asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further progress has been made to date by the expert groups of the European Free Trade Association in drafting schemes of reciprocal recognition for agricultural machinery and tractors.

Discussions are now well advanced. It is hoped that agreement will be reached in the summer of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what publications are in existence, other than the European Free Trade Association Bulletin and annual reports, for British exporters and importers that provide up-to-date guides to the opportunities in the European Free Trade Association.

Other relevant E.F.T.A. Secretariat publications are available free from the Department of Trade and Industry's E.F.T.A. Information Centre. Copies can also be seen in the House of Commons Library. Besides these the Department produces and distributes its own publications, including free Hints to Businessmen booklets. The Department's weekly journal Trade and Industry publishes information bearing on trading opportunities in E.F.T.A.; and its Statistics and Market Intelligence Library makes available a very wide range of up-to-date directories, statistics, catalogues and reports relating to E.F.T.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the effect on European Free Trade Association trade of the Bill on quotas and tariffs, now before the United States Congress, has been considered by the Council of the European Free Trade Association.

This Bill was fully discussed at the E.F.T.A. Ministerial Meeting in November. Ministers were unanimous in expressing their concern that its passage would lead to serious new restrictions on world trade. The Trade Bill was not passed before the end of the U.S. Congressional term and has now lapsed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the European Free Trade Association Council has now completed its consideration of the study of the rules of competition.

The E.F.T.A. Council is still considering this study.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the United Kingdom will take the initiative in proposing that membership of the European Free Trade Association should be open to any developing country on a non-reciprocal or preferential basis.

The participation of E.F.T.A. countries in the Generalised System of Preferences is a more appropriate way of helping developing countries than offering them membership of E.F.T.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what percentage trade among the nine members of the European Free Trade Association increased in the first nine months of 1970.

Intra-trade of the European Free Trade Association, as measured by the dollar value of exports, increased by 18 per cent. between the first nine months of 1969 and 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the further progress made since the meeting of the European Free Trade Association Council on 5th and 6th November, 1970, on the removal of non-tariff barriers among members of the European Free Trade Association.

Progress has been mainly in the field of technical barriers to trade. Agreements on the reciprocal recognition of national tests on pressure vessels and marine safety equipment came into force on 1st January. Draft agreements on gas appliances and agricultural machinery are in preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in view of European Free Trade Association's policy of accepting new members, what talks have taken place or are proposed between the European Free Trade Association and the Yugoslavian Government with a view to Yugoslavia's membership.

None. Yugoslavia has not applied for membership of E.F.T.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent proposals he has received from European Free Trade Association Governments for further economic integration; and if he will make a statement.

None. The E.F.T.A. countries, which are all currently engaged in negotiations and discussions with the E.E.C., would clearly not wish to make any radical changes in E.F.T.A. at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement as to the adequacy of coal stocks for the rest of this winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a further statement on the fuel situation.

Total stocks of coal at 20·1 million tons are 12·2 million tons lower than a year ago. This rundown means that power stations are operating on narrow margins. Electricity supplies are, therefore, vulnerable to any interruptions in fuel deliveries. Severe weather would, of course, exacerbate the position. The Government hope that the decision to free coal imports will help.Supplies of oil and gas should be adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the National Coal Board asking for reimbursement of the expense involved in delaying colliery closures, where such delays are held by him to be in the public interest.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in view of recent colliery closures in the urban district area of Rothwell, Yorkshire, part of the Normanton constituency, if he will consider designating the whole of the constituency as a development area or making the Rothwell area an intermediate area.

The coverage of assisted areas is being examined as part of the Government's review of regional policy. A statement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the equity of the proposed British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. and Radiochemical Centre Ltd. will be allowed to pass to private investors.

The Atomic Energy Authority Bill would allow up to 49 per cent. of shares with voting rights to pass to private investors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on noise recordings under the flight path from Luton Airport to Beacon Hill.

My information comes from letters of 2nd and 21st December from my hon. Friend, with whom my right hon. Friend was in correspondence recently.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what allowance he made for the 1970 glut in British apples when deciding on the full import of foreign apples after Christmas.

The Government gave full weight to all relevant factors, including the size of the home crop, the consumer interest, and our international trading relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of workers in the British motor-car industry is employed in firms which are foreign-owned.

About 40 per cent. of the total employed by the four major vehicle assembly firms are employed by foreign-owned firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is now taking to bring about a reduction in the price of detergents; and if he will make a statement on the results of action by the Board of Trade to reduce promotional costs and give mare of the same product for less money in a packet which is not so extensively advertised.

I see no need for action in present circumstances. The companies are continuing to offer cheaper brands, which are less advertised, but which have achieved between 12 per cent. and 15 per cent. of the market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further estimate he has made of the level of industrial investment in 1971.

The latest investment intentions inquiry taken at the end of 1970 suggests that manufacturers are expecting a small fall in their investment, in real terms, between 1970 and 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will make a further statement on the problem of aircraft noise.

Whenever fresh developments warrant a statement we shall not hesitate to make one.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many airlines exceeded the permitted daytime noise levels at London Airport during the second quarter of 1970; how many exceeded the permitted night noise levels; and how many aircraft were involved.

Twenty-nine day-time and 12 at night. 305 infringements were recorded out of the 27,712 departures involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what airlines were responsible for the 512 daytime and 27 nighttime infringements of the maximum permitted noise levels at London Airport, Heathrow, in August, 1970; what aircraft types were concerned; and what action had been taken by his Department to secure a better standard of observance of the regulations.

The following airlines were responsible for the infringements:

• Aer Lingus
• Aeroflot
• Air Canada
• Air India
• Alitalia
• BEA
• BOAC
• BKS Air Transport
• Cambrian Airways
• Cyprus Airways
• E1 A1 Israel Airlines
• Iberia
• Iranair
• Iraqi Airways
• Japan Airlines
• Jugoslav Airlines
• Lufthansa
• National Airlines
• PAA
• Qantas
• Seaboard World
• TWA

• Boeing 707
• Boeing 720
• Boeing 727
• Boeing 747
• VC10
• Super VC10
• DC8
• DC9
• BAC 1–11
• Trident I
• Trident II
• Comet IV
• IL 62
• Caravelle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies he has carried out as to whether people's health is adversely affected by aircraft noise generated by inland airports and as to whether an airport where all take-off, landing and stacking could be undertaken over or from over water, would be less damaging to the health of those living in the relevant area.

Studies so far carried out do not show any definite link between aircraft noise and ill health.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent since June, 1970, trade and industry has improved or deteriorated, both so far as internal and external trade and industrial production are concerned.

Home demand and industrial production have both been higher in the second half of last year and the balance of trade in goods and services has been in very substantial surplus.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now make a statement on the Government's intentions for the future ownership of the steel industry.

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 what further measures he intends to take to bring new industries into the Erewash Valley intermediate area.

The intermediate areas will benefit from the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 27th October. I shall continue to encourage firms to take advantage of the incentives for expanding employment in the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total commercial debt owing by Ghana to the United Kingdom.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give general directions to the chairmen of all nationalised undertakings to take steps to ensure that the undertakings for which they are responsible will at all times be seen to be politically impartial.

No, Sir. But I will continue to give each board member written guidance on appointment as to his own activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to exercise his discretion in the near future to recognise the Association of International Accountants under Section 161 of the Companies Act, 1948.

The Association has been informed that an application for recognition will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now make a statement about monopolies, mergers and the future of the Monopolies Commission.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which my right hon. Friend made to the House on 17th December.—[Vol. 808, c. 1577–86.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has now given to ensuring that future legislation involving monopolies, including state monopolies, coincides with anti-cartel legislation within the Community.

In formulating proposals for new monopolies legislation, I shall bear in mind the need to avoid any conflict with the Community's rules of competition.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the study carried out within his Department on the effectiveness of the investment grant system.

My right hon. Friend gave a brief account of the pilot survey in reply to a Question by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Dell) on 14th December, and I hope that a full report on this survey will be available later—[Vol. 808, c. 238–241.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will produce a White Paper on industry's response to tax-based investment incentives.

No, sir. It is too early to assess the effect of the changes, but I shall keep a careful watch on progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, before coming to a decision on the recommendations of the Roskill Commission into the location of a third London airport, he will initiate a study to examine by how much the traffic of airports in the London area would be relieved by the creation of an international airport in the east Midlands or south Yorkshire.

Such further studies should be unnecessary. Evidence already available, including some published in connection with the Roskill Commission, will enable due weight to be attached to this possibility in reaching a decision on the recommendations of the Roskill Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement following his investi- gation into the trading activities of certain companies in the Bradford area, details of which have been supplied to him.

Some of the companies are in liquidation and their affairs are being inquired into by official receivers in cases of compulsory liquidation or by liquidators in cases of voluntary liquidation. The Department has powers under the Companies Acts, 1948 and 1967, to investigate the affairs of a company where circumstances suggest that they are being conducted for a fraudulent purpose. These powers will be invoked in any appropriate case.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the public interest in the forthcoming report of the Roskill Commission and the plans of the British Airports Authority to expand Gatwick Airport, he will now publish the results of the social survey made by the Board of Trade in 1967 of noise in the vicinity of Heathrow Airport.

Yes. A report on the survey is now in the final drafting stages and I intend publishing it as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider setting up an inquiry on the lines of the Wilson inquiry of 1961 for Heathrow, on the regular disturbance caused by noise in the Gatwick area if the present extension plans are carried out.

The Wilson Committee envisaged that the lessons of Heathrow could be applied elsewhere through the planning machinery to which the proposed extension is subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the present extent of United Kingdom participation in the Cabora Bassa dam project.

I understand that the main contracts for this project have been awarded to a consortium which does not include any United Kingdom companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Her Majesty's Government will consider the introduction of a Hotel Development Loan Scheme to replace the Hotel Grant Scheme.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for the introduction of such a scheme at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning the administration of the Development of Tourism Act, 1969, except for the Hotel Grants Scheme.

In consultation with the British Tourist Authority and the three country Tourist Boards, we shall administer the Act consistently with our general economic policies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now implement the Monopolies Commission's recommendations on the tied house system in the licensed trade.

Yes, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has done so. In addition, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 9th December, 1970.—[Vol. 808, c. 131–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent he estimates the December power cuts and working to rule affected production and export output in particular.

While it is possible to estimate the total reduction in electricity supplied, it is not possible to assess the consequences to industry, including the extent to which it was able to mitigate the effects and recover lost output later.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what efforts he is making to find a tenant for the advance factory which is standing empty at Hare Law, Stanley, County Durham.

Every effort is being made to find a suitable occupant and negotiations with a prospective tenant have recently been re-opened.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now designate Peterlee as a special development area; and if he will make a statement.

The coverage of the special development areas is being examined as part of the Government's review of regional policy. A statement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what future date he expects Manchester Airport to be used to its capacity by incoming and departing aircraft.

Developments currently proposed by Manchester Corporation, which owns and manages the airport, will enable it to cope with much more traffic than is at present offering and to meet the demand until at least 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the monopolistic position acquired by Philips Brocklehurst Limited, Macclesfield, consequent on the closure of Winterthur Silks, Dunfermline, he will refer the matter to the Monopolies Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the monopolistic position acquired by Philips Brocklehurst Limited, Macclesfield, consequent on the closure of Winterthur Silks, Dunfermline, he will refer the matter to the Monopolies Commission.

The closure of the Dunfermline factory did not result in any reduction of competition between the two companies. At the time, Winterthur Silks Limited was already owned by Philips Brocklehurst Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he intends to take to halt the decline in the number of jobs provided by the electronics industry in Scotland.

My information suggests that the redundancies have been balanced overall by expansion and that employment in the electronics industry in Scotland is about the same as a year ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on investment financial support to the North-East Development Council.

The Council has recently inquired about the possibility of a contribution to its finances to enable its activities to be planned over the next three years. I am not yet satisfied that there are grounds for reopening the decision made by the last Administration not to continue grants to the North-East Development Council beyond the

The information is as follows:current financial year, but I shall be giving further consideration to its request.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government-sponsored organisations carry out appropriate work for the consumer.

Within the Department's field of responsibility there are a number of consumer consultative councils for the nationalised industries, as to which I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answers given to the right hon. Member for Aberavon (Mr. John Morris) on 11th December last. In addition, grant aid is given to central work in support of the Citizens Advice Bureaux service, a service which includes advice to consumers with individual problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement regarding the reinstatement of precision approach radar at Gatwick, Manchester and Prestwick Airports and its retention at Heathrow Airport.

The report of the inquiry set up under Professor Holder of Oxford University into the possible need for precision approach radar facilities has now been published and its recommendations are under study. We expect to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Marking Orders have been made under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, to compel manufacturers to label products to give the consumer vital information.

None as yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will issue a report on the operation of the Mineworker Redundancy Payments Order to date, stating the amount of money involved, the total amounts of money paid under the order, and the age range of the recipients.

By March, 1971, about 35,000 redundant mineworkers will have qualified for benefits under the Order. The total amount of money involved is estimated to be about £34 million, of which about £20 million is the cost so far. Recipients must be between 55 and 65 years old at the date of redundancy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will re-examine the existing trade agreements with Spain in regard to recent happenings in that country; and if he will make a statement.

No. It is not generally Her Majesty's Government's policy to modify their commercial relations in the light of developments in the domestic political situation of one of their trading partners.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he intends to take, following the study of small computers carried out for his Department by Urwick Dynamics Limited.

The main value of the survey is in the information it provides to computer manufacturers, users and others, but I am considering whether any of its findings requires action.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he has given to the Roskill Commission on the effects of the development of a vertical and short take-off and landing aircraft on the future requirement for airports.

Evidence was given in writing and orally by Ministry of Technology and Board of Trade representatives to the effect that in the light of present knowledge operations by STOL and VTOL aircraft were unlikely to be of any significance until at least the early 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement regarding his decision to provide the three mother support vessels for the deep-sea fishing fleet in Arctic waters, as recommended by the Holland-Martin Commission.

No decision has yet been taken about the provision of more than one fishery support ship.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the provision of a mother ship for British trawlers off Iceland this winter.

The trawler support ship "Miranda" is now on station off Iceland providing weather advice and medical service to British trawlers in the area and will remain there until the end of April.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his consultations with assay offices and trade associations on technical details concerning revision of the hall-marking law have been concluded.

Not yet. Preparation for the remaining round of consultations took longer than had been expected, but a paper will be circulated to interested parties later this month for further comment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation concerning export documentation; and what has been his reply.

My Department has received representations objecting to pre-entry both from the Federation and from a pottery manufacturer. In reply I have drawn attention to the consultations with interested parties which I promised in my statement to the House on 16th November would take place and which are still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the hardship caused by recent events to bondholders mainly in the north of England, many of whom are widows and elderly persons, he will consider introducing legislation to compel public boards to issue six monthly interim statements, and also, when seeking to raise additional capital, to make an up-to-date statement of their financial position, as is the case with private enterprise public companies.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the estimated value of the oil cargo saved by successful fire fighting operations in the "Pacific Glory" mishap; and what were the estimated savings to the British economy in each of the past five years as the result of other fire fighting operations.

The "Pacific Glory" was carrying 75,627 tons of crude oil valued at about £542,000. As a result of the combined efforts of those who fought the fire and salvaged the ship some 70,000 tons of the cargo was saved. I regret that the information sought in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the recent trade drive promoted by the British National Export Council increased Great Britain's trade with California.

The California trade drive will run for several years. In the trade drive we and the British National Export Council are helping a large number of British exporters to increase their sales in California. There are, however, no separate statistics of our exports to California.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies he has made of the inflationary significance of proposed gas price increases and of their social significance particularly for the elderly and those on low incomes; what action he has taken to prevent these increases; and whether he will make a statement.

These increases average 6·3 per cent., and for domestic consumers alone 8·2 per cent., against an increase of 15·4 per cent. in the index of retail prices since the last gas price increases in April, 1968. Since then many consumers have had price reductions on conversion to natural gas. Increases in fuel costs are reflected in the retail prices index and are therefore taken into account along with other factors when new rates of social security benefits are fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the fact that a large part of Government funds provided to the English Tourist Board is to be spent on a publicity campaign to persuade English people to holiday in England, with a view to improving the balance of payments so far as tourism and travel is concerned, he is prepared to take steps to give financial assistance to a similar organisation established to encourage British people to buy more British goods to assist further the balance of payments.

No. This would not be in the best interests of our trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what agricultural information is available in his Department before a decision such as the recent trade agreement with Romania is made.

There is the fullest consultation between this Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which provides relevant information on all matters affecting the agricultural and horticultural industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what facilities and encouragement are being offered to Chile to meet her requirements for cattle, agricultural machinery and equipment.

Chile is showing increasing interest in British agricultural products and technology, and Her Majesty's Government are encouraging exports and giving technical advice and assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce legislation to implement The Hague Convention on hi-jacking of aircraft.

We shall do so as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to introduce legislation to increase the guarantees of principal money to the shipbuilding industry from £400 million to £600 million.

At an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement giving the full details of the application made to him by a foreign combine to build a new green field steel complex in the United Kingdom; when the application was received; and what reply he has made to the approach.

I have received no such application for major development.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the amount of Government financial assistance given to the English Tourist Board for the years 1969–70 and 1970–71, respectively, and the assistance proposed for 1971–72.

The English Tourist Board received a grant-in-aid of £50,000 in 1969–70. The amount of grant provided for 1970–71 is at present £450,000 but a supplementary estimate to increase this to a maximum of £520,000 will be presented to Parliament in due course. The grant proposed for 1971–72 will be shown when the Civil Estimates are published.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reply has now been given to the proposals for attracting industrial development to the north-east of England submitted recently by the North-East Development Council.

My right hon. Friend had a full discussion with representatives of the N.E.D.C. on 2nd November and assured them that their views would be taken into account in our review of regional policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decision has now been reached regarding Government support for the ship-repair industry.

There has been no change in the position since the reply to the hon. Member's Question on 14th December, 1970.—[Vol. 808, c. 228.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he has given instruction to the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements not to investigate the code of standards of advertising practice and other provisions of membership of the Proprietary Association of Great Britain.

On the Registrar's representation, my right hon. Friend was satisfied that the restrictions contained in the Association's membership provisions are not of such significance as to call for investigation by the Restrictive Practices Court. He accordingly gave a direction discharging the Registrar from taking proceedings in the Court.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will study the benefits to trade and industry in the South-West, the West Midlands and South Wales, of an international airport sited on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary;(2) whether he will commission a study of the feasibility of locating a new international airport on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary;(3) what are his proposals for creating new employment in South Wales; and if he estimates that the proposal to build an international airport on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary will create significant new employment in the area;(4) if he will estimate how much agricultural land would be saved by building an international airport on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary and thus returning Bristol and Cardiff Airports to agricultural use;(5) what is his assessment of the operational difficulties to civil airlines resulting from a proposed international airport built on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary.

It is, in the first instance, for local interests and autho- rities to consider whether a new airport is required to serve the needs of this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miners are participating in the Redundant Mineworkers Payments Scheme in the United Kingdom and in Scotland, respectively.

At 2nd January, 1971, the total number of redundant mineworkers in Great Britain receiving benefit under the Redundant Mineworkers Payments Scheme was 22,355 of which 1,830 were in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has completed his review of appeals towards applications for cheaper overseas package holidays.

I am awaiting the Commissioner's report in one appeal case regarding holidays next summer. The Department is currently reviewing the arrangements that should apply after October and I hope to make an announcement next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the Report of the Commission on the Third London Airport to be published.

I am glad to announce that it has been possible to reduce the time originally estimated for publishing the Report. I now expect publication on Thursday, 21st January.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the Overseas Marketing Corporation Limited.

I have had under careful review the position of the Overseas Marketing Corporation Ltd. which was set up in November, 1967, under an arrangement entered into by the previous Administration guaranteeing the equity capital and providing a loan facility. In light of the trading position apparent in October last we indicated to the Overseas Marketing Corporation that the Government did not wish this trading experiment to continue if this meant the further injection of public funds and we agreed with the Board's own assessment that the Corporation should not incur further liabilities and should dispose of those parts of the venture which had a viable future. I have been informed by the Overseas Marketing Corporation that this decision was implemented on 31st December, 1970. It is clear that there will be a substantial loss of public funds within the commitment of £500,000 but at this stage it is not possible to determine the exact amount as the disposal of assets and the arrangements for continuation of viable business are not completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will review the programme of power station conversion to oil as a result of the decision of British Petroleum and United States Gulf Oil Corporation to increase the price of Kuwait crude oil.

No. The C.E.G.B.'s recent applications which make up the present programme were largely based on the shortage of coal and took account of the cost of alternative fuels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why no date has been fixed for future consultations between the Government of the United Kingdom and New Zealand on the renewal of the 1966 trade agreement between the two countries.

Mr. Marshall, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister, and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade agreed, when they met on 24th November, that it would be appropriate to continue the consultations around the middle of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that during the period of the industrial dispute affecting the supply of power many manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers increased prices of goods which had acquired a scarcity value; and whether he will seek powers to prevent these actions upon the part of trade and industry.

My information is that very few tried to raise prices unreasonably, and price controls would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department was first requested to take action on the illegal practices known as cube-cutting; what action he took, or is taking, to prevent these illegal practices; and with what results.

The Board of Trade's attention was drawn to this matter by the hon. Member in January, 1969. As he is aware, it has been under investigation by the police, and I would refer to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General gave to the hon. Member on 12th January.—[Vol. 809, c. 7–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he will now take to ensure that major barter agreements involving the sale of capital and industrial manufactured goods and projects do not cause the excessive importation of foodstuffs and horticultural products at well below domestic prices.

Imports of certain agricultural and horticultural produce from Eastern Europe, which I assume my hon. Friend has in mind, are controlled by quotas, which are very small in comparison with total supplies. There are well known arrangements for dealing with any complaints about import prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all trade agreements involving the import of agricultural products and the quotas in each case for the last convenient period of 12 months; what proposals he has for increasing or reducing such quotas in the succeeding period of 12 months; and what negotiations are in progress or anticipated in the near future when such quotas will be discussed.

Her Majesty's Government have trade agreements or arrangements with Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Soviet Union. I would refer my hon. Friend to issues of the Board of Trade Journal dated 8th October, 1969, 17th December, 1969, 14th January, 1970, 4th February, 1970, 25th February, 1970, and 22nd April, 1970, which contain details of the quotas for imports into the United Kingdom of agricultural products from these countries during the twelve month period ending 31st December, 1970, or, in the case of Bulgaria, 31st March, 1971. Subsequently the Romanian quota No. 4 has been increased to £250,000, the Czechoslovak quota No. 39(a)(i) has been increased to £285,000 and the Polish quota No. 3(ii) has been increased to £2,080,000. I am not able to forecast the level of future import quotas in advance of discussions with the countries concerned but I do not foresee the likelihood of reductions in the level of any agricultural import quotas. These are agreed annually and discussions with officials of the Governments of the countries concerned will take place during the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the petrol companies have increased prices three times in a year; and whether he will initiate an inquiry to investigate whether these continual price increases are justified.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes" and to the second part "No".

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the timber trade's adherence to the original date for the commencement of metrication, he will initiate talks with the other industries involved in order that the effects of the changeover can be felt in the economy as soon as possible.

It is for each industry to decide whether and when to adopt metric units for its own purpose, and in selecting the date for the adoption of the metric system the imported timber trade had regard to the metrication programme of its major customer the construction industry. Other industries involved are well aware of the position and are considering the effect on them of these changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the additional information supplied to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, showing that no company reports or accounts have been published by Dollar Land Holdings Limited since 1968 and that the auditors refuse to sign the 1968 accounts, he will now agree to have an inquiry into the affairs of this company.

I do not at present think that inspectors should be appointed. On 7th December, 1970, the company circulated accounts for the year to 31st December, 1968, together with notice of the Annual General Meeting called for 30th December, 1970. At that meeting the accounts were adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the steps now to be taken by the Government to ameliorate the present unemployment position on Merseyside.

The Department will continue to encourage the creation of more employment opportunities in Merseyside as in all the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of grants to research associations in 1970; how this compared with the original budget; and what is now the budget for the current year.

The total value of grants to research associations for which I am now responsible was £3·6 million approximately in 1969–70. This was slightly less than the original budget. The corresponding budget for 1970–71 is also £3·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of the grants to each research association

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total expenditure on research and development incurred by him during 1970; and if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the main categories under which it has been spent, including expenditure on research establishments, institutions and associations, as well as

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the expenditure incurred by each of the research establishments and institutes for which he is responsible, and in total in 1970, indicating

Research and development expenditure for which I am now responsible amounted to £69·5 million in the financial year 1969–70. Detailed information is as follows:how it has varied with budget, and what expenditure is now budgeted for the current year.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will adjust the financial target set for British Overseas Airways Corporation in the light of the future loss of routes to West Africa.

I am extending B.O.A.C.s former objective to achieve an average return on net assets of 12½ per cent. over the four years April, 1966, to March, 1970, to cover the six years April, 1966, to March, 1972. This decision takes account of the effect of the transfer of West African routes among other relevant factors.