asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now pre-pared to introduce provisions to abolish Schedule A tax.

Amendments to the Finance Bill have been put down on this subject. In these circumstances, my right hon. Friend feels that he ought to wait to see if one of them is selected in order to use that occasion to communicate his views to the House of Commons.

Surely this is a somewhat new constitutional procedure? Will the Financial Secretary explain to us why on earth the principle has ever been evolved that. because our climate is so had and I am compelled to buy an expensive roof to put over my head, that is a source of revenue to me, and why I should have to pay the Chancellor for providing an office for my constituents and a permanent receptacle for soap and pools advertisements?

This is a matter on which views are divided on both sides of the House, and probably it would be more conveniently debated in amplitude when the Committee stage of the Finance Bill is resumed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent resolutions he has received from organisations in Scotland calling for the abolition of Schedule A tax; and what has been the nature of his reply.

So far as I can trace, my right hon. Friend received representations before the Budget from one such body. That was acknowledged in the usual way.

Is not the Minister aware that the Scottish Tory Party—

The Unionist Party.

—the Unionist Party passed a unanimous resolution and that indignant property owners demanded the abolition of this tax? Can it be that they rely on me? How does the hon. and learned Gentleman explain that this body is so inefficient that it cannot even send its letters to the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

My right hon. Friend was aware of the resolution which the hon. Gentleman mentioned, but the hon. Gentleman, of course, is always an acceptable channel of communication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to introduce provisions exempting old-age pension from Income Tax.

No, Sir.

Would not the Financial Secretary consider the principle of this matter? What happens is that we say to the old-age pensioner, "The Government will contribute 20 per cent. of your savings if you will be good enough to contribute, and if you survive we will take the chance of pinching 50 per cent. of it back when you get old". This really is a swindle. It is very undesirable and, as the amount involved is very small indeed, would not the hon. and learned Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to look at it again?

Successive Governments have taken the view that the right principle is to make the contributions deductible in arriving at the taxable income, and then tax the pension itself, just like any other income. It must be remembered that the retirement pension is payable without regard to the pensioner's means, and therefore is payable to millionaire and pauper alike.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his estimate of the annual saving in administrative costs which would result from the abolition of Entertainments Duty.

There would be a small saving, but a precise estimate cannot be given.

As much paper work is involved in collecting this tax, and in view of the fact that the death rate from Entertainments Duty on cinemas is so high—866 cinemas have closed in the last five years—does not the Economic Secretary think that it would be a good idea to make this saving now, even if it is only a small one?

No. The saving would be very small, and the cost of collection is as economical as in other fields of Customs and Excise work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the revenue from Entertainments Duty comes from cinemas currently operating at a loss; and what estimate of the closure of cinemas he has made in calculating the revenue from Entertainments Duty for the coming year.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, it is not the practice to disclose the basis on which Budget estimates are made.

Is not the Economic Secretary aware that the Entertainments Duty on cinemas is being collected from cinemas which are operated at a loss? Is not he aware that this is grossly unfair, and, in view of the widespread interest in the very respectably supported new Clause recently put down on the Notice Paper for the reduction of Entertainments Duty on cinemas through the Finance Bill, will he say if we should now take it that the Chancellor has suffered a change of heart on this subject?

I think I should remind the hon. Gentleman that the duty is levied on the cinema-goer when he enters the cinema, and the cinema passes on the duty to the Customs and Excise. This is not a tax on cinemas as such. Indeed, a number are exempt. As regards the new Clause on the Notice Paper for the Finance Bill, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would not expect me to anticipate any debate that might take place upon it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate loss of Entertainments Duty due to closures of cinemas in Wales during the last twelve months; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that it is not possible to make the estimate for which my hon. Friend asks, and in the circumstances my right hon. Friend has no statement to make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received from cinema companies, and from individuals in Wales, since 1st January last, regarding the effect of Entertainment Duty upon cinemas.

Nine up to the end of last week.

Does my hon. Friend recall how during the most trying days of the war many tributes were paid to the contribution of the cinema industry in sustaining morale? At this moment when the Home Secretary is concerned about certain forms of hooliganism, might it not be a good thing in his future assessment of the position that notice should be taken of the contribution which the cinema industry has made in this field too?

Yes, Sir. I think it is possible to say as much of many different forms of desirable entertainment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the main economic activities. other than industrial production, which contributed to a rising real personal disposable income per head between 1954 and 1958.

The trend of real personal disposable income per head depends on a number of factors besides the level of industrial production. These include in the first place production outside industry, that is, in agriculture, transport, distribution, public administration and other service industries; in the second place, the movement of the terms of trade; and in the third place, the proportionate share of the real national income accruing as disposable income to persons.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that he has not even tried to answer my Question, which was not "Which are the other forms of production?", but "Which were the ones which have risen since 1954?" Will he not come clean now and admit that practically the whole of this alleged rise in real incomes per head since 1954 has been due to the fall in import prices?

No, Sir; certainly not. I have tried to give as full and as helpful an answer as possible to the Question, but this is a rather complicated subject. With regard to the various factors which have made a difference, I would mention the fall in the cost of defence.

Is not the Economic Secretary aware that ever statistician knows that the real cause of any rise in real personal disposable incomes has been the fall in import prices? If he really contests that, would he mention one other form of economic activity which has significantly risen in these years?

I accept that the fall in import prices is one of the factors, but other factors have been at work.

Is not the main economic activity the organisation of a free society under this Government?

Can the Economic Secretary give us a statistical measure of that?

Not without notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the rise in real personal dis- posable income per head between 1955 and the lastest available period.

It is estimated that real personal disposable income per head increased by 6·3 per cent. between 1955 and 1958.

Does not that show that much the greater part of the rise which the Chancellor has claimed—2·7 per cent. a year—occurred in the first year, between 1954 and 1955, and that since then progress has been extremely slow, even on that definition?

No, Sir. The figures which I have just given are not inconsistent with my right hon. Friend's Answer earlier. What I am beginning to feel is that some suspicion is growing that the right hon. Gentleman does not know what real personal disposable income is.

Is there not a good deal of evidence that we are now prepared as a nation to take another bold step forward in this direction?

I am glad to confirm that.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us what real personal disposable income is?

I should be glad to forward the right hon. Gentleman the definition and at the same time refer him to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend a few weeks ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the loans for council house building is being provided by the Public Works Loan Board; and what proposals he has for increasing it.

It is estimated that, in the financial year, 1958–59, approximately 8 per cent. of local authority loans for house building came from the Public Works Loan Board. My right hon. Friend does not propose any change in the present arrangements under which the Public Works Loan Board lends only in so far as local authorities are unable to raise their capital in the market.

Is not this exceedingly low proportion of 8 per cent. due to the high interest rate of 5¾ per cent. for loans over thirty years? If the Government really wanted to expand council house building, could they not either provide special low interest loans themselves or make a grant to the Board so that it could reduce its rate to 3 per cent., which was the rate up to 1951?

No, Sir. With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, we do not accept that the low percentage is an indication of excessively high interest rates. We contend that the present arrangements fully provide for the supply of local authority needs. With regard to making loans at a specially low rate of interest available to local authorities, that would be contrary to the policy which has been explained by my right hon. Friend on many occasions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what principal items of Commonwealth imports into the United Kingdom were covered by the terms proposed for United Kingdom membership of the European Common Market; and what percentage, by value, these items make up of the total imports from the Commonwealth.

If the United Kingdom were to become a member of the European Economic Community on the same terms as the present members the common external tariff of the Six would apply to Commonwealth goods, including foodstuffs and raw materials, entering the United Kingdom. This would mean that over a wide field Commonwealth goods would cease to enjoy free entry into the United Kingdom.

Can my hon. Friend give us some idea of what percentage of the overall picture this represents so that we can really see how big the problem is?

It is not possible to give an exact percentage because the terms of the Question are necessarily hypothetical. The common external tariff of the Six has not yet been finally worked out.

Will it mean a tariff on Canadian wheat, for instance?

I would not say that it would mean a tariff on Canadian wheat, but commodities which are admitted duty-free into this country and would also, as far as we know, be admitted duty-free into the Common Market countries amount to only about 15 per cent. of total Commonwealth imports into this country. With regard to wheat. I should like notice of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy with regard to the formation of a European Free Trade Area which does not include the common market countries.

As has often been stated, a multilateral association of the members of the European Economic Community with the other members of O.E.E.C. remains the objective of Her Majesty's Government. We continue to examine all possible steps, including an association of the kind to which the hon. Member refers, which might help towards this end.

May we take it that the Government will be undeterred by their previous failures and will persevere in getting a proper solution?

I assure the hon. Gentleman that our ultimate goal remains the association of the Six with the other countries of O. E. E. C.

Is not it true that at the moment the Government are sitting back and doing nothing and merely waiting for some initiative to come from the Six?

No. I could not accept the implication in that supplementary question.

Is not it true that under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General the Inter-Governmental Committee of O.E.E.C. worked for a very long time to try to reach some form of multilateral association? Will he recognise the very real political and economic dangers of a continued schism in Europe. and do all he can to bring about this association?

I know that my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General will be very glad to read the tribute which my hon. Friend has paid to him, and will continue to work as hard as he can in this direction.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will devise a scheme for using the capital surrendered as Estate Duty for investment in the Commonwealth or some other useful field instead of spending it as revenue and thereby reducing the nation's wealth.

No, Sir. It would be a departure from accepted principles of Government finance to hypothecate particular items of revenue for the sort of purpose suggested. In any case, since a large proportion of Government capital expenditure is met from current revenue, I could not accept the implication of the Question.

Would it not be better if our finances were put on the right basis to start with, namely. that capital should be used for capital purposes and not revenue, which would mean reversing sonic of the present arrangements?

In 1958–59. Estate Duty yielded about £170 million but Government expenditure on capital account far exceeded that, amounting to about £1,000 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue was received by the Treasury during the last financial year from taxation of dividends on shares and unearned income generally t and how much this sum would have been increased if there had been an additional old-age pension levy of Is. in the £ on all taxes resulting from unearned income.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. It is not practicable to apportion the tax revenue from mixed incomes between earned and investment income. It follows that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is also not available.

As the overwhelming majority of the poorer people and those on low incomes cannot afford increased contributions under the National Insurance scheme, will the Chancellor, if and when he increases old-age pensions, adopt the suggestion in my Question? The overwhelming majority of the people feel that it is better to stop this money out of unearned income than out of income which is earned by the sweat of the worker's brow.

The supplementary question rests on a hypothetical basis, but I will draw the hon. Gentleman's suggestion to the attention of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what complaints he has received since the beginning of 1959 about the excessive rates of mortgage interest charged by building societies and what replies he has made.

The Treasury has received about a dozen complaints about the rate of interest charged on building society mortgages. The reply has been that the rate. of interest on mortgages must re- main a matter for settlement between a society and its borrowers.

In spite of today's announcement of a cut, possibly prompted by this Question on the Order Paper, is not it a fact that, with one or two honourable exceptions, the building societies have been too greedy for too long, very quick to put up the rates but very slow to bring them down? Is not it, therefore. a matter for consideration that, if the building societies want trustee status, the Government should have some say in deciding what the interest rates should be? At present the building societies are complete dictators in this respect.

So far from their being complete dictators, there is a large unsatisfied demand for loans from building societies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an approximate estimate as to how much the balance of payments has been affected from September, 1957, to April, 1959, as a result of the fall in import prices.

No, Sir. While the United Kingdom's balance of payments in the period referred to undoubtedly benefited from the fall in import prices, it is not possible to make any dependable quantitative estimate of that benefit. Some items in the balance of payments, such as the cost of imports, were affected in our favour; others moved the other way, as for example income from investments abroad and export earnings. The effect of any one factor cannot be isolated and measured.

Will not the hon. Gentleman at least agree that the effect has been a lucky windfall of about £350 million a year, and that that sum accounts almost entirely for the improvement in the balance of payments, and also for the diminution of inflation which has occurred in the last year or so?

No. I could not accept the hon. Gentleman's argument, because it so happens that at the beginning of the period which he has selected import prices were abnormally high and much higher than they had been for the previous three or four years, so that it is quite incorrect to suggest that we have made a windfall gain, as he described it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of local government debt outstanding on 31st March, 1958, was due to be repaid in five years or less and in one year or less; and whether he will give corresponding figures for 31st March, 1954.

A survey was recently made of the composition of local authority loan debt, as at 31st March, 1955, and 31st March, 1958, for England and Wales, and as at 15th May in those two years for Scotland. The results, which covered 98.8 per cent. of the total debt of all authorities in Great Britain, show that the proportion of debt repayable within one year rose from 5.5 per cent. in 1955 to 11.5 per cent. in 1958, while the proportion repayable within five years rose from 11 6 per cent. to 23.1 per cent. between the same dates. There is no similar information for the year 1954.

Can my hon. Friend say how the trend is continuing? Has he any indication of what has happened in subsequent years?

No. We have no indication of the trend because we have not undertaken a further survey, but we are considering whether it would be desirable to introduce a periodic survey so that we could have this information more readily available.

Do the Government welcome this trend?

They see no reason to disapprove of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the payments due to clerical officers under the arbitration award made last February will be made.

All payments due under the award for the period 1st July, 1957, to 30th November, 1958, were made by 31st March. Most clerical officers will receive the new rates, with the rest of the arrears, by the end of May and nearly all 'the remainder by the end of June.

Why does it take so long for the Government to meet their obligations in this respect? Some of these clerical officers will have had to wait many months before they get the money to which they are properly and legally entitled.

The reason why it has taken some time to complete payments is the enormous complexity of the calculations of the arrears.

the Chancellor of the Exchequer to how many applicants in England and in Cornwall, respectively, the granting of financial assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, has been approved, to the most recent convenient date.

Fourteen applications from England—excluding Wales—have been approved. This total includes six from Cornwall.

How many applications from Cornwall have been received, and how many have been rejected?

The total number of firm and eligible applications received in respect of Cornwall is 22, of which 7 have been rejected while 9 are still under consideration.

the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider assisting local authorities in Scotland to proceed with schemes which will reduce unemployment by providing such local authorities with loans at a reduced rate of interest.

The rates of interest on loans to local authorities from the Public Works Loan Board are fixed to reflect the rates payable by local authorities in the open market. My right hon. Friend could not agree to preferential interest rates for those authorities which borrow from the Board.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many local authorities would go forward with schemes which would give work to the unemployed if the rate of interest were reduced? Is he again putting the interest of the moneylenders before the interest of the unemployed?

No. We are far more interested in the maintenance of a sound and stable currency.

Is not the Minister aware that the Secretary of State for Scotland is appealing to local authorities to get started with works and that one of the things which is preventing them is the fact that rates of interest are prohibitive? What does he intend to do about it?

I do not accept that the rates are prohibitive, but it is certainly right. that local authorities should borrow in the market, just like everybody else, and that for those who are not able to do so there should be the facilities of the Public Works Loan Board.

Why should local authorities have to pay a higher rate on interest for public money than the rates at which the Government are lending to building societies?

Because the two circumstances are different. Rates for Government lending to building societies are fixed in accordance with the arrangements made between the Government and the building societies, and the rates at which the societies are able to borrow. The rates for loans to local authorities through the Public Works Loan Board are fixed so as to be in alignment with the rates paid by local authorities which are able to borrow in the market.

the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that discussions on standards for children's shoes have now been going on for more than four years; on what date those relating to certain components for children's shoes were commenced; and when he expects these to be concluded.

Yes, Sir. I understand that discussions between the British Standards Institution and footwear manufacturers on standards for certain components of children's shoes began in September last. I hope that satisfactory standards will emerge, but I cannot predict how soon that might be.

Does not even the Board of Trade get a little tired of this procrastination, which is a polite word for the delay? Does not the hon. Gentleman think that something should be done to bring these discussions to an early conclusion?

I think we ought to get this whole problem into more perspective than the hon. Lady's questions sometimes suggest. Through the survey recently carried out by the Consumer Advisory Council it was found that most people are reasonably satisfied with children's shoes and that 90 per cent. said that they would buy the same make again, while 63 per cent. said that they found nothing wrong.

But two-thirds of the people replying said that they were not satisfied with children's shoes. Will not the hon. Gentleman look at his figures again and not choose those which suit his purpose.

So far as I am aware, only 10 per cent. expressed criticism of children's shoes.

Sixty per cent.

the President of the Board of Trade whether, as this would help employment in the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee area of Lanarkshire as hitherto defined, he will be willing to consider applications for help from firms willing to settle at Douglas or Douglas, West.

Such applications would be fully considered if they would help employment in the adjoining D. A. T. A. C. areas.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that far more forthcoming reply than I have heard hitherto, may I ask him to bear in mind that there is considerable housing for key industrial workers available at this place which is only a few miles outside the D. A. T. A. C. area as hitherto defined? One or two cases have already come to my attention of firms that might be interested in going there. Will he do his utmost to give them all possible help?

I am willing to listen to any representations from my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of United Kingdom total imports from the Commonwealth is made up of foodstuffs.

About 43 per cent. in 1958.

Does not this indicate that there is in fact quite a high percentage—this 43 per cent. of foods and the 15 per cent. which we were given last week for commodities—in which there are already zero tariffs between ourselves and the Common Market? Does not this indicate that there is at least 58 per cent. of Commonwealth trade which would not be affected at all by our joining the Common Market and that, therefore, the problem involved is not nearly as big as has been made out?

I think that goes rather wide of the Question that I was asked, but I am sure my hon. Friend's arithmetic is extremely good.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what principles will be applied in dealing with applications for additional bulb quota; and, in view of the fact that the right to an import quota has a substantial marketable value, what steps will be taken to prevent persons from obtaining a greater quota than they intend to use.

An advisory committee, representative of the various interests concerned, will assist the Board of Trade to allocate the additional quota equitably between applicants. I am sure that the committee will have the hon. Member's point well in mind.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the effect of the quota is that the recipients of the quota make excessive profits and the consumers pay too high a price? Would not the most satisfactory arrangement be to abolish the quota altogether?

My right hon. Friend has made it quite clear that we hope ultimately to be able to abolish this and other restrictions.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that there are some areas in England where bulbs are produced and that an unrestricted importation of Dutch bulbs would he highly damaging to those areas?

the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning breaches of the Advertisements (Hire-Purchase) Act; and what action he proposes.

the President of the Board of Trade how many cases have been taken up by his Department under the Advertisements (Hire-Purchase) Act since this came into force some fifteen months ago.

With permission, will answer Questions Nos. 30 and 35 together.

On a point of order. My hon. Friend's Questions refers to possible future action by the Board of Trade. My Question is something quite different and asks what has happened in the past. In those circumstances might we not have Question No. 35 answered separately.

We had better wait to hear the Answer. It may cover both Questions.

With permission, I will try to answer this Question and No. 35 together.

Is the Minister aware that I can provide him with a dozen cases in which the trade associations have received large numbers of complaints. Further, is he aware that trade associations have been told by the Board of Trade that it has no intention of prosecuting, and in fact there has not been a single prosecution in England under this Act? What is the good of passing laws if they are not to be acted upon?

In the first place, it is open to any organisation or any member of the public to bring a prosecution under the 1957 Act. Secondly, the Board of Trade is anxious that the Act should be observed. Our view is that it is being generally observed and we do not regard it as appropriate for a Government Department to take purely penal proceedings under it where isolated breaches of the law may have occurred due merely to ignorance.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his answer is unsatisfactory and is complete nonsense. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that commerce in general is quite convinced that the Board of Trade has no intention of prosecuting and that it is further convinced that the Board of Trade does not understand what the first Sections of the Act mean and is not therefore willing to prosecute —[An HON. MEMBER: "Non-sense."]—The hon. Gentleman does not know as much about it as I do. Will the Parliamentary Secretary be prepared to receive a deputation of traders on this matter?

Since we are apparently exchanging civilities and compliments to each other, may I say that the hon. Lady in her Question on 7th May of this year was entirely inaccurate. The 1957 Act does not apply to all hire-purchase advertisements nor does it require the cash price and the amount of each instalment to be stated. The hon. Lady has misled the House in sonic of her own statements.

On a point of order. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that where—[Interruption.] May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, if the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that the statement he has just made—

I cannot answer whether the hon. Member is aware of anything or not. I am not privy to his mind.

the President of the Board of Trade how many factory building projects and extensions were authorised from 1946 to 1951 and from 1951 to 1958, respectively.

Nine thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven projects in the years 1946 to 1951 inclusive, and 16,095 projects in the years 1952 to 1958.

Does my hon. Friend not agree that this is another example of Tory success compared with Socialist failure?

I entirely agree with my hon. and gallant Friend.

Could the hon. Gentleman give the respective values of the two totals?

I do not have the figure but I can give the square footage. In 1946–51 it was 243.5 million sq. ft. In 1952–58 it was 4076 million sq. ft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new factory projects and extensions, respectively, were authorised in Wales between November, 1951, and the latest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures between 1945 and October, 1951.

Five hundred and seventy new factories and extensions of over 5,000 sq. ft. from November, 1951 to end-March. 1959, and 566 from 1945 to October, 1951: of these, 151 and 203 respectively were new buildings on new sites.

Am I right in saying that in terms of creation of new employment, some of the most impressive authorisations have occurred quite recently?

That is a statement of fact.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that many of these new factories are now no longer employing people and that our anxiety is to see these factories fully employed? If he can help in that way we will be grateful.

We certainly want to do all we can to stimulate employment everywhere.

To complete the statistics and present a more useful picture, can the Parliamentary Secretary say how many factories have gone out of production in the same period?

If the hon. Gentleman would like to put down a Question on that topic I will try to answer it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new projects were started in Development Areas in Ayrshire in 1958;and how many new jobs were thus created.

Two, which should provide approximately 180 new jobs.

This is fantastic. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Government should be in no way surprised that unemployment is serious in this area of Ayrshire, as much of it arises from decisions taken departmentally by the Government in respect of establishments under their control? It is not good enough for the President of the Board of Trade to go round the country and round the world dropping bricks when he should be building factories in Ayrshire to cope with this unemployment, which is created by the Government themselves. Only two projects and 180 jobs—shocking !

asked the President of the Board of Trade what new Government-financed factory building schemes, including extensions, in Sunderland have been approved in 1959.

None, Sir.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this is very discouraging to us in Sunderland? Will he undertake to visit Sunderland during the Whitsun Recess to see what things are like there?

I cannot undertake to visit it during the Whitsun Recess, but I will certainly try to go in the near future.

the President of the Board of Trade to what extent his new Departmental Committee on Consumer Protection will consider how far further safeguards are required against misleading or undesirable advertising; and if he will instruct his committee to consider representations on this subject from the Advertising Inquiry Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will instruct the Committee on Consumer Protection. to be set up by his Department, to hear evidence with regard to advertising from business interests concerned, and from members of the general public and organisations concerned with consumer protection, including the Advertising Inquiry Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee to be set up by his Department to deal with consumer protection will consider the question of advertising.

Some aspects of advertising will certainly be relevant to the Committee's work, and I have no doubt that it will consider representations from all responsible bodies concerned with its field of inquiry.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary give a more specific answer? Will he be prepared to accept representations from the body mentioned in two of these Questions?

The Committee is an independent body and it is really up to the Committee to decide from which bodies it will receive evidence.

The Parliamentary Secretary will remember that a short while ago the President of the Board of Trade said that he was halfway towards a decision regarding this Committee. Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the President of the Board of Trade will reach the end of the road before we reassemble?

I hope that we will shortly be able to make an announcement on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the main United Kingdom exports to and imports from the Yemen and the Aden Protectorate, respectively; and to what extent the imports include the narcotic plant, quat.

As the Answer is detailed, I will with permission, publish the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister of State say whether trade has been improving in the last couple of years and whether any negotiations are taking place with a view to securing further improvement?

I cannot give the figures without notice.

the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to protect British apple growers from imports of subsidised apple juice from France for processing in Great Britain for sale as apple squash.

If the United Kingdom growers would let me have detailed information about the subsidisation arrangements to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers and of the material injury it is causing, I will consider it, in the usual manner.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I will do my best to do that but that, even so, some of us are getting very concerned at the reluctance of his Department to take action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act and always waiting upon the growers themselves when very often the Board of Trade has more readily available information?

We have always made it quite clear that the initiative for action under this Act must rest with the industry which considers itself to be injured by dumping or subsidisation. Any facts or information which we can give are always at its disposal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement about a review of the law relating to the protection of industrial designs.

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has appointed a Committee with the following terms of reference:

To consider and report whether any, and, if so, what, changes are desirable in the law relating to the protection of industrial designs. In framing their recommendations the Committee should include consideration of the desirability of enabling United Kingdom designs to receive cheap and effective protection in other countries on the basis of reciprocity.

In thanking my hon. Friend for that statement, may I express the hope that the review will be pressed ahead very quickly, as it is very much needed in many quarters?

Certainly, we shall proceed with all possible dispatch.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent sewing machines are being imported from the Republic of Ireland; and whether they come under Imperial Preference rates.

With permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL. REPORT recent statistics of imports of sewing machines from the Irish Republic. Such machines are entitled to duty-free entry if they are manufactured in the Irish Republic and comply with other prescribed requirements.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my information is that these machines are coming from Japan in a knocked-down state and being reassembled in the Irish Republic and re-exported to this country? Will he look into that aspect of the situation?

Yes. To qualify for preference, at least 50 per cent. of their cost of manufacture must be attributable to Commonwealth expenditure. Simple assembly operations alone would not entitle the machines to be treated as manufactured.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that the situation is being watched in that direction?

Yes, I will certainly look into this matter.