asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to which reception area it is intended to send people evacuated from Barking, Essex, in the event of a nuclear war; and, in view of the projected dismantling of the railways, what means of transport it is intended to use.

Detailed planning of the dispersal scheme is being discussed with the local authority associations, and in the meantime individual dispersal areas have not been linked with particular reception areas. The scheme will be planned and kept up-to-date in the light of changes in the availability of the different forms of public transport.

Will the Minister fairly soon be able to give an estimate of the number of persons per day or per hour whom it will be possible to move to the reception areas, since, presumably, many of these remote rural areas will be affected by the dismantling of the railways through the closing of branch lines? If he cannot give such an estimate, is it not obvious that this is not a serious scheme at all, but merely a clumsy ploy in the cold war?

I cannot say how much detailed information it may be possible to make available. We are discussing with the local authority associations the issue of a further circular explaining how this plan will be worked. I do not think that the closing of branch lines will make any difference to the effectiveness of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, if he is aware that the Court of Common Council of the City of London, meeting on 8th March, took a decision to demolish the Coal Exchange after being advised by the chairman of the Coal and Corn and Finance Committee that, because of the Minister's decision, the City Corporation had no power to accept Lord Mottistone's scheme for preserving the Coal Exchange; and, in view of this inaccurate statement, what steps he is taking to raise the matter anew with the Court of Common Council.

The report before the Court of Common Council on 8th March contained the full text of the letter giving my right hon. Friend's views on the schemes submitted to him and I am informed that Mr. Rodway Stephens in his opening speech fully explained the position. There seems no reason for believing that the court were under any misapprehension as to their powers nor any need for further action by my right hon. Friend.

Would the Minister consider that one of the reasons always advanced against preservation has been that it is difficult to find an alternative future use for this building? Is he aware that there is a serious risk of the loss to this nation of the Gernsheim Collection, which may in some ways be a more serious loss than that of the Leonardo cartoon, and that this might be an ideal site for that collection?

I am sure that that suggestion could be borne in mind. As to the merits of this proposal, I can add nothing to what I said to the hon. Gentleman on 6th March.

Could the Minister do his best to ensure that in any future scheme for the use of this building, whatever may be done about the collection, the very interesting Roman relics in the basement will be suitably preserved?

These are largely matters for the City Corporation. I am sure it will bear in mind what usefully can be done without interfering with the road works scheme.

Is not the Parliamentary Secretary aware—in response to my hon. Friend's question—that assurances have already been given that the Roman relics will be preserved, but that, whereas there are a great many Roman relics of great interest in this country, the Coal Exchange itself is unique, as being the earliest or about the earliest example of cast-iron construction, and is also extremely beautiful?

No one has ever disputed the merits, such as they are, of this building. Unfortunately, it was not possible to get a scheme which the City Corporation and the London County Council could agree should be carried out without affecting road improvements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will receive a deputation from the Thames-side Joint Committee for the Abatement of Atmospheric Pollution to discuss the question of the cement dust nuisance on Thames-side.

Yes, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this reply will be very welcome in North-West Kent, where there is a very strong feeling that firmer action should be taken in regard to this menace?

I share the hon. Gentleman's apprehensions about this, and I hope we can do something about it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he did not confirm a compulsory purchase order made by the Watford Rural District Council in respect of 15½ acres of land at Hazelgrove Farm, Abbots Langley, which the Council wish to preserve as open space, in view of the three previous Ministerial decisions in respect of this same land.

I decided to confirm the Order for 10 acres of this land. I did not consider that compulsory purchase of the remaining 5½ acres would be justified in view of the amount of open space already available in Abbots Langley, and the fact that it is surrounded by green belt.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the population of Abbots Langley is higher and the amount of open space available to them much lower than he has been given to understand? Is he further aware that there have been four different inquiries into this piece of land since 1955 and the decision of the first three was that no further land should be built over than was allowed as a result of the first inquiry; that, even so, this amount of open space will not bring the amount of open space of the village up to the recommended standard; and that the appellants received £1,200 compensation for the refusal of planning permission three years ago? How can he possibly justify this reversal of Ministerial policy?

I will look into the last point. The fact is that there are about 58 acres of open land—

No.

—in this area which is set in the green belt. My inspector went into this very carefully, and I accepted his recommendation that 10 acres was the proper amount, bearing in mind that 5 acres would be appropriate and reasonable development for housing purposes.

Is the Minister aware that he has been inaccurately informed about the 58 acres? Is he aware that some of the land is not available to the public as an open space and some not capable of being used by children? In view of that and of the facts mentioned by his hon. Friend, will he look at this matter again, or alternatively, if the local authority should again attempt to get a compulsory purchase order, look at it with a fresh mind?

For technical reasons, I think the second procedure more appropriate than the first. Of course, I will look at any fresh information which comes up. But the information I have is that the amount of open space is 58 acres and that it was a reasonable decision to limit the compulsory purchase order to the 10 acres.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall endeavour to raise the matter at an early opportunity.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further development has followed the report of the inquiry on the new town plan concerning the area covered by the Easington Rural District Council.

I told Durham County Council in November, 1961, of my decision to accept its proposals in the Easington town map subject to certain modifications, and subject also to the council submitting separately proposals for additional housing sites in six villages. At that time I sent the right hon. Gentleman a copy of my letter to the council. The formalities for amending the county development plan should be completed in about a month from now.

Now that it appears that this aspect of the problem is likely to be relieved, may I have the assurance of the right hon. Gentleman that no obstacle will be placed in the way of the Easington Rural Council building the houses required in the area outside Peterloo, because it is desirable that the authority should be allowed to proceed?

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that once the amended plan is approved it will be fully observed. I shall work within it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what modifications he has now decided to make in respect of his original proposals for the reorganisation of Greater London local government; and when it is anticipated that final proposals will be reached concerning the amalgamation of the borough of Leyton with other boroughs.

No modifications have been made, other than the revised arrangements for education in the centre referred to in the answer which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Barter) on 3rd May. I hope to announce the final proposals for grouping boroughs during the summer.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is true that certain areas in Surrey have been omitted from the original plan? In view of that, does he propose to make similar omissions of certain areas or constituencies in Essex?

As I promised the House in the debate on the White Paper—indeed, it was promised in the White Paper—there have been consultations about the peripheral boundary. I named a number of areas which, without further argument, could properly be omitted. In the last week, I have seen all the local authorities concerned with proposals for omission not yet accepted. Those consultations are now completed, and I hope in a week or so to announce the intentions of the Government in relation to the periphery as a whole.

Before the Minister issues what he says are the final views or proposals of the Government, may I ask whether he would consider having a debate, not on the final proposals but on suggestions, so that the House may come to a decision on the proposals and we are not presented with a fait accompli as was the case on the previous occasion?

As promised, I listened to every local authority which wished to see me. I am considering their views. In due course the conclusions of the Government will be embodied in a Bill to be placed before the House and then, no doubt, the fullest discussion will take place.

Will the right hon. Gentleman please reply to my specific question, whether areas which were omitted are in Essex?

I beg the pardon of the hon. Gentleman. I listened to views from Essex as well as those of all the other peripheral counties. I have met representatives and certain local authorities from Essex.

So that in the end the House may have an opportunity to pronounce as suggested by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis), will the Minister undertake that the proposed boundary will be in any Bill which is produced and not be left to be settled by Ministerial order under the Bill?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman on that point.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consultations he had with the Minister of Education before announcing the decision of Her Majesty's Government regarding the future of education in London.

I have acted throughout in the closest consultation and accord with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education.

That is a very curious reply. Whilst most people welcome this temporary climb down on education, will the Minister say whether it was based on the weight of educational considerations or on a panic decision to get Conservative candidates out of trouble in the London borough council elections?

The House was promised that the area and the population of the central area would be carefully considered. The White Paper said no more than that it could well be of the order of 2 million. That further consideration has been carried out, and I hope the hon. Member will not regard as a climb down the carrying out of the promises to consider carefully a number of issues which were left open by the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the decisions of the proposed statutory education committee of the Greater London Council will be subject to consideration or modification by the Greater London Council as a whole.

No, Sir.

Could the Minister get this quite clear? Am I to understand that this education committee will not be a committee in the ordinary sense of the word, and that it and the Greater London Council will be two completely independent bodies, including financial independence, despite the fact that the membership of the two bodies will overlap?

The hon. Member has stated the position perfectly clearly, and I agree with what he has said.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the decision of Her Majesty's Government concerning the London County Council's education service, he will so revise his proposals for the reorganisation of Greater London Government as to prevent the dismemberment of the London County Council's children's service.

No, Sir. The circumstances are different. The Government have always accepted the need for special arrangements for education in the centre of London. The child care service they believe to be properly a borough responsibility through the Greater London area, given the proposed re-organisation of the boroughs. This service is increasingly based on field work by child care officers, and close association with the local health and welfare services is desirable.

Is the Minister aware that the Government are practically unique in believing that about the child care service? Is he aware that everyone acquainted with the service realises the unwisdom of breaking up a well-organised county children's service to be run by local authorities? The arguments here are even stronger, if anything, than in the case of education. The only difference is that the number of children is far less and they are children who, by definition, have parents who are either unable or unwilling to be interested in them. Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that if he neglects the children for that reason he will be doing a scandalous thing?

It is not unique to believe that the care of children is properly related to the health and welfare services and should be gathered together with those services as a borough responsibility.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has replied to the letter he has received from the Clerk of the Wathupon-Dearne Urban District Council regarding the complaints that council has received from residents in the Wathupon-Dearne area about the large emission of smoke gas and fumes from the Manvers Main carbonisation plant; and if he will make a statement.

The district alkali inspector discussed the position with the council on 11th April and a reply referring to this discussion was sent on 30th April. Emissions from coke ovens are an intractable problem, but there is room for improvement at this plant, and the Alkali Inspectorate will see that the necessary steps are taken.

I do not think the latter part of that Answer would meet with the satisfaction of all concerned. Will the Minister consult the Minister of Health and the National Coal Board and their experts on this issue to make sure that this horrible stench is removed, or reduced to the irreducible minimum? This is not just a question affecting the residents in Wath-upon-Dearne, for the Swinton Urban District Council is also greatly worried about the stench which comes from this plant. Will the hon. Gentleman not do more than he has said?

It is true that other local authorities are worried and the district alkali inspector will have further discussions with them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the nuisance created by the grit and dirt deposited in a large number of homes in Leicester from the fumes of the Central Electricity Generating Station situated in Leicester, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West, and of the nullifying effect of this upon the orders in Leicester for smoke abatement, he will give instructions that these orders be suspended until the nuisance has been effectively stopped.

My right hon. Friend accepts the need to reduce grit and dust emissions from the power station and the Alkali Inspectorate is doing its best to secure progressive improvement. The smoke control orders are already benefiting the city by reducing smoke, and suspension of their operation would be wrong.

Does the hon. Gentleman not realise that it is ridiculous to expect people to comply with orders for smoke abatement if the Ministry itself is not removing one of the main reasons why dust, dirt and grit get into houses, hospitals and various buildings? What is he going to do about it? Will he not see that this is removed first, not allow the council to make silly orders which cannot be obeyed if afterwards there is this wretched grit and smoke from this building?

What I think would be absurd would be to do nothing at all about anything because there is this one rather difficult problem which has to be carefully studied.

In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter at an early opportunity on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs haw many houses were completed by the Cwmbran Development Corporation in the years ended March, 1960, March, 1961, and March, 1962, respectively; and, in view of the housing needs in the area, what plans he has to ensure the implementation of the forward planning of the corporation.

The corporation completed 446 dwellings in the year ended March, 1960, 451 in the following year, and 115 last year. Following the decision last June to allow the corporation to build for an increased population, plans were revised and nearly 300 houses are now being built. I expect 250 or more to be finished this year, and a larger programme is being prepared for 1963.

Is the Minister aware that those figures are bound to be received with considerable disappointment and that the diminution in numbers coming year after year in an area where there is a clamorous need for housing is a serious reflection of the disrupting efforts of the Ministry on forward planning in this area? Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to meet some of the figures he has now given in the future, and indeed to increase them?

That is a mass of generalities. This development was necessarily held up while the forward planning of the south-west and western areas of the town was being considered, with particular reference to the housing demands for Llanwern. Now that that phase is over I am anxious to see that building is stepped up, and the answer I have given is an indication of that.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he refuses to allow labour charges incurred by per manent maintenance staff of the National Coal Board in effecting improvements to tenanted houses of the National Coal Board to rank for grant; and whether, in order to prevent resulting delays in improvements to National Coal Board houses and unnecessary increases in rents to miners occupying National Coal Board houses throughout South Wales, he will withdraw his directive.

The change suggested by the hon. Member has already been made, and the National Coal Board and the Welsh local authorities who had raised the question were so informed back in February. Since then all local authorities have been notified in Circular 29/62, which was sent out on 30th April.

Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that the circular which was sent made clear that private enterprise was to be used in the maintenance of these houses and no grant in aid would be given were the Coal Board to use its permanent maintenance staff? While I welcome the apparent change in the directive, may I ask why any clog should be put on the Coal Board using direct labour to do a job of work to ensure cheaper rents for the miners and to assist the Board?

The hon. Member may read in my reply that the change about which he seeks information was made in February last.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will initiate an inquiry into the extent to which newly-wed couples are unable to find suitable accommodation to begin their married life.

No, Sir.

Will the hon. Gentleman whisper into the ear of the Minister that I have already started a census of this character in Slough, where I write to newly-weds when the happy occasion of their marriage is reported in the local Press? Is he aware that as a result of the census I am taking I find that many newly-weds begin their married life under conditions which are absolutely appalling? Is it not desirable that this inquiry should be extended to a wider area?

I am sure the hon. Gentleman has his own good reasons for that admirable initiative, but I do not think that the general survey he suggests would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress made with loans to non-profit-making housing associations.

Though only three months have elapsed since the loans scheme was formally launched, over a dozen building projects are being prepared and one advance has been made towards the cost of land acquisition. These developments and the many further inquiries received from housing associations and other interested people show that the scheme has got off to a sound start.

Could my hon. Friend tell the House exactly how much money is involved so far? Would he agree that it is very difficult for these associations to make much headway where local authorities continue to charge uneconomic rent, and unless something can be done about this, this form of association will not be very successful?

The money involved, £25 million, was referred to in the Housing Act, 1961. So fair a very small amount of money has been advanced on the one scheme, but we are finding a great deal of interest and there is no reason to suppose that the scheme will not fulfil its purpose of showing that people want houses to rent and are prepared to pay cost rents for them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom to which National Coal Board coal has to be shipped, he will authorise the importation of foreign coal into Northern Ireland.

No, Sir; it would not be appropriate to distinguish in this way between different parts of the United Kingdom.

If in future it is decided to import American coal to this country, would my right hon. Friend consider giving first priority to areas where the cost of ship freight is a substantial part of the total cost of fuel?

I shall gladly take note of what my hon. Friend has said, but without commitment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimates he has made of the effect of higher costs of Scottish coal upon industry in Scotland.

In general, I do not expect the price increases which came into effect on 1st January to have any appreciable effect upon industry in Scotland.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that this schizophrenic policy of the Government is disastrous for Scotland? What on earth is the use of his trying to attract industry to Scotland if at the same time his right hon. Friend the Minister of Power is driving it away?

I do not accept the implication of that supplementary question, because we are inducing manufacturers to go to Scotland with the aid of the Local Employment Act and because labour is available there. I do not think that this increase in coal prices will have any effect on that at all.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that his views as to the effect are certainly not shared by those who control the steel industry in Scotland? They have shown that they are bitterly opposed to the policy imposed on Scotland. Does he not think that the people who run the steel industry in Scotland might know as well as, if not better than, he the facts about their industry, which is the key to the whole prosperity of Scotland?

I realise that the steel industry is more affected by the increase than manufacturing industry where the effect is only about one half of 1 per cent. on costs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the paper-making industry in Scotland concerning increased industrial coal prices.

None, Sir.

Scottish Members of Parliament have received representations about this. One mill in my constituency has had £12,500 added to its costs annually as a result of it. Other mills throughout Scotland have had similar sums added to their costs. Does the right hon. Gentleman think it fair to place Scottish industry at this disadvantage compared with its competitors south of the Border.

I am sure that the industry will have had other advantages which it can use to set against the small increase of half of I per cent. in costs brought about by the increase in coal prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of this year's selective increases in the price of industrial coal upon his Department's endeavours to stimulate industrial development in areas of high unemployment.

As I told the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Willis) earlier this afternoon, I do not expect the effect of the increase on production costs to be significant. It should not, therefore, impede my efforts to encourage new industry and industrial expansion in development districts.

That is not the point. The fact is that these selective coal price increases are taking place in areas of high unemployment. This is quite contrary to the policy being pursued by the right hon. Gentleman's Ministry, which is to give inducements to industry to go to such areas under the Local Employment Act. It seems odd to us in Scotland that the right hon. Gentleman's Ministry should be giving these inducements while another Ministry is making the implementation of his policy more difficult.

When showing a prospective undertaking the advantages of a site in a development district in Scotland, we point out all the advantages, including the possibilities of financial and other assistance, and the firm concerned naturally makes its own calculations about the costs of fuel and other supplies.

Why make the position more difficult by making selective increases in coal prices in the very areas that the right hon. Gentleman wants to help?

The increase will have a very small effect on the production costs of most industries likely to be going to Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from Scottish chambers of commerce on the likely effects upon Scottish industry and commerce of this year's selective industrial coal price increases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from Scottish local authorities concerning the probable effects of this year's selective industrial coal price increases upon their efforts to attract additional industry to their respective areas.

I have received no representations from local authorities or chambers of commerce on this matter.

We have received representations on this matter. Does the right hon. Gentleman fully appreciate that the imposition of these selective increases is compelling industries to seek alternative sources of power, such as electricity; and give rise to continual demands for the importation of coal from America at a time when the coal mining industry in Scotland is already heavily hit and thousands of miners face unemployment? Does the right hon. Gentleman think it wise to do this when there is no alternative employment for the displaced miners?

The question of the price of coal in Scotland is for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power.

Do we understand that the Government, in spite of their continual preaching about growing economic rivalry and the necessity for not pricing ourselves out of markets, still think that these increases have no effect?

It depends on the industry, but, generally speaking, they have an insignificant effect. In any case, I should have thought that coal should be paid for at a price approximating to the cost of producing it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman saying that he no longer accepts responsibility for reviving employment in Scotland?

I certainly continue to accept that responsibility.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, during the forthcoming review of United Kingdom trading arrangements, he will take steps to remove the special discrimination now applying to imports from the State trading countries so as to enable United Kingdom manufacturers to take fuller advantage of the expansion taking place in those markets.

No general review of our trading arrangements with State trading countries is contemplated. Control must be maintained over our imports from these countries since their Governments control all imports from the United Kingdom.

The Question does not deal specifically with trading arrangements with State trading countries. It deals with the general trading arrangements for the United Kingdom. Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the Prime Minister was recently in Canada? Did he not talk there about dollar trading arrangements? Are we not talking about arrangements in connection with the Common Market and the Commonwealth? Does the right hon. Gentleman think that while we are seeking to improve our trade it will be helpful to exports if we impose controls, not only on imports from certain countries, on which I agree they should be imposed in order to preserve employments here, but further to limit imports from State trading areas, in view of the repercussions which may follow from that policy?

It does indeed help our exporters if by controlling imports from State trading countries we are thereby able to bargain for increased exports to those countries.

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

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the present position and prospects of the lace industry, he will add the Irvine Valleys area of Ayrshire to the schedule of development districts under the Local Employment Act.

No, Sir. While the lace industry in the Irvine Valleys has been contracting, workers have been able to get employment in Kilmarnock and the numbers of unemployed have remained fairly steady. I do not consider that high and persistent unemployment is threatened in the district as a whole.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since I tabled this Question yet another factory, that of William Morton and Co., has closed? Is he also aware that this is an industry which traditionally employs married women who naturally will not be shown on the register as unemployed because they have not been paying unemployment insurance and must be employed locally? At least five factories are vacant and good skilled labour is available. This is just the kind of place where the right hon. Gentleman could make a success of the Local Employment Act if it were properly applied. Will he look at this matter again?

Nearly all the redundant workers in the lace industry in this locality have, in the past, found work in Kilmarnock. I understand that knitting machines for the production of Terylene lace and net have been installed by a number of firms, which justifies a hope for some improvement in this industry.

I could continue this discussion, but may I merely say that, owning to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise the matter on the Adjournment?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to control the location of office building and development.

No, Sir.

I wonder whether the President of the Board of Trade remembers a speech made by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 2nd July, 1959? Does he agree that

"… there is no reason why more office work, for example, should not be done in Scotland rather than in the congested areas of London and the Midlands."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd July, 1959; Vol. 608, c. 635.]

It is only comparatively recently that I have begun to acquire a past. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for reminding me of my former speech. There is no change in my attitude of mind to this matter, but the control of office building is a very different thing from the control of industrial location.

Is it not true that office accommodation is just as valuable as factories in the development of our industry because more people are employed in offices? Some of their accommodation is bad. Would not an improvement in it help our export trade?

I am glad to support what my hon. and gallant Friend has said.

Since in the opinion of everyone except the President of the Board of Trade the exclusion of office development from the industrial development certificate system is undermining the whole of the right hon. Gentleman's location of industry and employment policy, will he not deal with this issue in a less offhand manner? Will he reexamine it seriously with the intention of doing something about it?

There is nothing offhand about my attitude to this matter. It has been examined very thoroughly, and it is certainly not undermining my location of industry policy.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to do nothing more about it?

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the apprehension of umbrella manufacturers in this country at the prospect of unfair competition between British manufacturers and Japanese importers of umbrellas into this country, whether he has now received a further deputation on this matter from representatives of this industry subsequent to his meeting with representatives of the industry on 15th August, 1961.

No, Sir, but my hon. Friend the Minister of State is to receive a deputation of umbrella manufacturers on 30th May.

The right hon. Gentleman says that he is not going to receive a deputation. Since a deputation was received by another Minister, will the right hon. Gentleman say what was the result of it?

The deputation is going to see my hon. Friend on 30th May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent new industries have recently been established in South Ayrshire.

No industries new to South Ayrshire have been established recently, but about 160 new jobs have arisen or will arise from expansions by firms already in the area.

Since the Minister has just said that he accepts a certain amount of responsibility for providing employment in Scotland, does not he think that a new initiative is needed in this part of the world because of the possibility of pit closures? Will he keep that in mind?

I have the prospect of pit closures in all parts of Scotland very much in mind. That was why I added Kirkcaldy to the list of development districts last Monday. The Girvan and Cumnock employment exchange areas are already development districts and therefore are on the list shown to prospective industrialists who may wish to go to Scotland.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that, although Girvan has been on the schedule of development districts since the Act was passed, not a single job has been provided there by the Board of Trade?

No new industries have been provided there.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will now make a statement regarding the proposal for an amalgamation of the London Museum with the Guildhall Museum.

Yes, Sir. Her Majesty's Government have been in consultation with the Trustees of the London Museum, the Corporation of the City of London and the London County Council on this matter. I am glad to say that all parties have worked out together a scheme to amalgamate the London Museum and the Guildhall Museum and to house the combined Museum in a new building to be erected on a site in the City of London. They have now agreed in principle that the scheme should proceed on the basis that the capital and running costs would be borne jointly and in equal shares by the Exchequer, the City Corporation and the London County Council. A Bill to give effect to these proposals will be introduced in due course. I hope that the House will welcome this as an imaginative project which will bring into being for the first time a single museum covering the history and archaeology of the whole of London. I am circulating further details of the Government's proposals with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that this very sensible decision will be greatly welcomed by all who take an interest in the matter? Can he say precisely where the new Museum will be located?

I am circulating further details in the OFFICIAL REPORT, which the hon. Gentleman will see. I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's remarks. I have no doubt that the proposals, which have been worked out over a long period of time, will be an extremely good bargain for the people of this country as a whole, and especially for the people of London.

I should like to join my voice to those who welcome this proposal. Is my hon. Friend taking particular care to ensure that the site will be large enough, because the archaeological remains and objects of general interest coming from London are increasing at a great rate and it would be a thousand pities if in a few years or a few score years the site were found to be too small and the problem arose again?

I am quite satisfied that the plan, which has been worked out over a long period with all three bodies concerned, will take into account the need, on the one hand, for due economy of public expenditure and, on the other, the long-term future from the point of view of the people of London.

What will Kensington Palace now be used for?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would table a Question to the Minister of Works about that, because it is he and not the Treasury who is directly responsible for Kensington Palace.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now announce the recommendations of the Working Party set up under his chairmanship to reassess the nature, scope and organisation of Exchequer-financed work throughout Great Britain on identifying, recording and research into historic monuments and buildings.

I hope to make a statement very soon. I am now having discussions with the Chairmen of the three Royal Commissions on Historic Monuments.

Will the Financial Secretary bear in mind that these negotiations have been going on for a very long time and it is desirable that he should make a statement very shortly?

I agree with the hon. Gentleman and I am at the moment actually in the course of having certain private discussions about this. I hope that it will be possible to make a statement to the House in a very short time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the correspondence between himself and the hon. Member for North-West Leicester regarding the imposition of Customs' duty on tobacco sent to an old age pensioner in the North-West Leicester constituency, if he will instruct Customs officers to waive charges on gifts of tobacco and spirits of small value sent to old-age pensioners in this country by relatives and friends abroad.

No, Sir. Tobacco and spirits are liable to very high rates of Customs duty; any concession for imported gifts of this kind would lead to gross inequity and would be open to widespread abuse, resulting in heavy loss of revenue.

Is the Economic Secretary aware that he is talking about a man who reaches his seventieth birthday soon, an old-age pensioner, who has been charged £6 11s. for 28 ounces of tobacco worth three dollars, the tobacco having been sent to him by his own sister? Surely we are not sufficiently mean as not to allow a concession in an exceptional case like that? Will he reconsider the matter and ensure that on future occasions we do not act in this mean way?

If the hon. Gentleman himself considers the matter more carefully, I am sure that he will appreciate that there would be very great practical difficulties in distinguishing between gifts and purchases and also between parcels for old-age pensioners and parcels for other people. Further, to do what he suggests would really amount to a benefit in kind for pensioners who are fortunate enough to receive gifts of tobacco and liquor from abroad. I do not think that this is a proposal which we should take further.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he now proposes to reduce the rate of interest charged by the Public Works Loan Board.

No immediate reduction in the rates of interest charged by the Public Works Loan Board is proposed, but these rates will be reduced if there is a fall in the market rates for local authority borrowing.

Why is it that when the Bank Rate rises the Public Works Loan Board rate always rises but when the Bank Rate comes down the Public Works Loan Board rate apparently does not come down? How can the Treasury justify when the Bank Rate is only 4½ per cent. the Public Works Loan Board rate remaining at over 6 per cent.?

I can only point out to the right hon. Gentleman what I am sure he must already know. There has in fact been no appreciable reduction in long-term rates following the four recent reductions in the Bank Rate. As I said in my Answer, the P.W.L.B. rates will certainly be reduced if there is a fall in the market rates for local authority borrowing.

Is the Economic Secretary aware that his answer will not satisfy local authorities, whose housing operations are being seriously hampered by these very high rates?

Is the position now that the rates of interest which local authorities have to pay for work of public importance, including housing, are no longer determined by the Government but by whatever the private moneylenders can get on the open market?

It has been the case, as the hon. Gentleman will recall, since October, 1955, that the rates of borrowing from the P.W.L.B. have been kept in line with the rates ruling on the market. There is nothing new about this. As I said—I repeat it—if the market rates fall there will be a reduction in the P.W.L.B. rates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to publish the results of the tests he has been conducting into the transport of chemicals by road.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 19th April to a Question by the right hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. Dugdale). The tests have not yet been completed.

When are we likely to have the results of those tests? Is not the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there has been considerable anxiety in the House following the demonstration of the dangers to the public from explosions of these chemicals while they are in transit by road, and of the feeling that there should be urgent action to regulate this traffic? Can he say how much longer we have to wait?

These are elaborate laboratory tests and, as the hon. Lady knows, they are not being carried out by the Government, but I hope that we shall not have very long to wait for the results now. The importance of the matter is to try to find a way of stopping these accidents in future. If we can find the right answer, it is worth taking trouble.

Is it not also very important to recognise the need for urgency? There is great public feeling about this in the areas affected, and, although it is necessary to get the right results, is it not also very necessary to allay public feeling?

I entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman.