asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Committee on Welsh Diploma Courses that a national agricultural college of Wales should be established.

In the light of the views which I have received from the various interests concerned I have decided to set up a working party under my Welsh Secretary, and I am glad to say that the non-departmental organisations mainly concerned, namely, the University of Wales, the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and the Welsh Joint Education Committee have expressed their willingness to be represented on it. To assist me in reaching a decision on the proposal to establish a College at Aberystwyth the working party will examine further, with particular reference to any new factors that may have arisen since the Committee reported, the detailed arrangements that would be needed for this purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to correct the anomaly by which the joint stock banks are discouraged, by directive, from lending money for the purchase of shares, while hire-purchase finance houses can, and do, finance the purchase of shares on hire purchase.

The banks have been asked, in framing their advances policy, to have regard to the guidance my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the Capital Issues Committee on 1st July last that borrowing intended to finance the speculative buying or holding of shares, material or real property, should be discouraged. I note that a recent scheme for the purchase of shares on hire purchase includes a provision specifically designed to prevent the use of the facilities for speculative purposes. I am glad to take this opportunity to say that I deprecate credit financing for speculative purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to reduce the rate of interest at which the Colonial Development Corporation can borrow money now that the Bank Rate has been further reduced.

The rates at which the Exchequer lends to the Corporation are kept under review and changes are made when it is clear that there has been an alteration in the rates of Government credit for corresponding periods.