asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when he will publish his proposals for the development of the North-West.

Before publishing proposals for the future development of the North-West, I must await the report of the North-West Regional Study Group which is now at work.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we in the North-West are tired of waiting for this kind of treatment which is urgently required in the area? Is it not absurd that the South-East Study, for example, should have been given priority over this region? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that the Lancashire and Mersey-side Industrial Development Association, in its latest annual report, points out that the drift of working population from the North-West is still disturbing? What is the good of introducing industries at a later date if the population has left? When can we expect this report?

I announced on 2nd March that the Study Group was beginning this work. If the results are to be useful and fruitful, then the Group must be given a sufficient time to complete the study. The study of the South-East was primarily a land use study, which took two years. I hope that we shall be able to complete the North-West Study in considerably less time; but it certainly cannot be done in three months.

Am I right in assuming that my right hon. Friend is taking into account the extreme shortage of labour in large parts of this region? Will he make sure that nothing is done to make that problem worse?

This is a very large and important region which has these contrasts of a great shortage of labour in some parts and a surplus in others, and this is one of the aspects of it which must be fully studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proposals he has for bringing up to date the legislation on hallmarking and the work of assay offices.

We have accepted that the existing legislation on hallmarking requires revision, but I cannot say when it will be possible to introduce the necessary Measure.

As there is need for consolidation, which my hon. Friend agrees, and this is an important part of consumer protection, will my hon. Friend take all measures possible to ensure that this is part of the legislative programme of the next Government?

My hon. Friend is entirely right. The present legislation is an accretion of centuries, it is archaic and confused, and undoubtedly reform is required. This will inevitably be a major task. In respect of the second part of my hon. Friend's question, I am sure I can say that if we continue to have a Conservative Administration we shall make progress.

In view of the important work done by the Assay Office at Sheffield, may I ask my hon. Friend whether when he has some preliminary information he will make a report as soon as possible?

We shall certainly bear this point in mind, and I will certainly give an undertaking to my hon. Friend to keep in touch with him on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development (1) what duties are levied by Eire on imports from the United Kingdom;

The duties payable by British goods imported into the Irish Republic are stated in the Tariff of the Irish Republic of which there is a copy in the Library. Most goods from the Republic enter Britain duty free.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, might I ask him if he is aware of the imbalance in trade due to the difference in the tariffs imposed by the Republic of Ireland on United Kingdom goods and the fact that there are no tariffs, or practically none, in the reverse direction? Is he aware that the imbalance that results favours Northern Ireland in trade between Northern Ireland the Republic of Ireland?

This is certainly a complex matter. At least one-fifth of British exports to the Republic are not subject to duty. A very much larger number is entering the Republic duty free. The agreements provide for a review from time to time, and we shall always be ready to consider any particular case which my hon. Friend wants to bring to our attention.

Would it be rash to suggest that the difficulties could be solved if the Republic of Ireland were to join E.F.T.A., or is that so sensible a sug gestion that it has no chance of being accepted?

The right hon. Gentleman's suggestions are always sensible. The difficulty about a suggestion of this sort is that it is not a matter for which I am responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what amount is now being advanced by the Government on loan and on remittance of interest on the loan, respectively, in respect of the pulp and paper mill project at Fort William.

The total sum to be advanced in respect of the first phase of the project is expected to be £8 million. Grants in respect of interest are expected to amount to some £1,200,000. If the firm decided to proceed with the second phase of the project, the Government are prepared to consider advancing a further sum not exceeding £2 million if the need for this is established.

In view of the very large sums of Government money which, together with private enterprise, will play a tremendous rôle in the northwest of Scotland, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that communications with and access to this great project are extremely important, and will he give an assurance that in connection with any proposals for cutting down railway services or in connection with spending money on inadequate roads he will consult the Secretary of State for Scotland and other Ministers?

Yes, Sir. I shall be in the closest touch with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Transport.

Can we take it that the firm has definitely not refused the £8 million in protest at recent speeches by the Leader of the Opposition?

I understand that the project is going ahead. Perhaps those concerned have not read the speeches of the Leader of the Opposition.

Is my right hon. Friend convinced that the project will be viable, and how has the paper industry in Scotland fared since tariffs have been lowered by E.F.T.A.?

I have great confidence in the project. The paper industry has been able to maintain its own position even with the acceleration of the lowering of the tariffs on paper. We are in the closest touch with our E.F.T.A. partners about this and no problem arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware of the concern of independent film exhibitors in connection with the competition offered by pay television; and what action he is taking to protect the interests of independent exhibitors in this matter.

Yes, Sir. I am satisfied that the legitimate interests of the exhibitors in the areas of the pay television experiments will be adequately protected by the arrangement announced by my hon. Friend the Assistant Postmaster-General on 5th May.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say when he will announce the terms of compensation which should arise for independent exhibitors in the areas where there will be experimental pay television?

Some of the details of the arrangements are still being worked out by my Department and that of my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General in consultation with the interests concerned. As soon as they are completed, we shall make an announcement.

As the pay television companies will be in direct competition with cinematograph exhibitors, will they be obliged to pay the statutory levy for film production?

I should like to have notice of that. It is an important matter. If the hon. Gentleman will table a Question, I will certainly give him the details.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will raise the film quota to 40 per cent. for the forthcoming year.

No, Sir. I have decided to accept the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council to maintain the prescribed quotas at 30 per cent. for first feature films and 25 per cent. for the supporting programme for the exhibitors' quota year beginning the 1st January, 1965.

In view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said and the fact that it appears that the major circuits have no difficulty in fulfilling their quota of more than 40 per cent., is this not an unrealistic decision? Is not the object of the quota to stimulate film production? Would he not, therefore, consider raising the quota so that there will be more film production and the circuits will be able to fulfil a bigger quota?

No, Sir. The answer which I have given can give confidence to the British film production industry. Two circuits require its films and want them to be available in sufficient numbers and quality. Therefore, we get the result that we wanted to achieve without any of the international disadvantages involved in altering the quota.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the current level of import duty charged on computers entering this country from the United States of America; when this rate was introduced; and what was the previous level.

The duty is 14 per cent. ad valorem. It was reduced from 17½ per cent. ad valorem in October 1962 as a result of G.A.T.T. tariff negotiations.

While it would be unrealistic to advocate a further increase in the level of duty on computer imports, what assistance does my right hon. Friend feel he could give to the British computer industry, an industry which is essential to the national economy, bearing in mind the difficult period through which it is passing at the present time, an instance of which is provided by the Belfast computer factory?

The best help to the British computer industry would be that British industry as a whole should modernise as rapidly as it can and move over to the use of computers and computer control.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the duty upon the hardware in the computer is a relatively small part of the cost to a customer of running a computer, and that the important thing is the standard of programming and servicing?

Yes, Sir; I would agree entirely with that.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many new jobs have so far been created by the operation of the Local Employment Act; and how many others are expected to materialise this year in the Bishop Auckland constituency.

Projects being assisted under the Local Employment Acts up to the end of May are expected to provide about 120 additional jobs in the Bishop Auckland constituency. It is estimated that projects for which applications for assistance are still under consideration would provide another 330. In addition, two advance factories have been built with room to employ another 90 people.

Would the right hon. Gentleman care to set the figures against the following ones—that at the beginning of 1960 there were more than 2,000 people unemployed in the area, that since that date 5,500 miners have lost their jobs and that, in addition, there are several closures of factories? How does he expect to cope with the problem in the area with the small figures which he has put forward? Does he expect to fulfil the promises made at the last General Election by the time of the next General Election?

The figures which the hon. Gentleman has given show the problem that we face in areas of that kind in bringing in new industry and persuading it to go there. I have given the figures for jobs which are eventually expected, and they should be a considerable help. When one bears in mind the present un- employment figure of 1,483, it is high but these projects should greatly contribute to the solution of the problem.

While I have no wish to appear to gloat because Darlington, the neighbouring constituency, is in a growth zone whereas the hon. Gentleman's constituency is not, has he noticed that the tremendous developments in both Darlington and Aycliffe, which should accrue in the long run to the interests even of his constituency, are probably better served by having this growth nourished by good communications rather than by any packet development somewhere where industry does not want to go?

We have, altogether, offered £133,000 for this area alone for projects and the two advance factories, and some £900,000 for 16 projects on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate, where it was recognised that many of the jobs would be filled by people from Bishop Auckland travelling there to work.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what decision Her Majesty's Government has now reached on the recommendations of the Monopolies Commission in its Report of February. 1963, on the supply of electrical equipment for mechanically propelled land vehicles.

As I have previously informed the House, two of the three outstanding recommendations are covered by the legislation on resale price maintenance and the Government's proposals in the White Paper on monopolies, mergers and restrictive practices, and I am in touch with the British Starter Battery Association to ascertain their intentions in the light of the Monopolies Commission recommendation and the proposals in the White Paper.

As there are four recommendations and not two made by the Report, and as this inquiry started in April, 1957, and the Report has been in the hands of the Board of Trade since February, 1963, is it not rather an extraordinary record of incompetence, even for the present Government, that we still have no final decision and no action by the President of the Board of Trade?

No, Sir. I cannot accept that at all. It was not possible to publish the Report, for reasons which the right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, until just before Christmas. Since then one of the recommendations has been dealt with by the publication of the Report itself, which has made public the situation concerning some of the firms. Two of the others are covered by the legislation and the proposals made in the White Paper, and the fourth, as I have said, is under discussion with the firms.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was not necessary to publish the Report for the Board of Trade to start thinking about it? It has been in the hands of the Board of Trade since February last year, yet the right hon. Gentleman says today that in respect of at least one recommendation he is still in consultation with the manufacturers and has taken no action.

I am in consultation with them because this is the way in which we should handle this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what steps are being taken to co-ordinate the activities of his Group studying regional development in Yorkshire with the Boundary Commissioners who have recently issued a special report on the West Riding.

No question of coordination arises. The work of the Local Government Commission on the West Yorkshire Special Review was completed when their report and final proposals were published last February. The Group now working in Leeds will certainly study that report.

But is not the hon. Gentleman aware that a fortnight ago his right hon. Friend said that he was setting in hand a study group to develop the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire and adjacent areas. If, in the meantime, the special Boundary Commission has set on foot plans for altering the local government boundaries and services, that will have a serious effect on any regional industrial development in the future.

I am well aware of the Answer which my right hon. Friend gave, and I think that the hon. Gentleman will know that I have recently returned from a short tour of the area. As for the other points which he makes, naturally my right hon. Friend will be in close touch with the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

Can my hon. Friend say whether, in this gathering of information which is taking place, he intends to get the views of local industrialists and others about the needs of Yorkshire?

I should like to tell my hon. Friend that local views and opinions will be borne in mind and considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many firms have set up industries in The Hartlepools since the Act of 1960 and other subsequent Government measures, to the latest convenient date; how much additional labour these measures have provided for men and women; and how many applications are now under consideration.

Between 1st April, 1960, and the 31st May, 1964, three new projects have started up in The Hartlepools. Assistance has been offered to five other new projects and assistance to seven more is still under consideration. Altogether, projects receiving assistance or offers of assistance under the Local Employment Acts during this period are estimated to represent additional jobs for 1,800 men and 600 women. Twenty-four applications for financial assistance are at present under consideration.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that this shows a considerable improvement, due to the measures which the Government have taken since 1960? Can my right hon. Friend say whether there is any possibility of the car industry coming to The Hartlepools, where land and port facilities are available?

I agree that great progress is being made. I announced in April the building of an advance factory also in The Hartlepools. I have no information about the motor car industry.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say offhand how many firms have closed during this period? From his visits to the North-East, and from the visits of the Economic Secretary to that area, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the number of firms going up there is not compensating the number of firms closing down? There is still a tremendous deficiency. Is the right hon. Gentleman doing anything to expedite the matter, and to ensure that in The Hartlepools and in other parts of the North-East this leeway is taken up and that we shall get a sufficient number of firms to take up the slack caused by a number of firms closing down and thus leaving people unemployed?

I cannot give a detailed answer to that question. If the hon. Gentleman puts down a Question, I shall give him the information. There is a later Question by him about one specific instance.

To enable the House to assess the effectiveness of the policy of transferring work from areas such as the Midlands, can my right hon. Friend say what effect the setting up of this new factory in The Hartlepools has had on the unemployment figures?

I cannot give the exact figures for any particular period. If my hon. Friend puts down a Question, I shall give him the comparison.

In the absence of information from the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask him whether he is aware that the figures are well known to us on this side of the House, particularly those in the neighbourhood of The Hartlepools? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that they have the highest rate of unemployment in the country, apart from Northern Ireland? Has the right hon. Gentleman no concern for these constituencies in the North-East which are represented by Tory Members? Does not it worry him that they are all going to be thrown out at the next election?

I think that the Answer which I have given to the House, which the right hon. Gentleman has heard, shows the amount which has been done in The Hartlepools, as well as in the whole of the North-East, during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what steps he is taking to speed up industrial development in the Twechar and Croy area of Dunbartonshire.

Twechar and Croy form part of the natural catchment area for the new town of Cumbernauld, which has been designated a growth area in the White Paper on Central Scotland. I am continuing to make full use of my powers under the Local Employment Acts to attract new industry to the area. Already 1,700 jobs are in prospect there.

This is a matter which affects two villages and the town of Kilsyth in West Sterling. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these two villages may well decay unless some local industry is stimulated? It is not sufficient to suggest that new industries will be provided in Cumbernauld, because that area is for Glasgow's overspill. We must have new industries to save this triangle of Croy, Twechar and Kilsyth. Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to bring new industries to this area where all the collieries are being closed?

The object of attracting industrial growth to this area was to provide employment around the area as a whole. We must now concentrate on doing that.

While accepting to some extent what the right hon. Gentleman said, may I ask whether it is not the case that Cumbernauld is now very far behind schedule? Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is being done to bring it up to schedule?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is pressing on with Cumbernauld as hard as he can.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this triangle of Croy, Twechar and Kilsyth has lost its main industry, namely, coal mining? There is now very little or no industry within it. Is there any possibility of the right hon. Gentleman providing an advance factory in that area so as to encourage some industrialists to go there? We recognise the magnitude of the problem facing the right hon. Gentleman, but anybody looking at this problem in an unbiassed way must come to the conclusion that there is a grave need for some new industries to come to this area.

I know about the pit closures. I understand that the majority of miners are being redeployed and that long-term redundancies are not expected to exceed 125, but we must concentrate on the growth areas to create a centre of industry which will provide employment for these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what progress has been made in bringing into use the industrial site in Clydebank leased to Ingersoll-Rand Limited.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 6th February.

This situation is serious, and perhaps I might refer the hon. Gentleman to the supplementary questions which I have been asking since 1951. Will he do something about releasing this industrial site in Clydebank, because the Borough of Clydebank could get firms to go there if the land were free? We cannot tolerate the situation of a piece of land which has been frozen in the hands of an American company for five years. This is a blot on the industrial development of the area. Will the hon. Gentleman do something about this and get the land back from Ingersoll-Rand Ltd. so that it can be used by the Borough of Clydebank?

I understand the hon. Gentleman's long and continuing concern in the matter. Perhaps I should say that, if he has any specific proposals for firms who want to come to this area, we are ready to entertain them. The hon. Gentleman referred to earlier supplementary questions on the subject. My right hon. Friend invited him to let him have any information that he wished him to consider. That invitation is still open.

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Answers that I have been getting for years on this matter, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

I will treat that as relating to the last Answer only, otherwise it is irregular.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many new jobs have been provided in Dundee since 1951, excluding additions to firms already in Dundee in 1951.

Firms new to Dundee since 1951 are now employing about 1,200 persons.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that that is a deplorable figure for such a long period in respect of an officially designated development area? Is the Minister aware that more jobs have been lost through the closure of foundries and the contraction of the shipyards than have been brought there? Would he agree that were it not for the new industries brought to the area by the last Labour Government, Dundee would be in a very sad state today?

The hon. Gentleman's Question relates to new industries coming to Dundee. This matter ought to be considered in the context of the large expansions of existing firms and of further plans for the future, of which he is aware. That gives a balanced picture. To take one factor on its own is not representative.

Can my right hon. Friend say what the rate of unemployment is in Dundee, as compared with the rest of Scotland, as a result of the new jobs offered?

The figure of unemployment in Dundee in May, 1964, was 2·8 per cent., and there is no doubt that it has been reduced partly as a result of Her Majesty's Government's efforts.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many industrial development certificates were issued during the year ended 31st March, 1964, for Scotland, London and south-east England, and the Midlands of England, respectively; and how many jobs they provided.

For Scotland, 177 industrial development certificates were issued with an estimated employment of over 14,000. For London and southeast England—consisting of the standard regions eastern, London and southeastern and southern—the comparable figures were 725 certificates to employ 20,470. For the Midlands—consisting of the Midland standard region and the north Midland Region, including Lincolnshire—429 certificates to employ just under 7,800.

Does not the Secretary of State consider that this is a scandalous figure, when we realise that in Scotland, and particularly in the Dundee area, there is a need for many more jobs, whereas in the other two areas there are already far too many jobs? Does he not agree that this is very bad planning by his Department?

I do not agree. If we look not only at the total but also at the proportions of these figures we see the real picture. The fact is that in the South-East there is 31·6 per cent. of the employment, and the proportion of potential new jobs is 24 per cent.; in Scotland there is 8·4 per cent. of the employment, and 16·7 per cent.—twice as much—of the new jobs. The other factor which must be considered is that the average number of jobs per industrial development certificate in the South-East is 28. This means that the schemes are all of a very small nature and not of a kind which can go to other parts of the country.

Having given us the employment percentages, will the right hon. Gentleman give us the unemployment percentages in each area?

With great respect to the hon. Member, to all those of us who are trying to increase employment in Scotland that does not help, nor is it relevant to these figures. What is relevant is the fact that over the whole of the South-East, where we have a large proportion of the population, even with the smallest expansions there is bound to be this sort of arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what discussions he has had with the steel industry in order to speed up supplies of steel to assist in the speedy construction of factories in development districts; and what has been the outcome.

None, Sir. I am not aware of any need for such discussions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not important only to provide jobs in the North-East but also to provide them quickly; that many orders for building steel are holding up the development of factories—[HON. MEMBERS: "Where?"] I am asking the Minister if he is aware that orders placed for steel by the end of June will not be ready for delivery until well into September, and I am telling him that this means moving into the winter months for the building trade, which curtails the amount of building time from 12 months to 9 months and is a factor which his Department should be looking into at this stage.

If anybody gives me any specific instances where factory building in the Norm-East is being held up, or is likely to be held up, I will see what action can be taken, but during my visits to the North-East I had no examples brought to my notice.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the production of steel is still well below capacity, and that the only time when building was delayed by a shortage of steel was during the period of building licences and controls?

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if, in view of his recent visit to the area, he has now reached a decision on the need for an additional industrial estate in Lanarkshire.

No, Sir. I am still considering this question.

Is the Minister aware of the great need for an industrial estate in the area which he visited? Since he has said on a number of occasions today that the important thing is to bring industry to growth areas, he will be aware that part of the area which he covered is in the growth area of Central Scotland. I hope that when he makes the decision he will decide upon an industrial estate. May I thank him for the time that he gave to the area?

I thank the hon. Lady for her kind remarks. Having had an opportunity of surveying the area myself fairly thoroughly and discussing it with my advisers, we are now giving it careful consideration. I will keep in touch with the hon. Lady.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when building work will start on the new industrial estate for North Lanarkshire; when the first factory will be ready for occupation; and what estimate he has now made of the number of jobs to be provided within the foreseeable future.

As a result of revised development plans on the part of the Lanarkshire County Council affecting the area as a whole, unexpected difficulties have arisen in relation to the proposals made by the Industrial Estates Management Corporation for Scotland. The Office for Scotland and the Management Corporation are discussing these difficulties with the county council and with the Scottish Development Department, but until they are resolved development of the industrial estate cannot proceed.

Is the Minister aware that he has not yet told us anything about the number of jobs which will be provided? Is it not contradictory that the chairman of the industrial estate has issued a statement to all the Scottish Press as to the number of factories to be built, but the Minister tells us today that he is unable to make any statement? Will he bear in mind the fact that nearly 10,000 people are unemployed at the moment and that that situation will be seriously aggravated by the school-leavers next week? Will he "get cracking" with the building of this new estate?

The fact is that the Industrial Estates Management Corporation cannot "get cracking" because of the new developments of the Lanarkshire County Council. The first thing that must be done is to have that question resolved.

The right hon. Gentleman should make a statement to that effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the North-East; and what further plans he has for the introduction of new industries and expansion of existing industries in the area.

With permission, since it is somewhat long, I will circulate a statement in reply to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's Question in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

What is the earthly use of the right hon. Gentleman's talking about jobs in prospect? When are these proposals to be implemented? Will he stop boasting about what he has done in the North-East? Did not even his best friends tell him that over 2,500 miners are still registered on the employment exchanges there; that over 4,000 building construction workers are out of work, besides large numbers of shipbuilding and engineering workers? Will he do something about the people who are still unemployed and stop all his boasting and bragging?

Why does not the right hon. Gentleman stop exaggerating the problem and give some acknowledgment of the real progress that is being made in his own constituency, and particularly in Peterlee, as I saw when I visited it? Does not he realise that we shall all say that he has no interest whatever in jobs in prospect for his constituents? He has just said so.

I am sure that most people will appreciate what my right hon. Friend has said. Does not he agree that it would be better for the areas of higher unemployment if hon. Members opposite would not refer to industrialists as going there with begging bowls?

The right hon. Gentleman has referred to the new town of Peterlee, in my constituency. Is he aware that only yesterday I received a letter from the general manager of the Peterlee Corporation asking me to ask a Question in the House of Commons and to approach Ministers, particularly the right hon. Gentleman, because applications and inquiries have sharply fallen, and very little has been done for Peterlee? Is he aware of these facts? Since he has attacked me about my interest in the area, will he resign from his constituency and fight me at the General Election?

This is not the picture that I was given when I visited Peterlee. I opened a new factory there and on the day I did so the management announced that already it was going to double its capacity because of its success.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will publish figures relating to the progress so far made in each region in implementing his plans for achieving a more even spread of economic activity throughout the country.

The steady reduction in unemployment throughout the country is evidence of the increasing success of the Government's economic and regional policies. I have just made a statement about the present position in the North-East in answer to the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell). Where Central Scotland is concerned, my right hon. Friend has already told the House that a full progress report will be published in the autumn. Meanwhile, I can tell the hon. and learned Member that 79 I.D.C.'s, involving some 5,500 jobs, have been issued in the first 5 months of this year. Comparative figures for last year were 57 and 3,800.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that my Question comes appropriately after the Question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell)? Is he aware that the Government have made plans for the north-east of England and are apparently under the impression that this island ends at the River Tweed, because they have made no plans for north-east Scotland? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into that, because trade, industry and employment are required in north-east Scotland?

As the hon. and learned Gentleman knows, there are two further studies now proceeding in Scotland under the Scottish Development Department, and I hope that they will be of assistance to him.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate what stage has been reached in the surveys for the whole area, especially with reference to the provision of more schools and locations for industry, roads and communications? Is he aware that I understood from the Answer to a Question which I put a short time ago to the Scottish Office that no progress was being made?

I said that the full progress report for which the hon. and learned Gentleman asked will be published by the Secretary of State in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will give details of the protocol signed on 23rd April for the prolongation of the 1959 Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement for a further period of five years, indicating the commodities to which it relates; and if he will make a statement on the effects on British imports from and exports to Russia the agreement has had from 1959 up to the most recent convenient date, with particular reference to trade with Scotland.

The protocol extends without change the 1959 Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement which provides a general framework within which all Anglo-Soviet trade takes place. I propose to publish the text of the protocol as a White Paper. Between 1959 and 1963 United Kingdom imports from Russia increased by 44 per cent. and exports to Russia by 102 per cent. Many Scottish firms shared in this trade.

Is the Minister aware of the peculiar fact that Russian ships come regularly to Aberdeen to discharge cargoes there and go away empty, thereby wasting manpower, ships and fuel? Will he look into this anomaly and rectify it?

The ships could easily go away full if the Soviet Government would buy more goods from Scotland and Aberdeen with which to fill them.

I recognise that there is room for imports and exports to increase by ten times, but will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that we buy twice as much from the Soviet Union as they buy from us? Will he press them to buy more consumer goods and so provide more work for our own people?

In the recent negotiations we not only renewed the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement, but I received assurances from the Soviet Government that the imbalance existing in our trade will now be reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will take action to encourage the development in this country of the Mercer rotary radial engine.

I understand that the firm concerned with the development of this engine has already approached the National Research Development Corporation, who did not feel able to give it financial support. I will, of course, consider any information that the hon. Member may care to send me.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that now the Japanese Government are in this project? Is he aware that this is another case of British "know-how" and ingenuity being lost by the project going abroad? Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to take the initiative and approach the inventor of this engine—who lives in Bradford—to discuss this engine and its potentialities?

I do not think that I can accept what the hon. Gentleman said in the first part of his supplementary question. I repeat that I shall be happy to consider any further information which he provides for me. He will know that the information will be considered seriously.

Can my hon. Friend explain what is the Mercer rotary radial engine?

I cannot pretend that that is a matter which does not arise from this Question. I have a paper on the subject, but it would take too long to explain it to the House. Perhaps I may refer my hon. Friend to the issue of the Motor Cycle of 5th July, 1962.