asked the Postmaster-General when a new telephone exchange will be installed in North Birmingham; where it will be situated; and what arrangements he is making to shorten the waiting list in the area in the meantime.

At the end of 1970, in Queslett Road. We are putting more lines in at existing exchanges. All those now waiting should have service by the autumn of this year.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the delay has been far too long? Will he tell us what it has cost? If the components manufacturers are not delivering equipment in time will he name them, in an effort to make them get a move on?

There has been a great expansion in demand, but, as I said, we hope to meet the demand by the end of this year.

asked the Postmaster-General which categories of telephone subscribers are exempt from being compulsorily transferred from a single to a shared line; and if he will include ministers of religion in this list.

I am circulating a full list in the OFFICIAL REPORT; Ministers of religion are included.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it will be a very good idea to publicise this list among public and local Post Office officials alike? Is he further aware that in my constituency a minister of religion was asked to share a line? Does he think that persuading people who have single lines to share them is, in the long term, a sensible policy for the Post Office to adopt?

I am satisfied that, given the shortage of exchange lines, it is wise to have shared lines so that as many potential subscribers as possible can be linked up, but there is no question of a minister of religion being told that he must share the service.

Will my right hon. Friend consider in his review the very important category of councillors? I understand that these people are eligible for shared service lines, but as they deal with confidential and private information they should not be included in that list.

This aspect has been considered in the past, but it was felt that to extend the exclusion as far as that would be unwise. I will, of course, consider this suggestion again.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the financial policy regarding the loss-making activities of the Post Office; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering the position.

The Postmaster-General may accept that many of my hon. Friends welcome his recent frankness in persuading his colleagues to face up to some home truths, but why cannot that same frankness extend to the loss-making Post Office services—telegrams, money orders, and postal orders and the Giro—which are losing £10 million a year? What does he propose to do about that?

We have been very frank. We have revealed information about those parts of our service which are a social service to the community, and this has not been done in the same detail before. We have done that in order that the facts can be identified so as to help us to consider what is the best way of dealing with the problem.

Does the Postmaster-General realise that members of the pub-lice are somewhat puzzled about his statements? At one time he said that there would be no rises in the tariff during this year, and now we are told that he is reconsidering the parcels service, and so on. Perhaps he will clarify the position for us.

The Parliamentary Question which I answered a few weeks ago referred to the two-tier service. I gave an assurance that in this financial year there would be no increase there, but I gave no such assurance about those parts of the service which make a loss.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent there has been a loss of traffic from Cable and Wireless to private enterprise cable companies.

During the industrial dispute there was some loss of traffic but not since.

As many firms went to competing companies as a result of the strike, and found these to be more efficient, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the management of Cable and Wireless Limited keeps up its efficiency so that it can compete with these companies?

It is my information that a good deal of the business lost during the strike has since come back and that the service provided is extremely efficient.

asked the Postmaster-General how long on average it takes to deliver an unstamped letter.

Within two working days of posting.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that this is often faster than letters which are properly stamped? Does he realise that many firms in the provinces are reduced to sending couriers twice a week with the firms' own correspondence to London? Is this not very uneconomic, especially as they cannot take anyone else's letters? Would he consider allowing private enterprise to compete?

These points are wholly exaggerated. The service which we provide is extremely good, and business firms have come to rely on it. I do not accept that the service has deteriorated in the way that the hon. Gentleman implies.

while the figures which the right hon. Gentleman normally quotes for the service are obviously quite satisfactory in a general way, does he not conclude from his own postbag that there are black areas in which the record is far less satisfactory? Would it not be worthwhile for the Post Office to conduct surveys in those areas so that action can be taken?

There are parts of the country which fall below the general achievement, and we are constantly examining the situation to see how these areas can be improved. My postbag has declined considerably in the last few months and it looks as though a lot of steam has gone out of the artificial campaign stimulated by hon. Members on the other side of the House.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will issue a special postage stamp in 1970 to mark the bicentenary of Captain Cook's discovery of Botany Bay, emphasising the part played by the Lincolnshire explorer, Sir Joseph Banks.

This anniversary is already on our list of suggestions for 1970, and I am considering it.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that while Lincolnshire appreciates recognition of its past, it would also appreciate recognition of present difficulties?

Yes, it is a good idea and we will bear it in mind.

May I press the Postmaster-General on this point? I am sure that if he is able to put the hon. Member's suggestion into effect he will find that it is a gesture much appreciated not only in this House but also in Australia?

I am grateful for the comment. My hon. Friend, who is an Australian, will be delighted to see the stamps which we have just brought out celebrating the first England-Australia flight.

asked the Postmaster-General why in 1968–69, in view of the fact that the profits of the Post Office are officially estimated to fall by £7 million the staff numbers have been allowed to increase by an estimated 8,000.

Staff increases were caused by the new Giro service, the taking over of the staff canteens, new housing estates needing more delivery postmen, and increased business.

Is it not a disgraceful example of Ministerial inertia that while profits are declining, clerical staff—and that is what this is—has increased by 8,000? Does this not indicate a lack of determination and energy to cut costs, evident throughout the whole Government, and particularly evident in the Post Office?

I do not accept that at all. We have had an increase of productivity of quite sizeable proportions. In one section of our business we have increased turnover by 11 per cent. with an increase of staff of only 1½ per cent.

Has my right hon. Friend seen the statement by the General Secretary of the Postal Workers' Union to the effect that the administration suffers because it is excessively top-heavy? Is he aware that it is said that there are far too many people at the top while at the bottom a large number of persons have become redundant?

There have been no redundancies in that sense. We have had productivity agreements with the full co-operation of the staff sides. There is no reason for them to complain, because their own members have enjoyed increased income as a result. I do not accept the main case which has been made against us by Mr. Jackson. We have on the postal side of our business 200,000 staff. The supervisory staff number about 3,000, which is about 1½ per cent.—a very low proportion indeed, comparing very well with any other similar business.

Has there not been an increase in Treasury grade staff to the extent of 6,500 in this period?

There has been an increase in staff to start the Giro and there has been an increase in accountancy staff to deal with the administration of the staff canteens, which are now transferred to our responsibility.

Is my right hon. Friend forgetting that there has also been an increase in regional staff caused by the splitting of the post and telegraphs into two sections, and as this was supported by hon. Members opposite, who pressed very hard for it, would it not be fair to lay some of the blame at least at their door, because they thought of the idea first?

That is the case. The administration of a vast investment programme of £2,000 million in five years and the expansion of our commmunications system by 50 per cent. in these five years has called for an increase in some staff.

asked the Posmaster-General whether, in view of the staff shortages at Burnham Radio, he will give an undertaking not to withdraw the ship letter telegram service from ships.

At present it is not my intention to suspend the service.

While I am grateful for that intimation, may I ask my right hon. Friend to go further? He must be aware that there is a drop of commitments in this station due to staff shortages. How long will he allow this to go on before he has to think seriously about with-drawing the services for ships at sea, which are very important indeed?

I agree about the importance of this situation and I will keep it under close review.

asked the Postmaster-General when he proposes to start new negotiations over the regrading of Post Office radio operators; what is the present staff shortage; and what his estimate is of the staff shortages in three and six months' time, respectively.

Negotiations have been going on for some time. There are at present some 30 vacancies. I cannot estimate what the position will be in three or six months' time as the recruiting position fluctuates from month to month.

While my right hon. Friend is aware that the recruiting situation fluctuates from month to month, is he aware that it takes about six months to get someone in to fill vacancies? As the shortage of staff is in part due to lack of progress over regrading proposals which are being held up by his Department, will he press for the settlement of these as soon as possible?

I do not accept that regrading proposals are being held up in our Department. There has to be some very close consultation with the staff sides.

asked the Postmaster-General what consideration he has given to the use of the Welsh language on postal vans.

Her Majesty the Queen has graciously agreed that the words "Royal Mail" should also appear in Welsh on postal vans garaged in Wales. The first vans with the dual inscription will appear in the Caernarvonshire area in time for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that the Post Office will increase its prestige by using the Welsh language, the oldest living language in Europe, on its postal vans? May I say how much we appreciate the way in which the Government are fulfilling the promise which they made about furthering the use of the Welsh language in Wales?

I thank my right hon Friend very much.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to make greater use of the Welsh language on Post Office buildings, vehicles, public notices and publications in Wales.

In reply to an earlier Question I have announced that we shall in future be using the Welsh language, in addition to English, on postal vans. We already make use of Welsh on buildings and in certain publications.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, although that Answer is welcome as far as it goes, it has been part of the Government's purpose in Wales to destroy the Welsh language and that one method employed has been to refuse to display it publicly on its property in Wales? Would the right hon. Gentleman change this policy in his Department?

I do not accept what has been said. The Post Office has always provided forms and signs in Welsh, and we shall continue to do so.

If my right hon. Friend suffers from a mental aberration at some time and decides to implement the suggestion of the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Gwynfor Evans), will he ensure that the North of Scotland, where people speak Gaelic and some understand only Gaelic, is similarly treated?

I am prepared to consider any such proposal, but whether we should do that remains to be seen.

asked the Postmaster-General how many civil servants will be employed at the new Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

About 400.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that none of the explanations in Committee or elsewhere has convinced us why so many people are required to do so little and, in particular, why two Ministers are needed? Will he take a very serious look at this matter before vesting day to see whether the number can be reduced?

I will consider it. We do not want an excess number of staff, but it must be remembered that the new Ministry will take over not only the sponsorship of the Post Office but the broadcasting responsibilities, which are becoming increasingly important in view of the review which must be conducted soon.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what requests he has now had for further transmission facilities for regional television and radio broadcasting by the British Broadcasting Corporaton;

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he has now received from the British Broadcasting Corporation for changes in transmission arrangements arising from its review of radio services, and in particular British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 3.

None, Sir.

Does the Postmaster-General agree that on both television and radio the B.B.C. regional stations set a very high standard and fulfil a public need? Will he impress on those responsible that that high standard must be maintained with Radio 3 as well, and that the public would very much regret it if any decision were taken otherwise?

I will ensure that the attention of the B.B.C. is drawn to those remarks.

Will my right hon. Friend agree that the statement made by the new Director-General of the B.B.C. is somewhat reassuring, but that there is real concern about the future of Radio 3? Will he agree that there is need to ensure that any changes which take place as the result of the review will not lead to a reduction in either quality or quantity, particularly of the music in the programme? Many people have bought very high frequency sets for the very purpose of enjoying this programme, and they need to be protected.

I accept that these are all important points, and I am sure that the B.B.C. will have them all in mind. I will keep in touch with the position.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind that the cost of regional stations should not fall on the local rates?

That must be considered in the light of the review of the experiment which, as the House knows, will be conducted during July.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to confer on the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority power to broadcast comment and information more freely than the law at present allows them.

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a feeling among current affairs producers that the I.T.A. sometimes acts as an inhibiting influence on them, delaying programmes on matters touching delicately sensitive areas? Would he agree that if there were any basis for that feeling, it would be a thoroughly undesirable state of affairs, because it would place television in a less favourable position than newspapers in being able to comment freely and fairly on matters of public concern?

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's premises or his conclusions.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that the feeling which occurs to my hon. Friend has not occurred to us? Is he aware that we have never known the I.T.A. or the I.T.V. or any of those people to be particularly inhibited when dealing with him or anyone on the Front Bench?

We have a situation in which these T.V. companies can promote some very good programmes. I am not aware that there is any particular restriction on them.

asked the Postmaster-General what requests he has received from the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority for assistance in enabling the full resumption of television transmissions in Yorkshire; and what action he proposes to take.

None, Sir.

In the event of receiving requests, will the Minister beat in mind that there is inevitably only a small body of knowledge in this country or in Europe of the problems of extremely high structures operating under very difficult climatic conditions? Will he undertake, if asked, to marshall the resources of the Government to help?

We have not been formally asked for assistance, but of course the assistance of the Post Office is available. We hope very much that full transmission by Yorkshire T.V. will be resumed very soon.

Would the right hon. Gentleman take this opportunity of giving any further news about the situation in Yorkshire? For instance, has he any news when the new 680 ft. mast will be put up?

We hope that it will be put up and be effective within two months.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will withdraw his proposal to transfer the rating function to county councils in Wales.

Yes, Sir. In view of the unanimous opposition of the local authority associations and the almost unanimous opposition of the individual local authorities directly concerned, and because the proposal is not an integral part of the structure proposed for Wales, my right hon. Friend has decided not to proceed further with it in the context of the present proposals for local government reorganisation in Wales.

May I congratulate my hon. Friend on being big enough to change her mind in the face of informed local opinion on this topic?

As my hon. Friend is aware, there were very lengthy discussions on the matter, but I believe that my right hon. Friend has reached the right conclusion.

Would my hon. Friend bear in mind in the discussions taking place that, if we are to have a two-tier structure in local government, it is essential that the second tier should have some responsibility and authority, otherwise it will be useless?

It was for that reason that the Secretary of State reached this conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the Association of Municipal Corporations about the powers to be assigned to the district level in Welsh local government re-organisation; and what reply he has sent.

The tenor of the Association's representations is that a wider range of functional responsibilities should be allocated to the district level. The Association have been told that their views will be carefully considered along with those of the other local authority associations.

Is it not a fact that all the firm decisions so far taken amount to a shift to the county level and away from the district level and that there is a danger of taking away local government responsibility in Wales? If the district levels are left only with the more minor functions of parks, cemeteries, and so on, will not the right calibre of local councillor and official cease to be attracted to local government service?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension because there has been no question of taking anything away other than what has been discussed in relation to the rating function. All the other functions appropriate to district councils will remain with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, without prejudice to any final scheme for local government reorganisation in Wales, he will seek to make housing one of the functions of the proposed new counties instead of leaving it with the proposed new district councils as laid down in the White Paper on Local Government in Wales.

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend proposes to leave housing as a district level function.

Would the hon. Lady say what further meetings her right hon. Friend intends to have with the local authorities concerned? Does she foresee that local government reform in Wales will take place fairly soon, or are the Government leaving it to the next Government to deal with it?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, a series of meetings have been held with representatives of the local authorities and interests concerned. These meetings are continuing; they are not yet concluded. My right hon. Friend has indicated that if they wish to make any comments following the report of the Royal Commission on Local Government in England and Scotland it will be open to them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he now proposes to continue the Welsh Rural Development Board.

Yes, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Gwynfor Evans).

I saw that Answer and the report on the inquiry. However, in view of the widespread opposition to the Board in Wales, and since under this Government Boards are breeding in Mid-Wales like rabbits, would she ask her right hon. Friend to have another look at this one?

I do not think that is in the least necessary. A very full and thorough investigation was held under the chairmanship of Sir Ben Bowen Thomas. I think that it lasted for 44 days. I should have thought that adequate investigation had already been made.

Is the hon. Lady aware that the Answer which I had yesterday was received with acclamation in Carmarthenshire, but with qualified dismay in Cardiganshire and with fury in the rest of the area upon which this wretched Board is to be imposed?

It would be advisable if we were to wait to see what the attitude is after the Board has been in operation for some time. I think that then the sentiments described by the hon. Gentleman might be reversed.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many of us support the decision made in the Report? I hope that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will keep the Board in being because it can do an immense amount to rehabilitate the Welsh language in the countryside of Wales.

I entirely agree with my right hon. Friend. Those who take the attitude of hon. Gentlemen opposite are very ill advised.

Could the hon. Lady tell us how much this famous inquiry cost the country?

About £25,000. The cost was largely due to the amount of opposition stirred up by the hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the discontent among members of the teaching profession about the decision of the Burnham Committee on salary scales; and whether he will take steps to appoint an independent inquiry to consider the problems facing teachers whose salaries compare unfavourably with members of other professions with similar qualifications.

The Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee recently concluded an agreement in free negotiation between the management and teachers' panels. Some teachers are no doubt dissatisfied with the agreement, but it was ratified by most of the teachers' associations and is certainly the best which incomes policy would permit. My right hon. Friend has no plans for an inquiry.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a substantial number of the National Union of Teachers, which, by a majority, accepted the decision of the Burnham Committee, and the National Association of Schoolmasters and other education bodies have objected to the decision of the Burnham Committee? In some parts of the country education authorities have made an arrangement with members of the National Association of Schoolmasters. There is no victimisation and salaries have been paid. However, the education committee of the Durham County Council is in dispute with the N.A.S., and this has created a great deal of alarm among parents whose children are not being properly educated.

My right hon. Friend has a further Question down about the latter part of his supplementary question. However, he is under a misapprehension. It is true that the N.A.S. did not agree with the decision reached by the Burnham Committee, but the National Union of Teachers accepted it at a special conference. Yesterday, my right hon. Friend met, at its request, a deputation from the National Association of Schoolmasters and discussed the matter.

Is the Minister aware that, in addition to being very worried about their salaries, many teachers are also concerned about their career prospects, and therefore there is a good case for an independent inquiry as indicated by the right hon. Gentleman's Question?

Yes. If there were a consensus of opinion in favour of an inquiry my right hon. Friend would be prepared to consider it, but at the moment that is not so. As I have said, my right hon. Friend saw the N.A.S. yesterday. Career prospects are bound up with the salary question. It is a very complicated matter and raises the whole question of salaries and so on for men and women.

Will the Minister bear in mind that, in the event of an independent inquiry, the vital sector of the teaching profession comprising university staff, the dons and lecturers, ought to be included, for they are writhing in discontent at present at the 3 per cent. basis of increase announced a few months ago?

That is another question, because the Burnham Committee did not deal with university teaching staff salaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the parents' association regarding the dispute affecting Acre Rigg School in Peterlee; and what action he proposes to take.

Like my right hon. Friend I have received a copy of letters sent by the association to the Easington exempted district and to the local education authority. There is no action open to me at present.

But, after all, my right hon. Friend and her right hon. Friend have a responsibility for curricula and for the appointment of teachers in all the schools under the Education Act. Surely they must accept that responsibility and try to bring the dispute to an end.

We very much deplore the dispute that has arisen, but it is between the teachers and their employers and can be settled only in that context. I should add that the Government's conciliation officers would respond to any joint indication from both sides in the local dispute.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what request he has received to publish his Report on auction rings from the Society of London Art Dealers.

My right hon. Friend has received no request for publication from this Society. They wrote to my right hon. Friend on 24th February asking whether the Report would be published.

Is it not true that that letter specifically agreed that the Report by the President of the Board of Trade should be published, and does the Minister agree that the Society of London Art Dealers gave the closest co-operation to his Department both before and during the inquiry?

The letter in question asked whether the Report would be published. The Society of London Art Dealers, as the hon. Gentleman knows, met an official of my Department on 30th September to give what information they had, and members of the Society subsequently gave evidence during the course of the inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why his officials refused an offer by the Sunday Times to witness an art auction ring; and why neither Mr. Colin Simpson nor Mr. Nicholas Tomalin was interviewed during his Department's inquiry.

No such offer was made either before or in the course of the Board's inquiries into auction rings. Moreover if, as appears to be implied, the Sunday Times had advance information of the operation of an auction ring, it was their clear duty to bring this information to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions or the police. As regards the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to my Answer to the right hon. Member for Reigate (Sir. J. Vaughan-Morgan) on 25th March—[Vol. 780, c. 267–8.]

Is not this a most extraordinary statement? Is the Minister aware that the Sunday Times, in a major article, detailed the operations of a ring at Aldwick Court? Is it not astonishing that neither he nor any of his officials went out of their way to take evidence or to see the people who wrote the article and to discuss the matter with them?

Journalists of the Sunday Times visited the Board of Trade before the inquiry was launched. During the course of the inquiry evidence was taken, as I said in my Answer to the right hon. Member for Reigate, from all those people who seemed likely to be able to give useful information about art auctions. We do not propose to disclose the names of the people who gave evidence.

Yes; but the hon. Gentleman gave a very unsatisfactory Answer to my hon. Friend. We had hoped to hear a great deal more on this subject this morning. Why is it that the hon. Gentleman's Department has been totally unable to accept the help which has been forthcoming from so many quarters?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, an inquiry was made. In addition, a Bill is being considered by the House which I hope will be of value in this respect. As the hon. Gentleman should know, the reason why we cannot publish the Report has been explained to the House many times. Those reasons remain valid.

Does my hon. Friend agree that there is some contradiction here because, among the reasons given for not publishing the Board of Trade Report, was the argument that there might be statements of a defamatory character? As last week we had a Report published which had carried out investigations of such seriousness that the documents have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, would it not be advisable for the House of Commons to have a consistent policy applied to the publication of documents and reports of this character?

I do not know of any inconsistency in this matter. The problem about publication—and this is the main reason why publication cannot be made—is that to do so would cause injustice to individuals who would not be able to defend themselves. I well understand and share the public interest in this matter and in the Report, but there is an even greater public interest in not doing injustice to individuals in these circumstances.

In view of the totally unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg leave to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what request he has received to publish his Report on auction rings from the British Antique Dealers' Association.

The Association wrote to the Board of Trade supporting publication of the Report subject to the legal difficulties.

Can the hon. Gentleman explain why the Association wrote and stressed the legal difficulties in particular? Furthermore, does he realise that failure to produce a Report giving the general conclusions on what was found in regard not to a specific ring or auction sale but to the general matter is causing the rumours which have been spread about certain people to be given even wider circulation?

The British Antique Dealers' Association referred to the legal difficulties because, just before writing to me, it had read the statement that I made in Committee on the Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what request he has received to publish his Report on auction rings from Mr. Julius Weitzner.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that he will now lay the Report on Auction Rings in response to an order for an unopposed return.

Such publication would not avoid possible injustice to persons named in the Report who will not be charged, and who consequently will not have the safeguards afforded to defendants at a criminal trial. In addition, while it would afford the protection of absolute privilege to my right hon. Friend and Her Majesty's Stationery Office, it would give no such protection against proceedings for defamation to those persons whose statements are recorded in the Report.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that reply will be received with astonishment by people outside this House? Since it was obvious before the inquiry was set up that no criminal proceedings could be taken in the matter, will the hon. Gentleman say why this ludicrous form of inquiry was set up and not another, as was suggested?

I do not think that the statement will be regarded with astonishment. It is a plain statement about the danger of causing injustice to individuals which I think this House would wish to avoid.

Will my hon. Friend bring his Answer to the attention of the Leader of the House as an added reason why we should speedily adopt the Report of the Select Committee on Privilege which has been hanging over for so long? Quite often wrongs might be righted if we acted with more alacrity on Reports which hon. Members spend about two years preparing.

I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will note my right hon. Friend's question.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that my hon. Friend is correct in saying that the Minister's statement will be received with astonishment? Can the hon. Gentleman explain why the Government published the Bristol Siddeley Report if they are not prepared to publish this one, using the same method? The Minister's statement is extraordinary.

The Bristol Siddeley Report was of an entirely different character from the Board's inquiry into the possible existence of art auction rings. The Bristol Siddeley Report neither named individual witnesses nor published their statements.

But the Bristol Siddeley inquiry identified individuals against whom the most serious allegations were made and it would have been possible to put names to those individuals. Will my hon. Friend agree that there are close parallels between the two cases?

The main difference is that in the Bristol Siddeley Report no statements by individuals were published. I must again emphasise that the great danger in publishing this Report is that of doing injustice to individuals, and I am surprised that the House seems to pay so little attention to that.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that not only the hon. Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks), but I, too, was on the Committee which dealt with the Bristol Siddeley matter, and that what he has just said in his reply is not factually true?

I take it that my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks) is referring not to the Report of the P.A.C. but to the Report of the Wilson Committee.

Is it not a fact that subsequent to the publication of the Wilson Committee's Report the Government identified two of the individuals concerned by inflicting heavy penalties on them?

That is so. As a matter of fact, as the House knows, there was criticism even of the publication of the Bristol Siddeley Report. I think that publication of the Report under discussion would be a good deal more susceptible of criticism.

Will my hon. Friend accept that the House is fully cognisant of the difficulties of protecting the rights of individuals? Will he accept, too, that this reply leaves the House and the country in a most unsatisfactory position at the end of what is regarded by many people, both inside the House and outside, as a very smelly operation? Will my hon. Friend therefore keep it in mind that it is not good enough to try to teach us about the rights of individuals? It is up to the Government to make sure that, with great speed, an inquiry is conducted to see to it that our art market in London has its reputation fully restored.

I do not say that the situation is satisfactory, but it is important that the House should have regard to the importance of not doing injustice to individuals. We have had an inquiry into the operation of auction rings in this country. As my hon. Friend knows, nothing arising out of that inquiry was of a character which it would have been useful to refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The hon. Gentleman has been talking about causing injustice to individuals. Is he not aware that he is doing the greatest possible injustice to the whole of the reputable art trade in this country by not clearing up this matter and removing the mess of suspicion that is surrounding all its operations?

In his statement to the House my right hon. Friend made it clear that there was no reason why the reputation of the London art market should be in any way reduced by anything produced during the course of the inquiry. It seems to me that it is these continual questions on this point by hon. Gentlemen opposite that brings in the question of that reputation, which we wish to maintain.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on his recent visit to shipyards in Upper Clydeside.

When visiting the shipyards on the Upper Clyde on 14th March, my right hon. Friend and I talked with all concerned about the difficulties facing the industry there and how they might be resolved. We were encouraged by the positive response we received.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that considerable alarm has been caused on Clydeside by the conference speech of a senior Scottish trade union official to the effect that the Government had guaranteed the life of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders for a period of only 14 weeks? As the livelihoods of thousands of families are at stake, did the hon. Gentleman's visit give him grounds for optimism that the required targets and objectives would be met?

My right hon. Friend and I would not have visited the Upper Clyde if we did not believe in the ultimate success of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. We thought it wise to go there to stress to all concerned that the success of the Upper Clyde depended on their efforts as well as on ours, and I think that we got the message across very successfully.