asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now take action to prevent British-registered ships from being sent abroad for refitting and repair while unemployment persists at its present level in British ship-repairing yards.

No, Sir. It sometimes saves very valuable ship's time to repair in an overseas port. The policy proposed would hamper the ability of our ships in competition with the ships of other flags to make their full contribution to our national balance of payments.

While undoubtedly there has to be some further deflation of this industry, is my hon. Friend aware that the position is being greatly aggravated by the despatch to north European ports and to American ports of British ships for repair and refitting, which is being done at cut prices compared with British prices, and will he use his powers to do something about it?

No, Sir; I do not think it is the case that the position is being seriously aggravated. My hon. Friend will remember that this is a two-way traffic, with foreign ships being repaired in this country as well as British ships being repaired abroad, and that sometimes the balance of advantage is on our side.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary take note that the most prudent action he can take is to persuade British shipyards to lower their costs, so that they can compete with foreign shipyards whose prices are cheaper?

There is no evidence that British costs are substantially above world prices.

While there are many things in America that we do not want to imitate, is my hon. Friend aware that America puts a tax on her ships that go abroad to be repaired?

My right hon. Friend does not at the moment wish to put any obstacles in the way of this two-way traffic, where the advantage is on our side.

Will my hon. Friend consider refusing sanction for British ships to be repaired in foreign ports where the conditions of labour do not compare with those in this country?

That is an important situation that is kept in mind.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary look at the costs position in view of the answer he has just given, and will he make it perfectly plain that if British shipyards are to compete with foreign shipyards, their costs and services have to be competitive?

That is a statement of principle which is quite unexceptionable—they have to be competitive and they are, in fact, competitive.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total length and estimated cost of the proposed new road to A.6 across Shap Fell; and what is the cost of the extensive improvements to A.6 to be carried out in the period 1948–50 on A.6 between Kendal and Shap village.

The length of the proposed new road near Shap on A.6 is 34½ miles, and the estimated cost of construction is about £5½ million. Twelve corners and sharp bends are being improved on the existing road at a total estimated cost of £62,486. Eleven of them have been completed.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary look into this madcap matter again? Now that he is spending £62,000 on improving what is already a very good road, will he try to postpone this absurd project costing a very large sum of money, at a time when every economy is needed, and depriving 110 farms of good agricultural land?

I do not accept the hon. Member's adjectives. He will know that my right hon. Friend undertook last week to look into the matter again.

asked the Minister of Transport how far his regulations preclude the parking of motor cars in a street which is not designated a yellow band street, provided the parked motor vehicles cause no obstruction.

There are no regulations which make it automatically an offence to park a vehicle in a street not specifically subject to an order restricting waiting.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that a large number of police are employed in taking particulars of cars parked in streets that are not yellow banded? What is the point of having yellow painted lamp-posts and arrows if parking is not permitted in streets which have no yellow bands and arrows?

There are regulations which make it an offence to park a vehicle in other streets if it causes unnecessary obstruction.

Yes, Sir, but if the hon. Member reads the Question he will see that it refers to motor vehicles which do not cause any obstruction.

Is this a proper function for which lamp-posts ought to be used?

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce regulations to make the fitting of traffic indicators compulsory on left-hand drive motor vehicles.

My right hon. Friend has this matter under consideration in connection with a recommendation made by the Road Safety Committee.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) whether, in the interests of those farmers who may be affected, he will make a statement as to the effect of developments in connection with the Aeronautical Research Station in North Bedfordshire; (2) whether he will issue a progress report regarding the Aeronautical Research Station being established in North Bedfordshire.

All the farmers concerned have been informed of the effect of current developments and those planned for the near future. If future developments are likely to affect other farming interests ample warning will be given. Satisfactory progress is being made with the construction work, but it would not be in the public interest to give details.

While I know that my right hon. Friend is being as helpful as possible in this matter, may I ask him whether he is aware that locally there is a feeling that there has not been in every case due notice of the developments? Will he watch that point in future rather more carefully?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the balance of advantage to the British motor industry in the export of steel to France and the import of steel from France carried out under the authority of his Department.

Under agreements with the French steel industry, we have, during the past year, received substantial quantities of pig iron and steel which have enabled larger allocations of steel to be made to the steel using industries, including the motor industry, than would otherwise have been possible. In exchange, we have exported to France certain limited and much smaller quantities of semi-manufactured steel, including black sheet and blackplate. At the request of the French, 3,000 tons of finished automobile sheet, representing less than I per cent. of the total quantity of high quality sheet steel allocated to British users this year, was later substituted for a larger amount of black sheet and blackplate covered by the original agreement.

I regret that in my reply to the hon. Member for King's Norton (Mr. Blackburn) on 21st November, I misinformed the House when I said that no finished automobile sheet steel had been exported to France.

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear that these transactions have, on balance, served to maintain full employment in the motor industry, and will he rebut the suggestion of Mr. Lord, of Austin's, that even one hour of production has been lost through this arrangement?

There is no doubt at all that this arrangement, on the whole, has been beneficial to British industry. I cannot understand how it can be alleged that the shipping of some steel to France has retarded the British motor industry.

With all respect to my right hon. Friend, is it not a fact, as Mr. Lord told me on two occasions, that automobile body sheet steel was being exported and that the Minister has now generously admitted that Mr. Lord was right and he himself was wrong? Will he make a clear statement to the trade in order to satisfy them that this arrangement is, on the whole, in favour of this country?

That is what I have just said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Coventry (Mr. Edelman).

Is the export of sheet steel still continuing?

No, Sir; it was a specific quantity of 3,000 tons, the order for which has now been completed.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why, doubtless inadvertently, he misinformed the House last Monday week?

This is a complicated business. There have been two agreements with the French industry, and I regret that owing to an oversight in my Department I did not give the correct figures. I cannot say more.

asked the Minister of Supply how many Royal Ordnance Factories are now making goods for civilian consumption on a competitive commercial basis; and if it is proposed to close down any of these.

Twelve of the 21 Royal Ordnance Factories are at present employing some part of their capacity on orders obtained by competitive tender for goods for civilian use. Partly because these orders are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain the general question of the number of Royal Ordnance Factories to be retained is under review, but no decision has been taken to close any one of them.

Does my right hon. Friend's answer mean that the policy announced earlier in this Parliament, of using certain Royal Ordnance Factories as standards for various types of civilian production, is now being abandoned?

I do not think that any announcement was made in the terms just stated by my hon. Friend. The policy is that where we can obtain civilian orders which pay, or where they are helpful in maintaining war potential, we shall continue to obtain those orders.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult those Members of the House in whose constituencies Royal Ordnance Factories are before a decision is taken to close any of them?

As I have said, no decision has yet been made to close any, but we will certainly communicate with such hon. Members if and when such a decision is taken.

Is it not encouraging to find a member of the Socialist Party putting down a Question which talks about

"making goods for civilian consumption on a competitive commercial basis"?

That has nothing to do with this Question.

asked the Minister of Supply by whom was Great Britain represented at the recent tripartite conference in Pretoria where the production of uranium in South Africa was discussed; and if he is satisfied that Britain will receive a fair share of any such uranium.

Our representatives were the United Kingdom High Commissioner, Sir Evelyn Baring, and representatives of the Treasury and Ministry of Supply. As announced in South Africa on 30th November, considerable progress has been made in the talks and it is expected that further discussions will be held in a few months' time. There is nothing I can usefully add at present.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make a real effort to see that our experience in relation to uranium from South Africa does not follow that of the Belgians in the Congo, where the Americans have taken the lot?

I cannot agree with the implication of that supplementary question at all.

asked the Minister of Supply how many atomic piles are now operating in this country.

Two, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement on this subject, so that we can have a little more information as to the direction in which our research is moving?

I do not think it would be wise to give much information.

In view of the promise made by the Minister's predecessor, two years ago, that periodical reports would be given to the House on this matter, and the fact that it has been stated in the newspapers that work on the third atomic pile has been stopped, can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the project is proceeding with as much expedition as possible?

I can give that assurance.

In view of the colossal amount of money already spent on atomic energy in this country, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public want to know whether we have the atom bomb or not?

So does Russia.

Could the Minister tell us whether there is any security reason which prevents the people of this country from knowing as much about the atom bomb as people in the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A.?

That question is very wide of the one which is on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will improve the lighting in St. Stephen's Hall to enable members of the waiting public to read their newspapers in comfort.

The existing electric mains cannot take any increased load with safety. I hope a new A.C. supply will be available in about six months' time, and this should make some improvements possible.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that hundreds of pairs of spectacles will have to be provided by his colleague the Minister of Health, at the taxpayers' expense, if this false economy is allowed to continue?

I was not aware of that, but that is a reason, among others, for trying to expedite this work.

Is it not thoroughly undesirable to provide any facilities for the study of the most prostituted Press in the world?

asked the Minister of Works if it is proposed to hold any formal re-opening ceremony to mark the completion of the repair and restoration work in Westminster Hall and the restoration of the Hall to its normal appearance.

I do not consider that a re-opening ceremony is called for. Although the roof scaffolding will shortly be removed, other repairs and the removal of obstructions cannot be completed for some time yet. No doubt a ceremony will take place when the joint Parliamentary War Memorial is completed.

asked the Minister of Works what reduction in staff he has made consequent upon the discontinuation of the Ministry of Works Site Assistance Scheme; and what is the estimated annual saving of salaries.

The savings in staff are estimated at 43, and in annual salaries at £23,000.

Does that represent the total number employed on this scheme?

It represents the total number, but the reorganisation is not yet complete. There may be others to follow.

asked the Minister of Works how many persons have made inquiries for licences for building offices and have been told that a licence would only be granted if all the accommodation was let on lease to his Department.

None, so far as I am aware.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that if building licences are used as a weapon to ensure that the Government get all the accommodation at the expense of the rest of the community, it is a gross breach of the Executive's power.

If they were so used, it would be, but they are not so used.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that three gentlemen, of whom I was one, visited the Ministry of Works, where we were informed by one of his officials that under no circumstances would we be granted licences unless the total office accommodation was allotted to the Ministry of Works?

I am not aware of that, and if it was said the person concerned had no authority to say it. He had nothing whatever to do with the licensing section of the Department. He was in the lands and accommodation section of the Department.

asked the Minister of Works the total value of licences granted to private contractors for the purpose of building Government offices.

The value of the licences granted was £7,576,000. This was for 30 lessor building schemes.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the total value of the licences granted to private contractors for the building of offices other than for Government purposes?

No, Sir, not without notice.

In the licences granted for Government work, were the same stringent restrictions in operation about the securing, use and control of materials as have always been insisted on in other licences?

Certainly, and before the licences were granted inquiries were made as to the availability of the materials necessary.

asked the Minister of Works if he will put in the Library a plan of the revised layout of Parliament Square agreed with the Westminster City Council.

Yes, Sir. A plan of the revised layout of Parliament Square will be placed in the Library tomorrow. This has been agreed with the Westminster City Council, the London County Council, the Ministry of Transport and the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the boiler-house equipment at Bankside was designed for oil-fuel burning and not for burning coal, or for both methods.

Coal firing, by itself or as an alternative to oil, would require installations for unloading, handling and stacking coal and the disposal of ash, and also a higher boiler-house than in the case of oil firing. It was felt accordingly that coal firing would conflict with the general desire that the design of the station should be in keeping with other plans for improving this section of the river bank.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what number of units generated per annum is estimated at Bankside power station, assuming a 40 per cent. load factor.

Eight hundred and forty million units when the station is completed.

Is the Minister aware that, as a result of the decision to burn oil fuel, there will be an increased cost of production of approximately one-tenth of a penny per unit on these 840 million units, and does that mean that a very great cost will have to be borne by the consumers?

Yes, Sir, the hon. Member's figures are approximately correct. That was taken into account at the time when the decision was made, but it was felt that the amenity grounds were sufficiently strong to justify this increased cost.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has yet received the final results of the experiments undertaken with regard to the elimination of deleterious effects from the burning of oil fuel at the Bankside power station; and how far they are conclusive that no deleterious effects need be feared.

The report on the experiments made has been received and is at present under consideration. As I have explained in previous answers, the experiments were not for the purpose of finding out whether sulphur fumes could be effectively eliminated, about which there was no doubt, but to discover which method was most suitable.

Have they yet been successful?

Oh yes, there are two methods and the purpose of the experiments was to see which was the more appropriate and cheaper.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what discussions have taken place with the United States Government regarding Middle East oil; and on what date His Majesty's Government agreed that it was in British interests to increase the possible outflow of crude oil on the Mediterranean coast from four million tons in 1948 to at least 70 million tons by 1955 at the latest.

Middle East oil has not, as such, been the subject of discussions with the United States Government, though matters of mutual interest to the two Governments regarding oil supplies are frequently under discussion.

As regards the second part of the Question, I assume the hon. and gallant Member has in mind the plans of various oil companies producing crude oil in Iraq, Persia, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for laying pipelines to the mediterranean coast. The decision to construct these pipelines rests with the commercial interests concerned; in one case the sponsoring companies are entirely American controlled and in the other cases foreign as well as British companies are involved. The question therefore of His Majesty's Government's agreement to the increase mentioned, in the Question has not arisen.

Does the Minister agree that the whole European Recovery Programme is dependent on British and American oil policy in the Middle East, and how can he say that this is a matter which only concerns commercial interests? Surely it is a matter which concerns the Government?

Obviously, the British Government have a great interest in the development of oil in the Middle East, but specific projects for laying pipelines are matters for the companies themselves.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for high policy decisions regarding the extraction, transport and refining of crude oil in the Middle East and for the co-ordination of this work with British strategic, economic and political interests at home and abroad.

It is not a function or responsibility of any of His Majesty's Ministers to reach decisions about the extraction, transport or refining of crude oil in foreign countries, any more than in the case of other commercial activities of British subjects in foreign countries. The strategic, economic and political interests of His Majesty's Government in the oil produced in Middle East countries is considered by the various Ministers concerned who consult together as necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is hard to resist the impression that far too little attention is being paid to the question at Government levels, and furthermore, that there has been a serious lack of co-ordination between the Government Departments? Will he assure the House that he will look most carefully into this?

Yes, Sir. I hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman will try hard to resist these false impressions.

Would not the desire of the Treasury to save dollars and the Minister of Fuel and Power to get oil from the Mediterranean ports be furthered if the Foreign Secretary did not subsidise Arab Governments to prevent the flow of Arab oil to Mediterranean ports?

My right hon. Friend does not do anything of the sort.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has yet received from the Gas Council and the area boards copies of agreements on joint consultation, as laid down in Section 57 of the Gas Act, 1948.

No, Sir.

Can my right hon. Friend say when he expects to receive them?

I understand that agreement between the manual workers and the Gas Council has been reached, and the new constitution which has been settled is being printed at the moment.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the large expenditure being incurred now by political and commercial bodies, contrary to the provisions of Section 42 of the Representation of the People Act, 1948, with a view to supporting the candidature at the General Election of those opposed to Socialism and, in particular, to the nationalisation of certain industries; and whether he proposes to take any action.

asked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation dealing with Parliamentary election expenses.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce legislation to ensure that if shareholders of industrial companies enter into expenditure in opposing nationalisation of industries, such expenditure is returnable in election expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation in the present Parliament to provide that money spent on anti-nationalisation propaganda by industries threatened with nationalisation in the Government's election programme shall be included in the election expenses of candidates opposing the Government.

I have been asked to answer Question No. 40 to the Prime Minister and also Question No. 41 to the Lord President, and No. 63 to the Home Secretary. With permission, I will answer those three Questions together with this Question addressed to myself, and it will be convenient if I deal with the three latter Questions first.

Parliament has quite recently passed the Representation of the People Act, 1948, and the Consolidation Act, 1949. which contain provisions dealing, amongst other things, with the expenditure which is permitted in connection with propaganda calculated to promote one candidature at an election or to disparage another. As at present advised, His Majesty's Government do not propose to introduce further legislation but prefer to rely upon the operation of the existing law in relation to the matter.

I now come to the Question addressed to myself which I answer, not as a matter of Government policy, but in my position as Attorney-General. My attention has been called to certain expenditure on what may seem to be political propaganda, and I have given anxious consideration to the matter in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions. Whilst the whole matter is being carefully watched, I do not propose to direct any proceedings at the present time, since the question of the legality of any expenditure incurred now, would have to be considered in the light of the effect it is calculated to produce if and when an election occurs. I think it is right to add, however, that whilst I can lay down no binding rule in the matter, which is one to be considered on the facts of each particular case, it is my view that the prohibition of certain expenditure on propaganda calculated to influence an election is not necessarily restricted to propaganda in which any particular candidate is expressly referred to, nor is it necessarily confined to expenditure incurred only after the dissolution of Parliament or the issue of a writ for an election or the nomination of a candidate.

When considering this matter, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take into account the gift by the Co-operative Society of £30,000 for party political propaganda and also such gifts as those given by the trade unions, and, indeed, the money spent by the Central Office of Information on controversial problems.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend also consider similar undisclosed sums contributed to other political parties?

So far as the first two cases are concerned, I have not any particular information but, as my hon. Friend has just said, I see no reason to distinguish those payments from other payments, whether public or secret, to the political funds of any particular political party.

If before an election there were a birthday party at which the candidates gathered together to celebrate that birthday, to rejoice over past activities, and to wish themselves a happy return, would such an activity fall within the limits of which the Attorney-General has just warned us?

The hon. Member ought not to ask me, as Attorney-General, about a hypothetical case, and whether he asks it or not he will not get an answer from me.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend consider legislation making it necessary for all political parties, to disclose the source of their financial income?

If propaganda in favour of nationalisation were included in election expenses on the same bases as propaganda against nationalisation, might it not be that the total expenditure on propaganda in favour of nationalisation would absorb the whole of the maximum expenses allowed for all Labour candidates?

I am afraid my answer has no reference to the amount of money which may be involved. I simply sought to state what is my view of the law.

Is the Attorney-General aware that at the present moment certain insurance companies are employing paid canvassers who, as well as seeking for business, are attempting to influence the political views of the people on whom they call? Will he point out to them the desirability of an appropriate sum being included in the election expenses of the candidates whom they support?

Did the Lord President of the Council consult the Attorney-General before he made his recent speech?

I think that the hon. Gentleman knows that it is not usual to state what communication passes between one Minister and another, but in case it should be thought that I am not prepared to associate myself with what the Lord President said, I must say that when I read his speech in the newspaper it did not appear to me to contain any proposition of law which either shocked or startled me.

Is the Attorney-General aware that many of us did not quite catch the answer which he gave to the question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Wolverhampton (Mr. H. D. Hughes), and will he consider the advisability of making it obligatory upon all political parties to publish annually audited accounts in the same way as the Labour Party has always done?

Has the attention of the right hon. and learned Gentleman been drawn to the speech made by the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin) to the effect that the Communists will support Socialist candidates in most constituencies? Does he think that the present law is strong enough to ensure that the Communist expenditure is included in that of the Socialist candidates they support?

The Hon. and learned Gentleman may recall that that was a matter which we discussed in the course of the Debate on the Representation of the People Bill. I said then, and I now repeat, that intervention by third parties, whether of the Communist Party or of a commercial or industrial concern, in an election, and intervention by the expenditure of money, would be within the Statute.

There are other Questions on the Order Paper.

asked the Attorney-General if he has yet decided to instruct the Director of Public Prosecutions to start a prosecution for criminal libel against the editor of the "New Statesman" in respect of the accusations against the Metropolitan Police which appeared in that paper on 24th September and 1st October.

I have considered the publications in question. I do not propose to initiate any proceedings, as I do not consider that the facts disclose a criminal offence.

Does the Attorney-General appreciate that the rejection of this proposal will be welcomed by all those who repudiate the abuse of the law in order to curtail the freedom of the Press?

Whatever the political complexion of the newspaper concerned, I certainly do not intend to attempt to stretch the law either of criminal libel or of public mischief in order to restrict the freedom of the Press.

Would the Attorney-General consider instituting proceedings for criminal libel against the editor of the "Spectator" for publishing on 4th November an article—

The Question concerns the "New Statesman" and not the "Spectator."

Will not the Attorney-General's answer be specially welcomed by the editorial staff of the "New Statesman"?

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will arrange to issue in the near future a short summary of the principal points raised at the recent World Resources Conference at Lake Success, together, if possible, with some indication of what action is being taken or is to be taken by His Majesty's Government in connection therewith.

The United Nations Scientific Conference on the Conservation and Utilisation of Resources was essentially for the exchange of current technical experience over a wide field of natural resources. The Conference intentionally passed no resolutions, nor made any recommendations, and its proceedings do not lend themselves to a short summary which would be of any value. No action is called for by His Majesty's Government.

I understand that the Conference was successful in achieving its limited objectives and that the United Kingdom made a substantial and valuable contribution to its work, both in the attendance of an eminent delegation and by the numerous written papers from various other specialists.

A full report of the proceedings, with the papers contributed, will be produced by the United Nations Secretariat in due course, and will be available in the Library.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will give an assurance that in connection with the programme of expenditure cuts now under consideration, no steps will be taken to reduce the valuable work at present being undertaken by the Agricultural and Medical Research Councils, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the industrial research associations associated therewith.

I could not agree that these services should be immune from the cuts which have to be made in Government expenditure in general, but I share the hon. Member's desire that they should be spared as much as possible from reductions in their current activities. We shall seek to effect such savings as may be required mainly by slowing down the rate of future capital expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much time is devoted by the British Broadcasting Corporation in their Overseas Service broadcasts to France and Germany; and whether he will now advise the British Broadcasting Corporation to use some of this time for broadcasts to countries in Eastern Europe.

The B.B.C. broadcasts to France and Germany respectively for 4½ and 4¾ hours daily. Because of the system of networks corresponding roughly to geographical areas on which the B.B.C. European Services operate, adjustments in the duration of broadcasts are possible only as between reception areas on the same network. France is not on the same network as the Eastern European countries and therefore any time saved on the French transmissions could not be used for Eastern Europe. Germany is on the Eastern European network but my right hon. Friend would be reluctant to advise any reduction of German transmissions.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that the need for broadcasting to France is much less than it was a year ago and that listener research now indicates a very reduced B.B.C. audience in France? Can he say whether the technical difficulties in that respect are insuperable?

I am not sure about the facts which my hon. Friend has put forward, but I have explained the very serious difficulties in the way of this change.

Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to use all the influence he can to stop the B.B.C. broadcasting pro-Communist propaganda such as "The Soviet View"?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now make a statement on the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to diplomatic relations and trading arrangements with the Communist and Nationalist Governments in China, respectively.

No, Sir. There is nothing which I can usefully add to previous statements on these subjects. I would refer the hon. Member particularly to the statement of my right hon. Friend to the House on 16th November.

May I ask whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government, if the Communist ré gime in China is recognised, to recognise it de jure or de facto?

The whole question of recognition is being considered. I have nothing to add to previous replies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, following the speech by the Rev. Michael Scott, before the Trusteeship Committee of the United Nations, on 28th November, the British delegation voted against the motion, carried by 33 votes to 11, that South-West Africa be placed under the Trusteeship system; and what instructions were given them on this matter.

The resolution to which my hon. Friend no doubt refers dealt mainly with the submission of reports on South-West Africa. His Majesty's Government have supported reference of the question of the Union Government's obligations in regard to South-West Africa to the International Court of Justice, and have therefore abstained on assembly resolutions which prejudged the issue. In this case, moreover, the resolution was offensively worded and contained an allegation that the Union Government had repudiated an assurance which they had previously given. As His Majesty's Government considered that no such assurance was given, it was decided to vote against the resolution.

Is it not clearly laid down in the Charter of the United Nations that the placing of a territory under Trusteeship is a voluntary Act by the administering Power, and is it not therefore putting discredit on the United Nations to pass resolutions contrary to the Charter?

All this is going to the International Court.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps His Majesty's Government have taken and will take to assist Petroleum Concessions Ltd., Petroleum Development Ltd. (Oman and Dhofar) and Petroleum Development Ltd, (Trucial Coast) at present exploring for oil round the Arabian coast between Qatar and Aden.

The companies have been afforded all proper assistance by the local representatives of His Majesty's Government. The latter have placed their knowledge of the conditions in the area at the companies' disposal and have, where necessary, used their good offices with local authorities. This assistance will continue to be afforded in the future.

Is the Under-Secretary aware of the strategic importance that oil can have if found in these areas in substantial quantities? Is he further aware that I am not asking in any way for Government interference, but for closer liaison with these companies?

We have received no complaints from the companies.