asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the current rate of British exports to Bulgaria; and whether he is satisfied that the present British commercial representation in Sofia is adequate in respect of the potentialities of Anglo-Bulgarian trade.

Our exports this year are running at an annual rate of £2·7 million. Commercial representation is kept under regular review by my Department and the Foreign Office. As the Plowden Committee pointed out, the lack of an adequate reserve of manpower has led to overstrain, which is reflected in the staffing of Foreign Office posts. Within this limitation the staff at the embassy at Sofia are deployed with commercial work foremost in mind.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that this is really a good return for the £75,000 which the British Embassy in Sofia costs the British taxpayer each year, and will he confirm that commercial representation is confined to half of one individual who doubles up as the consul? Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he thinks that there is proper, genuine, per- sonal contact between the members of this embassy and the Bulgarian people, and does he not think that this disproportion between trade and diplomacy is very marked?

I understand that the ambassador and his second in command spend much of their time on commercial work. I am glad to see that our exports to Bulgaria have been rising over the last three years, but I fully agree with the hon. and gallant Gentleman that this is an extremely and increasingly important function for our diplomatic posts abroad.

Having, like my hon. and gallant Friend, recently visited this country and other East European countries, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that I fully support what my hon. and gallant Friend has said? Does he not agree that the prospects of increasing trade are very great indeed, particularly in the context of liberalisation, and will he make an urgent point of consulting his right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in order to ensure that this matter is given urgent attention? It really is needed.

Although Bulgaria is one of the few countries which I have not visited in the last few months, I will take note with sympathy of what the right hon. Gentleman says.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated proportion of the current imbalance of trade between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics represented by the earnings of Soviet-controlled banking, insurance and shipping organisations in London; and what steps he is taking to achieve reciprocity by requesting the Soviet authorities to permit corresponding British organisations to operate within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

With the exception of the relatively small freight and insurance elements in the figure for imports, the Soviet Union's invisible earnings are not included in the statistics of visible trade between the United Kingdom and the U.S.S.R. and cannot, therefore, be regarded as forming part of the visible trade unbalance. I shall continue to impress upon the Soviet authorities the advantages to both countries of their agreeing to allow British concerns involved in Anglo-Soviet trade and services to establish themselves in the Soviet Union.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm, however, that there is an imbalance in invisible earnings and that this is aggravated by the fact that the Soviet Union's inflexible policy is to buy f.o.b. and to sell c.i.f., and, for example, does he look forward to the day when, perhaps, Barclay's D.C.O. or the Chartered Bank will be able to offer loans to the Soviet local authorities as is done by the Moscow Narodny Bank in this country?

I quite agree that there is what I prefer to describe as an unbalance, but I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that I did impress these points not merely on the Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade in Moscow in early November but also on Mr. Kosygin, the Prime Minister.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the facts are that the Soviet Union buys from us about half as much as it sells to us? Is he further aware that my right hon. Friend obtained a specific undertaking in writing from Mr. Patolichev that everything possible would be done to right this imbalance? While paying tribute to the right hon. Gentleman for the action that he has taken, may I ask him to press on with it in order to rectify what is a serious imbalance of trade? Has the right hon. Gentleman observed the comments in the newspapers that the Japanese are getting better trade advantages than we are, and will he take up this and similar points with the Soviet authorities?

I am, of course, aware of the undertakings given by the Soviet authorities to Her Majesty's previous Government, and I did not omit to point this out to the Soviet Government in Moscow. They gave me assurances that they would honour these agreements, and I am confident that they will be carried out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce amending legislation so as to allow the Monopolies Commission to inquire into complaints of excessive prices charged by those operating patents in the United Kingdom.

No, Sir. There is no need for amending legislation. There are already provisions in the Patents Act designed to remedy abuse of monopoly rights, and under existing monopolies legislation, the Monopolies Commission could investigate complaints of this sort, where they were relevant to an inquiry which the Board of Trade had asked it to make.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these inquiries have not, in fact, been made? In view of the increasing extent to which synthentic materials are being used, will he see that attention is drawn to the excessive prices now being charged by some manufacturers?

If the hon. Gentleman will give me details of any cases which he has in mind, we shall look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek to amend the Sale of Goods Act to ensure that cash buyers are afforded as much protection as those buying on hire purchase terms.

My right hon. Friend will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind when he is considering the Molony Committee's recommendations for the amendment of the Sale of Goods Act.

Is it not anomalous that a man who buys a car on hire purchase and does not pay all the money down has a built-in measure of protection and, therefore, more security than a man who pays cash and has very little recourse as a result?

The hon. Gentleman will recall that this matter was raised when we discussed the Hire Purchase Act. It is an anomaly which must be corrected, and we think that the best way to deal with it will be when we come to amend the Sale of Goods Act.

May we have an assurance that the Government will press ahead with the programme which we had already laid down for implementing the rest of the Molony Report?

Yes; that statement has already been made, as the right hon. Gentleman knows.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his instructions on industrial development certificates in the Birmingham area provide for exceptional treatment for firms compulsorily displaced by redevelopment schemes and whose operations are closely linked with other industries in the same area.

We shall continue to give special consideration to the circumstances of these firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to induce new industries to develop a suitable site at Carlisle Road, Airdrie; and if he will make a statement.

The Board of Trade Office for Scotland brings the site at Carlisle Road, Airdrie to the notice of firms for which it may be suitable, and will continue to do so. The benefits available under the Local Employment Act would apply to industrial developments there.

We are extremely grateful for the excellent efforts of the Scottish Controller and his staff but, so far, they have not been successful. Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that in this locality we have the highest unemployment complement of the whole of Lanarkshire, and will he try to take some extraordinary and special measures to steer industries to this site?

I fully sympathise with my hon. Friend. As he knows, we are proposing three new advance factories within quite a short distance of this area, and a new estate at Bellshill is shortly to be developed. We shall continue to pursue the effort which he has in mind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind the need of areas outside the central belt of Scotland as well when announcing advance factories?

Yes, in accordance with their needs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he expects to receive the Report of the Monopolies Commission on the monopolistic practices in the petroleum industry;

I understand that the Monopolies Commission hopes to present its report in the early part of next year. I do not know of any general movement by the petrol companies of the kind described by the hon. Member, but I suggest that he should let the Commission have without any delay any information which he has on that matter.

As at least two of the big petrol distributors are tightening their grip on the stations for their own limited range of products, may we hope that action can still be taken, and does not this rather amount to a contempt of the Monopolies Commission?

I do not know about contempt of the Monopolies Commission. A reference to the Monopolies Commission does not operate as any sort of stop order. The firms concerned are free to maintain or to change any trading practices which they may have, but, of course, the Monopolies Commission must take note of any changes in trading practices which occur during the course of its inquiries. I understand that it has done this. If the hon. Gentleman has any further information which he thinks that the Monopolies Commission should have, I would remind him that the report is nearly ready.

Can my hon. Friend give us an assurance that the Monopolies Commission will look at the advertising by the petrol companies to see whether it is in the interest of the consumer and the general public and is not a factor in increasing monopolistic tendencies among distributors as well as costing the public money?

Without looking it up, I am not sure whether this would appropriately come within the Monopolies Commission's terms of reference in this matter, but I imagine that, if the Commission thought that there was anything in it, it would look at the question and refer to it in its report.

Is it not a fact that, if the Monopolies Commission decided that this was a regrettable practice, there is no authority to stop it? When is the promised legislation to deal with this situation to be brought in?

As soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the increased number of proof gallons of immature whisky which were exported from this country in 1963, he will take steps to prevent whisky, which cannot for good reasons be legally sold in this country, from being sent to markets abroad.

No, Sir. Most of the immature whisky exported from this country goes to Sweden, where it is matured locally.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that, quite apart from exports to Sweden, exports of immature whisky to countries such as the United States, the Netherlands and West Germany have been increasing steadily and substantially during the past three years? Does he know that in West Germany there is a brand the label of which bears the caption,

"Glen Rankin—Whisky specially blended for Members of the British House of Commons in the Carlton Club"?

I am advised that exports of Scotch whisky are going from strength to strength. Eighty per cent. of the immature whisky goes to Sweden, where there is a State monopoly, which might or might not be supported in the Carlton Club. The essential point is that we should try, as we do, to persuade other countries to restrain their nationals from selling whisky under the label of "Scotch whisky" if it is, in fact, produced elsewhere. Even if we were to ban all exports of immature whisky, without such regulations it would still be possible in these countries to sell immature whisky from other sources as Scotch whisky.

In view of what I am sorry to regard as an unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how often the permanent body of the European Free Trade Association, set up to watch the operation of the import surcharge and the Government's efforts to abolish it, is to meet.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the measures for European Free Trade Association surveillance of the economy of the United Kingdom, to which Her Majesty's Government agreed at the recent meeting of the Council.

At their recent meeting, Ministers decided to set up a permanent Economic Committee of senior officials from capitals in order to consult on all aspects of all Member States' economic and financial policies and not merely those of the United Kingdom. The Working Party preparing a report for the next Ministerial meeting on the United Kingdom's economic measures is a temporary body.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, despite what several of his right hon. Friends have said, a number of us on this side defended, for technical reasons, what was done in the 15 per cent. surcharge at the meeting of E.F.T.A. Parliamentarians, but that what was very much deplored at Strasbourg this time was that there was no Minister there and no Minister offered by the British Government? Does he realise that it was repugnant to us when the Economic Committee had to insist on a Minister being sent out, and will he ensure that there is better co-operation and consultation in the future?

I do not think that Ministers have a monopoly of wisdom. I assure hon. Members that at the Ministerial Council at Geneva there were, appropriately, two Ministers present.

When the right hon. Gentleman arrives in north-east England—I am delighted to know that he is going there later today—will he make urgent inquiry into the possibility of Engineering Production Ltd. of Clevedon, which has a factory at Prudhoe, Northumberland, losing a valuable contract with the Volvo Co., of Sweden, as a direct consequence of the surcharge?

I am going to the North-East later tonight. I have looked into this matter and I will continue to do so when I reach the North-East.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in very difficult circumstances immediately after the election, several hon. Members on this side of the House did their best to defend the Government in this difficult situation? Will he also note that the E.F.T.A. Parliamentarians, apart from ourselves, expected that the imports surcharge would be taken off in a matter of months—by spring or the early summer at the latest?

I fully accept the phrase "in a matter of months", but I do not accept the gloss the hon. Gentleman has put on it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will have placed in the Library of the House a copy of all the speeches made recently by the United Kingdom delegation at the meeting of European Free Trade Association ministers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 15th December to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings).

Those Answers were quite unsatisfactory. As the right hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is being blamed, probably unjustly, for starting a run on sterling because of his alleged alarmist reports to E.F.T.A. Ministers, in justice to his right hon. Friend will the right hon. Gentleman let us see what he did say? If the Foreign Secretary made those alarmist reports, he is a very bad servant of the Crown, and if he did not, it is not right that he should be blamed for them. What is the right hon. Gentleman afraid of?

I myself made about a hundred speeches on that night, and I think that the hon. Gentleman would spend most of his Christmas Recess reading them if they were to be published. The fact is that these discussions were confidential, but I am happy to say that they achieved the desired result, which was that other members of E.F.T.A. decided against any form of retaliation against British exports, which is what we sought.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I and other hon. Members are surprised that he has not expressed gratitude to hon. Members on this side of the House for what they did at the meeting of E.F.T.A. Parliamentarians? Is he also aware that when I said earlier that it was the other Parliamentarians who expected that these surcharges would be taken off in a matter of months, I meant that they specifically said that they expected that they would be taken off by the summer?

I am very glad to express gratitude to the hon. Gentleman. Gratitude has been defined as lively anticipation of favours to come.

Surely it is in the interests of the Government to publish these transcripts, as the resentment against Government action is only now beginning to arise in E.F.T.A. countries with the end of the backlog of orders and as they await new orders. The resentment is now being felt among ordinary people. If the Government could say that the Governments of those countries sympathise with their action, would not that be helpful?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, our action in this respect was publicly praised immediately afterwards by the right hon. Member for Barnet (Mr. Maudling). If the hon. Gentleman does not know that, he had better read HANSARD. There is an obligation on members of E.F.T.A. not to break confidence about these discussions afterwards, and that obligation we propose to observe.

On a point of order. In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I shall seek your permission, Mr. Speaker, to raise the matter on the Adjournment at some time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what study he has made of the information supplied to him by the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford concerning a company with a head office in London and branches in many parts of the country; and if he will hold an inquiry into its activities:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the concern arising from the methods employed by a company, details of which have been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Woolwich, West; if he will cause an inquiry to be held; and if he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the concern arising from the practices employed by a company with branches in many parts of this country, details of which have been supplied by the hon. Member for Eccles; and what action he proposes to take to protect the public from exploitation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the sales promotion practices of the organisation with a branch in Ilford, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Ilford, North.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, following consideration of the details sent to him by the hon. Member for Bilston, he will set up an inquiry into the activities of the company concerned; and if he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the sales promotion practices of the organisation with a branch in Leeds, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Brighouse and Spenborough.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the sales promotion practices of the organisation with a branch in Sheffield, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Chesterfield.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will inquire into the activities of the organisation with a branch in Ilford, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Ilford, South.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the sales promotion activities of the organisation with a branch in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will set up an inquiry into the sales promotion practices of the organisation with a branch in Manchester, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he will take to ensure that the public are protected from the type of sales technique practised by an organisation with a branch in Croydon, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Croydon, North-East.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the sales promotion practices of the organisation with a branch in Bristol, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Bristol, North-East.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the sales promotion practices of the organisation with a head office in London and branches in many parts of the country, including the West Riding of Yorkshire, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Barkston Ash.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the sales promotion practices of an organisation with a branch in Liverpool, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for West Derby, Liverpool.

With permission, Mr. Speaker, I will answer Question No. 16 and Questions Nos. 17, 21, 22, 24, 30, 31, 39, 53, 55, 61, 63, 66, 67 and 68 together.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It may be an oversight, but I note that Question No. 59 was not included in that list, although it mentions the same company to which the other Questions refer.

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. It was not an over sight. Question No. 59, in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton), is in slightly different terms from the others and if we arrive at it today he will get a separate Answer all to himself.

On a point or order, Mr. Speaker. Is my Question No. 26 in the same category as Question No. 59?

Yes.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is not he aware that Universal Health Studios was introduced into this country by two Americans, husband and wife, and is as crooked and callous as human beings can devise? Is not he also aware of the flood of complaints which come from many branches, from Bournemouth to Glasgow, and show an amazing trail of misery caused to many people who have experienced what is the modern version of the press gang to sign contracts they have never been able to read? Will he bear that in mind?

I am well aware of the practices of this company. There is a branch of it in my constituency and I have had constituency complaints as well. The general question of the sales techniques of this company is one of the factors in the situation which my right hon. Friend is looking at to see whether legislation is required.

Will my hon. Friend tell us how many complaints have been received? Will he consider consulting the Ministry of Health on the health aspects of these malpractices?

It is very difficult to assess the total number of complaints because they have gone to so many different organisations. Citizens' advice bureaux throughout the country have had a very large number—running, I believe, into hundreds. Some complaints have been sent to the Consumer Council and some direct to the Board of Trade, while others have come to us through representations by hon. Members. I cannot, therefore, give a total figure, but it is very large. We will certainly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion that we should consult the Ministry of Health about the health aspects.

With reference to the Universal Health Studio in Ilford, will the hon. Gentleman have an investigation put in train by the police into the extremely unscrupulous methods used on prospective clients of this organisation?

If the hon. Gentleman has any evidence which suggests that kind of malpractice, I think that it is up to the customers concerned or to him to draw this information to the attention of the police.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a branch of this organisation has been established in the City of Newcastle? Is he aware that the people of Newcastle wish to be protected, as far as can be effectively done by his Department, from the deplorable high pressure sales techniques of this organisation? Is he further aware that the instruction given by the head office of the organisation to its local managers says that they must sit in the office and continue to wear people down and hammer at them and hammer at them until they finally give in and join the club. Is this not a highly deplorable practice? Will he consider, as a matter of urgency, doing something to stop it?

This is one of the aspects which we have a great deal of information about and are inquiring into.

If my hon. Friend is unable or unwilling to conduct an inquiry into these malpractices, I wonder if he will have another look at the Fair Trade Practices Bill which he helped me to draft and which was calculated to halt the rising tide of misleading advertising? Would not a Bill of this nature deal precisely with the problem we are discussing?

Yes. I said that we were looking into the question of legislation.

Will not the statutory delay under the new Hire Purchase Act cover contracts applied by this organisation? If it does not, is there any possibility of its doing so?

That is a possibility we are looking at but it is difficult to apply where cash goes over the counter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his reply is somewhat disappointing? This is a very serious matter. Legislation would inevitably take some time. Is there nothing he can do in the intervening period to put a stop to this ridiculous practice?

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. The trouble is that there is no legislation at the moment which gives us power to deal with this case.

Will my hon. Friend have another look at the complaints I have passed to him about this organisation? Is he aware that, where matters have been pressed to a court case and where the defendant has stood out as long as he could, he has at least gained the support of the court and something has been done? Will my hon. Friend consult the Attorney-General on this point?

Yes. We are taking legal advice on all these points.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this really is not good enough? There has been a storm of protest from hon. Members to the Board of Trade. That has been evident today. Indeed, I myself have passed on complaints in the last few weeks. For the hon. Gentleman now to say that the Board of Trade is still considering this is not satisfactory. Could he at least achieve the maximum amount of publicity for the way in which these people behave? Will he refer it to the Consumer Council in order to get the Council publicly to condemn the firm and make these practices as widely known as possible?

If we had had the legislation which should have been passed long ago dealing with the Merchandise Marks Acts we should have been in a better position. We are handicapped as a result of the inactivity of the last Administration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he will take to control the misleading advertisements of a company, details of which have been sent to him by hon. Members and by the Advertising Inquiry Council.

My right hon. Friend at present has no power to control advertisements of services. I understand that certain of this company's advertising material has been considered by the Advertising Standards Authority and related bodies in the advertising industry, and modifications have been agreed between them. If my hon. Friend will refer any specific complaint to the appropriate bodies in the advertising industry, I am sure that it will consider it.

My hon. Friend will be aware that many of us do not consider that bodies set up by the advertising agents themselves are the appropriate bodies. Ought there not to be some independent referee? Have not grossly misleading advertisements about these health clubs appeared in reputable newspapers and periodicals for a very long time, and were not they stopped only when my hon. Friend threatened to raise the matter in the House? Are not the present arrangements inadequate? Should not my hon. Friend talk to the Press Council and the proprietors of the newspapers and periodicals concerned to try to improve on the present practice?

The problem is that we shall have no control over advertisements of services until the new merchandise marks legislation appears on the Statute Book. I think that my hon. Friend knows that the advertising industry has accepted the challenge to make voluntary control of advertising standards really effective.

indicated dissent.

I think that we should give the industry the opportunity to decide where action can be taken in this respect. I agree with my hon. Friend and I shall support him in any representations which he makes to the advertising industry.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the previous Government implemented much of the legislation recommended by the Molony Committee, culminating in the Hire Purchase Act of the last Session? If he concludes that he can take action only through a merchandise marks Bill, will he give an undertaking to introduce such a Bill in the immediate future?

We shall introduce the Bill as soon as it is ready to be introduced.

On a point of order. With regret, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is considering towards improving research and development facilities within the shipbuilding industry.

This is one of the matters that I shall be examining in my survey of the problems of the industry, and which the committee of inquiry will be expected to consider.

Will the committee take into account the dangerously small amount of money devoted to shipbuilding research as compared with other industries and the fact that an undue proportion is spent on steam turbine research instead of other forms of propulsion, for instance, diesel? Will it also investigate the consequences of the fact that Japan produces about six times as many naval graduate architects as we do?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for his comments. Perhaps the committee will also look at the subject of research into diesel engine manufacture and the use of turbines.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decision has been reached by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development on removing restrictions on the import, export and distribution of films intended exclusively for showing on television and if he will give an assurance that such decision will not affect the proportions of television programmes, transmitted in this country, which are of British origin and performance.

The Organisation recently decided to add to its Liberalisation Code an obligation on member countries to grant any authorisations required for the export, import, distribution and commercial use of television films. Our arrangements do not involve the issue of authorisations for these purposes and I am therefore happy to give my hon. Friend the assurance he seeks.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that assurance will be received with great satisfaction by all concerned with the industry and by viewers, who have thus been spared a flood of foreign material which they can well do without?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to prevent the practice by which sweets and material likely to be bought by children are sold containing pictures of an improper character, examples of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie.

No, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that is a most unsatisfactory reply? Does he not realise that in Britain today, apart from an economic challenge, we are facing a moral challenge? Is it not morally wrong that commercial enterprise should stoop to the level of including disgusting photographs of semi-naked ladies in kiddies' 2d. packets of bubble gum? Do hon. Members appreciate that schoolboys and girls of the tender age of 7, 8, 9 and 10 are buying this type of material? Will my hon. Friend act to stamp it out immediately?

The distributors of the product which my hon. Friend mentions have already told the Board of Trade that they have withdrawn the pictures he is complaining about—for commercial reasons. In any case, the distribution of obscene material is already prohibited by law, but I doubt very much whether the pictures of which he complains would be considered obscene by any court.

Would not the Minister agree that it is likely that the children who have seen these postcards, as I have, would be much less likely to be upset than was the hon. Gentleman by a young lady at London Airport?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the need to clarify the position as regards ancillary office development within the Greater London area; and when he will make a further statement on this subject.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Wrexham (Mr. J. Idwal Jones) on 20th November.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these statements have not clarified the position and that the London County Council is not giving planning permission to any factory development within its area which has ancillary office space in excess of 2,500 sq. ft.? Is this a satisfactory situation and do the Government wish it to continue?

We hope to publish the Bill shortly and that should clarify the situation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while office limitation is to be welcomed, there are many worth-while cases for exemption which are now holding fire? Will he please hurry the legislation for exemption permits?

I agree, and we are doing so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for assistance under the Local Employment Acts by firms wishing to set up business or expand in Scotland were pending at 15th October, 1964; and what is the average time taken to reach a decision.

Figures are not readily available for 15th October. At 31st October the Board of Trade had under consideration 1,207 applications for building and plant and machinery grants for projects in Scotland, of which 758 had already been given preliminary approval in principle, in addition to 108 applications for general purpose loans and grants. The time taken to reach a final decision varies from three weeks to a year or more depending on the extent of the investigation required and the promptness with which applicants supply the necessary information. We are taking all steps within our power to reduce the delay.

These figures are satisfactory, but has the right hon. Gentleman any proposals for quickening up the procedure, which often takes a very long time?

We have asked all those concerned to speed it up to the greatest possible extent within their power. But a good many of these delays are due to the failure of applicants to supply the proper information more quickly. I hope that everybody will co-operate in speeding up the whole exercise.

rose—

Mr. Hector Hughes. [Interruption.]

I rose to put a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. There has been only one supplementary question on this Question.

I am sorry. I saw the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) first and called him. I will come back to the right hon. Gentleman in a moment.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many of these applications were in respect of setting up industries in north-east Scotland, what was the nature of the industries and how many of them were granted?

Not without notice, but certainly a number were for north-east Scotland.

On a point of order. Can you, Mr. Speaker, say whether Privy Councillors have any special privileges in this House?

Not, I think, at Question Time.

May I explain that I rose to my feet just now because I thought that you, Mr. Speaker, were about to call the next Question.

Not without notice. However, owing to the expectations aroused by this Government, there has been a great increase lately in applications for these facilities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state for the third quarter of 1964 the home production, imports and exports of cotton and man-made fibre fabrics; and if he will make a statement on his long-term plans for dealing with the state of the industry in relation to the burden of imports.

The figures are as follows: home production, 361 million linear yards: imports and exports, 218 and 76 million square yards respectively. In answer to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Heywood and Royton (Mr. Barnett) on 10th December.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the bad imports position was growing worse during the summer and that it has been partly saved by the emergency measures which were taken recently? However, will he say whether he will endeavour to liberalise the 1962 Agreement from G.A.T.T.? Also, is he in a position to say when he may initiate plans finally to identify the place of the textile industry in the national economy?

I have discussed this matter with the Cotton Board. We hope to agree on proposals both with the Board and with our partners in the Commonwealth in the first half of next year.

Would it not help the man-made fibre industry if the 15 per cent. import surcharge were taken off its raw material?

As the hon. and learned Member knows, that will be done as soon as the situation of this country permits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what reply he has given to the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association's suggestion that the review of legislation affecting the film industry should be deferred until the views of the Monopolies Commission and the results of the pay-television experiments are available;

My right hon. Friend is consulting the Cinematograph Films Council on the timing and content of the new films legislation. He has meanwhile asked the Council to take note of the letter from the Cinematograph Exhibitor's Association, to which my hon. Friend refers, and he has informed the Association accordingly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to increase trade with Spain and Portugal.

The full range of our export promotion services is available for these markets.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Can he say what extra steps he is taking to increase exports to this very important market and to South Africa? Will he give an assurance that no political mumbo-jumbo will stand in his way in trying to increase exports to these countries?

We shall attempt to increase exports to these countries, and to many others, in the year which lies ahead. We shall be making many proposals to this end.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the simple point that the wisest course is to maximise the export effort in respect of those countries, such as Spain, which pay?

Will my right hon. Friend endeavour to increase exports from Gibraltar to Spain and make that a condition of Anglo-Spanish trade?

I will not disregard the point which my hon. Friend raises.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to visit Paris for discussions with the President of France.

Our two Governments are in consultation about a date.

Would the Prime Minister bear in mind that it is very urgent for him to see General de Gaulle to heal the breaches over the Concord project and the imports surcharge? Will he also remember the awful warning that the last Head of State called Wilson to go to Paris was President Wilson and that things did not come out too well after that?

Yes,Sir—very funny. I am well aware of the need to do everything we can to improve relations with France. But I thought that the worst moment of our relations with France was in the speeches of the then Prime Minister, and in the speech, which we all understood, of the then Lord Privy Seal, when they said what they thought about the end of the Common Market negotiations. I hope that we shall not get back to anything like that.

If my right hon. Friend is going to Paris, will he make sure that he is paired?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the best way to improve relations with France, or with any other country, is by trade, and that the sooner the Concord project can be cleared up to the satisfaction of both sides the better it will be for Britain and for France?

Discussions are going on with the French Government about that. I find it a little difficult to reconcile the conflicting views of Opposition Members on this. In the case of the surcharge, they complain that we have done this without consultation. In the case of Concord, they complain that we asked for a review before coming to a decision.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to emphasise the importance of the trade promotional work of the external services, he will consider designating the new combined service Her Majesty's Diplomatic and Commercial Service instead of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, as is proposed.

No, Sir. The title "Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service" was chosen after careful thought by the Plowden Committee. It has the merit of being brief and convenient. The title suggested by my hon. Friend might imply that commercial work is not an integral part of our diplomacy.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that although experienced representatives of large firms like I.C.I. and Barclays D.C.O. know how to interpret "diplomatic", many small business firms and their representatives abroad do not realise the expert advice available to them in high commissions and embassies abroad? Would not emphasis on the word "commercial" encourage these representatives to make greater use of the facilities available to them?

My hon. Friend has practical experience of the valuable work of what has hitherto been called the Trade Commission Service. From my experience some years ago and again on my recent visit to Canada when I met the trade commissioner there, I very much agree that there is not enough response by a large number of British industrialists to the services provided or even, as in one case about which I heard, pressure from the Trade Commission Service to tender for a valuable order and not a single tender could be obtained from any British firm.

Is the Prime Minister aware that, while this particular proposal may not appeal to him, there is a widespread desire that our Diplomatic Service should play a more active part in the promotion of exports and that various schemes to promote them have been put forward on both sides of the House? Will he consider making a statement on the Government's intentions in this matter in due course?

We intend to make a statement about further ways in which we can help the export trade. including the point raised by the right hon. Gentleman. I think that the decision of the late Government, following the Plowden Committee's Report, continues a trend which has been going on over suc- cessive Governments. Under both Labour and Conservative Governments, we have seen some of our senior trade people rise to the rank of ambassador and be fully integrated with the Diplomatic Service, as it then was. This is formalising an informal arrangement which existed before.

While the importance of the commercial side of the Diplomatic Service was rightly stressed by the Plowden Committee, none the less fundamentally it is the policies of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the President of the Board of Trade which, broadly speaking, make or mar the task of any exporter.

I think that their services are obviously extremely important, but so is the response of British firms to the markets which are available to us and the services of the Trade Commission Service in bringing these openings to their attention. It is not purely the case that my right hon. Friends can help in this matter, but some right hon. Gentlemen opposite might stop hindering.

asked the Prime Minister if he has now received the report from the Minister of Labour on strikes during the election period; and if he will publish it.

asked the Prime Minister, in the light of the information made available in the Minister of Labour's inquiry, if he will now arrange for an independent inquiry into the Hardy Spicer dispute during the General Election, and undertake to publish the report.

I would refer the hon. and right hon. Members to the Answer I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) on 3rd December.

Surely the Prime Minister, with his encyclopaedic memory, will recall column 1082 of HANSARD for 24th November, in which he promised that he would make a statement in the House. May I ask why he has not seen fit to honour that undertaking?

There was a Question down to me for Oral Answer. I answered it. As it was not reached, it was printed.

Will not the Prime Minister frankly admit that he made a reckless political intervention in a purely industrial dispute? Was not this a foretaste of acting first and thinking afterwards which has been the hallmark of the Government and which has effectively destroyed industrial confidence?

No, Sir. I stand by what I said in the House earlier on this matter. When we got, in this election as in previous ones, strikes threatening to paralyse the whole of the motor car industry, when there was reason to suspect that there had been political motivation in the earlier ones—[Interruption.]—it was right on this occasion to say that the matter would be inquired into. Within 24 hours of my making that statement, other statements were made on television which showed us the real reason why these industrial difficulties arose. That has been confirmed by my right hon. Friend.

Surely the Prime Minister is not attempting to continue this quite—[Interruption.] Is it not a fact that the Prime Minister's intervention exacerbated the situation of the strikes and that it was the direct cause of the other statements, and that where he made things vastly worse it was my job to settle the strike, which I did? Is the right hon. Gentleman still saying that he was honouring the undertaking which he made to the House when he said that he would make a statement when, in fact, he arranged for a Question to be answered at a convenient time when it would not be reached and then hurriedly left the country?

On that last allegation, I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will withdraw that statement. I had no contact whatever with my hon. Friend. The Question was put down without my knowledge and it was answered—[HON. MEMBERS: "0h."] If hon. Members opposite do not accept that statement, they had better think about their relations with the whole traditions of this House. Now, will the right hon. Gentleman withdraw?

No, I will not withdraw. [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."] The Prime Minister said that he would make a statement, and a Written Answer is very far from a statement.

rose—

On a point of order. I understood that the right hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Godber) made a direct allegation that a Question had been "planted" by my right hon. Friend.

Of course it was.

My right hon. Friend has subsequently denied this. [An HON. MEMBER: "Who believes him?"] Is it, therefore, in order to ask the right hon. Member for Grantham to withdraw the allegation?

As far as I know, it is not unparliamentary to say that a Question has been "planted". As to what the right hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Godber) said, I could hear not one single word. I do not know what happened. Mr. Shinwell.

On a point of order. The right hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Godber) clearly made an implication against the behaviour of the Table when he said that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had arranged that a Question should be so placed that it would not be reached. Is that not an attack upon the Table and the institutions of this House? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."]

That is a non sequitur.

Since the behaviour of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has been questioned by right hon. Members opposite, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is aware that his behaviour during the election compares more than favourably with the behaviour of the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd) on racial affairs and, in particular, the disgraceful behaviour of the right hon. and learned Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg)?

If the Prime Minister is so sensitive, why is he still trying to wriggle out of his original pledge to institute a searching inquiry?

Our prospects of making progress with Questions are not good if hon. Members spend their time saying things and asking for them to be withdrawn and asking points of order about words used when the din is such that I cannot hear what words are used. I respectfully suggest that the sensible thing to do is to get on with Questions.

In view of the most unsatisfactory nature of the Answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter at an early opportunity.

On a point of order. Could not the Prime Minister have got the House out of the difficulty by asking leave to answer the original Question orally? [Interruption.]

I can only partly hear what is said. In any event, it does not seem to be a matter for the Chair to inquire what the right hon. Gentleman could do should he want to do it. Do let us get on. Mr. Joan Evans, Question No. 5.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if he discussed with President Johnson the possibility of calling a summit conference between Great Britain, the United States of America, and the Union of Soviet Sccialist Republics;

asked the Prime Minister (1) what particular aspects of foreign policy he discussed with President Johnson; and if he will make a statement;

asked the Prime Minister if he will, following his talks with President Johnson, now make a statement on defence policy covering such issues as nuclear arms, the multi- lateral force, the future of the TSR2 and P1154, overseas bases and increased supplies of conventional weapons.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements he made with President Johnson during his recent talks with him about future meetings between them.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements he has now made with the United States of America for the re-negotiation of the Nassau Agreement.

asked the Prime Minister if it remains the intention of Her Majesty's Government to refuse British participation in a multilateral force.

I would refer hon. Members to the speech I made in the debate yesterday.

Is my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister aware that his initiative has given intense satisfaction to many hon. Members in this House and has created a spirit of optimism in the country that his endeavours will be successful in preventing, an extension of the suicide plot?

May I join in congratulating my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, whose initiative is welcomed in the country? May I ask that he continue his efforts to reduce the £40,000 million that the world is spending on armaments so that some of these resources can be diverted to helping the under-developed areas?

Does not the Prime Minister remember that during the election he made a statement at Chatham in which he said that the M.L.F. was a complete and absolute waste of money—he certainly did not say that yesterday, when he left the door open—and, furthermore, emphasised his position regarding the M.L.F. by saying at Chatham that if returned as Prime Minister, he intended greatly to increase the size of the conventional Navy? This House and the country would like to know exactly where the Prime Minister stands.

On the second point, I said yesterday that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence will shortly be announcing our policy on the procurement side. As I have already explained to the House, we have first to make those much-needed cuts in the fantastic level of programmes that we inherited before we start talking about increasing any part of the expenditure programmes. With regard to the statement I made at Chatham and elsewhere,I certainly attacked in very strong terms the concept of the mixed-manned surface fleet and I showed yesterday what we thought about the mixed-manned surface fleet.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether that part of Question No. 12 which I put down, affecting conventional weapons and types of aircraft, will be answered by his right hon. Friend today? If not, will he tell the House when we shall get an answer?

I did say yesterday that my right hon. Friend, before the time of the year comes for the Defence White Paper, will be dealing with this question about the weapons procurement programme.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will bear in mind, in view of the alarming statements which are made in the Press, and are being made, and statements on the other side of the House, which are causing tension rather than relieving it, the urgent necessity for a top-level meeting as soon as it is possible?

Well, there are a number of meetings planned. I am not responsible, of course, for what is said in the Press, but certainly there are a whole series of meetings planned. They started last week and will be continuing in the new year.