asked the President of the Board of Trade if, as a step towards combating inflation, he will increase substantially the deposit required on all hire-purchase agreements, and reduce the time and number of payments to complete.

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that quite recently one of the leading hire-purchase finance corporations showed an increase in bank overdrafts and loans of no less than £4 million in one year? Why should these corporations be exempted from the credit squeeze? Since inflation is the one great danger that the country faces, why does not my right hon. Friend do something about it?

The outstanding hire-purchase debt fell by some £90 million during 1956 and had risen by the end of May this year by £12 million. I do not think that that is a very serious change.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1)what plans he is making for the disposal of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Swynnerton in such a way as to create a higher level of employment in North Staffordshire;

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for the Swynnerton site to be made a development area site extending the same concessions and facilities to future industrialists who are prepared to commence production on the site.

It is too soon to say what local difficulties the closure of Swynnerton may create, but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and I will watch the position closely. The Board of Trade will bring to the notice of firms seeking new premises the facilities available at Swynnerton and elsewhere in North Staffordshire.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not too soon to say that unemployment in North Staffordshire has been higher than the national average for a long time and that the redundancies at these Royal Ordnance factories are liable to accentuate the problem? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the need for a speedy move to make plans for the disposal of these factories and for some constructive civil employment for these workers before they are thrown on to the scrap heap?

Employment in the pottery industry, I am glad to say, is better than it was. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that we must do our best in regard to the workers who may become redundant at Swynnerton, and we will.

At a time and on a day convenient to the President next week, will he receive a deputation consisting of the six North Staffordshire Members of Parliament in order that we can deal with the matter, and, if so, will he arrange to have present his officers who operate the Distribution of Industry Act? In view of the fundamental difference between those referred to in the White Paper yesterday and our own people, will the right hon. Gentleman treat the matter as one of urgency?

Yes, Sir. I am very ready to see Members of Parliament on anything.

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's offer to receive the deputation to which my hon. Friend referred, would he consider receiving at the same time Members of Parliament from North-East Lancashire so that they may hold a watching brief and give the benefit to the Staffordshire Members of their experience of the working of development councils so far as North-East Lancashire is concerned?

I think I will see the Members of Parliament from North Staffordshire first.

Whilst appreciating the right hon. Gentleman's reply, will he bear in mind that our percentage of unemployment is double the number to which the hon. Member referred?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what machinery he has established to assist in the disposal of Royal Ordnance factories which are no longer required for arms manufacture.

The existing machinery for consultation between Government Departments, and for bringing surplus Government factories to the notice of industrialists, will be used. If the Government has no alternative use for one of these factories, particulars are sent to Board of Trade regional controllers who are in close touch with firms needing new premises.

Is the President aware that the workers in these factories have more often than not rendered long and distinguished service to the country, often under very difficult conditions, and have built up a high esprit de corps; and that it would be a serious loss to the country if such labour forces were dispersed? Therefore, is he aware of the need to make speedy plans for the utilisation of these factories before creating new pockets of unemployment amongst workers who have rendered such great services to the country?

Yes, Sir. We certainly intend to do what we can, and I will discuss the particular difficulty with the hon. Member next week.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the items of food in which variation is permitted between net and average weight, and the permitted variation.

Weights and measures law requires minimum net weight to be marked on the containers of many pre-packed foods, but lays down no conditions about marking with average weight.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Weights and Measures Report urges that net weight only should be shown, and that inspectors have been asking for this for a number of years? When does he expect to give effect to their requests?

My understanding of the Hodgson Committee's Report is that it did not recommend any alteration in the legal position relating to the marking of average weight.

Will the hon. Gentleman read the Report again?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the items of non-food commodities sold to the public and in general use on which there is no statutory obligation to state weight, or number within boxes or packets.

All non-food commodities, whether pre-packed or not, except coal in sales over 2 cwt., and sand and ballast in sales over 1 ton or 1 cubic yard, can be sold without a statement of weight or number.

As there is such a wide fluctuation over such a great variety of items, can the hon. Gentleman say how it is possible accurately to assess the cost-of-living index?

The assessment of the cost-of-living index is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the items of food or substances used in the making thereof which can be sold to the public under his Regulations without any obligation to state average or net weight.

I am sending the hon. Lady the long list of foodstuffs which must be sold with some statement of their weight, measure or number.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that that will be much preferable to his giving to a supplementary of mine an idiotic answer?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in these days of self-service shops, of packaged goods and packaged vegetables, there is a very urgent need, in the interest of the housewife, for the Government to do something about extending the list of commodities which must be marked with an average weight, and will the Government say when they are prepared to do something about it?

I think that it is important to distinguish between net weight and average weight.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will withdraw the Customs Duty on imported sulphate of ammonia.

If an application for removal of this duty is made by users, I will consider it.

In any case, will the right hon. Gentleman look at this again, because the users have the benefit of a subsidy? Surely he is aware that this sulphate of ammonia is marketed by a very tight monopoly, and that we have no reflection in this country of the sharp falling of prices in America and all Europe.

The figures do not seem to bear out what the hon. Gentleman has just said. United Kingdom production is running at about one million tons per annum, and imports in the first five months of this year were fifty tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1)what efforts he is making to bring new industry to Dundee under the provisions of the Distribution of Industry Act;

I cannot at this stage add to the statement I made after Questions on 17th July, and to the further details given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in the debate on Industry in Scotland on 18th July.

In view of the new situation in Dundee, will the President now reverse his decision and re-open the local office of his Department there, and at least put Dundee on a par with Inverness? Will he also promise the House that he will refuse some industrial development certificates in London and the Midlands, and tell the industrialists who wish to develop to do so in Dundee?

I hope to do rather better than the hon. Gentleman suggested; but, about the local office, I would say that the Jute Controller has his office in Dundee, and I think that we must put this difficult problem into the hands of officials at a pretty high level. As to his second point, certificates are refused for London for new factories. We will do all we can to persuade industrialists to go to Dundee, but we cannot compel them.

Would not the President agree that the fact that the Jute Controller has his office in Dundee has very little to do with the Board of Trade having a local office there? That is what my hon. Friend was speaking about. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the closing of the local Board of Trade office in Dundee is, rightly or wrongly, regarded by the inhabitants of that city as a sign that the Government have lost interest in bringing in new industries and that nothing but re-opening that office will really give the citizens of Dundee confidence that efforts are to be made to bring industries into Dundee?

The Jute Controller, of course, gives us the facts about employment in the jute industry which are very important in this matter; and I hope to make arrangements that will satisfy the people of Dundee that they are better off than they would have been if they had just had the old office.

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the demise of the Jute Control would not be lamented in Kidderminster?

Can the President confirm what I thought he said in his statement ten days ago; that the Board of Trade is now prepared to build Government-financed factories, at any rate in Dundee?

The Treasury is prepared to make an exception of Dundee in granting loans for the building of factories when we can find someone who wants to go there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what changes he has made in the staffing of the United Kingdom Trade Commissioner's office in Canada so that greater help can be given to our exporters who wish to increase their sales in Canada.

Our commercial representation in Canada is kept under constant review. There has been an increase in strength during the last three years bringing the total to almost four times pre-war. According to the reports which I receive from many sources, the present arrangements are working satisfactorily.

But what about the present and future position? The Canadian Government have announced their policy of increasing imports from this country? Is he really satisfied that the organisation and staffing in Canada is good enough to enable us to take full advantage of that?

If I am not satisfied—and, of course, I shall look at it in the light of the Canadian Government's policy—I will certainly try to improve it further.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing control by North American companies of firms in the British motor industry; and what action he has taken, through the Motor Industry Advisory Council, to ensure that the policy of the motor industry as a whole remains subject to the requirements of national policy.

If by North American the hon. Gentleman means the Canadian people who have stood loyally by Great Britain for 200 years, I see no reason why they should not invest in the British motor industry.

The right hon. Gentleman has begged the Question. Is it not the case that with the prospective sale of the Standard Motor Company, more than half of the British motor industry will have passed into North American hands; and that in spite of the fact that Massey-Harris-Ferguson's is nominally a Canadian company, a great deal of the shareholding is in American hands? Does he consider it desirable that the policies of this great exporting and strategic industry should be decided in America. Will not the Government take action to ensure that the industry's policies are decided, not in Detroit, but here in Britain?

It is a bit late in the day.

I think that the hon. Gentleman is rather unfair to the American-controlled companies here, which have really made a very valuable contribution to our exports. I think that this investment by the Massey-Harris-Ferguson company here will be a good thing.

Is not it a fact that American capital in Dagenham and Luton has brought prosperity and high wages to the workers in those towns? Is my right hon. Friend aware that no steps should be taken to prevent capital, which we are unable to provide, coming to this country?

Will the right hon. Gentleman also take into account that, whatever short-term advantages there are, the long-term liabilities of this country in exporting capital to service the American capital invested here are also increased? Is he assuring the House that he is satisfied to see more than a majority of this large British industry, the motor car industry, passing into American control?

The House should not take it that it is more than half. My information is that at present, even with the Standard purchase, the proportion of the industry in British hands will still be more than half. However that may be, investment here by American companies on a reasonable scale has been a net benefit to the country.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has has been drawn to the threatened closure of certain textile mills at Prinlaws, Fife; and what steps he is taking in so far as his Department's responsibilities are concerned.

Yes, Sir, and the Board of Trade will take advantage of any suitable opportunity to bring these premises, if they are closed, to the notice of industry, thus supplementing the firm's efforts to find a new occupant.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that the threatened closure of these mills will cause unemployment to about 300 people, which is a very serious problem in this area as unfilled vacancies are now rather fewer than the number unemployed? What specific proposals does he have to ensure that if and when these mills become vacant they will not be left empty while there is unemployment in the area?

Unemployment in the Kirkcaldy district is low; it is only 1·5 per cent. If these mills are closed, the first thing which the firm will try to do, naturally, is to find a new occupier. We will give all the help we can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what evaluation he has made of the effect on the paper sack industry of the recent changes in jute control.

The changes referred to are likely to make imported jute sacks cheaper and should therefore improve their competitive position against substitutes. The precise effect on paper sacks which I cannot estimate will depend on a variety of commercial factors.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the paper sack industry is very worried about this development? In circumstances like this, would it not be better to have consultations with other industries likely to be affected by moves of this kind?

The paper sack industry got a measure of fortuitous protection. It would be impossible to consult all the industries with contrary interests and expect to get any kind of decision.

Does the right hon. Gentleman now agree that his move to dismantle jute control is obviously pleasing nobody.

It is pleasing me.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the opinion of the jute trade the mark-down is not sufficient to make any inroads into the paper bag trade? The jute industry is very worried by the statement he made last week and wants an early assurance that the markdown will at any rate be permanent for the next few years.

My hon. Friend the Member for South Angus (Sir J. Duncan)had better speak to our hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Kirk), because the hon. Member for Gravesend evidently feels that it will have some effect on the paper trade. We must see how it goes on. It is impossible to give an assurance for some years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make the quota for imports of apples from the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation countries dependent upon weight of imports and not on their monetary value.

No, Sir. Such a change would involve us in great practical difficulties.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that the c.i.f. price of Italian apples has fallen so low as to afford no protection to the home producer? Will he look at this matter again, bearing in mind that this section of agriculture gets no assistance from subsidies?

The hon. Member possibly exaggerates the result of the fall of price. From July, 1956, to July, 1957, 59,000 tons costing £2·88 million were brought in, while 42,500 tons costing £2·4 million were brought in two years before. There was not such a tremendous difference in the prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of British investment in Canada in the year 1951 and subsequent years.

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether investment in Canada has been increasing in recent years? Is it the desire of the Government to enable firms who want to invest in Canada to set up industries there to continue to do so?

We certainly wish to encourage direct investment in Canada to the extent we can afford. The Treasury is fairly liberal in allowing investment, especially where we can use our know-how and where there are good prospects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission or a Departmental Committee to consider what action shall be taken to avoid further inflation and achieve a gradual reduction in costs.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave to the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell)on 11th July.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that those of us who were in Germany during the days when inflation ran mountain high are becoming very concerned about the growing inflation in this country? Has not the time arrived to take action instead of having so much talk?

This is a matter which we are about to debate. The hon. Member has often made very valuable contributions to our economic debates and I hope that he will be able to do so today and put the hon. Member for Coventry, East (Mr. Crossman)in his place.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my proposal the other day about the appointment of an impartial body to consider inflation and its consequences is now being supported by many eminent industrialists, financiers, sociologists, including Lord Beveridge, and others? Is there any reason why a body of this kind should not be competent enough to make recommendations on the subject?

This is the same Question which the right hon. Gentleman raised the other day. I answered then that I thought that a Royal Commission or a Select Committee was not suitable to deal with the wide-ranging implications of such an inquiry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that recent reductions in Purchase Tax have, in most cases, been passed on to the consumer; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that all reductions of Purchase Tax result in the retail prices of the articles concerned being lower than they would otherwise be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what inquiries he is conducting into the anomalies of Purchase Tax.

My right hon. Friend is examining the points raised in the debates on the Finance Bill.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that bit of news, may I ask him if he would kindly convey to his right hon. Friend the fact that the housewives of this country will be very grateful, because they are increasingly concerned about the absurdity of the anomaly?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the latest state of the negotiations on the establishment of a European Free Trade Area.

I would draw the attention of my hon. and gallant Friend to the Answer I gave on 17th July to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the longer the delay in explaining this matter to the public, the worse will be public opinion's regard for it?

Many hon. Members have made speeches in the country on this subject. I have made many myself. We are, however, pressing on with negotiations as rapidly as we can.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what voting powers Her Majesty's Government exercise in the affairs of the Cunard Steamship Company Limited arising from the possession of one £20 Government share; what benefit has arisen from the possession of £46 Ordinary shares; and what part the Government exercise as a result of the ownership of these shares in the direction of the company's affairs.

The £20 Government share issued in 1903 confers a voting right equal to 25 per cent. of all other votes in the event of a proposal to amend the articles of association of the company in order to allow any shares to be owned by foreigners. Her Majesty's Government have had no occasion to exercise this right.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that that principle might well be applied to the motor industry to provide the same sort of safeguard as was thought necessary in 1903 for our shipping?

As the hon. Member knows, since 1903 the Exchange Control Acts have been operating, and the Government now have control over the acquisition of the control of companies in this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to resolve the difficulties facing the trustees of village halls since the judgment in the House of Lords in the Baddeley case some two years ago; and when he expects to reach a solution of this matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. McKay)on the Report stage of the Finance Bill on 16th July.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many trustees of village halls are frustrated in their efforts to provide accommodation for the village people because of the decision in this case?

I am aware of the difficulties which the decision in the Baddeley case has presented and the Government are anxious to remedy the situation comprehensively as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much sterling is paid to the United States of America in royalties for the copyright of parlour games on radio and television.

I regret that separate figures of dollar expenditure on transactions of this kind are not available.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the game "Twenty Questions" is included? If so, is he aware that it is on record that Hannah Moore and Mrs. Fielding taught this game to Lord Palmerston in 1786—so should copyright be paid for?

The answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary is that I do not know; the answer to the second part is that I am always grateful to receive information.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Lord Palmerston was only two years old at that time, though he was always a little precocious? Apart from that, is he aware that many of us share the concern of the hon. and gallant Member for Poole (Captain Pilkington)on this point, in that most of these things are games which have been played for, perhaps, hundreds of years in this country, and it is quite fantastic that anybody should copyright them, but that, to my knowledge, when questions have been put to B.B.C. sources about it, we have been told that we do not have to pay royalties for games of this kind, and if we had to, the names could always be changed and the games be kept?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Lord Palmerston at that time, like the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson), walked about without any shoes?

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that, apparently, the right hon. Member for Huyton is not aware that there was more than one Lord Palmerston?

Order. I do not see what Lord Palmerston has to do with this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to increase the Scottish representation on the Committee of the Arts Council.

The affairs of the Arts Council in Scotland are managed by a Scottish Committee, which meets in Edinburgh, and distributes the grant allotted to Scotland by the Council.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that we are anxious in Scotland that the Arts Council nationally should be made conscious of some immediate dangers facing the repertory theatre movement in Scotland, and we are anxious, too, that the Arts Council should give some sympathetic consideration to special assistance in order to overcome these temporary difficulties?

There is every opportunity for Scottish interests to be represented on and to the Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage of present investment in the roads programme as compared with that in electricity, coal and railways, respectively.

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will with permission publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In view of the fact that the percentage is, I have no doubt, extremely small, does not my hon. Friend think that there should be a review in order to increase the very necessary expenditure on the roads programme?

I think that, when he studies them, my hon. and gallant Friend will find that the figures do cast an interesting light upon the proportions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further criticisms he has received in respect of the design of the new £5 note; and what steps he now intends to take in this matter.

None, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend really satisfied with this note, which looks like a cross between stage money and the £1 Scottish bank note, and will he really do something to ensure that these designs are submitted to the Council of Industrial Design before they are launched on an unsuspecting public?

The design was considered very carefully before it was introduced, and the bulk of the information reaching my right hon. Friend is that the new note is proving popular.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that the staffs in shops and other places in Scotland are very much concerned about this £5 note, because it is so like the Scottish £1 note that there is great danger of giving one away in change for another £5 note?

Is the Financial Secretary aware that it has been reported in the Press during the last week that a bank in Ireland paid out £1,000 instead of £200 because it had mistakenly used £5 notes instead of £1 notes?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of money, in dollars, paid by the United Kingdom to overseas countries between the years 1945 to 1955 in respect of grants of assistance, loans, and reductions of principal and interest on loans, respectively, and also in dollars, the amount of private investment by United Kingdom nationals in overseas territories during this period.

As the Answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to restrain the growth of inflation and preserve the value of the £ sterling.

These matters are to be debated this afternoon.

Can we be assured now, in view of the Chancellor's recent alarmist speeches, that he will this afternoon put forward concrete proposals?

No doubt the right hon. Gentleman will listen with attention to what my right hon. Friend has to say.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. 3d. by June, 1953, 17s. 3d. by June, 1955, and 16s. 5d. by June, 1956; and what was the comparable figure for June, 1957.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." The answer to the second part is 15s. 11d. These calculations are based on the Index of Retail Prices.

In view of the Chancellor's contradictory statements, can the Minister clear up the question which has been asked in the Press and elsewhere whether this continuing decline in the value of the £ is to be taken as a grim warning of the bright future that looms ahead, or, on the other hand, as an encouraging sign of the impending doom which brightens our prospects?

While appreciating the hon. Gentlemen's ready wit, I would ask him to await my right hon. Friend's speech.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to check the renewed expansion of bank advances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the banks have allowed a £83,300,000 June increase in overdrafts, bringing the total to over £2,000 million; that, since January, despite the Treasury directives, the banks have allowed these overdrafts to increase by nearly £216 million; whether he will take powers to inquire to whom these overdrafts have been issued and for what purpose; and what action he proposes to take to stop these inflationary activities of the banks.

The increase in the end-June figures is partly seasonal. The mid-July figures published today show a reduction since end-June of £88 million. Taken together, these figures do not lead my right hon. Friend to conclude that the arrangements for the control of bank credit announced in his Budget statement of 9th April are not operating to good effect.

Does the Economic Secretary then think that no further measures are necessary at all?

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to await my right hon. Friend's speech.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now put in hand measures to obtain general dividend limitation.

Restraint in the payment of dividends is certainly still necessary, but I doubt whether statutory regulation would most effectively secure this. Different companies have different needs, and I think that it is generally best to rely on the judgment of responsible managements.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the Government's emphasis on the desirability of limiting wage increase claims would convey much more conviction if some definite action were taken to limit this very inflationary source of income?

The hon. Gentleman will, of course, appreciate that dividend policy as a whole in this country is far more conservative than it was before the war. Before the war, about 60 per cent. of income was distributed, and now the proportion is only about 29 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Her Majesty's Treasury are insisting that potential borrowers requiring capital for dollar-earning assets such as oil tankers should borrow the necessary capital in New York, involving dollar repayments, instead of making the necessary arrangements to allow the money to be borrowed in this country.

The Treasury does not insist that potential borrowers of capital for dollar earning assets should borrow abroad.

In the particular case of which details were sent to the Treasury, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that finance could have been obtained in this country if Treasury permission had been forthcoming? Does not it seem a wrong policy that, when we can earn dollars in this way, we should not attempt at any rate to raise the finance in this country instead of adding to our dollar obligations?

If I am right in identifying the company which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind, it was refused a loan by the Ship Mortgage Finance Company, on the ground that, by its constitution, the Ship Mortgage Finance Company cannot lend money for the construction of ships abroad, and it was the construction of ships abroad which was in issue.

While one is well aware of that, is not the right hon. Gentleman willing to look at this in order to see whether, in so far as the Treasury has control over this matter, it could not relax these conditions, bearing in mind that the Exports Credit Guarantee Department is quite willing to provide facilities for third country trade and does not insist on the expenditure in this country?

The demands on the resources of the Ship Mortgage Finance Company in financing construction in this country are very considerable, and I do not think that it would really help if we were to alter its constitution.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when and where it is proposed to hold a Commonwealth Economic and Trade Conference.

As the House knows, the Prime Minister of Canada has invited the Commonwealth Finance Ministers to hold a meeting in Ottawa at the end of September. My right hon. Friend looks forward to attending this meeting, which will provide an opportunity of considering the general questions of Commonwealth economic development and Commonwealth trade. The question whether a further and special meeting would be useful will, no doubt, be discussed in Ottawa.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider affording credit facilities to India solely with a view to maintaining the relative stability of the rupee.

The maintenance of the stability of the rupee is the responsibility of the Government of India. Their reserves of gold and foreign exchange are substantial and amounted on 12th July last to £419 million.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that Britain's position as banker to the sterling area will become rather precarious if prompt and sufficient help is not given to member countries which are in difficulty?

As I said, India has very considerable reserves in this country, upon which she is entitled to draw.

Whose responsibility is the maintenance of the stability of the £?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the insufficiency of the allocations made by the University Grants Committee for the quinquennium beginning on 1st August of this year.

None. Sir.

Is not the Financial Secretary aware that there have been reports in the Press that all the universities in the country are disturbed by these allocations, and in particular by the fact that in these general grants to each university the allocation to each faculty is also designated, and, in some cases, sufficient emphasis is not placed by some universities on the need for expanding technological education? Will the Minister take note of that aspect of the matter?

These are misconceptions. The recurrent grant is not allocated to subjects, but it is a block grant to the universities concerned. My right hon. Friend, and, I think, the University Grants Committee, have received no representations as regards the distribution between universities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet authorised the sale by Messrs. Standard Motors, Limited to Messrs. Massey-Harris-Ferguson, Incorporated, of the ordinary shares of the company.

Yes, Sir. Permission under the Exchange Control Act, 1947, has been given.

While regretting that reply, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to inquire into the extent to which shares in the purchasing company are held in the United States? Will he bear in mind that the interests of the American motor industry do not necessarily correspond with the interests of the British industry?

If that is so, I will certainly inquire into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make arrangements to invest all outstanding post-war credits in Premium Bonds, pending their withdrawal under the existing regulations.

No, Sir.

Will the Minister say why not? What is the objection? Why cannot it be done? Would it not be a reasonable compromise between repaying the whole lot and the present unsatisfactory arrangements, which do not commend themselves to anybody?

The purpose of the Premium Bonds is to serve as vehicles for new savings, and not as a means of distributing money raised by taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent a knowledge of the Welsh language is deemed to be a qualification for the post of an inspector-in-charge and an inspector of Inland Revenue, respectively, at Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

Such knowledge is a relevant but not essential qualification.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what examination he is making into the position of pensioners for whom the Treasury is responsible; and the tax position of those on small fixed incomes who will be affected by the rise in fuel costs and rents.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to her and to my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Sharples)on 2nd July.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that, since those Answers, the Prime Minister has made a speech in which he pointed out that this country was very good for most people, with which I concur? At the same time, may I ask him if he would do something for these people without whose help and thrift in days past this country would not exist to be good for the rest of the people?

In my right hon. Friend's Budget, a good deal has been done for the tax position of those on small fixed incomes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will undertake to examine the position of those in the small range of incomes who were affected by the alteration in the band of income tax reliefs in the 1955 Budget, with a view to ameliorating their position while, at the same time, preserving the arrangements in respect of the higher income groups.

My right hon. Friend has noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Will my hon. Friend convey to his right hon. Friend the fact that I am looking forward to seeing him tomorrow morning and providing him with the facts and figures on which I hope he will act in his next Budget, and that I am starting in good time so that he cannot argue that he has not been told?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications were received for the 98 appointments to the Information Officer Class of the Civil Service; how many applicants, not already in the Civil Service, have been interviewed; and how many applicants over the age of 45 years have been offered interviews for these appointments.

One thousand six hundred and seventy-three have applied; 127 not employed in the Civil Service have been offered interview, and 112 of these are over 45.

Is the Minister aware that there is a general feeling amongst people qualified to apply for these posts that the advertisements which are usually posted when there is a vacancy are merely gestures, and that anyone outside the Civil Service proper has no chance whatsoever of obtaining one of these jobs?

I am glad to have an opportunity of stating that the Commissioners, in selecting candidates for interview, have no regard to whether a candidate is or is not at the moment a member of the Civil Service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he is doing to encourage artificial insemination in pig breeding.

Further research on technical problems is still necessary before a commercial service of artificial insemination for pigs can be established. This research is being conducted by the Agricultural Research Council working in close association with four cattle A.I. centres which are operating pilot schemes. There is also experimental work at the centre operated by my Department at Reading. Provision to enable the Milk Marketing Board to undertake an A.I. service for pigs is included in the Agriculture Bill that is now before Parliament.

Is the Minister aware that the artificial insemination of cattle is a development which has had an enormous effect in improving cattle? Does he agree with that suggestion, and does he realise that pig breeders are very disappointed at the apparent lack of enthusiasm for a similar development for pigs?

I would agree entirely with the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, but I would remind him that in respect of pigs there are technical difficulties that do not arise with cattle.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he will make a statement on the action he proposes to take to prevent the export of subsidised foodstuffs.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave about the export of eggs to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd)on 18th July. My right hon. Friend has no reason to believe that the export of other foods subject to the agricultural guarantee arrangements is causing or likely to cause serious prejudice to the interests of other countries.

As we have been embarrassed in the past by other imports of subsidised goods, does not the hon. Gentleman think that it would be better to prohibit these exports generally, rather than only for eggs?

No, Sir. I do not think that is really called for at present. Naturally, we consider any case that arises, and I think it would be better to leave it that way.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to lay before Parliament new regulations prescribing improved working conditions and welfare facilities for persons working in slaughterhouses.

My right hon. Friend has no authority at present to make such regulations but he proposes to seek power to do so in legislation giving effect to the Government's slaughterhouse policy to be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time permits.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether that means next Session?

It means exactly what I said.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that everyone interested expects his legislation next Session, and that it has been delayed for far too long already?

I agree that there is every need for it. We shall seek to bring it in as soon as we can.