asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will authorise a start on the proposed new Rugby sports centre.

I cannot yet say what the future programme will include but I will bear this desirable project in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the fact that a number of tenants, particularly those in multi-occupied properties, are unaware of their legal rights and remedies, he will take steps to ensure that greater publicity affecting their rights and remedies is afforded to tenants in respect of furnished and unfurnished properties.

As I have already told the House, I have increased the amount to be spent on advertising to inform tenants of their rights concerning security of tenure and harassment.—[Vol. 803, c. 1342–3.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek to amend the regulations governing the number of signals which must be transmitted by flight recorders to bring them into line with those in operation in the United States of America.

The present requirements of the United Kingdom and the United States of America are similar except that we require one additional parameter to be recorded in certain circumstances. The need for compatibility between British and American practices is recognised and is being taken into account in the formulation of proposals for future United Kingdom legislation on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recommendations are made by his Department to United Kingdom purchasers of petalite to ascertain whether it is of South African or Rhodesian origin.

None. It is for the importer of petalite to satisy himself that he is not importing material of proscribed origin.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government accepts Resolution No. 440 on the financial and economic aspects of air transport operations which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 18th April, 1970; and what instructions he has given to his representative with the European Civil Aviation Conference with regard to action to be taken on the proposals contained therein.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government accepts Resolution No. 440 on the financial and economic aspects of air transport operations which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 18th April, 1970; and what instructions he has given to his representative with the European Civil Aviation Conference with regard to action to be taken on the proposals contained therein.

The resolution requested the European Civil Aviation Conference to study these proposals and to inform the Consultative Assembly of the steps proposed. The United Kingdom representatives were instructed to support this action, and will participate actively in the examination in its standing committees upon which the plenary conference decided.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the numbers of aircraft movements expressed quarterly during 1968, 1969 and 1970 at Stansted Airport, making a

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek powers to prevent the 25 per cent. increase in car insurance premiums proposed by insurance companies.

We do not propose to seek such powers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the annual contributions made by Fisons Limited to political organisations since the Companies Act, 1967, became effective.

The only contribution recorded was one of £5,000 in the financial year ending 30th June, 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make an annual report to Parliament on the full extent of State holdings and

Following is the information:those of nationalised and other public corporations, including the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation, in other separately registered companies, indicating the size of each holding, whether the companies concerned are subsidiaries of the public concern, and whether those that are wholly or partly owned by the State have traded in the year under report.

The information is contained in the annual reports and accounts of the nationalised industries and public corporations which are presented to Parliament. I will consider whether any further or revised presentation of this information would be useful.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present rate of expenditure on the import of coinage blanks.

Expenditure in the current financial year will be about £300,000 on coinage blanks in connection with four overseas orders. Of this sum, about £250,000 is for nickel-clad steel blanks for which no capacity exists in Britain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why coinage blanks are being imported, in view of the capacity to manufacture them in this country.

The bulk of the 1970–71 expenditure will be on blanks which cannot be manufactured in this country. The remaining blanks have been bought abroad because they were cheaper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the Government's policy regarding the repayment of post-war credits; and whether he will seek to make repayments before general tax reductions are made.

My right hon. Friend has no change in mind at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now take steps to withdraw the requirement for coin dealers and numismatists to hold a licence from the Bank of England when they wish to trade in or to collect modern gold coins.

Not at present but my right hon. Friend will examine the need for continuing restrictions in this field, as in others.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in abolishing selective employment tax, he will take steps to ensure that traders pass on the full reduction in prices to customers and consumers.

No. How far prices will be reduced will depend on how far the tax has been passed on and on competitive conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cargoes of petalite have been impounded or confiscated by Her Majesty's Officers of Customs on discharge at British ports on grounds of originating from Rhodesia; and at which ports, from what ships and on what dates this occurred.

Four consignements of imported petalite, as follows, have been seized on the ground that they were of Rhodesian origin.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what certificates of origin accompanied cargoes of petalite impounded on the grounds that they originated in Rhodesia; and why they were not accepted by the Customs.

It is not the normal practice to give details of individual consignments. The primary purpose of certificates of Commonwealth origin is to support claims for the admission of goods to this country under Commonwealth Preference. In determining whether any given consignment may be admitted, under Commonwealth Preference or otherwise, the Customs take account of all available information, including the nature of the goods and any certificate relating to them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who were the purchasers and sellers of cargoes of petalite impounded on the grounds that they originated in Rhodesia; and what representations they made concerning this confiscation or impounding.

It is not the normal practice to disclose such details of transactions involving individual firms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the cargoes of petalite confiscated or impounded by the Customs were re-sold to the original United Kingdom purchaser; and whether the proceeds covered the dock warehousing charges incurred.

It is not normal practice to give details about individual firms. The Commissioners of Customs and Excise have power, under Sections 275 and 288 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1952, to dispose of seized goods as they think fit. They have so disposed of two consignments of petalite, and the proceeds from the disposal covered the expenditure by the Crown on storage charges.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Officers of Customs visited South Africa to investigate the country of origin of cargoes of petalite bound for the United Kingdom; and what co-operation they received from the South African authorities.

No such visit was made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether tests are carried out by Her Majesty's Officers of Customs on incoming cargoes of petalite to determine their country of origin.

All imported goods are subject to Customs examination, including the testing of samples where necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who sanctions the selling of confiscated cargoes of petalite; and when permission was given for the sale of such cargoes held at the ports of Hull and Immingham during the last three months.

The Commissioners of Customs and Excise, under Sections 275 and 278 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1952. They decided at the end of May to sell two consignments of petalite, but the sale arrangements were not completed until the end of June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has for increasing the supply of teachers for infant schools.

My Department recently asked area training organisations and colleges of education to increase substantially the proportion of students in colleges taking courses which include training for work with infants. The response has been encouraging.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will publish the number of people employed on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate at the latest available date and on the corresponding date for the previous 10 years.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to increase employment opportunities on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate, in view of the number of factory units there which have closed down.

The full development area incentives to industrialists are available at our Aycliffe Industrial Estate and the facilities there will be drawn to the attention of suitable inquiring firms.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will designate North Staffordshire an intermediate area.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will extend the designation of grey areas to other parts of the East Midland region and particularly Nottinghamshire.

We have at present no plans for designating new intermediate areas.

asked the Minister of Technology whether the Government accept Resolution No. 443 on European scientific and technological co-operation which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 20th April, 1970; and whether they will support the Assembly's request to convoke in the near future a Conference of Ministers of Technology.

asked the Minister of Technology whether the Government accept Resolution No. 443 on European scientific and technological co-operation which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 20th April, 1970; and whether they will support the Assembly's request to convoke in the near future a Conference of Ministers of Technology.

Her Majesty's Government accept the resolution. They attach considerable importance to European scientific and technological co-operation and support the principle of a conference of Ministers of Technology.

asked the Minister of Technology whether, in view of the high unemployment in the Gunnislake district of the area of Cornwall covered by the Plymouth Employment Exchange, he will confer development area status on Saltash Borough Council, Torpoint Urban District Council and St. Germans Rural District Council.

Gunnislake is in the Plymouth group of employment exchange areas, where the rate of unemployment in June was 3·3 per cent. Because of the close travel-to-work links which Gunnislake has with Plymouth, it is misleading to calculate a separate rate for Gunnislake alone. Intermediate area incentives continue to be available in the local authority areas to which my hon. Friend refers, but we are not convinced that additional assistance would be justified.

asked the Minister of Technology how many inquiries have been received from industrialists about the possibility of industrial development certificates for factories in the Gunnislake district since that area has been classified as an intermediate area.

Three inquiries about industrial projects in Gunnislake have come to the notice of the Department. One of these projects would need an industrial development certificate.

asked the Minister of Technology in view of the high percentage rate of unemployment in the area, what proposals he has for attracting new jobs to Peterlee.

The Minister of Technology will take every opportunity to interest suitable firms in Peterlee, where the full range of development area inducements is available to in-coming and expanding industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy in relation to the expansion of the hospital building programme.

The Government intend to improve the National Health Service but need time especially in building to consider priorities and balance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of providing a new hospital bed; and how this compares with the average cost of a bed in a new prefabricated unit.

The cost per bed varies greatly depending on the type of hospital and the services provided. £8,000 (excluding the cost of land, fees and equipment) is the average cost of a bed in a typical district general hospital. Prefabricated units are being used for the temporary relief of overcrowding at some mental illness hospitals at a current average cost per bed of £1,000, which is aproximately 2/5ths of the cost of providing a comparable bed for mental illness in permanent construction. The cost of a prefabricated general practitioner maternity unit with all services, such as was suggested by my hon. Friend in the debate on 13th July, is likely to be at least £5,000 per bed, but I must point out that other important considerations would have to be taken into account before such a solution could be adopted.—[Vol. 803, c. 1214–15.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present level of family allowances in each country in Western Europe, from information available to him from international sources; and for each of these countries, including Great Britain, what percentage of national average earnings, according to the latest available figures, these levels represent.

Information about family allowance rates is complex. I am writing to the hon. Member to give him such information as is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to grant a yearly increase in supplementary benefit of an amount equal to the cost of television licences to all totally disabled and pensioners on low fixed income.

No. The cost of television licences is included in the index of retail prices which is taken into account in determining supplementary benefit scale rates. The scale rates, which are being increased this November, already contain a margin for amenities which people can, if they wish, spend on items like television licences.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now state the date on which the introduction of licensing for medical products will become operative.

I have this matter under review but I am not yet ready to make an announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to give further help to single parent families in respect of the special difficulties experienced by the working parent of such families during school holidays.

This is one aspect of the problem which the Committee on One-Parent Families are considering. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science that local education authorities have powers to provide facilities for children during school holidays.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will reconsider the decision to run down the provision of the mass X-ray service.

I endorse the guidance issued by my predecessor to hospital authorities on this service, which was established for detecting tuberculosis. This purpose no longer justifies its retention except for particular groups of people at risk. I am advised that it is not suitable for population screening for other chest disorders.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy regarding the maintenance of general practitioner hospitals where there exists a local demand for them; and if he will give an assurance that the Saltash, Liskeard and Fowey Hospitals will remain open.

I will keep under review the rôle of general practitioner hospitals and look carefully at any proposals by boards to close them or to change their use. No proposals have been made to me by the South-Western Regional Hospital Board to close or change the use of general practitioner hospitals at Saltash, Liskeard and Fowey except in the case of Trebarras Maternity Home, Liskeard, where the arrangements for maternity services are being reviewed as the result of the temporary closure of the home, through difficulty in recruiting staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details showing the percentage of the total amount of supplementary benefits paid in the last financial year to the following categories, namely, pensioners, with or without retirement pension, employment exchange applicants, sick applicants, widows, liable relative applicants and miscellaneous applicants, respectively.

The estimated expenditure on the various groups of beneficiary in the financial year 1969–70 is given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the increased cost of fuel, he will raise the element allowed for fuel from the present average rate of 5s. weekly to recipients of supplementary benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Ordinary provision for fuel is included in the supplementary benefit scale rates which are to be increased from 2nd November. It is not possible to say how much of the scale rates is appropriate to fuel or any other one item of expenditure. People's needs and preferences vary, and the scale rates provide an amount to meet all ordinary living expenses which people can spend in the way that suits them best. Where a person needs extra heating, and this cannot be met from the long-term addition paid to old people and other long-term cases, the Supplementary Benefits Commission has power to make additional payments which are linked to the price of house coal in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to speed up the redevelopment of the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, Monmouthshire, in view of the need for more hospital beds in the area.

It is hoped to start the next major phase of building early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average difference between beef and mutton prices in markets in Wales at the last convenient date as compared with such prices in England.

Comparable information about prices of beef and mutton in wholesale markets in England and Wales respectively is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he accepts the recommendations of the Welsh Council made in its Report on Water in Wales.

I am studying this valuable report, which I agreed should be published. I thank the Welsh Council for the work it has put into it.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) whether he will review the arrangements for the levying of customs charges on parcels entering the United Kingdom when the recipient of such a parcel refuses to accept the charge levied;(2) whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office that parcels brought into the United Kingdom which have been subjected to customs charges that have not been accepted by the addressee shall not be returned to the country of origin without the authority of the addressee, in writing, or after the unsuccessful completion of a satisfactory appeal procedure.

No. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I suggest he pursues it with the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what consultation he has had, and intends having, with the Musicians' Union concerning the introduction of commercial local radio; and if he will make a statement.

As I told the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 6th July, as my study of the technical and other aspects of commercial radio proceeds, I shall of course undertake wide-ranging consultations. I hope that the Musicians' Union, among many other organisations, will join in these consultations.—[Vol. 803, col. 314–15.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the provision of British assistance to Nigeria for relief of the people of the former state of Biafra.

My Department took over responsiblity for relief and rehabilitation from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 1st April, 1970, and is now responsible for the expenditure of the unexpended portion of the £5 millions made available by Her Majesty's Government for this purpose in January, 1970. The balance available is £3·2 millions. Part of it will be used to help finance and support the work of the British voluntary societies assisting rehabilitation in the areas affected by the war, in particular the East Central State. This support includes the provision of drugs, motor transport, seed supplies for food planting programmes and the payment of salaries. Beyond this, large amounts of supplies and equipment are being provided in response to requirements notified by the Federal Military Government on behalf of the war-affected States. These supplies include motor vehicles and spares, drugs, hospital equipment, mobile telephone exchanges, agricultural tools, fishing equipment, equipment for schools, and building materials.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 595 on the rôle of the Council of Europe member states in the Second United Nations Development Decade which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 28th January, 1970; and whether they will comply with the proposals contained in paragraph 13 of this recommendation.

The subjects covered by this recommendation range very widely. Her Majesty's Government agree that member countries of the Council of Europe have an important part to play in the development process. With regard to the target of 1 per cent. of gross national product in total official and private flows to developing countries, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 9th July to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan).—[Vol. 803, c. 820.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 591 on Venice, its preservation and renovation, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1970; and what special financial contribution they intend to make to the United Nations Economic and Scientific Co-operation Organisation programme for the preservation and revitalisation of Venice.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 591 on Venice, its preservation and renovation which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1970; and if they will make a special financial contribution to the United Nations Economic and Scientific Co-operation Organisation programme for the preservation and revitalisation of Venice.

The attention of member Governments is expected to be drawn to Recommendation No. 591 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe when it next meets. The recommendation relates to the U.N.E.S.C.O. programme for Venice and to the appeal addressed by the director-general to member states early this year for funds, technical assistance and equipment needed to undertake certain priority projects. The Italian Government are expected to draw up, before the end of 1970, a comprehensive plan for the protection of Venice. It is too early, in advance of this plan, to consider the question of a financial contribution from Her Majesty's Government, but appropriate British institutions have been asked to consider if there is anything they can do to help.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the shortage of capital resulting from the decline in the level of farm incomes, he will consider an interim price review this coming autumn.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe), on 15th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 234.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence why the postal vote posted in Mansfield Post Office on Thursday 11th June to Mr. Humphrey, 202 M.E.D. Workshops, Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (V), care of 4th Armed Workshops, Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, British Forces Post Office 41, has not been received.

An inquiry into the loss of this letter has been instituted and I will let the hon. Member know the outcome in due course.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many complaints he has received from the Forces with regard to the non-arrival of postal votes for the General Election on 18th June for the British Forces and the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve II in Germany.

Regular and reserve members of the Forces serving outside the United Kingdom at the time of an election can only vote by proxy. The question of the non-arrival of postal votes does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future development of the multi-role combat aircraft.

I hope to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the hardship caused to aged, blind, disabled and pensioners on low fixed incomes by recent fare increases, he will seek to amend the Transport Act to make it obligatory upon all local authorities to provide cheap travel concessions for these people.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if the date for the construction of the Pleasley bypass, Derbyshire, has been fixed.

asked the Minister of Transport what stage has been reached in his plans for the A617 Pleasley bypass.

Derbyshire County Council is expected to put forward proposals by about the end of this year. A target date for start of construction will depend on a firm programming decision.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that material from adjacent pit heaps will be used as general fill in the embankments for the Thorne bypass on the M18 motorway.

We are currently examining the use of mineral waste as fill for roadworks. In the meantime, the tender documents for the construction of the Thorne Bypass have been framed so as to provide a widened specification which permits the use of suitable colliery shale.

asked the Minister of Transport when a fully dual-tracked carriageway linking Bradford with the motorway M62 now under construction is to be completed.

We expect the Bradford south radial motorway to be completed by the end of 1972.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now approve construction of the remainder of the A11/Wymondham bypass.

I plan to invite tenders for the construction of the remainder of this bypass within a month and for work to start by the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what stage of proceedings the D ring road proposal has reached, affecting the Borough of Hillingdon; and when final decisions will be reached.

The section of Ringway 3 between the M4 and A4020 is in the trunk road programme, but detailed proposals are still being worked out. I hope to decide on a starting date by the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the importance of the A47 between Leicester and King's Lynn, he will take steps to have the whole of this road classified as a strategy route of the type delineated in the 1969 Green Paper.

No. This section of the A47 will be improved to the standard necessary to cater adequately for future traffic demands.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement with regard to the continuation of funds, as provided by the Transport Act, 1968, as they affect the future of those lines in Cornwall now in receipt of grants, namely, the Plymouth-Liskeard-Penzance main line and the branch lines Plymouth-Gunnislake, Liskeard-Looe and Bodmin Road-Newquay.

I shall review the continuation of grant-aid for individual rail passenger services in Cornwall as the Railways Board apply for renewal.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the estimated completion date of the A19 road between Sunderland and Sheraton.

Late in 1971.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that, at all points where public footpaths meet the M4 motorway presently under construction, suitable crossing points, by bridge or tunnel, will be provided, to ensure continued availability of all relevant footpaths.

Footpaths will not be stopped up unless there is another reasonably convenient route.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to ensure full safguards against the jack-knifing of vehicles.

I will take appropriate action as soon as the trials which are now taking place establish that anti-jack-knifing equipment can be made available at reasonable cost which will be effective in operational use.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to require contractors employed on major road construction to use only mechanical equipment which is effectively silenced as far as practical.

I am sure that my hon. Friend will appreciate that road-works of the magnitude now being undertaken in his constituency inevitably cause some disturbance. Every effort, however, is being made to minimise any inconvenience and noise.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in his Department's work to bring about the solution of the dispute between the Co-operative Insurance Society Limited and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) and Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler).—[Vol. 803, c. 1705–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will state the number of mineworkers presently unemployed in the Easington constituency and the number of those aged 55 years and over.

At 8th June, 1970, 531 persons who last worked in coal mining were registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Peterlee and Wingate employment exchanges, which approximates broadly to the Easington constituency. There is no age analysis of this figure but a special return for 8th June, 1970, confined to workers affected by colliery closures included 402 men aged 55 and over who were registered as unemployed in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will discontinue the Annual Census of Employment, consequent upon the proposed abolition of National Insurance cards.

I would refer my hon. Friend to a reply given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd).—[Vol. 803, c. 238–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will give an estimate of the cost of the dispute between the airlines and the pilots on the question of navigating the Boeing 747; and what steps have been taken by his Department to bring this dispute to an end.

B.O.A.C. advises me that the extent of the cost is not yet fully determinable but that it is expected to be somewhat below its original estimate of £50,000 per day. B.A.L.P.A. is at present considering proposals put forward by B.O.A.C. on 26th June.My Department is continuing to keep in touch with developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will investigate the abuses, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Leeds, South, of the unemployment benefits system in Leeds.

I am looking into the points raised and will be writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made representations to the Government of the Republic of South Africa concerning the validity of its certificates of origin covering the cargoes of petalite confiscated on the grounds that they originated in Rhodesia.

No certificate of origin from the South African Government was produced in connection with any of these importations. Accordingly, the question of representations on this does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 603 on the European Conservation Conference which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 21st April, 1970; 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 6 of this recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 603 on the European Conservation Conference which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 21st April, 1970; 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 6 of this recommendation.

Her Majesty's Government gave their support in principle to the Declaration adopted by the European Conservation Conference. The specific proposals contained in Recommendation No. 603 for following up the Declaration will require further study and elaboration by the appropriate organs of the Council of Europe in whose work we shall play an active part.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 602 on the position of Greek refugees which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 20th April, 1970; and whether they will take action on the proposals contained in paragraph 6 of this recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 602 on the position of Greek refugees which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 20th April, 1970; and whether they will take action on the proposals contained in paragraph 6 of this recommendation.

We have taken careful note of this recommendation. As part of our normal policy towards citizens of foreign countries, we are already putting into effect a number of the proposals in paragraph 6 of the recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government accept Resolution No. 446 on the situation in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, so far as British interests are concerned, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 22nd April, 1970; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government accept Resolution No. 446 on the situation in the Mediterranean and the Middle East which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 22nd April, 1970, so far as British interests are concerned.

We remain determined to uphold security in the Mediterranean area. We look forward to a settlement of the Arab/Israel dispute based on Security Council Resolution 242 of November, 1967. Many of the ideas contained in Resolution No. 446 of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe are acceptable to us.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government accept Recommendation 599 on air piracy which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 18th April, 1970; 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 made in paragraph 9, and to take on national level action as recommended in paragraph 8.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 599 on air piracy which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 18th April, 1970; 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 made in paragraph 9, and take on national level action as recommended in paragraph 8.

On 29th June the Committee of Ministers adopted its own Resolution which endorsed some but not all of the points in paragraph 8 of the Assembly's Recommendation 599. It also transmitted the recommendation to the European Civil Aviation Conference, which decided at its plenary session meeting from 29th June to 6th July to defer a further review of the subject until after the Diplomatic Conference, in December, on the draft Convention on Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft. The Government will introduce any legislation needed to implement this Convention when it has been concluded and will consider whether further legislation is needed in the light of any subsequent international agreements. The United Kingdom ratified the Tokyo Convention in 1969 and we are already taking the other action recommended by the Committee of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government accept Recommendation No. 594 on the development of modern language teaching in Turkey which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January 1970; and whether they will take action on the proposals contained in point 8(c) of this recommendation.

Recommendation 594 is acceptable in principle to Her Majesty's Government.Suggestions for ways in which we could help development of modern language teaching in Turkey have been put to the Secretariat of the Council of Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government accept 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.

There have been a number of developments in European space affairs and in the Intelsat negotiations since Recommendation 572 was adopted.Her Majesty's Government are reviewing the whole question of participation in European space programmes. These will be discussed at the forthcoming European Space Conference, whose outcome we are unable to anticipate.The future organisation of the International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium is still under discussion, and an Inter-Sessional Working Group of the Plenipotentiary Conference on Definitive Arrangements for the Consortium will meet again in Washington in September.