asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he is taking to transfer staff to the Ministry of Technology, in view of the impending transfer of responsibility for shipbuilding;(2) what delay in the implementation of the recommendations of the Geddes Report will result from transfer of responsibility for shipbuilding from his Department.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology informed the hon. Member on 5th July, we are in consultation about these matters. The transfer will cause no delay. Responsibility for the industry remains with the Board of Trade until the autumn.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the findings of the Superior Court in Greece which has been considering the loss of the "Lakonia".

I understand that the Report of this Court was published in Athens on 7th July. The Greek authorities have promised to let us have an official translation when it is ready.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will begin discussions with the appropriate organisations in the fishing industry with the object of introducing legislation to amend Part IV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.

The Board hopes to circulate a memorandum very shortly as a basis for discussions with the organisations concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the loss of invisible earnings from British shipping, in balance of payments terms, as the result of the seamen's strike; and to what extent he estimates that these earnings have been merely deferred, or permanently lost to foreign operators.

No reliable estimate can be made, but the eventual net loss may not be more than some £25 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to him regarding the difficulties in fulfilling export orders which will arise when the dispute between the seamen and shipowners has been resolved, as a result of the disruption of regular services; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no such representations since the end of the strike.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions his Department has had with which authorities on the location of industry under the redevelopment plan for the Woolwich Arsenal site.

The Board of Trade, together with the other Government Departments concerned, the Greater London Council, the London Boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich, British Railways and London Transport, is represented on the Woolwich Arsenal Liaison Group which meets under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Industrial matters are among those discussed within the Group.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement on the dispersal of industrial undertakings from central London.

I encourage the movement of industry from London to the development districts or, failing this, to the new and expanding towns. Where movement out of London is not possible for firms who are planned out of their existing premises and who have strong local ties, I accept relocation within London.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in attracting a tenant for the advance factory in Falmouth.

Discussions with a suitable potential tenant are in progress and I hope for an early and satisfactory outcome.

asked the President of the Board of Trade at what date his Department was first aware that the Fire, Auto and Marine Insurance Company was in difficulties; and why no early action was taken to protect both policyholders and the public.

The Board of Trade has been in constant touch with the company from the commencement of its business. Evidence justifying the Board in using its powers under the Insurance Companies Act, 1958, was not available until towards the end of June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to examine the affairs of the Fire, Auto and Marine Insurance Company Limited; and if he will make a statement on the consequences of the winding-up of this company.

The reasons for the failure of the company will be fully investigated by the Official Receiver if the court makes a winding-up order against the company.The result of such an order would be the termination of the company's policies and the liquidation of its affairs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what dates his Department received requests to investigate the affairs of the Fire, Auto and Marine Insurance Company.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to him under Section 14 of the Insurance Companies Act, 1958, during the last 12 months to investigate the affairs of insurance companies registered under that Act; when such representations were received; and what action he is taking.

No such representations or requests have been made, though the Board's inquiries of the Fire, Auto and Marine Insurance Company Ltd., have been based in part on reports reaching them about it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to see that insurance companies and syndicates issuing motor and other policies are in a financial position to meet their obligations at all times.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his proposals for amending existing legislation to strengthen his powers to supervise insurance companies, particularly new companies transacting motor insurance business on the minimum, or small, capital.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now consider protecting members of the public insuring motor vehicles by introducing legislation to impose more stringent conditions on insurers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for the stricter supervision of insurance companies.

While supervision cannot provide complete protection against mismanagement of insurance concerns, I consider that the Insurance Companies Act, 1958, needs modernisation. I hope in due course to introduce amending legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to increase the minimum of £50,000 authorised capital required for the registration of an insurance company under the Insurance Companies Act, 1958, to a minimum of £250,000.

I am considering this amongst other proposals for the amendment of the Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many companies registered under Section 2 of the Insurance Companies Act, 1958, have an authorised capital of less than £250,000 and £100,000 respectively.

The total number of companies covered by the Insurance Companies Act, 1958, is 550. Of these 43 companies limited by guarantee and have no share capital; 140 have a paid up share capital of £100,000 or less, 70 a paid up share capital exceeding £100,000 but less than £250,000 and 19 a paid up share capital of £250,000.The requirement in Section 2 of the Act relates to paid up, not authorised, share capital.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what measures he will take to facilitate the sale and export of British nuclear power through the recently formed British Nuclear Power Export Executive; and whether he will sponsor exhibitions and sales promotions in support of these efforts.

In collaboration with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology, I shall continue to take every opportunity to promote the sale of nuclear power equipment abroad and shall work with the British Nuclear Export Executive in doing so. The help which the Board of Trade gives for group exhibitions overseas by British firms is available to this industry; my Department is ready to consider any proposals which they may like to put forward.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the area of the factories in Wales for which he issued industrial development certificates in the latest available period of 12 months and the number of jobs expected to be provided thereby; and if he will give a comparison with the issue of industrial development certificates and the number of jobs in the same 12 month period of each of the preceding two years.

For the last twelve months, seven million sq. ft. expected to provide over 18,000 jobs, compared with 2·9 million and 7,400 respectively in the year ending June, 1965 and 2·3 million and 4,700 for the year before that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions under the Merchandise Marks Acts were initiated in the years 1963, 1964 and 1965; how many of these were initiated by Her Majesty's Government; and what were the results.

There were 525 and 654 prosecutions in England and Wales in 1963 and 1964, of which 483 and 595 respectively resulted in convictions. Total figures are not available for 1965. In the three years the Board of Trade prosecuted in 26 cases, of which 22 resulted in conviction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many infringements against the provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade committed by foreign signatories to the detriment of British interests have come to the notice of his Department since 1st January, 1952; what representations have been made by the British Government; and if he will make a statement regarding the policy of the Government in respect of retaliatory action.

Since January, 1952, the British Government of the day, acting alone or in association with other Governments, have made use of the consultation procedure laid down in the G.A.T.T. for the settlement of disputes in some 16 cases. In other cases in which action damaging to our trade has been taken by overseas Governments, representations have been made through diplomatic channels, drawing attention to our G.A.T.T. rights where these were relevant.Her Majesty's Government fully support the principle of the G.A.T.T. that Contracting Parties should seek to settle their disputes by consultation and conciliation and should be authorised to take retaliatory action only in serious cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made to ensure the adequate representation of the hotel industry in the present discussions which are taking place between himself and the British Travel Association with regard to action which is necessary to give better fiscal and other assistance to all concerned with the tourist trade in this country.

The hotel industry is represented on the Board of the British Travel Association, and I am satisfied that the industry's views will be fully expressed in the discussions now taking place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why no progress has been made in the application of the National Association of Sack Merchants for the removal of tariffs on secondhand sacks, in view of the facts that the application was made in March, 1963, and that it has the concurrence of trades affected in other countries.

We have undertaken in Trade Agreements with certain Commonwealth countries to maintain the existing margin of preference on these goods. We are in touch with the Governments concerned, but our discussions with them are not yet completed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what improvement in the volume of exports to Canada has taken place this year; and to what extent this has been assisted by the talks in London in January with a service official of the National Revenue Department.

The value of exports to Canada in the first five months of this year was 22 per cent. higher than in the same period of last year. I doubt if there has yet been time for the valuation concessions to British exporters re- sulting from the 1965 amendment to the Canadian Customs Act to be reflected in the export figures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will set up a committee of inquiry into motor insurance.

No. But I hope in due course to introduce legislation amending the Insurance Companies Act, 1958.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the lack of accommodation at Turnhouse Airport for Strathair operating their service to and from Dundee; and if he will take steps to improve it.

Strathair has been allocated a processing desk in the terminal building, but there is at present no office accommodation available. The company has been offered a site for a mobile office as an interim measure and I am considering whether any other arrangements can be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase there has been in United States investments in British industry in the last five years; what proportion of industry located in Great Britain is owned by United States firms; and what steps his Department is taking to protect British firms from United States takeover bids.

It is estimated that over the five years 1961–65, the net direct investment in United Kingdom industry by United States companies amounted to about £600 million, of which one half was in the form of reinvested profits. These figures exclude portfolio investment and investment in oil and insurance companies. It is further estimated that about 7 per cent. of the net assets of non-financial companies in the United Kingdom is owned by United States concerns. Any proposal to take over or merge with a United Kingdom company, whether or not the bidder is foreign owned, is examined by my Department if it comes within the scope of the Monopolies and Mergers Act, 1965.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give particular attention to the question of building more advance factories in Cardiganshire, in view of the fact that the county has only 6 per cent. of its insured population engaged in the manufacturing industry.

Under the proposals in the Industrial Development Bill, Cardiganshire, which is not now a Development District, will form part of the Welsh Development Area and its claims for Board of Trade advance factories will then be considered alongside those of other areas when decisions are taken on future programmes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the amount of space to be provided for lavatories in the proposed extension to the air terminal building at the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim, and for lavatories in the existing building; and whether he is satisfied that such accommodation is sufficient when the airport is crowded.

The existing public lavatories are being enlarged from a total of 1,700 square feet to 2,300 square feet, and a further 500 square feet will be provided in the extension to the building. I consider that this will be sufficient.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to improve the ventilation in the lavatories under the main roof of the terminal building at the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim.

These lavatories are being enlarged and the mechanical ventilation system modified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will resolve the difficulties experienced in exporting by a constituent of the hon. Member for Harrow, East, the details of which were sent to his Department on 10th June.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation has, I understand, written to the hon. Member on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on the disposal of the Clothing Industry Development Council (Dissolution) Deposit Account funds.

The residue of the Account—£4,819 3s. 2d.—has been granted to the Clothing Export Council to meet the capital and other expenditure in establishing the necessary facilities to enable it to carry out its objects in connection with the promotion of exports by the clothing industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken or intends to take to protect the interests of British firms who are contesting the right of the Arab League to enforce an industrial and commercial boycott against firms who carry on normal peaceful trading relations with Israel; and whether he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government do not accept that the Arab League countries are entitled, because of their dispute with Israel, to interfere with the freedom of British firms to trade, and have made this clear to their Governments on a number of occasions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to foster the production of those manufactured goods which are currently being imported on a substantial scale; and if he is satisfied with the progress to date.

A wide range of measures are being pursued, through the medium of the Economic Development Committees and in other ways, to encourage such production and generally to improve the competitiveness of British industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting of Commonwealth Trade Ministers.

Copies of the agreed communiqué have been placed in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many local authorities have now formed consumer protection departments; and what action he is taking to encourage this practice.

To my knowledge, two local authorities have established special departments to deal with consumer problems and I understand that another is shortly to do so. I think it is for individual local authorities to decide in the light of local circumstances where to provide such services.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the radar control system under his authority at the new airport for Glasgow at Abbotsinch is out of action because of wear in the turning gear on the aerial; and if he will institute an inquiry into this breakdown.

I do not think that anything would be gained by special inquiry into this regrettable breakdown.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the breakdown in the radar control system under his control at Abbotsinch will add to the delays and congestion experienced by passengers, particularly during the Glasgow Fair Fortnight; and if he will provide technical and other assistance to ensure that the radar equipment is restored at the earliest possible date.

Yes. I greatly regret the delays which have been caused by the breakdown of the radar at Abbotsinch airport. But I hope it will be functioning again at the end of this week and meanwhile special procedures are in operation to minimise inconvenience.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in the light of present and projected developments of the use of water power, and particularly Welsh water resources, he will now set up a Welsh Water Board.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the Answer which his predecessor gave the hon. and learned Member on 16th December, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reply he has sent to representations from individuals or teams for Government financial assistance towards sporting visits to South Africa.

My right hon. Friend has not made any grants towards sporting visits to South Africa. The Government are not prepared to aid visits in circumstances involving racial discrimination.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision is being made in north and west Devon for the training and education of deaf children.

Peripatetic teachers assist children with impaired hearing in ordinary schools. In addition, children may be placed in the Royal West of England School for the Deaf, Exeter. Other special arrangements apply in particular areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many deaf children require special training facilities in north and west Devon.

Eight children in the area will be admitted to a special class to be opened at a primary school in Barnstaple when a teacher of the deaf has been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure by the Arts Council in 1965–66 on housing the arts; and whether he will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The Arts Council made grants totalling £150,000 in 1965–66

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what new forms of Government patronage of the arts have been developed since October, 1964.

New forms of artistic patronage developed by this Government since October, 1964, are too numerous for me to mention them all now. They are summarised, however, in my recent broadsheet "Report on the Art", of towards housing the arts. In addition it entered into commitments to make grants to a further £100,000The following table shows the grants made in 1965–66 by the Arts Council together with the estimated gross cost of the project involved.The grant made in 1965–66 does not necessarily represent the total final contribution of the Arts Council towards the project in question. The Arts Council have already given undertakings to provide extra funds in respect of a number of projects listed.which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what new action he proposes to take in the field of the arts, following the report of the Royal Fine Art Commission.

The Arts Council, which gives grants towards the cost of buildings for the arts, is making arrangements for regular consultation with the Royal Fine Art Commission in appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authority schemes for comprehensive schools have been submitted: and how many have been approved to date.

There are 162 local education authorities and I have not yet had time to process the replies which are still being received in response to Circular 10/65, but I shall make a detailed announcement shortly. Thirty-five schemes have been accepted to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the names of technical colleges in Yorkshire which have courses on computers.

Courses leading to the Certificate for Computer Programmers of the City & Guilds of London Institute are provided at Constantine (Middlesbrough) and Sheffield Colleges of Technology. Hull and Sheffield Colleges of Technology offer courses leading to the Higher National Certificate in Mathematics, Statistics and Computing, and Sheffield also offers a Higher National Diploma course in this subject.Applications for additional courses at colleges in the region for the Higher National Certificate and Diploma in Mathematics, Statistics and Computing, and for B.Sc. Honours and Ordinary Degree courses in Computer Science of the Council for National Academic Awards are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the names of technical colleges in Yorkshire which have courses on colour television.

Huddersfield College of Technology provides an advanced course and the Bradford Technical College will do so next September. I understand that several colleges offer short courses at lower levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it a condition of the grants now made to leading orchestras that they should perform at school and public halls in towns without orchestral facilities.

Our leading orchestras already tour a great deal and it must be left to their discretion where they go. They obviously have to take into account the suitability of the halls in a town and the size of audience likely to be attracted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision of nursery classes there is in the King's Lynn divisional education area; and how this compares with the rest of the country on the basis of places available in proportion to the number of children in the appropriate age group.

There are no nursery classes in the Borough of King's Lynn, but there is one maintained nursery school with 52 children. It is not practicable to make useful comparisons over the whole of the age groups concerned because these are different for nursery schools (2–5) and nursery classes (3–5). But about 30 per cent. of the total number of children aged four were attending either maintained primary schools or the maintained nursery school in King's Lynn in January, 1965, compared with 25·9 per cent. for England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children in the King's Lynn divisional education area fall into the age groups suitable for nursery schools; what proportion of these actually attend such classes; and whether he is satisfied that the provision is adequate.

I estimate that there are about 1,450 children age 2 and under 5 in the Borough of King's Lynn. In January, 1965, 50 of these children were attending the nursery school and 121 other schools. Of these, 141 were 4 year olds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the increase in venereal disease, what steps he is taking to bring the consequences to the attention of senior classes in all schools.

It is for local education authorities and the teachers to decide what shall be taught in schools. The Secretary of State issues advice on health education in schools, and the Department's handbook on Health Education is at present under review. A pamphlet on Health in Education, soon to be issued, will give some guidance on the subject of V.D.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his plans for the development and expansion of the youth service.

My right hon. Friend regards the development of the Youth Service and its adjustment to changing needs as a continuing process. In this my right hon. Friend is greatly helped by the advice of the Youth Service Development Council which only last month produced two valuable reports on certain aspects of the Youth Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has sent to the letter from the promoters of animal welfare asking for greater development of alternative techniques to vivisection, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Wood Green.

The writer was thanked. He had previously been informed that I have no responsibility for investigation into methods of research not involving the use of live animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what persons are authorised by regulations to use two-tone horns; and whether he will take the necessary steps to prevent the use of such horns.

Two-tone horns may be used only for the purposes of certain emergency services such as police, fire and ambulance.The enforcement of the regulations is a matter for chief officers of police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist to effect examination of the passports of persons entering this country from those vessels moored off the British coast which are engaged upon radio transmissions to this country.

The passports of persons entering the United Kingdom from these vessels are examined in the same way as are those of other persons arriving from abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the recent criticisms of the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants on the way in which immigration restrictions are now being applied; and if he will make a statement.

Recent criticisms which I have seen were made in the context of a submission to the Committee on Immigration Appeals and to the extent that they come within that Committee's terms of reference they will be dealt with in its report. I do not believe there is any foundation for the suggestion that restrictions are so applied as to discriminate between citizens from different Commonwealth countries, but if the National Committee has evidence to this effect I should be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has had from the Metropolitan Police as to the effect of the unofficial signs erected by the Southgate Borough Council and retained by the Council of the London Borough of Enfield reminding drivers about the 30 miles an hour speed limit.

I have received no reports about the effect of these signs.

asked the Secrtary of State for the Home Department if he will bring up to the end of the year 1965 the figures given in the principal tables of the Home Office Report, Murder, published in 1961, distinguishing between those murders which would have been capital and non-capital under the Homicide Act, 1957.

The tables are given below. The table numbers are those used in the original publication.