asked the President of the Board of Trade what amendments in the light of experience he proposes to make to the Buckie-Peterhead Scheme.

The scheme is one for building small factories, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I see no reason to amend it.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that under this Scheme no loans have been made to industrial companies, as a result of which it has been a complete wash-out since it started? Will he consider the possibility of turning this area into a Development Area in view of the fact that nothing has been achieved up to date?

As my hon. Friend is aware, consideration was given, under this and previous Governments, to whether this type of area was suitable for scheduling as a Development Area. The decision was that it was not, and I see no reason to change that decision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now considered the representations from the furniture industry that hire-purchase restrictions on furniture should be eased; and what action he proposes to take.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now given further consideration to the representations made to him by all sections of the furniture industry; and if he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the hardship caused to tenants of new municipal houses as a result of the hire-purchase restrictions on furniture, he will now discontinue these restrictions.

I have considered these representations carefully, but in present economic conditions it would be, unwise to relax the restrictions.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, in fact, there has been any improvement in the conditions of the furniture manufacturing industry during recent weeks?

Yes, Sir. The unemployment figure has fallen back from 6,345 to 4,802, which is quite a substantial reduction.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if any restrictions are really effective in respect of hire purchase in this industry? I am advised that it is possible to advertise hire purchase with no deposit and practically no conditions at all.

If they are ineffective, I am surprised at the number of complaints I have heard on the subject.

While I appreciate that this is part of a general financial policy, and while there may or may not be some reason for departing from or amending these restrictions at present, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that there is some slight inconsistency in a policy which encourages the maximum credit for purchasing houses, but makes it increasingly difficult to turn those houses into homes?

That may be an argument for restrictions on a wider scale, but not for me to depart from them in this instance.

Does not the Minister realise the great hardship to newly-married couples going into municipal houses, and that they are placed in great difficulty in furnishing their homes? Should not he take that into consideration?

I will bear all these matters in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now completed his plans for compiling hire-purchase statistics.

Yes, Sir. Consultations have taken place and are continuing. Retailers and finance houses are to be invited to co-operate in supplying statistics which will show the monthly changes in hire-purchase sales and debts outstanding for the main types of goods sold on hire purchase. It is hoped to start collecting these figures in the autumn.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us when the figures will be available? Does it mean that we shall have figures of hire-purchase contracts entered into from September or October onwards?

I think rather later than that, but perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to make it obligatory that all persons or firms offering goods for sale on hire-purchase terms should exhibit a notice stating separately the cash price of the goods and their hire-purchase price.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ensure that all hire-purchase firms display the cash price, the amount required as deposit, and the number of deposits required to complete the purchase, when goods are offered for sale by hire purchase.

No, Sir. The Hire-Purchase Act, 1938, already requires the owner to state in writing to the hirer the cash price, the hire-purchase price and the amount of each instalment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the presence of such a notice often conceals an unfair and unjustifiable difference between the cash price and the hire-purchase price? Is he also aware that what my Question asks for is already the practice of reputable firms; and, therefore, would it not be proper to arrange with all firms to carry out the same practice?

Of course, the law requires them so to do under the Hire-Purchase Act, 1938, and my belief is that if they do not do so they are committing an offence.

If the law requires them so to do, will the right hon. Gentleman have a look at some of the advertisements which say, "No deposit," "Delivery on the first payment"? One advertisement after another says that. They are mostly in the provincial papers—not the national papers—which are read by the people who are purchasing these goods. Is it not time that the right hon. Gentleman attended to his business?

If the advertisements in fact refer to hire-purchase agreements, perhaps the hon. Lady will let me have them.

Mr. Emrys Hughes.

On a point of order is it not a fact that when my right hon. Friend says that the law requires—

Order. Mr. Emrys Hughes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce a Bill to bring up to date the law relating to weights and measures, having regard to the unsatisfactory state of the law at present in many respects.

Not this Session.

Is the Minister aware that the continued delay in bringing weights and measures legislation up to date, and, in particular, the failure to give that added safeguard to the consumers which was envisaged by the Hodgson Report as long ago as 1951, is adding very considerably to the ordinary household budget? Will not the right hon. Gentleman at least look at the Report again to see whether there is anything he can do to implement its main recommendations in the interest both of traders and the general public?

The hon. Lady is quite right to draw attention to the importance of the subject. All I said was that I could not promise legislation this Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage industrialists to establish industries in areas, other than Development Areas, where there is a high incidence of unemployment.

The Board use the opportunities arising from applications for the issue of industrial development certificates to interest industrialists in these areas and to encourage them to establish factories there.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman do something more than that? Is he not aware that factories are now being built in areas where there is full employment, such as in Brighton on the South Coast, whereas nothing is being done for areas in South-West Wales, where, in my own constituency, for instance, unemployment is running at between 8 and 10 per cent. of the insured population? Could not something be done to draw the attention of industrialists to the fact that there is an unemployed labour force in Anglesey?

We do, of course, draw these matters to the attention of industrialists, and, in fact, in the conditions of high employment which apply today the existence in an area of unemployed persons is indeed a very considerable inducement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has recently received to remove the 15 per cent. import duty on wooden reels imported from Finland for use in the cotton trade; and what action he intends to take.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to wooden sewing thread reels, on which the duty is 5 per cent. ad valorem . It is, of course, always open to makers or users to apply for a reduction in duty. I have recently received representations from one firm, which has been informed of the procedures to be followed.

Am Ito understand from the Minister's answer that he will not consider individual applications, and that they must be made through a trade association?

I did not say so. I said that there is a proper procedure for applying in these cases, and this person who has written to me has been informed of that procedure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange to visit the North-Eastern Trading Estates in the near future.

I regret that I shall not be able to pay such a visit in the near future, but my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary hopes to visit the North-East Development Area in the autumn.

While I regret that my right hon. Friend himself cannot visit the North-East, will he take it from me that it will be extremely welcome that someone from his Department is to go to the North-East to see how it is developing?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to give further information about the opening of new factories on the North-Eastern Trading Estates.

In the year ended 31st May, 1955, thirty-two factory extensions and five new factory buildings, providing a total of 450,000 sq. ft. of space, were completed by North-Eastern Trading Estates Limited. At the end of May, seventeen factory extensions and two new factory buildings, totalling 590,000 sq. ft., were under construction.

Is this increased figure of building under construction not further evidence of the confidence of industrialists in the North-East in the work of the Board of Trade in bringing industry to them?

Can the Minister say when we are likely to get a report on the trading estates? I believe that an inquiry is being made into this matter.

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question.

When the Minister's Parliamentary Secretary visits the North-East, will the right hon. Gentleman instruct him to visit the site of the Tyne tunnel and consult the local authorities as to the advisability of its completion, and how much it would affect the trade of the district?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will take all relevant considerations into account, but we will plan his visit a little nearer to the time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of motor cars exported during the past twelve months; and the value of those fitted with flashing indicators.

In the twelve months ended May, 1955, the value of new complete motor cars exported was £ 115 million. Cars fitted with flashing light indicators are not separately distinguished in the trade accounts, but I understand that almost all the cars exported would have been fitted with indicators of that kind.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the reason given for the fitting of these flashing lights is that the export trade demands them? I should have thought that, in that case, a record would have been kept of those cars which had been exported with these monstrosities and of those fitted with the straightforward indicators.

The exporters sell their customers what they want. It is not for me to instruct them in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of cotton goods imported from Hungary during the last twelve months.

Forty-one thousand pounds.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether these goods are taken in exchange for goods which we sell to Hungary, or whether they are brought in to compete with Manchester cotton goods?

Sales both ways of less essential goods are carried out by the two countries under the trade agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount of tinned salmon was imported into this country from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the first six months of 1955; and whether he will permit this amount to be increased for the second six months of 1955.

Figures for June are not yet available, but imports in the first five months of this year amounted to 39,000 cwt. valued at £848,000 c.i.f. Negotiations with the Soviet authorities about the level of the quota for the next twelve months are at present in progress.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount of tinned salmon was imported into this country from Canada for the first six months of 1955; and whether he will permit this amount to be increased for the second six months of 1955.

Figures for June are not yet available, but imports in the first five months of the year amounted to 24,000 cwt. valued at £633,000 c.i.f. The quota for North American canned salmon for the year from 1st July has not yet been finally decided.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the milk bottle monopoly to the Monopolies Commission.

As I told the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 23rd June, I have already announced a full programme of work for the Commission.

Does the Minister not think that there is some urgency in this matter in view of the fact that all the milk bottles supplied to school children in Scotland are "cornered" by one monopoly which is represented in this House by a Conservative Member of Parliament.

I will certainly bear in mind this problem, but, as I say, I have already announced a full programme of work for the Commission for the rest of the year.

Is this not one of the many arguments in favour of a real strengthening of the Monopolies Commision so that it can do more work and get on with the job which is being held up at the moment?

I think that it may be a more powerful argument for pursuing the investigation of these various types of practice, a matter which we shall be debating on Wednesday.

As these bottles are made in my constituency, I should not like to say anything about the price, but I can assure everybody of their quality.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that hire-purchase traders are offering goods under terms advertising no deposit, when the goods are rented only and are not sold; and, as the public are misled into thinking that the goods are being sold by hire purchase, if he will take steps to ensure that agreements to rent only must make it clear that there is no eventual sale.

Yes, Sir, but I have no reason to suppose that the agreements themselves mislead anybody.

Will the right hon. Gentleman really look into this matter, because hire purchase is a very important item in the life of this nation? I could show him hire-purchase advertisements in which it is stated "No deposit," "Delivery on the first payment," "Two years to pay." They are running through the restrictions with a horse and cart while the right hon. Gentleman is flying ahead in a motor car seeing nothing that is going on behind his back.

The hon. Lady is in some confusion here between agreements for hiring and agreements for hire purchase. I think that she has some reference in her possession to hiring in which the property never passes.

Is it not a fact that what the law requires is some sort of document to pass between the hirer and the person entering into the agreement? Under the existing law there is no need for a notice to be exhibited in the window. That is the point about which I was asking.

I am much obliged. I thought that my hon. Friend was referring to the actual document which had to be given to the person receiving the goods. We cannot have a greater safeguard than that, and the document has to state the things that I have mentioned.

Is it not perfectly clear, from what my hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann) read out, that what she is complaining about is advertisements which give a misleading impression? Will the President look into this matter again? There are many reports of customers being deceived in this way, and the whole business needs looking into.

I think that that may be right. I have asked to see the newspapers. Nothing the Board of Trade can say can compel buyers to read the agreements which they sign. If they will not read the agreements we cannot be responsible for the consequences.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation for the purpose of stopping private courts from imposing penalties on traders who are not prepared to submit to restricted prices conditions; and if he will make the penal clauses operative from the date of the introduction of the Bill.

These matters are within the scope of the debate which has been arranged for tomorrow, and I would ask the hon. Member to await that.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the question in this light: that people are being brought before these courts at the present time and are being ruined in consequence? Something should be done about it now. Why will not he do something at once and say what he is doing?

That question seems very relevant to the discussion which we shall have tomorrow.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the recent deputation from the Association of Municipal Corporations with regard to the price rings which are operating in respect of tenders for contracts to local authorities; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the continuance of such practices.

There was a useful discussion of the Report recently prepared by the Association on these matters. As recently announced, I have decided to refer to the Monopolies Commission the general question of common price agreements, level tendering, and similar practices, and the Association will be at liberty to give the Commission any evidence it wishes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantity of gold imported from the Soviet Union since 1st January, 1955.

The figures for the first half of 1955 are now available; in this period about 8.3 million troy oz. of gold bullion with a value of about £104 million was imported from all sources, of which about 1.4 million troy oz. with a value of about £17 million came from the Soviet Union. As the hon. Member will be aware, the amount of gold imported does not necessarily correspond with the amount of gold purchased from overseas countries.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that this represents a substantial increase in imports from the Soviet Union as compared with the last six months of last year, and that this must be taken into account in considering our present reserve position?

Naturally it must be taken into account, although it is a little difficult to establish exactly its relative importance to other imports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far the latest available figures indicate that consumption is running in accordance with his Budget estimates.

There are as yet no estimates of consumers' expenditure beyond the first quarter of this year, so it is too early yet to judge what the trend since the Budget has been.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not recollect that he made an important speech to a trade gathering a few weeks ago, in which he seemed clearly to indicate that he was worried about the present level of consumption? Can he give us any indication whether he is contemplating further restrictive measures upon consumption?

I cannot add anything more to what I have said. Of course, there is a degree of internal demand which is very considerable at the present time and which is having its effect, as is obvious, upon our overseas payments, but I do not think that the estimate which I have given and the speech which I made in the House on 16th June can usefully be added to until I get the up-to-date figures. As I said on both the occasions to which I have referred, it is very difficult to give accurate information until one has the final figures.

Does the Chancellor feel that the February hire-purchase restrictions, in particular upon the furniture trade, have had the results he expected?

As I have indicated previously in the House and outside, in my view they are not having their effect upon the purchase of motor cars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further proposals he has for restricting internal demand.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the Government's monetary policy.

I have no reason to depart from the general assessment of the position which I gave to the House on 16th June. But I shall certainly take an opportunity of keeping the House informed from time to time in the usual manner.

Did not the Chancellor say in his speech to the N.P.A.C.I. on 1st July that credit control and other measures of restricting demand would have to be applied with courage? Can we know what these "other measures" are which the Chancellor intends to apply with courage?

I do not see anything but sense in the observations which the right hon. Gentleman has so kindly read to the House. If at any time there is any information to give to the House, I will give it. I am satisfied that our general assessment is correct and I am also satisfied that it takes time for credit policy to work through the economy. We must give that credit policy time, and we must hope that it will have effect, as I have every reason to think that it will.

The right hon. Gentleman says that he has other measures in mind which he proposes to apply. Is not the House entitled to know what they are?

One of the other measures to which I was referring was hire purchase, and another measure, not so much a Government measure, but another instance, is the effect of the price mechanism working through the economy in one or two respects which have been recently noticed.

Is it the Government's intention that bank advances should be reduced? Did the right hon. Gentleman see the letter in "The Times" from the representatives of clearing banks, asking people to borrow less? Did it have his approval? If he wants bank advances to be reduced, in what way does he think that that should be done—by the banks rationing their customers or by raising the rate of interest still further?

The letter in "The Times" was written by the chairman and deputy-chairman of the clearing banks on their own responsibility. I took the opportunity, shortly afterwards, of welcoming the letter, because I thought that it showed their intention of operating the credit squeeze properly.

Moreover, in relation to the question of advances by the banks, one of the main difficulties is that the banks have been making advances to certain of the nationalised industries. It will now be seen that one nationalised industry has gone on the market. That will relieve the pressure on bank advances in due course. When the situation has righted itself, I hope that we shall see some adjustment in bank advances, so that eventually the situation will be more as we should like to see it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will undertake to introduce within the present Session a new Pensions (Increase) Bill to cover the known needs of Service and Civil Service pensioners.

I can say no more than that this matter is being kept under review.

If my right hon. Friend cannot give this undertaking, will he remember that on 4th May he gave an undertaking that this matter would be kept sympathetically and understandingly under review? When does he expect the review to be completed?

When all our information is available. I do not underestimate the importance of this matter, and that is why I did not give my hon. and gallant Friend a wholly negative answer.

As the wages index has gone up steadily, as the cost of living is going up, and as we are still living in a period of creeping inflation, what more evidence is the Chancellor waiting for to deal with these people, to whom we have a special obligation? They are really suffering a squeeze in a period like this.

I appreciate the difficulties of the classes of people to which the hon. Gentleman refers, although I do not accept all his statements, but it is not so much a question that the information on this matter is lacking as the fact that I have to be quite sure that in examining it I am fair to all the classes concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated amount of security sterling available for the purchase of shares in British companies; and to what groups of nationals in the main it belongs.

Security sterling—or switch sterling—is not an official description but is a market term used to describe sterling of a capital nature held by nonresidents of the sterling area. It is more formally described as blocked sterling. In general it is derived from the proceeds of the sale of sterling securities, usually for reinvestment which is permissible in any quoted sterling security redeemable in not less than ten years. The amount of it thus varies from day to day and no figures for the total or for its distribution between nationals are available.

Can my right hon. Friend give an estimate of how much of this pool has already been invested in British industrial equities?

I was looking into that matter when I was examining the hon. Member's Question, but it is difficult to give him an accurate sum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a Departmental inquiry to see in what way present taxation law might be altered to facilitate the growth of schemes of employee shareholding in industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will institute an inquiry into the problems of companies and firms which institute profit-sharing and co-partnership schemes and, in particular, into the fiscal measures necessary to facilitate the growth of such schemes.

I have kept myself closely informed as to the tax position of such schemes, and I do not think a special inquiry is warranted.

Can the Chancellor assure us that he is continuing to examine the position where taxation law raises barriers to the development of employee-shareholding in industry? Will he, at some time in the future, make a statement of the Government's policy in this respect?

The fiscal difficulties are very small, upon examination. The real difficulty is to frame schemes which fall in with the law. That is why I stated in a previous speech that the services of the Inland Revenue would be available to firms wishing to implement schemes of one or other of the types mentioned by the hon. Member. It is in that way that some of the complexities are avoided at an early stage. If any particular fiscal difficulties come to my notice I shall always be glad to make a statement or, at the right time, to do something about them.

Is it not the fact that the fiscal policies of successive Governments for many years have been admirably designed to encourage the introduction of pension schemes, but have not been designed to encourage co-partnership? Can my right hon. Friend also examine that matter?

Yes, Sir. The reason why I said that an inquiry was not necessary was that we have in fact made our own inquiry, and are pretty well aware of all the details of this problem. If at any time I can help any hon. Member, however, I shall be only too glad to do so.

Is the Chancellor aware that the Prime Minister announced, in a broadcast, that the Government had some new policy about co-partnership and profit sharing? Has not the Chancellor been consulted? Was not a businesslike arrangement made before such a broadcast was made?

Everything the Prime Minister says, so far as I can say, is the quintessence of wisdom. In this case he was representing the united policy of his colleagues in this matter, and he was also interpreting the general sense of the country, as is evident from the schemes which have recently been published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated loss of revenue, to date, consequent on the removal of entertainment tax from cricket.

I cannot make a close estimate of the total loss, but it is probably about £200,000 over the period since the tax was lifted.

Since this represents a considerable concession to sportsmen and the sporting public in England, can the Chancellor say what steps he contemplates taking to give a comparable concession to the sporting public in Scotland, where the game of cricket is not widely played?

I know the hon. Member's interest in the Raith Rovers Football Club and other manly sports in Scotland. Unfortunately, they are not on the same level as cricket, which we were able to exempt.

Should not this be an incentive for Scotland to take up cricket?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he intends to dispose of the National Land Fund.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 23rd June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent pre-war debts are a factor in the present negotiations for a trade agreement between the United Kingdom and Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian Government agreed that both trade and our financial claims should be discussed during the present talks, and we hope it will be possible to work out satisfactory arrangements under both heads. Pre-war debts form the largest single category of our financial claims against Bulgaria.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the United States have, through the General Motors Corporation, recently contracted to supply over £1 million of motor vehicles to that country, and is there not a danger that by sticking out too long on the subject of pre-war debts we may in the long run lose a great deal of valuable trade?

It is important that some consideration should be given to the debt position. I will certainly examine what the hon. Gentleman has stated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation forthwith to enable postwar credits to be paid in all cases of proven need or hardship.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) on 30th June.

Does not the Chancellor realise the very great urgency of dealing with the question of repayment of postwar credits in cases of hardship, sickness and difficulty, and will he give this matter his immediate attention? Does he realise that ten years after the war is sufficiently post-war for these to be paid, and will he make it part of his policy to set the people's post-war credits free?

I wish that the situation were as simple as that. It is almost impossible to use such a criterion as the hon. Gentleman suggests without being unfair to one or other holders of post-war credits. That scheme would involve legislation, and this is certainly not the time for it.

Does the Chancellor realise how important this matter is? I know of a young man in my own constituency who is suffering—incurably—from tuberculosis, and he is very hard up. He has about £20 or £30 in postwar credits. If only he could get them, he might be able to take a holiday abroad. He feels that the Government are keeping his own money away from him. Does the Chancellor realise that this does not seem to be fair?

I realise the difficulty, but the point is that if I did something for this person who is incapacitated, it would be very difficult to find a rule which is fair to all. Furthermore, the late Government made a definite rule in the direction of the liberation of post-war credits. We shall certainly take every opportunity we can to do so, but I cannot make any statement today.

While recognising the difficulty of repaying post-war credits on the basis of need or hardship, may I ask the right. hon. Gentleman whether he will consider urgently whether he cannot speed up repayment generally, for example, by reducing the age at which the credits may be claimed?

As the right hon Gentleman indicates, there is a difficulty in using need or hardship as a criterion. There are other methods which it would be easier to adopt. I can only say that this is not the time to make such changes, but it is very valuable, in this beautiful weather, to examine these very difficult problems.

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer whether, in view of the large capital profits made on the Stock Exchange in recent months, and the inflationary consequences of these profits, he will now take steps to introduce a capital gains tax.

The Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income discussed this matter at length in its final Report, to which I am giving close consideration, but I am not prepared to anticipate the outcome of my study.

Does not the Chancellor think that if what people earn by work is subject to taxation, there is a strong case for making capital profits also taxable?

I wish that it were quite as simple as that, so that I might pose as a hero, but the difficulty is that the majority Report of the Commission indicates some of the difficulties and the minority Report indicates some of the advantages. It is because I want time to get a fair picture of this matter in my own mind that I should not like to say anything further about it to the right hon. Gentleman today.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that these capital gains are rather the symptom of inflation than the cause of inflation?

Would my right hon. Friend remember that a Stock Exchange profit is not a profit until it has been taken and the stock sold, and if there were widespread selling to take profits, all share prices would fall, and the profits would not be available?

May we infer from the Chancellor's reply that he has not ruled out this suggestion altogether?

I cannot go further than I have stated, because I do not think that it is wise to pronounce upon a matter which took the Royal Commission so many months and, indeed, years to pronounce upon without having a look both at its recommendations and the operation of the scheme in America.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what directives have been given to the Bank of England with regard to bank overdrafts.

When the Bank Rate was raised on 24th February, I told the House of the need to moderate excessive internal demand. In the course of that statement I said that I was asking the Capital Issues Committee and the banks to adopt a more restrictive attitude towards finance for hire purchase. Otherwise I have not made any specific requests to the Bank of England on the subject of advances policy: but the terms of their letter published on 30th June show that the bankers are well aware of the significance of my statement and of the increase in the Bank Rate.

Would it not be helpful for the Chancellor to give a more positive direction, having regard to the balance of payments problem? Is it not important that firms concentrating on exports should have preference over those which are solely concerned with the home market?

I understand the reason for the hon. Member's statement, but I am perfectly well satisfied that the banks are aware of the Government's policy in this respect, of the importance of exports and of preserving the maximum possible degree of investment, and particularly of the importance of having strict monetary control. I do not think that in this country we can operate, as in some other countries, so much by direction as by agreement.

How can the banks be aware of the Government's policy in this matter if the right hon. Gentleman refuses to say anything about that policy, and would it not be better—unless he has made some secret communication to them —for him to say in definite terms, and in public, what kind of borrowing he wishes to discourage and what kind he wishes to leave unchanged?

The banks have observed my statement in this House and have perhaps read it even more carefully than has the right hon. Gentleman. We are in contact with the Bank of England and the other banks, and I am perfectly satisfied that they are well aware of what is in the mind of the Government and of the Government's policy.

Will my right hon. Friend call the attention of the boards of the nationalised industries to his remarks? Is he not aware that they are devouring credit which might be available to other borrowers, and by upsetting the balance they are having an adverse effect on the export industries?

It is important to realise that the public sector, as it is called, has an important responsibility in investment, and it is also important to realise that its claims must be taken pari passu with the rest of the economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the spread of automation, he will reconsider his economic policy to ensure that sufficient purchasing power is secured by the people to absorb the increased production.

The economic policy of the Government is constantly reviewed to take account of current developments. At present I see no signs that purchasing power is insufficient for our production.

Does the Chancellor of the Exchequer appreciate that, if unemployment is to be avoided, the second industrial revolution will require more public planning, and not less?

Yes, Sir. The difficulty at present is that we have more unfilled vacancies than unemployment and there is really a pressure the other way round from that which the hon. Gentleman suggests in his Question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when he expects to lay before the House the White Paper containing the salaries of members of the nationalised industries.

A White Paper containing a list of members of public boards of a commercial character, together with salaries, allowances and periods of appointment, is laid before the House annually. The current White Paper was presented last December and dealt with the position as at 1st November, 1954. It is intended to present another in December of this year.

Pending the issue of the White Paper, could the Financial Secretary tell me now what salary is being paid to Lord Balfour of Inchrye, who has recently been appointed a part-time member of British European Airways?

I could not answer that question without notice. All questions relating to British European Airways ought to be put to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation.

On a point of order. Last week the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation referred me to the hon. Gentleman. To whom do I go now?

That is not a point of order.

Further to that point of order. Surely it is important for hon. Members to know to which Minister Questions should be directed. I have put two Questions on the same issue to two different Ministers and each Minister has denied responsibility. Who is responsible?

I do not know who is responsible. My concern is that it is not a point of order.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now take steps to appoint a Minister of Cabinet rank whose sole duty will be to study and implement ways and means of bringing about total world disarmament.

No, Sir. I am satisfied that the present arrangements are those best calculated to achieve the results we all desire.

Does the declaration and appeal of the world's greatest scientists not impress the Prime Minister with the urgent need for some Minister to give his undivided attention to this grave and terrible problem?

Not only does a Minister give attention to it but the Cabinet gives attention to it. We all have to work according to our own constitutional practice.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the wide measure of agreement that junior Ministers should no longer be required to make disproportionate financial sacrifices in the public service; and if he will bring forward this Session proposals to raise their emoluments to an adequate level.

I have nothing at present to add to the answer I gave on 30th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to establish a Press Council with statutory powers to deal with complaints about the conduct of the Press in an appropriate manner.

No, Sir.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the Press Council decided a complaint against the "South London Press," which first knew of the hearing and decision when they were reported in another newspaper? Has not the time come for this rather slipshod Star Chamber to be abolished and replaced by a more judicial body which would at least give the accused some details of the charge and an opportunity of being heard in his defence?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman suggested in his Question a Press Council with statutory powers. He shakes his head, but that is what his Question says, and I am dealing with it. I find it hard to see how statutory powers could be effectively arranged which did not have some effect on the freedom of the Press, a matter about which this country should be very chary.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that Article II of the Draft Anglo-American Agreement on the exchange of Atomic Information for Defence Purposes, Command Paper No. 9508, provides that that agreement shall be subject to future United States legislation without including a similar provision safeguarding the right of Parliament to enact new legislation on atomic energy, if he will take steps to re-negotiate this Agreement on this point.

No, Sir. Although the United States Atomic Energy Act, 1954, considerably relaxed the restrictions previously enforced, during the period of the Agreement there may be further relaxations. The terms of Article 11 make provision for this possibility.

Is the Prime Minister really satisfied that the Agreement specifically safeguards the right of the United States Congress to alter its terms unilaterally while no such provision is made safeguarding the rights of Parliament in this matter?

The hon. Gentleman is not right. This provision allows for further relaxation in United States legislation and I hope, although we had better not say too much about it, that in the course of time there may be such further relaxation. There cannot be any relaxation in our legislation, because there is no such legislation.

Is the Prime Minister aware that there is nothing to prevent the United States Congress altering its legislation in the contrary sense?

I am aware of that. I have also told the House that all these arrangements are on the basis of reciprocity. I have also given the House a very full account of what the Agreements are. In view of their delicate character and the very great importance of confidential work between the United States and Britain at this time, I hope I may ask the House to be temperate in its Questions on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent the policy of Her Majesty's Government under Article III or any other provision of the Draft Agreement on the exchange of Atomic Information for Defence Purposes, Command Paper No. 9508, between the United States of America and the United Kingdom will now involve the screening of British atomic energy workers by American security officers.

None, Sir.

Is the Prime Minister aware that that categorical assurance will be received very gratefully by all sides of the House?

asked the Prime Minister, whether he will consider some form of integration for Malta with those other members of the British Commonwealth which have large Maltese populations and to which migration offers more possibilities than to the United Kingdom; and whether he will, therefore, in consultation with other members of the Commonwealth, invite representatives of some of the Dominions to the coming Round Table Conference on Malta.

The proposal made in my statement on 6th July, which proved generally acceptable to the House, is that the Round Table Conference should consider the constitutional questions arising from the proposals put forward by the Maltese Prime Minister for closer association between Malta and the United Kingdom. I see no need to widen its scope in the way suggested. The Commonwealth Governments will be kept fully informed.

Does my right hon. Friend realise, as I am sure he does, that there are more than 100,000 Maltese in Australia, whereas there are not more than about 10,000 in this country? If we are to take on considerable responsibility, would it not be a good idea for other Dominions to do so? In view of the fact that there may be Colonies which would like to join up with other Dominions, would it not be a good idea to augment the present Conference to cover all such problems at the start?

The question of migration from Malta is very important. Last year was a record year in Malta's history in that respect. The problem of the Round Table Conference is a constitutional one concerned with this Parliament, and therefore I do not see how I could bring in Commonwealth Governments.

asked the Prime Minister whether, at the coming Conference on Malta, he will follow the precedent of the conferences on Ireland in 1917, and later, in which others than elected Members of Parliament and Peers were present.

The Conference will be composed of representatives of the political parties here at Westminster but, as I said on 6th July, it would consult with representatives of the political parties in the Maltese Legislative Assembly, and it will, of course, be free to call for any other evidence it may wish to have.

Have there not been three or four general elections in Malta within the last three years, and during the present Maltese Parliament is there not one party which, for the first time, did not get elected? Is it not unfair that that party should not be included? With reference to my mention of Ireland in the Question, does my right hon. Friend realise that at the time I mention there were about 90 people present, and that they included representatives of the Churches, and parties like the Southern Irish Unionists, which was not at that time elected?

General Elections are a habit not exclusively confined to Malta. There have, of course, been changes of Government in many lands where they are freely elected. I have not intended that there should be any exclusion of the various points of view; in fact it is very important that we should have all points of view in Malta made available to us in these discussions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the estimated figures, respectively, for 1955 for houses to be built by private enterprise, and local authorities.

During the first five months of this year local authorities in England and Wales completed about 68,000 houses and private enterprise about 39,000.

Is the Minister aware that his policy of building houses for sale is taking labour from council estates, and that many local authorities, such as the Buckinghamshire County Council, cannot even get tenders for building council estates? Is it the doctrinaire policy of the Government slowly but surely to kill building by local authorities?

So far as any action by the Government is concerned, there is no reason why local authorities should not be able to build this year as many houses as they did last year. There has been a certain amount of difficulty owing to the weather in the earlier part of the year, but apart from that there is no reason why the work should not be done.