asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that the Consulates and High Commissions in Commonwealth countries have adequate staff to handle passport and visa inquiries; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many passports have been issued and renewed in each year since 1960 to the latest convenient date.

The numbers of standard passports issued and renewed and of British Visitor's Passports issued in the United Kingdom since 1960 are as follows:

	Standard Passports	Renewals	British Visitor's Passports (commences March 1960)
1960	783,299	209,110	—
1961	563,159	245,313	298,679
1962	603,935	297,513	356,130
1963	688,286	324,400	457,978
1964	723,822	350,187	527,261
1965	816,806	369,710	611,758
1966	980,799	351,324	712,974
1967	1,017,790	317,584	707,092
1968	994,942	331,061	695,524
1969	1,095,750	367,873	781,798
1970 (to 30th September)	1,105,619	370,348	830,329

Statistics of United Kingdom passports issued overseas are available only since 1964. They are as follows:

	Standard Passports	Renewals
1964	152,135	71,255
1965	155,555	78,608
1966	144,784	90,381
1967	162,744	91,837
1968	151,933	97,181
1969	146,860	122,501

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take the initiative in seeking to widen the geographical scope of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's field of responsibility so as to include the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, with a view to renegotiating the Simonstown Agreement.

I have much sympathy with the thinking which underlies my noble Friend's question. However, I do not think that this would be the right moment to propose the amendment to the North Atlantic Treaty which would be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to raise at the United Nations Organisation the establishment of an international register of place names throughout the world so that they should be known and referred to abroad by the same name as is accepted in the country in which they are situated.

It is an interesting suggestion that my noble Friend has put forward, but I fear that it would prove difficult to implement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Consultative Committee between Government and representative outside bodies on entry into the Common Market was established; how many members it now has; what are the dates on which it has met; and if he will make a statement.

This Committee, conceived as the Consultative Committee between government and industry, came to be known as the Industrial Consultative Committee on the Approach to Europe. It had about 30 members and met four times between December, 1966 and May, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of consultations regarding future political arrangements in the Gulf.

Sir William Luce has been engaged in extensive consultations with the leaders in the Gulf States and with the governments of other States concerned. We will be considering Her Majesty's Government's future Gulf policy in the light of these consultations and of developments in the area. As regards the future political arrangements in the area, Her Majesty's Government can of course only advise and assist if this is desired. The major responsibility for these arrangements remains with the Governments of the States concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the French Government regarding Anglo-French co-operation in the field of nuclear defence; and with what results.

None, beyond the brief exchange with M. Schumann which I reported to the House on 20th July.—[Vol. 804, c. 22–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what respect the terms of the Nassau Agreement have been altered since October, 1964.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether aid is to be resumed to Tanzania, and in what form.

The Government of Tanzania has accepted our offer of a resumed programme of capital aid and technical assistance. I am now awaiting a report on their requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to institute an inquiry through the United Nations Organisation into the origin of the shipment of ammonia to Rhodesia which evaded the Beira blockade.

No. There has been no shipment of ammonia for Rhodesia which evaded the Beira blockade since the sole concern of the Beira Patrol is to prevent oil shipments for Rhodesia from reaching the port of Beira.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations Her Majesty's Government have undertaken into the case of Mr. Benjamin Ramotse who, having been kidnapped in Botswana, was taken to Rhodesia where he was detained and tortured and then taken to South Africa to face trial.

I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend the Minister of State said during the debate on Rhodesia on 9th November.—[Vol. 805, c. 98–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the Israeli Prime Minister on the Middle East problem.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the right hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) on 5th November.—[Vol. 805, c. 445.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the Middle East situation.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor (Dr. Glyn) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the supply of arms to South Africa, in view of the resolution of the Security Council on the matter which was not opposed by Her Majesty's Government.

No. The reasons why we abstained on Security Council Resolution 282 were explained at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received the list of maritime defensive arms required by the South African Government for the defence of the Cape Route.

Pending a decision on the policy on arms sales to South Africa, Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to entertain particular requests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has reached a decision on the question of the supply of arms to Israel.

Our policy towards the supply of military equipment to Israel, as to other countries in the Middle East is to consider all applications carefully on their merits. Particular decisions are taken within the framework of this policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has reached a decision yet in respect of supplying arms to Libya.

We are at present discussing with the Libyans in the Anglo-Libyan Committee, among other things, their arms requirements. These talks are still in progress and no decisions have been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on current negotiations with Libya.

We are continuing our efforts, through negotation, to establish a firm basis of mutual understanding with Libya. The Anglo-Libyan Committee, where these negotiations are being conducted, is engaged in a further round of talks in London at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the negotiations now taking place with Libya on the question of the refund of £32 million which Libya paid towards the supply of a British-made air defence system.

The question of the British Aircraft Corporation contract has been raised by the Libyan delegation in the current series of Anglo-Libyan negotiations. This is a commercial contract and Her Majesty's Government are not a party to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British passport holders are resident in Zanzibar; and what steps he is taking to protect their interests.

We know of about 12 United Kingdom citizens in Zanzibar but there may be others who have not registered at the High Commission. The High Commissioner and his staff visit Zanzibar regularly from Dares-Salaam. On any question involving the protection of a United Kingdom citizen the High Commissioner has access to the President and Government there.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the renewal of contacts between Her Majesty's Government and the Rhodesian Government.

I do not propose to make statements about the progress of these contacts. The House will be informed when I have something of substance to report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Australia concerning the implementation of sanctions against Rhodesia; and whether he will make a statement.

We continue to be in regular touch with the Australian Government on sanctions enforcement as with other Commonwealth Governments, for example through the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest stage of international discussions about the implementation of the Jackson Report on the organisation of the United Nations specialised agencies.

The Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme reached agreement in June on many matters covered by the Jackson Capacity Study. This was later endorsed by the Economic and Social Council and will soon be considered by the General Assembly. The Governing Council will discuss other important topics. The extent of international agreement on pressing ahead with the major recommendations is encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Great Britain has failed to give any commitment to the principle of an 0·7 target for official flows of aid during the Second Development Decade.

Her Majesty's Government has not given such a commitment because it intends that official flows of development assistance should form a substantial part of total flows but, like most other developed countries, does not accept a separate target for such flows.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to meet the Foreign Secretary of the United Arab Republic.

I have no plans for further meetings with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Republic at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to recover part of the cost of British-owned or British insured aircraft recently destroyed in the Middle East from those countries which harbour the hijackers involved.

No. In all the circumstances of this case Her Majesty's Government do not intend to pursue a claim against the Jordanian Government in respect of the British-owned aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. James Cross, the kidnapped British diplomat.

Since Mr. Cross was kidnapped on 5th October, we have been in the closest touch with the Canadian Government, who have kept us fully informed of the measures they are taking to try to secure that Mr. Cross is released unharmed. I know all Members of the House will join me in expressing the hope that these efforts will prove successful, and in extending profound sympathy to Mr. Cross and his family in their ordeal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the Republic of Ireland Government about the renegotiation of the Anglo-Eire Trade Agreement.

As my right hon. Friend the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told the hon. Member for Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 13th July the working of the Agreement is kept under constant review and we are in regular contact with the Government of the Irish Republic on this matter.—[Vol. 803, c. 121.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the negotiations for the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community, he will seek to ensure that all citizens of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth are regarded as Community nationals for the purposes of free movement of labour within the European Economic Community.

The position of British subjects who are citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies and the separate position of Commonwealth citizens have yet to be discussed in Brussels. But I take note of the point raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he will not arrange for a survey of public opinion to be carried out on the question of United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community, similar to that carried out on British Standard Time.

The two questions are quite different. When the negotiations for our entry are concluded and before final decisions are taken there will be ample opportunity for the expression of public opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why and on what date the Government agreed to the economic and political unity of the United Kingdom with the European Economic Community, without predetermined conditions, as proposed by the British Ambassador to France in Paris on Thursday 29th October 1970.

I would remind the hon. Member of the opening statement by my right hon. Friend the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the European Communities on 30th June which was laid before the House as a White Paper (Cmnd. 4401) in which he said

"Economic growth and technological development today require that we integrate our economies and markets."

I do not consider that in his speech on 29th October the Ambassador went beyond what has been said by my right hon. Friend in the House and in his speech at the International Monetary Fund at Copenhagen on 22nd September; nor, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has said, is there any disagreement with the parts of the Ambassador's speech which urged political unity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had about the position of British horticultural growers in the course of the negotiations for entry into the Common Market.

There have been no specific discussions of this sort. Our aim in the negotiations, including talks about transitional periods, will be to secure the best terms for the agricultural and horticultural industries as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give the reasons why, in his negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, he is not insisting on permanent safeguards for the Commonwealth sugar producers and New Zealand dairy producers; why he has only requested for an agreement that these two problems should be reviewed before the end of the transition period; and whether he will change this approach in connection with Great Britain's conditions for entry into the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Thorpe) on 29th October. The proposals submitted to the conference with the European Communities are confidential negotiating documents on which it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this stage.—[Vol. 805, c. 444.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he received from the Action for World Government Trust and/or several Members of Parliament, including the hon. Member for West Ham, North, the reports connected with the effect on Great Britain's sugar supplies of entry into the European Economic Community entitled, Have Some Cane Sugar While You Still Can; and whether he will take action to publicise this report as part of his general policy of encouraging debate on this question.

I received from the hon. Member a copy of the document to which he refers, on 13th November.I have also received, and replied to a letter from the Secretary of a regional group of the organisation referred to, and have had three similar letters referred to me by hon. Friends.It would not be appropriate for me to publish the report in question, which is, presumably, readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have taken place with the French, United States and Soviet Governments on the future of Berlin; and whether co-ordination has taken place with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in the process.

The 10th round of Four Power talks at Ambassadorial level on ways to improve the situation in and around Berlin is taking place there today. The Three Allies have throughout these talks kept in closest touch with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches have been made by Her Majesty's Government to Commonwealth countries on the Eastern seaboard of Africa with a view to the establishment of British naval facilities and bases; and what offers of naval assistance have been received.

We have received no formal proposals for facilities additional to those we already have, nor have we ourselves put any forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the Government of Madagascar on British/United States bases or staging posts in the Indian Ocean.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Great Britain and Tanzania.

I am sure that there is no lack of good will between our two peoples and inter-Governmental relations are equally cordial. It is true that there are differences of view over a number of issues, some of them major; but our exchanges on such matters are always characterised by mutual understanding and respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement of the policy of the British Government towards the establishment of a European Youth Foundation.

Proposals for a European Youth Foundation are under discussion in the Council of Europe, and a number of fundamental questions, including the sphere of action of such a Foundation and the basis on which its funds would be contributed and administered have still to be settled.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether compensation is being demanded from the Jordanian Government in respect of the destruction of a British aircraft in territory under their jurisdiction and the illegal detention of British subjects following the piracy of that aircraft.

No. In all the circumstances of this case Her Majesty's Government do not intend to pursue a claim against the Jordanian Government for the destruction of this aircraft or the detention of its passengers and crew.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have yet responded to the International Commission of Jurists' appeal for financial aid to enable them to carry on their work.

Yes. In view of the Commission's urgent need, which was recognised by the previous Administration, a grant of £20,000 was made on the 1st September. Parliament will be asked to approve the necessary supplementary estimate in due course. In the meantime an advance has been obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he is making in discussions with the Government of Argentina about the promotion of free communications in both directions between that country and the Falkland Islands.

As I told the House on 20th July, talks were held in London between Argentine and British delegations, the latter including participants from the Falkland Islands, between 14th and 23rd July. The talks were confidential and ad referendum to Governments but there was agreement in principle that there appeared to be considerable scope for the promotion of free communications and that every effort should be made to try to reach agreement on practical measures to that end.—[Vol. 804, c. 28.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will issue a White Paper outlining the extent of British investment, return on investment, public aid in the form of bi-lateral and multi-lateral grants and loans, the return in form of interest and exports, the value of commodity agreements, the nature and value of British export and import trade with the new Commonwealth of developing nations, as against the old Commonwealth, South Africa and Rhodesia, and the rest of the world;(2) if he will issue a White Paper assessing, in terms of trade, investment, defence, and economic affairs, the past, and potential value in the future of Great Britain to the newly independent Commonwealth countries, the old Commonwealth, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, Southern Africa, including South Africa and Rhodesia, as against Europe, including the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Community.

I do not think that the effort required to collect these figures would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what special provision he has made to mitigate the drought in Lesotho.

I have approved a total of £130,000 in special expenditure to meet the administrative, transport and storage costs of the emergency feeding programme, to enable "food for work" projects to be continued this year and to meet ploughing costs. Normal development expenditure of £200,000 on projects associated with drought and famile relief has also been agreed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will now be the revised estimate for aid to Lesotho; and how this compares with the original estimate for the current year.

Budgetary aid for 1970–71 remains at the original figure of £1·175 million. Because development expenditure was interrupted until the resumption of aid at the end of July, development aid has been reduced from the original offer of £1·5 million to £850,000. The full range of British technical assistance is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now take additional steps to promote investment by British industry in underdeveloped countries, and consolidate commodity and other trading agreements, in addition to the expansion of public aid programmes.

I have set up a working party to examine means of encouraging British private investment in developing countries. Commodity and trading agreements are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

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

I would refer to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East and Christchurch (Mr. Cordle).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about Anglo-Jordanian relations.

Our relations with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan continue to be close and friendly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many midwives are employed in Wales and East Flintshire, respectively, in the public service; what steps he is taking to increase the number of trainees and to relieve the shortage; and if he will make a statement.

1,210 for Wales and 89 for the whole of Flintshire at 30th September, 1969. Separate figures for East Flintshire are not available. Recruitment of trainees is a matter for the hospital authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average annual cost to a local education authority in Wales of each pupil in a comprehensive school, a primary school, and a nursery school, respectively, for the latest financial year for which the calculation is possible.

Based on the information published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants and the Society of County Treasurers, the average cost in 1968–69 to the local education authorities in Wales of each pupil in a secondary school and a primary school was respectively £156·31 and £90·64. It is not possible to isolate the relevant costs for comprehensive schools.The average cost of each pupil in maintained nursery schools in 1968–69 based on information provided by the local education authorities was £188.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will initiate a survey of higher production costs experienced by farmers in Wales so that its results can be published before the Price Review of 1971.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to his previous Questions on 30th October and 4th November.—[Vol. 805, c. 238 and 408.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of people employed by the Forestry Commission in Carmarthenshire in 1950, 1960, 1965, and the latest available year; and how this compares with Wales as a whole.

The following is the information:

	Carmarthenshire	Wales
1950	215	3,091
1960	220	3,431
1965	200	2,943
1970	150	1,846

The statistics for Carmarthenshire have been estimated since several of the Commission's forests straddle the county boundary.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for encouraging the large-scale use of hormone controlled multiple births and the introduction of more purpose-made hybrids in sheep breeding in Wales.

None at present. Experimental work is still going on.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the per capita expenditure of the Welsh Hospital Board for the year 1969–70.

The per capita expenditure of the hospital service in Wales in 1969–70 was £21 3s. 3d.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average number of all beds per 10,000 head of population for all hospitals in Wales and the administrative area of the Glantawe Hospital Management Committee, respectively.

The average number of all beds per 10,000 population for all hospitals in Wales is 96·86. The average number of all beds per 10,000 population for all hospitals in the administrative area of the Glantawe Hospital Management Committee is 79·41.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken to implement the recommendations of the Countryside Commission in their report, The Planning of the Coastline.

I would refer the hon. Member to the written reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to a similar Question on 27th October.—[Vol. 805, c. 78.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average fair rent under the 1965 Rent Act in Wales.

The average of the fair rents determined in Wales under the Rent Act 1965, calculated over the period March, 1966 to December, 1969, was £125 per annum. In 1969 it was £130. These figures cover a wide range of dwelling types.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what total sums have been allocated by the Welsh Hospital Board in their Revised Capital Estimate Programme for the period 1968–69 to 1972–73 for the development of Llanelly Hospital and Morriston Hospital, respectively.

Actual and estimated capital expenditure by the Welsh Hospital Board for the period 1968–69 to 1970–71 is as follows:

Llanelli hospital	£109,632
Morriston hospital	£96,106

Capital allocations for 1971–72 and 1972–73 have not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many home helps were employed by local authorities in Wales and East Flintshire, respectively, for the years 1963, 1966 and 1969; and what plans he has for encouraging the recruitment of people to home help staffs.

The number of home helps employed by local authorities in Wales at 30th September in the years 1963, 1966 and 1969 were 4,095, 4,484 and 5,069. Comparable figures for Flintshire were 121, 146 and 162. Separate figures for East Flintshire are not available.Recruitment is the responsibility of the local health authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, giving the mileage in each case, motorways in Wales which are in use, under construction, in the firm programme and in the preparation pool, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) on 10th November, 1970.—[Vol. 806, c. 148.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many miles of motorways were in use in Wales in October, 1964, October, 1967 and October, 1970, respectively.

No motorway was in use in October, 1964 but 22·90 miles were under construction. These were in use by October, 1967.No further motorway was in use in October, 1970, but four miles were under construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list as much information as is practicable concerning the land reclamation schemes before his Department, the estimated cost of each scheme, and the areas involved.

The Derelict Land Unit in the Welsh Office assists and advises local authorities in the formulation of schemes of reclamation, and the work in hand at any time ranges from preliminary consideration in broad outline, requiring much further detailed investigation, to schemes nearing the point of formulation in detail for grant approval and tendering. The provision of a list giving information over this wide spectrum of activity would involve a considerable amount of work in spot analysis of an ever changing picture which I do not think would be justifiable. In broad terms, rather more than a hundred possible schemes involving a total of approximately 3,000 acres are at present at varying stages of consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many factory visits the Mobile X-ray service made in Wales in 1969; how many visits have been made to date in 1970; what kind of industrial establishments these units have visited; how many such visits were in East Flint-shire; and if he will make a statement.

142 in 1969 and 172 so far this year; 12 in 1969 and five this year were in the East Flint constituency. Visits are to all types of industrial establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest available figures for the ratio of agricultural earnings to industrial earnings in Wales; and what are the figures for 1955, 1960, 1963, 1964 and 1969.

The only information which is available relates to 1969 when the weekly earnings of hired full-time men in agriculture in Wales were about 70 per cent. of those of adult male manual workers in industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on the use of contract labour in the agricultural industry in Wales.

The use of contract labour in agriculture is entirely a matter for the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for meeting claims for increased contract labour charges in view of the risk of a shortage of agricultural labour.

Any substantiated increases in labour costs, whether in respect of contract or direct labour, are matters to be taken into account at Annual Reviews.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he proposes to take to slow down the rate of outflow of farm workers from the farming industry in Wales and to improve the ratio of agricultural earnings to industrial earnings.

On the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, North (Mr. David James) on 27th October. On the second part, the wages of agricultural workers are a matter for the autonomous Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales.—[Vol. 805, c. 17–18.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what part he proposes to play in the negotiation of teachers' salaries; and if he will make a statement.

Under the terms of The Transfer of Functions (Wales) Order 1970, matters relating to the remuneration of teachers remain the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he proposes to amend the nuclear power station programme; and if he will make a statement on his current total estimate of costs of continuing the present programme.

The nuclear power station programme is kept under review. The Generating Boards estimate that from 31st March, 1970, further expenditure on A.G.R. capacity at present under construction will be about £250 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on his Department's policy relating to the Select Committee of Science and Technology's Report on Nuclear Power Stations.

The conclusions of the report are for the generating boards and the plant industry, which have the direct responsibility in these matters, to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's future policy regarding the granting of industrial development certificates.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 30th October in reply to a question by the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars).—[Vol. 805, c. 236.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give figures for the number of industrial development certificates approved by his Department in the period since 18th June, 1970, with a breakdown by economic planning regions.

The information is given in the following table:

I.D.C. APPROVALS IN THIRD QUARTER 1970
(provisional)
Economic Planning Region	Number	Area ('000 sq. ft.)
North	54	1,599
Yorks and Humberside	78	1,834
East Midlands	85	1,431
East Anglia	47	842
South East	250	5,774
South West	83	1,614
Wales	63	1,630
West Midlands	123	2,587
North West	164	3,695
Scotland	64	3,511
Total Great Britain	1,011	24,517

I regret that figures for 18th to 30th June, 1970 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of requests for industrial development certificates in the Mansfield constitutency for the years 1964 to 1970; and how many of these requests have been refused.

During the period 1st January, 1964 to 30th September, 1970, 56 industrial development certificates were approved and one refused in the Mansfield employment exchange area. I regret that figures for the constituency are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria he applies when allocating industrial development certificates between special development areas, development areas and intermediate areas.

Industrial development certificates are in general available freely in all these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied that the present electricity generating capacity will meet the demand from industry and from the domestic consumer during the coming winter; and what estimate he has made of the increased demand which will be made upon the Central Electricity Generating Board because of the shortage of smokeless fuels for domestic use.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, having regard to inadequate reserve generating capacity to meet sustained cold spells during the forthcoming winter, what steps he is taking to deal with increased electricity demand arising from substitution of electricity for solid smokeless fuels, due to the absence of the latter in many areas of Great Britain and cancellation of Smoke-Control Regulations in certain areas.

In average cold spell conditions, and subject to any special difficulties with coal supplies, the Central Electricity Generating Board expects to be able to meet the demand for electricity this winter but with little margin to spare during the peak periods; in severe weather conditions, some reductions in voltage might become necessary. I do not expect any significant increase in peak demand for electricity to follow from shortages of solid smokeless fuels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now announce whom he has decided to appoint as Chairman of the National Coal Board for 1971; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 12th November.—[Vol. 806, c. 248.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his forecast of the level of industrial investment in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

The Investment Intentions Inquiry, taken in August/September 1970, indicated an increase of about 2 to 3 per cent. in manufacturing industry's investment in real terms between 1969 and 1970, after adjusting the 1969 figures for the distortion associated with the reduction in investment grant rates at the end of 1968: for 1971 no great change from the 1970 level was indicated. In the inquiry companies' forecasts were collected only for calendar years as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on investment incentives.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to his Question on 9th November.—[Vol. 806, c. 12–14.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give details of his future plans for assisting the reclamation of derelict land.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has overall responsibility for the reclamation of derelict land. In those parts of the country where we are required to consider how far schemes for which grant application has been made would be expedient with a view to contributing to the development of industry, we shall have full regard to the inhibiting effects of dereliction on industrial development.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware of the effect of the monopoly powers exercised by various nationalised corporations on the technological development of the industries associated with them; what representations he has received from representatives of the atomic, aviation, or telecommunications industries on this subject; and what action he proposes to take to deal with the matter.

I have received representations only on the way in which nuclear research and development is organised, and I am considering these. I am also considering how best to strengthen the machinery for dealing with possible abuse of a monopoly position by any industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will arrange for consultations between the relevant nationalised industries in regard to the transport of coal to power stations by British Railways and other bodies.

There is regular consultation at national and regional level.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has now had with local authorities concerning the shortage of smokeless fuel and its impact on the large number of smokeless zones throughout the country.

The effect of shortages on smoke control is the concern of my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales. They have asked local authorities in consultation with the Solid Smokeless Fuels Federation to check the supply prospects in their areas. We are in close touch with my right hon. Friends and with the trade in these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will arrange top-level talks with the head of the gas, electricity and coal industries with a view to co-ordinating and integrating the power industries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 9th November.—[Vol. 806, c. 11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs for men are planned to be available in the South-West of Scotland by 1976; and how this compares with jobs created in this region in the last five years.

On 30th September 1970, the nearest date for which a figure is available, the number of male jobs reported to be in prospect in South-West Scotland in the next four years in authorised new buildings and buildings taken over by manufacturing firms amounted to some 440. These figures do not include jobs which will arise from expansions by firms in their present premises or new jobs arising in the service sector. No comprehensive figures are available for jobs created in the last five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will institute an inspectorate of repair and maintenance garages.

The Department of the Environment inspects garages under the testing scheme for cars over three years old. The Department of Trade and Industry has recently suggested to the E.D.C. for the industry that it considers whether current safeguards against bad work and over-pricing are adequate, and if not, to make recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, having regard to further decline in output in the motor-car industry, notably in Midlands factories during the first eight months of 1970, what steps he now proposes to take to restore full production.

The decline in output is due to problems that are the responsibility of both sides of industry. The Government's measures providing a legal framework for industrial relations should, in the longer term, help to reduce dislocation of production in all industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions were held with the other signatories of the non-proliferation treaty prior to the signing of the tripartite gas centrifuge agreement; and with what result.

The gas centrifuge agreement is entirely compatible with the nonproliferation treaty; hence no discussions with the other signatories of the treaty were necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is now in a position to give the publication date of the Crowther Committee.

I cannot yet add anything to the Answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg) on 9th November.—[Vol. 806, c. 7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will call a special conference with leading industrialists to discuss how technology can be utilised to enable more disabled people to be employed in open industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will call a conference representing those directly concerned to discuss the use of technology to assist the disabled to earn a living; and if he will make a statement.

I am glad the hon. Members have drawn attention to the subject of the employment of the disabled, which is a matter of continuous concern to the Government and in particular to my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Employment and the Secretary of State for the Social Services. Discussions already take place between industry and the Department of Employment on this subject and I do not think a special conference on the lines the hon. Members suggest is necessary.

EXPORTS
O.S. $ million f.o.b.
		Belgium-Luxembourg	France	German Federal Republic	Italy	Netherlands	Total EEC	United Kingdom
1958	…	3,053	5,120	8,807	2,536	3,217	22,734	9,495
1959	…	3,298	5,614	9,804	2,895	3,607	25,218	9,951
1960	…	3,775	6,856	11,415	3,649	4,028	29,723	10,609
1961	…	3,924	7,208	12,687	4,188	4,307	32,314	11,074
1962	…	4,324	7,360	13,264	4,666	4,585	34,197	11,374
1963	…	4,839	8,080	14,616	5,047	4,962	37,543	12,222
1964	…	5,590	8,990	16,215	5,956	5,808	42,559	12,782
1965	…	6,382	10,048	17,892	7,188	6,393	47,904	13,723
1966	…	6,829	10,886	20,134	8,032	6,752	52,634	14,714
1967	…	7,032	11,378	21,736	8,702	7,287	56,135	14,424
1968	…	8,164	12,672	24,843	10,183	8,342	64,204	15,442
1969	…	10,065	14,880	29,052	11,729	9,965	75,692	17,614

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether negotiations have begun on the renewal of the 1966 trade agreement between United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments; and whether he will make a statement.

Consultations as required by Article II of the 1966 Trade Agreement were formally opened on 30th September and will be resumed at a time to be agreed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for the extension of the present list of special development areas.

We are not at this stage considering any such extension.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how United Kingdom total export figures for the years 1958 to 1969 compare with those of the countries of the European Communities, from information available to him from international sources.

With permission, I will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In terms of United States dollars, the average annual rate of growth of E.E.C. exports between 1958 and 1969 was 11½ per cent., or 8½ per cent. excluding intra-trade between the member countries, compared with 6 per cent. for United Kingdom exports.The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the brewery companies to lessen the anti-competitive effects of the tied-house system.

I had discussions with representatives of the brewery companies on this matter. A full statement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that some companies wish to purchase instead of lease Government-built factories on industrial estates; and whether he will take steps to meet the demand for such purchases.

We are always ready to consider the sale of our factories wherever this is practicable, and if my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind, perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will extend his study of controls on exports of steelworks scrap to include an examination of the price-fixing arrangements between steel producers and scrap suppliers in the home market;(2) when he expects to complete his study of the controls on exports of steelworks scrap; and whether, in the course of his study, he has consulted, or intends to consult, the British Scrap Federation.

As part of my review of the Government's relations with industry, I am studying the operation of these controls. I will be consulting interested parties but I cannot at present say when the study will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to enable him to scrutinise all proposed price increases in the public sector and allow them only when there is a proven case for them.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new firms came to Wales in the periods 1960 to 1964 and 1965 to 1969.

Sixty-three new manufacturing establishments still in existence are known to have set up during 1960 to 1964 and 196 during 1965 to 1969. The two figures are not strictly comparable because of a change in the method of recording.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been received by his Department concerning the establishment of a Bank of Wales.

My responsibility in this matter is to approve the name by which a company formed to carry on the business of banking in Wales would be registered. Information given to me by the promoters of any proposed company is treated as confidential to avoid prejudice to their interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set up an inquiry, on the pattern of the Roskill Inquiry into the siting of a third London airport, into the siting of an international airport for Yorkshire and Humberside.

No. If any action is required to investigate the matter it should be initiated by local interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his programme for advance factory building in Scotland.

Ten complete advance factories are available for allocation. Others are under construction or in the planning stage. I have at present no plans for a further programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investigations he has made into the tours organised by Westminster Touring Association of Parliament Street, London, to Oberammergau this year; what representations and complaints he has received from religious bodies and other organisations; and whether he will institute proceedings against this firm for fraud.

On present information I do not consider that the Department would be justified in investigating the affairs of the Westminster Touring Association Ltd., nor am I aware of any grounds for the institution of criminal proceedings. We have received 27 complaints from organisations and individuals about the company.