asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the consistently high level of unemployment in Coatbridge and Airdrie, if he will have an advance factory built in Airdrie.

No, Sir: the Board of Trade has recently built one advance factory at Coatbridge and my right hon. Friend does not consider that the building of another at Airdrie would be justified in present circumstances.

Is the Minister aware that figures released over two weeks ago by the Ministry of Labour indicate that we now have the highest level of unemployment in that part of the country since January, 1960? Has not experience demonstrated that the most effective way in which to attract industry, with a view to combating unemployment, is to have an advance factory available so as to induce industrialists to come to this part of the country? Will the Minister, therefore, in view of the experience which we have gained in North Lanarkshire, reconsider his decision and agree to have a factory built in the town of Airdrie?

I think that the experience to which the hon. Gentleman is referring is that of immediately after the war when factories were very short and hard to come by. It is not necessarily the experience now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will give the number of applications for grants in the North-East under the Local Employment Act, 1960; and how many were agreed to;

Seventy applications have been received for financial assistance under Sections 3 and 4 of the Local Employment Act for projects in the Board of Trade's northern region. Twenty-four offers have been made and 19 cases are under consideration. The corresponding figures for Great Britain as a whole are 571, 221 and 86 respectively.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the growing opinion in the North-East that the Local Employment Act is a form of cheat legislation, proof of which lies in the fact that far too many applications have been turned down, and that far too many people are puzzled at some of the decisions of the Board of Trade Advisory Committee? Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that I have a case in my constituency where a grant has been turned down and have evidence of another one where nearly two years ago an application was made for a grant for a factory and where, on the advice of the Board of Trade, the people concerned formed themselves into a new company to carry out the project, and that, after doing all this and submitting all the details, including forward estimates for three years, there is no grant available at the end? Surely something else could be done to carry out the spirit of the Act?

It is a fact that so far more applications have been turned down than accepted, but I do not think that this could be described as cheap legislation. [HON. MEMBERS: "Cheat."] I thought that the hon. Gentleman said "cheap". In any case, whether it be cheap or cheat, even in the northern region the total assistance offered to these 24 successful applicants amounts to more than £½ million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs which were in prospect in December, 1960, have now materialised in the Bishop Auckland constituency; how many are held by men; and where such jobs are to be found.

Between November, 1960, and August, 1961, the latest date for which the information is available, expanding firms in the hon. Member's constituency increased their total employment by some 190, including about 65 males. Since these figures are based on information obtained in confidence from individual firms, I cannot give the hon. Member further details.

As the Parliamentary Secretary knows, this is most unsatisfactory. I have in my hand the latest figures from the Ministry of Labour. There are practically 1,500 men and boys out of work in the Bishop Auckland travel-to-work area. This is practically the same position as it was two years ago. The hon. Gentleman discussed the Fielden Bridge site in my constituency. He knows the situation. Cannot he make a big effort there to get roads built and the general area tidied up so that the site may be more attractive to industry? Up to the moment, nothing at all has happened in my constituency.

There are 840 jobs in prospect against 1,463 unemployed at the present time, so that it is not true to say that nothing has happened. I will take note of what the hon. Gentleman has said and keep it under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the figures for British car exports for the first ten months of this year compare with those for the first ten months of last year.

This information is available from the October issue of the Trade and Navigation Accounts.

Would the Minister like to make any comment on the serious position which these figures reveal, in spite of an improvement in the last few weeks? He will be aware that the total is down by 37·9 per cent., that in the United States it is down by 83·5 per cent., in Canada by 53·2 per cent. and in the remainder of the Commonwealth by 18·4 per cent. These are very bad figures indeed. What is the Department doing to assist and persuade the motor industry to improve its export performance?

The fall in exports is, of course, of great concern, not only to the Government, but to the industry. With the help of my right hon. Friend's Department, manufacturers are making special efforts to recover lost ground in export markets and the latest figures, to which the hon. Member has referred, give grounds for a little hope.

Will the Minister confirm that in the United States, exports fell in the first nine months of this year to something like 15,000, compared with 127,000 last year? Despite the apparent improvement in the market due to the excellent performance of the specialist cars, is there not a long way to go before we can re-establish the situation in which the bread and butter of the motor industry—the cars of medium size and medium price—can be successfully exported to the United States?

All that is true, but it is also true that the main manufacturers are mounting greatly increased efforts in the United States.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the total exports of this industry for the first nine months of this year amounted to £430 million? Ought not the industry to be congratulated, acting, as it is, under very difficult conditions?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much financial assistance has been given or offered to industrialists wishing to come to Fife under the terms of the Local Employment Act.

I regret that I cannot give this information, since the offers made to individual firms could be deduced from it. Such offers are confidential. But I can say that the projects in question are expected to provide over 800 jobs.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many jobs have already been created since the inception of the Local Employment Act and as a direct result of it? Can he undertake to make representations to the President of the Board of Trade to pay particular attention to an application which is currently under discussion and about which I saw him last week? The Minister recognises, does he not, that the firm in question had what was, on the surface, an extremely attractive offer from Ireland and that if the Board of Trade is not more forthcoming than it has been hitherto with this application, the firm might well be lost to my area, which would be a serious blow to an area which is suffering from a decline in the mining industry?

In reply to the first part of the question, the jobs so far amount to about 1,100 or 1,200—

No.

—including the announcement made at the weekend. With regard to the second part of the question and the case about which the hon. Member was good enough to come to see me, the company can raise the matter again with the Board of Trade Advisory Committee. The actual building grant, however, is, of course, based on the terms of the Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the Jamaican cigar industry regarding cigar imports; and whether he proposes any measures to assist the import of Jamaican cigars into the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend has received no such representations recently. Jamaican cigars benefit from a duty preference and can be imported into the United Kingdom without restriction.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the main competition of this industry comes from Cuba and that the Cuban industry is making determined efforts to make up in this country the business which it has lost in the United States? Will he give the House an assurance that the Board of Trade will do nothing to assist it in those efforts, which could only be at the direct expense of the Jamaican industry?

I assure my hon. Friend and the House that the Jamaican interests will be strongly borne in mind. The House may like to know that, not precisely, but broadly, Jamaica is holding roughly its proportion of our home market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to introduce legislation to regulate companies accepting deposits from the public.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now introduce legislation for the protection of the public in regard to the solicitation of money deposits by companies.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the Question asked on the 21st November by my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. du Cann).

Is not my hon. Friend aware that the Government gave us a firm promise as long ago as October, 1959, that legislation would be introduced to deal with this point? Is he aware that many of us feel that his Department is making rather heavy weather of it? It is being asked, not to revise the whole Companies Act before the Jenkins Report, but to deal with the one specific point of appealing to the public for deposits. That is where protection is badly needed. Will not my hon. Friend take steps to redeem the Government's promise?

We have every intention of legislating in this matter as soon as the Parliamentary programme permits.

While acknowledging the complications of this matter, may I ask whether it is not clear that we are running the risk of more small people—the people least able to afford it—losing money while we do not have legislation? We have had this situation for the last three years. Will my hon. Friend kindly look at the matter again and give the House a clear assurance that we can have legislation this Session, because it is so urgently needed?

No, I cannot go further than what I have already said.

Is the Minister aware that many promises made in October, 1959, still remain unfulfilled? Can he at least tell us today at what date he will be able to give a definite answer to the Questions asked by hon. Members opposite?

No, Sir. I am not able to say that at present.

Will my hon. Friend amplify his statement to the extent that the undertaking to introduce legislation as soon as the Parliamentary timetable permits is not conditional upon the date of publication of the Jenkins Report?

It certainly is not conditional on the date of publication of the Jenkins Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when Her Majesty's Government will take steps to implement the Monopolies Commission report on the tobacco industry.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

In view of the time which has elapsed since the previous statement, which was made on 5th July, cannot the Minister go a little further than that? Has the industry considered the matter? Has it told the Government whether it proposes to seek to implement the Report of the Royal Commission, which, the hon. Gentleman will recall, made two strong recommendations on issues which, it said, were affecting the public interest? What is the cause of all this delay?

Consultations with the trade have now been completed and my right hon. Friend is considering his decision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade his estimate of the loss of exports in the motor industry this year due to industrial disputes; and what action he is taking in order to maintain the level of exports in this industry.

My right hon. Friend is unable to make an estimate, but there can be no doubt that industrial disputes have led to a loss of motor vehicle exports. I very much welcome the discussion which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is having with leading employers and trade union officials about industrial relations in the industry. The Board of Trade is in close touch with the industry about exports and will continue to give all the assistance it can.

Is it not clear that the dispute at Acton, now entering its thirteenth week, is not only causing great hardship to the people who are concerned, but in itself is a matter of national concern because of its effect on exports? Is it not further the case that the attitude of unconditional surrender which seems to have been taken up can lead only to a hardening of attitudes and leave behind a legacy of bitterness? In view of the fact that nearly 5,000 workers in Coventry are suffering consequentially from the strike at Acton, is it not now time for the Government to intervene in this strike to try to bring the sides together and produce a just settlement which will enable everyone to get back to work and play their proper part in the export drive?

The hon. Member will know that those questions are not for me; but it is, of course, extremely sad for the country that exports are being lost.

Would my hon. Friend agree that one of the worst effects of these strikes is the bad reputation that it gives us abroad?

Would not the Minister agree that no matter what arrangements have gone wrong at Acton, certainly these men have not broken anything like the number of industrial agreements that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has just broken? When discussing this matter with the Ministry of Labour, will the hon. Gentleman take into consideration that in this instance the President of the A.E.U. has asked the Minister to intervene but that the Minister has said that, because the strike is unofficial, he will not do so? Will not the Minister of State say to his right hon. Friend that it is now becoming such an aggravated dispute that he ought to intervene?

None of this is in the realm of responsibility of this Minister.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the recession in trade within the motor cycle industry; and what action he will take, following his study of the matter, to maintain a satisfactory level of exports by the industry.

Yes, Sir, there has been a decline in the output of the industry and exports have fallen. The Board of Trade will continue to assist the industry's export efforts in any way it can, but the outcome will depend primarily on the industry.

Will the Minister confirm that production this year is approximately 20 per cent. down? In view of the fact that major redundancy threatens a factory near Coventry and that a factory in Birmingham seems likely to close in the spring, does not this call for urgent action by the Government? Furthermore, what will be the position of this industry if we go into the Common Market and have to face the competition of similar products from Italy, Germany and France?

It is true that since the post-war peak was reached in 1959, there has been a substantial fall in production and a greater fall in exports this year. The Government's main job, however, is to see that the markets of the world are as open as possible to the products of this industry. They are open subject to tariff. Therefore, the battle is necessarily bound to be on merits, prices, salesmanship and service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for giving greater assistance with a view to increasing the scale of advertisement of British goods overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Much general publicity is already done for British industry and commerce overseas. Generalised advertising of British goods would not, in my right hon. Friend's view, which is supported by industry, be of sufficient value to justify the expenditure. It would not be right to use public funds to meet the advertising expenses of individual firms.

Is it not a fact that the Board of Trade and the Government give some assistance already? Is it not also a fact that in the matter of overseas advertising this country is falling behind many of our overseas competitors? Is there not a case for stepping up the level of this help?

My right hon. Friend has the benefit of the advice of experts in this field, and we are now making an examination of individual cases to see whether what my hon. Friend says is true. It is also true that the Export Credits Guarantee Department has special policies whereby any loss incurred on promoting expenses by exporters can be shared, and I think that the Government and their agents are already doing a very great deal in this field.

Is not this a case where smaller and medium-sized firms should be encouraged to get together to promote co-operative selling schemes, in which advertising can play an important part?

I very much agree with that, but the Government cannot force that situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for instituting annual international trade fairs in Great Britain as a contribution to our export drive; and if he will make a statement.

This is primarily a matter for industry. Many trade fairs take place in Great Britain every year, and they are tending to become more international in character. Any extension of this activity is primarily a matter for industry.

Is it not a fact that on both sides of the Iron Curtain, in both Eastern and Western countries, international trade fairs are sponsored and assisted by the Governments of those countries? Is it not also a fact that these fairs result in the assembly in the countries where they are held of a large number of exhibitors and buyers from all over the world? Would not fairs of that kind be likely to be beneficial to our exports? Should not my hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend be treating the matter with a greater sense of urgency?

We already have a very large number of fairs in this country, and it is for industry to suggest and arrange increases in them. My right hon. Friend has been able to do what I think is so valuable—to increase dramatically the amount of money available to help industry to show in exhibitions abroad.

Is not my hon. Friend aware that in other countries proper buildings and stands are provided on a more ambitious scale than obtains in this country, and also that fairs in this country have hitherto been rather national in character and limited in scope? Will not my hon. Friend look at the matter again?

There has been a recent Adjournment debate on this subject, and I would refer my hon. Friend to HANSARD of 29th June. There are substantial exhibition buildings in this country, and it is not proven that there is need for further ones.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in the negotiations for the renewal of the Anglo-Cuban Trade Agreement, he will seek to reduce the quota of Cuban tobacco imported into this country in order to assist tobacco growers in Jamaica.

In considering the future of the Anglo-Cuban Trade Agreement, which expires at the end of this year, my right hon. Friend will take full account of the interests of the Jamaican cigar industry.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the preference referred to in the Answer to Question No. 8 is microscopic compared with what it was a few years ago? Will he bear in mind that a halfpenny per cigar is nothing in relation to a price of 4s. or 5s.? Cannot he offer some hope of reducing Cuba's quota in order to help the Jamaican industry?

All this will be taken into account, although I think that the preference is about 50 per cent. more than my lion. Friend suggests. We shall certainly bear in mind the interests of Jamaica.

While our primary responsibility must be towards Jamaica, is it not a fact that the growers and the poorer elements of the population in Cuba are the victims of an American economic boycott, and should not we give some consideration to these people as well?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he now proposes to take to prevent the import of butter to this country at prices below the cost of production in the countries of origin.

My right hon. Friend described the steps the Board of Trade has taken to deal with dumped and subsidised imports of butter in his reply on 2nd November to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Matthews). Arrangements have now been made with all save one of the countries aproached to limit their shipments as suggested for the period 1st October, 1961, to 31st March, 1962.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this statement will give great pleasure to the farming industry, and to the milk producers in particular? Now that he has done this, would he not consider taking more urgent action in the case of the dumping of other milk products? I am thinking particularly of the imports of spray milk and the like from other countries at under the cost of production.

My hon. Friend will know that that is another question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Government propose to introduce a Bill on the lines of the Weights and Measures (No. 2) Bill of last Session.

As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House indicated on 2nd November, we hope it will be possible to introduce the Bill this Session, if sufficient progress is made with the Government's programme.

Is the Minister aware that this is a very important Bill, on which many weeks of work were expended by the House of Lords in the last Session? Is he also aware that the Government have produced two Bills, and that he has had over two weeks to answer my Question? Is it not possible to give us a definite statement now that this Bill will be introduced in the present Session?

No, Sir. I cannot go further than I have stated in my Answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in the south-east region of the country, which has 27 per cent. of the population, there were available 45 per cent. of the new jobs created between 1952 and 1959, whereas in West Durham there is a continuing high rate of unemployment; and what steps he now proposes to take to bring new industry to this development area in order to reduce unemployment.

A considerable part of the increase in working population in the south-eastern part of the country in recent years was not related to industrial building projects. The Board of Trade's control over new employment is confined to industrial building exceeding 5,000 sq. ft. My right hon. Friend will continue his efforts to steer industry to west Durham. In that part of the area which is a development district the facilities of the Local Employment Act are available.

The Parliamentary Secretary acknowledges that greater industrial development has taken place in the south-east region, which is an attraction to workers in other parts of the country, where the basic industries are declining. He has himself paid a fleeting visit to the north-west Durham constituency. Is he aware that two local authorities there expressed their concern that the situation was deteriorating rapidly, and that nothing has come so far as the Advisory Panel is concerned? Is he also aware that I myself have sponsored three local projects which have been turned down, without any reason stated, though they were favourably commented upon by Members from the region and the central office? What is the Minister doing?

There has also been an increase in the number of insured employees in the County of Durham of 44 per cent., which is roughly in ratio with the populations of the respective parts of the country. As I have already said today, there are a thousand jobs in prospect in the Bishop Auckland development district at the present time.

Would the Minister bear in mind the fact that this part of the North-East is typical of the other development districts, but that it seems to be becoming worse off than other regions? In considering the matter, will he bear in mind that this development district represents 13 per cent. of the unemployed in all development districts, that it gets only 6 per cent. of the new factories and only 1·4 per cent. of Government aid in grants and loans?

We are doing our very best to bring employment, and we are succeeding substantially, especially in the coastal region.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the Report of the Committee on Consumer Protection.

It is still too soon to set a firm date but I understand that the Committee hopes to submit its report by the second quarter of 1962.

Could the hon. Gentleman tell us what use will be made of this report when or if it ever appears? Is he aware that his own party, following the lead of the Labour Party, has produced its own policy for consumer protection without waiting for this report? Is he aware that three Private Members' Bills which are likely to go through will cover much of the subject before the report appears? Is he aware that the Liberal Party will also try to produce a report, so that the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) who leads it can say that it is the party with new ideas? In these circumstances, would it not be better to wind up the Committee and forget about it?

No, Sir. I think it highly desirable that a lot of people should be giving thought to this matter. It is important that my hon. Friends have produced an unofficial report on it and we await the Molony Committee's report with all the more interest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his plans for the provision of new industries in the new town of Peterlee and the adjoining district.

My right hon. Friend will continue to do all he can to encourage further industrial development in the Peterlee area, where the facilities of the Local Employment Act are available for new industries and expansion. There are some 200 new jobs in prospect from expansions in the Horden and Haswell Employment Exchange areas.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that for the past five years I have had the same Answer every time I have asked similar Questions? Is this due to failure on my part or heresy on the part of the Government? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that yesterday the Minister told me that at Wingate, a few miles from Peterlee, in the adjoining district a pit which employs a large number of men will be closed down in a few months? What is to be done about that?

We shall go on attempting to attract industry to these places and showing industrialists suitable places for suitable projects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consult the Ministry of Power and the National Coal Board to ascertain how much unemployment will be caused by the closure of 200 collieries within the next five years and where it is likely to be most acute, with a view to the immediate preparation of a plan for the direction of industry to those regions to coincide with the closures; and to what extent, as part of a long-term plan, he has considered the need for legislation to ensure continuity of employment and trade in coal-mining areas.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Power keeps my right hon. Friend informed on matters affecting employment in the mines. As the Minister of Power told the hon. Member on 20th November, he expects that the colliery closures will be effected without giving rise to widespread unemployment. But if high unemployment does result from these closures in any areas, my right hon. Friend will do all he can to steer new industry there. His powers under existing legislation are appropriate for this purpose.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I am not satisfied with that Answer? Is he aware that in Scotland, Wales, Lancashire and parts of Durham there is bound to be a great deal of unemployment when 200 collieries close down? Is he aware that to wait for a certain degree of unemployment is not a satisfactory way of going about this? Is it not time that the Minister found out exactly where these pits will be closed and to what extent there will be a degree of unemployment, and have plans ready for alternative industry in those areas to coincide with the closures rather than to take panic measures afterwards?

As soon as the National Coal Board reaches decisions in these matters, we are informed about them, and the terms of the Local Employment Act enable us to take into account not only existing unemployment but unemployment to be expected, as long as it is going to be high and persistent.

What must we do to give the Board of Trade a kick in the pants to do something about this? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] That is rightly strong language. We feel very strongly about it. Two hundred collieries will be closed down with resultant unemployment. The Board of Trade should know exactly where collieries will be closed. We should be told to what extent plans exist and the Board of Trade should do something about it.

We are aware where collieries are to be closed in every case where a firm decision has already been taken, and we take that into account in the periodic reviews we make of the list of development districts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to introduce new industries into the Stranraer area of Wigtownshire.

The Board of Trade is continuing to encourage the establishment of new industries in Stranraer. The facilities of the Local Employment Act are available to any firms prepared to provide employment there.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the probable closure of the Ministry of Aviation Scientific Establishment at West Freugh? Would he not think that this is a good chance to get some scientific or technical industry there which could employ the men who will be out of work in the district? Will he look at this matter with a great deal of urgency? Is my hon. Friend further aware that there is not much point in rendering areas like mine completely depopulated in order to cause congestion in Birmingham and the south of England?

I have inquired about the closing of the establishment at West Freugh but I am told that no decision has yet been taken. If it is closed I quite agree that the existence of skilled men there will provide a good opportunity for industry to come there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the figures for exports from this country to China for January to June, 1960, and for the same period in 1961; and why the figure in May, 1960, of £4,492,000 fell to £553,800 in May, 1961.

The figures requested are available from the June, 1961, issue of the Trade and Navigation Accounts. The decline in exports in May, 1961, compared with May, I960, was of a general nature, but was due mainly to lower exports of copper wire rods, wool including tops, and iron and steel.

Is my hon. Friend aware that we were told some time ago that if certain restrictions were removed from trade with Communist China it was certain that we should greatly increase this trade? As far as one can see from the figures which my hon. Friend has mentioned, trade has decreased by an appalling amount in the last year. Can the Board of Trade in any way show us why it is seemingly so uninterested in this?

Our trade with China has provided us with a surplus over the last three years, and in the last year China has had to devote a very large part of her foreign exchange resources to buy food because of the disastrous harvest.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the reduction in our exports to China is due to political or strategic reasons?

There is no reduction in exports to China for those reasons. This was, as far as I can see, a relatively freak month in a year when China's foreign exchange resources have been depleted because of her need for food as a result of the bad harvest. Up to this year we have been doing better trade with China and have had a surplus in our trade with her.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what changes would be necessary following adherence to the Treaty of Rome in the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956, and the Monopolies and Restrictive Practice Acts, 1948 and 1953.

It is too early to say what changes in the Acts in question will be necessary if the United Kingdom accedes to the Treaty of Rome. Much will depend on the nature of the implementing regulations, which are still to be agreed, and on their practical application.

Can my hon. Friend say whether there are any directives or regulations under Article 87 of the Treaty of Rome which would call for any amendments of these Acts and if so, in which direction?

Not to my knowledge. I understand that the regulations are to be considered by the Council of Ministers at the end of this week.

Is it not the case that there are considerable divisions among the six members of the Common Market and that they failed to agree on regulations under Article 87 after even four drafts had been prepared? In these circumstances, is there not a danger that there will be a weak compromise since they have only another month in which to come to terms? In view of that, is it not likely that there will be a weakening of our anti-monopoly legislation if we are required to conform with their solution?

Not necessarily. Unanimity is required in the Council of Ministers on this matter in the first three years of the Treaty. After that a qualified majority is sufficient to reach a decision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what changes would be necessary following adherence to the Treaty of Rome in the operative statute law governing trade marks, patents and registered designs and copyright.

The Treaty of Rome does not specifically regulate these matters. My right hon. Friend understands that the signatory countries are aiming to institute common patents and common trade marks, granted by supranational bodies; but that these will not supersede the present national patents and trade marks which will continue to be available. Similar arrangements may be contemplated for designs. Participation in such arrangements would require legislation, the details of which cannot now be forecast. My right hon. Friend does not expect any changes in the law of copyright.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent, ad valorem and in volume, British exports to the countries of the European Economic Community have increased in twelve months to 31st October, 1961, compared with the preceding twelve months; what tariff discrimination against British exports occurred in that period as a result of the increased European Economic Community common external tariff; whether British trade with the Common Market countries is now in balance; and what estimate he has made of the effect of forthcoming tariff reductions by General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade signatories upon British trade with the European Economic Community.

British exports to the countries of the European Economic Community in the twelve months ending 31st October, 1961, exceeded exports in the preceding twelve months by £86 million, or 17 per cent. No comparable figures of volume are available. During that period there was some increase in discrimination against imports from outside the Community, mainly because of reductions in the Community's internal tariffs. Our trade with the countries of the Community is broadly in balance. It is impossible to assess the effect of any reductions agreed in the tariff negotiations in the G.A.T.T. which are not yet concluded.

Could my hon. Friend tell us whether the increase of 17 per cent. in British exports to the Common Market countries was most largely at the expense of Commonwealth trade?

That is a different question, but, of course, the House will see that our proportions of trade are rising with the more expanding economies which are at the moment in Western Europe.

Do not these figures show that the United Kingdom exports to the Six countries are now rising almost as fast as the Six's exports to one another? Does not this put in rather better perspective some of the forecasts made of the huge additional exports we shall get by signing the Treaty of Rome?

It certainly reflects the growing awareness of British enterprises of the values of these markets.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that the perspicacity of British exporters in the face of uncertainty about whether Britain will accede to the Treaty of Rome or not is the principal contributory factor in this very significant and satisfactory increase in British exports to Western Europe? Does my hon. Friend agree?

I have just tried to say that in my reply to the previous supplementary question.

Jolly good! I wanted to be quite sure about it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the aggregrate value c.i.f. of United Kingdom imports of timber and timber products, excluding finished manufactured goods, during twelve months ended 30th September, 1961, and the aggregate amount of United Kingdom import duty charged on such imports; by how much per cent. and in value such import duty will be reduced as a result of forthcoming lowering of tariffs among countries which are General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade signatories; what loss of revenue is thereby entailed; and to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to eliminate timber tariffs for the purpose of lowering building costs in Great Britain and assisting British exports by reduced packaging costs.

The value of the imports was £186 million. Import duty charged in the year ending 31st July, 1961, was a little over £2 million. The G.A.T.T. negotiations are confidential, so I cannot forecast results. It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to initiate changes in the tariff, apart from those made as a result of international negotiations, but we are always ready to consider applications for such changes from representative domestic interests.

Would my hon. Friend bear in mind that timber is the largest single commodity import, in value, of the United Kingdom, and that as practically all the timber that we bring in is applied either to house building or to the packaging of British exports, it is a wholly out-of-date and fallacious policy to place an import duty upon it? Would not my hon. Friend undertake to examine the timber tariffs carefully and individually with a view to securing their elimination?

But the timber used for the purposes mentioned by my hon. Friend is softwood, the value of the tariffs on which is under a half of 1 per cent., so it cannot enter significantly into costs. The hardwoods which are imported come to a large extent from the Commonwealth and enter duty-free.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage change in net new orders for textiles and clothing for July and August, 1961, compared with the average monthly figure for net new orders in 1959; and if he will give a similar comparison for the woollen industry alone.

There was a fall of 37 per cent.; compared with July and August, 1959, the fall was 26 per cent. With regard to the second part of the Question, statistics of orders are supplied voluntarily to my Department on the understanding that information about individual industries will not be disclosed.

Is not this a rather serious decline? Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the growing anxiety in certain sections of the wool textile industry? Will he not agree that the Chancellor's action in limiting the demand is having a very serious effect upon that industry?

In point of fact, the hon. Gentleman asked about July and August, but at the end of August, 1961, orders on hand were much the same as at the end of August, 1959. Order books are a rather misleading guide to future production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the cost to the Treasury of valid applications to date for re-equipment grants under the Cotton Industry Act, 1959; and what was the reason for altering the final date for the receipt of applications from 8th July, 1962, to 8th July, 1963.

My right hon. Friend is informed that to date the Cotton Board has received applications covering expenditure, incurred or proposed, to the amount of £34·3 million; assuming all these projects go ahead, the Government's contribution will be about £8·6 million. The final date for the receipt of applications remains at 8th July, 1962. The date by which orders must be placed with manufacturers has been put back to 8th July, 1963, so as to give applicants more time.

But does not this very low figure of 8·6 per cent. for re-equipment grants show that the estimates made of the demand for these grants at the time the Bill was before the House have not been fulfilled and that, therefore, the re-equipment scheme is sadly lagging behind the hopes? In view of the very serious spread of short-time working in areas like Blackburn and the rest of Lancashire, could the hon. Gentleman tell the House what plans his right hon. Friend has for dealing with the crisis in the cotton industry?

The re-equipment so far is not as high as we had hoped, but there still is some time left. I think that the hon. Lady misunderstood my figure. The Government's contribution will be £8·6 million. It is not a question of 8·6 per cent. As to the future, there is still some time to go. This is the scheme which the Government have made in order to encourage the cotton industry, and we hope that the cotton industry will take advantage of it.

I did not misunderstand the hon. Gentleman. Is it not a fact that when the Bill was before the House the Government estimated that the re-equipment grants would total at least £20 million? Is not this £8·6 million in applications for grant seriously below that figure, and does it not reflect the growing breakdown of morale in the cotton industry due to the crisis there? What is the hon. Gentleman going to do about it?

As I have said, there is still some time to go, and we hope that the figures will increase. Owing to the situation which has arisen from the point of view of imports in the past few months, there has undoubtedly been some decline in the confidence of the industry, but there is still time for it to pick up.