asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what activities were carried out by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury during his official visit to the British-Swiss Society in Switzerland on 11th–12th May 1965.

The Financial Secretary addressed an invited audience on the Government's economic policies, at my request.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the expenditure of over £1 million annually on meteorological services, as shown in the Civil Estimates Class IV, Vote 11, he will so amend the form of the Estimates as to give more information as to the allocation of this sum.

No. As the note in the Estimates indicates, nearly all the expenditure is in respect of the costs of Ministry of Defence staff providing meteorological services to Civil Aviation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the yield of Capital Gains Tax for the year.

The budget estimate. It is not the practice to publish revised estimates during the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made as to the effect of the Selective Employment Tax in Dorset.

I regret that it is not practicable to estimate the effect of the tax in particular areas such as this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cumulative effect upon the retail prices of food and fuel, taking into account the increases in costs upon retailers, in respect of wholesale, transport and other services arising from the Selective Employment Tax.

If all costs and all premiums were passed on, the average price increase for food and fuel combined would be in the region of one half of one per cent. The effect on actual prices at the present time is not known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect to the latest available date on wages costs borne by the retail distributive trades of the Selective Employment Tax; and how much of these extra costs retailers have absorbed without increased cost to the consumer.

Approximately 5 to 8 per cent. of labour costs. It is not known how much had been absorbed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much, to the nearest million pounds, Selective Employment Tax collected exceeds premiums and refunds paid in the South-West region and the West Midlands region, respectively.

In a full year about £16 million and £7 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to revise his estimate of the net yield of the Selective Employment Tax in its first full year of operation.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will reduce from 1 per cent. to ½ per cent. the rate that Scottish banks pay on deposit funds, in view of the Scottish unemployment figures.

The Scottish Banks appear to have ample liquid resources to meet the needs of all priority borrowers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the Civil Service and the number of other public employees has increased since 20th July; and what steps he is taking to reverse this trend.

This information is not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number and percentage of those employed in the Civil Service, nationalised industries, Local Government and the public services, respectively, have received increments in pay due to seniority or length of service, and extra allowances due to qualifications or other reasons, respectively, during the period 20th July to the present time; and what number of percentage of these will not have received any such increment or standard increase whatsoever between the period 20th July, 1966 and July, 1967.

The information is not readily available and would be far too costly to obtain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the forecast in the National Plan of an increase in public expenditure of 4½ per cent. per annum at constant prices still stands; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he proposes to revise the figures contained in Command Paper No. 2915, Public Expenditure: Planning and Control, in the light of subsequent economic development and the proposed revision of the National Plan;(2) what steps he has taken to set in hand a revision of expenditure programmes in education, health and other public services as outlined in the National Plan, in view of the fact that the rate of growth on which the predictions were made is no longer available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for adjusting the rate of increase in Government expenditure to the rate of increase in the gross national product.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the recent O.E.C. economic policy commit- tee's report that it was unable to forecast any growth rate for Great Britain for the whole of next year, he will take immediate steps to reduce Government expenditure.

As part of the process of periodically surveying public sector expenditure, described in Command Paper No. 2915, I shall be examining the various programmes in the light of the planning operation referred to by my right hon. Friend the First Secretary on 10th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing total public expenditure in the United Kingdom and Scotland, respectively, for the year 1965–66 on roads, airports, agriculture and fisheries, housing, education, including universities, health and welfare, police, prisons and law and order, children's services, promotion of local employment, environmental services, and the total for all nationalised industries, in each case indicating what percentage of the total United Kingdom figure is spent in Scotland.

The following is the table:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will ensure that explanatory booklets on changes in revenue law will be made available as soon as the Bills containing the changes receive the Royal Assent.

No, but we will continue to issue explanatory publications and notices as appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Ministers and how many Permanent Under-Secretaries of State have attended any course of any type of computer appreciation; and what percentage of Ministers and Permanent Under-Secretaries of State is represented by these numbers.

Of the three Treasury Ministers, one has attended a computer appreciation demonstration. Of the 34 officers of Permanent Under-Secretary rank and equivalent, 29 (or 85 per cent.) have attended courses.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of the customs authorities as to charging Customs Duty on prizes won abroad in international competitions by British competitiors.

As the hon. Member has already been told, duty is not charged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which member-Governments of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development publish official quarterly or annual economic forecasts of their economies; and what percentage of the member-Governments do so.

The Governments of the United States, Japan, Belgium and Luxembourg, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Turkey all publish some form of annual economic forecast consisting of a qualitative analysis supported by statistical tables; while the Governments of Canada and Denmark publish annual forecasts without statistical tables. This represents 13 Governments out of 21 (counting Belgium and Luxembourg separately), that is, some 60 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to encourage new investment in the hotel industry.

None, beyond those already announced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the employment situation anticipated in the printing industry on Merseyside. he will take steps to establish a Government printing house in the development area.

There is no need for additional Government printing presses at present. If the need arises the suitability of locations in development areas will be considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the amounts of the reductions in public investment in Scotland, arising from the economic measures announced in July, in central and local government programmes and in the nationalised industries' programmes.

In 1967–68, £3·5 million in the programmes of the Scottish departments and local authorities and about £6 million in nationalised industries' programmes. The Scottish economy was protected from the full effect of the July economic measures by the exemptions applied in development areas. It will be reinforced by such Government measures as the additional programme of seven advance factories in Scotland and the grants and loans payable when the recommendations of the Geddes committee on shipbuilding are implemented.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of the documents worked out by experts in the Federal Reserve Bank in Washington and by experts in the Treasury and the Bank of England relating to the introduction of a wage and price standstill, upon which the Government's policy was subsequently based.

I am not aware of any such documents.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to provide for Government approval of salaries payable to the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a direction to the Bank of England, under Section 4(1) of the Bank of England Act 1946, to publish the salary and other emoluments, showing each separately, payable to the Governor, Deputy Governor and Directors of the Bank of England in 1946, 1960 and currently.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the House Loan Scheme proposed by trustee savings banks for their employees has been turned down by his Department.

Such loans, which would require legislation, are not regarded as a suitable investment for the banks' superannuation funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to adjust taxation policy in order to encourage the self-financing of research and development by industry as recommended in the National Economic Development Council Report on the Electronics industry.

We have already done a great deal through the introduction of Corporation Tax and the investment grant scheme to facilitate the self-financing by companies of research and development, and I do not think that any further adjustments are called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what class of taxpayers under his regulations is entitled to deduct from their gross tax liability the cost of fees paid to their accountants for completing their tax returns.

There is no such entitlement in any case.

asked hte Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in implementing the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 18 that there should be a separate pay structure for each group of industrial civil servants by April, 1967.

Confidential discussions with trade union representatives began on 25th July and are continuing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now begin the process of planned reflation by means of taxation reliefs in selected parts of the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made as to the extent to which liquidity considerations will restrain the London Clearing Banks from expanding advances up to the 105 per cent. limit in line with the recent announcement by the Bank of England.

I understand that liquidity considerations do not stand in the way of an expansion in advances up to the 105 per cent. limit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to amend the law so that separated wives whose husbands are living abroad are classified as married women for tax purposes.

No. It would not be right to deal with such cases in a manner contrary to the facts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will institute a system of three months' credit for duty on whisky, or authorise special overdraft arrangements, to ensure that supplies for Christmas and Hogmanay are not curtailed this year owing to the increased tax, high interest rates and the credit squeeze.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the effect of his policies on the Scottish economy; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 31st October.—[Vol. 735, c. 32–33.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss of duty involved on the goods which passengers travelling from abroad to Great Britain are allowed to bring in free.

It is not possible to form any reliable estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the substantial unexploited reserves of tin in Cornwall and of its high quality; whether he will give early consideration to including in next year's Finance Bill similar tax concessions for tin-mining to those enjoyed for mineral exploration and development in most overseas countries, in particular Canada, details of which have been sent to him.

My right hon. Friend has received representations and will consider them along with other representations relating to next year's Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount of interest charges payable on the sterling balance for the current year.

Interest on the United Kingdom gross sterling liabilities is about £200 million per annum; but there are substantial offsetting interest receipts from United Kingdom sterling claims.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue instructions to the Registrar of Friendly Societies which will enable the registrar to publish total figures of those contracting out of the trade union political levy not later than 1st June in any year in respect of the previous year.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women workers in Government employment do not receive equal pay with men in equivalent grades; and what steps are being taken to rectify the position.

All the 262,000 women non-industrial civil servants receive equal pay. Most of the 30,000 women industrials are not on men's rates and a change can be made only when economic circumstances permit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the external holdings with United Kingdom banks of central monetary institutions in overseas countries at the end of September, 1966.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave him on 7th November. The end-September figure will be published in the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin for December.—[Vol. 735, c. 232.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will strengthen the appropriate exchange controls in respect of property deals and foreign travel expenditure by British residents, in the overseas sterling area.

Exchange control is not applied to transactions with the overseas sterling area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, irrespective of the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, he will take steps to ensure that building society interest rates do not rise in the foreseeable future.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer today to the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies with registered head offices in Bristol have increased their dividends to shareholders since 20th July, 1966.

Information is not readily available in the form requested, but the dividend standstill continues to work well over the country as a whole.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has given to Ministers about maintaining contractual obligations entered into by Departments in the light of the prices and incomes policy.

Instructions have been issued in accordance with the provisions of Command Papers Nos. 3073 and 3150.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a White Paper dealing with proposals to take the Finance Bill off the Floor of the House of Commons; and if he will make a statement.

I think that we should await the report of the Select Committee on Procedure which is considering the House's methods of dealing with the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the quantities of malt spirit and grain spirit respectively, distilled in Scotland during the year to 30th September, 1966; and what were the quantities of both distilled in the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The quantities of malt spirit and of grain spirit distilled in Scotland and in the United Kingdom as a whole in the year ended 30th September, 1966, were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the shortage of Parliamentary draftsmen; what estimate he has made of the effect of such shortage on the legislative programme; and what action he proposes to take.

The shortage of draftsmen in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is prospective rather than immediate. The numbers now in post are sufficient for the purposes of the current legislative programme. But in order to provide for the future, and to increase the number of draftsmen available for other purposes, including the Law Commission, vacancies in the grade of Assistant Counsel are now being advertised.As regards Scotland there is a vacancy for one Assistant Parliamentary Draftsman. It is hoped that nevertheless it will be possible to fulfil the current legislative programme. Efforts are being made to fill the vacancy, and when that vacancy has been filled the need for further recruitment for other purposes will be considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what acreages of common land in Wales including Monmouthshire, still subject to Rights of Commons, are under the control of the Crown Estates Commissioners and should be registered under Section 23 of the Commons Registration Act, 1965.

It is the Crown Estate Commissioners' intention to register under the Act the Crown's ownership of the Wastes of the Crown Manors in Wales which extend to approximately 76,000 acres. Any persons who consider themselves entitled to common rights over such land should register such rights themselves.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made to date with the planned reduction of at least £100 million in Government overseas expenditure announced on 20th July; and by what date he expects that reduction to have taken effect.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer today to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now abandon his proposals to create a new artificial reserve currency, in view of the Swiss bankers' opposition on the ground that while Swiss Federal debts are only 10 per cent. of their gross natural product, and America's amounts to 50 per cent., Great Britain's debt is over 100 per cent.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the industrial production index for manufacture fell last month from 138 to 133, which is the sharpest fall since the in- fluenza epidemic of October, 1957; and by how much he estimates output per worker has fallen, and wage costs per unit have increased.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". Information on the change between August and September in output per worker and in wage costs per unit is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the industrial production index has fallen sharply, and wages and salaries have not been reduced, what element of inflation he estimates there will be during 1967.

The movement of prices during 1967 will depend mainly on the movement of money incomes in relation to the productivity trend over a series of years. As the hon. Gentleman well knows, it is the Government's policy to restrain the rate of increase in money incomes in order to achieve greater price stability.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will extend, by legislation or otherwise, the scope of improvement grants from local authorities to include insulation against loss of heat.

Local authorities already have power to make improvement grants for work of this kind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to enable local authorities to extend the granting of mortgages to houses built between 1919 and 1939.

I shall shortly be discussing with the local authorities their arrangements for lending for house purchase for next year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will initiate discussions with the local authorities and the National Coal Board to give immediate attention to the slag heaps in Yorkshire which are unsightly and potentially dangerous.

Since the Aberfan disaster the National Coal Board has inspected all disused and active tips in its ownership and is satisfied that there is no risk of damage to life or property. My right hon. Friend has asked local authorities in England to inspect all spoil heaps not in the ownership of the Board which for any reason appear to be unstable and a danger to the public.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to amend the Rating Act, 1966, Section 5, paragraph 7, so as to allow relatives who are in joint ownership to be treated on the same basis as a married couple for rate rebate purposes.

No, because my right hon. Friend thinks any such approach, while remedying some anomalies, would be likely to cause others.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take on the independent consultant surveyor's and the district auditor's reports alleging overspending by the Salford Council's Direct Labour Building Department; and what steps he proposes to take to safeguard the ratepayers of Salford.

The consultant was appointed by the council. His report was made to it and it is for the council to consider what action is called for As regards the district auditor's report, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 25th November to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight).—[Vol. 736, c. 380.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will amend the regulations governing statutory overcrowding so as to make definition dependent upon a bedroom standard and to exclude living rooms.

Present standards defining overcrowding are being re-examined as part of the wider review of legislation affecting older houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to require the owners of the property to provide street lighting in private streets containing more than a statutory minimum number of houses.

No. Local authorities already have adequate powers to provide lighting in any street including a private street and in certain cases to impose a charge on the frontagers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce emergency legislation to deprive local councils of the right to increase rents during the pay standstill; and if he will make a statement.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 20 of the White Paper (Cmnd. 3150) published on 22nd November.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to ensure that the housing policies followed by local authorities do not conflict with the Government's redeployment policies.

No, but I shall be shortly issuing advice to local authorities on the subject following discussions with the local authority associations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the practice of granting residential tenancy agreements exceeding terms of 21 years with market rents reviewable every three years; and if he will take steps to prevent this circumvention of the Rent Act, 1965.

Prospective tenants should take expert, independent advice before signing leases of more than 21 years. My right hon. Friend proposes to give publicity to this and he hopes that this answer will itself be widely reported. He is considering what further steps he might take.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications have been made to the courts for possession of agricultural tied cottages since the commencement of the new Rent Act.

Between 1st January and 30th September, 1966, 798 actions were heard in the county courts for possession of agricultural tied cottages.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many ejections have taken place from agricultural tied cottages since the commencement of the new Rent Act.

Five cases have been reported to my right hon. Friend; three of the families concerned have been re-housed by the local authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an estimate of the number of permanent dwellings likely to be completed in Great Britain in 1967.

No. It is far too soon to make firm predictions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of dwellings for single occupation built by local authorities in Greater London; and what was the annual increase in such dwellings in the last five years.

The number of dwellings built for occupation by one person is not known since local authorities allocate small dwellings to one person or a married couple as the need arises. The number of new one-bedroom dwellings built for local authorities in Greater London, whether within their boundaries or elsewhere, are given below:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the improving housing position in many parts of the country, he will now encourage and assist local authorities to curtail the building of flats and maisonettes and to concentrate their efforts on the building of houses which provide a better family environment.

The mixture of dwelling types appropriate to an area must be related to the needs of that area. Subject to my right hon. Friend being satisfied on matters of cost and standards, this is something for the local authority to determine. But he is certainly not in favour of building higher than is necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the recent decision of the Court of Appeal restricting the definition of a family, he will seek to amend the law so as to empower a local authority to require the landlord of a property to bring the facilities up to a reasonable standard.

My right hon. Friend is at present studying the Court's decision and its possible effect upon the powers and duties of local authorities, and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what financial help he is given to Zambia for the projected Kafue River hydro-electric scheme.

No financial aid for this project has been sought from or offered by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider paying a further visit to Salisbury, Rhodesia.

I have nothing to add at present to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the House yesterday.—[Vol. 737, c. 31–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government is planning any changes in the timing and scope of the defence reductions in Malta, in view of concern there over the economic situation and of increasing political pressure on the Maltese Government by a foreign Power.

Her Majesty's Government have listened very carefully to representations made by the Malta Government on the reductions envisaged by the British Government as a result of the Defence Review and put to them during Lord Beswick's visit to Malta in August. Further consultations with the Malta Government in accordance with our obligations under Article 6 of the Defence Agreement are due to take place in mid-December and I must ask the hon. Member to await their outcome.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that the differential price policy of British steel producers in home and export markets is enabling foreign constructional steel fabricators to undercut British firms in export markets; and whether he will direct the Iron and Steel Board under Section 10 of the Iron and Steel Act, 1953 to determine prices in such a way as to discontinue this practice.

I am aware of the difficulties being encountered by certain steel fabricators in competing for exports. Steel prices obtaining in export markets are commonly lower than those in the home markets of steel producers, because there is a world surplus of capacity. This is unlikely to be altered by any action I could take under the 1953 Act in relation to prices, but I am discussing the whole problem with the steel industry.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what safety regulations he prescribes for oil rigs in the North Sea in order to provide for severe weather conditions; and what standards are laid down for home- and foreign-owned rigs, respectively;(2) if he will introduce legislation covering the safety conditions required by oil rigs operating in the North Sea.

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that further legislation is warranted at the present time but is keeping the position under review. He has instructed all licensees to carry out all operations in accordance with the provisions of the Institute of Petroleum Code of Safe Practice for Marine Areas.

asked the Minister of Power what immediate steps he will take to enforce standards of safety on all oil rigs of companies holding licences to drill in the North Sea in order to avoid unnecessary risks to lifeboatmen of the kind experienced recently in connection with 'Neptune I' and to establish the highest measure of protection to the rigmen during the coming winter.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that all licensees are complying with the instructions he has issued regarding the safety of persons employed on these platforms. Any operations at sea have some inherent risk to them and a call to the air or sea rescue services to stand by in bad weather is a reasonable safety precaution.

asked the Minister of Power when the public inquiry on the drilling barge "Sea Gem I" disaster will take place.

Mr. Roland Adams, Q.C., will open the Inquiry at 10.45 a.m. on Tuesday, 7th March, 1967 at 6, Burlington Gardens, London, W.1.

asked the Minister of Power how much capital has been invested in the coal, gas and electricity industries, respectively; how much each has received further in loans and bank guarantees; what profits or losses they have made since nationalisation; and how much has been paid in taxation from profits from each of the three industries.

Information about new investment and accumulated profits or losses for the periods from the industries' respective vesting dates to the end of the industries' 1965–66 financial years is given in the table below.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now state what steps he has taken to ensure that oil and gas from the North Sea are brought to North-East Scotland.

The Gas Council is examining the many technical and economic problems involved in distributing and using the gas. Regional considerations, including the needs of North-East Scotland, will be taken fully into account.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what are the problems that have held up the North Devon Pumped Storage Scheme; and if he will make a statement;(2) what advice and protection he will give the farmers and landowners who have been affected by the decision to delay the necessary Bill concerning the

I am informed that the Central Electricity Generating Board has not yet been able to resolve certain engineering problems presented by this scheme.It is appreciated that the delay may cause some concern to those whose property will be affected by the scheme, but I understand that the Board is already negotiating the forward purchase of certain parcels of land, and is ready to consider applications to sell from others who feel they are being placed in difficulty.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a list of individuals and organisations, invited or otherwise, who have sent names to him for possible membership of the South Western electricity and gas consultative councils.

The organisations invited from time to time to submit nominations, as required, are listed below. I do not think it would be appropriate for me to give a list of individuals or organisations who have put names forward otherwise.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a report on the difficulties encountered by the oil rig "Neptune I" in the North Sea in severe weather conditions.

The oil rig "Neptune I" is designed to withstand the worst storm conditions likely to be experienced in the North Sea and I am advised that it was in no immediate danger. As a precautionary measure a request was made for the emergency services to be put on standby, as evacuation, should it have proved necessary, would have been impracticable by normal means.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the National Coal Board to give efficient workshops the first right to National Coal Board contracts and also to tender for engineering contracts in competition with other engineering works.

No, this is a matter for the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Technology what investigations he has made into the motor industry, with a view to improving the design, manufacture and sales of vehicles for export.

A survey of export problems and prospects for the motor industry was carried out by my Department last summer, in conjunction with the Board of Trade and the industry. The report is confidential; it has been considered by the National Advisory Council for the Motor Manufacturing Industry, of which I am Chairman, and the action points are being followed up.

asked the Minister of Technology what direct facilities he provides for advising inventors of new industrial processes about their commercial viability and economic worth.

The National Research Development Corporation is prepared to give advice and assistance to inventors. The Regional Offices of my Department can often assist by putting inventors in touch with local industry and the Department itself will also advise on sources of assistance. We are not, however, equipped to give an opinion on the commercial value of an invention.

asked the Minister of Technology how much capital he has invested in the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company, Glasgow; what extra loans and bank guarantees have been given; and what plans he has for further investment or loan of public money.

Government investment consists of £530,000 in ordinary shares and £940,000 in 7 per cent. unsecured loan stock 1975. No other loans or guarantees have been given and I have no present plans for further investment of public money in this company.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long the Minister for Disarmament was in attendance at the United Nations between 20th and 31st October; and what activities he carried out during that Period.

During the whole of the period in question, my noble Friend Lord Chalfont was leading the United Kingdom delegation in the disarmament discussions at the United Nations General Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the cost of the damage to Her Majesty's Government's property in Miami during recent incidents there; and what under-taking he has sought from the United States Government to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.

No damage to Her Majesty's Government's property resulted from recent incidents in Miami. Local authorities in the city co-operated fully with Her Majesty's Consul in keeping. demonstrators away from the consular premises. It has not therefore been necessary to seek special undertakings from the United States Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose that the United Nations establishes an Emergency Relief Organisation to carry aid rapidly to any major disaster in the world.

New procedures for co-ordinating United Nations assistance in cases of natural disaster were authorised by the General Assembly in December, 1965, and the Secretary-General can now call upon a fund of $100,000 for emergency aid in any one year. He has prepared a handbook entitled "International Action in cases of Natural Disaster: a Manual on the Resources and Procedures of the United Nations Family", a copy of which I will send to the honourable Member. I should prefer to await the Secretary-General's next report on the working of these new procedures, which is due to be taken by the 23rd Session of the General Assembly, before considering any fresh proposals. I understand that he is satisfied with the progress so far made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the average amount of time given daily by the British Broadcasting Corporation's overseas radio service in 1965–66 to sound broadcasts in Arabic.

Twelve hours.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps are envisaged to maintain constant liaison between trades unions, employers' associations and Her Majesty's Government during the period of severe restraint.

The White Paper on the Period of Severe Restraint, Cmnd. 3150 makes it clear that it is the aim of the Government to consult with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress to secure the effective and consistent application of the severe restraint criteria. The Government will also consult with individual employers' associations, trade associations and trade unions in appropriate cases.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he will publish a revised version of the South-East Development Plan.

We are looking to the South-East Economic Planning Council for its views on the development of the South-East region. I understand that the Chairman hopes to publish an interim report next year.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the fact that the industrial production index for last month has fallen lower than at any time since 1957, and wages and salaries have not been reduced, by what means he intends to keep down prices.

The industrial production index for September was not at its lowest level since 1957, as the hon. Member suggests. It was 30 per cent. above the average level for 1957, and at the same level as in three months of last year. It is true, however, that there was an unusually sharp fall in the index for September compared with the August figure.There has been almost no increase in wages and salaries since the beginning of the standstill period. The criteria for price behaviour during the period of severe restraint have been set out in Cmnd. 3150.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to public funds of British bases in Thailand in 1966.

There are no British bases in Thailand.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why Her Majesty's destroyer "Sluys" has been sold to the Iranian Government; what was the price paid for her; and whether he will endeavour to make available obsolescent warships to foreign or Commonwealth powers in the future if such action will assist the placing of orders with United Kingdom shipbuilders.

We are prepared to offer surplus warships to friendly and allied Governments whenever we are satisfied that a genuine requirement exists and that supply would be consistent with the relevant political considerations. It is contrary to normal practice to disclose details of the kind requested about the "Sluys".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what further reductions he envisages in the near future in the number of Her Majesty's Ships in reserve; whether the reorganisation of the reserve ships groupings now taking place will result in any economies; and if he is satisfied that there are sufficient ships in reserve to provide a realistic support for the active fleet.

I do not envisage any reduction in the near future. The present reorganisation is meant to concentrate our reserve ships, not to run them down or save staff, and we are keeping enough to maintain the active fleet at its proper strength.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the totals of industrial and non-industrial staff, respectively, in Her Majesty's Dockyards at Portsmouth, Devonport, Chatham and Rosyth on 1st April this year.

The totals at 1st April, 1966, were:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes are envisaged in the numerical strengths of industrial and non-industrial staff, respectively, at the four home Royal Dockyards in the next two years; and if he is satisfied that sufficient skilled workers are available to meet the requirements of the fleet.

We aim to go on improving our planning and management teams, and this means some increase in non-industrial numbers. We also need to make good shortages of skilled men in some trades.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the conversions of Her Majesty's Ships "Lion" and "Blake"; and when work on them will be completed.

The conversion and concurrent refit of H.M.S. "Blake" is expected to cost about £5 million, and to be completed towards the end of 1968. Work on the second Tiger Class Cruiser is likely to be completed in 1969, and to cost about the same.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's aircraft carrier "Leviathan" is now for disposal by scrapping; and what was the price paid by the Netherlands Government for this ship's boilers.

Not at present, because we are considering non-naval uses for "Leviathan". The price we are getting for the boilers covers the full professional valuation, the work involved in removing them, and the supply of drawings.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what expansion is planned of existing vertical take-off and landing aircraft designs, in view of the British lead in this field.

Apart from P1127 (R.A.F.), there are no current plans to give a VTOL capability to fixed wing aircraft, but the value of such techniques will continue to be considered as staff requirements are formulated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Future Fleet Working Party has now completed its report; and if its major recommendations will be included in next year's Defence White Paper.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson) on 9th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to maintain British forces in the Caribbean area at their present strength in the foreseeable future; and if he will order increases in naval forces there, in view of recent incidents.

I do not think that there is any justification at present for increasing our naval forces in the Caribbean but future deployments will depend upon the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of maintaining the Bahamas patrol; and how much of this is borne directly or indirectly by the Government of the Bahamas.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the naval forces employed on the Bahamas patrol. This task is carried out by H.M. ships which also have other duties. It is not practicable to isolate the costs attributable to their periods of service on the Bahamas patrol. No contribution is made by the Government of the Bahamas towards the cost of this force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any changes have been made in forward planning of air support for Her Majesty's Forces in the Indian Ocean area in the 1970s in the light of changes over the past year in the operational radius figure of the American F111 aircraft.

No, although I do not accept the premise in the latter part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when it is planned to start work on the construction of new island bases in the Indian Ocean; how many of such bases are at present envisaged; and how much each will cost to construct and equip.