asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the extra number of visitors who will come to Great Britain in 1970 as a result of devaluation.

I am sure that many extra visitors will come, but I am no prepared to hazard a guess at the exact number.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to attract tourists from the Common Market countries to Great Britain in 1968.

The Board of Trade will continue to support, financially and in other ways, the work of the British Travel Association in promoting tourism from these countries to Great Britain

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his latest estimate of the investment intentions of private manufacturing and service industry, respectively.

The available information was published in theBoard of Trade Journalof 26th January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will vary the boundaries of development areas in advance of the publication of the Hunt Report where regional circumstances warrant such action.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to vary the boundaries of development areas whenever he is convinced that circumstances justify such action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the recent acceptance by the Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development of the scheme for according tariff preferences to developing countries in the markets of member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The O.E.C.D. Ministerial Council, meeting on 1st December, 1967, agreed to support the principle of granting special tariff treatment to imports from developing countries.This is in line with the policy which has been consistently pursued by Her Majesty's Government, and I welcome it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken, following devaluation, to strengthen export advisory services.

The Board of Trade's advisory services to exporters are continuously reviewed and improvements introduced as and when practicable. The Board of Trade and the Overseas Departments made a special review immediately after devaluation to ensure that staffs were adequate to deal with the increase volume of work that was expected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the 1968 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

The Government's policy has been set forth in the speech made at the Conference on 6th February by my right hon. Friend, the text of which will be placed in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories have been let since October, 1964, in Scotland; and how many people are now working in these factories.

Twenty-one and 1,380 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories in Scotland are currently awaiting occupation.

Tenants have yet to be found for 17 completed advance factories in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories are in the county of Durham; and how many are engaged in production.

There are 22 completed advance factories in the county of Durham; of these, 15 are in production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to set up publicly-owned industry in advance factories that have been unoccupied for more than six months.

Advance factories are available for occupation by any publicly-owned industries which can provide suitable employment in Development Areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now entered into negotiations with the county borough of Sunderland about the acquisition of land for factory building at Pennywell.

Not yet, but we hope to do so very soon.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrialists have inspected the Leven No. 1 advance factory since it was completed almost a year ago.

We have suggested this factory to eleven firms for whom it might have been suitable and two of them have visited it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take to find occupants for empty factories at North Skelton in Cleveland.

There are no untenanted factories on the Board's Industrial Estate at North Skelton; one which has been empty, though leased, is shortly going into production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many men and women, respectively, are currently employed in advance factories in Scotland included in programmes announced since October, 1964.

388 and 396.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many completed advance factories in Scotland were without tenants on 1st January, 1968.

Tenants have yet to be found for 17 completed advance factories in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will increase the grant to the Consumer Council so as to enable them to develop their Teltag programme and to launch a local experiment in dealing with consumer complaints.

The grant-in-aid for 1968–69 is still under consideration, but I do not think that in present circumstances any significant increase will be possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take on the recommendations of the report on invisible earnings.

After consultation with the Government, the Governor of the Bank of England and the British National Export Council will shortly set up a Committee with the task of suggesting and, where possible, implementing measures for the encouragement of invisible earnings in the light of the conclusions and recommendations of the Report. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the new Committee will be appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Chairman of the British National Export Council, and will be members of the Council. The membership of the Committee will be widely representative of the interests concerned including Government Departments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what evidence he has of company profit margins during 1967 compared with the preceding year; and what estimate he has made of future likely trends in profit margins over the coming 18 months.

Figures are not yet available for 1967, but indirect evidence suggests a small increase compared with 1966. Some further increase is likely in the next eighteen months, resulting from higher production and the increased profitability of exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to encourage new industries into Normanton. West Riding, in view of proposed colliery closures in the area.

I am prepared to consider sympathetically applications for industrial development certificates for Normanton.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on United Kingdom trade with South Africa.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage exports to South Africa.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the approximate value of British exports to South Africa in the latest available period of 12 months; and what steps he is taking to increase these exports.

The f.o.b. value of United Kingdom exports to South Africa in 1967 was £257 million compared with £243 million in 1966. All the export promotion facilities and services of the Board of Trade and the Export Credits Guarantee Department are available as appro- priate to assist British exporters to South Africa, including assistance to eleven export trade missions which will visit South Africa during 1968 under arrangements made in conjunction with the Southern Africa Area Committee of the B.N.E.C.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the increase in the cost of living caused by the cost of packaging in excess of that necessary for the protection of the goods sold.

No such estimate is possible. The amount of packaging necessary for the protection of any particular goods is clearly a matter of opinion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total value of undistributed enemy property for which the Enemy Property Branch of his Department is responsible.

The total value of the assets for which the Enemy Property Branch is responsible is about £12·6 million. Not all of this can, however, be regarded as distributable under existing or prospective legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that exporters of wool and allied products sell for forward delivery, often 12 to 18 months ahead, and that their costs have been increased by the effect of devaluation on raw material prices, by increased Bank Rate and by loss of the export subsidy; and what steps he will take to assist those who have made commitments on a long-term basis.

I am aware of these factors. However, I am sure that they will be outweighed by the opportunities afforded by devaluation.As far as the export rebate is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions in the Revenue (No. 2) Bill introduced on 31st January.My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has already indicated to the House on 23rd January that the Government has no responsibility for losses sustained by traders on forward contracts.—[Vol. 757, c. 65–6.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the values of imported cotton textiles for each of the last two financial years and the figure to date for the current year.

£100 million in 1965–66, £102 million in 1966–67 and £81 million in the first 9 months of this financial year. The figures relate to yarn, fabrics and made-up articles of cotton and include imports of cotton textiles for process and re-export.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now satisfied that foreign supplies of silicones are being dumped in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The Board of Trade announced on 22nd December, 1967 that they were considering an application for the imposition of an antidumping duty on silicone surfactants imported from the United States of America. The Board hope to complete their investigations within a month from now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the extent and nature of the trade between Aberdeen and Australia and New Zealand; what estimate he has made of the effect of devaluation on that trade; and what steps he has taken, or plans to take, since devaluation to protect and develop further that trade and the relevant trade communications.

Exports from Aberdeen to Australia and New Zealand include machinery, knitwear, confectionery, fish and fish products, paints and varnishes. Only industry itself can assess the opportunities offered by devaluation for increasing the export of particular products to particular markets, but the full facilities of the Board of Trade are available to assist Aberdeen firms to exploit these opportunities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken during the last six months and what further steps he plans to take to improve trade communications between Aberdeen and European countries.

The development of these services is a matter for the industries concerned in the exercise of their commercial judgment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent there has been an increase in inquiries by industrialists to the Export Intelligence Department following devaluation.

The number of inquiries dealt with by Export Intelligence, which includes the Export Services Branch and the export sections of the Board's Regional Officers, has increased by approximately 10 per cent. following devaluation. In the first week the number of inquiries received directly in response to the Export Intelligence advertisements in the national Press more than doubled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of security cover required from industrial firms when loans are provided by his Department.

Loans under the Local Employment Acts are made in accordance with terms and conditions recommended by the Board of Trade Advisory Committee who act in accordance with general directions given to them by the Board with the consent of the Treasury. The directions state that the security shall be the best which the circumstances of the particular case permit and the judgment in this matter is one for the Committee alone to make.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken by his Department in connection with the proposed export of handcuffs from this country to South Africa.

Handcuffs are not arms and their export is not controlled to any destination except for Rhodesia to which a general trade embargo applies. British firms are thus free to tender.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the glass component of the breathalyser phials, as used by the police, is not made in this country instead of West Germany.

The source of the glass component is a matter for the manufacturers; we cannot require the incorporation of British tubes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what authority the snack-bar trading under the name of Tiddy-Oggy (Cornish Pasties) Limited was requested to fill up a detailed census of production form of over 60 questions for the year 1968 under cover of a letter sent to 194 Heath Road, Twickenham.

By the authority of Parliament.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to increase Great Britain's trade with China during 1968.

The normal range of export services is available to assist British exporters to China. I do not think that we can do more in prevailing circumstances, but if any practicable further measures are suggested I am willing to consider them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the annual sales levels of those soap powders made by Unilever, and Proctor and Gamble, which are advertised and of those which are not, respectively.

I cannot disclose detailed figures, which are confidential, but the companies inform me that about one-quarter of their sales of heavy duty washing powders are of the less advertised brands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the United States Government on the effect of their proposed export rebate on British trade.

The United States Administration have not so far announced their intention to introduce an export rebate. Her Majesty's Government's views are well known to them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he took to ensure that full and careful consideration was given to the application by the Association of International Accountants for recognition under Section 161(1,a) of the Companies Act, 1948.

I can assure my hon. Friend that I gave full and careful consideration to the application.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with certain bodies of accountants pursuant to his undertakings given in Standing Committee E on 21st March. 1967.

The Board of Trade invited the bodies in question to apply for recognition under Section 161(1,a) of the Companies Act, 1948. The applications of two of the bodies have been rejected. The application of the third is being examined. I have received a deputation from the Association of International Accountants and have undertaken to consider some further representations from this body.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the total annual import saving, at current prices for bauxite and aluminium, of implementing the Government proposals for the construction of two smelters of total capacity of 240,000 tons.

The import saving from manufacturing 240,000 tons of aluminium here from imported alumina, instead of importing the aluminium, would be in the region of £35 million. The level of aluminium imports still needed when production had reached this point would however depend on our consumption, which is increasing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what consideration he has given to a protective tariff against imported aluminium as a means of establishing an aluminium smelting industry without Government subsidies.

We have treaty commitments to admit unwrought aluminium duty free.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why an industrial development certificate was refused to John Zink and Company Limited of St. Albans for an extension to their existing factory.

The development could not be carried out consistently with the proper distribution of industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on granting industrial development certificates in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

I am prepared to consider on their merits applications for industrial development certificates by local firms for developments suited to the needs and resources of the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that some suppliers of,inter alia, television sets are evading the Control of Hiring Orders by requiring only a token deposit and lending the balance of the purchase price which is to be repayable over a period at a high rate of interest; and how he proposes to prevent these methods of getting round the existing law.

Yes. On 13th December my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Royton (Mr. Barnett), asked all firms providing finance for instalment purchases of such goods to exercise restraint. I have had discussions with some of the firms concerned and am considering whether any further measures are necessary.—[Vol. 756, c. 178–9.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what economies are proposed for Gatwick Airport; and what is their precise nature.

In 1968–69 chiefly a saving of £160,000 on account of the postponement of the installation of new apron lighting. In 1969–70 the British Airports Authority expect to achieve a further saving of nearly £½ million through the rephasing of works on the present runway.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what financial inducements he intends to offer to industry to prevent the growing scale of redundancy in the Yorkshire-Humberside Region.

We have no present plans to offer any additional financial inducements to industry in the Yorkshire-Humberside Region.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what part of the adverse trade balance of £565 million in 1967 he attributes to Anglo-United States trade; what were the total British exports to the United States of America in 1967 and the total imports from the United States of America; and how much of this country's adverse balance in the United States trade may be attributed to purchase of United States tobacco to replace Rhodesian tobacco.

Exports in 1967 to the United States were £609 million f.o.b. and imports £803 million c.i.f. The difference between these figures is not, however, a good measure of the visible trade balance with the United States because, for instance, of the differences in valuation. It is not possible to estimate the cost to the balance of payments of purchasing United States tobacco instead of tobacco from Rhodesia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the total British exports in 1967 compared,ad valoremand percentage growth or otherwise, with 1966; what estimate, having regard to devaluation of sterling, he has made for total British exports in 1968; and what steps he proposes to take to offset the discouragement to British exporters caused by withdrawal of the exports incentive, excepting the European Free Trade Association, averaging 2 per cent.

Exports were slightly lower in value last year than in 1966; I expect a substantial increase in the sterling value of our exports this year. As regards the last part of the Question, devaluation is in itself a much more powerful incentive to exporters than the export rebate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to ensure fair access for British vehicles to the Japanese market on terms as favourable as Japanese vehicles enjoy in Great Britain.

The import into Japan of new complete motor vehicles is free of quantitative restriction, and, as a result of the Kennedy Round, Japanese vehicle tariffs are due to be progressively reduced. I am aware of certain other problems and we take every suitable opportunity to press the Japanese Government on these.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken by his Department to follow up and consolidate the promotional activities in Canada during the Centennial year.

British exporters—especially those who participated in last year's events—alone can ensure that full advantage is taken of them. The Government services in Canada and at home are ready to give all the help they can, and we are supporting a number of smaller promotions there this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that, despite the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development proposal to extend trade preference to all developing countries, Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will maintain a first preference for imports from Commonwealth countries and territories.

As my right hon. Friend has said in his speech at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development now meeting at New Delhi, the relation between a future generalised system of preferences and the existing system under which many developing countries already benefit raises most intricate questions, on which the countries concerned will have to make their own judgments in the light of the details of whatever general scheme emerges from the U.N.C.T.A.D. conference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, since he has designated Shotts as a special area, what specific action he proposes to ensure that work will be available for miners who become redundant.

Subject to the satisfactory outcome of technical investigations, my right hon. Friend has decided in principle to buy some 10 acres in the Shotts area in order to encourage industry to develop there. The special measures announced on 14th November should also help to attract industry to this part of North Lanark-shire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his proposals to bring work to the Newmains-Cleland area and the Plains-Caldercruix area, both of which have been hit by pit closures and redundancies, from other employment.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to use his powers under the Local Employment Acts to assist any suitable projects which wish to establish themselves in North Lanark-shire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the Rhodesian tobacco still in stock in the United Kingdom to be exhausted; and whether he is satisfied as to the availability of future imports.

How long the existing stocks of Rhodesian tobacco in the United Kingdom will last depends upon the rate at which manufacturers consider it prudent to use them. As the import of Rhodesian tobacco is illegal, the question of future availability should not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been received and how many granted for loans to hoteliers under the Government's £5 million one-year scheme.

101 applications were received during the first twelve months. A further seven have been received since 1st January, 1968, following the extension of the scheme for a further three months. Fourteen loans have been offered so far.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to amend the Import Duties Act, 1958, where it is preventing prompt action on rebates of duty to exporters; and if he will make a statement.

The Act requires the Board of Trade to recommend whether duty relief should be granted in the interests of exports and in the national interest, having regard to the interests of United Kingdom producers. I would not accept that these requirements have the effects suggested by my hon. Friend but if he has any particular amendment in mind, I am willing to consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he has yet received any applications for grants to factories in the industrial estate constructed by Taylor Woodrow at Tannochside; and if he will make a statement.

It is not the practice to disclose such information concerning specific developments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the volume and cost of cyclamates imported into the United Kingdom during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what is his estimate of the probable increase in the volume and cost of such imports during the 12 months following the recent introduction of the artificial sweeteners in food regulations permitting the unrestricted use of such cyclamates in food.

385 tons valued at £100,000 (c.i.f.) in 1967. The extent to which the level of imports of cyclamates might rise as a result of the new regulations will depend on the extent to which food manufacturers make use of these artificial sweeteners and how far they meet their needs from home production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will categorise by volume and value the textile imports from the European Free Trade Association countries for 1967;(2) whether he will categorise by volume and value the textile exports to the European Free Trade Association countries for 1967.

The information is as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultation he had with women's organisations and consumer interests before appointing the new Chairman of the Consumer Council.

None. I am well acquainted with the new Chairman's personal qualities and background, which in my view make him an admirable choice for this post.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions he has amended the recommendation of the Board of Trade Advisory Committee; and what were the reasons for doing so.

My right hon. Friend has not amended the recommendations of the Committee. In the case of loans and general purpose grants he has no power to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what instructions have been issued to the Board of Trade Advisory Committee as a consequence of the Government's recent economic measures.

The general Directions to the Committee have not been changed as a consequence of the Government's recent economic measures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has regarding the functions of the Board of Trade Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement.

The functions of the Committee arise from the requirements of the Local Employment Acts. The work of the Committee is kept under continuous review, but I have no statement to make at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to give assistance to meet the difficulties of firms in the cotton and man-made fibre industry which are able to demonstrate efficiency criteria comparable to the efficiencies in the Common Market countries.

No. I am not prepared to anticipate the results of the Textile Council's study into productivity and efficiency in the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to prohibit the imprinting with the slogan ' I'm Backing Britain,' by firms in Great Britain of shirts imported from Portugal and subsequently marketed in this country and abroad.

It is an offence under the Merchandise Marks Acts to apply any statement or mark to goods so as to amount to a false or misleading indication of their origin. It is a matter for the courts to decide in any particular case whether such an offence has been committed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many receiving orders under the Bankruptcy Act, 1914 were made in 1967; how these figures compare with 1965 and 1966; and how many were made against individuals and how many against partnerships.

In 1967 the number of Receiving Orders was 4,194 of which 3,925 were against individuals and 269 against partnerships. The comparable figures for 1965 were 3,528, 3,322 and 206 respectively and, for 1966, 3,835, 3,600 and 235 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refrain from acceding to the Berne Copyright Convention as modified by the Stockholm Protocol.

The Government has no present intention of acceding to this Convention.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what British weeks are proposed to be held overseas during the next two years to stimulate exports.

Major British Weeks will be held in Stockholm from 27th September to 5th October, 1968, and in Tokyo from 26th September to 5th October, 1969. It is also proposed to mount a major British Week in Vienna during October, 1969.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will carry out and publish a Government survey of expanding exports markets for British goods.

Surveys of particular markets of special interest to British exporters are published regularly in the Board of Trade Journal and the Export Service Bulletin. In general it is the Government's policy to bring to the notice of industry all specific opportunities for selling British goods as and when they become known.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what measures he is taking to enable manufacturers of complementary products to use the same export agents and facilities.

I am putting in hand in my Department a special investigation into the possibility of introducing some form of Government-sponsored group representation scheme as a means of helping small manufacturers who cannot afford overseas salesmen of their own. The inquiry will explore the demand within industry for a service of this kind and will look into the various methods of group selling which are already in use by British firms and by firms in other countries. Suitable products and markets for a pilot exercise will also be identified if the results of the initial research are favourable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what particular help he gives to small highly specialised firms to promote their products overseas.

The full range of services given or sponsored by Government to assist exporters is available to firms of all sizes and to all classes of industry. Arrangements exist for helping small firms new to exporting to get in touch with established exporters willing to assist them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce a new Companies Bill to supplement the provisions of the Companies Act, 1967.

We hope, later in this Parliament, to propose legislation to deal with the Jenkins Committee's recommendations which were not dealt with in last year's Companies Act, and will consider other proposals.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish as a White Paper a summary of the decisions taken at the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development II.

I will bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to the notice of my right hon. Friend, who will no doubt wish to await the outcome of the Conference before deciding.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why he permits the import of lard into this country;(2) why he permits the import of celery into this country.

In the interests of British consumers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now received the report of his inspectors into the affairs of Town Centre Properties; and what action he proposes to take on its conclusions.

The report of the inspectors appointed by the Board of Trade to investigate the affairs of Town Centre Properties Ltd. and Star Explorations Ltd. was received on 16th June, 1966.The report was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions under Section 169(1) of the Companies Act, 1948.The report was published on 1st February, 1968.

asked the President at the Board of Trade whether he is taking steps to refer the merger of the National Provincial Bank and the Westminster Bank to the Monopolies Commission.

No. I do not consider that this proposed merger contains sufficient risk of detriment to the public interest to warrant investigation by the Monopolies Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what criteria he determines whether or not to approve major mergers in British industry.

My right hon. Friend refers mergers to the Monopolies Commission when it appears that the question of possible detriment to the public interest should be investigated.