asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what steps he has taken during the last 12 months to attract new industries to the North-East of Scotland, particularly to the City of Aberdeen; and what have been the results.

I am continuing to make full use of my powers under the Local Employment Acts to encourage further industrial development in the development districts of North-East Scotland, including Aberdeen. In the past twelve months offers of assistance under the Acts have amounted to over £32,500. In addition, 8 I.D.C.s have been issued in the same period for this area, embracing 170,000 square feet and estimated to provide nearly 300 jobs.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that that vague and indeterminate answer is on the same lines as the promises made by his colleagues during the last twelve years, most of which have not been implemented, to bring industry to North-East Scotland? Will he mend his ways and do something concrete and constructive for North-East Scotland?

The information that assistance has amounted to £32,500, with eight I.D.C.s for 170,000 square feet and 300 jobs, is very specific and, I hope, will be satisfactory to the hon. and learned Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he has completed his study of resale price maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Dudley Smith) on 28th November.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the Government, powerful numerically but not constructtively or intellectually, with all the aids of science at their disposal, have failed to devise plans which would solve this problem in the interests of (a) the workers and (b) the housewives and families?

I assure the hon. and learned Gentleman that my Department is hoping to find a solution of a constructive nature on a sound intellectual basis.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is becoming an increasingly urgent matter and that public opinion is getting quite worked up about it—more worked up than he appears to be? Does he realise that the obverse of the incomes policy the Government claim to be pursuing is a price policy? Is not an essential element of a price policy the abolition of individual resale price maintenance in the interests of the consumers?

I fully appreciate the urgency and difficulty of the subject, but to appreciate a thing fully one does not necessarily have to be worked up about it. I shall make a statement as soon as I can.

Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that, before any Government plan is produced on this subject, he will have consultations with representatives of the small traders who might be adversely affected by any change in the law?

There have been studies and full consultations over considerable periods with, I think, everybody concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when he will implement the Government's plan for the North-East.

The plan is being implemented.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is one practical and precise task that he can carry out for the North-East—encourage the Post Office to transfer the headquarters of the Post Office Savings Bank to the North-East in general and Sunderland in particular?

I am well aware that my hon. Friend would favour that.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will place in the Library copies of the evidence given to the Lord President of the Council in his survey of the North-East, and a list of the bodies he had discussions with.

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a considerable amount of valuable information, and, indeed, valuable advice, was given to the Lord President of the Council in his researches into the North-East? This is something which would help not only the North-East but the Board of Trade itself if it were to tackle this growing problem of unemployment, and in fact may be of great assistance to some of the right hon. Gentleman's friends who are questioning him on unemployment and who are now discovering that Tory freedom does not work.

The information collected by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council was available to his colleagues in Her Majesty's Government and to their Departments. I am sure that my right hon. Friend would have been inhibited in collecting this information to the best advantage if those whom he had been consulting from a wide field had understood that it was all to be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will publish the financial figures of the additional expenditure on services such as housing, education, and roads, in excess of normal investment, for the year ending 5th April, 1964, arising out of the Hailsham Report.

No figure exists for "normal" investment in the North-East for the year ending 5th April, 1964. The figure proportionate to the population of the area is approximately £68 million, whereas we have provided for about £80 million in the White Paper proposals.

May I ask my right hon. Friend to bear in mind that I get tired of all this talk in generalities? I should like to be able to pinpoint where and in what areas of the North-East Coast this additional amount of money is being spent. Will my right hon. Friend please refrain from continually talking in generalities and give me the details so that I can see for myself what is happening with this very valuable contribution to the North-East?

I do not regard the difference between £68 million and £80 million as a generality. If my hon. Friend wants specific details, when the money has been spent by local authorities and the central authority and accounted for at the end of the financial year, she will be able to have specific details.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what representations he has received from the steel industry about the policy of the Uruguayan Government in applying a policy of flag discrimination to the detriment of British shipping and trading interests; and what action he proposes to take in view of this damaging precedent.

A steel firm and its shipping agents have drawnmy attention to the difficulties they have experienced as a result of Uruguayan flag discrimination. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary explained on 28th November in answer to the hon. and learned Member for Ipswich (Mr. D. Foot) the representations which we are making to the Uruguayan Government about their shipping policies.

While I welcome the limited nature of that answer, would my hon. Friend accept that this is one of a series of incidents in the extension of flags of discrimination which militates against the interests of British shipping and its ability to earn currency of vital importance for the survival of this nation? Will he undertake a more aggressive policy in the promotion of the interests of British shipping, in particular in relation to present developments in the United States of America?

We attach great importance to our shipping interests and we propose to make our attitude towards this question quite clear at the current; G.A.T.T. meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Envelopment when he intends to visit the West Country to study the problems of unemployment in that area.

I expect to visit the South West on 2nd and 3rd of January.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the pleasure given us by the news that he is to visit us so soon after taking up his appointment? May I hope that he will visit my constituency where we have a development district with three times the national average of unemployment? Will he please come down by car and then join us in our battle with the Minister of Transport to see that we have better roads to the South-West?

I will let my hon. Friend and other hon. Members concerned see the programme as soon as it arranged. I will certainly undertake to travel part of the way by road, but I hope that I do not also have to battle against the weather.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that he will try to visit all the areas which are scheduled as being in need of special assistance under the Local Employment Act, in particular that area of North Devon, whore the unemployment rate is five times that prevailing nationally?

What is most important is that I should have the opportunity of meeting all those concerned with these problems. We will arrange the programme with that in view. I will certainly visit all the areas I can.

rose—

I am afraid that we cannot go all round areas now.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will now lake into account the local level of earnings as well as local unemployment, before deciding whether to encourage or discourage new light industries in a district.

My right hon. Friend's powers to influence the location of industry derive from the Local Employment Acts. In exercising these powers, he does no: regard the level of earnings as a relevant criterion.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the standard of living is very relevant and that it is often a good deal lower than in some of the areas getting extensive financial help from the Government?

I know that my right hon. Friend is very well aware of my hon. Friend's feelings on this subject, with particular reference to the future of market towns. The points which he and others have brought to my right hon. Friend's attention are being considered.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in many small market towns unemployment is exported and that it is not noted that the towns are doing very badly and that many are beginning to die on: heir feet? Will the Government take particular note of this important topic and deal with it before it is too late?

Yes, Sir. My hon. Friend raises a very important question, and this is one of the points which was mentioned in the memorandum given to my right hon. Friend by the deputation from the South-West, and it is certainly under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether, in negotiating future trade agreements and commercial treaties, he will include a clause guaranteeing free competition in shipping.

Her Majesty's Government's policy is to encourage free competition in international shipping. Provision for this is made in commercial treaties and trade agreements whenever the opportunity occurs.

Will my hon. Friend lose no opportunity, because the policy of sweet reasonableness in shipping has not paid very well? Surely the time has come to use all the weapons at our command in this connection.

Certainly there are difficulties. Our general aim is very clearly to work for satisfactory non-discriminatory shipping provisions.

Can my hon. Friend say whether Her Majesty's Government have any ideas—

No.

Speak for yourselves.

—about such irksome restrictions being imposed on liners like the "United States" when they come to this country as are imposed, or proposed to be imposed, by the United States of America?

I think that that is properly a question for the Minister of Transport, but I will certainly see that my hon. Friend's observations are brought to his attention.

Is my hon. Friend aware that sweet reasonableness seems to be making matters worse and not better? Can he find an answer to that?

One of the problems is that so many nations these days have new fleets, but certainly my right hon. Friend and the Minister of Transport together keep a close watch on these matters and endeavour to take such action as is open to us.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many cattle were exported for slaughter to Italy and Spain, respectively, in 1962, and to the latest convenient date in 1963.

There were no United Kingdom exports to Italy in 1962. In the first ten months of 1963 a total of 540 live cattle, other than for breeding, were exported. Of these 396 were exported from Northern Ireland. None of the remaining 144 cattle was exported for immediate slaughter. There were no exports to Spain in the periods concerned.

Is it necessary to obtain licences from my hon. Friend's Department before animals are exported for slaughter, or otherwise, and what conditions govern the granting of those licences?

Licences are issued—except in the case of exports from Northern Ireland, which is a separate matter dealt with by the Government of Northern Ireland—on the recommendations of the Ministry of Agriculture. Export licensing control is imposed upon live cattle at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture, which requires specific assurances from European countries before allowing the export of cattle for slaughter. The conditions are very clear and cover feeding and travel arrangements and other important matters. I am entirely satisfied that these important conditions are observed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will introduce legislation to amend the Local Employment Act to enable grants to be paid to local authorities who are building their own advance factories in order to combat unemployment.

No, Sir. Under the Act grants are payable only to persons providing continuing employment in development districts, and I do not think it would be right to extend this to local authorities providing employment for workers involved in the construction of the factories. Grants are, however, available to industrialists who acquire factories built by local authorities in advance of demand.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that does not go far enough and that we are concerned not merely with the labour involved in the construction of factories but with the number of jobs which those factories will provide? Is he not aware that it would be a great incentive and encouragement to local authorities building their own advance factories to have assistance of this description? As his Department is constantly pressing for local initiative and local enterprise, when it is shown why cannot it be backed up?

What is important is that the advantages go to the firm coming into the factory and providing continuing employment, for which the right hon. Gentleman rightly asks.

What my right hon. Friend says is not exactly correct. Is it not true that if a local authority builds a factory, neither the authority nor the person going to occupy it can get a grant unless at some stage the future occupier puts in one brick; in other words, circumvents the law in this way?

As I said, if the future occupier is to acquire it, he gets all the grants.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that those areas which are excluded from the plan for the North East are finding their enterprise severely handicapped when it comes to attracting essential industry to their areas? As they are prepared not only to make excellent sites available but to set about the provision of advance factories, ought not something be done to encourage their efforts?

Industrialists continue to receive the inducements given under earlier legislation. The hon. Member's other question is a repetition of the same point. It is a question of where the advantages go, where the inducements go, when the factory is built.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when the first advance factory in Shotts will be completed; and how soon it will be occupied.

The first advance factory in Shotts is now ready for occupation, but I cannot say when a tenant will be found.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it is over two years since the Government decided to build this advance factory? Surely during that time they could have found a tenant for it? Can the Minister tell me what efforts are being made to find such a tenant? Secondly, s the Minister aware that under the Beeching proposals the railway station at Shotts is to be closed? Will the Minister make strong representations to the Minister of Transport that any effort made by the Board of Trade to attract industry to that area will be nullified by the Beeching proposal to close the railway station?

We are grateful to the hon. Lady for the views she has expressed on this occasion and those expressed on my right hon. Friend on other occasions. We shall certainly bear them in mind. I assure the hon. Lady that we are as anxious as she is to find a suitable tenant for the factory, and we shall continue to bring the factory to the notice of tenants who might be suitable. However, I would remind the hon. Lady that there are two factories in Shotts and that the second one will be ready at the end of this month. A firm application has been received and it will provide 150 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when construction of the advance factory at Kilwinning Industrial Estate is to commence; and what is the estimated date of completion.

Construction of the advance factory at Kilwinning has begun. It should be completed during the summer of 1964.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is over a year since the building of this factory was authorised? All that has happened since, under the aegis of the right hon. Gentleman's Department, is the building of one wee road, which I saw when I visited it at the weekend.

The announcement was made by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of Labour on 8th April, 1963. Technical difficulties were encountered over the site of the factory. The contractor went on to the site on 3rd December.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications to establish industry in The Hartlepools have been made since 1st August.

Two firms have applied to set up in The Hartlepools since 1st August. One of them was recently given an industrial development certificate; the other applied a few days ago for a factory to be built for them and this is under examination.

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that Answer. Will he do what he can to speed up applications when they go through B.O.T.A.C?

Yes, Sir. I will certainly do that.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what further measures he intends to take to reduce the 7·9 per cent. figure of unemployment in The Hartlepools.

I am continuing to use my full powers under the Local Employment Acts to encourage increased industrial development in The Hartlepools.

Will not my right hon. Friend agree that to put the Tees-side industrial estate on the south bank does not help my constituency, certainly not in the immediate future, for it means that workers have to travel considerable distances to the new area of employment? Will he do something to establish industry on the north bank of the Tees?

Obviously, the judgment about the new estate was made on considerations of the growth area as a whole. At the same time, important activities have been taking place in my hon. Friend's constituency. As he knows, two factories will soon be completed by my Department for tenants who are already known. In addition, since August some 18 firms have been taken to see buildings and sites in The Hartlepools and we hope that these may result in more employment for my hon. Friend's constituents. We still await the decisions of a number of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proposals he has for bringing new industries to those areas suffering from continuing depopulation which are not scheduled for assistance under the Local Employment Act.

My first obligation must continue to be to the development districts. But I am always prepared to consider applications for suitable industrial development in areas suffering from depopulation.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these areas are really exporting unemployment, and are declining? I have in mind the Prime Minister's constituency of West Perth shire and others in Scotland. Is it not time that the Government undertook to do something special for these areas, in the same way as they do for areas of heavy unemployment?

The hon. Gentleman is asking me to change priorities. I do not think I can do that. I do not think that it would be the general wish to do that. We must concentrate our resourcew on the areas wlere there is the highest unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what repl} he has sent to the communication from the hon.0Member for Swindon, writing as Khairman of the Advertising Inquyry Council, regerding misrepresentation by salesmen posing as Commonwealth students engaged in tour contests; and if he will make a statement.

I have told the hon. Member that in this, as in other fields, I welcome publicity on forms of doorstep selling whicl may not be in |he best interests of the consumer.

Will the ryght hon. Gentleman consider making inquiries into the activities of Readers Service Ltd. of Prulential House, Wellesley Road, Croydon, who employ alleged Commonwealth students0on this basis but refuse to allow them to revea| the identity on the firm for whom they work? Will the right hon. Gentleman in general accelera|e the activities of the Consumez Council in thiw field?

The hon. Gentleman is speelily taking advantage of drawing attention publicly to one case.(We have had a number of cases of this type of agtivity brought |o our attention at the Board of Trade. The Consumer Council has chosen this as one of the three subjects into which it will inquire.

Has the question been considered of prosecuting these peotle for obtaininw goods by false4pretences?

We have examined this question. We have no evidence tha| it is an offense against the Board of Trade legislation, and ajy other sort of prosecution would depend on the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Sekretary of State(for Industry, Tzade and Regional Development if he will make rexresentations to the Consumer Coancil concerning(the increasing nuisance being caused to householders by door-to-door salesmen pksing as students, soliciting subscriptions to magazines; what other steps he is taking in this regard; and if he will make a stitement.

The Consumer Council announced in Septembeb that doorstep celling was one kf the three subjects they had chosen for immediate action. I am(awaiting their riews.

Will not mi right hon. Friind agree that this is a reprehensible practice?(Can he say when he expects to hear from the Conkumer Council?

They have given me no indication of the date. I do nkt think that my hon. Friend meant that doorstep selling is reprehensible, but ojly some of the practices mentioned this afternokn.

asked the Secbetary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development (1) if he will now initiate discussions with representatives of British film producers concerning the present difficulties in film production:

I have already had preliminary meetijgs with deputations from the Feheration of Film Unions and from the Federation of British Film Makers. I told them that I shall shortly receive the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council which is presently considering the difficulties of the film industry and that I shall then decide what action it may be justifiable for me to take.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman speed up this matter? Did he not hear from the independent producers that a certain aspect of this matter is really urgent, namely, that film prod action in the independent sphere may collapse unless something can be done to organise a quicker release of British fillms next year? That can be dealt with separately from the considerations of the Films Council on the question of a third circuit and reducing the dominance of the A.B.C. and Rank Organisations. Could not the right hon. Gentleman separately deal with the question of early releases next year of films already produced by independent producers and make an immediate approach to the circuits on this matter?

I am aware of the difficulties of this situation. I am looking at some of the points raised by the deputations, but both deputations were of the view that I ought to receive the advice of the Films Council, on which many of their members sit, before I finally decide on action.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he is meeting the Films Council? Is it at an early date?

If I remember correctly the Films Council is having its adjourned meeting in about a week or ten days and it hopes to let me have its advice as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if, in view of the need to avoid restrictions on the development of the county's potential, particularly in the fields of civil aviation and the development of growth industries, he will classify the county of Yorkshire as a region for the purposes of his Department.

The classification proposed by the hon. Member does not appear to be an improvement on the existing arrangements for the purposes he has in mind.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has given consideration to this? May I ask whether he believes in sound town planning development? It would bring about better co-ordination between the three Ridings.

I appreciate the importance of the point raised by the hon. Gentleman. The whole of the North Riding comes under the North-East Plan, and part of the North Riding is in the growth zone. Therefore, from his own point of view, I do not think that the suggestion put forward by the hon. Gentleman is really satisfactory.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that a great deal of research into the social and economic problems of Yorkshire is now taking place? It would help this research if the Minister would geographically delineate the area for which he is going to issue a report.

I shall look into the point about social and economic research in the county. As I am going to spend the next 48 hours there, I shall have the opportunity of consulting them.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether, in view of the termination of employment of British citizens of the Jewish faith upon the demand of Arab States, he will seek to amend the Insurance Act, 1958, to provide that no insurance company may conduct insurance business in this country if it practises religious or racial discrimination against its employees.

No, Sir.

In view of the statements that have recently been issued both by the Arab Boycott Committee and by the representatives of the Arab countries, is it not at any rate desirable—since there is a clear intention to continue to interfere in the organisation of British firms, including the contracts of service of those firms—that a clear and unequivocal statement should be made by the Minister advising those firms that under no circumstances should they reply to any questionnaires or other similar probes which may be sent to them by the Arab Boycott Committee or any other Arab organisation?

I am ready to make Her Majesty's Government's position entirely clear, as it was made clear by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs just two days ago, when he said:

"Her Majesty's Government strongly disapprove of pressure from any source on British firms to discriminate between British subjects on any grounds."—[Official Report, 10th December, 1963; Vol. 686, c. 224.]

Following from that, if firms which appear to be affected or concerned about the boycott are ready to consult us we shall certainly be ready to give them any help and support that we can.

Will the hon. Member say why he thinks that legislation would not help? Is it not fairly obvious that boards which are as pusillanimous as that of the Norwich Union would be very much strengthened in their reaction to foreign interference if they were able to say that they would be acting illegally if they acted in such a manner as this? Therefore, is there not a case for reconsidering proposals for legislation to deal with racial or religious discrimination in this country, so making it possible for such resistance to be effective?

The point is that legislation is an extremely difficult and complicated matter. I am sure that the House in general is satisfied that the majority of companies behave with great sense in this matter. So far as there are any exceptions—and I have no particular case in mind—I am glad to see the way in which public opinion, both in this House and outside, has built up so strongly.

I recognise that legislation in this matter is difficult, but we are asking that the matter should be considered and not just turned down with a monosyllabic "No, Sir". Is there not something here worth looking at in order to see whether the position could not be remedied by legislation despite the difficulties?

We are always ready to consider suggestions, especially when they are put so reasonably by the hon. Member. We are not clear that such legislation would be enforceable. There are tremendous difficulties about it. But, in view of what the hon. Member has said, we shall be willing to consider the matter again, alhough I can give no guarantee that such legislation is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development (1) what reasons were given by the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee when recommending that financial assistance should be given to the North British Locomotive Company;

The Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee did not have to give reasons for their decisions. Before recommending financial assistance, however, they had, under statute, to be satisfied that the undertaking, although unable at the relevant time to obtain, the capital required on the requisite terms, would ultimately be able to be carried on successfully without further assistance. The Board of Trade had advance information of the company's intention to go into liquidation, but the decision was solely that of the company. I have had representations from some of the shareholders, to whom I have explained that the Government were not at any time or in any way responsible for the manner in which the company's affairs were conducted.

Did the Government try to assist the company to get orders for locomotives? Did not the Government-appointed director reconstitute the board and reinforce the view of the Government, in reports to shareholders, that there were not unfavourable prospects for this company? Now that the Government have advised its liquidation, are they entirely not disposed to see whether they can help the modest shareholders who put their money into this company? We understand that the Government want their money back, and that the General Electric Company wants its money back, but will not the Government consider the case of the shareholders? Will not the Minister receive a small deputation on this matter?

A serious attempt was made to put this company on its feet which, had it succeeded, would have been of great benefit to all. The unhappy fact is that it did not succeed. The Government simply cannot underwrite every company to which they give financial assistance. On the other hand, I would be very ready to receive the deputation to which my hon. Friend has referred.

Is not the Minister aware that two sets of shareholders are concerned—those who began to speculate when they saw that the Government were supporting the company, and who naturally have lost in their gamble, and the original shareholders, who have lost considerably?

I still think that the basic point is the tragedy that the efforts to make this company work did not succeed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will now permit the import of petrol from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to prevent a rise of prices.

No, Sir.

Is it not about time that this ban ended, so that we could both increase our own exports to Russia and keep down the price of petrol here?

In the world as a whole there is a surplus of oil. The point for the United Kingdom is to find new outlets for it. As for the availability of petrol from the Soviet Union, of the exports so far made to non-Soviet bloc countries only a tiny fraction consists of petrol.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when the factory at Cumnock, Ayrshire, is to be completed; what work will be done there; and how many people will be employed.

The advance factory at Cumnock should be available for occupation by the end of December. As a tenant has not yet been found I cannot say what work will be done there. On average a factory of this size provides about sixty jobs.

What is the use of a factory without a tenant?

The hon. Member and all his hon. Friends are always advising us to provide the factories first so that the tenants can then come. In fact, the Board of Trade Office for Scotland has brought the factory to the attention of 35 firms, 10 of whom have visited the site so far. I now hope that one of them will occupy it.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he proposes to give the same immediate priority to in vestment in public services in Sunderland and The Hartlepools as in the conurbations of Tyneside and Tees-side and in the Darlington-Aycliffe area.

The Hartlepools are regarded as part of the Tees-side conurba- tion and will therefore qualify for the priority for public investment which we envisage for that area. Sunderland is not regarded as part of Tyneside; while it is within the growth zone and will receive public investment as such, it will not qualify for priority as do the Tyneside, Tees-side and Darlington-Aycliffe areas.

As the right hon. Gentleman has now made it clear that Sunderland is not to get this priority, how can he possibly justify leaving out of this priority a city the size of Sunderland, which has an extremely high unemployment percentage?

Sunderland will receive priority as part of a growth zone, as the right hon. Gentleman will see if he looks at the plans for the road construction which affects Sunderland and which are very important to it. But in the first phase, Tees-side, Tyneside and Aycliffe will receive priority in public investment.

That means that Sunderland will not receive the same priority as Tees-side and Tyneside.

It will receive a degree of priority as a growth zone. The emphasis will be placed first on the three areas that I have mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what special steps he is taking to bring new industries to Falmouth and Penryn in the constituency of Falmouth and Camborne.

I shall continue to make full use of the powers provided by the Local Employment Acts to encourage industrial development in the Falmouth Development District.

Does not the Minister think that the time has come for more action than that? The Government have been promising this action for many years, but only one small new industry has come to the area despite their efforts. Is the Minister aware that the present unemployment rate is over 12 per cent. and that it seems that it may become almost endemic, or even worse. Will the Minister take special steps to see that something radical is done to improve the situation there?

I certainly realise the situation, and I have the figures in front of me. I also know the hon. Member's long-standing and deeply-felt concern about the matter. Substantial benefits are available under the Acts, and the position is not quite so black as one might suppose from an examination of the figures to which the hon. Member has referred, for there are about 1,000 jobs in prospect in the neighbouring area, with which he is equally familiar.

May I ask the Minister to remember that those jobs are to be available in the Camborne-Redruth area over a number of years, and that the industrial site at Camborne-Redruth is 13 or 14 miles away, and is likely to be of little help to the unemployed people of Falmouth?

I do not entirely accept the hon. Member's last point. It is well within travelling distance and an indication that progress is being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware of the proposal of the European Coaland Steel Community to raise the Common Market tariff on British and other steel products; and what representations he has made against this.

Yes, Sir. We have already expressed our concern at possible measures of this kind. The High Authority are now undertaking formal consultations with the United Kingdom and other principal suppliers.

Is it not rather unsatisfactory that when a major British industry like steel does compete successfully and sell at a lower price within the Common Market group we immediately have new barriers erected or threatened against us? Does the right hon. Gentleman think that his efforts will produce some results?

It is not entirely just to say that immediately we find barriers have been put up against us. We must all recognise the difficulties existing in the steel markets of Europe at present. The British steel industry appreciate that. We have expressed very forcibly our opposition to an increase in tariffs. We had first consultations with the High Authority on 10th December, and we shall resume them on 17th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if, in view of the abnormal volume of unemployment in Norwich and Norfolk, he will take steps to provide more jobs in the area.

I would not be justified in taking any special steps to attract new industry to Norwich or to Norfolk, where unemployment is only a little higher than the national average.

Is the Minister aware that this is another of those areas where there are quite special difficulties with regard to employment Is he aware that when men and women become unemployed in Norfolk and round Norwich it is almost impossible to find any other kind of suitable job at all? Will he consider getting new industries into the area to provide a variety of jobs, and will he use his powers to encourage that?

At the moment there are a considerable number of jobs in prospect. There are 900 at Norwich and 2,000 for the rest of the county. As the hon. Gentleman will know, The ford and King's Lynn have agreements to take London overspill, together with industry.

Would the Minister look at the position of men in the rural areas and in the small market towns, where very often the only form of employment is agricultural and the number of workers is decreasing, which is causing a problem?

My hon. Friend has given that assurance.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what action he is taking to bring new industries into Wales.

I shall continue to make all possible use of my powers under the Local Employment Acts to encourage industrial development in those development districts in Wales in which the full powers of the Acts apply. As the noble Lady is aware, my Department is building advance factories in Portmadoc, Bethesda and Milford Haven.

As the unemployment figures for Wales are still almost double the national average and in certain areas the percentages are as high as 10 per cent. and 11 per cent., will the Secretary of State give an assurance that the development plan for Wales will be expedited?

I do not know whether I misheard the noble Lady, but the figure for Wales as a whole is not, of course, twice the national average.

I said "almost double".

In November, the unemployment rate was 3 per cent. compared with 2 per cent. in Great Britain. This does not alter the fact that in some development districts there are pockets of high unemployment, and we shall do everything possible to get industry to them.

While the right hon. Gentleman is pursuing his policy of growth zones, how can he justify having no growth zone anywhere in Wales, and when does he propose to establish one?

We discussed this in the Welsh Grand Committee yesterday morning. Studies are being made in Wales in five different groups. For South Wales there has been a great accession of industry and other areas we shall deal with under the Local Employment Acts.

Has there been any change since yesterday morning? Has the Minister seen the reports that as a result of criticism about the delay in publishing his plans for 1965–66 they are to be advanced by 12 months? Is this so, or are we still to wait till 1965 for them?

So far as I know, there has been no change since yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will now extend credits beyond five years to the state trading countries, in cases of large capital projects and shipbuilding.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department already has authority to support credit beyond five years where appropriate for such business.

The hon. Gentleman has failed to answer sufficiently the part of the question dealing with shipbuilding. Is not he aware that the £75 million scheme, or £80 million scheme, for the ship owners is widely regarded as an attempt to rationalise the shipbuilding industry within the relatively short period of two years? Does he realise that that will hit Scotland very hard because jobs are few there, and average unemployment is over 100,000? Is he aware that the growth plan in central Scotland will not be speeded up sufficiently to overcome the decay in the shipbuilding industry?

I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Gentleman, but if he will read his Question again and then read the Answer which I have given he will see that I have done my best to answer his Question exactly. The point about the shipbuilding credit scheme is entirely different and does not come under the auspices of E.C.G.D. business. I am satisfied that the general terms and conditions under which credit and national guarantees can be given are of the greatest assistance to the industry he mentioned.