asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will set up a development division in East Africa.

It is not our present intention to set up a Development Division in East Africa.

Is the Minister aware that the Development Division in the Middle East is held in very high regard and has done valuable work, notwithstanding the political conflicts there? Is he also aware that the Development Division in the West Indies is working extremely well? Could he give further consideration to the possiblity of this technique being used in Africa?

I certainly agree that the two Development Divisions are doing excellent work, and we hope to set up other Divisions in appropriate circumstances. I doubt whether the circumstances in East Africa make it either possible or desirable to set up a Development Division there at this moment, particularly having regard to the fact that countries in East Africa have retained a good number of expatriate officers in their service, and our High Commissions there are reasonably well staffed. Moreover, our advisory staff in London are able to keep in close touch with local conditions.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what studies his Department is making of the development of intermediate technology as an aid to developing countries.

The Tropical Products Institute, which is one of the Ministry's technical branches, has for many years been advising developing countries on the use of appropriate technology for the development of indigenous industries, and is itself developing new processes or equipment where appropriate ones are not available. Advisory and development work on agricultural machinery is being done at the Ministry's expense by the Overseas Liaison Unit of the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering. We are in close touch in a number of ways with the Intermediate Technology Development Group.

I welcome that reply. Is the Minister aware that there is a school of opinion which believes that this is a valuable form of aid to developing countries, which could also be of benefit to our own companies who are exporting small tools, and so forth?

Yes, I am well aware of this school of opinion, and my right hon. Friend and I had a meeting with leading personalities in the Intermediate Technology Development Group only this week.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what study he has made of the reasons for the drop in the volume of British private capital invested in developing countries during 1966 when compared to 1965; and if he will make a statement.

It is not possible to discern a trend on the basis of two years' figures, but about one-third of the decline was due to fluctuations in oil and portfolio investment. The 1966 figure is still provisional, and the detailed country analysis of direct investment which would be necessary for a study is not available.

Is not one of the major causes of this decline the lack of insurance against political risks? Will the Minister say with how many countries we now have treaties for the protection of private investments? Is it still only one country?

I need notice of the latter part of the question in order to give a figure. On the earlier part of the question, political disturbances, sometimes with violence, have been a factor in this. The hon. Member is making a comparison with 1965, which was a higher year than the preceding years. It would probably be more objective to take a longer view of the problem.

Is it not the fact that this country is almost alone among advanced industrial countries in not having a system of insurance against political risk? Does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that it is high time for the Government to take another look at this?

That is a question for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. We have to bear in mind the present balance of payments problems and the difficulties of giving new direct incentives to individual overseas investment at this stage.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a further satement about the progress of negotiations on aid to the South Yemen Republic.

As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs informed the House on 13th May—[Vol. 764, c. 182–3], negotiations with the Southern Yemen Government broke down on 10th May when that Government rejected our offer of further aid. We shall therefore be giving no further financial aid to South Yemen beyond the £12 million interim aid agreed at the Geneva negotiations last November.

Is the Minister aware that I am glad that these negotiations have broken down, and is he further aware that the people of this country think that these people have no moral claim upon them?

I had guessed that the hon. Gentleman would be glad. We were, of course, obliged under the Geneva Agreements to hold these further discussions. I think that we can now say that we have discharged that obligation.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that for 150 years, this country exploited the facilities of Aden for the benefit of our Fleet, shipping and Imperial interests? Would he not agree that, whatever the misfortunes which have occurred in recent years, which I regret as much as any other hon. Member, there may still be some moral obligation to the people of that part of the world?

My own attitude to this matter has been governed neither by that point of view exactly, nor that of the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison). I have been concerned, as I have had to be, with the development potential here and the effective use to which aid might be put. In these matters, it is essential to look to the future rather than to the past. Bearing in mind all the considerations, our offer was a very modest one, and the negotiations broke down.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps he is taking, in view of the need to stimulate world food production, to encourage young scientists, particularly agricultural scientists, to prepare themselves for work in developing countries.

We now provide a comprehensive scheme of postgraduate studentships. It covers agricultural, veterinary and other natural resources subjects. Academic study and practical training can both be provided, in Britain or overseas. Recipients of these studentships are expected to work for several years afterwards in developing countries.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that answer will give great satisfaction to those of us who believe that the best way to help the developing countries is by teaching them to help themselves? Can he say how students can obtain more information about the scheme, how many awards there are, and what is the amount of money involved?

I welcome the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. As for finding out more about the scheme, we have prepared a special pamphlet which is being distributed to universities and other institutions. For the present year, up to 40 awards will be available, and this year's selection process is well under way. The estimated cost of this Natural Resources Scheme is £55,000 in the current financial year.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what help we are giving through the F.A.O. in Rome and its subsidiary organisations dealing with the developing countries?

We take a full part in the conferences and committees of the F.A.O., and we make a general subscription to its funds which is available for training.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what machinery exists for consultation with British industry at the planning stage before decisions are taken on the allocation of aid.

It is not practicable to hold consultations with industry at the planning stage, but there are many contacts between my department and industry on matters concerning their interests. These interests are given full weight when aid allocations are planned.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that the Government's admitted failure to consult British business interests over the compensatory aid arrangements for Singapore will not be repeated? Can he say what specific action is being taken by the Government to implement the recommendations of the Cromer Committee in this regard?

We are considering carefully the recommendations of the Cromer Committee. I cannot make a statement on it at the moment. Certainly I do not admit a failure to consult industry over Singapore and Malaysia. There have been a number of contacts, both in those countries and in this country, with the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement about the results of his Department's recent investigation of the market value of land in Kenya.

I regret I am not yet in a position to make a statement about this as the report of the British Government valuer is still under consideration by the Kenya Government and ourselves.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a matter of great importance, as market value is the basis of all land valuation in Kenya? Is he further aware that now that only Kenya citizens are allowed to buy or rent land there is considerable doubt whether there is a market value for small mixed farms?

I agree about the importance of this, and that is why an investigation has been made recently. However, I would ask the hon. Gentleman to await a more appropriate moment.

Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that all offers on the valuation of land under the Million Acre Scheme and the later scheme are made known to the British High Commission?

Yes, that is the position.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what post-independence financial aid will be provided for Swaziland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply my right hon. Friend gave him on the 11th April concerning British aid to Swaziland up to March, 1969—[Vol. 762; c. 1557.] We intend to hold talks with the Swaziland Government in the autumn to discuss the question of aid after March, 1969.

Can the hon. Gentleman confirm that these talks will be held before independence? Is it not a fact that this is what the Swazi Government have been pressing for, and that it is in accordance with the precedents of other independent States in Southern Africa?

The date of the talks is under discussion, but a team from our Ministry will be going to Swaziland in July, which will be before independence, to have preliminary discussions about the future development plans of Swaziland.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what has been the value of capital, budgetary and technical assistance to Botswana in each of the past 10 years; and what it is estimated to be in 1968–69.

As a large number of figures are involved, I will, with permission, circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The figures show that our total aid to Botswana has increased from

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what provisions; he intends to make this year for Egypt; and for what purpose.

£750 for completing the training of a U.A.R. laboratory technician in the United Kingdom, plus the cost of any other requests for technical

Is my hon. Friend aware of the current investigations into the considerable mineral resources of Botswana, and can he assure the House that Her Majesty's Government will see the country through to the exploitation of them so that the point of economic take-off can be reached as soon as possible?

I am aware that important copper deposits have been discovered in Botswana and that the United Nations Development Programme is at present undertaking a survey. It is a little premature to forecast the effect on Botswana's economy and, therefore, it is premature for me to be asked exactly for the guarantee which my hon. Friend seeks.

While not quarel-ling with the trivial nature of these figures, does the right hon. Gentleman accept that it would be quite inappropriate to grant any appreciable aid to a country which is both unlawfully detaining British ships and planning military aggression against its neighbour?

Considerations of that kind are taken into account along with others. Certainly it is not the present intention to provide any substantial financial aid programme to the U.A.R.

Does my right hon. Friend really believe that any aid granted to the Egyptians will make them less subservient to the Soviet Union? Is he aware that President Nasser has just announced that in July he is asking all his friends in the Arab States to get ready for another act of aggression against the State of Israel?

Yes, Sir. As I said earlier, there is no intention to give any substantial financial aid to the U.A.R. The only kind of programme that we are engaged in is one of technical assistance on a very modest scale. I am sure that my right hon. Friend would not quarrel with that.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what proposals were put forward by Her Majesty's Government at the meeting of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development held on 8th and 9th May.

These Meetings are confidential to participants, and it is not customary to divulge the views expressed by individual members.

Can the Minister say what consideration has been given in the conversations between him and his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fiscal incentives for private investors? Can he say, further, what other proposals he has made for the consideration of arrangements between Government agencies and private investors?

That goes rather wider than the Question. Certainly the meeting of the D.A.C. was concerned with private investment in developing countries, but it is not the practice to make a statement afterwards about the attitudes taken by the respective countries.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he is now able to assess the full effect of devaluation on United Kingdom aid to developing countries.

I have nothing to add to the answers I gave on 18th January to my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) and others.— [Vol. 756, c. 1929–32.]

Does my right hon. Friend accept that the technical assistance part of his programme is probably the most vital part? Will he ensure that it is maintained at the previous level, regardless of the effects of devaluation on other parts of his programme?

I have told the House already that inducement allowances to technical assistance personnel serving overseas have been adjusted to take account of devaluation. This was the major effect that devaluation would have had on that part of the programme. We have taken care of that.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps have been taken in the last year, in the context of both the British Volunteer Programme and the Voluntary Service Overseas Cadet Volunteer Programme, to interest both sides of industry in service overseas by volunteers.

Last year I had discussions with both sides of industry. These meetings have been followed up by the sending societies and the Ministry in various ways. Both the British Volunteer Programme and Voluntary Service Overseas's own cadet scheme have been brought to the attention of individual trade unions and industrial firms on several occasions.

Can my hon. Friend enlarge a little further on that and say whether all these approaches have yet produced any change in recruitment?

The C.B.I. has given publicity to our volunteer programme in its education and training bulletins. Articles on volunteer service have appeared in a number of trade union publications. The C.B.I. and the trade unions have been acquainted with the nature of the posts which it is hoped volunteers will fill. It is too early to give a full figure about recruitment from industry for the present year, but provisional information already indicates that there will be an increase over last year.

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether, in connection with a letter which I wrote to him recently about dissemination of information on overseas aid to schools when this comes about, he will take steps to improve this dissemination and other possibilities of careers for young people in overseas aid development?

We have debated this on previous occasions in the House. While I accept the spirit of the hon. Member's supplementary question, he should have in mind that volunteer service is mainly a matter for graduates from the universities. Sixth forms of schools are not necessarily the best places in which to do our recruiting. Universities are the places where we make a direct approach, but we convey as much information to schools as we can.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the non-graduate field is one of the most important and that what we want desperately is practical young men going for experience in industry?

Yes, Sir. I probably misled the House. I was distinguishing in my supplementary answer between universities and sixth forms. I entirely agree with what my right hon. Friend said about the need for industrial volunteers, people with qualifications which are equal to those of a graduate but of an industrial kind. It is in this field that we are making special efforts.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what allowance he has made for the effects of devaluation on aid to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member on 11th April.—[Vol. 762, c. 288.]

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the money is being spent in the right way as in fact the exports are still at the 1960 level and the deficit is 3½ million dollars?

I would require notice of the question about the exact way in which the money is being spent, but the Question relates to increase in aid to take account of devaluation. I assure the hon. Member that this has been taken care of.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what special assistance this country has given the island of Rodrigues in its recent successive hurricane disasters.

In these sad circumstances Her Majesty's Government have given emergency relief amounting to £8,000 to help with the immediate problem. I have told our High Commissioner that I will consider sympathetically any proposal by the Mauritius Government for using some of our aid at present allocated to that country to meet the cost of longer term restoration work in Rodrigues.

Does not the recurrence of these disasters emphasise the need for some British naval presence in the Indian Ocean? Could the hon. Gentleman discuss this matter with the Minister of Defence?

That, of course, is not a matter for my Ministry, but I will call the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what estimate he has made of the effect the new arrangements, whereby the United States contribution to the International Development Association will be called on to meet disbursements on new credits only for the amount needed to finance procurement in the United States of America, will have on the level of British exports arising from International Development Association loans.

I have no reason to believe that the level of British exports will be affected by these arrangements.

In view of the Minister's Answer on 14th March, it seems rather surprising that American aid will be tied. Does the right hon. Gentleman still believe that every £ contribution of international aid will still result in 30s. of British exports, despite the tying of this contribution to I.D.A.?

There is some misunderstanding here, which is not surprising in view of the complication of the subject, but the aid will not be tied. The arrangement is that American aid will be drawn down in the early stages at the rate of American procurement but the American commitment over three-year period will be the same. They will be able to postpone some of their contributions but they will come in later. This will have a relative effect on our exports in the earlier part of the period but we will catch up in the later part.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what aid is being offered to Singapore and Malaysia to help offset the effects of the planned withdrawal of the British forces.

Her Majesty's Government have offered £50 million to Singapore and £25 million to Malaysia for commitment over the next five years. As much as possible of the aid will be directed to the provision of British goods and services. Initially expenditure will be met as necessary from the Civil Contingencies Fund and supplementary estimates will be presented to the House in due course.

Her Majesty's Government have also undertaken to hand over, without charge, all defence lands and fixed assets required by the two Governments for their economic or defence plans, together with any surplus non-operational movable equipment needed to maintain these assets as going concerns. These lands and assets will thereafter become the responsibility of the Governments concerned.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Is this aid coming out of the overall normal aid budget or is it additional?

My Department will be responsible for this programme and the aid will be on our Vote, but it will be above the £205 million normal aid programme; it will be additional to that.

The right hon. Gentleman has just said that the bulk of this aid he hopes will be devoted to the provision of British goods and services. In the light of his previous Answer, can he tell the House at what stage there is consultation between his Department and British industry in this country and British commercial interests in Malaysia and Singapore?

As I have already told the hon. Member, there has been a good deal of consultation already, and this will continue. There will also, of course, be direct discussions, in which we are engaging, between the Governments of Singapore and Malaysia and commercial interests. For example, the Prime Minister of Singapore, who has been in London for the last few days, has had meetings with the C.B.I. and other industrial interests.

Is no British lien to be maintained over these defence facilities, because these are very solid assets which we are giving away?

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

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what action has so far been taken by Her Majesty's Government to implement the various plans put forward at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development meeting in New Delhi.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made a statement to the House on 8th April covering the outcome of the Conference as a whole, including the agreements on the aid target and supplementary finance, which are the responsibility of my Department. I am replying to a separate Question on the aid target. We intend to co-operate actively in the further work on the scheme for supplementary finance.—[Vol. 762, c. 887–92.]

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider further cooperation with O.E.C.D. and the Council of Europe, because all these countries are making their separate plans and it would be far more valuable if we coordinated them and saved overlapping in the various forms of aid we are making?

Yes, we are doing that. A number of resolutions passed at the U.N.C.T.A.D. are now being considered by Her Majesty's Government and other Governments in the framework of the O.E.C.D.

What is the Government's attitude to the commodity agreement proposals? Does the right hon. Gentleman regard the proposals for compensatory finance as an alternative for these proposals?

Not as an alternative to the supplementary financial measures, but there will be a meeting of the intergovernmental group in October. On the commodity proposals, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has answered Questions. Certainly Britain is; playing an active part in the discussions arising from the resolution on that point.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development, in view of the fact that a world shortage of food is probable by 1971, what action he is taking in regard to research into new methods of growing food, especially in and for tropical countries.

The Ministry is assisting research both in the United Kingdom and overseas into plant breeding and fertilisers, crop and animal husbandry, the control or elimination of pests and diseases in pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions, and related fields.

Has the hon. Gentleman seen the O.E.C.D. Report by Mr. Christiansen, which gave very adequate statistics in relation to research in regard to new foods? What co-operation is the Ministry having on this?

I have not seen the report to which the hon. Lady refers, but I can assure her that we are spending £2 million on research in this field and are getting good, practical results. I will write to her about the report she has mentioned.

While acknowledging the importance of scientific research in assisting developing countries to meet the problems of world food shortage, may I ask my hon. Friend to bear in mind that equal importance must be paid to trying to get young artificers, mechanics and others of that calibre to make their contribution in carrying out the proposals submitted from the scientists?

Yes. That is important. So far the volunteer scheme has largely been oriented towards universities and schools. I agree with my hon. Friend that agriculture generally is an important field for this kind of young person to take up service overseas, and we are doing all we can to encourage that.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the size of the British aid and development programme in terms of the new United Nations Conference on Trade and Development definition for national targets.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development by how much and by what date the United Kingdom's aid to under-developed countries will be increased as a result of the second United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in New Delhi.

As I explained to the House in the debate on 7th May, we shall do our best to reach the new target as and when we can, although our first priority must be to strengthen our balance of payments. On the basis of current aid plans and a preliminary estimate of private flows, our current performance, when related to the latest figure for G.N.P. available—which is for the year 1967—is about 0·9 per cent.

Will my right hon. Friend state precisely how soon we shall be fulfilling the new target? Further, will he agree that there is a great deal of public misunderstanding about the true cost to our balance of payments of overseas assistance of this sort?

I certainly agree with my hon. Friend on the last point. I cannot be specific about the date on which we shall reach the new target. Obviously it depends on the progress which we make with our balance of payments. My hon. Friend will recall that the resolution committed us and other countries concerned to use our best endeavours to reach that target, but bearing in mind factors which affected our own economy.

When is the White Paper on the U.N.C.T.A.D. conference to be published?

I think very soon.

asked the Minister of Overseas Developement what are the functions of the Crown Agents in providing overseas aid.

The Crown Agents do not themselves provide overseas aid. They provide purchasing and shipping services for their overseas principals, and these services often relate to goods and equipment supplied under British Government aid. The Crown Agents also act as Agents for the British Government where aid funds are used for gifts of British goods and equipment.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that the very valuable work which the Crown Agents do in this field may well be damaged in the future if they continue to act as intermediaries in the supply of arms to the Nigerian Federal Government, many of those arms coming from foreign sources and being provided at the rate of about £1 million worth a month? Will he do all that he can to stop that?

As I have explained, the Crown Agents act as agents for overseas Governments in purchases of many kinds. The policy of Her Majesty's Government on the shipment of arms was explained to the House by the Prime Minister on 16 th May and by the Commonwealth Secretary on 21st May.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what amount of technical assistance and aid he is proposing to give to the Republic of Somalia.

Details have not yet been worked out. These must await the out- come of discussion which recently took place in Somalia and also reports from my Chief Education Adviser and my Animal Health Adviser who are visiting Somalia in June.

Will the Minister give an assurance this afternoon, whatever else he may do later, that he is at the moment taking the most urgent steps to see that we have a supply in the largest measure of teachers of the English language for the Somali people? Does he realise that that is the most important single step to be taken now that they have changed from Italian speaking, particularly in the south, to English speaking in all their schools and all their public institutions?

We have that point very much in mind. As I told my hon. Friend, my Chief Education Adviser is to visit Somalia next month.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many subscribers in Midlothian have shared telephone lines; and if he will list the numbers in each town or landward area;

(2) what steps are being taken in the county of Midlothian to offer subscribers on shared telephone lines the choice of their own telephone line.

The information is not readily available in the form requested, but I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of shared service subscribers in the exchange wholly or partly serving the County of Midlothian. As elsewhere in the country, we are providing additional cables to meet the demand for telephone service, and our aim is eventually to provide exclusive service for all who ask for it. As our resources are limited we are not yet able to achieve this as quickly as we should like.

Will my hon. Friend tell me the circumstances by which a customer sharing a line may make application for an exclusive line? How does the county of Midlothian compare with the rest of the country?

Customers may be given an exclusive line if they ask for it and if local conditions permit. Their liability again to share, should it be required, remains. Answering the second part of the question, 17·3 per cent. of the working connections are shared compared with a United Kingdom average of 18·9 per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General why subscribers are now asked to pay the postage when paying their telephone bills by post.

I am sorry that we had to stop sending postage-paid returnable envelopes to some of our subscribers. I am at the moment reconsidering policy generally on free postage on telephone bills.

I am obliged for that Answer, which will be generally welcomed. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public do not like the fact that mechanisation always seems to operate to their disadvantage?

I remind the hon. and learned Gentleman that most corporations require their subscribers, when paying bills, to put postage stamps on them. So far we have avoided that.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps the Post Office are taking to undertake selective marketing campaigns for the purpose of promoting telephone sales in areas where there is no shortage of equipment.

Some local experimental schemes which commenced during the past year are being continued, and I am at present considering comprehensive plans for extending our marketing activities.

Having regard to the very definite criticism of the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, will the right hon. Gentleman give priority to strengthening the Post Office marketing staffs? When can we expect to see results from these local experiments?

We have had only a few pilot schemes so far, but it is our intention to step these up in the course of the autumn, and it is proposed to spend up to £1 million on real selling.

asked the Postmaster-General by what criteria and by what grade of official it will be decided whether or not a charge is to be made for a directory enquiry call.

Only when the caller is unable to give reasonably adequate information on the wanted number to be traced and requires the operator to go to quite special lengths would a fee of 1s. become chargeable. The decision whether this special search should be made and the fee charged will rest with the customer.

Will the caller be told if he is going to be charged? If he disagrees with the decision, what happens?

First, nearly 50 per cent. of the directory inquiries are made by people who have got the information in their own directories at the time. Secondly, 17 per cent. of directory inquiries are vague, which necessitates a search, and this constitutes 40 per cent. of the operator's work. It will be up to the customer. The operator will let him know that a search is required and that It will take time. He will ask him whether he wants the search to go on, pointing out that if he does he will be charged for the time.

Will my right hon. Friend offer the thanks and congratulations of many hon. Members to those who operate the inquiry service and who seem to have better detection facilities than many police forces?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend. They will be pleased to hear that compliment.

Directory inquiries cost not only money but labour. Will not the number of such calls depend on the satisfactory nature or otherwise of the directories issued to subscribers?

Directory inquiries cost nearly £7 million a year and we would like to encourage people to use their directories to the full instead of ringing the operator. Nearly 50 per cent. of the subscribers have the information they want in their own directories.

Will my right hon. Friend look at this matter again? Breaching the old-established principle of not charging for directory inquiries means that he must be sure that the time an operator spends on a call of this kind is properly equated. If he is going past this barrier, he should look at how long an operator may spend talking to the customer about the chance of finding the information.

I am obliged for those comments. I remind the House that nearly all those who are to use directory inquiries will still be able to use the service free.

asked the Postmaster-General how many subscribers were asked their views before he decided to break the London telephone directory into 36 volumes.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give instructions for the present scale of directory distribution in the London area to be continued.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now continue the present organisation of the London telephone directory.

asked the Postmaster-General what will be the policy in the proposed reorganisation scheme of the London telephone service regarding the use of directory inquiries; and what will be the charge per call for this service.

The proposals for London directories have been widely misinterpreted. We now have four inner London books and five outer London books. They are growing rapidly and by 1975 will be twice their present size. Their size is discouraging people from using them. The average Londoner makes most calls in his borough and its surrounding areas, and to places such as public services, department stores and places of entertainment. We think we can improve the present system. We have made a start with the Gerater London Business Directory which lists businesses throughout Greater London. We now propose 36 directories to replace the present nine, each covering a London borough and a wide surrounding area. Each book will also include 5,000 of the most frequently wanted numbers from all over London. If a customer wants a book of another district of London he can have it, free. He can hold them all if he wants to. One book will cover the City and the West End and will undoubtedly be popular. Backing this system will be the directory enquiry service, free unless the caller has inadequate information. There will be some firms and people who need information about every subscriber throughout London. For them we shall produce an integrated list of all subscribers in Greater London.

We have already discussed the plan with the Post Office Users' Council, the Greater London Council, the London Boroughs Association, and the London Chamber of Commerce, and received general support. I propose to have an independent survey of public opinion before reaching an irrevocable decision.

The right hon. Gentleman has just said that he intends to have an inquiry into public opinion before he takes a final decision. Is he really telling us that he is still in doubt as to what public opinion is on this subject? I understand that the present set of directories—the comprehensive set—costs £1 1s.

Order. Questions must be reasonably brief.

I will be brief, Mr. Speaker. The present set cost £1 1s. in total and I understand that the new set of 36 books cost 4s. each, which comes to £7 4s. Where does the economy come in?

The rather shallow opinion polls carried out recently were about the present system. We are talking about a system which is to be evolved and ready in four years time. We want to be able to talk particularly to residential subscribers about how they feel about the fact that the directories will grow in size and how best they think they could use them. The idea is to provide subscribers with a tailor-made directory purposely designed. Incidentally, we do not charge for directories. They are free.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the proposed reorganisation of the directories will coincide with the introduction of all-number dialling in London, thus presenting telephone users with a double calamity? If he had been able to keep it secret—instead it was revealed by the Press—when did the right hon. Gentleman plan to tell the public about this lamentable scheme?

The hon. Gentleman is intervening in a subject of which he knows little. If he had read last year's Post Office Accounts he would have known that this scheme was referred to there and particularly by the Post Office Users' Council.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement about the future of the broadcasting licence fee.

I have no statement to make at present.

Have the B.B.C. submitted to the right hon. Gentleman a request for an increase in the licence fee? If so, by how much? Will he give an assurance that no increase will take place without full submission to the National Board for Prices and Incomes?

I do not think that it is necessary to refer it to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. If the licence fee were increased, it would be a tax increase and, therefore, it would not be necessary to refer it. But we should consider that issue once the decision had been made. Both the previous Conservative Administration and ourselves have been constantly aware of what the B.B.C. require because of the developments which both the previous Administration and ourselves have encouraged.

Will the Postmaster-General explain that again? The public will be very worried indeed when and if the licence fee is increased. Does he not feel that a reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes would be useful in that respect?

As I told the hon. Gentleman only two weeks ago, I will consider that more fully once we have made a decision on this matter.

Will the Postmaster-General confirm that the British licence fee for radio and television broadcasting is the lowest in Western Europe and provides perhaps the most comprehensive service of any public authority in Western Europe?

With the exception of Holland, it is probably £2 cheaper than in any other Western European country.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to be able to make his further statement of Post Office policy regarding the provision of anti-bandit screens in all sub-post offices.

I am discussing the whole matter with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters at present and until these discussions are concluded I regret that I am not in a position to make a further statement, but I hope to be able to do so shortly.

In the meantime, will the Postmaster-General recall that he recently told a sub-postmaster in my constituency who has been the victim of a particularly vicious assault that the question of safety was one which he was taking very much to heart? In that case, when will his heart persuade him to be a little more generous?

I hope that the hon. Member appreciates that I am not being bound by my predecessor's decision but am reviewing the matter. I am reviewing it sympathetically, and I hope that I can make a statement shortly after the Recess.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that we should like him to be as urgent as possible in this matter because considerable concern is being felt by sub-postmasters about this problem?

I have taken the first step and I am awaiting the replies of the Sub-postmasters' Federation to my offer.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of recent developments in Germany, he will now withdraw the United Kingdom application to join the Common Market.

No, Sir.

Has not the basis of the Common Market been affected by events in France as well as in Germany? Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that for him to say that New Zealand butter would not prevent him from getting in is both insulting and stupid?

The hon. and learned Gentleman had better get it right. I said that there was a recognition in the Common Market countries that the New Zealand problem had to be solved and that they were willing to solve it. That was the point about my reference to New Zealand. As far as Germany is concerned, I refer the hon. and learned Member to an Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) last week.

Is it possible that the hon. and learned Member for Antrim, South (Sir Knox Cunningham) really meant France, for it is hard to see how anyone would wish to join an organisation in such confusion at the moment?

I have said repeatedly during the last fortnight that it would not be right for me to comment on the internal difficulties and, indeed, the agonies of France. What is going on there now is no reason for acting on the suggestion put by the hon. and learned Member for Antrim, South (Sir Knox Cunningham).

If the Prime Minister will not withdraw the application—which many people would think an appropriate thing to do—will he not at least step up the Government's tenuous consideration of the possibilities of alternative courses in this unpredictable situation?

I answered a similar question earlier this week and another last week, and I have nothing to add to what I said on those occasions.

Now that the French road block seems to be crumbling, does my right hon. Friend intend to resume the pursuit of our application to join with pace and momentum? If so, does he think that the nation will be behind him?

It is not for me to talk about French road blocks. Our application is in with the Six as a whole. If there is a change of attitude in the Six —and we know where our difficulties arose before—we can pursue it with pace and momentum, and we shall continue to do so.

What does the Prime Minister think would be the effect on the prices and incomes policy, particularly wage claims, of a further rise of 13 per cent. in the cost of food on top of the increases which have followed devaluation?

That does not arise from the Question on the Order Paper. Nor is it appropriate for me to comment on wages and prices policy in France.

Is my right hon. Friend not secretly rather glad that his application to join the Common Market was a failure? Will he make applications in future to join bodies which, first, want us to join them and, secondly, which it will be to our economic advantage to join?

The question of the economic advantages of joining the Common Market was fully debated by the House a year ago, before we took the decision to apply by a large majority of this House. The majority of the countries in the Common Market are extremely anxious that, not only in our interests but in their interests and those of Europe, we should join the Common Market. So far, only one Power has reserved its position on this point.

Have not the events of the past two months, particularly in Germany and France, proved what a valuable contribution this country, with its history of political maturity and technical knowledge, should make to the Continent of Europe? On the purely domestic front, does the Prime Minister agree that one by-product of joining the Common Market would be that the ridiculous bitterness between the Northern and Southern parts of Ireland would once and for all be healed?

I have felt, as many hon. Members in many parts of the House have felt, that one of the strongest arguments is the political argument. This country cannot remain immune from dangerous tendencies on the other side of the Channel just by pretending that the Channel is wider than it is. I believe that we should have something to contribute towards the stability of Europe, which means in the end the stability of this country.

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise the matter again.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an undertaking that no administrative action will be taken by Government Departments in advance of the legislative action authorising it.

No, Sir. Successive Governments have found it conducive of the public good from time to time to allow preparatory work to go ahead in advance of the passage of legislation and I see no reason to change the practice.

Is the Prime Minister aware that there is deep objection to the growing practice of Government by circular and Ministerial decree? Will he comment on the growing evidence that a written constitution is what the British people would like to safeguard their rights?

Without encroaching on the affairs of other countries, I should say that the existence of a written constitution is not necessarily a guarantee of liberties or stability, nor does it give the flexibility which has always existed in this country. I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's statement about a growing practice. I have said that there have always been occasions— though I agree that this must be done very sparingly—when administrative action has been taken ahead of legislation under successive Governments. The House would be very impatient sometimes if legislation had been passed and there had been no preparation to put it into effect quickly.

asked the Prime Minister which areas where pit closures are proposed he next intends to visit.

I pay frequent visits to coal mining areas, Sir, and if the hon. Member would care to let me know the particular one that interests him I would be happy to give him advance warning of my next visit.

Will the Prime Minister undertake the next time he visits such an area not to interfere in the delicate and difficult task of the National Coal Board in closing uneconomic pits, as he did when he visited the North in October and Wales last February?

The hon. Gentleman has got it wrong on both counts. Last September I had discussions with the Chairman of the Coal Board before announcing the policy decision that was taken. That policy, involving consultation with regional council chairmen, was the proposal of the Chairman of the Coal Board. As regards Wales, the action was taken by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power, because in the case of Cefn Coed—I think that was the pit the hon. Gentleman was talking about—the procedures agreed with the Coal Board had not been carried out, in that the Welsh Planning Council had not had a chance to examine all the implications of the proposed closure. Therefore, my right hon. Friend insisted that the proper procedures should be gone through.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, whatever frivolous questions he may be asked by hon. Members opposite, this is a most serious matter to those who earn their livelihoods through the coal mining industry? Does he recall that my right hon. Friend the Member for Newton (Mr. Frederick Lee), when Minister of Fuel and Power, gave an undertaking that there would be a general staff of the Minister of Housing and Local Government, the Minister of Fuel and Power and the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs who would meet regularly to plan the bringing of new industries to areas where pit closures are contemplated? Will he implement that policy?

It is being implemented, and the arrangements for regional consultation and staff work have been greatly expanded. I should not go into the whole question of fuel policy, but my hon. Friend will be aware of the announcement of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade about the very special additional help on top of ordinary development area facilities for those areas particularly vulnerable to pit closures where there is no alternative work nearby in the mining industry and there is insufficient alternative employment.

As each would appear to be master of the other's job, why do not the Prime Minister and Lord Robens change places?

Does my right hon. Friend recall the many happy visits he and I have made to Cronton Colliery, Huyton, to the Lancashire Miners' Gala and many other pit areas in the country? Is he aware that there is still and always will be a warm and sincere welcome for him amongst those in the mining industry—

rose—[Interruption.]

Order. The compliment is not ended.