asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of removing Purchase Tax on all kinds of linoleum goods.

About £1⅓ million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what revenue has been produced by the Purchase Tax imposition on mineral-water sales in Northern Ireland;(2) If, when preparing his Budget, he will exempt Northern Ireland mineral-water manufacturers from the Purchase Tax payments imposed in the last Budget.

Up to the end of last year, an estimated £125,000 to £150,000. Purchase Tax must of course be charged at the same rates throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will abolish the additional charge of Purchase Tax on the carriage of goods.

On the advice of the trade, Purchase Tax has always been charged on the value of goods inclusive of delivery charges.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now reduce the Purchase Tax on all band instruments manufactured in this country.

No. I could neither discriminate between bandsmen's and other instruments, nor between imported instruments and those made in this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the growing menace to crops of all kinds from wood pigeons; and whether, in the interests of food production, he will now abolish or reduce the Purchase Tax on cartridges.

I am so aware but my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget decisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the removal of Purchase Tax on the soft drink industry; and what replies he has sent.

I have received a number of representations, which I have said I shall bear in mind; and following a request from the soft drinks industry, its representatives will be meeting my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary next week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement explaining the Government's present policy regarding incomes in terms which can be easily understood by the nation as a whole.

It is impossible to cover this subject adequately in Answer to a Question, but I will do my best on every suitable occasion to meet my hon. Friend's wishes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are employed in his Department now, compared with ten years ago.

The number of civil servants employed in the Treasury at 1st January, 1963, was 1,425 as compared with 1,267 ten years ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on capital improvements within his Department in the last ten years, with a view to saving manpower and increasing efficiency.

In the last ten years £68,474 has been spent on the purchase of office machinery in the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider widening the scope of fiscal incentives to new manufacturing industries which become established in Northern Ireland to include a form of graduated tax relief for a fixed number of years after they commence business.

While noting my hon. Friend's suggestion I would remind him that the proposals for improved capital and depreciation allowances which I announced on 5th November last are designed to encourage further investment in manufacturing and productive industry generally in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will refer the problem of suggesting new ways of encouraging a greater diversification and expansion of industry in Northern Ireland to the National Economic Development Council.

The National Economic Development Council is at present considering the problems of areas with a high level of unemployment including Northern Ireland as part of its study of a national growth objective.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the sums allocated to university expansion will secure a student population of 150,000 in 1966 without loss of standards; and if that population will be large enough to satisfy the potential demand at that time.

On the first part of the Question, Exchequer grants to the universities for recurrent and non-recurrent expenditure will rise from £84·1 million in 1961–62 to an estimated minimum of about £130 million in 1966–67—an increase of 52 per cent. Student numbers will increase from 111,385 to 150,000 in the same period—an increase of 35 per cent. On the second part of the Question, the universities have estimated that the entry in 1966 should be more than 10,000 higher than in 1961, and will represent about the same percentage of the much larger age-group.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the urgency of the matter, he will now announce an immediate increase in the amount of grant available to local authorities for the clearance of derelict sites under the terms of the Local Employment Act.

I cannot at present add to what my right hon. Friend said on 4th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far Government consideration has proceeded on giving ships as a form of overseas aid; and whether he will give an assurance that the contracts for building these ships will be open to competitive tender.

In considering how best to link additional aid to surplus productive capacity in this country, we have had constantly in mind the possibility of part of this aid being devoted to the purchase of ships. A number of proposals are currently being considered, but I cannot yet make a statement. I have no doubt that any contracts would be placed in the customary way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's present policy on the taking over of private firms by the State in the nation's interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the considerations taken into account in determining Government policy on the acquisition by a publicly-owned company of a privately-owned firm.

The Government would not permit a policy of deliberately extending the area of public ownership but publicly-owned firms must be permitted to defend their commercial interests if they are threatened.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Leeds City Waterworks in the Wharfedale rural district area has a rateable value of £46,612, whilst the new valuation shows a proposed rateable value of £54,175; and what is the valuation formula by which this publicly-owned property has increased by 16 per cent. only, whilst all other property in this rural area has increased by between 100 per cent. and 350 per cent.

The rateable value in the new valuation list is £54,175. The value in the current list is £47,083. The statutory formula, which I mentioned in my reply of 5th February to my hon. Friend, is too complicated to describe in answer to a Parliamentary Question but I am sending my hon. Friend an explanation of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the per capita Government and local authority capital expenditure in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland, respectively, for 1962.

I regret that this information will not be available for a few weeks. I will send it to my hon. Friend as soon as it is.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent grants through the Arts Council to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, are paid on a stipulation that the building shall be kept in a state of sound structural repair.

There is no such stipulation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now reached a decision on whether to grant permission to the Trustee Savings Banks to have a cheque-book system.

Yes. The Trustee Savings Banks Association has been informed that the Government would not stand in the way of the passage of a Private Member's Bill promoted by the Trustee Savings Banks, provided it adheres to the basis which the Association has always accepted, namely that the scheme should not impose any financial burden on the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue from pool betting duty collected on greyhound totalisators for the months of October, November and December, 1962; and what were the corresponding figures for bookmakers' licence duty for the same months.

Following is the answer:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the necessary funds to enable the trustees of the British Museum to extend evening opening for readers to cover all weekdays from October when the Reading Room will be closed for four months for repairs, in order to permit the museum to cater for the normal daily number of readers.

It is for the Trustees to decide, within the limits of the resources which Parliament will be asked to vote them for 1963–64, whether they will extend late opening for readers beyond the present two evenings a week. I understand that the matter is still under consideration and that the hon. Gentleman's point will be borne in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce the tax on fuel for motor vehicles in Scotland, so as to stimulate the tourist industry and assist manufacturers in marketing their produce in distant parts of the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue officers are at present working away from home because of under-staffing in certain districts; and if he will set out in detail the allowances to which they are entitled in such circumstances.

About 100 Inland Revenue officers are temporarily serving away from their home stations in circumstances entitling them to "detached duty" allowances. The rules governing these allowances are rather complicated and I will write to the hon. Member giving him details.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much pension, including all increases, is received by a 55-year-old widow of a chief executive officer in the Civil Service who retired in 1958 and died on 3rd November, 1958; and how much would it be if her husband had retired this year and died today, assuming in each case no children and retirement from a London post after maximum service.

£321 and £393 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now allow the British Broadcasting Corporation to retain the entire proceeds of television and radio licences.

The whole of the net licence revenue is already paid to the B.B.C. If the hon. Member is referring to the television licence excise duty, that is a budgetary matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what communication he has received from the Chinese authorities concerning British industrial exhibitions in Peking; when it was received; and what action he has taken to promulgate this information to British industry.

My right hon. Friend has received no communication from the Chinese authorities on this subject. He understands, however, that in response to an earlier initiative on their part the Sino-British Trade Council were invited last autumn by the Chinese to organise displays of certain British products in Peking, and that they have informed the industries concerned and are in process of working out detailed arrangements for some exhibitions in 1963.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has permitted an increase in the annual Soviet quota of £30,000 in respect of earthenware and china imports into the United Kingdom in exchange for a corresponding increase of only £5,000 in exports from this country.

The quota for imports of Russian earthenware and china in 1963 has been increased by £1,667 over last year's quota of £25,000. The quota for our exports at £10,000 is an exact repetition of last year's rate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to dissuade companies which have taken advantage of Government finance to undertake capital investment in Scotland from sub-contracting large elements of the work involved to companies outside Scotland.

None; the award of contracts or sub-contracts is a commercial matter for the company concerned. Local concerns are obviously well placed to seek such contracts, but the Government would not suggest that they should be placed locally regardless of cost and efficiency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he controls the price and export of non-ferrous scrap metals when such scrap metals could earn more foreign currency for this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how long it is proposed to continue the war-time controls on non-ferrous scrap metals, particularly on copper and copper alloys.

An open general licence for certain types of copper and copper alloy scrap came into operation on 5th September, and was renewed for a further three months on 5th December. My right hon. Friend is now considering whether this licence should be further extended. The need for export control of other types of non-ferrous scrap is kept under constant review, but so long as most other countries take measures to safeguard their scrap and attract supplies from abroad, abolition of control could denude our own users of needed supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what new industrial projects are planned to start during 1963 in the non-scheduled areas of the Barnard Castle Urban District Council and the Barnard Castle Rural District Council; and how many new jobs are expected to materialise as a result.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any new industrial projects which are planned to start during 1963 in the Barnard Castle Group of Employment Exchange Areas. As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member on 25th January, he will keep a careful watch on the position in this area and would be glad to see any suitable new industrial development there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are now being taken to increase British trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other Communist countries.

All the services of the Board of Trade are available to British exporters interested in selling to the Soviet bloc, and my right hon. Friend would be glad to see an increase in the level of our trade with those countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the allocation of industrial development certificates with the object of encouraging industrial development in areas of high unemployment, he will grant development certificates in areas where the level of unemployment is not yet above average but whose local industries are declining and from which many employees are travelling daily to neighbouring towns and cities to find employment.

Every application for an industrial development certificate is considered on its merits and all relevant factors are taken into account, including the local employment situation in the area in which development is proposed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates were granted for the London and South-East region and for the North-West region, respectively, in 1962.

338 in the London and South Eastern region and 236 in the North Western region.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms producing components for the British Motor Corporation at Bathgate have been established in the Calders.

Of the nine companies known to the Board of Trade who have established, or hope to establish, factories in Scotland from which they will supply products for the motor vehicle industry, including the British Motor Corporation, one has acquired premises in the Calders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make an all-round unilateral cut in tariffs;(2) if he will make such selective unilateral tariff cuts as will make less efficient industries more competitive in world markets.

The tariff is, of course, an important instrument affecting the competitive position of industry and we shall have this in mind in discussions with our E.F.T.A. partners and in the forthcoming Kennedy round.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he sent to the letter he received from Messrs. Richards Limited, of Bradford Works, Aberdeen, on the Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the letter addressed to the Board of Trade Office at Inverness, which inquired why, although fire hose and canvas made of cotton were treated as "sensitive" under the Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty, similar products made of flax were not.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a stand was provided by his Department at the Earl's Court Furniture Show to help industrial representatives.

Yes, with the primary purpose of providing information for exporters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the terms of the loan given by Her Majesty's Government included conditions regarding the placing of the contract for the dredging work at the new graving dock at Greenock; whether he is satisfied that the placing of this contract with a London-based firm complied with the public purposes for which the loan was made; and if he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the terms of the agreement under which a loan of nearly £3 million was granted by Her Majesty's Government to the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock Company enable him to influence the use of this money for furtherance of local employment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what purposes public money has been provided for the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock Company; and what was the size of the loan.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the loan of public money granted to the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock Company in view of the fact that the loan has been used to place a contract with the Westminster Dredging Company which is contrary to the public purposes for which the loan was granted; and what was the nature of his replies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware that the Clyde Navigation Trust have been refused a contract that would have ensured work in the area by the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock Company and that the contract has been awarded to a company from outside the area; and to what extent this is compatible with the terms under which a substantial loan of public money was made to the Dry Dock Company;(2) if he will hold an inquiry into the use of the loan of public money granted to the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock Company for the placing of the contract with the Westminster Dredging Company contrary to the public purposes of the loan.

The Board of Trade agreed in October, 1960 to lend £2·85 million of the total estimated cost of £4·25 million for the construction of a graving dock and ancillary services at Greenock. The purpose of the loan was to promote employment in a development district. The company estimate that over 1,000 permanent jobs will be provided by this project, when it is completed.The company's award of a dredging contract to the Westminster Dredging Company has been the subject of representations to the Government from the Clyde Navigation Trust, the Lanarkshire County Council and the Scottish Labour Party.The terms of the loan agreement, other than those announced publicly by the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock Company, are confidential as between the Board of Trade and the company. They do not, however, entitle the Board of Trade to intervene with the company over the detailed execution of their project. It is entirely for the Dry Dock Company, in the exercise of their business judgment, to decide which contractors to employ and there are accordingly no grounds on which the Government could hold an enquiry into the manner in which the contract has been awarded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the breakdown of the Common Market talks, what steps he is taking to expand alternative markets by increasing Great Britain's share in East-West trade.

Bilateral agreements concluded with the countries of the Soviet bloc provide a framework within which East-West trade can grow.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the extent of the adverse balance of trade with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Venezuela, for the year 1962; what was the total value of imports of crude petroleum from these countries for the year; and what was the value of exports to these countries of ships, machinery other than electric, and electric machinery.

With the exception of the value of United Kingdom exports of ships, all this information is obtainable from the December, 1962, issue of the Trade and Navigation Accounts, which is available in the House of Commons Library. Details of the exports of ships (excluding second-hand seagoing vessels for which figures are not available) were as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of imports from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran during the five-year period 1958 to 1962, and the total value of exports to those destinations during the same period; and what was the total value of crude petroleum imported from those countries, and exports of ships and engineering goods to those destinations, in the same period.

Details of the total value of United Kingdom trade with these countries, and of the value of imports of petroleum from them, for the years concerned, are obtainable from the appropriate December issues of the Trade and Navigation Accounts.The value of exports of ships and boats and of engineering products was as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates were granted for Bolton in 1962.

In 1962, one industrial development certificate was issued for Bolton.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, following the visits to the North-East area by the Lord President of the Council he intends to schedule Tees-side as a development area.

My right hon. Friend is considering whether he would be justified in listing the Tees-side area as a development district under the Local Employment Act. In doing so, he will take account of any views held by my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increase in unemployment in Wrexham, he will include it in the list of scheduled areas.

My right hon. Friend does not consider that the unemployment position in Wrexham would justify his adding it to the list of Development Districts. He will, however, be glad to draw the attention of suitable firms to the facilities available there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of British exports of plastics and rubber-working machinery to the Soviet Union arid Eastern Europe in 1960, 1961 and 1962, respectively; and what proportion this represented of total British exports of this type of equipment.

United Kingdom exports of plastics and rubber-working machinery, including presses for tableting and pelleting and plastics moulding, were as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much of the assistance he has provided under the Local Employment Act for projects in Scotland has gone, respectively, to firms already established there, and to those setting up in Scotland for the first time.

Of the total assistance offered under the Local Employment Act up to 31st January, 1963, for projects in Scotland excluding offers declined, £24·8 million, or 59 per cent., has gone to companies setting up in Scotland far the first time, and the balance of £17·2 million to companies already established in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of British exports of gas and chemical machinery to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in 1960, 1961 and 1962, respectively; what proportion this represented of total British exports of this type of equipment; and what steps he proposes to take by way of improved credit facilities and other means to enable British manufacturers to secure more of this business.

The value of United Kingdom exports of gas and chemical machinery to the Soviet Bloc in 1960, 1961 and 1962 was £0·6 million, £4·2 million and £2·8 million, respectively. This represented 15 per cent., 47 per cent. and 28 per cent. of total United Kingdom exports of this type of machinery in these years.The present facilities offered by the Export Credits Guarantee Department, which take full account of officially-backed credit from other countries, should enable British manufacturers to offer competitive terms in these, as in other, markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now include the Bideford and Torrington Employment Exchange area on the list of development districts under the Local Employment Act, 1960, in view of its eligibility under the criteria used over the past three years.

My right hon. Friend is still considering this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the estimated expenditure in 1961–62 on the promotion of trade, exports and industrial efficiency was underspent by the sum of £2,924,122.

There was underspending on cotton re-equipment grants of £2,234,693 and on cotton compensation payments of £624,920; these two items account for some 98 per cent. of the total sum underspent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will use his powers under Section 4 (1) of the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957, to provide for drawback on the export of goods containing phthalic anhydride on which anti-dumping duties have been paid in accordance with Statutory Instruments 1962, No. 2631 and 1963, No. 90.

No application for drawback has been made. If it is, it will be considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the effect on the competitive ability of the United Kingdom solid resin manufacturers of the 33⅓ per cent. import duty on phthalic anhydride, if he will remove this duty forthwith.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to increase imports of Russian oil; and if he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Her Majesty's Government has now decided to allow the importation of some Russian oil as a means of helping the British shipbuilding industry to secure orders from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the official offer of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to trade oil for ships to be made in the North-East shipyards.

A delegation from the Soviet Ship-purchasing Corporation has recently been visiting shipyards in this country and has made inquiries about purchasing several types of vessel. Reports have appeared in the Press that orders would not be placed unless we imported some Russian oil.The Soviet Government have not so far made any firm proposal for a specific transaction on these lines. The Russians have indeed made it clear that they are as much concerned with the terms of the tenders as with the question of oil sales. But if they do make such a proposal we shall be prepared to consider it on its merits even though this might involve the importation of a limited quantity of fuel oil.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the increases of tariffs, and the imposition of quotas, on the import of woven woollen goods into the United States of America; and what representations he has made with a view to the lowering or removal of these barriers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the United States Government concerning the future import into America of British wool textiles; and what reply has been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the expressed intention of the United States Government to restrain wool textile imports, and the effect this will have on British exports, what representations he has made to the United States Government; and if he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the danger to the British wool export trade implied in the United States President's promise to congressmen that he will consider imposing restraint on wool imports; and if he will make representations to the United States Government.

There have been reports that the United States Administration is considering taking some action to limit imports of wool products into the U.S.A. Her Majesty's Government would view any such action with grave concern and Her Majesty's Ambassador in Washington has left the Administration in no doubt of our views.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the exports of British wool textiles to the United States are being seriously diminished by the increase in tariffs from 25 per cent. to 38 per cent.; and if he will take action to protect British interests.

We have repeatedly made it clear to the United States Administration that we regard the very high tariff on wool cloth as unsatisfactory, and we shall seek a reduction in the next round of tariff negotiations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Spanish Minister of Trade.

The Spanish Minister of Industry, Sr. Lopez-Bravo, visited Britain last week at my right hon. Friend's invitation. This visit made it possible for the Spanish Minister to meet leading representatives of industry and commerce and see something of those sectors of British industry in which he had expressed a particular interest. Britain is Spain's best customer and our own exports to Spain have been increasing rapidly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the French proposals of 1960 in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade for an international agreement on cereals.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to suggestions put forward by the then French Minister of Finance at the G.A.T.T. Ministerial meeting in November, 1961. In accordance with established policy Her Majesty's Government are prepared to take part in discussions regarding international trade in agricultural products including cereals, provided these are directed towards proposals which are fair alike to producers and consumers and to exporting and importing nations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the advertising industry and with consumer organisations about the setting up of a Consumers' Council; and which organisations he has consulted.

The Board of Trade invited comments last August on the Final Report of the Committee on Consumer Protection from all the consumer organisations and bodies concerned with advertising listed in Appendix B to the Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost per job provided under the Local Employment Act in the Merseyside development district.

Excluding offers declined, the cost per job for projects in the Merseyside development district which have been offered assistance under the Local Employment Act is £768.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that all advance factories built by his Department utilise structural steel and plastic-coated corrugated sheet steel.

The design of Board of Trade factories is a matter for the Industrial Estates Management Corporations, who have a duty to ensure that the factories are suitable for their purpose and are built as quickly as possible with the most economic use of public money. In practice, I understand that structural steel will be used in all the advance factories now being built.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of imported commodities at present liable to key industries duty, together with principal countries of origin, present ad valorem rate of duty, date of imposition and duration and rate of any duty previously imposed.

The former key industry duties imposed under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, were merged in the general protective tariff introduced under the Import Duties Act, 1958, and are not now separately distinguished.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to provide sterling to enable Rumanian trading organisations to place additional business with British manufacturers of engineering and other goods, he will now approve a quota for £2 million or more of carcase beef to be imported from Rumania in 1963; what percentage of total imports of carcase beef such a value of imports from Rumania would represent; and what percentage of carcase beef imported in 1962 was obtained from Argentina and other non-Commonwealth sources.

No. The answers to the second and third parts of the Question are 3·3 per cent and 73 per cent. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will advise the appointment of a Royal Commission to review the whole organisation of British exports, in view of the situation described in the Report of the Working Group on Export Merchants published in the Board of Trade Journal on 1st February, 1963.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what Scottish firms exported goods to Russia in 1962; and what steps he is taking to increase trade with Russia in 1963.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. As to the second part, our Five Year Trade Agreement with the Soviet Union provides a framework within which trade can grow, and the Board of Trade will assist exporters interested in the Soviet market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent steps he has taken to encourage the increase of exports by the Scottish engineering industry to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Engineering firms in Scotland as well as elsewhere are aware of the opportunities offered by the Soviet market, and I hope they will energetically pursue them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions are placed on the import of Russian crude oil into the United Kingdom.

Imports of Soviet crude oil are prohibited except under licence from the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the Swaziland Constitutional Conference.

The Swaziland Constitutional talks have been proceeding since 28th January, and are now nearing their conclusion.

asked the Secretary of Stale for the Colonies if he will give the reasons for the discrepancy in the Hong Kong Government's and his Department's figures of visible trade between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, each purporting, in recent years, to have an adverse balance with the other.

The apparent discrepancy between the Hong Kong and British trade accounts is due principally to the fact that in both cases the valuation of imports includes insurance and freight, whereas the valuation of exports covers costs only to the point of shipment. It is the normal practice to publish trade returns in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken since the report of the Morse Commission to improve the economy of Basutoland; and what further action is planned for the immediate future.

During the period 1960–63 Basutoland has received some £1·1 million in C.D. and W. grants and a further £½ million in Exchequer loans. It has also since 1960 received nearly £3 million in budgetary aid.Measures to improve the economy have been directed to the development mainly of agriculture and, to a lesser extent, of communications and to the start of an infrastructure for secondary industries. These measures will be continued during the next development period and expanded to the extent that funds can be made available.The full answer to the Question is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what the annual per capita income figures are for Fijians and Indians, respectively, in the Fiji Islands.

No estimates are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many new industries have been set up in the Fiji Islands since the publication of the Burns' Commission Report; and how many extra jobs have been thus created.

Four new industries and several smaller enterprises employing about 150 people have been set up. There has also been a considerable expansion in timber and rice milling and the tourist industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are now in jail in Aden for offences arising out of industrial disputes.

Ten.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will list the main assets of the former West Indies Federal Government in Trinidad, together with the decisions about their individual disposal now that the Federation has ended.

The main assets are the loan made by the Federal Government to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago from the British Government's £1 million capital grant for Federal housing and various cash balances, deposits and recoverable advances. There were also certain physical assets, such as furniture and the stores of the West India Regiment. These physical assets have been realised, in part by public auction, in part by sale to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and in part by transfer with or without payment to other Government institutions in the area. The assets are to be used to meet the liabilities of the former Federation, notably the payment of pensions and compensation to former Federal Civil Servants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what common services of the former West Indies Federation are still being carried on by the Commissioner appointed for the purpose; what negotiations have taken place about their future; and what decisions have been reached about any of them.

Following the decisions of the Common Services Conference in Trinidad last July, interterritorial Ministerial Councils are now responsible for the University, the Meteorological Service and the Shipping Service. The advisory services have been discontinued, and the West India Regiment disbanded. Other services such as the students and migrant services have become the direct responsibility of individual governments or groups of governments. The Interim Commissioner's functions, therefore, are now limited to making a final determination of Federal assets and the discharge of Federal liabilities, and to the payment of pensions to former Federal civil servants. He is also technically responsible for the British Caribbean Court of Appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the present position in regard to the future of the Malta dockyard in the light of the suspension of pay- ments to Bailey (Malta) Limited; what is the position in regard to employment; and what action is being taken to maintain the island's economy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the future of Malta Dockyard.

I shall be making a statement in the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why instructions were given on his behalf that British European Airways should not let Bailey's (Malta) Ltd. know that the Minister of State for the Colonies was about to visit Malta last week.

No such instructions were given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many cooperative societies were on the register in North Borneo in 1959; how many are on the register at present; and how many societies are in active process of formation under the guidance of the Agricultural Department.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 14; to the second 102. 20 are now receiving official guidance, and a further 20 are expected to receive guidance and achieve registration in 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the respective administrative responsibilities of the British Resident Commissioner and the French Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides.

Acting under their High Commissioners, they are jointly responsible for the government of the Condominium; they are also separately responsible for matters of solely British or solely French concern in the territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who is responsible for the external affairs of the New Hebrides; and if there has been a change in external policy since the end of the Brussels negotiations.

External affairs are the joint responsibility of the British and French Governments. There has been no change in policy since the break-down of the negotiations at Brussels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the names of the 107 persons arrested in Singapore on 2nd February on the instructions of the Internal Security Council; and which of them are officials or members of the Barisan Socialis Party or of trades unions.

110 persons have been so detained on and since the 2nd February. Their names are listed below. In this list ^* indicates that the person named is known to be a member of the Barisan Socialis and † that he is known to be an official or a member of a trade union.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons were arrested and detained on the morning of Saturday, 2nd February, on the authority of the Singapore Internal Security Council and how many of them are known to be implicated in subversive activity.

About 100. The answer to the second part of the Question is "All".

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, what progress has been made with the return of the inhabitants to their home on Tristan da Cunha.

The advance party of 52 islanders, an Administrator, a doctor, and an agricultural superintendent will leave by boat for Tristan on 17th March, arriving about 10th April. Provisional arrangements have been made for the remainder who wish to return to leave Britain by charter vessel on 24th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, when territories at present under British control enter into a federation with other countries, he will provide for their possible secession in the future.

Circumstances vary greatly, I am afraid therefore that I could not give a general assurance of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonies or Protectorates laws against racial discrimination have been introduced.

Kenya, Aden and British Guiana have such legislation and it is under consideration for Basutoland, Swaziland and Zanzibar.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish the population figures for each of the proposed constituencies in Kenya.

I am asking the Governor whether he can supply this information, and I will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give the total number of persons employed by Her Majesty's Government at State House, Holborn.

1,474.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what are his future plans for the use of the vacant building at No. 66 High Street, Honiton, at present owned by the Postmaster-General.

We propose that this property should be sold if suitable arrangements could be made concerning the annexe.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to implement Her Majesty's Government's decision on pay television.

As a first step I intend to make an announcement inviting organisa- tions interested in taking part in the experiment to apply. I have in mind to do this shortly after the forthcoming debate in this House on the Second Reading of the Television Bill.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the average cost of installing telephones for residential subscribers For the years 1951, 1955, and 1962, respectively.

The average labour cost of connecting a new subscriber to the local network in 1951, 1955 and 1962 was about £7, £9 and £13, respectively. The average total cost of all the plant provided for a subscriber and of the associated labour is estimated at roughly £80, £95 and £130, respectively, in the same years. Separate costs for residential subscribers are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the total number of persons who are on the waiting list for telephones in the Dearne Valley area for the latest available date.

At the beginning of this year there were 37 persons on the waiting list for telephones in the Dearne Valley area.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has for reducing the waiting list for telephones in the Daubhill and Deane districts of Bolton.

New cables are planned to serve the Daubhill and Deane districts of Bolton, and the laying of new ducts will begin in April. This is a big cable development scheme, and the rate of progress possible will depend on the resources I have available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what arrangements have been agreed upon by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority with other countries in order to undertake a joint research and development programme on a design of a nuclear reactor suitable for marine propulsion; and what will be the cost to Her Majesty's Government.

The only joint research and development programme with an overseas group on the design of a marine nuclear propulsion reactor is that with a consortium of Belgian firms known as Belgo-Nucleaire, which was described in my answer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West, on 12th December. Arrangements and costs of this programme which are shared equally, are the subject of an agreement which, for commercial reasons, is confidential to both parties.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what proportion of the Medical Research Council's expenditure is devoted to mental illness; and how much of that sum is devoted to the study of schizophrenia.

One twentieth of the Council's total expenditure was devoted to research on mental illness in the past financial year. It is not possible to estimate expenditure on research on schizophrenia alone.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science to what extent the Calder Hall and Chapelcross atomic power stations will be modified during 1963 in order to generate an increased supply of electricity; and what is the estimated cost to Her Majesty's Government.

The Atomic Energy Authority proposes to reblade three turbines at Calder Hall and two at Chapelcross during 1963 to increase the electricity output capacity by a total of 18 MW. The estimated cost is about £65,000 but this should be recovered, within about eighteen months, as additional revenue from the sale of electricity.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will state the total production of uranium metal fuel elements for commercial nuclear power stations in 1962, giving exports and internal requirements of British nuclear power stations separately.

I am advised that in the calendar year 1962, the Atomic Energy Authority manufactured 670 tons of uranium metal fuel elements for commercial nuclear power stations. Three hundred tons were for the station, designed by British firms, which recently came into operation at Latina in Italy. The rest was for three nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom programme at Berkeley, Bradwell and Hinkley Point.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will now give the date when the report of the survey of the amount of money expended in the United Kingdom on national research and development will be published.