asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the effect of the Bill at present before the United States Congress, giving power to impose quotas, tariffs and other restrictions upon imports, upon the American markets of the United Kingdom.

If the United States Trade Bill were enacted in its present form, and if the restrictions on imports of textiles and footwear for which it provides were applied to the United Kingdom, United States imports from the United Kingdom in 1971 would be restricted to £23 million for non-cotton textiles and £7 million for footwear. This compares with imports in 1970 at an estimated annual rate of £28 million for non-cotton textiles and £8 million for footwear. The Bill also provides for the United States Government to impose new restrictions on other imports, but it is impossible to say at this stage which other products would be affected or how seriously.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in extending the European Free Trade Association's rules of competition.

The E.F.T.A. rules of competition are contained in the Stockholm Convention. They were individually reviewed between 1965 and 1968. More recently a study has been made of the rules as a whole; this is now under consideration in the E.F.T.A. Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many submissions in the past 12 months by the United Kingdom have been made under the complaints procedure of Article 31 of the European Free Trade Association Convention.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total number on the staff of the European Free Trade Association headquarters in Geneva.

The E.F.T.A. Secretariat in Geneva comprises a total staff of 90.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the building of a prototype nuclear-propelled merchant vessel.

I am arranging for publication of the report of the study by the Department which suggests that a Government nuclear ship project would not be economically justifiable at present. In the light of this, I do not think that it would be right at this stage to commit sizeable natural resources to this project.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Anglo-South African trade.

Our trade with South Africa is valuable to both partners and we intend to encourage it. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade is in South Africa for that purpose at this very moment. In the first 10 months of this year our exports to South Africa were £269 million. Imports were £221 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will extend by one month at each end of the season the period of maximum tariff protection of glasshouse crops such as lettuce and tomatoes.

If an application were made by the industry I should consider it on its merits in the normal way against all the criteria in the Import Duties Act, 1958. But as my hon. Friend was told in reply to his Question on 27th October, Government policy since 1963 has been to reduce the horticultural industry's dependence on the tariff.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will alter the quota system for imports of horticultural produce from Eastern Europe to specify the quantity admissible month by month.

No. Certain seasonal limitations are already imposed on horticultural imports from Eastern Europe and I am not persuaded that more elaborate arrangements are called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to implement the recommendations of the Law Commission Report, 1969, with regard to exemption clauses in contracts and guarantees, as amendments to the Sale of Goods Act, 1893.

I hope to be able to announce our intentions fairly soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to negotiate a reduction in tariffs upon the export of horticultural produce to the Republic of Ireland.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms have withdrawn their intention to set up in development areas since June, 1970; and if he will give the number in each area.

Five such cases have been notified to me: one each in Scotland, Wales and the Northern Development Area, and two in Merseyside. The reasons for withdrawal are not connected with investment incentives.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to advertise through the mass media the incentives offered by the Gov- ernment to firms to set up in special development areas, development areas, and intermediate areas; and if he will place a specimen of the material to be used in the Library of the House.

I expect shortly to resume Press advertising. I will arrange for a specimen of the material to be put in the Library when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the annual expenditure for the three years 1967 to 1970 on publicity aimed at attracting new jobs to the development areas; and what is the proposed annual expenditure for the years 1970 to 1973.

Government expenditure on publicity to attract industry to the assisted areas was £179,000 in 1967–68; £201,000 in 1968–69; and £185,000 in 1969–70. The provision for 1970–71 is £194,200. Figures cannot yet be given for subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will enumerate the number of firms who have so far responded to the Government's new proposals for development areas and intermediate areas since 27th October, 1970.

It will take time for the new incentives to be reflected in investment decisions by firms and it is too early to make an assessment of the kind suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he plans to continue grants to the North-Eastern, Cumberland, Welsh and Scottish Development Councils in 1971–72.

The previous Administration made clear to the North-East and Cumberland Development Councils that these grants would not be renewed after the current financial year. The grants to the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) and the Development Corporation for Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of his headquarters staff are specifically and exclusively employed to promote the development areas and to contact firms directly who have expansion plans.

The whole of the Distribution of Industry Division, with a staff at headquarters of 176, is concerned to promote the development and intermediate areas. Six of them are specifically and exclusively engaged on publicity work and on the preliminary discussions with firms enquiring about locations for new developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will conduct a survey of the effectiveness of investment incentives.

I see no present need for this. I have taken account of the results of the pilot inquiry into the effectiveness of investment incentives set in hand by the previous Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a breakdown of the 300 firms surveyed by his Department in connection with investment incentives, by industry, numbers employed, economic planning regions and by investment per annum in plant and machinery.

The 300 firms were selected to represent all sizes and main industry groups and had a wide regional distribution. I am considering what more detailed information can be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek the views of regional economic planning councils on the new investment incentives.

I shall be glad to consider any comments that the planning councils wish to send me as soon as there has been time to see how the new incentives are working. In Scotland the Secretary of State is Chairman of the Scottish Economic Planning Council and I am, and have been in the closest touch with him on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to announce a further advance factory programme for development and intermediate areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to draw up an advanced factory programme for 1971.

Before considering a further advance factory building programme, more of those now available or about to be built should be disposed of.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to maintain the differential assistance to special development areas.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Gwynoro Jones) on 25th November.—[Vol. 807, c. 159.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make near-miss incident reporting obligatory on airline pilots flying over the United Kingdom.

No. Whether an incident deserves reporting depends as a general rule on the judgment of the circumstances by the pilots cencerned. For this reason an obligatory system would be difficult to enforce effectively and could inhibit the co-operation which we now receive. Judging from results the present voluntary reporting arrangements work well, and I am glad to record the support which pilots have given to its operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an undertaking not to lift the ban on imported coal.

I have this matter under urgent consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the amount of lost coal sales since the publication of the 1967 White Paper on fuel policy, and the current trends on the demand for coal.

Since 1968 demand for coal has exceeded output and the N.C.B. have been able to meet demand only by drawing on stocks. The N.C.B. expect that demand will continue to exceed production next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate he has made of the accuracy of replies obtained in the returns of Census of Production forms completed by various industries; and to what use is the information so gained applied;(2) if he is aware that the complexity of the Census of Production form and the Quarterly Inquiry are such as to lead to superficial assessments; and if he will inquire into and supply details of the amount of administrative time occupied in completing and checking information given.

I understand that industry was fully consulted during the preparation of these forms for the 1968 Census. As far as possible the information required is normally available in business records. The results are widely used by industry and Government, and checks indicate that they are generally reliable. I am not able to calculate the time spent in completing the forms, or in checking them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to vary Government grants to research and development organisations.

If the hon. Member is specifically referring to the research associations, I am reviewing the policy concerning the grants to associations for which my Department retains Vote responsibility. In the meantime my Department is following previous policy of reducing grants progressively so that industry bear an increasing proportion of the costs of the associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to safeguard visitors to hotels from overcharging.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Indus- try how the favourable overseas balance of the car industry compares with that of the film industry.

Exports of the products of the motor vehicle industry exceeded imports by about £700 million in 1969; for film production and exhibition overseas receipts exceeded expenditure by £14 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will set up an inquiry into atmospheric pollution caused by aircraft engines; and if he will make a statement.

No. We are satisfied that the work already being done in this field is adequate. If, however, it should become necessary we are able to seek advice from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to promote trade with Africa north of the Zambesi.

Our trade with Africa north of the Zambesi is important and increasing. All the services of the Government and those of the British National Export Council are available to our exporters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to protect pensioners, the sick, the unemployed and others on low or limited incomes from the impact of increased fuel charges.

The prices charged by the nationalised fuel industries must reflect their costs. If the income of a pensioner or a sick or unemployed person is insufficient for his needs, help may be available through the social services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review, with a view to amendments, the law relating to the duties of accountants and take steps to encourage the standardisation of accounting practice.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, in association with the Scottish and Irish Institutes, are working to improve and standardise accounting practices in accordance with the Statement of Intent on Accounting Standards in the 1970's issued by the Council of the English Institute in December, 1969. It is not yet possible to say whether this work will show that amendments to the law are desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people he estimates will be leaving Government service as a result of the winding up of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation.

There could be minor staff savings in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what direc-

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give a general direction to the chairmen of nationalised industries on future advertising policy.

No. I think this is a matter best left to commercial commonsense.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the quarterly figures of industrial development certificates approved by his Department for 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and to the third quarter of 1970, breaking them down by economic planning regions.

The figures for the floor area, in millions of square feet, approved by industrial development certificates are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for industrial development certificates in development areas have been withdrawn since 27th October.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a Ministerial broadcast on prices.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Minister is responsible for price controls.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport and Fareham (Dr. Bennett) on 11th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will issue a Green Paper on Government policy for dealing with increased prices in commodities, food and housing.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate of the ability of the Central Electricity Generating Board's system to meet peak demands for electricity during the coming winter.

The general position was dealt with in the reply I gave my hon. Friends the Members for Cheadle (Mr.

Following is the information.Normanton) and Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) on 16th November. However the recent strikes in the coal industry have led to some anxiety about electricity supplies. I am keeping in close touch with the C.E.G.B.—[Vol. 806, c. 318–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms planning projects in development areas have signified to him that they are reconsidering these projects following the change in financial incentives announced on 26th October.

About 20. This figure, however, has no significance since I am sure that all firms are considering the implications of the Government's proposals on investment incentives.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the results of inquiries into the effect of investment grants in the development areas will be published; and, in particular what information is now available of the firms who are no longer intending to establish or extend existing plants in development areas.

I am considering what can usefully be published. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. David Reed).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now make a statement on the measures he proposes to take to help put the ship-repair industry into a full and fair competitive position with its international competitors.

As was explained to the hon. Member on 9th November we are awaiting further information from the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice has been given by his Department to the Electricity Council in connection with the current salary claim by industrial staff in the electricity supply industry.

As the House knows, the Government take a grave view of the current wave of inflationary wage claims and settlements and the damage and hardship which they are bound to cause to the economy and to many individuals. I have, of course, made known our views to the Electricity Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what study he has given to the scope for unilateral tariff cutting by the United Kingdom Government.

Our interests are best served by multilateral tariff reductions, and, subject to the House's approval, we shall be reducing tariffs over the coming months as a result of the Kennedy Round agreements and our decision to grant preferences to developing countries. I do not think general unilateral cuts by the United Kingdom would be appropriate now.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the proposals made to him for a design and techno-centre for Wales.

No firm proposals have been received, but I understand that this matter is now under consideration by the Cardiff City Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to ensure that all central heating firms installing systems for domestic heating comply with standards of salesmanship, installation and after-sales servicing which give adequate safeguards for the customer.

Safeguards for the consumer already exist in the central heating installation industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine the impact of competition on price levels in Great Britain and the effects of take-over bids and mergers on the nation's economy.

No. But as my hon. Friend said in reply to the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. John Fraser) on 5th November, I am now urgently examining ways of making more effective the machinery for promoting competition.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for assistance to tourism in the North-East.

The North-East of England in common with other parts of the country will benefit from Government assistance to tourism under the provisions of the Development of Tourism Act, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the increasing volume of complaints about aircraft noise in the Chesham District, he will carry out a full inquiry into its causes, and, in particular, in to the extent to which unauthorised low flying is taking place in that area.

Discussions have already been held between officials of the Department and representatives of Chesham U.D.C. on this matter. We are prepared to look into this further on receipt of additional information. We have no evidence of any unauthorised low flying.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of concern over excessive aircraft noise in the Bagshot area, whether he will undertake a review of the Dunsfold and Woodley aircraft routes.

The experimental transfer of air traffic from the Fairoaks/Dunsfold route to the Woodley/Midhurst route came into operation in May this year and there have been consequential changes, upwards and downwards, in the effect of aircraft noise in different areas. I can confirm that it is intended to review the operational and amenity effects of the transfer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the subsidy by the former Ministry of Technology, amounting to 55 per cent. of subsidy earning income, to the Furniture Industry Research Association is a regular annual commitment; and what is the first date upon which the principle of the subsidy can be reviewed.

No. The terms of grants of this kind made by the Department are subject to regular reviews. The current grant to the Furniture Industry Research Association comes to an end on 31st December, 1970 and proposals for the future are under study.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he will now take to stimulate the motorcar industry.

As my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary, told my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) on 3rd November, home registrations have shown significant improvement over last year and the Government's measures announced on 27th October should help to restore confidence throughout industry. The Government have no wish to keep restrictions on the motor industry for a moment longer than is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the number of advance factories occupied in the Blyth constituency and the Northern Region during the past five years and the number of new jobs provided in that period.

39 advance factories have been occupied in the Northern Region of which five are in the Blyth constituency, providing so far 4,670 and 920 new jobs respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the number of firms which have since 18th June notified him that they have ceased to pursue their interest in moving into the Northern Region.

Only one such case has been notified. This firm decided to postpone a project before the changes announced on 27th October by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to encourage an increase in the number of industrial inquiries for relocation in the Northern Region.

I would like to see industry showing increased interest in all the assisted areas. I will do what I can to augment local efforts to bring the advantages of these areas to the attention of industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that some companies wish to purchase instead of lease sites on government-owned 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 industrial sites wherever this is practicable and where their development in this way would help in the provision of employment. 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 if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board not to flare-off coke-oven gas to waste because it cannot be mixed with natural gas; and what action his Department is taking to ensure that this asset is not wasted.

No; disposal of this gas is a matter for the National Coal Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals requiring his approval have been submitted to his Department for expansion of the steel industry at Port Talbot; and whether he will approve the capital investment necessary.

We have approved the British Steel Corporation's development programme for 1971–72, which includes certain expenditure at Port Talbot. Details of the programme are a matter for the Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for transferring to private ownership part of the steel industry in South Wales; and what consultations he is having with the representatives of the workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had with the British Steel Corporation concerning the future organisation of the steel industry; whether he proposes major changes; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for denationalising the steel industry; and when these plans are likely to be announced.

I shall make a statement as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that in the future plans of the British Steel Corporation there is to be the building of one or two new large steel plants; and if he will ensure that one of these steel plants is erected in the South Yorkshire coalmining area.

Although the Corporation's general programme of development is subject to Government approval, it is for the industry to formulate plans for particular works.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a general direction to the British Steel Corporation to expand its field of activities; and what capital expenditure he envisages for its present holdings in the financial years 1970–71 to 1974–75, inclusive.

No. The approved level of British Steel Corporation expenditure on fixed assets is £130 million in 1970–71 and £185 million in 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what capital investment he has approved for the Special Steels Division of the British Steel Corporation for each of the financial years 1970–71 to 1974–75, inclusive.

My approval relates to the general programme of the British Steel Corporation as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the terms of his reply to the representations from the Hamilton Presbytery which expressed concern at the growing unemployment problem in Scotland and North Lanarkshire in particular.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has written to the hon. Member about these representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent agreement reached under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on a generalised system of preferences for the manufactured exports of developing countries; and what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to implement this agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been done by Her Majesty's Government to help developing countries by encouraging generalised preferences as proposed by the European Economic Community.

The Trade and Development Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development approved last month the preferential arrangements worked out by the developed countries in accordance with the recommendation of the Second Conference in 1968. We propose to grant duty-free entry to most industrial goods from developing countries; details have been placed in the Library. I hope to introduce the necessary legislation next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set up an investigating committee to examine the activities of the Central Electricity Generating Board and its effects on the heavy electricity manufacturing industry.

I am in close touch with both the C.E.G.B. and the plant manufacturers, and see no need to set up a Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of manufacturing output by value in Great Britain is at present controlled by United States of America corporations; and what is his estimate for 1980.

At present, about 12 to 13 per cent.; I have made no estimate for 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what study he has made of the financial and legal difficulties that nearly prevented the merger between Dunlop and Pirelli and which discourage other such mergers; and what steps are being taken in conjunction with other governments to facilitate such voluntary mergers in future.

Mergers between large companies in different countries inevitably raise complex problems for the companies concerned. From discussions with Dunlop, it does not appear that Government requirements are such as to discourage a merger of this kind, but I would be glad to consider any particular aspects that my hon. Friend may bring to my notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has, by legislation or otherwise, to increase the element of worker participation in the publicly-owned industries.

None. Extensive arrangements already exist for consultation within each industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has yet re-examined the claims to be so designated of areas which are not at present designated as development areas.

The circumstances of all areas are kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he proposes to take to reduce the level of unemployment in the Doncaster area.

Intermediate area incentives are available to firms in the Doncaster area, and Doncaster in common with other areas will benefit from the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 27th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the effect of the number of new firms that will come to Wales over the next few years of the new incentive measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

No such estimate can be made, but I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 9th November by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of industrial concerns who had arranged to develop in Wales prior to the Chancellor's Budget Statement, and the number who have since indicated that they do not now intend to continue with that development.

It is not possible to identify all firms which may have had plans to develop in Wales up to the end of October. Since 27th October, one firm has indicated to me that it is unable to proceed. The decision has nothing to do with investment incentives.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received that plans for industrial development in the Doncaster area have had to be revised because of the uncertainty over Her Majesty's Government's future regional policy.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to prevent further redundancies in the Lancashire textile industry over the next five years.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to the hon. Member for Heywood and Royton (Mr. Barnett) on 23rd November.—[Vol. 807; c. 13–14.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give a general direction to the Wales Gas Board to remove dangerous gasholders.

No. This is a matter for which the Wales Gas Board is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions have been instituted in the last six months for short weight sales of packets of crisps; and if he will list the names of the firms, and the number of offences, and the total of fines imposed, in respect of each firm.

Returns from 237 of the 287 local weights and measures authorities show that during 1969–70 there were prosecutions leading to convictions on 14 different occasions and that fines totalling £535 were imposed. I have no information about the names of the companies involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make an official visit to the General Electric Company/Associated Electrical Industries transformer factory at Wythenshawe, Manchester, to explain his industrial policies.

Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have any plans for such a visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions in regard to the relaxation of hire-purchase controls on domestic heating appliances to combat the threatened shortages of solid smokeless fuel this winter.

There is on intention to relax these controls at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is his policy to disclose information about financial assistance to individual companies on request by hon. Members.

No. Commercial confidentiality generally weighs against disclosure of details of financial assistance, though in certain cases, where the public interest requires, some information is given.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement describing the additional machinery he will set up to ensure the take-up of the additional £25 million a year to be expended through the Local Employment Acts as envisaged in Command Paper No. 4516.

Appropriate publicity will be given to the increase in assistance for industry: additional machinery will not be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from Imperial Chemical Industries Limited with respect to the recent collusive increase by the clearing banks in charges on special group banking schemes; and what reply he has sent.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations took place between his Department and the Board of British European Airways before sanction was given by him for the purchase of seven Boeing 707 airliners from the United States of America for British European Airways Airtours.

There were full consultations between the Department and B.E.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Her Majesty's Government propose to implement the recommendations of the Banks Committee's Report.

I hope to make a statement before very long.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the National Coal Board has increased its productivity by the amount considered possible in the 1967 fuel policy White Paper.

The 1967 White Paper on Fuel Policy reported that the N.C.B. considered that an increase of about a third should be technically possible by 1970–71. It also referred to the difficulties involved in achieving such an increase. The current annual rate of output per man shift is about a fifth higher than the rate in 1966–67 and the N.C.B. hope for some further rise before the end of their financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the actual rate at the nearest convenient date of output per manshift in the mining industry; and how this compares with the figures forecast of a rise of 10 per cent. per year from 1966–67.

43·6 cwt. a man-shift overall in the first seven months of 1970–71. The average annual increase between 1966–67 and 1969–70 was 6 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will take steps to establish a National Registration and Consumer Board for the compulsory registration of central heating firms and machinery to protect the customer from disreputable practices in the installation of systems and the prices charged for them;(2) how many firms concerned with central heating systems and installation are registered with his Department; what increase this represents over the past 10 years; and what is his estimate of the number of firms not registered, and the increase in this field;(3) if he will take steps to make an after-sales service and a guarantee of standards and performance a binding condition of contract for all central heating and central heating installation firms;(4) if he will seek powers to ensure that the costs of central heating systems and costs of installation and servicing of systems advertised by central heating firms should be specifically made known at the point of advertisement in written form to a customer before a contract is entered into;(5) if he will take steps to introduce a code of good practices and standards for domestic central heating installation;(6) if he will take steps to introduce a national inspection service for central heating systems;(7) if he will take steps to establish a national advisory service on domestic central heating systems.

I do not favour unnecessary intervention in industry. Competition in the central heating industry, and measures already taken by its trade associations, provide adequate protection for consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many domestic central heating systems were installed during the 12 months to the latest available date by or through the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Gas Council.

I am asking the Chairmen of the Gas and Electricity Councils to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give general directions to the National Coal Board, the Central Electricity Generating Board, and the Gas Council to increase research on improved methods of central heating.

No. The general programmes of research are settled with us and a due proportion of the total effort is already devoted to domestic applications of the fuels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many domestic central heating systems installed during the past 12 months through the Central Electricity Generating Board, the Gas Council and the National Coal Board have been found to be inefficient, unsatisfactory or dangerous.

No such complaints have reached me. I am asking the Chairmen of the industries concerned to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied

The effect of Section 8 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1968, is that the aerodrome management of designated aerodromes, of which Fairoakes is one, must provide adequate facilities for consultation. I have no power to determine the nature of these facilities and anyone who considers that they are inadequate can, if he wishes, have recourse to the courts if he cannot obtain satisfaction in any other way.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to introduce into the Newcastle, South-East Northumberland area, a major industrial trading estate ultimately to match the Team Valley Trading Estate.

We already have available, or are buying, over 300 acres of industrial land in Tyneside and South-East Northumberland. Further development of this land is necessary before consideration can be given to any new land acquisitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by how much the import of worsted fabrics has increased in 1970 compared with 1960 and 1969 from the Irish Republic, Israel, Italy, Finland, Switzerland, West Germany and Japan.

Following is the information:—

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by how much the import of man-made fibre predominant fabrics containing wool has increased in 1970 compared with 1960