asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the assurance still stands which he gave on 3rd May, 1966, to the right hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton on the taxation of undistributed earnings of close companies.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave to the right hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated value of the United States securities held by British subjects and institutions in this country.

Total U.K. direct investment (other than oil, insurance and banking) at the end of 1965 was about £390 million at book value. Portfolio investments held by institutional investors are estimated to be about £900 million. I regret that I am not able to give a figure for private portfolio investors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum of money was realised by the sale of the British Government's United States securities.

A total of about $1,375 million, which was reinvested in U.S. short-term securities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases he has exercised his power to relieve firms of their obligation to meet the Selective Employment Tax in view of their export trade.

Neither the Finance Act nor the Selective Employment Payments Act gives such discretionary powers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the percentage of labour costs in manufacturing industry which are being covered by the premium repayable on Selective Employment Tax;(2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of labour costs in manufacturing industry which are being covered by the Selective Employment Tax premium and the regional employment premium in the development areas.

On the latest available figures the additional element in the selective employment premium is roughly 1½ per cent. of labour costs in manufacturing. In development areas R.E.P. represents roughly a further 7½ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the results of limiting total Government spending to an annual increase of 3 per cent. from April, 1968 to 1971, in relation to specific expenditure on housing and environmental services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what proportion he expects domestic public expenditure for 1968–69 to exceed that incurred in the current financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the progress of his exercise to bring long-term public expenditure into line with growth prospects up to 1970, as announced in his Budget Statement this year.

I refer the hon. Members to my statement yesterday, to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will complete his reorganisation of the duties of Customs and Excise officers who are employed in connection with distilling and brewing in Scotland; and how many staff are likely to have to move to new posts outside Scotland.

Probably by the end of January, 1968. About 200 officers are likely to move by then but no officer with a fixed post will be compelled to move out of Scotland for up to 2 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will site a second pay as you earn computer centre in Scotland, in the interests of regional development.

The locations for the Computer Centres still unsettled are under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now withdraw the restrictions on investment in Australia.

I shall keep this matter under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how British private investment in Australia in the financial year ended 31st March, 1967, compared with that in the preceding year.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 16th November.—[Vol. 754, c. 194–5.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the influence which changes in the terms of trade will have on domestic price levels during the next 12 months.

Devaluation will involve an increase in the sterling cost of our imports, and hence an increase in the cost of living. The influence of devaluation on the cost of living is estimated at approximately 3 per cent.; this should constitute the rise in the cost of living due to increases in import prices in the coming year. Export prices do not affect domestic prices directly, and their indirect effects are negligible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that sales under the Crown Lands Acts of Her Majesty's Foreshore are contrary to the public rights of access to the adjacent beaches, if he will take steps to amend the Crown Lands Acts or otherwise to prevent future sales of Her Majesty's Foreshores and to protect the public's ancient rights of access and use.

No. The only public rights are those of navigation and fishing when the foreshore is covered by water and all sales of Crown Estate foreshore are made subject to those rights.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from retirement pensioners' organisations seeking exemptions for their branches from the payment of Income Tax; and why his regulations do not allow this.

Several branches of the National Old Age Pensioners' Association of Wales have claimed that they should be exempt from tax as charities. But their objects include bringing pressure to bear on hon. Members and on the Government, which is not a charitable purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of allowing husband and wife the option of being taxed separately as if they were single persons, ignoring, for the purposes of this calculation, any change in working habits that this reform might induce.

About £10 million if the option were limited to earned income but anything up to £300 million if it applied to all income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made as to the number of married persons who would take up gainful work if they were assessed as single persons; and what estimate he has made of the consequential gain to public funds.

I cannot make the desired estimates, but as things stand the Income Tax on the earnings of the great bulk of earning wives is the same as would be due from a single person.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to exempt farmers from payment of tax on compensation received when their cattle, pigs and sheep are slaughtered, as a result of the incidence of foot-and-mouth disease.

While I greatly sympathise with farmers who lose their animals in the circumstances referred to, I do not think it would be right to give them any new relief from tax over and above that available in cases of compulsory slaughter by virtue of Section 23 of the Finance Act, 1953.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of Government Departments regarding the purchase of property in advance of actual requirements when the owners are willing to sell and the land is due eventually to be compulsorily purchased.

While Government Departments do not normally buy property in advance of actual requirements, where property is affected by planning proposals and the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, apply, purchases are made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will relax the conditions under which charities can transmit funds to their branches or associates in Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

No change is at present contemplated. Sterling payments are allowed for current expenditure on charitable and humanitarian projects at the rate of 75 per cent. of remittances in 1965. Payments are not permitted for long-term projects which could be deferred till constitutional government is restored.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now substantially increase the currency allowance for tourist and holiday travel in countries outside the sterling area.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to see that all scientific civil servants on the Prime Minister's staff are paid at least as much as their non-scientific equivalents.

There are no scientific civil servants on the Prime Minister's staff. If my hon. Friend is referring to the Chief Scientific Adviser and to his staff in the Cabinet Office, their salaries are based on those of the Administrative Class at corresponding levels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now made arrangements for revision of the Standard Industrial Classification, in view of the anomalies which have been revealed since the introduction of the Selective Employment Tax.

A full review of the Standard Industrial Classification unconnected with the Selective Employment Tax is now in progress and it is hoped to publish a revised edition early next year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the terms under which pensions are paid to retired civil servants so as to give protection against liability to forfeit a pension should a pensioner be imprisoned for an indictable offence, in particular, for an offence under the Road Safety Act.

No amendment is necessary. A pensioner imprisoned for an offence under the Road Safety Act unconnected with his official duties before retirement does not forfeit his pension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has approved the increase of Bank Rate to 6½ per cent.

The increase of Bank Rate to 6½ per cent. on 9th November was made with the object of countering movements of funds out of London to take advantage of rising rates in other international markets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how British private investment in New Zealand in the financial year ended 31st March, 1967 compared with that in the preceding year; and what steps he proposes to take to reverse the present trend.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants there were on 15th October, 1964; and what was the total on 30th October, 1967.

655,000 in October, 1964 and 687,000 in July, 1967. Later figures are not yet available, and Post Office staff are not included.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total wages and salaries bill of the Civil Service on 15th October, 1965; and the total on 30th October, 1967.

It is estimated to be £740 million in the present financial year compared with £665 million two years ago, for non-industrial and industrial staffs excluding the Post Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions were attached to the recent loan of £90 million from the Bank of International Settlements.

The purpose of the loan was to enable us to repay our immediate obligations to the I.M.F. No conditions as to the Government's economic policies were imposed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for the introduction of a valued-added tax structure; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 8th May.— [Vol. 746, c. 108–9.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the negotiations that are taking place with the Confederation of British Industry regarding Government contracts.

The negotiations are still going on, and I can make no statement at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to increase the salaries of the chairmen of the nationalised industries to levels consistent with those paid in private industry and abroad.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take steps to expedite the further repayment of post-war credits.

No. I cannot in present circumstances consider any further repayment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer from how many countries Great Britain is now borrowing money; and which countries they are.

Three countries, France, Switzerland and the United States have lent us money recently. A number of other countries have taken part in multilateral lending to the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent Switzerland is now assisting Great Britain in its financial difficulties.

A total of £61 million has been advanced by the National Bank of Switzerland and by Swiss Commercial Banks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed in the Parliamentary Commissioner's Office; what was the cost in the last year of this office; and if he will consider introducing legislation to extend the powers of the commissioner so that he can consider injustices which are caused by local authorities, nationalised industries and in Her Majesty's services.

The 1967–68 estimates provide £163,000, including allied services, for this office, which now has 60 staff. The matters raised in the last part of the Question were fully discussed in Parliament less than a year ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the loan of 4,000 million dollars from Canada and the United States of America secured in 1945 remains to be repaid; when is repayment due; and on what occasions has repayment been postponed.

I assume that the Question refers to the line of credit of $3,750 million extended by the Government of the United States of America in 1945, of which $3,089 million remains to be repaid; and that of $1,250 million extended by the Government of Canada in 1946, of which $1,185 million was drawn and $976 million remains to be repaid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost in the first year of bringing all public service pensions up to parity with pensions awarded up to 1st April, 1967; and what proportion of that amount would be borne by local authorities.

About £90 million, of which some 20 per cent. would be borne by local authorities from rates and Exchequer grants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total establishment of civil servants employed in the Inland Revenue to the most convenient date; and how many vacancies remain unfilled.

Excluding casual staff, 63,527 and 106 respectively on 1st November, 1967. The vacancies do not, however, include deficiencies in grades such as valuers where there is no fixed staff complement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for a survey to be made of the effect of the Finance Act, 1965, which has the effect of making companies raise new money by means of debenture and loan stock to see the extent to which this has kept up interest rates nationally.

No. The effect of changes in taxation are kept under review in the normal course of Government business.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to meet the French Government's demand that sterling should cease to be a reserve currency, before Great Britain could join the Common Market; and how long he estimates this will take.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on his policy with regard to the raising of revenue by taxes on carcinogenic substances.

Changes in the duty on tobacco are a matter for the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of its immediate effect on the balance of payments, he will take steps to stop the declared policy of certain large firms to invest an increasing proportion of their capital abroad.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers given today to him and to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Dickens).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has reduced the quota for house purchase lending of Market Harborough Urban District Council from £50,000 to £10,000.

The authority asked for £50,000 though their basic quota for 1967–68, on the same basis used for all other authorities, was £7,800. I did not cut their quota but increased it by nearly a third.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the Redditch Development Corporation have now been asked to reconsider their plans in tile light of his proposal to find sites for an additional 15,000 council houses for Birmingham within the Green Belt area of Worcestershire.

I have arranged to discuss this whole problem with the Development Corporation, Birmingham and Worcestershire in the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that all the problems which will arise if the 15,000 houses planned to take overspill from Birmingham are superimposed on an existing balanced community have been considered by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

I shall certainly take these problems into account. An inquiry will be held before any final decision is reached about the use of any of this land for housing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement about the progress of his talks with the building societies regarding the provision of 100 per cent. mortgages.

I am in consultation with representatives of the Building Societies and Insurance Companies, but I am not yet ready to make any statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to announce his conclusions upon the general review of the problems of legislation affecting older houses, as foreshadowed in his Department's circular No. 69/67.

The review is proceeding, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make any announcement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the amounts paid in subsidy for multi-storey housing, and in expensive site subsidies in each of the six conurbations and in the rest of Great Britain, respectively, in each of the last three years.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. The total expensive site subsidy paid in England, however, was £1·258 million in 1964–65, £1·675 million in 1965–66 and £2·120 million in 1966–67.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to build dwellings specifically to meet the needs of disabled people; and what assessment he has made of the present requirement for, and provision of, such dwellings.

The attention of local authorities was drawn to the housing requirements of disabled people in a circular issued in 1964, which gave advice on certain special points of design involved.As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health announced on 23rd October, the Government Social Survey is about to carry out a study of disabled adults living at home in order to find out the extent to which they receive and need help from local authority services. The survey will include the housing aspects of disablement.—[Vol. 751, c. 1332–3.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications to build a house in a rural area in Dorset were received during 1966; and how many of these were refused, accepted, and granted on appeal, respectively.

Information in precisely the form asked for by the hon. Member is not available. In 1966 there were 2,254 applications for new houses in Dorset outside those areas covered by Town Maps. Of these 1,670 were allowed. As to appeals fifty were received for houses in administrative rural districts during 1966 of which four were allowed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total housing subsidy exclusively from rates in England and Wales during the financial year 1966–67, and the aver age benefit thereof per council-house tenant.

I regret that this information is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether plans have been approved for the layout of the north side of Tower Hill; and whether he will place them in the Library.

I understand that outline proposals are likely to be considered by a committee of the Greater London Council early in the New Year. No plans are yet available, but I will arrange for a set to be deposited in the Library as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that industry is available to accompany population into the areas like Redditch, Droitwich and Dawley, to which overspill from Birmingham is being channelled.

My right hon. Friend is urging the Birmingham Corporation and the other conurbation authorities to help and encourage industrialists to move to these new towns where houses and sites for factories are being made available. As the towns grow they will themselves become increasingly attractive to industry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy in regard to the part to be played by the Land Commission in negotiations between developers and private individuals.

The Commission would consider intervening if they were requested to do so by either or both of the parties or if there was evidence that betterment levy was being added to the asking price of the land.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what criteria the Land Commission use to decide which firms shall be allowed to tender for land offered for sale by the Commission.

Applications will be considered from firms that are on the register of the National House-Builders Registration Council or can comply with similar standards. Apart from this the main criteria for selection will be the stocks of land already held, and the capacity of the firms to complete the development of the land satisfactorily in a reasonable time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what is the amount of rate rebate payments made in Seaton Valley Urban District Council, Bedlington Urban District Council and Blyth Borough Council areas;(2) what is the amount of rate rebate payments applied for in Seaton Valley Urban District Council, Bedlington Urban District Council and Blyth Borough Council areas.

The total amounts of rebate afforded by these authorities in 1966–67 were:

		£
Blyth Borough	…	9,285
Bedlington Urban District	…	6,695
Seaton Valley Urban District	…	4,813

Applicants for rebate are not asked to state the amount applied for. The rebate allowable in each case is determined by the applicant's income, his rate bill and his household circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken and with what result to protect British ports and seaside resorts from the recent damage caused by sea pollution and from oil and slick and other deleterious substances discharged by ships in British waters; and what steps he has taken by Her Majesty's protection squadrons or otherwise to identify and penalise the guilty ships and to recover compensation for the damage done.

The Department has made proposals to the local authority associations on measures designed to strengthen the ability of local authorities to fight oil pollution both on and off shore, and consultations are proceeding with all despatch. But the only sure protection is the prevention of pollution at source. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is vigorously pursuing this objective through the appropriate international agencies, in which questions of detection, enforcement and liability are also being considered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that some local planning authorities make it a condition of granting planning permission that the applicant enters into a deed of covenant as to the future use of the land depriving him of any right of appeal under existing planning legislation; and whether he will take steps to end this practice.

I know of no case where a planning authority has granted permission subject to a condition of this kind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when a decision about a movable flood barrier in the Purfleet area, so as to give London protection from possible North Sea surges and floods, will be announced.

I will make a statement on this subject as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated further cost of completing the schemes already begun in the Dawley New Town area by the Development Corporation.

Contracts still running will cost between £5 million and £6 million to complete.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what information he has of the number of town centre developments in the North-West which have been postponed during the current year.

Twenty-five schemes in the North-West Region were included in the town centre redevelopment programme which my right hon. Friend announced on 4th July. Seven schemes were deferred for later consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take the necessary steps to ensure the setting up of a drainage board or similar authority to assist in the speedier reclamation of derelict land in Northumberland, both for industrial and agricultural purposes.

Steps necessary to assist in the speedier reclamation of derelict land in Northumberland are under consideration. We shall be in touch with the county council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) why the new Building Regulations allow the use of impregnated woods for external walls, whether painted or not, but permit the use of unimpregnated woods for windows and doors; and whether he will amend the Regulations in that connection to allow the greater use of suitable painted timber for external cladding purposes;(2) whether he is aware that Regulation B3 of the Building Regulations 1965 lays down that the painting or coating of materials must not be taken into account in connection with their weather-resisting capabilities, and while ruling out the use of painted timbers for external walls, permits the use for such purposes of steel coated with galvanised zinc, vitreous enamel or bitumen; and whether he will reconsider the prohibition imposed on the use of painted timber for external walls.

The provisions in the building regulations relating to the use of painted timber for external cladding have recently been considered by the Ministry and the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, and proposals for amendment of these provisions will later be circulated to the bodies concerned for comment. One minor amendment—the addition of a further species of timber which may be used unimpregnated—was included in the amending regulations laid before the House on 13th November.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the list of materials set out in Regulation B 3 of the Building Regulations, 1965 as being materials unsuitable for external walls or roofs of buildings is comprehensive; and whether any materials not listed therein are regarded as not being unsuitable and may therefore be used.

The list of materials in Regulation B 3 is comprehensive for the purposes of Section 53 of the Public Health Act, 1936, which has special reference to materials specified as unsuitable for use in the construction of permanent buildings. But this does not limit Regulation B 1 which is concerned with the fitness of any materials used in building.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to how many local authorities in the North-West Region grants have been made under Section 20(3) of the Industrial Development Act, 1966; and what was the total value of such grants for acquiring land and carrying out work on land acquired, respectively.

Two outline schemes have been approved under the Industrial Development Act, 1966, relating to land at St. Helens and Ellesmere Port. Some 58 acres of land are involved. The costs upon which grant will be calculated are not known at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the Government of Tanzania about a British and United States base or staging post at Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has had from the Indian Government about a British/United States base or staging post on the island of Aldabra; and what reply he has sent.

We have had no discussions about Aldabra with the Government of Tanzania which broke diplomatic relations with Britain in December, 1965. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs have expressed their objections to the establishment of military bases in the Indian Ocean. As a result of discussions both in London and New Delhi I am satisfied that the Indian Government accept our assurances that what we have been considering is the construction of staging facilities, not a base.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about emigration to Rhodesia.

The available evidence indicates that since I.D.I. emigration from the United Kingdom to Rhodesia has been greatly reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what further discussions he has had following his recent visit to Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my statement of 14th November.—[Vol. 754, c. 231–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, in view of Great Britain's decision to withdraw from the Far East, what proposals he has for improving relations between this country and Australia.

Our recent decisions on defence policy in the Far East were taken after the closest consultation with the Australian Government. As the House knows, we are planning to maintain a military capability for use, if required, in the area even when we no longer have forces permanently based there. We shall continue to remain in very close touch with the Australian Government on these issues; and I do not accept that our decisions have damaged our relations with Australia in the way that is implied.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the recent breakdown in generating equipment at Thorpe Marsh Power Station, setting out the causes of the breakdown, the loss of power resulting therefrom, and the steps to be taken to avoid a recurrence.

No. Since this was a breakdown which did not interrupt supplies it is entirely a matter of day-to-day management for the Central Electricity Generating Board.

asked the Minister of Power what is the estimated decline of manpower in the South Wales mining industry for the years 1968 to 1975, as envisaged in the White Paper on Fuel Policy.

On the basis of a national annual reduction of 35,000 in mining manpower up to 1970–71, the annual decline of manpower in the South Wales mining industry is likely to be about 5,000. The decline, although at a lower rate, is expected to continue during the period to 1975.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of making the calculation of dividing the accumulated surplus or deficit of the National Coal Board in Scotland, and England and Wales, respectively, by the total population in each of those countries;

Calculations on the basis first requested would have involved a disproportionate amount of work, the cost of which was not estimated.Disregarding activities and charges which were not accounted for on a Divisional basis, the accumulated results for the Scottish Division represent a deficit of £30 17s. 4d. per head of population in Scotland. The corresponding figure for England and Wales is a surplus of 5s. 4d.

asked the Minister of Power what revision he has made of the fuel requirements for the North West, in view of the fact that the industrial growth laid down in the National Plan has not been obtained; if he will specify the targets for coal, electricity, gas and atomic energy; and if he will make a statement.

The Government do not set production targets for individual fuels. Estimates of fuel requirements for particular areas are the responsibility of the fuel industries, which keep in touch with fuel using industries, local authorities and with the Regional Economic Planning Councils.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that British steel shipbuilding plates are sold overseas for £35 a ton and at the same time a price of £42 a ton is imposed on the home market; from what funds this subsidy of £7 a ton to foreign shipbuilders is paid; and if he will issue a direction to the Steel Corporation to stop this policy which handicaps British shipbuilding firms, and worsens the balance of payments problem.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 7th November.—[Vol. 753, c. 810.]

asked the Minister of Technology whether it is the Government's policy to encourage the development of electro-chemical machining.

Yes. The Department is discussing with individual firms and research bodies the possibility of Government support for a number of specific electrochemical machinery projects.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give an assurance that the Concord will not be cancelled by Her Majesty's Government, providing the test flying programme of the prototypes is successful.

The results of prototype test flying are only one of many factors to be taken into account in judging the viability of any advanced aircraft project but success here is essential for Concord's commercial success and would contribute to it.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the amount of work carried out, as a percentage of total expenditure, between defence and civilian projects by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, during each of the past three years.

The proportion of total expenditure at Atomic Weapons Research Establishment attributable to civil work during the past three years is:—

1964–65	…	…	14 per cent.
1965–66	…	…	15 per cent.
1966–67	…	…	17 per cent.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the number and value of contracts his Department has placed with electronic firms in the North East.

The number of contracts placed with member firms of the Electronics Association of the North East and which are not yet completed is thirty-one and their aggregate value is approximately £470,000.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to stop the brain drain at Dounreay.

I have nothing to add to the open letter that I addressed to the staff of the Atomic Energy Authority on 15th November concerning the attempt of the Westinghouse Corporation to recruit British scientists and engineers with experience of liquid metal-cooled fast reactors. I have also discussed the subject with senior management and staff representatives from Dounreay, and Risley.

asked the Minister of Technology how many scientists and other workers in Dounreay Experimental Station in Aberdeenshire have left it and gone to the United States of America within the last six months; why they left; how it has affected the work of the station; and what steps he plans to continue to expand the work of the station.

I am informed by the A.E.A. that two employees have left the Dounreay Experimental Reactor Establishment to go to the United States of America during the last six months. One was a senior machine operator who accompanied her American husband back home. The other was a Scientific Officer who mentioned better pay as his main reason for leaving. The loss of these staff had no effect on the work of the Establishment. The Dounreay Establishment is engaged on an important programme of work including the development of fact reactor systems which will keep it busy for many years to come.

asked the Minister of Technology if he is aware of the negotiations recently between Her Majesty's Government and the British Ship Research Association directed to the implementation of that part of the Geddes Report which recommended the grant of £200,000 additional Government grant to the British Ship Research Association for three years; and what steps he plans on these lines to avoid unemployment in that industry and to avoid shipbuilding contracts being lost to Great Britain.

Additional financial support for this Research Association will be by way of contract or earmarked grant for specific projects and a number of these are now under discussion with the Association. The benefit of additional research and assistance for the industry's reorganisation is longer term but the home orders to the value of £80 million for which credit guarantees have now been provided or are under consideration should make an early contribution to the maintenance of employment in shipyards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is issued for chief constables and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the special needs and difficulties of deaf people when charged with offences or otherwise brought into contact with constables on duty.

Police officers are well aware of the need for special consideration when dealing with any person who suffers from disability or illness. Home Office advice in regard to the deaf and dumb has been limited to helping police forces to find interpreters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of the Mid-Anglia Constabulary regarding the numbers of residents in the city of Cambridge who have been charged so far this year with indictable and non-indictable offences, respectively, and the numbers within these totals who were undergraduates.

The chief constable informs me that, during the first nine months of 1967, there appeared before the Cambridge City magistrates' court 337 people (of whom 13 were undergraduates) charged with indictable offences and 4,495 people (of whom 240 were undergraduates) charged with non-indictable offences. It would involve a disproportionate effort to find out how many of those so charged were resident in Cambridge, and how many Cambridge residents were charged in other courts during the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table of single and married

		Voucher holders		Dependants
Period		—men	Men	Women	Children under 16
1962 (July—December)	…	3,540	259	4,039	4,534
1963	…	27,371	833	11,331	14,070
1964	…	11,784	1,239	13,437	22,784
1965	…	9,710	1,485	14,992	24,737
1966	…	4,365	1,450	13,592	26,984
1967 (January—september)	…	2,988	1,687	10,968	25,608

The dependants are not necessarily dependants of the voucher holders admitted in the same year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now consider modifying the arms ban to South Africa by allowing the export of arms for maritime defence.

Any South African requests for the supply of defence equipment are considered in the light of existing policy, as it has been implemented since my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced our arms embargo in November, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Algerian Government about the British aircraft detained in Algeria by the Algerian Government; and with what result.

We have been in constant touch with the Algerian authorities since the aircraft landed in Algeria on 30th June. Since the two British pilots were released on 23rd September we have continued to press for the release of the aircraft. We were assured at the end of October by a responsible Algerian official that this would be done soon.

The available information is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Swiss Government regarding the 47 per cent. officially recorded increase in Swiss imports from Rhodesia during the first seven months of this year, and with what results.

We have been in contact with the Swiss Government, as with other friendly Governments, on questions of continuing trade with Rhodesia. Switzerland is not however a member of the United Nations and is thus under no obligation to accept mandatory sanctions. The Swiss Government have nevertheless decided to restrict imports from Rhodesia to a level not exceeding the average of the last three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the Norwegian Government during the course of his visit to Norway in August.

Our discussions covered a wide range of subjects including East/West relations, the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the situation in Greece and the Far East. We also discussed the Middle East crisis, which has important consequences for Norway, particularly on the question of shipping. My visit came at an opportune moment for a useful exchange of views on the integration of Western Europe in the light of our applications for membership of the European Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the United Kingdom has not yet acceded to the United Nations Protocol on the Status of Refugees.

We have not yet been able to accede because time is still required to ascertain the views of all the overseas territories which would be committed by our accession. We hope, however, to accede in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals have Her Majesty's Government put to the Israeli Government regarding the Middle East settlement; and if he will make a statement.

My consultations with foreign Governments must be confidential, and it would, therefore, not be appropriate for me to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the Middle East; and if he will make a statement.

When I visited New York for the 22nd session of the General Assembly, I had consultations with President Johnson and with a large number of Foreign Ministers of Middle Eastern and other interested countries and with the United Nations Secretary General. Since then I have remained in continuous consultation personally or through diplomatic channels with the Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from other Governments about British trade, and trade carried in British-registered shipping, with North Vietnam; what is the nature, and the extent, of such trade; what replies have been made to such representations; and whether he will make a statement.

The United States Government have discussed the situation with us on a number of occasions. We do not believe that the visits by British Flag ships to North Vietnam contribute in any material sense to the North Vietnamese war effort. Our trade with North Vietnam is very small and is subject to the normal controls on the export of strategic goods to certain countries. The trade figures for 1965 and 1966 were given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary on 12th June to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish). In the first nine months of 1967 the two-way trade was about £106,000. I have no definite information about foreign cargoes carried on British Flag ships but the number of such ships is small. —[Vol. 748, c. 6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what new initiative he proposes to make on Vietnam.

I have nothing to add to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave on 20th November to my hon. Friend and to my hon. Friends the Members for Falmouth and Camborne (Dr. John Dunwoody) and Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) and to the hon. Gentlemen the Members for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) and Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker).—[Vol. 754, c. 905–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the United Arab Republic has now withdrawn its armed forces from the Yemen, in accordance with United Nations requirements; and whether he will make a statement.

Reports we have suggest that the United Arab Republic forces in the Yemen are withdrawing rapidly and that withdrawal should be complete by mid-December in accordance with the agreement reached between the United Arab Republic and Saudi Arabia during the Khartoum conference last August.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he intends to continue the annual aid of £50 million to whatever Government takes over in South Arabia.

I have nothing to add to what I said on this subject in the Foreign Affairs debate on 2nd November. This is clearly one of the matters for negotiation to which I referred in my statement on South Arabia on 14th November. The hon. Member appears to be thinking of three years' anticipated expenditure rather than one.—[Vol. 753, c. 340; Vol. 754, c. 226.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which treaties or declarations, bilateral, multilateral or in pursuance of United Nations Security Council resolutions, continue to bind Her Majesty's Government to support the territorial integrity or the restoration of Governments representing democratic self-determination in Bulgaria, Hungary, Rumania, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Her Majesty's Government recognise only the present Governments of Bulgaria, Hungary, Rumania, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Her Majesty's Government recognise that Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have been incorporated de facto into the Soviet Union but have not recognised this de jure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will list the outstanding international obligations bilateral, multilateral and in pursuance of the United Nations Security Council resolutions which require Her Majesty's Government to support the restoration of the territorial integrity and/or political independence of any country.

So far as I can ascertain, without exhaustive research, there is at present no international legal instrument or resolution of the Security Council which lays upon Her Majesty's Government a binding obligation to support the restoration of the territorial integrity and/or political independence of any State. It is, of course, possible that, by virtue of Article 25 of the United Nations Charter, Her Majesty's Government might be involved in obligations of this nature in the future, pursuant to a decision of the Security Council in that sense in a particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the light of the Gibraltar Referendum result, he will now undertake not to include the question of sovereignty in the renewed Anglo-Spanish talks on Gibraltar; and whether he will undertake that the talks will deal with Anglo-Spanish relations as a whole including Gibraltar, and not as separable issues.

I have nothing to add to the replies which I have given earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Colin Jackson) and Goole (Mr. George Jeger) and to the hon. Member for Horn-castle (Mr. Tapsell).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position relating to the closure of the Suez Canal.

I have nothing to add to what I said in the debate on the Address on 2nd November.—[Vol. 753, c. 343–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimate he has made of the levels of unemployment in the development areas which will finally result from the regional employment premia and other analogous measures of differential regional assistance.

Our approximation would be that the total effect of all present measures over a period of years should be to reduce the margin between average unemployment in the Development Areas and in the rest of the country by appreciably over one-half.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if, in view of the continuing influx of immigrants especially of women and children, and the possibility of continuing uncontrolled large scale immigration from East Africa, he will ask the National Institute of Economic and Social Research to expedite its report on the economic effects of immigration.

No. We need a thorough and wide-ranging study and no useful purpose would be served by asking for the report to be expedited.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new legislation he proposes to introduce to enforce the new wage and salary standstill which his devaluation policy necessitates; when this will be introduced; for how long it will run; whether this will apply to the lower-paid workers; and how many he estimates they are.

I have been asked to reply. None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Scots Greys.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Clark Hutchison) in reply to a similar Question of 15th November.—[Vol. 754, c. 132.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the representations he has received so far from authoritative British and foreign bodies asking that a defence base should not be built on Aldabra; and whether he will place copies of them in the Library.

The following is a list of bodies from which I have received representations this year:

• The Royal Society.
• The Royal Society of Edinburgh.
• The British Ornithologists' Union.
• The Section on Conservation of Terrestrial Communities of the International Biological Programme.
• The British Section of the International Council for Bird Preservation.
• The National Audubon Society of the U.S.A.
• The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
• The Paleontological Society of the Department of Geography of the University of Illinois.
• The Labour Peace Fellowship.
• The Eltham Social Progress Group.
• The Wildfowlers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland.
• The Honolulu Zoo.

It would not be proper for me to place copies of representations in the Library without reference to the originators, who will no doubt publish their representations themselves if they so wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what sums of money were spent in the year 1966–67 by the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force on advertisements and other publicity for the purpose of recruitment.