asked the President of the Board of Trade what have been the overseas earnings achieved by the sale of British coal during each of the past five years; and what measures are to be taken to help the National Coal Board to increase exports.

Exports of coal at f.o.b. prices (not including coke and briquettes) in each of the past five years were:

£m.
1960	…	…	…	18·87
1961	…	…	…	20·16
1962	…	…	…	20·16
1963	…	…	…	34·17
1964	…	…	…	27·17

The comprehensive measures for encouraging exports already announced by the Government are available to the coal industry, and commercial officers overseas keep the Coal Board informed of any new opportunities for sales.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to provide a permanent National Exhibition Centre at the Crystal Palace.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce his plans for the establishment of a national industrial exhibition site at Crystal Palace.

I cannot at present add to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mr. Goodhart) on 15th April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's progress in promoting trade and industry in Scotland and on its plans to extend and expand trade and industry there and export trade to northern Europe, indicating the proposed extension of transport for export facilities.

In the six months October to March, 4·4 million sq. ft. of industrial development in Scotland has been approved and is expected to provide 8,600 new jobs compared with 2·9 million sq. ft. and 7,330 jobs in the corresponding period a year earlier. In addition, 26 firms whose projects are estimated to require 3,700 employees have decided to establish units in Scotland.We shall continue our efforts to get more industry to Scotland to ensure that Scotland gets its proper share of the growth of the economy as a whole that the Government seeks to attain. In the exports field we shall continue to promote links with E.F.T.A. countries and to help and encourage firms, throughout the United Kingdom, to export to Northern Europe and elsewhere. It is in the first instance for the suppliers of the services concerned to consider whether the demand justifies an extension of transport facilities for exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will detail his actions during the last five months to increase trade and industry in the north-east of Scotland.

In the five months up to the end of March 1965 financial assistance totalling over £200,000 was offered under the Local Employment Acts provisions to firms for projects in N.E. Scotland which are estimated to provide employment for more than 500 persons. In addition, the attention of other firms with suitable projects has been drawn to the advance factories becoming available in the area.Board of Trade officials in Scotland have been active in encouraging and helping many firms in N.E. Scotland to take advantage of the assistance that the Government can give to the exporter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Hong Kong Government with a view to reversing the decline in British exports to Hong Kong in 1964.

None. United Kingdom exports to Hong Kong rose by £3 million to £55 million in 1964. Hong Kong is a free market and I hope that British exporters will seize the opportunities presented by the continued rise in Hong Kong prosperity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will set up a departmental inquiry to determine the extent of the import of manufactured goods into the United Kingdom, and to inquire, where these goods could be equally well made in this country, into the reasons why these goods have not been so produced.

No. These matters are already the subject of detailed study by Departments. The Economic Development Committees on which both sides of industry and Government Departments are represented have been directed to give particular attention to these questions in relation to the particular industries with which they are concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to inquire into the standards

£'000
1960–61	1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	Total
135	—	1,294	1,518	2,139	5,086

In addition, the efficiency of the shipbuilding industry is indirectly assisted by grants from the former D.S.I.R. to the British Ship Research Association and

£'000
——	1960–61	1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	Total
National Physical Laboratory	195	217	219	243	300	1,174
British Ship Research Association	130	112	151	302	350*	1,045
* Estimated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will order inquiries under Section 165 of the Companies Act 1948 into the practices of Vitasafe (England) Ltd., Concert Hall of management in the British shipbuilding industry, with particular reference to encouraging a greater measure of consultation between management and men on matters of common concern.

These matters clearly affect the costs and competitiveness of the industry and are therefore already within the terms of reference of the Shipbuilding Inquiry Committee which was set up last February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much money Her Majesty's Government have invested, either directly or indirectly, in improving the efficiency and capital capacity of the British shipbuilding industry in each of the last five years.

Shipbuilding, along with other industries in development districts, is eligible for grants and loans under the Local Employment Acts whose primary purpose is the provision of additional employment, although improvement in efficiency or capacity is normally expected. Assistance of this kind offered by the Board of Trade to shipbuilding firms in Great Britain in the last five years has been as follows:to the Ship Division of the National Physical Laboratory which in the past five years have been as follows:Record Clubs Ltd., the Corsano Co. Ltd., and Leisure Arts Ltd., which are acting in a manner oppressive of their members, and of which details have been sent by the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford.

The Consumer Council has received many complaints about the sales methods of this organisation, but these are not of the type which would justify the Board of Trade, in appointing an Inspector under Section 165 of the Companies Act, to inquire into the company's affairs. If the hon. Member has any further information I will consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will review the present tariffs on imported canned pilchards, with a view to improving the market for pilchards caught in British waters.

The Board of Trade is always prepared to consider applications for changes in the tariff from interested bodies in the light of the trading position, the interests of consumers, and our international obligations and relations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what import quota of textile products has been agreed with Hong Kong for next year.

Negotiations on arrangements for the period after 1965 with Hong Kong and many other countries which supply us with cotton textiles have not yet begun.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will make an announcement concerning his consideration of applications from local authorities for office development permits who require to extend their offices or build new ones.

My right hon. Friend announced on 29th March the procedure for applying for office development permits, whether by private organisations or by local authorities. Applications will be considered as quickly as possible, but it will not be possible to grant permits before the Bill has received the Royal Assent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the textile import position for 1966 and onwards; and what further policy he has to encourage growth in the industry's export performance.

As to the first part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend on 17th December last. As to the second part, my right hon. Friend has recently announced a series of measures to help exporters generally and I hope the industry will make full use of these facilities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what offers he has received to rent or buy the advance factory being built at Camelford, Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

No offers have so far been received to rent or buy the advance factory to be built at Camelford. It is hoped to acquire a site for the factory shortly and Board of Trade officers will continue to bring it to the notice of likely enquirers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Bude Employment Exchange is not listed as a development district, in view of the prevailing rate of unemployment.

The level of unemployment in Bude, which averaged 3.7 per cent. in 1964, does not justify listing it as a development district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, following his visit to Harland and Wolff in Belfast, he will make a statement on the Government's efforts to assist the shipbuilding industry to improve its efficiency and international competitive position.

With the help of the new export credit facilities, the industry has recently taken a considerable volume of export orders against competition from overseas yards and activity in many yards is at a high level. As to the position in the longer term, the Government propose to await the report of the Shipbuilding Inquiry Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much revenue was obtained from the Customs duty on the import of audiovisual material of an educational character for each of the years since 1960; and whether he is satisfied that this duty is still necessary;(2) whether he will abolish the Customs duty on audio-visual material of an educational character with a view to encouraging its freer flow.

It is not possible to identify audio-visual material of an educational character in terms of individual tariff headings, and I regret that the amount of duty collected on such material cannot be established. There are, however, arrangements under the Import Duties Act 1958 for relieving such material of duty when it is imported non-commercially for educational purposes. I therefore see no reason to abolish the duty on commercial imports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an estimate of the extent to which Rhodesian exports to Great Britain would be reduced by the removal of Commonwealth preference.

I regret that it is not possible to make this estimate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will call a conference of all the main organisations in this country concerned with the organisation of or participation in international conferences, with a view to deciding what further action can be taken by Her Majesty's Government to attract a greater number of such conferences to the United Kingdom.

I do not think this is practicable or necessary. My hon. Friend may like to know that 84 recognised international organisations are holding conferences in this country this year. Among European countries this total will I understand, be exceeded only by France with 91.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the necessity of combining research into a practical nuclear propulsion engine for ships with examination of the appropriate design of such ships, their handling and their accommodation at ports with a view to everything being ready to make the best use of success in an economical nuclear power unit when it is achieved; and what proposals he has in this regard.

Yes. All relevant factors are being taken into account in the Government's review of this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has made to the representations made to him by the Trades Union Congress to help independent British film producers.

My right hon. Friend has informed the T.U.C. that he would be reluctant to embark on a fresh consideration of a third booking force until he has received the Monopolies Commission's report. He also said that the Board of Trade was at present engaged in considering the future rôle of the N.F.F.C. and that he would bear in mind the T.U.C.'s proposal that its activities should be extended.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a detailed break-down of British exports in February and March 1965; and what proportion of these exports in each month arose from orders placed before 15th October, 1964.

Details for February are available from the published Overseas Trade Accounts and provisional totals for March by commodity and by country are now in the Library. I regret that information is not available to answer the second part of the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what requests he has made to the Consumer Council regarding action on advertising; and what reply he has made to the Council's proposals for statutory control of advertising.

My proposals for new merchandise marks legislation, which would materially strengthen the law against deceptive advertising, take account of the views which the Council has put to me. I have told it that I am not convinced that further statutory control of advertising is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what Government assistance was given to the organisation of the International Engineering Exhibition held at Olympia and Earls Court from 21st to 30th April, 1965.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what official assurances he was given, during his visit to Japan, that the financing of the 1,500,000 tons of home orders annually for the Japanese shipbuilding industry contains no element of subsidy, thereby constituting unfair competition; and if he will make a statement.

Japanese shipowners receive loans on favourable terms for the purpose of encouraging the modernisation and expansion of the Japanese merchant fleet. The orders so generated benefit the Japanese shipbuilding industry. The extent to which shipowners may be subsidised by the favourable terms of the loans was not discussed during my visit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement as a result of his examination of the Machent Report.

I have referred to the Court of Criminal Appeal under Section 19(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act, 1907, one of the cases investigated by Superintendent Machent—that of William Patrick Irvine and Raymond Wharton. Until that case has been determined by the court, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment on the other cases investigated by Superintendent Machent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement as a result of his examination of the Machent Report.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Aston (Mr. Julius Silverman).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the practice of the Metropolitan Police to check the speed of motorists by radar operated by one police officer; and whether prosecutions are initiated on the evidence of one witness only.

Each team operating radar speed meters in the Metropolitan Police District consists of at least two officers, and proceedings are not initiated on the evidence of one witness only in cases in which meters have been used.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that radar machines used for checking the speed of vehicles register accurate results, having regard to possible confusion arising from other vehicles, birds and extraneous moving objects; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied that the radar equipment in general use is an effective means of checking vehicle speeds. It is the general practice for it to be operated in such a way as to ensure that evidence presented in court relates only to the vehicle in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the Report of the Departmental Committee on Jury Service; and if he will introduce legislation to deal with its recommendations.

I am glad to have this opportunity of expressing on behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend and myself our appreciation of this important report. He is studying it with care, but he is not at present in a position to make a statement about legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the electoral registers for the forthcoming local government elections in the City of Cardiff were exhibited at the appropriate times; and if he will make a statement.

Registers of parliamentary and local government electors are required to be published not later than 15th February. Publication of the register consists in the registration officer making a copy available at his office, and copies of the part of the register relating to each electoral area available locally as soon as practicable. I am informed that by 15th February last a copy of the 1965 register for the whole of the City of Cardiff was available at the office of the registration officer and copies of parts of the register were available, elsewhere except in three wards, where they were made available a few days later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to ensure that voters erroneously excluded from the current register of voters for the city of Cardiff are permitted to vote in the forthcoming local government elections on a supplementary register.

There is considerable doubt whether there is power to alter a register after it has been published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now give authority to the Reader in Celtic Studies of Aberdeen University to examine the Casement diaries as requested in the letter dated 18th April, 1965, which has been forwarded to him by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North.

I am writing to my hon. and learned Friend asking for further information to enable this request to be considered.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer the postmen's pay settlement to the Incomes and Prices Board for consideration.

No. We are satisfied that postmen are an exceptional case of the kind provided for in paragraph 15(iv) of the recent White Paper. The settlement, which will last until the end of next year, has two aims. First, it puts postmen's pay right in 1964 and 1965. Secondly, it provides for an increase in 1966 which is clearly in line with the general policy.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to secure the continued employment of the companies previously engaged on the advanced instrumentation associated with the TSR2 project.

One of the advantages to be gained from the cancellation of the TSR2 project will be the redeployment of scarce resources, but it is too early to say what form this will take in the types of company to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs who is to be chairman of the East Midlands Planning Board.

No appointment has yet been made, but I expect to announce the name of the chairman shortly.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs into which category of the exceptions to Her Majesty's Government's incomes policy, as outlined in paragraph 15 in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy, the increase in salary of up to 12½ per cent. for approximately 200,000 adult nurses and midwives, which is to take effect on 1st July, 1965, comes.

This case comes under paragraph 15(iv) which provides for exceptional increases where there is widespread recognition that the pay of a certain group of workers has fallen seriously out of line with the level of remuneration for similar work and needs in the national interest to be improved.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made to the latest convenient date of his incomes and prices policy, indicating the manner in which he has dealt with the recent opposition to his efforts to restrain the increases in consumer goods.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement on 8th April. The National Board for Prices and Incomes are now about to start work, and we hope to announce very shortly the first price cases to be referred to them for investigation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated financial benefit to the recipients of the export rebate.

The estimated total payment of export rebate in the current financial year was given in Table 4 of the Financial Statement as £95 million. This amount included certain payments relating to exports in an earlier period and is equivalent to an annual rate of £84 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that certain exporting firms are receiving no benefit from the export rebate, because it is being absorbed by shippers; and if he will ensure that the main part of the rebate is paid to the exporters, whom it was intended to compensate for the surcharge payable on some imported materials.

I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Answer I gave on 2nd March, in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Patrick Jenkin). The export rebate scheme is not intended to compensate exporters for the import charge: repayment of the surcharge for exports is a separate matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take, in view of Her Majesty's Government's majority shareholding, with regard to the policy decision announced in the statement by the Chairman of the British Petroleum Company that no further orders for tankers will be made for production in British shipbuilding yards.

I know of no change in policy by B.P. that will lead to orders for new tankers being placed on grounds other than those of their commercial judgment. In these circumstances I do not propose to depart from the existing practice of not intervening in the commercial management of the company.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much public money is invested in the British Petroleum Company; and what percentage this is of their total capital.

The total public money invested in B.P. is £5 million in ordinary stock and £1,000 in preference stock. The nominal value of Her Majesty's Government's holding of ordinary stock has now risen to £162 million. This represents 51·65 per cent. of the total issued ordinary stock of approximately £314 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take concerning the effect of the Corporation Tax on the future attraction of new industry to the North-East, in view of the statement made by Mr. George Chetwynd, Secretary of the North-East Development Council, details of which have been sent to him, concerning the disadvantages of the tax in this regard.

I have taken careful note of this statement, but I do not share the views expressed in it as a considerable margin of preference will be retained by the North-East.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the additional annual sum received by the Exchequer by way of income tax if the earnings rule for retirement pensioners were abolished.

About £½ million from the extra pensions that would be paid to those whose pensions are now reduced or extinguished under the earnings rule (excluding people over minimum pensionable age who have deferred their retirement).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government will announce their proposals on the subject of parity of pensions for servants of the Crown, and in particular officers of the Regular Army, retired under the 1919 Pension Code.

Minister	Countries Visited	Dates
Lord President	Israel	16th—26th April
Foreign Secretary	Belgrade and Prague	18th—25th April
Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Mayhew).	Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong.	19th—27th April
Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Peart)	Northern Ireland and Eire	20th—25th April
Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force (Lord Shackleton).	Malta, Cyprus, Gibraltar and Libya	20th—25th April
Chief Whip, House of Lords (Lord Shepherd).	Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus and Libya	20th—25th April
Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Darling).	Milan	21st—23rd April
Minister for Overseas Development	Tanzania and Zambia	21st April to 1st May
Commonwealth Secretary	Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand	21st April to 9th May
President of the Board of Trade	India and Pakistan	22nd—29th April
Secretary of State for Defence	Norway	23rd—26th April

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the West German Government on the creation of a nuclear-free zone in

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Ted Fletcher) on 26th April.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in his communication received by the Prime Minister of Rhodesia on 30th March, he informed him of the terms on which Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to grant independence to Rhodesia.

My exchanges with the Prime Minister of Rhodesia remain confidential. I cannot report substantial progress and the position has of course been complicated by Mr. Smith's decision to hold elections on 7th May. However, I remain in touch with him and I trust that it will be possible to carry negotiations forward after the election.

asked the Prime Minister which members of the Government made official visits abroad during the Easter Recess; which countries they visited; and what was the total charge to public funds.

The information asked for in the first two parts of the Question is given below. I regret that the information asked for in the third part is not yet available.Central Europe; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answers I gave in the House on 11th March, and to the communiqué on my talks with Dr. Erhard in the OFFICIAL REPORT for the same day.

asked the Prime Minister what assurances he received during his meeting with President Johnson on the scale and type of future United States military activity in Vietnam.

Details of my discussions with President Johnson are, following the normal practice, confidential, but the President has already made abundantly clear that the United States seeks no wider war and that attacks against military targets in North Vietnam are carefully controlled.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent the expenses of the meeting of leaders of the Socialist International at Chequers last weekend were met from public funds.

Those present at the meeting came as my private guests. There was, therefore, no additional charge to public funds for their entertainment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which service will be responsible for conversion and training of pilots for Phantom aircraft supplied to the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

We are at present considering the best means of training pilots for Phantom aircraft supplied to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the talks about the level on D.S.I.R. research grants have been completed; and if he will make a statement.

The estimated expenditure on research grants by the Science Research Council in the year 1965–66 has been fixed at £6 million compared with £4·4 million in 1964–65. The longer term issues are being considered by the Science Research Council which came into being on 1st April last.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken during the last five months to promote or assist the construction of swimming baths or pools in or adjoining schools under his authority, indicating how many such swimming baths or pools are now in existence and how many more he plans to construct in the immediate future; and what provision he has recently made for the promotion of education in swimming.

I welcome proposals to provide swimming baths in new schools where this is practicable and about one in six of large secondary schools now coming forward include one in the plans. One hundred and twenty-five covered and heated pools have been approved since 1958; I do not collect information on other types of pools, but the English Schools Swimming Association estimates the number at about 3,000. I am sure that local education authorities do not need to be reminded of the value of swimming. I shall look to the Sports Council, which was set up in February, for general advice on the development of amateur swimming.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now define the itinerary of Mr. Gordon Walker; and to what extent he can now give the total cost of the tour.

Mr. Gordon Walker's itinerary is as follows: London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Vientiane, Bangkok, Rangoon, Saigon, Phnom Penh, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Delhi, London. The cost of the air fare for Mr. Gordon Walker, and for the member of the Diplomatic Service accompanying him, was £1,644. The amount of other expenses will only be known on Mr. Gordon Walker's return. These are expected to be minor.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to encourage a greater flexibility of labour in British shipyards and to discourage all demarcation practices which tend to increase shipbuilding costs.

Effective action can best be taken by the employers in consultation with the trade unions, but I am ready to give any help I can.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development who is her representative on the Commonwealth Education Liaison Committee; and what are the terms of reference of the Committee.

The answer to the first part of the Question is that Mr. A. R. Thomas, C.M.G., an Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Overseas Development, is the representative of the United Kingdom.The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:(

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retirement pensioners she estimates will be affected by the earnings rule in the current year.

Information is not available in precisely the form requested but it is estimated that about 1¼ million pensioners are at present within the scope of the earnings rule and that at any point in time about 20,000 have their pensions reduced or extinguished on account of earnings. These figures take no account of some 400,000 people over minimum pensionable age who are not drawing their pensions because they have deferred their retirement and are earning pension increments.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the estimated yield of the earnings rule for retirement pensioners for the current year.

The estimated saving is about £2 million a year. But I would remind the hon. Gentleman that the total immediate cost of abolishing the earnings rule and the retirement condition which goes with it would be about £120 million a year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is her estimate of the reductions in the staff of her Department and of its local offices which could be made if the earnings rule for retirement pensioners were abolished.

The administration of the earnings rule employs the equivalent of some fifty staff throughout the Ministry but it is not possible to say what the effect might be if the rule were abolished, because of the other major changes this would involve, including paying some 400,000 additional pensions to people who have not retired.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the estimated annual cost of administering the earnings rule for retirement pensioners.

The annual cost of administering the earnings rule for retirement pensioners is estimated to be about £90,000, including on-costs.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in his proposed inquiry into Easter road accidents, he will seek to make use of evidence collected by the wider studies already proceeding at the University of Birmingham.

My Department is conducting this analysis with the assistance of the Road Research Laboratory and of the police. The Ministry's Road Safety Unit in Birmingham is already investigating the Easter accidents in Warwickshire and any information which the University of Birmingham has would be most welcome.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made in research into the reduction of noise from motor vehicles.

A great deal of research into the reduction of motor noise is being undertaken by the Motor Industries Research Association, by various motor manufacturers and by certain specialist companies. This research has no doubt been stimulated by the prospect of new regulations which I shall be making to control vehicle noise and also by the work into the control of noise that is going on under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Europe and the European Council of Ministers of Transport.

asked the Minister of Power what action is being taken by gas and electricity boards to prevent overcharging for gas and electricity supplied by landlords to tenants.

The gas boards have fixed maximum charges since the early years after nationalisation. Nine area electricity boards in England and Wales have done so, with effect from 1st July, 1965, for electricity resold for domestic purposes and the others expect to follow shortly.

asked the Minister of Technology if he is aware of the dearth in Great Britain of factories for producing automation machines and of the impact of foreign competition in this sphere; and if, to save the export of sterling and to encourage trade, industry and employment, he will take steps to encourage the production of automation machines in Great Britain.

I am not aware that there is any general shortage of capacity in this country for the production of automative equipment. There are a few particular types of equipment which are not made here, but, in general the handicap to the more rapid spread of automation is not the supply of equipment but the demand for it from user industry.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone subscribers in the area covered by the parliamentary constituency of Wellingborough are sharing lines.

In the eight exchange areas mainly serving the parliamentary constituency of Wellingborough, 1,335 of the 5,674 subscribers have shared telephone lines.