asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's future policy with regard to Gibraltar.

I have nothing to add to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday and by the Foreign Secretary on Monday.

Would the Minister say when the present constitutional committee sitting in Gibraltar will report, and will he give the assurance, for which we have been asking, that there will be no change in the sovereignty of Gibraltar without the express wish of the people of Gibraltar?

It would be most unwise to make any statement about the constitutional position in Gibraltar except to say that we are not at present proposing to make any progress in this in any way; particularly at this stage it would be unwise as talks are being conducted with the Spanish. On the second point, I can only repeat what the Prime Minister has told the House—that we have no doubt about our sovereignty. We hope that these talks will be resumed soon.

If the Minister is able today to give us the reassurance that we are absolutely sure about the position in respect of sovereignty, why will not he or one of his right hon. Friends state that we have no intention whatever of relinquishing it?

Because, as the Prime Minister has explained to the House on numerous occasions, the constitutional position is that the United Kingdom must negotiate. In view of that position it would be quite unwise for us to give the sort of assurance that is being requested. I think that the House will have been delighted to see reported this morning a statement by the Chief Minister in Gibraltar that he has every confidence in the way in which the talks are being conducted. I think that this will put at rest some of the fears that are now being aroused.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are his long-term plans to replace, by Gibraltarians or by mechanical aids, Spanish personnel now working in Gibraltar.

A Committee under the chairmanship of the Financial Secretary is at present engaged on the study of increasing productivity, and other aspects of the matter are being examined.

Although we all want friendly relations with Spain, since Gibraltar is at present under duress, should not plans be made whereby sterling at present earned by Spaniards could be saved? Cannot we plan for Gibraltar as Spain plans for her colonies in Morocco?

There are considerable plans now being prepared for the development of the economy and I would prefer, before making any statement, to have had these plans fully examined before an announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Her Majesty's Government pay rent for the radio station at Francistown to the Bechuanaland Government; and whether it will do so after independence.

Not at present, but negotiations are in progress which will cover the position after independence as well as before.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that encouraging reply, may I ask whether he does not agree that this is a point on which we must react generously in view of our failure to meet other requests in respect of development in Bechuanaland?

As these are commercial negotiations, it would be unwise for me to be drawn on that point. When an announcement can be made about the result of these negotiations, I am sure that it will be made in Bechuanaland.

Will the Minister accept that this radio equipment, always inaudible, is now completely jammed and, therefore, is not worth any rent payable from anybody to anybody? Would he look at this, which is a serious waste of public funds?

That is a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent oil, other than aviation fuel, for Rhodesia is being allowed to pass through Bechuanaland from South Africa.

I have nothing to add to my Reply on 4th August in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd).

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the extent of this traffic is reported to be considerable, and in any case why should any be allowed through a British Colony over which we still have control? Does not this completely conflict with the Government's policy of oil sanctions against Rhodesia, and what steps are the hon. Gentleman's Department taking to prevent this in future?

The reports which the hon. Gentleman has had are quite inaccurate. Reports which I have received indicate that the supplies are really quite insignificant.

Now that the Rhodesians have been able to take off petrol rationing, is there any particular object in trying to see that someone else gets the business?

That is a wider question altogether and should be addressed to my right hon. Friend.

As the Minister has now said that the amounts are insignificant and he presumably has some knowledge on which to base that assertion, why cannot he give us the figures?

I do not think that it would be in the interests of Bechuanaland or ourselves to discuss the exact amounts that we may know about, but I am quite sure that we should not be concerned about the quantity of oil going through.

On a point of order. If this matter is still relevant when we resume, I should like to give notice——

The hon. Gentleman must give notice in the conventional way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish the Mediator's proposals for the future of British Honduras in Belize as soon as they are available and before any final arrangement is made with Guatemala.

When the Mediator decides that his proposals should be made public, this will be done here and in Belize before any final arrangement is made.

Will the hon. Member agree that the probably quite inaccurate and certainly reprehensible leak to Caribbean newspapers has caused alarm in Belize and that the sooner the actual proposals of the Mediator are published and debated there the better for all concerned? Can he give any idea when that will be possible?

I cannot give a date, but I am sure that as soon as the Mediator is willing that this should be announced, it will be announced. If I catch your eye, Mr. Speaker, I hope that I shall be dealing with this question in an Adjournment debate tomorrow.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the accuracy of the leak has not yet been publicly challenged? Will he give an assurance that the people as well as the Government of Honduras will be consulted about the final proposals?

Yes. I am glad to give that assurance. We shall consult the wishes of British Honduras before any final arrangement is made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total number of persons sent to prison in Hong Kong during 1965; and, of these, how many were drug users.

A total of 12,786, of whom 10,668 were found to be drug users.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many pounds of raw opium, prepared opium, morphine and heroin, respectively, were confiscated in Hong Kong during 1965.

The figures in pounds are: 6,470, 83·5, 322 and 86·5, respectively.

While thanking my hon. Friend for those figures, may I ask him if he is aware that the wholesale price of heroin in Hong Kong is £460 per lb. weight? Is he aware that when the drug is transported from Hong Kong and sold in the United States it fetches £36,500 per lb. weight? Is it not obvious that there must be powerful influences in Hong Kong engaged in this lucrative industry, which is also undermining the well-being of the people of Hong Kong?

I am aware that there is a very large illicit trade in narcotics in Hong Kong, but I am also satisfied that the Preventive Branch is doing its best to stamp out this trade.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what reply he made to the delegation from the British Federation of University Women asking for the appointment of more women to regional councils.

The reply was that women who are qualified to contribute to regional planning are equally eligible with men for appointment to regional economic planning councils; but there is no intention to appoint women simply because they are women.

In view of the very strong feelings that these appointments have aroused among women's organisations and the fact that there are very many well-qualified women in the regions who could be serving, can my hon. Friend say what arrangements there may be in future for adding women to these councils?

We have asked the bodies whom we consult before making these appointments to consider appointing women, and we have given the names of these bodies to the women's organisations so that they shall know which bodies we consult.

Although the Minister of State knows that we have reservations about the policy, and even the need for his Department, would he be good enough to give our personal good wishes both to the new First Secretary and to the old one?

Not the old one.

I will pass on the right hon. Gentleman's good wishes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware that, on the day following the Government's appeal for a six months' standstill on increase in income, the boards of two companies recommended increases in their dividends; and whether he will seek powers to discourage further increases in dividends.

It was made clear on 20th July that the Government's call for a standstill on prices and incomes was expected to apply to dividends for the twelve-month period. This has been further stressed in paragraph 31 of the White Paper (Cmnd. 3073). If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will have them examined.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he is in a position to assure the House that increases in dividends will be discouraged as vigorously as increases in other forms of income?

Most certainly. My hon. Friend will probably have noticed that there have been one or two cases where dividend increases already announced have been withdrawn by the companies concerned who have decided not to make them during this twelve-month period.

Will the right hon. Gentleman apply those same criteria to the prices and products of the nationalised industries, increases in some of which have been announced since 20th July?

The procedure applies to the prices of nationalised industries just as much as to other prices.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the Government have compared the economic advantages and disadvantages of immigration on the present scale; and whether he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government are supporting a general study of the economic implications of immigration, but until this work is completed and more information is available, my right hon. Friend cannot make a statement.

Would the hon. Gentleman look at the recent article in the July issue of the Lloyd's Bank Review, in which it is suggested that immigrants may be disadvantageous to the balance of payments rather than otherwise?

I have done so but, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman will know, the authors of the article made very considerable qualifications to their conclusions. In any case, economic considerations are not the only ones that we have to bear in mind when we are considering immigration policy.

Also on the question of economic considerations, will my hon. Friend bear in mind that there are thousands of jobs which are not being filled as a result of the present ceiling quota upon Commonwealth immigrants?

This only shows how complicated the subject really is.

While most of us will be interested to know of this pending study, can the hon. Gentleman tell us when it is likely to be completed and whether, when completed, it is likely to be published?

I think that it will be published. It is not pending; it is taking place now and is being carried out at the National Institute for Economic and Social Research.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what arrangements he has made in his Department to ensure that complaints by the public about unauthorised price increases made since 20th July are properly dealt with and acted upon.

Complaints about particular price increases are dealt with by the Government Department that sponsors the industry concerned. All appropriate steps will be taken to follow up complaints received.

Can my hon. Friend consider the advisability of making the Government's information services available so that people can know what the facilities are for reporting unauthorised price increases?

We will certainly consider that, but the procedure is that described by my right hon. Friend in the answer he gave on 25th May.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell me the Department to which complaints should be sent against the increase of charges which the Post Office proposes to make on 3rd October in flagrant breach of paragraph 32 of the White Paper on the standstill of prices?

The hon. and learned Gentleman knows that these increases were part of the measures announced by the Prime Minister on 20th July. Of course, if the hon. and learned Gentleman has any complaint to make, he will no doubt write to the Postmaster-General.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether bonus payments made to employees at the employer's discretion are to be subject to the incomes standstill.

Yes, Sir.

While I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind the fact that there is a need for the strictest control by the central government over bonus payments made, not on an individual's performance toward a firm, but upon the profitability of that firm?

My hon. Friend is quite right. We have to watch this question of bonus payments very closely indeed. I am glad that he has distinguished between bonus payments which are part of an incentive bonus system, where in operation, and other types of bonus payments.

Can the Minister of State tell us how he proposes to carry out the terms of the answer which he has given to the House? Is he going to have a vast increase in the army of people who are supposed to give information? How is he going to ensure that such bonus payments which go on are within the standstill?

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the standstill is on a voluntary basis, and so far we have very good evidence that industry is co-operating with the Government in carrying it out. As my right hon. Friend said yesterday, we hope that this will continue.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he is taking within his responsibilities in the United Kingdom to ensure that the economic and financial restrictions at present in force and to be applied do not cause a rise in unemployment in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Intensified efforts are being made to steer new jobs to Northern Ireland in common with the development areas in Great Britain. The tougher control of industrial development certificates in congested areas, the extension of the system of office development permits, and the building licensing restriction should all be helpful.

Is this the best the Minister of State can say? Is he aware that unemployment in Northern Ireland is 6 per cent., many times above the national average, and that the hardship caused by a credit squeeze such as the present one is bound to affect a marginal area like Northern Ireland more severely than any other part of the country? Will the hon. Gentleman take clear and effective steps to prevent a sharp rise in unemployment in Northern Ireland this winter?

The hon. Gentleman knows very well that the level of unemployment in Northern Ireland is lower than it has been for many years. He is also aware of the very energetic steps that my right hon. Friend has taken over the last year to get new industry into Northern Ireland. He may also be aware that the Northern Ireland banks are exempt from the requirement to make special deposits; this will also be helpful to Northern Ireland industry.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the responsibility for a large part of the unemployment in Northern Ireland is that of the Unionist Stormont Parliament and that we are prevented in this House from in fact—[Interruption.]

If the responsibility does lie there, the hon. Gentleman cannot ask a supplementary question about it.

On a point of order. In view of the complacency of the Minister of State's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

Notices must be given in the conventional language.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware of the prospect of redundancy among 4,000 workers in Short Brothers and Harland before the end of 1967; and what steps he will take, including diversification to provide new jobs, to mitigate the effects of this redundancy.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if, in co-operation with the Northern Ireland Government, he will take immediate steps to create sufficient new jobs in Northern Ireland to employ the men whom the Government expect as a result of their plans for Short Brothers and Harland to be declared redundant between now and the end of 1966; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. McMaster) on 7th July, a great deal of work is already being done on these problems, both by us and by the Northern Ireland Government, and further announcements can be expected shortly.

Would the Minister of State take it seriously that all political parties in Northern Ireland, including myself and hon. Members opposite, are deeply concerned about the position in Short Brothers and Harland? This factory is of supreme importance within the context of industrial relations in Northern Ireland and many people are deeply concerned. Would the Minister of State give an undertaking to expedite any negotiations which may be taking place so that we may have a successful conclusion?

I assure my hon. Friend that negotiations are going on very actively indeed. My hon. Friend may be pleased to know that Rolls Royce are already advertising for men to be employed on the manufacture of aero engine components. This is in addition to the negotiations which are going on, with a large number of companies. We hope that these negotiations will be very soon brought to a successful conclusion.

Is the Minister of State aware that the trade union leaders responsible at Short Brothers and Harland have informed many Members of the House that no visible progress has been made with the diversification of the works of Short Brothers and Harland, in spite of the appointment of consultants and the receipt of their report a long time ago? Will the hon. Gentleman take urgent steps to deal with this problem, as he promised during the General Election and before?

My right hon. Friend has recently seen some of the trade unionists in Northern Ireland, and he does not believe that this can possibly be the case. In any case, the hon. Gentleman, who is a lawyer, will understand that, while negotiations are proceeding, one does not bruit them all over the world.

Will my hon. Friend make it a condition of the receipt of any aid from this Government that the companies involved do not practise discrimination on the ground of religion or any other mater?

That is a question for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Can the Minister of State give any indication of the date when an announcement is likely to be made as to the outcome of the negotiations?

Obviously one cannot do that. When one is conducting negotiations, one cannot say in advance—in fact one would prejudice the success of the negotiations if one did so—when they may come to an end.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to expenses during the period of the wages and prices standstill.

Paragraph 18(1) of the White Paper (Cmnd. 3073) makes it clear that it is not intended that the standstill should be regarded as applying to increases in payments made in specific compensation for expenditure incurred, e.g. travel and subsistence allowances.

Is the Minister of State aware that certain local authorities propose to increase the expenses paid to councillors and that this will be particularly resented by ratepayer's who are about the one section of the population not being insulated in any way from the economic measures?

I think that the hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. This is not in any sense a pay increase. It is an increase in the maximum level of the financial loss allowance and is payable only to those who suffer actual loss.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he proposes to take to redress the unequal and inequitable impact of the incomes standstill on shareholders and on wage-earners since the former will be able to collect accumulated arrears of dividends after the standstill is over, while the latter will never receive the extra wages that they might have been paid during this period.

The Government have called for all company distributions, including dividends, not to be increased during the next twelve-month period. They will not hesitate to use their fiscal and other powers to ensure that distributions after the standstill are not increased so as to make good any increases foregone as a result of the standstill.

That answer is very encouraging so far as it goes, but can my hon. Friend say whether the Government will have the power to do that after the standstill is over?

Yes. There is no doubt that the Government will have ample powers, certainly ample fiscal powers to deal with this matter. The Government are relying on industry to collaborate in this present situation by observing the standstill in the spirit as well as the letter.

Could the Minister of State arrange, in the midst of these very important matters, that people holding undated War Loan do not have to suffer further depreviation?

I dot not quite see what that has to do with the Question I have been answering.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the Economic Development Council for Agriculture will be set up; and what is the reason for the delay.

Our consultations are not yet complete, but my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a statement fairly soon.

This is very disappointing indeed. Is it true that this is the only one of the little N.E.D.C.s which has not yet been set up? If this is so, is not this yet a further indication of this Government's lack of interest in agricultural matters generally?

Certainly not. The Government and my right hon. Friend have been pursuing this matter very energetically, but I regret that for the moment we are not able to make a statement about the formation of the Economic Development Council.

Will the Economic Development Council for Agriculture make a searching inquiry into recent increases in farmers' rents, which are a heavy burden on the agricultural industry? Will my hon. Friend do his best to expedite this inquiry, in the interests of farmers and of consumers?

I am sure that the Economic Development Council will make all the inquiries and studies it feels are necessary to improve the efficiency and profitability of agriculture.

The Minister of State did not answer the first part of my supplementary question. Is it true that this is the only one of the little N.E.D.C.s which has not yet been set up? If this is so, is not this an indication of the Government's complete lack of interest in agricultural matters generally?

It is not so. There are several economic development councils which we are considering setting up.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer the initial connection charges imposed by Electricity boards to the Monopolies Commission.

No. The monopolies legislation excludes from consideration monopoly conditions which have express statutory authority.

Then what does the President of the Board of Trade propose to do about the substantial extra charge imposed upon house buyers as the result of the monopoly position enjoyed by the C.E.G.B.?

If the hon. Gentleman is interested in that, he should table a Question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which countries in Western Europe have operated an import credit quota since 1964; and what effect this has had on British exports to those countries, in percentages.

None, Sir.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that it is time he had a look at this? Is it not a fact that Italy and some other countries have organised control of import credit and that we could do this in a selective way and thus have a considerable impact on the import of luxury goods which are not essential at this time?

We have indeed had a look at it, but one of the difficulties is that it requires legislation. I am not sure that my hon. Friend would want to go on legislating throughout August and September.

Why cannot the Government look at the possibility of legislation, as today's trade figures are really disappointing and as we are still importing vast quantities of some luxury goods which we could well do without? Will the President of the Board of Trade look at this again?

This is certainly one method, amongst others, of restraining imports, but there are considerable difficulties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will contribute to reducing prices by seeking to prohibit the television and newspaper advertising of commodities such as soap, washing powder, petrol, tea, bread, butter and margarine which people will buy whether they are advertised or not.

I hope that manufacturers and distributors of these and other goods will seek to reduce prices to the consumer by avoiding disproportionate expenditure on sales promotion. But I do not think that a prohibition of particular promotion methods would be justified.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the most important condition to make a prices and incomes policy work is to create the right atmosphere and that an important contribution to this atmosphere would be an attack on excessive advertising of this type, for which the public are paying?

I certainly agree that firms, in addition to the manufacturers of detergents, might well examine the possibility of reducing advertising expenditure and thereby charging lower prices to consumers.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that the housewife will be extremely disappointed by the reaction of the detergent manufacturers to the Report of the Monopolies Commission and that if they do not pay attention to the findings of the Monopolies Commission, there will be a widespread demand for Government action?

I certainly intend to ensure that the consumers' interests here are looked after.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Shipbuilding Industry Board will be set up; and if he will name the personnel.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on 9th August.

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that that statement was not quite complete as he announced only the name of the Chairman. Could we have the names of the other members? As this matter is very urgent can the right hon. Gentleman now give me an assurance—he has the power—that he will arrange for a debate on the Geddes Report very soon after the House resumes?

We hope that it will be possible shortly to name the other members of the Shipbuilding Industry Board, but it is usual to consult the Chairman after his appointment about the other members. As to a debate, I am sure that the hon. Lady will be putting this point to my right hon. Friend the new Leader of the House.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many members of the Board will be full-time and how many part-time?

It is intended that there should be at least two other full-time members.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to enforce Section 17 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1964, as relating to safety arrangements for passenger vessels carrying more than twelve people.

The Board's officers, assisted by the police and other authorities, are active in enforcing this requirement. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a Press notice issued by the Board of Trade on 9th August.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that following the "Darlwin" disaster there is great concern about this matter? Can he state, for instance, the size of his staff that is employed on enforcement and the numbers of police officers who are specifically attached for these duties?

I cannot give the exact numbers without notice. I have, however, already asked my staff to tighten up the regulations in these matters, as the hon. Member will probably have seen. He will see from the Press statement which I have sent him that I have also invited the Press and the public to exercise their right to ask to see the certificates displayed in these vessels, and I hope that they will do so.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is much concern about the qualifications of people who are skippers of these craft? Would he care to make a statement as to the qualifications which are demanded of them? If none are demanded, will my right hon. Friend introduce regulations to ensure that a sufficiently high standard of seamanship is demanded of skippers?

Certainly, that is a point that my officers are entitled to look into when granting certificates. But we had better await the report of the two special investigations which are now taking place before carrying the matter further.

Am I right in assuming that the right hon. Gentleman already has power to ensure that these certificates are displayed? If not, does he propose to take that power?

Yes, it is the legal duty of those who receive these certificates to display them in the vessels which they use. The public have a right to ask to see them before making any use of the vessel, and I hope that they will.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are taken to record certificates to cover the safety of passenger vessels carrying more than twelve people.

Copies of all passenger certificates are retained by the Board.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that a registry, either locally or centrally kept, would be of very great help to make sure that this scrutiny of the 1964 Act is enforced? Will he do something about this?

Copies of these certificates are already available to the police, to local authorities and to other people concerned, but I will certainly examine the hon. Member's suggestion.

Would it not be desirable for the certificate in question to be displayed in a prominent place—say, at the top of the companionway or a bulkhead—so that it is visible to all passengers coming aboard?

It is the duty of the master of the ship to display it in a prominent place where it can be seen by passengers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are taken to ensure that passengers in vessels proceeding to sea have their attention drawn to the fact that the provisions of Section 17 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1964, have been complied with when necessary.

Owners are required by statute to exhibit passenger certificates on board ship in a conspicuous place.

In view of the Answers that the Minister has given to previous Questions, will he consider having a standard form of badge which is easily recognisable, such as a motorist uses for a licence on his car?

I will examine that point, but I think the instructions we have made go a long way to meet the need.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the announcement made this afternoon will be widely welcomed by people everywhere, but may I ask him this, that provided the certificates are displayed and provided that the boats are seaworthy and properly skippered, passengers need have no fear in using pleasure vessels?

I think that, so far as the law laid down by this House is concerned, that is certainly true, but I cannot give an absolute guarantee of what may happen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will prohibit the importation of miniature frequency modulation wireless transmitters from Japan.

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this type of equipment—and there is evidence to support this—can be used both for industrial espionage and for personal blackmail? In view of the fact that his right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General yesterday, in a Written Answer to me, said that he would not grant a licence to users of this equipment and that users could be prosecuted if they used it, would it not be desirable to prevent it from coming into our markets?

I will certainly examine that point, but as the matter stands there is, I think, nothing illegal at present about importing such articles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to create a category of semi-development areas, enjoying advantages less than those of development areas but greater than those of the rest of the country.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Yarmouth (Dr. Gray) on 4th August and to my speech in the House on 2nd August.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that some parts of the country outside development areas need help more than others? Does he not agree that for those areas it is not enough to say that there will be an easy policy of granting industrial development certificates but that it is also a question of the rate of investment grant? Would not the President consider establishing a category of areas which were entitled to grant at, say, 30 per cent.?

I think that we can solve this problem adequately by a reasonably flexible use of the industrial development certificates. We use these certificates in a much more discriminating way than seems to be generally realised. Now that we have greatly widened the development areas, I think that that is the proper way to meet the problem.

Does my right hon. Friend agree also that particularly because of the willingness of people to travel further to work, boundaries of development areas are bound to be artificial and that if one falls on the wrong side of the boundary one can suffer, as in my county of Monmouth? This adds substance to the complaint by the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker).

Yes, but as long as we pursue a policy which discriminates geographically, we are bound to have boundaries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the noise of a Boeing 747 in comparison with types of aircraft in common use today.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies on this subject given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation on 27th April.

Can the right hon. Gentleman be specific as to whether there is any likelihood of an increase in noise as a result of these new aircraft? Is he aware that the level of noise in Central London has been steadily increasing and is now a major nuisance?

I entirely agree that this is a very serious problem. As far as these particular new aircraft are concerned, we have made it perfectly clear to the operators—that is, B.O.A.C—that there will have to be no greater noise than that which is tolerated at present with existing aircraft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has as to the total amount spent by the British Travel Association on market research; towhich market research organisations the work was contracted; and what were the amounts of such expenditure in the years 1963–64, 1964–65 and 1965–66.

The total amount spent on market research over the Association's 16-year life is not readily ascertainable; nor would it be in accordance with practice to name the outside organisations to which parts of the research work were contracted. The total expenditures on research in 1963–64 and the two succeeding years were, respectively, £28,250, £53,000 and £47,650.

As there is a considerable Government grant to this body, should not the Minister be interested in the way that it is spent? Is he satisfied that there is a tendering system in the award of contracts?

I agree that research by these bodies is extremely important. We are discussing it with them now. I think it is perfectly possible that there can be improvements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will draw to the attention of the trade commissioners in developing countries which lack protein the British invention, details of which have been sent to him, whereby highly concentrated protein for human consumption can be extracted and stored from purely vegetable matter.

I believe that information on this British invention was disseminated through British Embassies and High Commissions overseas some years ago. Those concerned with the sale of the British process should contact my Department for further assistance.

Is the President aware of the advances from America to use this invention under licence so that British products and know-how may well be squeezed out?

I was not aware of that, but if those concerned would like to contact my Department I shall be very glad to do what I can to help.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to maintain the Blyth Shipyard similar to those taken to protect the productive capacity of Fairfields in Scotland.

The position of these two shipyards is very different and I do not consider that Government intervention would be justified in this case.

In view of the fact that the Blyth Shipyard closure has caused great consternation to those on Tyneside, is it not possible to do on the Tyne what it is possible to do on the Clyde? Does it matter that the two yards are vastly different if both are producing a great deal of employment? I cannot believe that the right hon. Gentleman is going to allow unemployment in shipbuilding to develop on the Tyne, having regard to our past.

Of course, when we acted to save the Fairfield Yard we were violently opposed by the hon. Lady's Front Bench opposite.

I do not care about that either.

I rather thought that would be the response. However, there really is a major difference, in that the Fairfield Yard was a major yard with a large modern plant and with a large number of orders, and the circumstances in this case, although I very much regret the closure, really are different.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the fact that the Bournemouth College of Technology meets all the criteria set out in Command Paper No. 3006, he will now include Bournemouth in the list of colleges designated as polytechnics.

No polytechnics have yet been designated. My right hon. Friend's preliminary proposals, set out in the Appendix to Cmnd. 3006, are being considered by the Regional Advisory Councils for Further Education whose views he will be considering carefully before he invites any local education authority to formulate a scheme for the establishment of a polytechnic.

Would the hon. Gentleman give special consideration to the opportunities offered for further education by the Bournemouth College of Technology and Art, particularly bearing in mind, in view of the fact that it has recently received planning consent, that it is likely to be the only college in the area capable of developing along the lines set out in the Command Paper?

Bournemouth College of Technology has indeed an excellent record and provides excellent tuition and practice at many levels. Bournemouth Education Authority has informed us that it is putting forward, through the regional advisory council, a strong case for the designation of this college, and we shall most certainly very carefully consider what the authority puts forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provisions he has or plans for encouragement of the science and art of swimming, in view of the Girl Guides' relay swim across the English Channel.

As the answer to my hon. and learned Friend on 29th April, 1965, indicated, there is in the schools great interest in the teaching of swimming, and there has been a considerable increase in the number of school swimming pools. In addition, members of the Sports Council and officers of the Department have met representatives of the Amateur Swimming Association and the Welsh Amateur Swimming Association to discuss informally the long-term development of their sport. The Amateur Swimming Association has for many years received a grant. In 1965 a grant was made for the first time to the English Schools Swimming Association.

Bearing in mind the facts stated in my Question, will the Minister organise an international festival to vindicate and honour Britain's splendid achievements in the art of swimming and in field sports?

It is certainly a most interesting suggestion. I am prepared to look at it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to include preschool play groups among his Department's functions.

My right hon. Friend cannot consider whether any change in the existing law is desirable until he has received the reports of the Central Advisory Councils for Education.

Does my hon. Friend not agree that, in the absence of nursery schools and nursery classes, pre-school groups should be encouraged and that his Department has a special responsibility along these lines?

We have already sent to local education authorities Circular 8/60, a copy of which, if the hon. Member wishes, I will send to him, and we have already sent out two addenda which bring this matter a bit more forward.