asked the Presisident of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the persistence of the high rate of unemployment in Thorne; and whether he will take action either locally or as part of a regional plan to alleviate the position.

I am aware of the unemployment in Thorne and, subject to the prior needs of the development districts, I will give sympathetic consideration to any proposal for an industrial development there. A plan for the region has yet to be drawn up but it will certainly take account of the problem of places like Thorne.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much assistance was given to Scotland under the Local Employment Acts in each year since 1961; and what percentage of the national total this assistance represented in each of these years.

The total assistance including factory building offered under the Local Employment Acts for projects in development districts in Scotland amounted to £19·7 million, £5 million and £14·4 million in the financial years 1961–62, 1962–63, and 1963–64, respectively. These sums represented 79·9 per cent., 31·3 per cent. and 47·7 per cent. of the total assistance offered for Great Britain in the same years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the number of new jobs promised by Scottish companies in receipt of financial assistance under the Local Employment Acts 1960 and 1963 to date.

It is estimated that projects in Scotland for which offers of assistance, including Board of Trade factories, were made up to the 31st October, 1964, excluding offers declined, will in due course provide over 63,000 new jobs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total sum paid to Scottish companies under the Local Employment Acts 1960 and 1963 to date.

Up to 31st October, 1964, assistance offered under the Local Employment Acts for projects in Scotland, excluding offers declined, amounted to £63·1 million. The total sum paid up to that date, including payments in respect of assistance offered under the Distribution of Industry Acts, amounted to £48·8 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the number of jobs actually created by Scottish companies in receipt of financial assistance under the Local Employment Acts, 1960 and 1963, to date.

A sample inquiry at the end of June, 1964, related to projects in Scotland for which Local Employment Act assistance of £50,000 or more had been accepted by the 31st December, 1963, showed that these projects had up to that date provided 15,890 jobs against an estimate of 23,232 jobs when recruitment is complete. A further inquiry related to a larger sample is in hand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the sale of foreign-made jewellery in private and council houses.

No. I have no evidence that such legislation is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the percentage increase in the imports of base metal manufactures between 1959 and 1963 and between 1953 and 1963, respectively.

The percentage increase in the value of imports in Division 69 of the Statistical Classification for Imported Goods were 92 and 313, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the percentage increase in the imports of silver, etc., manufacturers between 1959 and 1963 and between 1953 and 1963, respectively; and what items are mainly responsible for the increase in this category of imports.

Separate figures are available only in respect of silver (including silver gilt) jewellery, for which the percentage increases were 192 and 707, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how tractor sales in export markets to date in 1964 compare with the comparable period in 1963.

£95·2 million in the first ten months of 1964 and £97·3 million in the corresponding period of 1963.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for industrial development certificates have been received in the last year for the county of Wiltshire.

Twenty-six applications were received curing the 12 months ended 30th November, 1964.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of reference of the independent committee he has set up to inquire into shipbuilding; and who is its chairman.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of reference of the proposed committee of inquiry into the shipbuilding industry; how many will serve on the committee and whmen the committee's report will be produced.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on 26th November to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the inability of his Department to make an assessment of the effect of port working on the exports and payments accounts of the United Kingdom, how soon he expects the statistical services to be established by the National Ports Council to provide his Department with such information.

Such an assessment is not to be expected from the National Ports Council which, under the Harbours Act, 1964, has only limited powers to collect information. The statistics which the Council will provide from next year onwards will however help to throw some light on these complex problems.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, since imports to 30th September, 1964, from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were £63,725,786 whereas exports were only £30,423,283, if he will take action to increase exports, especially of consumer goods which provide employment; and if he will make a statement.

When I visited Moscow in October on my way to Peking I saw Mr. Kosygin and other Soviet Ministers. I emphasised the importance attached by the British Government to the undertaking given by the Soviet Minister of Foreign Trade to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bexley (Mr. Heath) that the Soviet Union would continue to take the necessary measures to achieve a much closer balance in the trade between our two countries. I shall continue to watch the situation carefully.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that for the first nine months of 1964 imports of fish and fish preparations from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics amounted to £2,019,442, whereas exports were only £151,852; what new steps he is taking to increase these exports, and so help the United Kingdom fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have made clear to the Soviet Government that we are looking to them to fulfil their undertaking to improve the balance of trade. I should hope that this improvement would apply particularly to the British exports for which specific quotas are provided in the Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to him by the makers of sporting arms in regard to a ban on the export of such arms to South Africa; and what was his reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from exporting houses whose licences to export sporting arms and ammunition to South Africa have been revoked; and what replies he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from the Gun Trade Association and from manuturers and exporters of sporting weapons and ammunition. He has told them that there can be no question of reconsidering the decision to stop the shipment of these weapons to South Africa, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the dangers of monopoly in the flour-milling and corn-merchanting businesses resulting from the many recent takeovers of small independent millers and merchants; and whether he will refer this matter to the Monopolies Commission for examination.

I have no evidence of this; but if the hon. Member has any information I will gladly consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to prevent firms and organisations sending merchandise through the post to individuals who have not ordered such merchandise.

This is certainly an irritating and undesirable practice. But since I am advised that the recipient is under no obligation, either to pay for or to return the goods, but simply to keep them until the sender collects them, no Government intervention seems necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the effect so far of the ban on office building in Central London, with particular relation to land held by the Railways Board which might be available for council building.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is consulting the British Railways Board about the use of surplus railway land for housing and other purposes. Any decision will take into account the proposed control of office development.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that 2,000 men were laid off on 18th November at the Jaguar works, Coventry, following a trade dispute in a firm concerned with the supply of axle units; and if he will consult motor manufacturers and trade unions regarding structural changes which may be necessary in the motor industry as a whole to limit the damage done to production and employment as a result of local and limited disputes which have the ramifications illustrated by the lay-off at Coventry.

The dispute which led to the laying off of men at the Jaguar works was settled, with the assistance of the Ministry of Labour, on 21st November and these men were able to resume employment on the 25th November. I am very conscious that the production of vehicles, including vital production for export, may be held up by disputes in firms which supply components. I am not convinced that changes in the structure of the industry are the best solution.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will designate as development areas counties such as Berwickshire that are suffering from serious depopulation.

The criterion for designating localities as development districts is laid down in the Local Employment Act, 1960, and is based on a high rate of unemployment. I have no powers to list a place as a development district on grounds of depopulation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the loss sustained in revenue through the indifference of importers and exporters towards British shipping, what measures he employs to persuade shippers engaged in export to utilise British shipping in preference to the use of vessels not registered in the United Kingdom.

None. It is Her Majesty's Government's policy not to interfere with the freedom of the trader to use the shipping services which suit him best.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for the provision of industrial development in the new town of Peterlee in county Durham.

New industry is being encouraged to set up in Peterlee. The main difficulty has been the shortage of industrial land. I understand that provision is now being made for a further 90 acres of serviced land free from subsidence.

asked the President of the Broad of Trade when he will make a statement on assistance to be given to the cotton textile industry in Lancashire, with particular reference to a cotton commission, and on negotiations with other countries as to their taking a higher proportion of cotton textile imports.

The Lancashire industry is now engaged in vigorous and effective reorganisation, which must not be impeded by excessive imports; and I informed the Cotton Board last month that we would work in consultation with them on plans and machinery to ensure this consistently with our obligations to less developed countries.Other Western nations are, in accordance with their undertakings in the G.A.T.T., increasing their cotton textile imports from these countries; but I shall continue to urge them, both in personal contacts and in international discussions, as I have already, to accelerate the rate of this increase.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many companies have claimed registration of their resale price maintenance practices under the Resale Prices Act, 1964.

I understand that the Registrar has received some 700 applications from firms and trade associations claiming registration under the Resale Prices Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the annual value of imperial preference enjoyed by the Republic of South Africa for the year 1963–64 or most recent available period.

Precise figures are not available, but it is estimated that some £60 million of imports from South Africa received preferences in the United Kingdom in 1963.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the expected starting date for the building of an advance factory in Ilfracombe, North Devon.

It is too early yet to say. The first step is to select and acquire a site for the factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will publish a list of the principal foreign countries purchasing British agricultural machinery during the last 10 years and the amounts purchased by each;(2) he will state the value of United Kingdom agricultural machinery exports and imports in the last 10 years.

I am sending the hon. Member the details required and am making a copy available in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what applications he has had from firms who wish to move to the following areas in Cornwall, namely, Camelford Rural District Council, Launceston Rural District Council, Bude Urban District Council and Stratton Rural District Council; and whether he will make a statement.

An application for assistance under the Local Employment Acts for a project at Camelford is under consideration. No applications for industrial development certificates are at present in hand for the other places mentioned. These three places are not development districts, but applications for industrial development certificates for small projects there, and in North Cornwall generally, will be sympathetically considered.

asked the President of the Board of 'Trade if he will take steps to encourage more industry to come to the Portsmouth area.

I have to concentrate first on trying to get industry, which is capable of moving, to the development districts, where the need for it is greatest. I am happy to say that unemployment in Portsmouth is now close to the national average.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will bear in mind the need of expanding towns when considering the granting of industrial development certificates to firms in the South-East area.

I must give first priority to the needs of the development districts. Subject to that I am prepared to look sympathetically at applications from London firms for i.d.c.'s in Expanded Towns which need additional employment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information has has received, from international organisations to which the United Kingdom belongs, as to the average labour cost as a proportion of the total cost of building a ship in Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, and Japan, respectively.

An expert Working Party of the O.E.C.D. Industry Committee is at present studying shipbuilding. Its report, which is expected shortly, will doubtless contain some information about labour costs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer to the Monopolies Commission the trading practices of the advertising industry.

No. I have no power to do this.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will take steps to ensure stricter control of advertising and to prevent the use of false and misleading claims in advertisements.

I hope that it will be possible for the new merchandise marks legislation, which we are preparing on the lines recommended by the Molony Committee, to apply to all forms of advertising.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to him about the effect on exports created by the difficulty of shipment of goods from the ports, other than London.

I have received numerous representations from individual companies and from industrial and commercial organisations. I am much concerned about the effect on exports of these delays, and I am working closely with my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Transport and Labour to explore what action can be taken in the short term.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to increase trade with South Africa.

The full range of the Government's export services is available for this important market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports to South Africa, in total and by categories, in the first nine months of the current year; and how this compares as a percentage with the three previous years.

The following is the information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations have been entered into in regard to securing a tenant for the advance factory at Blyth; and what are the future prospects for this factory.

Three firms that would provide jobs mainly for men are currently interested in the advance factory at Blyth. The prospects of finding a suitable tenant are good.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the monthly averages of the production of cars for the second quarter of 1963 and the second quarter of 1964, taking 1958 as 100, of the United Kingdom; if he will give similar information derived

Percentage changes in the production of cars between the second quarter 1963 and the second quarter of 1964 for the countries specified were as follows:—United Kingdom an increase of 23 per cent., United States of America an increase of 8 per cent., Western Germany an increase of 4 per cent., France a decrease of 4 per cent., Italy a decrease of 7 per cent.I am inserting in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures in index number form (based on 1958=100) from which the percentage changes have been derived.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his Department has completed its examination of the evidence submitted to his predecessor on 6th February by the hon. Member for Chislehurst regarding the sale of magazine subscriptions by alleged students, and in respect of the many subscribers who have been deceived as to the receipt, content and value of the publications received, with particular reference to the 30,000 annual subscriptions paid for a publication which after circulating only one issue ceased publication altogether.

My predecessor referred these complaints to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate. I understand that the investigations are continuing. I will write to the right hon. Member as soon as there is anything to report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what British-made agricultural machinery, veterinary supplies and other farm requisites have been exported to China in recent years; and whether, in his visit to Peking, he discussed the desirability of increasing this trade.

Annual exports of British agricultural machinery to China have varied between £40,000 and £400,000 in recent years; and I found it encouraging to see in Peking that some half dozen leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery were represented at the British Industrial Exhibition. Veterinary and other farm requisites are not separately recorded in the export statistics.In the talks I had with the Chinese authorities we agreed that an expansion in Sino-British trade would be to our mutual advantage, but we did not discuss the particular fields in which an expansion of our exports might be expected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the collapse of the Cadco project in Glenrothes in Fife, he will seek to operate the unit as a publicly-owned venture.

I understand that several inquiries have been received from companies interested in the possibility of taking over this project.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons from home and overseas, respectively, took their holidays this year in the counties of Dorset, Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, respectively; and what estimate he has made of the annual increase to be expected.

I regret that the information is not available, but the British Travel Association estimates that in 1963 about six million British people took their holidays in the South-West, an area defined as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when Her Majesty's Government will announce which firm has been awarded the Q.4 contract.

Cunard's assessment of tenders is still in progress, and it is unlikely that they will be able to make an announcement before the New Year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the adverse effects on the balance of payments which have been caused by the increase in the price of copper from £311 per ton on 1st August to £503 per ton on 4th December.

I cannot estimate the effect of this increase in prices on the London Metal Exchange on that part of our imports (and exports) to which they apply; the greater part of our imports is bought at prices fixed by producers, which are at present much lower.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the plans of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom for an approach to other Commonwealth Governments for the negotiation of long-term contracts and commodity agreements; and what progress has been made with the setting up of a Commonwealth Exports Council.

The contribution which long-term contracts might make to the expansion of trade between the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries will be one of the matters to be explored with them as opportunity offers.Good progress has been made by the Chairman of the Commonwealth Exports Council in working out detailed arrangements and we hope to be able to make a full announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage the return of qualified married women teachers to the educational profession.

Since the publicity campaign conducted earlier this year was followed by an encouraging rise in the rate of return of married women teachers to the schools, I am planning a similar but more extended campaign for next year. I am also anxious to increase the opportunities for part-time service in the schools as a means of attracting more married women, and am awaiting the results of an enquiry on this subject made by my Department among selected local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will reduce to 23 years the age at which the marriage allowance is payable to students in respect of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research grants.

The present age, 25, at which marriage allowance is payable to students was recommended by the Anderson Committee on Awards to undergraduate students and by the Ashby Sub-Committee which examined the principles applying to D.S.I.R. postgraduate awards on their firmly held view that the arrangements should not provide a financial incentive for young students to marry before or during their courses. However, as my right hon. Friend announced on 27th November in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds South he has recently made regulations giving discretion to Local Education Authorities to make allowances in cases of hardship, and is considering the implications of this relaxation for D.S.I.R. and other postgraduate awards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Sessional Order that the passages through the streets to the House of Commons be kept free and open is best complied with by allowing the traffic lights in Parliament Square to operate instead of having police control; and if he will now consult the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police with a view to altering the present arrangements.

This is a matter in which my right hon. Friend would wish to be guided by the wishes of the House. As I informed the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 19th November, should it be the general desire that the traffic lights should operate while the House is sitting my right hon. Friend would be very ready to reconsider the present arrangements in consultation with the Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will hold an inquiry into the cruelty involved in some field sports, with a view to the introduction of legislation.

The problem of field sports is one to which my right hon. Friend is giving consideration, but he is not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to increase substantially the number of Ministry inspectors attached to centres where vivisection experiments are conducted.

My right hon. Friend proposes to await the Report of the Departmental Committee on Experiments on Animals before considering the need for a further increase in the inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to have the penalties substantially increased for domestic animal stealing.

These penalties are governed by the law of larceny which is at present under review by the Criminal Law Revision Committee. They will be looked at in the light of any recommendations made by the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for extending the hostel system for prisoners completing long sentences.

My right hon. Friend is thoroughly reviewing the hostel scheme, which he is anxious to extend. There are firm plans for three new hostels and other proposals are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been refused entry to the United Kingdom in the past 12 months on the grounds that they were seeking entry for the express purpose of obtaining free medical treatment.

During the twelve months 1st November, 1963, to 31st October, 1964, three Commonwealth citizens and seven foreigners were refused entry because their principal object in coming here was to obtain free medical treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information he has regarding the conduct of taxi drivers in refusing to convey passengers at reasonable cost from London Airport in recent months; what steps he proposes to take in consultation with the trade to extend control over taxi fares to journeys in excess of six miles; and if he will make a statement.

Since the beginning of this year a total of 56 complaints has been received in my Department and by the Metropolitan Police about the charging of allegedly excessive fares for taxi-cab journeys from London Airport. Fares for journeys of more than 6 miles in the Metropolitan Police District are not at present controlled by law. My right hon. Friend is consulting representatives of the trade on proposals for extending this limit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a special study of the problem of improving the standard of essential public services during unofficial labour disputes.

No. My right hon. Friend has a general responsibility for the Emergency Powers Acts, 1920 and 1964, under which regulations may be made during a state of emergency to secure the essentials of life for the community. What action should be taken by the Government in any particular case must, however, depend on all the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now recommend to police authorities the recruitment of suitably qualified British citizens, men and women, not of European descent.

The Police Regulations, which prescribe the basic qualifications for appointment to the police, do not discriminate against British subjects not of European descent, and I have no reason to think that appointing authorities consider applicants otherwise than on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects compensation for wrongful imprisonment to be paid to David Silver and Lionel King, who were granted a free pardon on 2nd July following investigation of cases in which Detective-sergeant Challenor was involved.

I hope to be able fairly soon to indicate the compensation which I am ready to pay to these two men ex gratia. Their claims have not been settled earlier because I have been awaiting particulars from one of the claimants, and these have only just been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to permit all parliamentary and local electors to vote by post, if they so wish.

A possible extension of absent voting facilities is among the matters being considered in our review of electoral law.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of complaints against officers of the Metropolitan Police in the calendar years 1938 and 1963, respectively; and what proportions do the respective figures bear to the number of officers in the force, and to the number of hours of duty performed in those years.

The total number of complaints against officers of the Metropolitan Police in 1938 was 1,866, and in 1963, 1,889. The proportion of complaints to the number of officers in the force was in 1938, 1 to 10, and in 1963, 1 to 9·8. The proportion of complaints to the number of hours of duty performed was in 1938, 1 to 23,199, and in 1963, 1 to 21,522.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the complaints against officers of the Metropolitan Police in the calendar years 1938 and 1963, respectively, was found on investigation to have some substance; and in what percentage of cases was disciplinary action taken by the Commissioner.

The percentage of complaints against officers of the Metropolitan Police found to have some substance was, in 1938, 13·8 per cent. and in 1963, 7·7 per cent. In 1963 disciplinary action was taken in 2 per cent. of cases (the remainder found to have some substance being dealt with by warning, advice or other means); the corresponding figure for 1938 is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many male and female prisoners, respectively, are now serving sentences in Her Majesty's Prisons for a term of six months or less; and what is the approximate average cost of maintenance weekly of each such prisoner.

These figures are not readily available; but during 1963 31,745 males and 2,194 females were committed to prisons in England and Wales to serve sentences of imprisonment of six months or less. These persons represent a daily average population of about 6,100 male and 350 females. It is estimated that the approximate average weekly cost of maintaining a prisoner during the year ended 31st March, 1963, was £9 12s. 4d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state, for each of the last available five years, in what percentage of the murders committed the victims were members of the murderer's own household or family.

The proportions of victims who were related to the murderers (including persons found guilty of manslaughter on the ground of diminished responsibility) were 56·7 per cent. in 1959, 53·8 per cent. in 1960, 55·0 per cent. in 1961, 62·6 per cent. in 1962 and 53·2 per cent. in 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the percentage of cases of murder where the victim was other than a member of the murderer's household or family, in each of the last available five years, where the murderer was found either to be insane or to have diminished responsibility.

In those cases of murder, or of manslaughter under Section 2 of the Homicide Act, 1957, in which the victim was unrelated to the offender the proportions of victims killed by persons found to he insane or suffering from diminished responsibility were 35·4 per cent. in 1959, 28·8 per cent. In 1960, 28·4 per cent. in 1961, 29·7 per cent. in 1962, and 41·3 per cent. in 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his visit to the Federation of South Arabia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement, following his recent visit to Aden and Southern Arabia.

I will make a statement tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what complaints have been received by the British representative in Basutoland regarding registration of voters for the forthcoming ing elections; and what action he is taking.

The Resident Commissioner in Basutoland has received three complaints.The first was by the Basutoland Congress Party in July that too long a period was being allowed for registration, that this would delay the elections, and that the Basutoland Government should employ three times the staff which it was employing on registration in order to get through the work sooner.The second, also from the Basutoland Congress Party, was that 90 per cent. of the Assistant Registration Officers appointed by Government were members of a rival political party.Enquiries showed that the Basutoland Government were taking all practical steps to complete the preparations for the elections as early as possible, subject to ensuring that the registration of voters was comprehensive and accurate; and further that District Commissioners in appointing Assistant Registration Officers had not given preference to any political party.The third complaint was that the registers when closed were incomplete.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what progress he is making in his plans for regional development in the South-West.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement about regional planning machinery in the South-West and other regions made this afternoon by my right hon. Friend.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what arrangements he has made to reimburse Mr. Greig for his expenses incurred in his duties as personal press officer; which Department will pay them; and what will he their top limit.

None.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the hon. Member for Torquay may expect an answer to his letter to him dated 6th November, 1964, regarding the impact of the 15 per cent. temporary surcharge on imports on a firm in his constituency; and whether he will give an assurance that an answer will be forthcoming before the temporary surcharge is removed.

I do not understand the question. We replied to the hon. Member on 9th November, saying that his letter had been transferred to another Department. I understand that he has since received a full answer from the Board of Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the financial burden placed upon firms engaged in the importation of certain semi-processed commodities which have entered into long-term contracts; and whether, in framing his legislation for the imposition of the import surcharge, he will ensure that such firms are exempted from it.

The hon. Member will be aware that the Finance Bill, as approved at its Third Reading, contains no provisions of the kind he has in mind. The Government do not consider that goods covered by long term contracts should be singled out for exemption from the temporary import charge.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 15 per cent. surcharge applies to spare parts and replacements ordered for foreign aircraft being operated on overseas services by British aircraft operators.

Such parts will be relieved from the charge provided the aircraft concerned exceed 18,000 lb. maximum total weight.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his intention to institute a two-tier system of interest rates.

As I told the House on 23rd November, I am considering whether means can be found of mitigating

asked the Prime Minister to which Minister Questions on services should be addressed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that Nyasaland is now known as Malawi, if he will amend his records accordingly; and what were the net United Kingdom liabilities in sterling to Rhodesia, as distinct from Zambia and Malawi, at the end of September last.

For administrative reasons the designation of countries in the overseas trade statistics is reviewed annually and this change will be among those to be introduced in 1965. Figures of United Kingdom liabilities in sterling to particular countries or territories are not disclosed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the industrial production for the second quarter of 1963 and the second quarter of 1964, taking 1958 as 100, of the United Kingdom; if he will give similar information derived from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for the United States of America, West Germany, France and Italy; and if he will state the percentage increase or decrease of each.

The table below gives figures taken from the O.E.C.D. Statistical Bulletin with the base adjusted from 1953 to 1958. The United Kingdom figures have been adjusted to exclude construction as this is not covered by the statistics for the other countries mentioned. The figures are seasonally adjusted.

I have been asked to reply.To my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps the Government are taking to secure equal pay for equal work.

The social and economic issues of implementing the right to equal pay for equal work are being examined.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now reduce the delay in publication of the monthly Index of Retail Prices.

Calculations for the index are made as soon as the necessary returns are available and the index is published as soon as it has been calculated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation to give protection to certain types of crayfish, namely, crayfish when they are in a soft condition and when they are berried, in order to preserve the species.

I am advised that there is no evidence at present of any need to introduce protective measures for crawfish the name usually used for marine crayfish. But the Department's scientific staff are engaged on a study of the stocks of this fish in the south west of England and Wales and the situation will be kept under review. If protection is found to be necessary, the powers available under the Sea Fish Industry Act, 1962, could be used.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement regarding the future of Channel Islands milk.

I cannot yet add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 2nd December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the trend in the production of Channel Islands milk in the last three years; and what estimates he has of its current profitability in comparison with the production of milk from other dairy breeds.

I understand from the Milk Marketing Board that the quantities of Channel Islands milk sold under premium contract in the last three years were:—

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that Her Majesty's Stationery Office's Report, Fluorosis in Cattle, Occurrence and Effects in Industrial Areas of England and Wales 1954–57, has take seven years to reach the public; why this investigation has taken so long; and if he is further aware that this delay in publication has resulted in a number of local authorities opting for fluoridation of their water supplies, despite the fact that these areas are mentioned in his report in connection with atmospheric pollution by fluorides.

Information resulting from the survey which is the subject of this Report was published in scientific and professional journals in 1956 and 1959 and earlier this year, and has been discussed on a number of occasions with the organisations concerned. Preparation of the full data in a form suitable for publication had to be fitted in with other and often more urgent work at the Department's Central Veterinary Laboratory. I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that there is no effective risk of fluorosis to humans living in areas subject to atmospheric pollution, whether or not their water supplies are fluoridated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the annual consultations under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement have been completed; and if he will make a statement.

This year's negotiations with the exporting members of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement have been successfully concluded. A thorough review has been held of the method of fixing the negotiated price laid down in the Agreement. We made proposals for changes for the future and these and any other proposals will be further discussed early next year. In the meantime it has been agreed that for 1965 the price shall comprise a basic negotiated price of £42 a ton f.o.b. and stowed for bulk sugar for all members and a special payment of £3 5s. a ton for the less developed countries to be added to £1 6s. 6d. a ton replacing the benefits stemming from the operation of Colonial Certificated Preference. This two-tier price system is peculiar to sugar and indeed has only been introduced because of the present disorganised state of the world sugar market.Negotiated price quotas have been consolidated at a level which represents an increase of 50,000 tons over 1964.Arrangements were agreed for the accession to the Agreement of the sugar industries of India, Southern Rhodesia, and Swaziland.The Agreement has been extended for a further year and will now run to the end of 1972.The parties to the Agreement have reaffirmed their intention to work for a realistic International Sugar Agreement.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about British defence aid to Nepal.

Yes. Agreement has now been reached on the composition of a limited programme of defence assistance to Nepal. The programme will be shared between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government. The cost to Her Majesty's Government will be approximately £715,000. Parliament will in due course be asked to vote up to that amount by mean' of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime, an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund as required.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in making his review of the social services, he will accept written and oral evidence from persons and organisations who wish to be heard.

Yes. Either I or the appropriate Minister will be pleased to accept any representations.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of Her Majesty's Stationery Office's Report on Fluorosis in Cattle, what investigations he has undertaken or proposes to undertake into the effects of atmospheric pollution on humans in the affected areas of Yorkshire, Bedfordshire and Staffordshire; and what guidance he is giving to medical officers of health in this connection.

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of a letter from my right hon. Friend's Chief Medical Officer to Medical Officers of Health. This contains an account of investigations into the probable fluoride intake of humans in these areas and a reassurance that there is no effective risk to them of fluorosis.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now issue a circular to local authorities inviting them to apply for the increased grant which is payable when stone, brick or earth floors are replaced in sub-standard houses.

My right hon. Friend intends to issue a circular as soon as possible dealing with this and other practical matters arising from the administration of the improvement grant scheme, In the meantime he will gladly consider applications from local authorities on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the comparable costs of building houses, schools, etc., by local authority works departments and by private contractors.

I regret that the information on which such a comparison might be made is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consideration he gave to the formation of a water board for all Dorset, to include the Poole and East Dorset Water Board, before setting up the new Central Dorset Water Board.

My right hon. Friend did consider this; but he decided against it because he accepted the conclusion reached by the Inspector who took the inquiry that the balance of advantage lay in leaving the recently established Poole Board undisturbed.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to halt the demolition of halts and stations used by the Gloucester Chalford Rail Car.

None. When a station has been closed the Railways Board naturally wish to dispose of any saleable material and to take any steps necessary to prevent their property becoming an eyesore or a public nuisance.