asked the Minister of Overseas Development what requests he has received from the governments of developing countries in receipt of aid for the services of business experts to assist the private sector of their economies.

I call attention to my reply of the 1st February to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre). Requests in this field are relatively infrequent. Our policy in such matters is broadly to respond to the requests for technical assistance which originate in developing countries, rather than to make specific offers ourselves.

Will the hon. Gentleman take note of the fact that while many of us admire the technical work of his Department, the purpose of this series of Questions by my hon. Friends and myself is to jog the Department out of its negative attitude on this matter, where the United States leads with the International Executive Corps?

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for the first part of his supplementary question, but I do not think that he is right in suggesting that we are negative in this matter. We recognise the importance of the topic which the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends are raising, and I am considering ways and means by which such expertise can be mobilised.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps he is taking to ensure by promotion of business efficiency that the £300 million per annum being granted to developing countries will be used to the best advantage.

I think the right hon. Member probably means £200 million rather than £300 million. As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre) last week, we are ready to meet requests for assistance in this field. I do my best to promote efficiency in the use of our aid.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many volunteers have been assisted by his Department to help private business firms in developing countries.

One, Sir.

Is not this disappointing? Would not it be possible to change the emphasis of policy, perhaps to encourage an awareness of the economic possibilities for development and to provide chances for volunteers from this country to go to help?

As I said in reply to an earlier Question, I am considering ways and means of meeting the kind of point which the hon. Gentleman has in mind. The present voluntary organisations are not really engaged in this kind of work, but I agree that the general problem needs looking at.

Will the hon. Gentleman study this American scheme whereby businessmen, some of whom are retired, are enabled to give voluntary service of this kind in the developing countries? I believe that in the United States it is popularly known as the "Paunch Corps". Will he consider whether a similar scheme might be encouraged in this country?

I have already given some attention to the American example. I do not think that it would quite fit our needs, but in the consideration which I am giving to this matter I will take the American experience further into account.

Will the hon. Gentleman also undertake to consult British firms with overseas activities to see whether he can help them at the present time? There is a well-defined need.

Yes, Sir. I am seeking ways and means whereby discussions of the kind which the hon. Gentleman has in mind can take place.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what assistance his Department is providing to the developing countries of Europe through the United Nations or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development by bilateral arrangements, or in other ways; and if he will give details of this assistance and of the British personnel involved.

Since we are providing a good deal of assistance, and detailed information is asked for I will, with permission, write to my hon. Friend to provide it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us on this side of the House would like to congratulate him on his new appointment? Will he bear in mind that there are parts of Europe, particularly the Mediterranean area, and indeed Turkey—which counts as part of Europe for these purposes—where conditions are very bad indeed, where there is malnutrition and grave poverty, and where development schemes are very valuable?

I much appreciate my hon. Friend's opening remarks, and I look forward to his co-operation. I have very much in mind the consideration to which he draws attention. Turkey has received a good deal of help, and I think that my hon. Friend will be interested in the figures which I am sending him today.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress he has made with the establishment in the Caribbean, in Africa, the Far East and South America of regional development divisions similar to the Middle East Development Division based on Beirut, in view of the demand for British technical assistance in those regions, and the success of the work of his officers in the Middle East.

The Caribbean Development Division of the Ministry of Overseas Development will shortly begin work. Office staff have arrived in Barbados and the head of the division, Mr. W. L. Bell, will go there this month. Professional staff will follow.

I am considering the possibility of similar development divisions elsewhere but this is not a favourable time for their establishment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Members on both sides of the House will be delighted with his Answer? For many years the work of the Middle East Development Division has been greatly appreciated in the Middle East, in the countries covered by the excellent officers working there. This is an admirable development. Can my right hon. Friend say when he expects the Caribbean Division to be fully operational?

My hon. Friend's remarks about the Middle East Development Division will be greatly appreciated by its members. I expect the Caribbean Division to be in full operation some time in April or May.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent in the last 12 months credits have been provided for developing Commonwealth countries, such credits to be spent on surplus capacity in the United Kingdom; and how much of such credits has been spent in the development districts in Scotland and England and Wales, respectively.

We try to take account of the possibility of employing unused industrial capacity when considering requests for aid, but it has not been found practicable specifically to relate credits to surplus capacity and it is not possible to relate expenditure directly to particular development districts. I will, however, gladly consider any suggestions my hon. Friend wishes to make.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the suggestion came from the party itself, in its election manifesto? What steps are the Government taking to implement this policy, in view of the fact that it would help development districts in this country as well as the developing Commonwealth countries with which we are so deeply concerned?

I appreciate that this is a point to which we were committed, and also a point on which right hon. Members opposite conducted an experiment a few years ago. We try to take these considerations into account, but it is not always easy to match up the needs of individual countries with the surplus capacity that is available.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what action he is taking to remedy the shortage of British Council librarians in the developing countries.

There is a general shortage of qualified and experienced librarians in the developing countries, but the larger British Council libraries are supervised by professional British librarians employed by the Council. The Council seeks to fill such gaps as exist as funds become available.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that there is something else he could do to remedy this situation? It is quite dreadful.

I agree that this is a grave matter, but it is not easy for us to create this kind of post unless we have firm requests from overseas Governments. There have not been many of these. When they come in we treat them with every sympathy and urgency.

In view of the great importance of this work, will the hon. Gentleman consider training in this country more people from overseas to act as librarians in their countries of origin?

That is an important point, which we bear in mind in considering the extension of our training programme.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps have been taken to implement the Motion moved by the hon. Member for Ealing, North and agreed to by the House on 14th May, 1965, relating to school leavers and overseas service; and if he will make a statement.

The work outlined in my replies of 20th July and 30th November continues and has been intensified. In the last two months officers of my Department have made 33 visits to institutions of higher education to talk about opportunities for overseas service. A new booklet has been produced to meet the needs referred to by my hon. Friend when he spoke on his Motion, and has been distributed to many undergraduates and sixth formers. I will send a copy to him.

Is my hon. Friend aware that what he has been able to say this afternoon will gladden the hearts of many people involved in our youth organisations, as well as the young people themselves and members of the profession? Will he consider enlarging the area in receipt of such information and, perhaps in collaboration with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, see that as much information as possible is sent to our schools?

I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks. I can assure him that we have this matter very much in mind and shall extend the work whenever possible.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what settlement has been made with the Government of the Federation of Malaysia in regard to the conditions of pay and service of the Sabah designated officers.

Negotiations are in progress with the Government of Malaysia but no settlement has yet been reached.

In view of the excellent relations that we have always had with the Government of Malaysia, and the fact that these excellent officers will be needed for a considerable time, could not the hon. Gentleman press on with negotiations in order to see whether we can get a real settlement this time? It would be a worth-while thing to do.

We are pressing on as the hon. Lady urges. It is a matter of some difficulty and delicacy, however, and I am sure that she will realise that I would prefer not to say anything further at this time.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what additional help has been offered to India, in view of the famine threatened in that country.

We have assured the Government of India that we will respond as swiftly and as fully as we can with help in India's present food crisis. As an immediate and interim contribution we have offered an interest-free loan of £7½ million and the Government of India have warmly welcomed our suggestion that this loan should be used towards the foreign exchange costs of shipping emergency supplies of wheat and other food stuffs from Commonwealth countries, the provision of grain handling equipment for Indian ports and the purchase of commodities of immediate value in helping to deal with the emergency, including pesticides, fertilizers and intermediates for the manufacture of vitamin pills.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that this offer of £7½ million is wholly or almost wholly within the sum already pledged by the British Government to help India? Will he say whether he is satisfied that the desperately few remaining weeks before famine is likely to hit India are being used to maximum effort by us and by other Commonwealth countries to aid India in these very severe difficulties?

The sum does include £6 million which was available and which would not have been expended. The suggestions we have made have been warmly welcomed by the Indian Government as a contribution towards solving the difficulties that they are facing. We are in consultation with other countries—especially the United States and other members of the Commonwealth—about the possibilities of further help. This is an immediate and interim provision.

To the extent that this loan will be used for buying goods for India, is there any stipulation that they will be bought from Britain or other Commonwealth countries?

Not at the moment, so far as I know, but this is a matter on which we are in consultation with other countries. The important thing is to get the help there as quickly as possible, rather than to worry very much at this stage about where the money is spent.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the prime need is for maize and that, however important it may be to get a certain amount of wheat there, what will prevent absolute starvation in a few weeks' time is the making available of maize, as this is by far the greatest shortage?

Yes. Other countries have food surpluses available for distribution in this way. The main problem is getting the grain-handling equipment into Indian ports. That is an aspect to which we are paying special attention.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what consultations took place at the recent Commonwealth Medical Conference at Edinburgh concerning the creation of a Commonwealth Medical Service; and if he will make a statement.

None, Sir. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the report of the conference. He will see from the report that the proposal was not raised then.

When speaking in the House on 20th July last did not the hon. Member undertake to discuss this matter at the Commonwealth Medical Conference? Does not he agree that there is a continuing need, for as far ahead as we can see, for a long-term project of Commonwealth aid on the lines of a career service in Commonwealth medical aid?

Last July I said that the conference might prove a suitable forum for a discussion of what the hon. Gentleman had in mind, but I did not say that we would raise the subject because, as I indicated in my answer then, we did not really believe that this was a suitable initiative for us to take. If there is anything in the idea it would have been better for it to be raised by the Commonwealth countries which are the recipient nations—and they did not see fit so to do.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) whether he is aware that over 30 former members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service, and widows of such officers, now in retirement in Rhodesia, have not received their Tanzanian pensions since October, 1965; and what steps he is taking to ensure that they receive the pension due to them;

I am aware of the position. There has been no default on the part of Tanzania. Payment of pensions has been interrupted as a consequence of the general restriction on remittances from Tanzania to Rhodesia. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations is now making representations through the Canadian High Commissioner in Dar-es-Salaam to the Tanzanian authorities with a view to securing the resumption of the payment of pensions.

Is the Minister aware that, in view of the fact that the vast majority of these pensioners have nothing else to live on, they are hardly likely to be satisfied by a reply which suggests that negotiations are going on? Have not Her Majesty's Government an obligation, under the Public Officers Agreement, to make good any default, as they did when pensioners from Zanzibar and British Somaliland were unable to receive their pensions?

I agree with both parts of the hon. Member's supplementary question. We recognise the situation and are urging that the financial difficulties should be overcome. We are confident that before long this will be possible. [HON. MEMBERS: "When?"] I would put it to the hon. Member that it is understandable that communications with Dar-es-Salaam have been somewhat difficult. We are taking all steps open to us to get the matter resolved quickly.

In view of the fact that on the two previous occasions to which my hon. Friend has referred—when payments to British pensioners were discontinued by independent Governments—the British Government stepped in and paid the pensions, can the hon. Member say whether the same practice will be followed on this occasion?

Yes or no?

We must, I suggest, await the result of the representations which we have made before we decide what remedial action will be necessary.

In the meantime, is aid to Tanzania continuing just the same?

There have already been Answers to Questions on that subject.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the total of overseas aid given by Great Britain in 1965; and what proportion of this went to Commonwealth countries.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the total overseas aid given by Great Britain in 1965; how much of this was private investment and how much Government aid; if he will express each as a percentage of gross national income; how this compares with the previous two years; and what are his financial targets, within the National Plan, for the current year.

The figures for private investment and for gross national product in 1965 are not yet available. British Government disbursements of economic aid were provisionally £189 million in 1965, compared with £160 million in 1963 and £191·6 million in 1964. In the latter years the percentages of gross national product were 0·59 and 0·66 respectively. About £147 million of the 1965 total went to the Commonwealth. The Government's target for gross official aid in 1966–67 is £225 million.

I appreciate that this aid is continuing to run at a very satisfactory level, but would the Minister care to acknowledge that this is directly due to the arrangements made by the previous Government? Indeed, his predecessor said as much last summer.

Of course, the figure which I have just announced for 1965 was slightly lower than in 1964 and it reflects the decisions taken by right hon. Gentlemen opposite in their last year of office.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, although we do not want to boast of the amount of aid which we are giving to Commonwealth and underdeveloped countries, he should try to make universally known the amount of work and aid which we give to these places? Having just come back from a Commonwealth conference, I am of the opinion that many people do not know the amount of aid which we give.

I appreciate what my hon. Friend says, but I am certain that the aid we give is appreciated by the countries which receive it.

When does the right hon. Gentleman think that we will meet the U.N.C.T.A.D. target of 1 per cent., which was mentioned in his party's election manifesto some time ago?

A number of figures are not available. When they are, I shall be in a better position to judge.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what discussions he has now had about a special tax for overseas aid; and to what extent such a tax is now official Government policy.

None, Sir. Such a tax would not be in accordance with Government policy.

In a broadcast recently, the Minister undertook to look at this and to have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Does he not agree that it would be valuable to relate total aid to a tax which the man in the street understands, particularly Income Tax?

I think that the hon. Member has in mind the television programme in which he played a most notable part. I was asked, during the programme, whether I would favour a special tax for overseas aid. I replied that, traditionally, we did not earmark taxes for specific purposes and I turned away the question with what I hope was a disarming smile by saying that I should have to consult the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what grants or loans for humanitarian or medical purposes from Government or other sources, respectively, for Rhodesia have been blocked; and what grants or loans are to be allowed to be sent to Rhodesia.

The British Government had promised the Rhodesian Government £800,000 towards the cost of a new teaching hospital in Salisbury, and, as my predecessor informed the hon. Member in reply to a Question on the 21st December, action on this must follow the general decision to cease aid to Rhodesia.

The question of the blocking of grants from other than Government sources, and the question of what grants or loans may now be sent to Rhodesia are matters for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why an arbitrary cut of 25 per cent. has been made to all missions for education and health purposes and why, for example, the grants for research into tuberculosis have been stopped altogether?

Tuberculosis research has now been taken over by a charitable organisation and will not be impeded. The level of the remittances, as I said, is a matter for my right hon. Friend. But it is only right to say that the Conference of British Missionary Societies recently issued a statement saying that it had received every consideration from the Government in the discussion of its problems and that the level of remittances authorised by the Government was reasonable and fair.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any further news of the talks about aid for the university there, which is one of the few non-racial organisations and which is trying to raise the level of African education, which is the Minister's desire as well as that of the rest of the House?

Aid is continuing to University College in Salisbury, which is a multi-racial organisation.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what support he will give to the World Bank's recently published proposals for supplementary financing; and whether he will make a statement.

The scheme in question is a report by the Bank's staff for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development rather than a proposal by the Bank. We are giving it thorough consideration. The supplementary financing proposals were sponsored by the British and Swedish Governments and we hope that they will lead to a viable scheme.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Government have done nothing to follow up the initiatives taken by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition at the 1964 U.N.C.T.A.D. Conference? Will he at last put his weight behind this proposal for ironing out the fluctuations in the export targets of developing countries, as this is of first importance and it stems, as he said, from that U.N.C.T.A.D. Conference?

The hon. Member is a little unfair. This is a matter which we have been pressing: it is a most valuable suggestion. It is too early yet to say whether it will prove to be feasible in practice, but it could be a most useful contribution to the prosperity of the developing countries.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it would cause considerable disappointment if the British Government were unable to support these proposals, especially in view of the very low cost put upon them by the World Bank?

Proposals are at present before the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and there is no intention on our part of obstructing them. I am most sympathetic to them, but there are a number of practical details still to be worked out.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will take steps to increase the export of milk products to the under-developed countries where the population is suffering from malnutrition.

I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture the possibility of including skimmed milk powder in the commodity component of the United Kingdom's pledge of $6·2 million to the second 3-year period of the World Food Programme.

Does the Minister appreciate that, by 1970, there will be a considerable surplus of milk in this country? If this milk is not sold the herds will have to be reduced. Would it not be far better for the Government to buy up surplus milk—or have a plan for doing so—than to spend money uselessly in Cyprus and Singapore?

It is possible that what I have indicated as our present intention could be extended. I will have my hon. Friend's point in mind.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, unless his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture looks favourably at the Price Review for the dairy farmers, there will be a shortage of milk by 1970?

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will examine the need to set up short courses in tropical agricultural studies in Africa for graduates in temperate agricultural studies who are embarking on periods of service on the continent.

Would the hon. Gentleman look at this problem again, in view of the fact that the School of Tropical Agriculture in the West Indies has relatively few teachers with experience of African agriculture? The United States also has this problem and there may well be a case for setting up an institution of this sort for short courses for learning tropical agriculture in Africa itself.

We have this matter under our attention, but the courses available in Trinidad cover the conditions and problems which agriculturists encounter in other tropical zones. We feel that familiarisation with local conditions is most effectively achieved by posting to a specific job.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what control he exercises over the expenditure of grant aid by the receiving country.

Grants are made only for approved purposes, which vary widely, and the methods used in controlling the expenditure vary according to the kind of grant. Generally our posts overseas exercise supervision, and there is usually a subsequent accounting or audit.

Cannot my right hon. Friend see to it, in the follow-up procedure, so that we may be satisfied that these moneys are spent on, say, the development of the social services in these countries; and can he give an assurance that under no circumstances grant aid money is spent in a fashion which could impede the fulfilment of self-government?

The management of aid is one of the most important and difficult aspects of the problem. I assure my hon. Friend that it is a matter which I have very much in mind. If he has any evidence of any misuse of moneys made available through Her Majesty's Government, I will gladly look into it.

asked the Minister of Technology what progress has been made in developing flexible types of seagoing vessels and capsulation methods of transporting liquids in bulk.

An articulated ship has been devised by a firm of naval architects. The National Research Development Corporation recently announced its willingness to consider sharing the cost of development of this ship as a joint venture if a suitable industrial partner can be found. N.R.D.C. has for some years been supporting the development of dracones, flexible containers that can be towed on water and used for the bulk transportation of liquids. Dracones are already in production and are operating successfully in several parts of the world.

I thank my hon. Friend for that full and interesting reply. My hon. Friend made it clear that there are proposals which will revolutionise turn-round at the ports. Will he bear in mind that, on these benches at least, we expect that the nation as a whole will gain whatever benefits accrue from public money invested in these schemes and the work carried out at N.P.L.? May I ask—

No.

Order. The hon. Lady must make her questions shorter.

Would my hon. Friend explain what dracones are? I am sure that the House would be interested to know.

Dracones are flexible containers used for the transportation of liquids and, in some cases, grain. They are usually made of nylon fabric coated with synthetic rubber or some similar substance. [Interruption.] Both sides of the House are interested in progress in this sphere, though one side happens to be rather better at it than the other. An interesting possibility of this development is the articulated ship, which would produce a situation in which cargo could be uncoupled from the after end in port, so expediting turn-round.

asked the Minister of Technology by what percentage wages and salaries have risen in the last year in the Government establishments for which he is responsible.

Changes in individual rates of pay have conformed with such wage and salary movements as have applied to the Civil Service as a whole.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say what action he has taken or is taking to see that wages in the departments over which he has some influence do not go above the norm? For example, would he consider making a firm statement in favour of keeping wage increases in line with the incomes policy?

It will be the intention of the Government in total, not Ministers as individuals, to maintain the high level of productivity which will encourage high earnings.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say why he cannot give the percentage increase figure? Has he represented to his right hon. Friend the First Secretary the serious disadvantages under which he labours if he is unable to provide this kind of statistical information, information which must be essential if the Government and the nation are to understand whether or not the incomes policy is succeeding?

To answer the first part of that supplementary question, I can give the total in terms of a percentage. To ascertain precisely the percentage increase in salary and wage rates would involve a considerable amount of work, but the percentage increase has been approximately 3½ per cent. To answer the second part, of course the information, as is well known by hon. Gentlemen opposite, is not as readily available as it should be in our statistical records.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he has taken to stimulate the use of modern technology and new processes by the railway industry.

British Railways and London Transport already undertake research into the application of modern technology to the railway industry. This work has the support of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and I am considering with her whether any further Government initiative is required, particularly in the field of longer-term developments.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recall the brief which he was given by the Prime Minister, and which appears in HANSARD of last November, that he should stimulate productivity in industry? What has he done to stimulate productivity in British Railways?

The hon. Gentleman apparently does not recall the statement to which he is referring, which said that I should stimulate productivity in the industries for which I had the sponsorship.

asked the Minister of Technology what assistance his Department has given to the European Nuclear Energy Agency establishment at Ispra in the evaluation of nuclear developments; and whether this includes costings.

The Computer Programme Library of the European Nuclear Energy Agency collects and distributes magnetic tapes on which are recorded data related to fundamental scientific and engineering problems in the nuclear field. The library does not handle material relating to the evaluation of nuclear installations or to costings.

Is it not regrettable, now that the advanced gas cooled reactor has a cost advantage over most other recent technological nuclear energy processes, that common criteria are not yet developed, and will not the Minister press for this on the European Nuclear Energy Agency?

With respect, the hon. Gentleman misunderstands the activities of Ispra. It does not deal in this particular field. Nuclear installations are almost all of an individual design and to evaluate their effectiveness and costing is very much a matter for individual judgment. The answers would be different depending on the economists concerned and the locations involved.

If that is so, how are we to read the Report of this organisation since, owing to the lack of common criteria, it is impossible to judge which forms of production of nuclear energy are more economical?

I think my hon. Friend will agree that the information which is obtained from this organisation is very valuable indeed. The information relating to nuclear installations is not something which this organisation—or, indeed, anybody else—can cost on a general basis because the criteria are so different.

asked the Minister of Technology how many computer programmes have been sent to the European Nuclear Energy Agency establishment at Ispra in the last convenient period.

Since it became operational in May 1964, the Computer Programme Library of the European Nuclear Energy Agency has received 299 computer programmes, of which 32 were from the United Kingdom.

Since one-third of these computer programmes are provided from the United States, is it not high time that Britain had a greater contribution to make, since this very much concerns our exports to Europe?

The Computer Programme Library is now approaching the end of its first three-year term of existence. Proposals relating to the centre are under consideration by the Government, who will then consider their policy towards the centre in the light of this. Of the 32 programmes sent to the centre by the United Kingdom, 26 were from the Atomic Energy Authority and six from C.E.G.B.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will refer to the Building Research Agency the problem which has developed in recently constructed concrete flats at Lichfield and elsewhere, where water absorption has caused serious degrees of mould on inside walls for which there appears to be no remedy.

I have referred the problem to the Building Research Station, which has already been approached on this matter by the City Engineer of Lichfield.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these flats—and I believe that there are other cases elsewhere—were constructed by a very reputable private enterprise company which has more or less accepted that it does not know the answer to this problem, which is making uninhabitable certain of these badly needed rooms?

I am aware of that. The problem is not confined to this district or to this reputable firm. It is a question of understanding the need for change in building design and of educating members of the community living in premises which do not have traditional flues.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the number of occasions on which he has made official visits to the Aldermaston establishment and the dates and reasons of such visits.

None, Sir.

Why is the right hon. Gentleman so coy about making a visit to this establishment? Surely he enjoyed his former visits, when he marched in the "Easter Parade"?

I appreciate that the hon. and learned Gentleman finds it a little difficult to hang his supplementary question on to that reply, but the reason why I have not been is not that I am coy but because that particular installation is engaged on defence work, which is primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation. I have spent a great deal of my time going to places that are under my direct control and important to the job I am doing.

But will not the right hon. Gentleman confirm that it is the continued policy of this Government, as it was of the last, to diversify the work at Aldermaston so as to include civilian research? Will he not visit Aldermaston for that purpose?

Certainly, when it is appropriate to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy with regard to an application for a duty-free shop at Aldergrove Airport, Belfast, County Antrim, in order to cater for passengers on charter flights to and from the continents of Europe and America; and if he will make a statement.

Duty-free shops can only be allowed where there is a likelihood of substantial foreign currency earnings.

Will the Financial Secretary give favourable consideration if a request is made in the circumstances of this case, as this is the airport for the whole of Northern Ireland?

No, Sir; not unless the percentage of foreign passengers rises substantially. My information is that 95 per cent. of all passengers from that airport are United Kingdom residents.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have now been made for the payment of pensions in Rhodesia; and whether pensions are now being paid to Britons in Rhodesia and to Rhodesians in Great Britain.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Galloway (Mr. Brewis) on 7th February. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes, Sir."

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman satisfied that pensioners of Rhodesia, both here and in Rhodesia, are receiving their pensions without undue delay?

To the best of my knowledge the payment of pensions is now flowing smoothly, thanks to the present arrangements.

But would not the Financial Secretary agree that these payments are going only to public service pensioners, and will he not reconsider the fact that people in private pension schemes are not receiving any payment of pensions at all?

No, Sir. That statement is not correct. The arrangements apply also to private pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take early action to eliminate the effects of exchange control regulations in so far as they are shown to be harmful to companies attempting to increase their export potential.

Export policy and exchange control policy are complementary. Both are designed to secure a sound balance of payments. Exchange control policy is always under review.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware of the rather idiotic situation that exists, under which a company which sets up a distribution organisation abroad with a view to helping its exports finds that in the existing set-up it costs an extra premium of 20 per cent.—£200 for every £1,000? Is not this a rather silly situation, and will he not look into it?

I sympathise with that argument, and I realise that the export trade is immensely important, but it is also immensely important to contain the outflow of capital. In the kind of case to which my hon. Friend refers, a solution can be found by the firm borrowing abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has issued to Departmental Ministers as to the conditions to be imposed on applicants for Government contracts.

None, Sir.

Can the Financial Secretary at any rate confirm that he does not permit Departments to impose a "closed shop" as a condition of tender, although his right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing allows local authorities to do that?

If the right hon. Gentleman has any particular case in mind, I shall gladly look into it. I know of no such general direction.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total number of houses built in the Northern Region in each year from 1960 to 1965; how many of these were built by traditional methods and by industrialised systems, respectively; and what were the respective numbers in the private and public sectors.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to initiate legislation with a view to a fundamental change in the rating system.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether

With permission I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Statistics of industrialised building relate only to dwellings built by local authorities and new town corporations and for these only since the beginning of 1964. Very few, if any, houses have been built by industrialised methods by other agencies.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but would he accept the fact that Cmnd. 2206, issued by the last Administration, though very belatedly, established a target requiring a 38 per cent. increase in housing in the Northern Region? Without planning requirements being carried out, can my hon. Friend say how soon it will be before even this modest target is reached?

With industrialised system building, whatever has happened in the past we can say that the prospects for the future are extremely good, because in the public sector, for which we have a great deal of responsibility, we are very much hoping that the figures will show an increase from 18 per cent. of the total last year to 25 per cent. or 28 per cent. this year.

I would refer my hon. Friends to my reply on 2nd February to a Question by the hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick (Mr. L. M. Lever).

I appreciate that reply, but would my right hon. Friend bear in mind the enormous burden of rates that falls on families this year, in particular? Would he take action in the matter of priority so as at least to transfer some of the burden from the rates to the Exchequer?

As my hon. Friend knows, we are certainly concerned about this matter. We are now preparing our second rating Measure, which will be presented to the House in a relatively short time.