asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet considered the desirability of publishing a White Paper on the advantages and disadvantages of Great Britain joining the European Common Market, in relation to those matters for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think that this would be a suitable subject for a White Paper.

Will the President of the Board of Trade tell me whether his Department has carried out exhaustive studies of the advantages and disadvantages? If so, does not he think it necessary, in view of the general discussion going on, that the largest number of facts about the situation should be put before Parliament and the country, and does he not agree that a White Paper would be a suitable instrument to do that?

I agree about the need for the maximum information, but I do not think this would be the best procedure. We have made a close study of the consequences of the Treaty of Rome as it stands, but the discussion is often not about that but about the signing of a different document. I think that it would be wrong to take out from the general problem the specific trade questions which are only part of the comprehensive picture.

Has my right hon. Friend read about the present dispute over agriculture in the Common Market countries, particularly the difficulties raised by the French, and does not he think that we should be better engaged in expanding our Commonwealth trade, and not become too closely hooked up with the squabbling peoples of Europe?

I have never believed that there was any conflict between extending our Commonwealth trade and extending our European trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet completed his inquiry into retail price maintenance; and what decision he has reached as a result of his consideration of the views of retailers and manufacturers on this matter.

Though the inquiry into resale price maintenance is well advanced, it is not yet complete, and I cannot say when I shall be in a position to make a statement.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a matter of some urgency and that consumers and consumer organisations and many enlightened traders are getting very restive? Is he not aware that there are all kinds of ingenious and legitimate loopholes, one of which was publicised today, getting round this arrangement, and is not it very important that we should reach a decision quickly?

Yes, Sir, I agree. I think that we should reach a decision quickly, but I have been more and more impressed by the complexity of this argument, and I wish to get all possible information before reaching a decision.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will institute proceedings under the Merchandise Marks Act against those motor manufacturers who advertise that their vehicles carry a 12-month guarantee although many parts, including coach work, tyres, speedometer, and electrical equipment, are manufactured by other firms.

Before asking this Question, may I apologise for the fact that the last few words of my original Question were omitted? I have put them privately to the right hon. Gentleman, and I hope that he will answer the Question as I intended to ask it.

I am advised that there is no basis for proceeding under the Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887–1953. So far as I know, the fact that some accessory parts of a car are specifically excluded from a car maker's formal guarantee does not give rise to any unusual difficulty in practice.

Is the President aware that a number of consumer organisations are very concerned about this, and that the impression given to a prospective buyer is very misleading? Will he have another look at it?

I did not think there was much concern about this, but if the hon. Member has evidence which he would care to send to me, I shall be happy to study it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what success he has had in bringing new industry to the Pontardawe development district since the introduction of the Local Employment Act.

In the Ystalyfera-Pontardawe area itself, there are about 250 new jobs in prospect. Pontardawe should also benefit substantially from the 3,000 new jobs expected to arise in the Swansea area in the near future.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the position in this area and the unemployment which has persisted there has been changed because large numbers of people travel long distances from the district to their employment? The threatened closure of the one remaining steelworks there as the result of the opening of Llanwern steelworks, which is reported to be opening next year, is very serious. Will the right hon. Gentleman redouble the efforts of his Department—which are appreciated—to bring new industries to cope with inevitable redundancy? Will he consider the establishment of an advance factory for this area?

I am grateful for what the hon. Member said about the efforts we have made. I recognise that there is a great deal of travel to work involved. As to the steelworks, I understand that they will have to close down in a few years, but I do not expect any serious difficulty in placing the men involved in view of the extension of the numbers of men in employment in South Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, having regard to his efforts to expand British exports in Europe, east and west of the Iron Curtain, what proposals he has to increase trade within the Commonwealth and sterling area.

My efforts to promote the expansion of United Kingdom exports have been directed to the markets of the Commonwealth and the sterling area, as well as to Europe and other parts of the world.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the economic strength and unity of the Commonwealth are the best foundation for a satisfactory economic arrangement in Europe? Will Her Majesty's Government do their best to try to set up an appropriate form of Commonwealth freer trade association?

I certainly agree that the economic strength of the Commonwealth, with which the political cohesion of the Commonwealth is linked, is of the greatest possible importance to this country and, I think, to the whole free world as well.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrialists have been shown factory sites within the area of the Shildon Urban District Council since the passing of the Local Employment Act.

None, Sir.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware of the co-operative attitude of Durham County Council towards industrialists? Is he satisfied that the present issue of industrial development certificates and the uncontrolled building of offices in London are not contributing to the lack of industry coming to this area? Will he have another look at this question of office building?

I think that is rather a different question. In the Shildon urban district I am told that there is only one factory site of 12 acres available, and we have found that industrialists coming to the south-west Dunham area generally are satisfied with the other sites in the same district.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable unemployment in the neighbourhood, if not in Shildon itself, and that there are other sites which would help with Shildon?

My point is that we have been asking people to go to other sites but not in the particular district to which this Question refers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade bow many applications he has had from iron and steel companies for licences to import Russian oil at prices below the United Kingdom market price.

None, Sir.

As the Steel Company of Wales uses as much oil as coal, is it not rather odd that it should not have put in any application to import cheaper Russian oil? Can the President of the Board of Trade say whether his attitude to any such application would be the same as it would be to an application to import cheap American coal?

I do not think I am called upon to answer questions about applications which have not yet been made to me.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why they have not been made?

That is a question which had better be addressed to the applicants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade at what price and in what quantities the Russian Government have offered to sell oil to the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement outlining his reasons for rejecting this offer.

During my recent visit to Moscow the Soviet authorities asked for a quota of 2 million tons which would subsequently rise over a period. They did not quote any prices. I explained the reasons why, as a producer and exporter of oil ourselves through the United Kingdom oil companies, we would not, in present circumstances, agree to license additional imports of Soviet oil. Our own oil companies have a substantial surplus of oil available for export and at the moment we are looking for new outlets, not new sources of supply.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman ask what the price was? Did he not find out what it was? Has he no idea at all? He apparently has not. Is it not a fact that the price would have been lower than that on the market at the moment? Would not this have been a very good way of breaking through price rings and getting cheaper oil for the consumer? If the President of the Board of Trade is anxious to stimulate trade, what other things does he intend to purchase from Russia, if he refuses to take oil in return for our goods?

I cannot understand why people seem to think that oil is the only thing Russia produces. There is an immense range of raw materials, machinery and consumer goods, all of which I hope the Russians will sell in increasing quantities in this country. But I do not see the sense in buying additional quantities of something which we already have in surplus.

Do the reasons the right hon. Gentleman gave for not importing Russian oil also apply to the import of American coal?

The Question relates solely to oil.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my supplementary question? Did he in fact try to find out what the price was?

Having said that we did not want to buy the oil, there was no point in finding out the price.

Do we not spend any dollars at all on buying oil?

Yes. A certain amount of dollar oil comes into the country, but the oil which comes into the country through the British oil companies costs us only a small proportion of its total price in foreign exchange, whereas Russian oil would cost us 100 per cent. in foreign exchange. It is a sheer balance of payments calculation, on which the conclusion is quite clear.

Is it not quite clear that the National Union of Mineworkers is as bitterly opposed to American coal as it is to Russian oil?

What does the right hon. Gentleman think the point of international trade is if it is not to endeavour to buy an article in one place which is cheaper rather than to buy more expensively in another place?

The point is to buy things we need and to sell things we have in surplus.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many days elapsed before he replied to the communication received by him from the National Farmers' Union on 30th March asking him to ascertain the internal price of eggs in Poland.

Fourteen days.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that from the time the National Farmers' Union first contacted his Department there was a total of twenty-eight days' delay before a decision was given and that twenty-four of those days of delay took place in his Department? In view of this, could he review the procedures which take place on antidumping legislation?

I think that in this case we acted very quickly. Having just come back from Poland and Russia, I can say that the difficulties of establishing a fair market price for these commodies are very considerable.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I received a letter on 17th May about this matter from the National Farmers' Union which said that

"…it would be less than fair to suggest, as far as our own experience is concerned that the Board of Trade have acted otherwise than helpfully and promptly"?

I should be very glad to consider any suggestions on this matter but we must be careful not to act too precipitately, because it might damage our exports if we were to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what Commonwealth imports receive, or will receive, less favourable treatment than corresponding European Free Trade Association and Finnish imports in the United Kingdom market as a result of obligations under the Stockholm Convention, and the association between the European Free Trade Area and Finland; and what proposals he has to remove discrimination in European Free Trade Area markets against oversea Commonwealth countries.

The principal goods which will receive less favourable treatment when imported from the Commonwealth than from the European Free Trade Association countries are motor cars, motor cycles, agricultural tractors, musical instruments, clocks and watches, cinematograph film and goods of silk and man-made fibres. The treatment of Commonwealth goods in other E.F.T.A. countries is a matter for those countries and the Commonwealth Governments concerned.

Will not this become more serious as the industrialisation of the overseas Commonwealth proceeds? While one welcomes the European Free Trade Association and the according of preference to European countries, should not it be governed by the principle of first priority to the Commonwealth?

I think that this problem arises from an historical accident. These are the only products subject to duties when they come to this country from the Commonwealth. In fact they represent well under 1 per cent. of our imports from the Commonwealth and there is little competition between the Commonwealth and E.F.T.A. in these matters, although I admit that the problem may increase in future.

What is the purpose of maintaining these duties on Commonwealth goods? Why should we not take duty-free goods from the Commonwealth?

That is a question for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further progress has been made under the Local Employment Act in bringing additional employment to the North-East.

Since my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary answered a similar Question from my hon. Friend on 2nd May, a number of firms have shown an active interest in setting up in the North-East. The number of new jobs in prospect in the development districts in this area remains at about 10,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what re consideration is being given by his Department to the application for financial assistance by a firm of vegetable packers in Glenrothes, Fife; and how soon a decision will be reached.

I have reconsidered the case, in the light of the information recently supplied by the applicant. I am satisfied that, as my hon. Friend told the hon. Member on 9th May, the Board has no power to assist this project.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the desire of a United States firm, details of which have been sent to him, now established in Glenrothes, Fife, to expand; and what assistance his Department is able to provide, under the terms of the Local Employment Act.

I am aware of the desire of this United States company to expand, but, as Glenrothes is not itself a development district and the proposed expansion would not benefit a development district, it is not eligible for assistance under the Local Employment Act.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made investigations into this case? Is it not a fact that if this expansion were allowed in Glenrothes it would employ people under the terms of the Glasgow ovrspill agreement? If that is the case, will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the position, because it would be a very regrettable development, I am sure he would agree, if the expansion were taken to West Germany.

I have had a very close look at this matter, but it seems that the expansion would not in fact employ people from the Glasgow overspill, but local people. For that reason, I do not think that it falls within the powers I have under the Act.

Even though the right hon. Gentleman may not be able to give financial assistance, I presume that in a case like this he would grant an industrial development certificate readily?

I cannot see why I should not do that, but the Question deals with financial assistance as determined by the Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on his visit to the British Trade Fair in Moscow, and on the negotiations he had on trade matters with the Soviet authorities.

The British Trade Fair was an outstanding success, and the organisers and exhibitors deserve our warmest congratulations on their achievements. I understand that a number of important contracts were concluded during the course of the Fair and I hope that much other business will result from it.

I hope I shall not embarrass the Minister when I con gratulate him upon his visit. Will he tell us if he met Mr. Khrushchev and how he got on with him?

I did have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Khrushchev and we seemed to get on quite well, but we were not discussing political subjects.

As one of the exhibitors, will my right hon Friend accept from me that we very much appreciated the fact that he went there? Could he tell us whether or not in his discussions the Russians put forward the view—which they put to some of us—that there is a tremendous market for British consumer goods if we would take in return some Russian oil? Will he say whether or not he had discussions on oil and whether price was mentioned?

I think a later Question on the Paper covers those points to which, as my hon. Friend knows, publicity has been given.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he came back with any strong impressions as to Russian productivity in comparison with our own?

I think that it would be very unwise to try to make an estimate of a country of that size. I have not either the experience or the expertise to do so.

Will my right hon. Friend remember that on the Saturday morning the Russian Trade Commissioner, in my presence and his presence, said that what they wanted to buy from us was the machinery to produce the consumer goods and not our consumer goods? Since consumer goods contain a greater element of labour, will he see that in the next trade agreement they buy a good proportion of finished consumer goods?

Yes. I have proposed that the quota for consumer goods on both sides should be doubled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what groups of tariffs Her Majesty's Government are not offering to make a 20 per cent. cut in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations.

It is not the practice to disclose detailed information of this kind while negotiations are in progress.

But the President of the Board of Trade would not deny the statement which has been published in the Press that he has refused to make a cut of 20 per cent. across the whole of our industrial tariffs. Does he not realise that he is missing a great opportunity? He has spoken a lot about cutting tariffs. Does he not further realise that, in view of the widespread conversion now taking place in the Tory Party, including that of such a reactionary as the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) whose conversion to freer trade we have heard this afternoon, unless he takes a much better stand at G.A.T.T. than he has taken so far he will go down as a most reactionary President of the Board of Trade?

We cannot disclose these details, and neither the blandishments nor the threats of the hon. Member will cause me to do so.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I am in favour of the preferential reduction of tariffs?

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear to the Liberal Party that universal free trade is no part of this country's policy?

I do not think that my responsibility extends to making things clear to the Liberal Party.

Is it not rather extraordinary that the Liberal Party are prepared to accept the high import duties on foodstuffs which would be involved in accepting the common external tariff of the Common Market?

asked the President of the Board of Trade, since the United States Government has power until next summer to reduce tariffs by up to 20 per cent., what approaches he has received from the American Government that the United Kingdom should make equal tariff cuts; which British industries he estimates would be most affected by such cuts; what consultations he has had with them; and if he will make a statement.

These matters are now being discussed at the G.A.T.T. Tariff Conference at Geneva. While negotiations are in progress, it would not be appropriate to disclose any details of our own offers or of the requests made to us. In preparing for the Conference, the Board of Trade had extensive consultations with British industries.

If the Americans ask us to make equal tariff cuts, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the Americans export only 3 per cent. of their gross national product, whereas we export 30 per cent.? The same is almost true of imports. Therefore, any changes will affect this country ten times more than they will affect America. Will he be careful to ensure that we are not taken pari passu for a ride against our own interests?

I always think that there is much wisdom in the remark of a distinguished predecessor of mine, who said that in tariff negotiations our object should be a quid pro quo, and thirty bob if we can get it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the decline in motor car exports, by number and proportion, in the first quarter of 1961 compared with 1960; and to what extent the position has improved in April and May.

Compared with the first quarter of 1960 the number of new cars exported in the first quarter of 1961 declined by 91,311 or about 53 per cent. Figures for May are not yet available but in April exports reached a level of 31,726 cars, an increase of about 12 per cent. over the monthly average for the first quarter of the year.

Is not this nevertheless very alarming? Does it not point to the danger of a very bleak winter for motor car workers once the home summer boom in sales falls off? Would the right hon. Gentleman take up with the industry the complaints made at the week-end by the export director of B.M.C., who said that much greater freedom was needed for the Export Credits Guarantee Department, that better briefing of commercial counsellors was needed about this industry and that a more virile attitude to commerce in some of the embassies was needed? Does he realise, in other words, that complaints are being made that his Department and the Government generally are not assisting to improve the export of motor cars in the way they should?

I think that without any question these figures underline the importance of exports to employment in the motor car industry. I will certainly examine any criticisms of our services, but it is sometimes a little too easy to blame the commercial officers overseas. I think that by and large they do a very good job.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he proposes to take to ensure that strawberries, raspberries and other soft fruits shall be sold by net weight, or in containers of specified minimum weights, during the 1961 season;

I do not consider that effective action on these fruits and vegetables is practicable under existing legislation. In any case, regulations under that legislation requiring fruits and vegetables to be prepacked only in specified weights could not apply until six months after the regulations had been approved by both Houses of Parliament and thus could not operate during the 1961 season

As it is now obvious that the Weights and Measures Bill will not be introduced into this House during the present Session, is it possible for the right hon. Gentleman to look at the regulations again, because some of the fruit which I mentioned might be dealt with later? In any case, is it not very unfortunate that the consumers and the growers of these fruits in this country should suffer for another year from the malpractices which take place in this trade due entirely to the Government's incompetence and dilatoriness with the Weights and Measures Bill?

Without accepting the hon. Member's premise, I would point out that we have no powers which would enable us to operate for the season now upon us.

Is it not a fact that these proposals were made ten years ago? What have the Government been doing during the last ten years?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the value of British film exports to the countries of the Common Market in each of the last ten years; and what effect the Treaty of Rome has had on these exports.

The earnings of British films in the countries of the Common Market are not separately distinguished. Such figures relating to earnings remitted from the O.E.E.C. countries as a group as are available do not suggest that the Treaty of Rome has adversely affected these earnings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions are at present imposed on the import of British films by the countries of the Common Market; what quota arrangements they maintain; and how these arrangements compare with the British film quota system.

West Germany applies a system of import licences. The Benelux countries impose no restrictions on the import or showing of British films. France operates a system of distribution licences and levies a special release tax. Italy imposes compulsory loans on dubbed British films. France and Italy both apply screen quotas. No general comparison can usefully be made between these diverse arrangements and the British film quota system.

Arising out of that reply, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman this supplementary question: in the event of the Government deciding to join the Common Market, what effect would this have upon the British quota and levy system which we have developed?

That is a different and rather wider question. If the hon. Member puts it down I will be happy to try to answer it.

asked the Board of Trade when a licence was issued to send three tons of small arms ammunition aboard the cargo liner "Trevalgan" to Laurenco Marques, Mozambique.

No licence was issued for three tons of small arms ammunition. The vessel's cargo included two consignments of shotgun cartridges weighing in total less than one ton, destined for Southern Rhodesia, and covered by export licences issued in March and April.

This information has been published in Central Africa and has caused considerable revulsion against the policy of Her Majesty's Government. May I take it that no licences will be issued for the export of arms to Angola or Mozambique?

That is quite a different question. I was dealing with a specific case and I have given the information for which I was asked.

Am I not entitled to ask the Minister whether he will tell us what is the Government's policy in relation to the export of arms in view of the consternation which is being caused in Africa, where it is alleged, and has been published in the Press, that Her Majesty's Government are issuing licences?

Put the Question on the Order Paper.

I am grateful to the hon. Member for the opportunity which he has given me to deny these false stories. If he will put a Question down on the Order Paper about the other point I shall be happy to give him an answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken about the complaints of the Milk Marketing Board concerning the dumping of milk products.

The Board of Trade received last night an application from the Milk Marketing Board for action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957, in respect of certain milk products. This is being considered.

Is the Minister aware that the last time the Board made such an application, I think in 1958, it took nearly five months for his Department to make up its mind and to reach a decision? Will he try to do better this time and remember that the agricultural producer is as much entitled as the industrial producer to protection against dumping of goods below the cost of production?

Certainly the agricultural producer is entitled to as much protection, and I am certain that he gets just as much protection, as any industrial producer. But we have also the interests of the consumer and the exporter to take into account. The Act provides that we must have regard not only to the degree of dumping but also to the question of material injury and the wider question of the national interest. According to the Statute we must consider all these things.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken in the past twelve months to attract new industry into Peterlee and the adjoining district; and what success he has had.

In the last twelve months a number of firms have been shown the industrial sites in the area and the facilities of the Local Employment Act have been available throughout the period. There are about 160 new jobs in prospect in the Horden Employment Exchange area arising from expansions by firms already there.

Does not that mean that nothing has been done in the last twelve months? Does not the right hon. Gentleman understand that there is no point in having a new town unless it has an industrial connotation? We are getting very much concerned about the position. In view of the fact that he has done nothing in the last twelve months, may I have an assurance that he will try to do something in the next twelve months?

I thought that the Answer showed exactly what we have been doing, which is a good deal. If the right hon. Gentleman wants us to direct firms to go there, he is asking for something for which we have no power, and for which the House would not grant us the power.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish a table setting out the imports of oil into the United Kingdom last year together with the countries of origin.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government, either to the Hong Kong Government or the Hong Kong cotton trade associations, to renew their voluntary agreement limiting the supply of cotton goods to the United Kingdom when that agreement expires.

The Hong Kong Government are aware that Her Majesty's Government believe that a further inter-industry agreement would

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

Does my right hon. Friend intend to put it under the heading "oil" or will he break it down into subheads for the various types of oil?

The information will be on oil generally but detailed figures are available in the Trade and Navigation Accounts.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this was a once-and-for-all agreement intended to help Lancashire to reorganise? Does he further agree that it would be wrong for a purely temporary measure to be turned into a permanent restriction on Commonwealth trade? Is he not at least an Empire free trader?

This is a very complicated matter which is not easy to deal with in Question and Answer. I repeat that we believe that in the long term it is in the interests of both Hong Kong and Lancashire if this inter-industry agreement can be renewed.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered what the position in Lancashire might be if the advice which he is rendering to Hong Kong that she should renew this agreement in her own interest, as well as in the interests of Lancashire, should not be heeded? Would not this create a new emergency in Lancashire? Are any preparatory investigations being made so that we shall not be left, as we were in past years, with an emergency without any plans for dealing with it?

There has been a very close study of this problem, which I agree is a serious one for Lancashire and, indeed, for Hong Kong. I do not think that it would be wise for me to go beyond what I have already said, namely, that we believe that a renewal or a further inter-industry agreement will be in the interests of everyone concerned.

When the right hon. Gentleman discusses this matter further with the Liberal Party will he inform them that Adam Smith has been dead for over 200 years and that the principles he adumbrated in his age and generation do not apply to the modern world? Although many of us are greatly in favour of liberalisation of trade wherever possible, we are not in favour of sacrificing the interests of our own people to the sort of propaganda which the Liberal Party is putting out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that no changes are pending in the mark-up on imported jute goods by jute control, in view of the present high level of unemployment in the City of Dundee.

Yes, Sir. I can give the hon. Member an assurance that no changes are pending at present.

I thank the President of the Board of Trade very much for that reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the effect on British industry of President Kennedy's suggestion of a joint Western effort to increase imports of cheap manufactures produced by cheap labour from developing countries; which trades would be most affected; how many they employ, respectively; what would be the effect of such a policy upon unemployment in these industries; and if he will make a statement.

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to a suggestion for an international conference of the principal textile exporting and importing countries. The objectives of this conference are still a matter for discussion internationally. We all recognise the importance of trade for the developing countries, and we also have to bear in mind the interests of our own producing and exporting industries.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, whilst it is reasonable to protect our own interests, the developing countries cannot raise the very low standard of living of their own people if we prohibit them from selling what they produce? That should be borne in mind when we enter into these negotiations.

This is one of the most difficult problems of the modern world—the comparative interests of the developing countries, which want to trade, and the interests of our own industries threatened with disruptive competition. It is an exceedingly difficult problem which I hope we shall be able to disentangle, but time will be needed to accomplish this.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications he has had for Board of Trade Advisory Committee aid for new industries for Penryn, Cornwall; and what were the results.

Three, in none of which the Board of Trade Advisory Committee has felt able to recommend financial assistance.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Penryn Borough Council is greatly perturbed at these refusals and feels that the Advisory Committee should give reasons for refusing? Can the right hon. Gentleman arrange for the cases to be reconsidered and do something to restore the confidence of the people of Penryn in this machinery?

The Advisory Committee will certainly consider any cases if it is given any fresh information on which to do so. In the last year unemployment in Penryn has fallen from 5·4 per cent. to 1·7 per cent., which is quite an improvement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that much of the unemployment in Penryn is a reflection of the prosperity or employment in Falmouth Docks, which can fluctuate violently?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what success has attended the further efforts he has made to persuade Imperial Chemical Industries to divert to its factory at Camborne another of its industries to replace the safety-fuse industry transferred to Scotland.

I understand that the company has no alternative use for the factory but is now, in consultation with my Department, seeking to interest new firms in the property.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that many people in Camborne and Redruth feel that the great industrial concern of I.C.I. is inhuman and almost indecent in the way that it has relinquished a factory which has been in production there for more than a century and which not long ago employed 500 workers? Cannot this concern do something to put industry into the area?

I believe that this company makes an immense contribution to the economic and social well-being of this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to bring up to date existing legislation dealing with hall-marking and gold covered articles.

I am at present considering the Report of the Stone Committee on these subjects in the light of the various views I have received since its publication. I think that new comprehensive legislation is desirable but cannot say when it will be introduced.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware that the Report of the Departmental Committee on Hall-marking was presented in March, 1959? Can he give me any indication whether its recommendations are to be accepted? Is he further aware that the trade is extremely keen that hallmarking of quality plated goods should be introduced, as the trade believes that this would help greatly in its export drive?

I agree that new legislation is desirable on this subject, but I do not think that I should be right to foreshadow at this stage what it would contain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the difference in the distribution of Government contracts as between England and North-East Scotland; and what steps he plans to secure the allocation of more orders to North-East Scotland.

No separate figures are available of Government contracts placed in North-East Scotland. Tenders for Government contracts are invited on a competitive basis but, other things being equal, preference is given to areas such as North-East Scotland which are listed as development districts. Instructions have recently been issued to all contracting Departments reminding them of these arrangements, and asking them to review their trades lists and specifications with a view to improving the opportunity of Scottish firms to tender. My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, has also arranged to draw the attention of Scottish firms to the possibility of tendering for Government work.

Notwithstanding that Answer, does not the Financial Secretary realise that the invidious treatment of the north-east of Scotland, the invidious neglect of the north-east of Scotland, has long been a scandal which should be the subject of substantial planning by the Cabinet as a whole? Will the hon. Gentleman bring the matter before the Cabinet so that something constructive is done about it?

It is not my business to bring things directly before the Cabinet, but I can tell the hon. and learned Gentleman that I looked at the figures carefully, and it is not true that the proportion of Government orders placed in Scotland today is unduly low. I regret that I cannot go beyond what I said in my original Answer.

Is my hon. Friend aware that Aberdeen itself won a valuable contract only yesterday for a new ship costing about £¾ million, and that while we should like a great deal more done, we feel that this is a real encouragement, and an example of what the Government are trying to do?

I am very glad to hear what my hon. Friend has just said.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. There is a difference in facts between the Minister and me, and in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Income Tax, Schedule D, and Profits Tax would be payable by a private company making the same profits as those made by the State Management Districts in the year ended 31st March, 1960.

I regret that I am unable to give this information.

Since the State Management Districts have paid only £117,000 to the Exchequer, both in lieu of Profits Tax and Income Tax, and in interest on the taxpayers' capital, will my hon. Friend look into this matter to see whether he is sure that the taxpayer is getting a real return on the money invested?

I will certainly try to do that. The difficulty is that in the Report on State Management Districts the figures necessary to calculate the capital allowances for tax purposes on plant are not given. It is, therefore, not possible to calculate, on the basis of existing figures, the amount of tax that would be payable by a private company with the same trading results. But I will certainly see what I can do.

While this is very interesting, would it not be better to sell them off?

I think that supplementary question raises issues rather wider than the one on the Order Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals the University Grants Committee have to overcome the difficulties anticipated in recruiting scientific staff for the university expansion programme.

The existence of this problem is one of the reasons for a flexible expansion policy and the University Grants Committee has it very much in mind. Salaries were revised last year and the increase in recent years of the number of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research post-graduate training grants will contribute materially to the supply of potential teachers. I understand that the University Grants Committee is at present considering representations about a further salary revision and that the provision of adequate facilities for university staff—both for teaching and research—is also the object of their particular attention.

Is it not highly desirable that more publicity should be given about university proposals in view of their importance to the general educational system? Cannot more announcements and publicity be given so that perhaps the matter might be discussed here?

I will certainly consider that helpful suggestion. It is a fact that the D.S.I.R. grants have gone up from 979 current in 1958 to 1,259 current in October, 1960, an increase of nearly 30 per cent. The importance of mathematics and science teachers is great. The importance of mathematics teachers for the whole of our education system is so great that I will consider the point the hon. Gentleman has made.

Will the Minister bear in mind that the shortage of laboratory staffs and technicians is one of the most serious deficiencies in scientific and technical work in the universities, so much so that lecturers and assistant lecturers in some universities are having to do work which should be done by laboratory assistants? Will he give very special attention to this matter, particularly in the Scottish universities?

I will look into that.