asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to secure release of British ships incarcerated by Egypt in the Suez Canal.

While hostilities along the canal continue at their present level there is no possibility of securing the release of these ships.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish as a White Paper the talks held with representatives of the Commonwealth and European Free Trade Association on the subject of negotiations taking place in regard to Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement concerning Anglo-Cypriot relations and British policy towards neighbouring states which are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

We maintain close and friendly relations with Cyprus, whose independence and unity we support. Her Majesty's Government's policy is to co-operate with all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in pursuance of the aims of the Alliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult the Governments of the old and new Commonwealth countries before legislation is introduced to change to alien terms of employment the terms of employment for Commonwealth citizens entering this country.

Commonwealth Governments have been informed of the broad intention of our policies and will be given advance notice of the detailed changes when the form of the legislation has been worked out.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will reconsider the amount of time allocated to broadcasting in various languages by the British Broadcasting Corporation, which broadcasts 70 hours of Arabic but no Albanian, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Basque, Galician, Breton or Hebrew; and why more time is given to the Arabic service than to other language services.

The amount of time allocated to broadcasting in the various languages is kept constantly under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the West German Foreign Minister.

Herr Scheel paid an official visit to this country on 16th and 17th of July. We discussed a number of subjects of common interest including the Eastern policies of the Federal Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the financial liabilities which will be incurred by Her Majesty's Government by the rescheduling of the debts of the Government of Ghana, he will publish the memorandum submitted by the Government of Ghana to the Marlborough House Conference.

No. It is for the Government of Ghana to publish their own memorandum if they wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government made to the Government of Ghana at the International Conference on the Rescheduling of Ghana Debts which was held in London from 7th to 13th July as to the repayment upon the terms previously agreed of Ghanaian savings bonds held by British citizens.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to bring greater measures of safety to tenants in resettlement areas in Hong Kong, in view of the increase of crimes of violence during this year in these estates.

Widespread measures to check the increase in crimes of violence have been taken by the Commissioner of Police, resulting in a sharp drop in reported robberies. Provision has been made in the public works programme for four new major police stations in resettlement areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Fu Chi Kin of Hong Kong who was removed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, on 28th January last and died there the following morning; whether he is satisfied that everything was done to prolong, if not to save, Mr. Fu Chi Kin's life; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Fu Chi Kin's death was due to chronic heart disease. I have been assured by the Governor that everything possible was done to prolong and save Mr. Fu Chi Kin's life.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that the Ghanaian Government, without recourse to any legal process, removed from the bank account in Accra of a United Kingdom citizen a sum of money; and what steps have been taken to assist him in attempting to secure the repayment of this sum.

If the hon. Member is referring to Mr. Geoffrey Bing, I know of the allegation to which he refers. Mr. Bing's representatives were told in February 1968 that Her Majesty's Government had done everything they usefully could do on Mr. Bing's behalf. But I have a report that the money in question has been refunded to Mr. Bing's account.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the United Nations, as a threat to world peace, the question of the deployment of Soviet forces in the territory of the United Arab Republic.

We are naturally concerned about the Soviet military presence in the United Arab Republic. But I do not think it would be useful to act in the way proposed by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards North Vietnamese, Chinese and Russian aggression in South-East Asia.

Her Majesty's Government's policy is to work for a peaceful solution of the problems of Indo-China which will permit the withdrawal of all outside forces from the territories of the countries concerned, and enable the peoples of these countries to decide their own futures free from outside interference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British policy towards Cambodia.

Our policy is to maintain normal friendly relations with the Government of cambodia. We profoundly sympathise with that Government's desire to maintain the country's neutrality, independence and territorial integrity and we support constructive efforts to that end.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to secure an East-West security conference; and if, in particular, he will take the initiative within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the publication of specific proposals for mutual, balanced, military force reductions in Europe.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give support to the West German Government's proposals for a peaceful settlement with Russia, Eastern Europe and the German Democratic Republic.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the Shah of Persia concerning British troops in the Persian Gulf and related matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his talks with the Shah of Iran; and what representations were made by the Shah regarding the withdrawal of British troops from the Persian Gulf.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Rutherglen (Mr. Gregor Mackenzie) on 15th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 231.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the official statement issued by the Foreign Office regarding approaches made to the illegal Smith régime by an agent of the South African Government on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, was issued with his authority.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made it quite clear when answering a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 14th July that there was no truth in reports that Her Majesty's Government had asked the South African Government to act as their intermediary in negotiations with Mr. Smith.—[Vol. 803, c. 1357–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the decision to recall Her Majesty's Ambassador from the United States of America; and what was the reason for the recall.

Mr. Freeman has returned to London this week for consultations. It is the normal practice for Her Majesty's Ambassadors to come here from time to time for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will re-examine the case put forward for the early provision of a hospital in Redditch; and if he will make a statement.

Responsibility for planning new hospital provision for Redditch, and for its priority in its building programme, lies primarily with the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board. After careful consideration of the region's priority needs, the board has decided that an early start cannot be made on the planned new hospital for Redditch.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in the negotiations first decided upon on 4th December 1968 for a new grading and salary structure for superintendents and deputy superintendents of central sterile supply departments.

The Administrative and Clerical Staffs Whitley Council has collected and analysed information on the duties of superintendents and deputy superintendents of central sterile supply departments and its joint negotiating committee will shortly be discussing their grading and salary structure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the closure of the Radiological Protection Service, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

As hon. Members will know, the Radiological Protection Act was passed in the last Session of Parliament. This Act provides for the setting up of a board responsible for providing advice and services in the field of radiological protection. An advisory group was established by the previous Government to review the current organisation of radiological protection services and to make recommendations to the Radiological Protection Board when the board is set up.The Advisory Group has concluded that if the board decides in due course to place its headquarters at Harwell, then the services now provided from the Birmingham Radiological Protection Centre should be provided from Harwell. The

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct Social Security officers that where supplementary benefits are paid to cover specific claims the relevant amounts should be paid either direct to the original claimant or by some irrevocable money order that ensures the benefit is applied for its intended use.

This is often done where only a single payment of benefit has to be made, particularly where there is a danger that the money may be misapplied. Where the payment is a recurring one, for example rent, the amount involved may be paid direct to the landlord in appropriate cases, but there are administrative difficulties about doing this, or sending the claimant a separate draft for rent made payable to the landlord, where the claimant is frequently in and out of work. In these cases other methods are used to ensure that the rent is paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many domiciliary workers are employed in the city of Gloucester; and how the numbers compare with the average for county boroughs in England in each case.

Following are the figures (as at 30th September, 1969):

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, after considering the report on the plight of single women who give up their employment to look after elderly relatives, issued by the National Council for the Single Woman, a copy of which is in his possession, he will consult the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Housing and Local Government to consider ways to improve the position of this section of the community.

When the new attendance allowance becomes payable, it will help some of these families. Beyond this I shall certainly want to consider in conjunction with my right hon. Friends their general position carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many houses or units of accommodation have been adapted to accommodate disabled persons.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what new chest clinic facilities will be available in the stage two and stage three development of Northwick Park Hospital.

The North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board intends to develop a full service in respiratory medicine at Northwick Park Hospital on the completion of phase III.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of illness from contact with heracleum mentegall ziamium, giant hog-weed, have now been reported in the London area; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any such reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in reducing the delay in treating gynaecological cases at the Manor Hospital, Walsall.

Both the numbers of inpatients treated in the gynaecology department and the numbers waiting for admission have remained fairly constant over the last 18 months. The board has to consider development of gynaecology services in Walsall with the claims to development of other services in the region. Emergency cases are admitted immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for improving the home help services; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions are at present in progress between officers of my Department and representatives of the local authority associations in order to work out practical measures for improving the home help service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria are currently used to determine whether the four-week rule shall apply in any given area; and what changes have been made in these criteria since the rule was first introduced in July, 1968.

The rule operates where in the view of the Department of Employment and Productivity there are good employment prospects for men seeking unskilled work. There have been no changes in the criteria for selecting areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what level of increase in family allowances will ensure that no family with two or more children is liable to the wage-stop.

I regret that the information is not available; but the increase would clearly have to be very substantial.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the expenditure on pharmaceutical products supplied to the National Health Service by drug companies exempt from the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme.

No precise figures are available, but the amount is relatively small.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made by the Inquiry into the Practices and Effects of Scientology in the United Kingdom; when he expects the inquiry to be completed; if he will then publish a report; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to be in a position to answer these questions before long.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to remedy the shortage of medical practitioners in Skelton-in-Cleveland.

I understand that, although two partners have left a local practice, the practice has had other medical help which has enabled it to care for its patients, and that a new partner will be arriving in the autumn. The North Riding Executive Council is giving all the help it can but neither it nor my right hon. Friend can direct doctors where to practise.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for the future of district general hospital provision in West Monmouthshire; and if he will make a statement.

There are no firm proposals before my right hon. and learned Friend at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has yet reached a decision concerning the future of the Caerphilly Miners' Hospital; and whether he will make a statement.

No. The proposals for this hospital recently sent to my right hon. and learned Friend by the Welsh Hospital Board are being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will give an assurance that he will maintain the current expenditure on reclaiming derelict land in Wales.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Gracious Speech. My right hon. and learned Friend certainly has no intention of reducing the impetus which has been built up in recent years in dealing with the heavy legacy of dereliction in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are his Department's plans for improving the road communications to the Ammanford area.

Substantial schemes being carried out or planned on the A48 road and on the Principal roads linking Ammanford to the Heads of the Valleys road will considerably improve road communications in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to arrest run-down in bus services in rural areas.

The initiative is with the local authorities, who are empowered by Section 34 of the Transport Act 1968 to assist the operators. I am empowered to reimburse half of any grants made by the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will construct a general hospital in East Flintshire.

The Welsh Hospital Board have no plans to build a new district general hospital in East Flint-shire. It is envisaged that acute hospital services for this area will be provided by a new district general hospital to be built at Boddelwyddan and by Maelor General hospital, Wrexham.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to construct a by-pass to alleviate heavy traffic conditions in Hawarden Village, Fl in tsh ire.

A scheme to provide dual carriageways along the A55 between Broughton and Ewloe is in the trunk road preparation pool. It incorporates a by-pass of Hawarden, and will connect with the Chester Southern Bypass which is also in the preparation pool.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what investigations have

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what land is available for industrial development in Breconshire and Radnorshire.

Approximately 43 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the monthly figures of fatalities and serious injuries experienced on the roads in Flint-shire during the past five years up to the most convenient recent period.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he is aware of the danger and inconvenience caused by the present state of the Wolfscastle Bridge on the A40 trunk road between Haverfordwest and Fishguard, which is at present taking single-line traffic only under automatic signal control; and how long the repairs to it will take;(2) if he will take steps to speed up the work of repair to the Wolfscastle Bridge on the A40 trunk road between Haverfordwest and Fishguard.

I appreciate that there is some inconvenience but single lane working is an essential safety precaution in view of the poor condition of the present bridge. I am urgently preparing a scheme to provide a new and wider bridge. Construction should start later this year and is expected to take about twelve months to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to set up an official institution to look after the interests of the Welsh language.

I will consider that suggestion.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he will take to assist local authorities in development areas to attract new industry, in view of their concern over the future of development area policy; and if he will make a statement.

We are willing to help local authorities in development areas to attract new industry to the full extent of our powers.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what special steps he proposes to take to attract new industries to the Chester-le-Street constituency area;

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans for changes in the special development area status of the Chester-le-Street and Birtley employment exchange areas. Special development area and ordinary development area incentives, as appropriate, remain available for new projects and expansions in the hon. Member's constituency, and the Ministry of Technology will continue to draw the attention of suitable firms to the advantages of locating there.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give an assurance that the advance factories scheduled for development at Durham Road, Leadgate, Consett, will go ahead.

Yes. Work on the 25,000 square foot factory is expected to start at the end of this month and on the 15,000 square foot factory during August.

asked the Minister of Technology if the application by the Central Electricity Generating Board to convert Aberthaw 9, Richborough and Northfleet power stations from coal-fired to oil-fired is approved by him; and what is the loss to the National Coal Board in markets for coal.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for the Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Tugendhat) on 13th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 1142.]

asked the Minister of Technology what estimate he has received of the build-up in the labour force, male and female, over the next few years in the ex-Royal Navy Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, taken over recently by the Plessey Company.

I understand from the Plessey Company that they expect to build up the work force at Alexandria to about 500 by the end of 1970 of which about 50 are likely to be women. A build up of a further 500 is estimated during 1971. The Company intend to fill as many jobs as possible from the staff of the former Torpedo factory.

ask the Minister of Technology what inquiries he has received regarding the takeover of the empty factory of Foster Wheeler, Dumbarton; and if his Department will take further action to advertise these premises to potential applicants.

These premises are privately owned. They are however noted on the Ministry's register of available factories and will be brought to the notice of suitable inquirers.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will give a general direction to the Central Electricity Generating Board that prior to the award of contracts for new generating stations the contractor will ensure maximum employment of local labour resources.

No. This matter rests between the C.E.G.B. and their contractors.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations have been made to him regarding an increase in the price of fuel oil and petroleum products; what action he has taken, or proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

The Government does not directly control oil prices but has taken note of the increases in the wholesale prices of some oil products announced on 16th July by the leading oil companies following representations made to the Ministry some weeks ago.

asked the Minister of Technology how many people in the United Kingdom live in areas which may be affected by supersonic booms which will be emitted by Concorde during its test flights along the western coast of Great Britain.

About 1¾ million.

asked the Minister of Technology what at present is the estimated cost to Great Britain of completing the Concorde project.

The United Kingdom share of the estimate of £730 million announced in the House on 26th January was £350 million. The estimate of development cost is one of the subjects my right hon. and learned Friend wishes to review with the French Minister of Transport. He will make a statement as soon as possible.—[Vol. 794, c. 228–9.]

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will publish in HANSARD the provisions of the Anglo-French agreement on the Concorde project which set out the liability of Her Majesty's Government to the French Government in the event of Her Majesty's Government unilaterally cancelling the project, and the provisions which enable any counter-claim and set-off to be made.

The agreement contains no such provisions.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will consider treating Lancashire as a single unit for assistance under the Government's regional development policy.

We have no plans for a review of Development Area and Intermediate Area boundaries at present.

asked the Minister of Technology what proposals he has for extending economic aid at intermediate levels to the Lancashire Region outside the development area of Merseyside, and particularly to South-East Lancashire.

We have at present no plans for changes in the boundaries of the intermediate areas in Lancashire or elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Technology if he has now decided whom to appoint as Chairman of the National Coal Board for 1971; and if he will make a statement.

An announcement will be made at the appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he intends to take, in view of the dismissal of over 300 men and women in electronics factories in Glenrothes, Fife, to stabilise employment in such industries; and if he will make a statement.

I do not consider that I should take any special steps in relation to the particular redundancy referred to.

asked the Minister of Technology how many industrial development certificates have been issued to firms wishing to commence business activities or expand such activities in the City of Gloucester.

From 1st January, 1968 to 30th June, 1970, 30 industrial development certificates for 554,000 sq. ft. were issued in the Gloucester Employment Exchange Area. All were for expansions to existing firms.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement about metrication.

The Government have noted the extent of the plans and commitments already made towards the general adoption of the metric system, described in the First Report of the Metrication Board published in May. The Government propose to encourage these voluntary developments, including the use of metric specifications for public purchases as soon as consultation with suppliers shows this to be practicable.Where individual industries have voluntarily progressed to the point where amendments to regulations couched in non-metric terms become necessary, the Government are prepared after consultation with interested parties to introduce amendments under existing statutory powers. It is for this reason that certain amendments to the Schedules to the Weights and Measures Act 1963 relating in particular to the building and pharmaceutical industries have been laid before Parliament.On the other hand, the Government are not as yet committed to general enabling legislation involving amendment of Statutes. Before such legislation is introduced it is intended to provide time for the matter to be debated in both Houses of Parliament after the Recess.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement about the future of the ship repairing industry nationally; and what are the future prospects of the Hebburn (Palmers) Yard.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 6th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 1].

asked the Minister of Technology what warning he was given of the recent increases in Fison's products; if he will now refer these increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for examination and report; what representations he has receiving from gardening societies about these increases and what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

The previous administration was given advance notice in accordance with the "Early Warning" arrangements of increases from 1st May in Fison's prices for certain garden fertilisers, and concluded that they did not warrant reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. No representations on the subject have been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a report on the engine fire suffered by British Overseas Airways Corporation 707/436 G-APFV on take-off from London Airport, Heathrow, recently; and if he will make a statement.

The Board of Trade was notified by British Overseas Airways Corporation of the incident to Boeing 707/436 G-APFN on 22nd June, 1970, and the Chief Inspector of Accidents immediately arranged for a preliminary inquiry to be made, which established that just after take-off fire occurred in the port outer engine; the crew applied the correct emergency drills, extinguished the fire and made an immediate emergency landing at Heathrow, where passengers were disembarked. An inspection of the engine has revealed the failure of a compressor wheel. Action is being taken to minimise the possibility of a repetition of such failures. No formal accident report will be issued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of Great Britain's imports and exports in 1969 came from or went to the European Economic Community, the European Free Trade Association, the Overseas Sterling Area, North America and the rest of the world, respectively.

Following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will provide more detailed information on United Kingdom invisible earnings by quoting the net private invisible Government transactions in the Board of Trade's monthly Press release.

I do not think this is the right place in which to give details of invisibles. The distinction between public and private transactions is clearly made in the quarterly balance of payments articles published in Economic Trends.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether Royal Air Force search and rescue services will now be maintained at Bahrein, Singapore and Gan after the end of 1971.

It is too early to be specific about the kinds and numbers of Royal Air Force aircraft which we shall be deploying east of Suez after 1971. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence gave to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 13th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 141.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on his recent discussions in Germany regarding Great Britain's financial contribution to the costs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

I have had no such discussions, but I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said in another place on 14th July about burden sharing.—[Vol. 311, c. 580–1.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest developments in the future of Bentley Priory Royal Air Force Command, Stanmore.

No. Our planning has not yet reached the stage where I can say anything definite about the future of Bentley Priory.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will now make a statement on the future use of Hadrian's Camp, Carlisle; and if he will reconsider the possibility of establishing Hadrian's Camp again as a military unit of some kind.

No future use is foreseen for Hadrian's Camp as a military installation. No other Government Departments have expressed an interest, and a small area of the camp is in the process of being sold to the Cumbria Police Authority. Discussions about the disposal of the remainder are in progress with the local authorities.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of providing pensions from Army funds for the widows of long-service soldiers below the rank of warrant officer Class I who were discharged before 1st September, 1950.

About £3 million a year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what study his Department has made of the strategic effect on United Kingdom defence policy of missiles emplaced on the Mid-Oceanic Ridge system.

We are not aware of any plans for such deployments but strategically the problems posed by them would be of the same order as those posed by other missiles of comparable characteristics.

asked the Minister of State for Defence by what authority the General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland, has ordered the handing in to the Army of all service rifles at present held by a small number of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, who use them for sporting competitions; and if he will reconsider the order.

The General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland, has given no such order.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, where council house tenants as a consequence of a change in Government policy pay the full economic rent and get no subsidy, he will allow such tenants to claim tax relief on that part of their rent which represents interest charges.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average level of investment, as a percentage of gross national product, in industry during the periods 1951 to 1964 and 1964 to 1969.

Gross domestic fixed capital formation by all industries except dwellings and public services amounted on average to about 12 per cent. of gross national product at factor cost for the period 1951 to 1964, and to 13·4 per cent. for the period 1964 to 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government policy regarding greater flexibility of exchange rates; and if he will co-ordinate such policy with the Governments of the European Economic Community.

Her Majesty's Government's policy is to work with other countries towards the most effective system of exchange rates. In this process full regard is paid to the views of the Governments of the European Economic Community.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to exempt from income tax the Easter Offering given to clergy.

I do not think that I could justify the suggested exemption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is currently the cost incurred in the administration of Pay As You Earn by the Inland Revenue Department; what is the number of staff involved; and what estimate he has made of the trends in these figures following the progress of the introduction of electronic data processing.

Because of the interrelationship between the different spheres of work in the Inland Revenue, it is difficult to calculate exactly the number of staff employed on P.A.Y.E. but it is approximately 30,000 at a cost of £42 million. It is estimated that there will be a reduction of some 8,000 staff when the electronic data processing system is fully set up.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the total cost of the programme for the adoption of electronic data processing in the administration of Pay As You Earn in the Inland Revenue Department; and how much of the total has been spent.

Approximately £99 million of which about £7 million has been spent to date. These figures do not include any element for running costs nor for the cost of the new districts which will be set up in each area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many manual entries are currently required to be made each week in the administration of Pay As you Earn by the Inland Revenue Department.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of his policy towards labour-intensive industries in the regions, he will consider ways of retaining the regional employment premium when the selective employment tax is abolished.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Members for Rutherglen (Mr. Gregor Mackenzie) and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, West (Mr. Bob Brown) on 7th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 464.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, when he seeks to change the present system of housing subsidies with a view to only those unable to pay an economic rent benefiting therefrom, he will take steps to apply the same principle in respect of standard and concessionary grants in respect of privately-owned property.

No. My right hon. Friend is considering what proposals to make for refashioning subsidies. Different considerations apply to improvement grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government when he will introduce legislation setting a date for the abolition of the Land Commission.

As soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list the reports published, or in hand, by the Yorkshire and Humberside Planning Council.

The list is as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing for the London Borough of Hackney the progress made in realising the seven-year housing programme established by the council for that borough.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish the programme for building council dwellings in the London Borough of Hackney for the years 1965 to 1970, taking the year from December to December, giving the starts and completions in each year and the proposed starts and completions for the years 1971 to 1974.

So far as the years 1965 to 1971 are concerned, I would refer to my reply today to the question by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis). For 1972 the estimated figures are 558 dwellings in tenders approved, 558 starts, and 638 completions. The council's final programmes for 1973 and 1974 have yet to be determined.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what method of advice and consultation with local authorities he intends to follow to achieve the implementation of his recent circular allowing the discretionary sale of council houses to sitting tenants.

I think that the circular, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, contains sufficient advice to enable each authority to decide for itself how to proceed. I intend also to study by which sales methods local authorities are successful in selling council houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will issue his reply to the Fourth Report from the Estimates Committee on Housing Subsidies.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and I are considering this report in connection with our study of the refashioning of housing subsidies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the joint committee studying the use of colliery shale is due to report.

It is too soon to say.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will consult the objectors to the proposals of the London Borough of Bexley to construct a flyover at Harrow Manorway, Thamesmead, before fixing a date for the public inquiry.

No. My right hon. Friend is intending to start the inquiry on 22nd September next, and details will be sent to those who have submitted written objections.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 562 on the administration of environmental health systems, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 30th September, 1969; and whether they will comply with the proposals made therein, in particular with regard to paragraph 6(b)(i).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 562 on the administration of environmental health systems, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 30th September, 1969; and whether they will comply with the proposals made therein, in particular with regard to paragraph 6(b)(i).

This recommendation has been considered by the Committee of Ministers' Deputies, and has been passed to the Public Health Committee and the European Committee on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, of the Council of Europe, for advice.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made towards the introduction of measures of compensation to owners of property blighted by proximity.

My right hon. Friend is considering this, together with other aspects of the compensation code, but it is bound to take some time to reach conclusions on this complex subject.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give sanction for Exeter City Council to build bungalows for elderly and disabled people rather than flats.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider a scheme for bungalows for elderly and disabled people when such a scheme is submitted by the city council.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps he has taken to find an early solution to Great Britain's financial dispute with Malta.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps he has taken to find an early solution to Great Britain's financial dispute with Malta.

The British High Commissioner has been here for discussions and is returning to Malta tomorrow. He is being instructed to seek an early interview with the Maltese Prime Minister with a view to the re-opening, in the near future, of the negotiations on aid.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what information he has over British aid to Nigeria for the assistance of people in the area formerly known as Biafra; and if he will make a statement.