asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what prices farmers are currently receiving for large eggs.

The British Egg Marketing Board's current minimum basic producer price for large eggs is 2s. 4½d. per dozen; an additional 4d. per dozen is paid for

			Imports
April-March years			Quantity ('000 boxes)	Value (£'000)	Home Production Quantity ('000 boxes)	Total Supplies Quantity ('000 boxes)	Imports as percentage of total supplies
1964–65	…	…	675	1,916	40,939	41,614	1·6
1965–66	…	…	715	2,826	39,097	39,812	1·8
1966–67	…	…	739	2,484	39,481 (provisional)	40,220	1·8
Notes:
1. The figures for home production exclude hatching eggs, waste on farms, packing station rejects and industrial melange. They include first and second quality eggs broken out into egg products by the British Egg Marketing Board.
2. The figures for imports include eggs broken out into egg products after arrival in the U.K.
3. The sources are (a) imports—Overseas Trade Accounts.
(b) home production—M.A.F.F. statistics.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the recent proposals of the European Economic Community regarding a common fisheries policy, what fresh study he has made of the effects of the Treaty of Rome on British and European fishing limits; and if he will make a statement.

We are watching the situation closely, but so far as I am aware no such proposals have been made calling for fresh study in the Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will survey all the proposals for encroachment on agricultural land proposed for the next five years for purposes of new towns, airfields, roads, industrial development and reservoirs to assess the likely loss in food production.

Since we cannot yet know the precise location of all the develop-

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of shell eggs imported in the last three years; and whether the number represents an increasing or a decreasing percentage of home consumption.

The information is as follows:ments that will take place in the next five years, or the exact area of all the sites they will require, any forecast of the effect on food production would be highly speculative. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that the effect on food production is carefully examined in the case of all development proposals as they arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the standstill order put on Flotherton Farm, Rothbury, Northumberland, for the third time in 10 months, on 30th May.

Following a consultation on the farm at the request of the owner's veterinary surgeon on 31st May my Divisional Veterinary Officer suspected the existence of foot-and-mouth disease, and accordingly impose restrictions on the farm. On 4th June when my Veterinary Officers were satisfied that foot-and-mouth disease did not exist restrictions were withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to ensure that the new terms of compensation will apply to tenant farmers dispossessed as a result of the planned expansion of Stansted Airport.

As my right hon. Friend explained in the Answer he gave on 21st February to his hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Mr. Maxwell) the Government intend to introduce legislation on this subject as soon as possible and in the meantime Government Departments and other public authorities have been asked to have regard to the proposed new level of compensation, making use where appropriate of their discretionary powers.—[Vol. 741, c. 257–8.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the net loss of agricultural production which will be caused by the expansion of Stansted Airport.

Between £150,000 and £200,000 annually from the land required for the airport itself. The loss of production from land required for associated development cannot be estimated with any precision at this stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that every animal on every farm where slaughtering was ordered in the outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Northumberland last year was in fact killed; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 14th February or to my letter to him of 24th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 60.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will have discussions with the farmers' unions, marketing boards and other interested bodies with a view to considering the opening of a national campaign to persuade the public to buy increasingly home-grown food wherever it is comparable in price and quality with food from overseas.

Initiative in promoting sales must rest primarily with those concerned with particular commodities produced in this country. The Marketing Boards, the British Farm Produce Council and other bodies are undertaking a wide range of activities in this field which we welcome and which have our full and continuing support.

asked the Minister of Ariculture, Fisheries and Food how many people have been killed in farm accidents involving tractors in each of the past five years.

The figures for England and Wales are:

1962	…	…	…	…	58
1963	…	…	…	…	42
1964	…	…	…	…	47
1965	…	…	…	…	48
1966	…	…	…	…	49

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries which have so far not allowed the unrestricted use of cyclamates as artificial sweeteners in foodstuffs and drinks.

I regret that this information is not readily available for all countries. We do know however that a number of developed countries restrict the use of cyclamates as artificial sweeteners in various ways; and I will write to my hon. Friend summarising the information we have available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the average payment per bacon weight pig to producers since the Price Review, and in the two months period before the Price Review.

Average returns to producers on all bacon weight pigs are not available. On all pigs sold deadweight to bacon factories the average return since the Review is 45s. 8d. per score deadweight and 45s. in the preceding two months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount and classified agricultural grade of the land comprised in the existing airfield at Stansted, and in its proposed extension, respectively.

The existing airport covers 830 acres, and the proposed extension with two runways, would take about 2,800 acres more. All the land falls within Grade 2 of my Department's new 5-grade land quality classification.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the added danger to farm animals resulting from the increasing indiscriminate breakage of glass in the countryside as a direct result of the introduction of the non-returnable glass mineral water bottles; whether he is satisfied with the effectiveness of the Litter Act in preventing this danger; and if he will make a statement.

We hope everyone visiting the countryside will pack up their litter and not leave behind glass and other material which may be dangerous to farm animals, and we thank my hon. Friend for calling attention to this matter.We are not aware of any increase in injuries to farm animals caused by broken bottles. The question of the effectiveness of the Litter Act is for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he is aware of the increased hazard of heath and forest fires as a result of the increasing indiscriminate breakage of glass in the countryside consequent upon the introduction of glass non-returnable soft drinks containers; whether he is satisfied with the effectiveness of the Litter Act in preventing this hazard; and if he will make a statement.

We have no evidence of any recent increase in farm or forest fires positively attributable to bottles that once contained soft drinks. I do however deplore the indiscriminate breaking of any kind of glass in the countryside, which must always increase the risk of fire.The operation of the Litter Act is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps is he taking to encourage the production of bull beef.

I have arranged to pay the calf subsidy and the fatstock guarantee on carcases of young bulls of acceptable quality for a trial period of three years ending 30th March, 1969.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what limits are set by regulation to the amount of water which can be added to prepacked frozen poultry.

There are no compositional regulations under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955 for pre-packed frozen poultry and I have no evidence to suggest that it is necessary to set a statutory limit for added water.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that deaths to wild life have occurred again this spring because of the use of Dieldrin, Aldrin and possibly Heptachlor seed dressings still supplied for autumn sowing because owing to the bad weather the autumn seed was sown in the spring; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that proper warning is given to prevent seed dressed for autumn sowing being used in the spring.

We regret the damage to wild life which has occurred in a few cases reported this spring. Following the practice of previous years, our Department issued a Press notice on 14th February which warned farmers not to use seed dressed with aldrin or dieldrin for spring sowing. The B.B.C. also broadcast official warnings on the 21st February and 3rd March last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will issue application forms for investment grants; when he will start paying grants; and what will be the interval between the expenditure being incurred and the payment of grant.

Application forms for agricultural investment grants have been available since 15th May, the date on which the relevant sections of the Agriculture Act 1967 came into force. In England and Wales the forms can be obtained from the Divisional Offices of my Department and in Scotland from the Area Offices of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. Payments of grant are now being made but some initial delay may be unavoidable in dealing with the backlog of claims.The interval between the date expenditure is incurred and the payment of grant will depend on the type of grant involved and the conditions under which it is paid. We shall try to pay grant as soon as it is due.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for enabling British horticultural growers to compete successfully with Continental growers if the application by Her Majesty's Government to join the Common Market is successful.

Existing schemes, now running very successfully, are already helping to bring the industry to a higher state of competitive efficiency.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of pig slaughterings in the first quarter of 1967 compared with the first quarter of 1966.

Slaughterings in the first quarter were 3,105,000 in 1967 and 3,629,000 in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the nature, cost and purpose of the extension of the Rowett Institute, indicating the increase in its personnel and the scope of its work.

I assume that my hon. and learned Friend has in mind the new library wing which I opened on 12th May. This was generously gifted by Mr. Charles Alexander who does not wish the cost disclosed. It provides improved staff accommodation and needed extra space for books and periodicals both for the Institute and for the Commonwealth Bureau of Animal Nutrition. There will be no immediate changes in personnel or in the work of the Institute or the Bureau.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the nature, extent and purposes of the recent extensions of the Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen.

The extensions include a ward block with a bed complement of 129, a treatment area containing an operating theatre suite, an X-ray department and certain central hospital services, and a central reception, records department and visitors' area. Facilities are provided for general surgery, thoracic surgery and a cardio-vascular investigation unit and also for teaching and research. The extensions are the first stage of the North-Eastern Regional Hospital Board's plans for centralising the hospital services for Aberdeen and its environs at Foresterhill.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider a review of the regulations and legislation governing improvement grants for private householders.

I am reviewing improvement grants in the light of the Scottish Housing Advisory Sub-Committee's report on Scotland's Older Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average annual percentage increase in house rents in Glenrothes in each of the last 10 years; and what were the comparable figures for houses belonging to Fife County Council.

The following is the information:TABLEAverage standard rents, before deduction of any rebates, for 4-apartment general needs houses provided by Glenrothes Development Corporation and for 4-apartment houses provided by Fife County Council.(

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to the wages of farmworkers in Scotland.

I shall continue to ensure that the minimum wage rates prescribed by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board are observed. Wages in agriculture, as in other industries, are subject to the general considerations set out in successive White Papers on prices and incomes policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities now operate rent rebate schemes; and what plans he has for encouraging the more widespread use of such schemes.

85 authorities, covering 78 per cent. of the houses owned by local authorities. I will continue to urge councils to help tenants of modest means by appropriate and up-to-date rent rebate schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons in Scotland were called for jury service in the last convenient year; and how many actually served.

This information is not readily available, but I estimate that about 12,000 persons served as jurors in 1965. The number cited for service would be considerably larger.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that citizens giving jury service in Scotland are inadequately compensated and frequently inconvenienced under the present system; and what proposals he has for reform.

Financial loss allowances and subsistence allowances for jurors were increased in February this year and a further increase would not be justified at present. Jury service inevitably causes some inconvenience, but I am sure that the courts do their best to minimise it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present shortage of geriatric beds in Ayrshire, based on a standard of 15 per 1,000 population.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Galloway (Mr. Brewis) on the 6th March.—[Vol. 742, c. 219.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the representations made to him from different quarters, he will reconsider his refusal to include Buteshire in the area of the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

For reasons that the hon. Member knows, it was decided when the Highland Development Bill was being drafted, that the Board's area should be the seven crofting counties. It is still my view that it would be premature at this stage to extend this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many person of each sex under 21 are now in overcrowded prisons or places of detention in Scotland; for what periods; what separate accommodation is provided for each sex; and what tuition and encouragement they receive to reform and become good citizens on their release.

In borstals, detention centres, young offenders institutions and remand institutions, there are 1,278 places for males and 56 for females. At 13th June they accommodated 1,380 males and 61 females serving a wide range of sentences. All establishments for those under 21 provide programmes of training and education aimed at the offenders' rehabilitation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the progress of the programme of hospital building in Scotland up to the most recent convenient date.

During the year from 1st April, 1966 to 31st March, 1967 it is estimated that work to the value of £11·8 million was carried out on hospital building in Scotland at the expense of the National Health Service (Scotland) Vote: this figure compares with £8·1 million in 1964–65 and £9·9 million in 1965–66.The units provided during the year in new or converted buildings include 752 beds, 10 operating theatres and a variety of other hospital facilities. The value of these completed schemes was £9,054,000.The total cost of all schemes in progress on 31st March, 1967, by type of development, is made up as follows:—

	Estimated Cost
	£
New hospitals	23,553,000
Additional beds in existing hospitals	8,683,000
Other ward improvements	1,334,000
Operating theatres	580,000
X-ray and radiotherapy departments	705,000
Out-patient and casualty departments	1,304,000
Other medical departments	3,373,000
Laundries, kitchen and engineering works	3,424,000
Other departments	2,257,000
	45,213,000

Further particulars of schemes costing over £50,000 completed during the year, started during the year, and others in progress at the end of the year are as follows:—

SCHEMES COSTING OVER £50,000 COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR ENDED 31 ST MARCH, 1967
	Estimated Cost
	£
Northern Region
Craig Dunain Hospital, Inverness
Internal heating	50,000
Ross Memorial Hospital, Dingwall
Maternity unit containing 16 beds and physiotherapy unit	117,000
North-Eastern Region
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Extension stage I—129 beds, operating theatre suite, X-ray department, and central hospital services	1,806,000 (1)
Foresterhill Site, Aberdeen
College of Nursing	342,000
Central sterile service department and laundry	519,000
Morningfield Hospital, Aberdeen
Modernisation to provide a geriatric unit of 26 beds	74,000
Aberdeen Maternity Hospital Ante-natal clinic	124,000
Ladysbridge Hospital, Banff
Three 30-bedded villas for low-grade patients	215,000
Central building complex	240,000

asked the Minister of Transport what action she has taken, or intends to take, to prevent the further congestion of the roads in general and in East London.

The road programme includes schemes on trunk and principal roads in London which are estimated to cost over £133 million. Of this total nearly £38 million is for schemes in East London.The Greater London Council, which is responsible for initiating traffic management measures in London, has several important one-way and clearway schemes in hand.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that there has been a 4·3 per cent. reduction in her rate support grant calculations for 1967–68, what proposals she has for ensuring further expansion of the road programme.

In fact, the rate support grant calculations for 1967–68 assumed that, in England, capital expenditure on new highway construction and major improvement by local authorities would show an increase of 38 per cent. over 1966–67.

asked the Minister of Transport how many pedestrian subways have been constructed beneath A class roads during the last three years; how many are currently under construction; and how many more, not yet under construction, are due to be completed by 1970.

This information is not readily available. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents involving death or injury to pedestrians on zebra crossings have occurred each year within the Greater London area since their introduction.

Following are figures for the Metropolitan Police area showing the number of pedestrian casualties on zebra crossings since 1952. The number of accidents is not known.

		Casualties
Year		Killed	Serious	Slight	Total
1952	…	21	171	785	977
1953	…	30	209	894	1,133
1954	…	23	287	909	1,219
1955	…	25	281	1,073	1,379
1956	…	40	313	1,030	1,383
1957	…	30	325	994	1,349
1958	…	47	371	1,186	1,604
1959	…	36	379	1,310	1,725
1960	…	51	419	1,387	1,857
1961	…	39	404	1,369	1,812
1962	…	51	392	1,290	1,733
1963	…	60	390	1,396	1,846
1964	…	53	418	1,382	1,853
1965	…	53	425	1,444	1,922
1966	…	39	446	1,485	1,970

asked the Minister of Transport why the quarterly lists of trunk road and motorway schemes expected to start within the next two years issued in accordance with the Lofthouse Report now show a further slippage in 1966–67 in the implementation of the road programme.

It is not correct to draw any such conclusion from the differences between these lists. The probability of changes in the forecast startingdates of individual road schemes is allowed for in the control of the road programme.The Lofthouse Report recognised that forecasts of this kind might well need to be changed considerably from one publication to the next but that they would, notwithstanding, provide useful assistance to contractors and others concerned in their long-term planning. The lists themselves pointed out that some timing changes must be regarded as inevitable.

asked the Minister of Transport what information she has about the existence of sub-standard highway bridges; and what measures she is taking to deal with them.

As part of the task of seeing that our roads are fit for the growing volume of traffic and heavy vehicles in particular, my Department, in co-operation with the Scottish Development Department, the Welsh Office, the British Railways Board, the County Surveyors Society and the Building Research Station, has recently completed a new Code of Assessment for assessing the adequacy of old bridge structures for present day traffic.My Department is using the new Code to check suspect trunk road bridges in England (for which I am responsible) and has assisted in the assessment of trunk road bridges in Wales (which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State). The British Railways Board, the largest bridge-owners in the country, are using the Code to reassess their overline bridges of which they have completed a preliminary survey with the co-operation of the Ministry. These surveys have revealed the existence of a number of bridges inadequate for the full range of vehicles permitted by the Construction and Use Regulations.Of the 4,000 bridges carrying trunk roads in England and Wales, we have reassessed more than half the suspect structures and found 20 that are substandard. 5 have already been brought up to strength, and weight restrictions are being applied on the rest pending reconstruction.Of the Railways 10,000 overline bridges, about 900 (none of them on trunk roads) are likely to be found substandard, some only marginally so. Others are much weaker and in need of immediate attention. I have therefore agreed with the Railways Board that they start work on a special programme of improvements. Where possible, the Board will take immediate short-term measures to give temporary support. In other cases, and where bridges are important for road traffic, they will be strengthened or reconstructed over the next two years to bring them up to standard loading.Until this has been done, the Board will ask local highway authorities for Orders under the Road Traffic Act, 1960, restricting the use of these bridges. Where the cost of remedial works to bridges on lightly trafficked routes would not be justified—over half the total—the Board will apply for Orders for permanent restrictions on their use. Some disruption of road traffic will be inevitable; we will try to keep it to a minimum compatible with safety.Our experience with the trunk road and railway bridges suggests that some other bridges for which local highway authorities and private owners are responsible are also likely to be suspect. This has been discussed with local authority representatives and I am sending local authorities today a circular telling them of the situation and recommending them to check their own highway bridges using the new Code of Assessment. I am also asking them to co-operate by dealing speedily with applications they receive for traffic restriction Orders in the interests of safety.Where works are necessary on bridges on principal roads, they will qualify for grant support from the Ministry in the normal way.I am also asking local authorities to see that all private owners of bridges in their areas are informed of the situation.No reliable estimate can yet be formed of the total number of sub-standard bridges but judging by our other surveys, the number could be considerable. The situation requires bridge owners to take stock of the situation and plan a sensible programme of works and restriction of the use of the substandard bridges having regard to the need both to safeguard road traffic and to keep it moving. My department will be glad to help with advice.Similar action is being taken by the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total of the special additional expenditure which has been and is to be authorised on new construction and improvement of roads in development areas; and what percentage this forms of the proposed total road programme expenditure for the development areas and for England, respectively.

About £1½ million. A comparison with total road programme expenditure in development areas is not readily available, but this is about 0·75 per cent. of the total road programme expenditure in England in 1967–68.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that with the introduction of the Road Transport Lighting Bill an incentive will now be provided for British industry to provide the necessary glass beads which make up the reflective material for number plates and other signs; to what extent these will not now have to be imported from the United States of America and Germany; and whether she will make a statement.

I am unable to make any statement since the technical specification for the material for use on reflective number plates, when they are permitted, has yet to be decided.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a direction to the British Transport Holding Company that bus companies for which they are responsible should not object to the renewal of the licences of privately-owned transport undertakings simply on the grounds that the fares charged by those undertakings are less than those authorised and less than those which they themselves in fact are charging.

The fares to be charged by all bus companies, including those owned by the Transport Holding Company, are controlled by the independent Traffic Commissioners. It would not be desirable to fetter the discretion of any bus operator to make representations to the Commissioners that the fares charged by another operator are harmful to his own ability to provide services in the public interest. The Commissioners decide such cases on their merits.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in her consideration of the introduction of legislation to combat evasion of payment of road fund licences.

Provisions have already been included in the Finance Bill now before the House to make evasion less profitable and therefore less attractive. We are considering further possibilities with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, but I cannot say at the moment when a suitable legislation opportunity will arise.

asked the Minister of Transport how much of the sum of £89 million to be spent on docks developments and improvements by the British Transport Docks Board during the next four years will be spent on work at Barry, Cardiff, Newport, Port Talbot and Swansea, respectively.

Proposals for expenditures at South Wales ports included in the Board's capital investment programme for 1967–71 are as follows:—

				£ Million
Barry	…	…	…	1·6
Cardiff	…	…	…	2·6
Newport	…	…	…	3·4
Port Talbot	…	…	…	12·0
Swansea	…	…	…	3·0

In addition, the Board is seeking statutory powers to construct a new iron-ore terminal at Uskmouth to serve Richard Thomas & Baldwins' Llanwern Works, and £7·25 million is provisionally included in the programme to cover this project.

asked the Minister of Transport what revenue accrued to British Railways Estates Department as a result of the sale of surplus land for development in each of the years 1964, 1965 and 1966.

The British Railways Board has stated in its Annual Reports that sales of surplus property completed in each of the years 1964, 1965 and 1966 realised £4·5 million, £12·7 million and £24·3 million respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state the estimated net saving which has accrued to British Railways as a result of the planned rescheduling of trains which was agreed with the railway unions.

I am not sure which particular rescheduling scheme the hon. Member has in mind, but if he would send details, I will look into the matter and write to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to limit the age of aircraft chartered by travel agencies for package deal holiday trips; and if he will compel all agencies to notify travellers of the age and type of aircraft in use.

No. All aircraft engaged on public transport operations are required to hold a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and are maintained in accordance with maintenance schedules approved by the Air Registration Board. The frequency and depth of the scheduled inspections required by the Air Registration Board on the older type of aircraft are considerably in excess of those required for modern aircraft. As regards the second part of the Question, the Air Transport Licensing Board licences for package deal holidays require that pas- sengers be informed through advertising, publicity or booking arrangements of the type of aircraft to be used.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many commercial airline pilots trained ab initio at the four schools running approved courses are taken into the service of British European Airways, British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British Independent Airlines.

During 1966, 80 were taken into the service of British European Airways, 25 into that of British Overseas Airways Corporation, and roughly 60 into that of British independent airlines.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on which date the decision of the Air Transport Licensing Board on the appeal against the granting of a licence to Autair International Limited for the Teesside-London service was conveyed to his office; and if he will explain the reasons why his decision on this question is being delayed.

The report and recommendations of the Commissioner appointed to hear this appeal were received on 21st April. I expect to announce my decision very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will commission a cost and social benefit analysis study of the effects of the Stansted Airport proposal as compared with the Sheppey alternative.

It is not easy to apply this method of measurement to so complex a problem as the comparison between possible airports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that the number of night jet flights permitted at Heathrow in the summer of 1968 will not exceed 3,500.

I hope to announce the limit for 1968 very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many scientifically-based factories have been erected in scheduled development areas; what has been the financial cost to the Government; and whether the Government intend to retain any financial interests in the factories concerned.

The number of buildings completed in the Development Areas by the Chemical and Allied industries and the Engineering and Electrical Goods industries, which are considered to be science-based industries, for which i.d.c.s. had been issued was

1964	…	…	…	…	113
1965	…	…	…	…	142
1966	…	…	…	…	146

The cost to the Government of providing these factories where they were built by the Board of Trade or of financial assistance where they were provided by the firms themselves is not available.The Board of Trade has a continuing financial interest in factories which it has provided and leased to tenants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of titanium exported by the United Kingdom since 1962; and to which countries it was exported.

The information is not available: exports of titanium are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of imports into this country in the first four months of 1967 in the categories of raw materials, industrial machinery and equipment, and consumer goods, respectively.

There is no unique way of defining these categories of imports. The value of imports by various broad commodity classes was shown in articles on United Kingdom trade in the Board of Trade Journal of 21st April (January imports) and 19th May, 1967 (imports in February, March and April). A more detailed breakdown of imports in the first quarter of 1967 was given in an article in the Board of Trade Journal of 12th May, 1967.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans to make good the losses which British imports have suffered, and will suffer, from the embargoes placed on British shipping and imports by the nations at war in the Middle East.

I have no reason to think that there will be any significant effect on British imports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what amount the cost of running the Patent Office for a full year is increased by Selective Employment Tax payable in respect of its staff, the rise attributable to Selective Employment Tax in the cost of goods and services, and the effect of Selective Employment Tax on Board of Trade expenditure in connection with the Patent Office, respectively.

In respect of staff the increase is estimated at £82,000, no estimate is available to me in respect of goods and services and the best estimate of Board of Trade expenditure is £4,000-£5,000. These figures are for the current financial year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions, and on which dates, he has had consultations with representatives of the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council.

My right hon. Friend keeps closely in touch with the work of the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council and, together with the First Secretary and other Ministers, met the Chairman and members of the Council as recently as Thursday, 8th June, to discuss matters arising from the Council's report "A Review of Yorkshire and Humberside".

asked the President of the Board of Trade what concessions he agreed to at the Kennedy Round negotiations designed to bring about an increase in the showing time available to American films on British television; and if he will make a statement.

No such concession was agreed. A White Paper on the Kennedy Round negotiations will be published next month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will initiate talks in the Council of Europe with a view to persuading member countries of the Council to take over and adopt the European Economic Community draft European Patent Convention.

The present time would not be appropriate for an initiative of this kind, but I will keep the matter in mind.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will give the dates and places of the occasions when he has had consultations with the full Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council; and what are the Government's policies to ensure that the natural resources of the Council's area are fully developed, and thus prevent the migration of labour from this region.

On 21st April my right hon. Friend attended a full meeting of the Council in Leeds. Subsequently, on the 8th June, in company with other Ministers, he met the Chairman and other members of the Economic Planning Council to discuss matters arising from the Council's regional report "A review of Yorkshire and Humberside". The Government are considering closely the assessment of the region's prospects made by the Economic Planning Council and their views will be made known to the Council in due course. Full account will be taken of the Council's views in the forthcoming review of the problems of areas outside the present development areas under the Chairmanship of Sir Joseph Hunt.