to development areas. Purchasing is a matter for the commercial managements of the nationalised industries; but in placing orders they give preference, other things being equal, to firms in those areas. Information as to orders placed is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from industry about the Government's decision to consider the eventual withdrawal of Government support for industrial liaison centres; and whether, in the light of these representations, he is now prepared to retain and support all existing Government liaison centres.

My Department has received several hundred representations; these will be taken into account in coming to a decision on future support for industrial liaison centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a special study of the long-term unemployment situation in the North-West Region.

:The study of the North-West currently being undertaken by Government Departments, the Economic Planning Council and local planning authorities in the preparation for a strategy for the region, will include a study of the employment situation in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to appoint a Departmental committee to consider the granting of certificates on the conditions that the oil companies must observe for platforms that are erected in the North Sea.

An interdepartmental advisory committee has for some time been working on a scheme for the certification of offshore installations; in accordance with Section 7 of the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act, 1971, requirements proposed to be contained in regulations covering certification are now under discussion by the Department with those who may be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he is making to retain the quotas for the cotton textiles from developing countries at their present level in the event of harmonization of Great Britain's trade relationships with those of the European Economic Community.

Discussions are now in progress with the E.E.C. about textile imports into the enlarged Community from 1973 onwards. Generally, we shall retain our existing rights to control imports of cotton textiles from developing countries; and there are already Community arrangements with certain countries for restraining their exports. The harmonisation of the two systems, which will inevitably be a gradual process, will take into account on the one hand the needs of the textile industry in the United Kingdom and E.E.C, and on the other hand the responsibilities of the enlarged Community to the developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the effect of the new import duties on cotton textile imports from developing countries on the price of cotton textile goods.

Only goods from Commonwealth countries are subject to the new duties; the effect on prices will take time to work through and is liable to be obscured by other market factors. Nevertheless, the immediate effect of the decision appears to have been limited, since the wholesale price index for cotton cloth rose by less than 1 per cent. between September, 1971, and January, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the progress of the generalised preference scheme in increasing imports from developing countries.

It is too early to make a statement, which would have to be based on one month's import statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which companies at present receive contracts in the machine tool industry under the National Research Development Corporation.

The N.R.D.C. is providing financial support for development projects being undertaken by B. & S.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the fatal accident rate per 100,000 man-shifts worked underground and surface, respectively, in the coalmining industry over each of the past five years.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report the numbers and sex of members of the consumer councils appointed by each of the 12 area Massey Limited, Formflo Limited, Herbert-B.S.A. Limited, and Newton Manufacturing Company Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report lists setting out the average price of the principal commodities produced by the nationalised industries from 1964–65 to the present time in respect of coal, the pithead proceeds per ton, gas, the revenue in pence per therm, and electricity in revenue pence per kWh.

The details are set out below:electricity board consultative councils and by each of the 12 area gas board consultative councils, respectively; and what action he proposes.

The information about the district committees appointed by the Electricity and Gas Consultative Councils is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report the numbers and sex of the members of each of the 12 area electricity board consultative councils, and of the 12 area gas boards consultative councils, respectively; and whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he is aware that 12 men and no women serve as members of the National Research Development Corporation; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(2) if he is aware that 11 men and no women serve as members of the British Export Board; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(3) if he is aware that 16 men and no women serve as members of the Air Registration Board; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(4) if he is aware that 12 men and no women serve as members of the Monopolies Commission; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(5) if he is aware that 13 men and one woman serve as members of the Metrication Board; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(6) if he is aware that nine men and no women serve as members of the British Tourist Authority; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(7) if he is aware that four men and no women serve as members of the National Film Finance Corporation; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;

I am aware of the number of men and women serving on the various public boards for which I am responsible. In selecting people for such public appointments I shall continue to follow the Government's policy of choosing the man or woman best qualified for the post irrespective of any other considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state in million tons the amount of known coal reserves in Great Britain.

The National Coal Board estimates the reserves of economically workable coal accessible to currently working collieries at 4,000 millions tons. There may be a further 2,700 million tons occurring within or near the working coalfields, but this requires further geological proving, which is now being planned. Large additional coal deposits, certainly upwards of 10,000 million tons, are also known to be present both in the working and in virgin coalfields.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute a programme to investigate the value of carbon fibre as a prime material in construction of land, sea and air transport vehicles.

Research aimed at developing and funding applications for carbon fibre is carried out in the laboratories of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Defence, the Atomic Energy Authority, British Rail and in Universities as well as by industry. At present the main applications foreseen lie in the aircraft field and potential uses both in airframes and aero engines are being sought since it is here that the greatest benefits from improved technical performance and weight saving can result. A very thorough examination has recently been made of potential applications for carbon fibres up to 1980 and a number of possibilities including applications to sea and land vehicles are being examined. The extent to which carbon fibre composites can replace traditional materials for these uses must depend on satisfactory long term technical performance and, in most cases, on a reduction in the cost of producing the fibre. Research with these objectives is already in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part he has played in the discussions held in London between the European Commission and the High Commissioners of developing Commonwealth countries on the subject of the association of those countries with the European Economic Community; what further discussions are planned; and whether he will make a statement.

:The Commonwealth Secretariat held a meeting in London on 15th February at which representatives of most of the twenty developing Commonwealth countries to whom the community's offer of association extends exchanged views on the various choices open to them. After the meeting there was an opportunity to talk with senior officials of the European Economic Community Commission who were currently visiting London. Her Majesty's Government were not represented.The Commonwealth Secretary-General has invited senior officials of Commonwealth Governments, including the United Kingdom, to meet in London in early April for discussions on the alternatives available to 20 developing Commonwealth countries under Protocol 22 of the Act annexed to the Treaty of Accession.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of the success of the visit of the Royal Opera Company to Munich in 1971 and of the Bavarian State Opera to Covent Garden this year, he will hold discussions with the West German Government to arrange for further regular cultural exchanges of the same sort.

Existing British Council programmes involve continuing support for British artistic events in Europe; and the additional funds which the Government intend to provide through the Council, as stated by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 6th March, in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish), should contribute to enlargement of exchanges of this kind both with Germany and with other Western European countries.I understand that the Covent Garden Administration for its part is engaged in discussions about further such exchanges to which it attaches importance.—[Vol. 832, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Final Quadripartite Protocol of the Berlin Agreement will allow the Soviet Government to appoint their Consul General in West Berlin from their Embassy at Bad Godesberg-Mehlem or direct from Moscow.

Representatives of the Four Powers in Berlin are still discussing the detailed procedures for the establishment of a Soviet Consulate-General in the Western Sectors in Berlin and for the accreditation of its Consul-General.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects there are in Taiwan.

Approximately 800. It is not possible to give a more accurate figure because not all British subjects will have registered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will redefine the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the Central Treaty Organisation, in view of the withdrawal of Pakistan from the Commonwealth.

Our attitude towards the Central Treaty Organisation is unchanged. It is that the Organisation can and should continue to contribute to the security and stability of the region.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he anounced Great Britain's withdrawal from the European Free Trade Association before ensuring that promises to seek safeguards for the vital interests of Great Britain's European Free Trade Association partners in negotiations to join the European Economic Community were honoured.

:In accordance with the Stockholm Convention, the United Kingdom gave notice of withdrawal from the European Free Trade Association to become effective on 31st December, 1972, and our European Free Trade Association partners were so informed at the European Free Trade Association Ministerial meeting on 4th and 5th November, 1971.All our European Free Trade Association partners who were not candidates for full membership are negotiating their own arangements with the Communities and it is the desire of all concerned that these agreements should enter into force at the same time as the Communities are enlarged.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware that 29 men and one woman serve as members of the British Council; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes.

Under its Royal Charter and Bye-Laws the Council's Executive consists of up to 30 members, the large majority of whom are elected by the Committee, though some are nominees of certain Ministers, including my right hon. Friend. I am advised that the Council is conscious of the present imbalance between the sexes and is considering how this might be remedied.Her Majesty's Government's policy in selecting people for public appointment's is to choose the man or woman best qualified for the appointment, irrespective of any other consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now take the necessary action to initiate a constitutional conference between Her Majesty's Government and the representatives of the ruling parties and the representatives of the African population in Rhodesia with the purpose of establishing a democratic system of government in Rhodesia.

Her Majesty's Government must await the Pearce Commission's report before determining future policy towards Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will make a statement on the reasons why Mr. Henry Latham, a First Secretary at the British Embassy in Berne, Switzerland, has been relocated; and whether this was done at the request of the Swiss Government;(2) whether he will make a statement on the official complaint made to his Department by the Swiss Government about the spying activities of British Government officials in trying to ascertain detailed information regarding the numbered financial accounts in Switzerland of British citizens.

Discussions have taken place with the Swiss Government. It is not customary to make public the reasons for the postings of individuals within the diplomatic service.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will institute an inquiry into the present state and potential of the Welsh slate industry, particularly with a view to utilisation of slate waste for road-surfacing and other purposes and the consequent clearance of sites for housing, industrial and recreational purposes.

:The problems and potential of the industry are already sufficiently well understood and I do not think that an inquiry would be helpful.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total amount allowed by local authorities in Wales in rent rebates in 1971;(2) what was the total amount allowed by local authorities in Cardiganshire by way of rent rebates in 1971.

The only information available is contained in Housing Statistics (England and Wales), published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants. Information for 1970–71 will be included in Part II of this publication which will be published shortly, but covers only certain named authorities. This will be made available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware of the danger to health caused in the village of Llandwrog Uchaf, Caernarvonshire, by the unauthorised use of land in the village by transients for camping purposes; and if he will expedite the provision of permanent sites under local authority control in Caernarvonshire.

The responsibility for the provision of authorised sites for gipsies and other travellers lies with the Caernarvonshire County Council which so far has been unable to find a suitable site. My Department will continue to press for this.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will circulate to Members of Parliament with Welsh constituencies a copy of his Department's quarterly publication Progress in Wales.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing each of the areas in Wales covered by a rent officer and indicating how many fair rents have been determined either by rent officers or rent assessment panels, and the number of local authority houses in each of these areas.

:The following table gives the position as at 31st December, 1971 for the statutory rent registration areas:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools in Merthyr Tydfil and Wales, respectively, that are currently in use were built before 1903.

Recent returns from local education authorities relate only to pre-1903 primary schools. There are six of these in Merthyr Tydfil and about 900 in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for the expansion of nursery and primary educational facilities in Merthyr Tydfil.

A new infants'school for 160 pupils at Dowlais has been included in the major building starts programme for 1972–73. An allocation has been made under my infrastructure programme for primary school accommodation for 680 pupils. Eighty additional nursery places will be provided under phase 5 of the urban aid programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average morbidity rate per thousand of the population in the last year for which figures are available for Merthyr Tydfil, Wales and Great Britain, respectively.

:This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average rate of infant mortality per thousand live births in the last year for which figures are available in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales and Great Britain, respectively.

The figures for 1970, the latest year for which corrected figures are available, are:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent Welsh interests have been considered by the Government in their review of regional policy.

Fully.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many secondary schoolchildren in Wales are already staying on at school till 16 years of age or over.