asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a statement on the future of the ship repair industry and, in particular, regarding the agreement reached in connection with Palmers Yard in Hebburn.

My right hon. Friend expects shortly to receive advice from the Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing Council about the industry. He wishes to study this advice before making any statement.

asked the Minister of Technology what plans he has to visit power industries in Scotland.

I have no present plans but I would certainly expect to visit Scotland a little later on.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps are being taken to safeguard coking coal supplies for the steel industry.

This is primarily the responsibility of the British Steel Corporation and the National Coal Board, but I am keeping in close touch with them about future prospects for coking coal supply and demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of increased Soviet intervention in operational flights, missile installation and personnel in the Middle East, he will now authorise the sale of Chieftain tanks to Israel.

It is not our practice, nor has it been the practice of previous Governments, to comment on the details of particular arms transactions. We will continue to consider each application for arms carefully on its merits, taking into account the situation in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning new initiatives to help to end the conflict in Vietnam in view of their co-chairmanship of the Geneva Convention.

The British Government intend to take every opportunity that offers of working for the restoration of peace in Vietnam, and as Co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference my right hon. Friend stands ready at any time to do whatever lies in his power to help bring about a peaceful settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the situation in the Middle East so far as British interests are concerned.

We are, of course, seriously concerned about the situation in the Middle East. Our policy is to work for peace by seeking ways and means whereby we can bring help to bring about a comprehensive political settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his talks with the Foreign Minister of South Africa.

The talks were confidential.I have said that this was a courtesy call in which no commitments for the future were asked or given.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that under no circumstances will the British sovereignty of Gibraltar be yielded up to Spain against the declared wishes of the Gibraltarians.

The policy of this Government, as of their predecessor, is that set out in the preamble to the Order-in-Council of May, 1969, containing the Gibraltar Constitution. This states that:

"Gibraltar will remain part of Her Majesty's dominions unless and until an Act of Parliament otherwise provides, and furthermore that Her Majesty's Government will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why a member of Her Majesty's Government has not been appointed to lead the delegation to the United Nations.

I am considering this matter with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I expect to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding the supply of arms to South Africa.

I would refer to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) and Hitchin (Mrs. Shirley Williams).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy regarding entering into discussions with the illegal régime in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has regarding negotiations with the illegal Smith régime in Rhodesia; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the debate on the Address on 2nd July.—[Vol. 803, c. 81–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will state the Government's policy with regard to Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; and whether he will state the minimum and maximum conditions necessary before Her Majesty's Government will agree upon entry into the European Economic Community;(2) whether he will make a statement on the commencement of the negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and whether he will publish as a White Paper the text of the speech made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster at Luxembourg on Tuesday, 30th June;(3) whether he will give the entry terms of acceptance by Her Majesty's Government for entering into the European Economic Community so far as economic and monetary union is concerned, the introduction of a common European currency and what rôle sterling will have in these arrangements;(4) whether he will state in detail the entry terms for Great Britain into the Common Market which Her Majesty's Government will accept so far as farm finance, sugar agreements with the Commonwealth and Caribbean, New Zealand dairy exports and African countries association with the European Economic Community are concerned.

As I made clear in my speech in Luxembourg on 30th June, Her Majesty's Government's policy is to seek full membership of the European Communities. Our position on terms of entry was set out in my speech which has been laid before the House as Command Paper 4401. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made plain in Paris on 5th May that we seek entry on terms which are tolerable in the short term and clearly and visibly beneficial in the long term.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that, during his negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, he will make the retention of the present system of imperial preference a prerequisite for Great Britain's consideration of the terms of entry.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in receipt of retirement and widow's pensions are getting less than the maximum amount of pension as a result of a deficiency in contributions.

Nearly 400,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will pay increases in social security benefits next November of 8s. for single persons and 13s. for a married couple without introducing selectivity.

No. We agree with the previous Government that the increases this year should be in the field of supplementary benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will grant loan sanction for the building of four staff houses at Western House Hospital, Ware, Hertfordshire.

I shall be glad to consider this when the lists of projects selected for loan sanction are revised early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the present number of autistic children at present resident in mental sub-normality hospitals; what arrangements are being made to transfer them to autistic specialist establishments; and if he will make a statement.

No reliable estimate has been made. Special "autistic units" in hospitals are not generally favoured by psychiatrists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will institute an inquiry into the working of the Abortion Act in accordance with the request made to him by the Royal College of Nurses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set up a public inquiry into the working of the Abortion Act and in particular into abuses in charges by private abortion clinics.

I must have time to review the working of the Abortion Act myself before I can consider the hon. Members' suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to introduce legislation to introduce an allowance for wholly disabled persons requiring constant care.

The hon. Lady will now be aware that an attendance allowance for very severely disabled people is among the provisions of the National Insurance (Old persons' and widows' pensions and attendance allowance) Bill presented on 3rd July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now take steps to abolish the prescription and other charges on the National Health Service.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now take steps to increase all social security benefits and to reduce the age for claiming retirement pensions by five years.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the debate on the Address.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that no cruelty will be caused to livestock in auction marts as a result of the restrictions placed on cattle float drivers' hours; and whether he will make a statement.

I am urgently consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport about the question of drivers' hours as it affects livestock haulage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what his policy is regarding the rating of agricultural holdings which are used partly for breeding ponies or as riding schools.

We are considering the whole question of the rating of agricultural subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to announce his findings on the siting of an iron ore terminal at the Clyde Estuary.

When I have received and considered the report of the public inquiry I will announce my decisions about the development plan amendment relating to this and other proposed developments at Hunterston.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to authorise the changeover of part of the Longannet Power Station in Fife from using coal to using oil.

I have received no proposals from the South of Scotland Electricity Board about the use of oil instead of coal in any of the sets at Longannet Power Station.Any proposals of this kind would have to be carefully considered in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology because of his responsibilities in relation to the coal industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the medical treatment being given to, and the general state of health of, the prisoner in Holloway Prison about whom he has had correspondence with the hon. Member for Ilford, North; and what inquiries the prison medical officer has made of this prisoner's previous medical advisers as requested by her husband.

I am writing to my hon. Friend about this case.

asked the Attorney-General what action he intends to take against those United Kingdom citizens who, from pirate radio stations, were telling their listeners how to vote during the last election.

This matter has already been brought to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions. If the hon. Member has any evidence concerning it, I would be grateful if he could forward it to me.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when he will renew negotiations with the Government of Malta on the terms of the remaining instalment of financial aid.

I am now considering this matter and I hope soon to be able to renew negotiations with the Government of Malta.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consult the medical officer of health of Manchester Corporation to consider methods of dealing with rodent infestation; and what advice has so far been given to local authorities in view of the increasing immunity of rodents to existing poisons.

Research into better methods of controlling rats and mice is continuously undertaken by the Ministry's Pest Infestation Control Laboratory and there is a regular flow of technical information and advice to local authorities based on the results of this work. This includes advice on controlling rodents which have developed an immunity to the standard poison warfarin. There is also liaison between our local technical officers and the responsible local authority officers. I am not aware of any special problem in Manchester necessitating consultation with the Medical Officer of Health outside these normal arrangements and he has not asked for advice.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for the future of rural development boards.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has announced earlier today that we do not propose to proceed with the Wales Rural Development Board. We do, however, intend to continue the Northern Pennines Rural Development Board, which has widespread local support, and which we regard as a worthwhile experiment in finding solutions for the problems of the hill areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether he intends to refer the merger proposed between Hill Samuel and Metropolitan Estate Property Company to the Monopolies Commission.

A decision on the question of a reference to the Monopolies Commission will be announced as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) if he will introduce legislation to strengthen the Monopolies Commission;(2) if he will introduce legislation to create a Registrar of Monopolies and Mergers.

We shall undertake a thorough review of all the possibilities for the future development of competition policy before making any announcements about the scope of any legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the Severnside Study will be published; and if transport proposals for South Gloucestershire and the Bristol area will take into account the proposals of the Severnside Study.

We would hope to publish this study early next year and to give everyone concerned—including those concerned with transport—a full opportunity to discuss its proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he proposes to appoint any further members to the panel conducting the inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan.

Yes. I am glad to be able to tell the House that Sir Roger Stevens, G.C.M.G., at present Vice Chancellor of Leeds University and Chairman of the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council, has accepted an invitation to serve on the panel.I regret, however, that Mr. Brian Parker, Senior Engineer of R. Travers Morgan and Partners who was appointed an assessor to the panel, is withdrawing. The firm, of which Mr. Parker is an employee, advised the London County Council in 1964 on the line of a portion of the so-called motorway box. Mr. Parker played no rôle in formulating that advice. No one questions the integrity of Mr. Parker or the firm. But to avoid any suggestion of bias—however illfounded—which might impair the inquiry, Mr. Parker has, with the approval of his firm, offered his resignation and I have reluctantly accepted it.I am glad however to be able to announce that Dr. David M. Robertson, of Peat Marwick Kates and Company, has agreed to serve as an assessor.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will end the surcharge on mail originating in Rhodesia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall), Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. Ronald Bell), Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) and Ripon (Sir M. Stoddart-Scott).

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what discussions have taken place with the Post Office regarding the postal and telegraph charges; and what changes will be introduced, and when.

I hope shortly to be discussing postal charges with the Post Office but cannot yet forecast the outcome.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when he proposes to allocate an order for the construction of a hunter-killer submarine to Cammell Laird (Shipbuilders and Engineers) Limited.

A contract for a hunter-killer submarine was let to Vickers (Barrow) on 20th May, 1970. There are no further orders in prospect in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the Government of the United States of America regarding the official proposal to impose quotas on imports into the United States of America so far as it affects United Kingdom trade.

Under both the previous and the present Administrations the U.S. Government have been left in no doubt of the concern felt in this country over the moves to restrict U.S. imports under conditions incompatible with the accepted international rules. It is our strong hope that ways will be found of dealing with any real difficulties in a manner which will not undermine the system of liberal international trading.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will expedite the Dee Crossing so that a multilateral scheme for fresh water and recreation can be produced for the North-West; and what proposals he has in relation to this matter.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider bringing forward the implementation of the scheme to build a road to bypass the village of St. Nicholas, Glamorgan.

Plans are proceeding as quickly as possible to build the Cardiff Intermediate Bypass which will remove much of the present traffic from St. Nicholas. Should future increases in traffic call also for improvement of the existing A.48 road, consideration will then be given to a bypass of St. Nicholas.