asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in the Middle East.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he is taking to encourage a peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in the Middle East.

As I told the House on 30th October, there is an imperative need for a political settlement in the Middle East. We therefore look forward to an early resumption of the four power talks. We hope that the Four will then be able to provide fresh guidance for Dr. Jarring which will enable him, with the parties, to make progress towards a settlement.—[Vol. 790, c. 361–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present situation in the Middle East, and what new British initiative is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in the Middle East.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is in a position to report on further developments in the efforts of the four Powers to bring about a settlement of the Middle East dispute.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult with the other member States of the Western European Union, with a view to the issue of a joint guarantee, in addition to any offered by the United Nations or by other powers, of the terms of any peace settlement agreed between Israel and the Arab States in accordance with the Security Council's Resolution of 22nd November, 1967.

It is, of course, our aim to continue the valuable process of consultation on foreign policy questions in the Western European Union. But I see no advantage to be gained by initiating consultation in that forum on the particular proposal outlined by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the appropriate authority of the United Nations in order to promote international action concerning the hijacking of aircraft.

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary told the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Sir R. Russell) on 13th October, we are very seriously concerned at the continued growth of this problem and are urgently considering whether efforts to find a remedy can be hastened or intensified. We have played an active part in the work of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, a specialised agency of the United Nations, in drafting a convention designed to strengthen international measures to deal with hi-jackers and considering practical measures to prevent hi-jacking.—[Vol. 788; c. 27–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which present or past members of the United Nations Security Council have failed tp secure the return and release of hi-jacked aircraft landed in their territory together with their crews and passengers and to take other appropriate action; and whether he will make a statement on action being taken at the United Nations and in other international bodies to stop piracy in the air.

No present or past member of the United Nations Security Council is holding an aicraft or its crew or passengers at present. In the United Nations we are giving our support to an initiative which it is hoped will lead to a General Assembly resolution condemning forcible diversion of civil aircraft in flight, and we are actively participating in the International Civil Aviation Organisation's work on a new Convention to outlaw hi-jacking.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to deal with the hi-jacking of aircraft; and what action is being taken at the United Nations, particularly in the Security Council, in the case of those countries which detain the victims of these acts of piracy and harbour their perpetrators.

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary told the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Sir R. Russell) on 13th October, we are very seriously concerned at the continued growth of hijacking. We are urgently considering whether efforts to find a remedy can be hastened or intensified, and are energetically supporting the work of the International Civil Aviation Organisation in this field. The United Nations General Assembly, whose wide membership makes it an especially suitable forum in this instance, will shortly consider a resolution condemning forcible diversion of civil aircraft in flight. This resolution calls upon States to ensure that persons who perpetrate such Acts are prosecuted, and invites States to accede to the Tokyo Convention, which requires the release of hi-jacked aircraft and freedom for their crews and passengers to continue their journey. The resolution will have our support.—[Vol. 788; c. 27–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his talks with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Malik.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent talks with Mr. Adam Malik, the Foreign Minister of Indonesia.

During his visit to London as the guest of Her Majesty's Government, Mr. Malik called on my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and had full and friendly discussions with me and other members of the Government. Mr. Malik's visit has helped to strengthen the very cordial relations and to deepen the understanding between Britain and Indonesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the current situation in Nigeria as it affects British interests.

There are substantial British interests outside the area of conflict in Nigeria which have not been directly affected by the current situation. In the east and mid-west the war has hindered British trading and other activities. Oil production began to recover last year, but military operations have delayed the expansion of production and have prevented new equipment from being put to full use.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to arrange a conference with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and France, with a view to suspending the supply of arms to Nigeria.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the value of British Government relief to Nigeria and Biafra, which has been transferred from the International Committee of the Red Cross to joint church aid since the cessation of International Committee of the Red Cross flights in June.

British Government aid spent or offered for relief in 1969–70 comprises £250,000 for bilateral aid and £600,000 for the purchase of food and associated costs for the Federal areas, together with a cash grant of £250,000 to the International Red Cross for its relief work on both sides. It is not possible to say how much of the supplies transferred by the I.C.R.C. to Joint Church Aid is attributable to the British Government's grant since the money has been given without any restrictive stipulations on its use.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now suspend the export of arms and military equipment to Nigeria.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he intends to make to Spain concerning the blockade of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

The Spanish Government are already aware from representations we have made that we view their restrictions on Gibraltar as constituting the main obstacle to an improvement in Anglo/Spanish relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protest has been made to the Spanish Government over the recent issue of Spanish stamps which show Gibraltar as part of Spain.

None. There are no legal grounds for objecting to the stamps.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies are in progress to assess the dangers of financial and economic penetration by undesirable aliens into the Caribbean area.

The financial and economic development problems of countries in the Caribbean area where we have an interest are under continuous review by Her Majesty's Government in close con sultation with the Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of South Africa during the visit of its Foreign Minister regarding the illegal usurpation of power in South-West Africa and the introduction of its racialist legislation therein.

South-West Africa was discussed during my talk with Dr. Muller on 27th October. Our discussions were confidential; but I can say that the Government of South Africa is well aware of Her Majesty's Government's views on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many days the British Government had an official observer at the recent trial of South-West African freedom fighters in South African controlled courts.

Seven.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many destitute British subjects sought financial assistance from the British Consulate in San Francisco in the period 1st January to 31st October, 1969.

The total number seeking financial assistance was about 420, including some 250 students. The majority were found not to be destitute or else they refused aid on the conditions laid down in the regulations. Seven were assisted to return to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of recent developments in the Lebanon, he will make a statement on British-Lebanese relations.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the remarks which I made in the debate on the Address on 30th October. Our relations with the Lebanon are as close and friendly as ever and we have every confidence that they will remain so.—[Vol. 790, c. 361–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the cost to the Exchequer of taking a place in Expo 70 at Osaka; and in what way and at what cost will Wales and Welsh industry be projected.

The cost will be £2¼ million. The British pavilion will present a picture of the United Kingdom as a whole, showing the achievements and life of all sections, including Wales and Welsh industry. Separate estimates of the cost of these presentations are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to have talks with the Government of British Honduras on the question of their independence.

No date has yet been fixed for a conference about independence. As frequently stated in the House, when detailed constitutional proposals are made by the Government of British Honduras we shall be ready to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect the recent dissolution of Parliament in British Honduras will have on the timing of the country's independence.

None. No date has yet been fixed for independence for British Honduras.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what disbursements have been made to date from the grant of £80,000 to the Banaban people of Rambe Island.

So far £40,503 has been spent on road development and regenera tion of coconut groves on Rambe Island. The balance is available for disbursement on the further development of the Island.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances certain delegates from certain countries were refused entry visas to Hong Kong to attend the World Congress of Travel Agents Associations.

The decision not to grant visas in question was taken by the Hong Kong Government in the best interests of the Colony.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the translation of the Treaty of Rome into English by Her Majesty's Government has official standing; and if he will make a statement.

The authentic texts of the two Treaties of Rome exist only in the four languages of the Community. The English versions available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office were prepared by the Foreign Office for the convenience of Parliament and the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will convene a constitutional convention on terms being secured from the European Economic Community which the Government decide will warrant this country joining the Common Market.

No. To do so would derogate from the authority of Parliament as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear to the House on 8th May, 1967.—[Vol. 746, c. 1088–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Ghana to Great Britain.

During his recent visit Dr. Busia had talks with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister as well as with me and other Ministers. The talks were friendly and constructive and covered a wide range of subjects including Ghana's external debt. The House will recall that arrangements for re-scheduling this debt were made in 1966 and 1968 and on this occasion we agreed to consult other creditor Governments about a further meeting next year to consider the problems. We also offered the Government of Ghana a further interest-free loan of £1 million in addition to the £4 million already offered for this financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will propose the establishment of an international inspectorate to enforce the United Nations policy of sanctions against Rhodesia.

No. We have considered these questions on a number of occasions in connection with proposals for a United Nations inspectorate, and we have concluded that such a proposal would involve an interference in domestic jurisdiction which is unlikely to be acceptable to most United Nations members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now make a statement on the state of the Rhodesian economy, with particular reference to the gross national product.

The following table, based on the regime's own published figures, shows that in 1968 Rhodesia's gross national product at market prices was some 12 per cent. higher than in 1965. However, when price and population increases are taken into account there was in fact a fall of · per cent. in real per capita income, as compared with 1965.

Year	G.N.P.(market prices)£million	percent.increase or decrease	percent.increase or decrease(at contsant prices)	percent.increase or decrease(income per head at constant prices)
1965	363·8
1966	357·7	—1·7	—4	—6·8
1967	387·4	6·5	2	—3·8
1968	408	12	4·7	—4·6

2. The régime's claim that Gross Domestic Product will increase this year by 10 per cent. may or may not prove to be a reasonable forecast. It must, however, be borne in mind that this forecast reflects an abnormal disparity between agricultural production in 1968, when there was a drought, and in 1969 when exceptionally good climatic conditions resulted in bumper harvests. The régime's projected increase in G.D.P. also includes (as of course do all its previous figures of G.D.P. and G.N.P. since 1966) the value of some production which will only serve to add to existing stock-piles.3. In any assessment of Rhodesia's economic performance the comparison that must be made is not a comparison between this year and last year but between performance new and what it would have been if, in the absence of sanctions, Rhodesia had been able fully to develop her economic potential over the past four years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the reasons which have prevented the Government from ratifying international declarations on human rights; and whether he will make a statement on future policy in this respect.

International declarations are not normally subject to ratification. As my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs told my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. Moonman) on 25th February, the United Kingdom is a party to nine instruments in this field concluded under United Nations auspices;and since then the United Kingdom has become a party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. That reply also gave the reasons which had so far prevented ratification by the United Kingdom of certain international instruments in the human rights field.It remains the Governments's policy to ratify international instruments on human rights where their terms are acceptable to us and when we are satisfied that our law and practice adequately conform to those terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has discontinued his efforts to mount a British initiative for peace in Vietnam: and whether, as Joint Chairman of the International Control Commission, he will now intervene with a view to bringing the present negotiations to a peaceful conclusion.

Her Majesty's Government's readiness to make a constructive contribution to peace in Vietnam and my willingness to play my full part as one of the co-Chairmen of the Geneva Conference are well-known and have in no way abated. We will take any opportunity that occurs for useful action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements exist to meet the need for security advice to British subjects visiting the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

My Department is always ready to give advice on such matters, and there are leaflets of guidance available. As regards the need, while it is true that no British subjects have in recent years been imprisoned in the Soviet Union without first having broken Soviet law, there have regrettably been instances of innocent British subjects being harassed and subjected to attempts at blackmail during visits to the Soviet Union.1969

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is proposed by Her Majesty's Government, in view of the proposal by the leader of the Libyan regime to dislodge British military bases from Libya.

I would refer my right for Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, since the conclusions of the visit of Sir John Field, what procedure is available for members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service to raise matters relating to their conditions of service.

All members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service in all dependent territories, at all times, have the right to raise matters relating to their conditions of service with their Governments, either individually or through their staff associations; and also to petition my right hon. Friend in accordance with Colonial Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the present position of British-Netherlands relations; and what steps are being taken to reassure the Netherlands Government concerning those matters on which they have recently expressed concern to Her Majesty's Government regarding British policy.

The general state of British-Netherlands relations remains, as always, one of close friendship and of frank and continuous consultation in pursuit of common objectives. We do not always agree on everything, but our differences have generally speaking been on commercial or technical, not political matters. On major issues of policy we are in close agreement, and we shall certainly do all we can to maintain this. My right hon. friend is looking forward to conversations with the Netherlands Foreign Minister when he visits London on 20th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have yet accepted to the Genocide Convention.

:No. But we intend to accede with least possible delay.

asked the Sedretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have now acceded to the Genocide Convention.

The following 36 States have acceded to the Genocide Convention:

Afghanistan	Morocco
Albania	Nicaragua
Argentina	Poland
Austria	Rumania
Bulgaria	Saudi Arabia
Cambodia	Syria
Ceylon	Tunisia
Costa Rica	Turkey
Finland	Vietnam
Germany(Federal Republic)	Venezuela
Ghana	Congo (Democratic Republic)
Hungary	Algeria
Irag	Upper Volta
Italy	Netherlands
Jordan	Mongolia
Korea	Spain
Laos	Jamaica
Monaco	Nepal

Before 1950,when te Genocide convention was open to ratification, the following 37 States ratified the Convention:

Australia	Honduras
Belgium	Iceland
Brazil	India
Burma	Iran
Byelorussia	Israel
Canada	Lebanon
Chile	Liberia
China	Mexico
Colombia	Norway
Cuba	Pakistan
Czechoslovakia	Panama
Denmark	Peru
Ecuador	Philippine Republic
El Salvador	Soviet Union
Ethiopia	Sweden
France	Ukraine
Greece	United Arab
Guatemala	Republic
Haiti	Yugoslavia

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will make a statement on the outcome or the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting concerning European security;(2) what further initiatives he is taking towards the convening of a European Security Conference; and if he will make a statement.

No communiqué was issued after the meeting of the North Atlantic Council on 5th and 6th November. The proceedings were. of course, confidential. But as the Secretary General said at his Press conference after the meeting, speaking on behalf of all members of the Alliance, the Council

"provided the guidance r eeded for the final preparation of the Ministerial Meeting from the 3rd to the 5th of December."

He said that discussion in the Council showed

" the readiness of Alliance members to consider all possible procedures for negotiation, including a conference or series of conferences, provided these should be constructive and appropriate to the subject discussed. There was no desire to hold o conference for a conference's sake, but rather a strong determination to promote the careful preparation of all kinds of possible negotiations and the resolution of the serious problems dividing Europe."

Her Majesty's Government fully share these views, and will continue to consult their Allies closely in the constructive search for any openings for a just and lasting settlement of all the fundamental problems of European security.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had recently with the United States Government on the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and particularly the continuation of the United States military role in Europe.

We are in continuous consultation with all our Allies on the common problems we face. On the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is yet in a position to announce the names of the chairman and the members of the Caribbean Commission to consider the future of Anguilla.

An announcement of the appointment of the chairman will be made jointly with the Government of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla tomorrow. Consultations on the appointment of other members of the Commission are still in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to Recommendation No. 485 on the ratification of Protocols Nos. 2, 3 and 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January 1967, whether Her Majesty's Government are now prepared to ratify the Protocol No. 4.

I have nothing to add at present to the answer by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to the hon. Lady the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dame Joan Vickers) on 21st March.—[Vol. 780, c. 186.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Opinion No. 52 on the Budget of the Council of Europe for 1970, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 29th September, 1969; and whether he will instruct the Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this opinion, in particular with regard to new Council of Europe buildings.

The proposals made in Opinion 52 are under study by the Departments concerned in prepara tion for discussion by the Committee of Ministers' Deputies at their Meeting later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government has offered financial or other aid to the Government of Tunisia or the international fund being created to help Tunisia repair the damage caused by recent floods.

Yes. Her Majesty's Government have contributed to first-aid flood relief measures in Tunisia. A total of 2,000 blankets, two large marquees and 171 tents has been sent to the disaster areas. In addition, Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires has made a cash contribution of £200 to the Tunis Diplomatic Corps Relief Fund.Her Majesty's Government are now considering whether there are ways in which they can help in longer-term reconstruction.

In accordance with Article 17 of the Charter, the General Assembly considers and approves the budget of the United Nations. The budget and accounts are prepared by the Secretary General and submitted annually to the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, through the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions—a body of experts not representing their governments, but appointed on the basis of broad geographical representation, personal qualifications and experience—which examines and reports on them in detail. The administrative budgets of the Specialised Agencies are also submitted, through the Advisory Committee, for a more general examination by the General Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the current British contributions to the regular budget and all specialised agencies of the United Nations, including peacekeeping activities, and the corresponding figures for the previous four accounting periods.

Details of United Kingdom contributions to United Nations and Specialised Agency budgets and other funds for the years 1955 to 1968 were given in answers to Questions by the right hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Thorpe) on the 25th of January, 1966 (Column 40, Volume 723); the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Longden) on 17th January, 1967 (Column 17–18, Volume 739), and the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 23rd January, 1967 (Column 187, Volume 739); the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell) on 6th February, 1968 (Column 95–96, Volume 758); and the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West on 16th May. 1969 (Column 284–6, Volume 783).Comparable figures of actual United Kingdom contributions for 1969 cannot yet he given, but detail; of the assessed contributions of the United Kingdom in respect of this year are being given in answer to today's Question by the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison).The exact cost to the I,Jnited Kingdom in 1969 of the United Nations Force in Cyprus—the only peacekeeping operation not financed from the regular budget—cannot yet be given. But the United Kingdom has pledged £1,250,000 to the Voluntary Fund for the period the 16th of December, 1968, to the 15th of December, 1969. The extra cost of the United Kingdom contingent (paid in addition to our contribution to the 'Voluntary Fund) was £628,575 in the financial year ending in March 1969.—[Vol. 723, c. 40; Vol. 739, c. 17–18, 187; Vol. 758, c. 956; Vol. 783, c. 284–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will now repudiate the Munich Agreement.

Her Majesty's Government repudiated the Munich Agreement more than a quarter of a century ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that captured personnel of the liberation movements of Namibia and Southern Rhodesia are treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention of 1949.

No. We are not in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will accept amendments to its draft treaty presented to the Geneva Disarmament Committee to outlaw the use of toxins and to provide for the international inspection of all chemical and biological warfare factories, production, testing and other sites.

The draft Convention tabled by Her Majesty's Government in the Committee on Disarmament on 10th July would deal only with biological methods of warfare. It would therefore be inappropriate for it to provide for inspection of chemical installations. Provision for inspection of biologican installations has not been made because this would have to be so intrusive as to be politically unacceptable to many states and would in any case provide no guarantee against clandestine production of biological warfare agents. Toxins, although produced by living organisms, do not themselves multiply and are usually regarded as chemical substances. However, if it was widely felt that toxins should be covered by our draft Biological Warfare Convention because of their biological origin, Her Majesty's Government would be very ready to consider appropriate amendments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy arising from the decision of the United States Government to deploy an anti-ballistic missile system; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend will know, the United States and the Soviet Union have agreed to start talks on Strategic Arms Limitation in Helsinki on 17th November. Antiballistic missile systems will no doubt form a part of the subsequent negotiations. Her Majesty's Government hope that these talks, which in our view offer the best hope of controlling the nuclear arms race, will be successful. In these circumstances I should prefer not to comment at this stage on specific decisions taken by either Government in the strategic arms field.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now propose mutual diplomatic recognition to the North Vietnam Government in Hanoi.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to have removed the inexact lettering which still appears on the Crown property formerly occupied by the Southern Rhodesian High Commission.

No. The property belongs to the lawful Government of Southern Rhodesia, which is what the lettering signifies.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what conclusions his Department has now reached in its study of Government activities suitable for hiving-off under separate responsibility.

Following the Fulton Report, the review has been placed in the context of accountable management and initially is being aimed mainly at commercial or quasi-commercial operations. The review is a continuing process; and the House will, of course, be informed of the results as conclusions are reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Noel Hall Committee's Report on Hospital Pharmaceutical Services to be available to hon. Members.

As soon as possible after my right hon. Friend has received and considered it. We expect to receive it early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the shortage of hospital pharmacists in the Greater London area; and what steps he proposes to fill the vacancies.

The position varies considerably from hospital to hospital. On the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mr. Goodhart) on 3rd November. —[Vol. 790, c. 17.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the extra costs incurred by the National Health Service in the last convenient 12-month period as a result of hospital prescriptions being dispensed by pharmacists employed outside the National Health Service.

In the year ended 31st March, 1969, the cost of hospital prescriptions dispensed by retail chemists was £· million for England and Wales, which is less than 7 per cent. of hospital expenditure on drugs exclusive of overheads and staff costs. It is impracticable to estimate what the cost of dispensing these prescriptions in hospital pharmacies would have been, as this depends on several factors, for example the hospital's own pharmacy overheads and staff costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he is satisfied that transport arrangements between St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, and Woking will be adequate for patients, staff and the general public on the closure of Woking Maternity Hospital; and whether he will make a statement;(2) whether it is the intention of the South-Western Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to arrange consultant antenatal clinics in Woking and elsewhere in the catchment area of the St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, in the light of the proposal to close the Woking Maternity Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the number of general practitioners and the average number of patients on the lists in Sunderland for the latest available date.

Seventy-seven doctors are now providing full general medical services in the area of the Sunderland Executive Council; the average list is 2,882 patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what stages of pregnancy were the eight operations for abortior performed which were followed by the death of the patients during the first 12 effective months of the Abortion Act 1967.

The estimated weeks of pregnancy completed were as follows: 10, 11 (in 2 cases), 14, 16 (in 2 cases), 17 and 24.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of operations for termination of pregnancy, spetic abortions and incomplete abortions undertaken in hospitals in England and Wales in the quarter ended 31st March 1967 and the quarter ended 31st March 1969, respectively.

I regret that comparable data for the two periods are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the decline in the number of chemists shops, if he will take steps to ensure an even distribution of pharmaceutical services throughout the country.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and other bodies representative of pharmacies have set up a committee to consider the desirability and implications of introducing a measure of control over the location of pharmacies. My officers have suggested an exploratory meeting with representatives of the committee, which recently issued its first report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he received a communication from R. Ducher, Clerk to the North-East London Executive Health Service Council, despatched under date of 28th October, concerning the pharmaceutical services; what was the nature of this communication; what was his reply; and whether he will make a statement.

This letter was received in the Department on 30th October. I have sent to my hon. Friend a copy of the reply of 6th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing for manufacturing industry the amounts paid or expected to be paid in each of the six years 1963 to 1964 to 1969 to 1970, in respect of employers National Insurance contributions and industrial injuries contributions, respectively; and if he will indicate the definition of manufacturing industry which has been used.

The income from national insurance and industrial injuries contributions is not recorded on an industry by industry basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now announce the names of those invited to serve on the Medicines Commission.

I am pleased to announce on behalf of all the Ministers with responsibilities under the Medicines Act, 1968, that the following have agreed to serve as members of the Medicines Commission:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimate he has of the total number of staff nurses practising in hospitals within the National Health Service;(2) what estimate he has of the total number of ward sisters and charge nurses practising in hospitals within the National Health Service;

The numbers employed in National Health Service hospitals at 31st March, 1969, the latest date for which information is available, were as follows:

State Enrolled Nurses	45,113
Staff Nurses	46,793
Ward Sisters / Charge
Nurses	38,478

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has of the total number of state registered nurses in active employment in Great Britain, full or part-time.

The latest available figures for the National Health Service and the Special and State hospitals are:—

National Health Service Hospitals	99,429 at 31st 1969
Local health authority services	27,546 at 30th September 1968
Employed by National Health Service general medical practitioners	An average whole-time equivalent of about medical practitioners 300 during the quarter ended 31st March 1969
Special hospitals (England) and State hospitals (Scotland)	606 at 1st October 1969

About 500 are employed by Government Departments. Information is not available in respect of other employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has of the percentage of state registered nurses employed in the National Health Service who were born in Great Britain.

Information for an estimate is not available.

We are aware that the employment of agency nurses may in some cases create difficulties in the allocation of duties, and the discretion of hospital boards to employ them has been limited to the minimum necessary to avoid disruption of services to patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the shortage of nurses in National Health Service hospitals in the Greater London area; and what steps he proposes to fill the vacancies.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply on 20th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner), which applies to the country as a whole. T he London teaching hospitals and the metropolitan hospital regions as a whole have more nurses per 100 occupied beds, in non-psychiatric hospitals, than the national average; for psychiatric hospitals they are below the national average.—[Vol. 788, c. 156–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the gross weekly cost to the National Health Service of employing directly a state-registered nurse in a hospital; and what is the gross weekly cost of employing an agency nurse in a National Health Service hospital.

Comparison depends on the charges of the different agencies, which vary considerably. Recent information indicates that in London the gross cost per week of employing an agency nurse might range from £21 to £26 5s. Od. and of a directly employed non-resident state registered nurse in the grade of staff nurse from £21 to £25 15s. Od. These figures exclude employers' national insurance contributions and selective employment tax, additional payments for weekend and night duty, and the enhanced rate:3 paid to directly employed nurses in psychiatric and geriatric hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in view of the need to retain the services of as many trained nurses as possible, if he will review his policy with regard to the employment of agency nurses in the National Health Services;

Since the "fact" which forms the premise of the hon. Gentleman's contention about cost is not a fact, the conclusion he draws from it falls to the ground.In any case there are other considerations relevant to the employment of agency nurses, and my right hon. Friend intends to continue the policy of limiting this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will conduct a departmental investigation into the conditions and pay of nurses in connection with the new settlement to come into force on 1st April, 1970.

My Department will give all possible help to the Whitley Council in obtaining the information it requires.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he has made in the provision of special units for the mentally sick or seriously maladjusted adolescents; how many beds are available for such patients; and how many he estimates will be provided within the next 12 months.

There are now 17 special units providing 345 beds compared with 13 and 250 a year ago. Two more units providing 55 more beds are due to open in the next 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of concern in Harrow that there will not be immediate provision in Northwick Park Hospital for patients to be attended on a general practitioner basis as at present in Harrow Hospital; what consideration he has given to this problem; and if he will make a statement.

North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board proposed that facilities for patients in Harrow to be treated in hospital by General Practitioners should continue to be available at Harrow Hospital in association with consultant services of Northwick Park Hospital. This was part of wider proposals on the future use of Harrow Hospital on which the regional hospital board has just completed consultations locally and it will take account of all local representations before submittin^g its proposals to me. Meanwhile the intention is to appoint some general practitioners as clinical assistants at Northwick Park Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of women undergoing abortion operations have sterilisation operations at the same time.

During the first fourteen months of operation of the Abortion Act, the proportion notified in England and Wales was 21 per cent.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the total order book of British shipyards expressed in value and tonnage, respectively, at the latest available date; and what were the comparable figures for 1968.

An estimated £740 million for merchant and naval ships including merchant gross tonnage of · million at 30th September and £550 million with · million gross tonnage at the end of September, 1968.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make provision for a trading estate to be established within the Oldham-Rochdale area, in view of the decline in textile employment and continuing immigration.

No. I have no powers to do so.

asked the Minister of Technology what proportion of the gross national product is accounted for by the production of the industries sponsored by his Department; and if he will list them.

The industries now sponsored by the Ministry of Technology account in total for approximately one-third of the gross national product. A detailed list of the industries concerned is under preparation for circulation in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the cost of the conversions of the three million appliances in Scotland arising from the advent of North Sea gas; and when the completion date is expected.

Conversion is due to begin next year and could take between eight and ten years. It is too early to say how the original estimate of £30 million at 1966 cost levels will be affected by the factors referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 21st October.—[Vol. 788; c. 227.]

asked the Minister of Technology what is the cost of the pipeline to the terminal point at Glenmavis occasioned by the advent of North Sea gas; and when the completion date is expected.

I am asking the Chairman of the Gas Council to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 573 on European scientific and technological co-operation, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 3rd October 1969; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in paragraph 8 of this recommendation.

Her Majesty's Government attach great importance to European scientific and technological co-operation and this recommendation will be carefully considered when is referred to us.

asked the Minister of Technology what adjustments will be necessary in the pension rights o members of pension schemes of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible as a result of the partial contracting out proposals of Command Paper No. 4195.

This is a matter for the industries themselves in the first place, but it is too soon for them to have initiated the necessary consultations and to have reached any conclusions.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will investigate the circumstances which led to a gas explosion at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Scholey, of Hinde House Lane, Grimesthorpe, Sheffield, causing damage to the property and injury to the occupants; and if he will make a statement.

I have asked the East Midlands Gas Board to let me have details of this incident and of the results of its investigations. I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Minister of Technology how many tons of nickel are normally held in reserve stocks to meet difficult supply situations; and how many tons are held at present.

The only stock of nickel held by my Department is that mentioned in the written reply to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 22nd October, 1969. At that date the stock totalled 1.396 tons. A quantity of this is now being released to meet priority defence needs. I would also refer the noble Lord to a reply which I am giving today to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South.—[Vol. 788, c. 284.]

asked the Minister of Technology what stocks of nickel are currently held at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government, apart from the strategic stocks amounting to 1,396 tons; and what was the amount of such other stocks in 1964.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th November, 1969; Vol. 791, c. 109]: I assume that the hon. Member does not refer to the small operating stocks of the Royal Mint used for coinage, which is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Other than these, and the strategic stocks referred to in the Question, Her Majesty's Government hold no stocks of nickel and did not hold any in 1964.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 572 on European space policy, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 3rd October 1969; and whether they will instruct their representatives on the European Space Conference and in the Committee of Senior Officials to comply with the proposals contained in paragraph 12 of this recommendation.

The Government have taken note of paragraph 12(i) of the Recommendation referred to and have already declared their willingness to take part in the inter-governmental discussions envisaged at the Conference of European Space Ministers held at Bad Godesberg last year. A meeting of the European Conference on Satellite Telecommunications (C.E.T.S.) took place at the end of October to consider the European posture at the Intelsat negotiations and a large measure of agreement was arrived at. The European telecommunications satellite programme referred to requires some further study before consideration at an inter-governmental conference and this is being undertaken under the auspices of the Committee of Senior Officials.The remaining subsections of paragraph 12 of the Recommendation have not yet been considered by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe nor have the Government's views yet been sought. However, the Government's attitude on the matters raised in these subsections is as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the Cornwall County Council concerning improvement of the A39 at Helstone, near Camelford; and if he will make a statement.

None, but as my agent authority it has forwarded representations made to it by Camelford Rural District Council. The situation at Helstone is not considered to justify priority over more important schemes in the South-West and we are unable to indicate when it may be possible to carry out an improvement.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed increase in toll charges for the Tyne Tunnel, following the Tunnel Authority's recommendation to him for a reduction in toll charges.

The revision of tolls is governed by the Tyne Tunnel Act 1960. In considering the scale of charges my right hon. Friend has a statutory duty to be satisfied that toll revenue will be sufficient to meet expenditure, as defined in the Act, and to repay loans we have made within a period of 30 years.The Tyne Tunnel Committee published proposals for revised tolls in the early part of this year whichwould involve reductions for private cars and light vehicles. These have been under consideration: and in discussion with the Joint 'Tunnel Committee a possible alternative schedule involving increases for these vehicles has been tabled by the Ministry.No decisions as to future toll levels will be taken until interested persons and bodies have had an opportunity, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, to make representations to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for adapting the safety regulations of road vehicles to those of the United States of America, details of which are in his possession, in view of the importance of that country as an export market.

British regulations on car safety are generally compatible with United States federal standards. Our policy in international discussions on vehicle safety is to work for the maximum harmonisation of European and American standards.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress has been made with the Government of Malta concerning grants and long-term loans to that country.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer given to a Question by the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 20th October, to which as yet I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 788, c. 147.]

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total amount collected on the Duchy in agricultural and other rents, respectively, in each of the last 17 years.

The information is as follows:

Year	Agricultural Rents	Other Rents
1951–52	80,465	56,938
1952–53	82,085	58,618
1953–54	84,642	61,325
1954–55	87,892	60,701
1955–56	90,260	65,126
1956–57	94,650	71,612
1957–58	107,219	80,173
1958–59	111,759	84,839
1959–60	112,796	83,560
1960–61	118,537	88,335
1961–62	129,309	102,026
1962–63	156,739	102,094
1963–64	156,021	114,149
1964–65	158,011	120,982
1965–66	163,227	113,467
1966–67	177,264	136,775
1967–68	195,357	140,265

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish a table showing for the following trade groups, chemicals, oil and allied trades, standard industrial classification Nos. 261–263, 271–277, electrical engineering and electrical goods, standard industrial classification Nos. 361–365, 369, other non-electrical engineering, standard industrial classification Nos. 331–339, 341, 342, 349, 351, 352, and vehicles, standard industrial classification Nos. 381, 385, 389, the amounts paid, or expected to be paid in each of the six years 1963–64 to 1969–70 in respect of industrial training board levies and contributions to the redundancy fund, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) if she will publish a table showing for manufacturing industry the amounts paid, or expected to be paid in each of the six years 1963 to 1964 to 1969 to 1970 in respect of industrial training board levies and contributions to the redundancy fund, respectively; and what is the definition of manufacturing industry which has been used;(2) if she will publish a table showing for the following industries, scientific and industrial instruments and systems, standard industrial classification No. 354. electronic computers, standard industrial classification No. 366, and aerospace equipment manufacturing and repairing, standard industrial classification No. 383,the amounts paid, or expected to be paid,in each of the six years 1963 to 1964 to 1969 to 1970 in respect of industrial training board levies and contributions to the redundancy fund, respectively.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will list the numbers of registered employed in the seven crofting counties of Scotland in October 1969, and in each of the previous eight years.

Employment estimates for local areas are available for each midyear and the latest are for June 1968. Following is the information for each June from 1960 to 1968:

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED, IN THE SEVEN CROFTING COUNTIES OF SCOTLAND
			(Thousands)
	Males	Females	Total
June,1968	53·8	30·2	84·0
June,1967	54·4	28·3	82·7
June,1966	56·3	28·7	84·9
June,1965	56·2	27·8	84·1
June,1964	57·8	28·2	86·0
June,1963	58·8	28·0	86·8
June,1962	58·3	27·5	85·9
June,1961	56·6	25·6	82·2
June,1960	56·2	25·6	81·8

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will recommend the ratification by the Government of the Inter national Labour Organisation's Convention 111, concerning discrimination in employment.

Yes, when we are satisfied that we can meet its requirements including action against discrimination in pay on grounds of sex. We hope to deal with this in legislation to be introduced this Session.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table showing for manufacturing industry the amounts paid, or expected to be paid, in each of the six years 1963–64 to 1969–70 in respect of local authority rates and the betterment levy, respectively; and if he will indicate the definition of manufacturing industry which has been used.

The estimated amounts of rates paid or expected to be paid by manufacturing industry in England and Wales for the years in question are as follows:

Year	Rates
	£ million
1963–64	140·5
1964–65	147·8
1965–66	164·6
1966–67	182·6
1967–68	191·5
1968–69	202·7
1969–70	221·6

These estimates have been obtained by multiplying the average rate poundage for each year by the total rateable value of all factories, mills and other premises of a similar character used for industrial purposes; mineral producing hereditaments, gas, electricity, water, docks and harbours, railways and other transport undertakings are not included. I regret that similar information about betterment levy is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table showing for the following trade groups, chemicals, oil and allied trades, Standard Industrial Classification Nos. 261 to 263, 271 to 277, electrical engineering and electrical goods, Standard Industrial Classification Nos.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table showing for the following industries, scientific and industrial instruments and systems, Standard Industrial Classification No. 354, electronic computers, Standard Industrial Classification No. 366, and aerospace equipment manufacturing and repairing, Standard Industrial Classification No. 383, the amounts paid, or expected to be paid in each of the six years 1963–64 to 196970 in respect of local authority rates and the betterment levy, respectively.

The rate payments figures for the industries mentioned for 1963 may be obtained from the Report on the Census of Production 1963.I have no means of estimating the rate payments for the other years.I regret that similar information about betterment levy is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will set up an inquiry to investigate the flooding and subsequent evacuation of residents in Woodstock and Ashfield Gardens, Liverpool.

I gather that this accident was caused by the entry of rain when repairs were being carried out to the roofs of some Liverpool Corporation flats by a contractor. Whether there should be an inquiry into it is a matter for the Corporation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many acres of land in the South-East of England are derelict as a result of sand and gravel working; and if he will issue a general direction to the Land Com mission to serve compulsory purchase orders on the owners of this land, with a view to restoring it to productive uses.