asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about aid to Commonwealth countries in the light of the Singapore Conference.

Aid to Commonwealth countries will continue to represent a high proportion of total British bilateral aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how United Kingdom aid to developing countries in terms of total flow of national resources per head of population compares with that of each of the members of the Community, according to the latest figures available to him.

The following is the information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of repayments of capital and interest payable to this country by developing countries in 1972, 1975 and 1979, assuming a continuation of present trends in volume and content of the aid programme.

On the assumptions stated repayments of capital are estimated at £33 million, £45 million and £72 million in the three years and interest receipts at £31 million, £32 million and £34 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the present stage of discussions within the United Nations Development Programme about the implementation of the Jackson Report.

Last December the U.N. General Assembly approved the U.N.D.P. Governing Council's action on the Report. The Council devoted the bulk of its January session to discussion of the detailed implementation of its earlier decisions. The Organisation's senior field staff have been briefed for the introduction in 1972 of new procedures. Though a great deal more work remains to be done to give full effect to the policy decisions already taken, progress continues to be encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals he has to offer overseas aid to Jamaica.

Our technical assistance programme to Jamaica at present amounts to about £300,000 a year. We expect to maintain this and, depending on the need, to increase it.There has been no capital aid programme for a number of years and we have no plans to introduce one. There has, however, been considerable investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation financed from the overseas aid programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what loans or financial assistance he has offered to Ethiopia; on what dates negotiations started; on what dates the initial commitment to loan the money was made; and on what dates and terms it is expected the actual payment of the moneys will be made.

In April, 1964, the Ethiopian Government was offered, and accepted, a £2 million loan. It is available for development projects to be agreed between the Ethiopian and the British Governments, and is tied to British goods and services. In 1965 the loan was made interest-free, with a 20-years repayment period. Negotiations first commenced in 1963. No detailed agreements covering projects on which the loan is to be used have yet been signed, though three are now under discussion. and it is therefore not possible to say on what dates the loan will begin to be disbursed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to make an official visit to East Africa for the purpose of discussing overseas development.

My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a further statement about the resumed British aid programme for Tanzania.

As my right hon. Friend said in his reply to a Question on 5th November, a mission from the Overseas Development Administration visited Dar es Salaam in October to discuss with Tanzanian officials their requirements for capital aid and technical assistance. The mission's recommendations have been considered here and we are now ready to resume discussion of them with the Tanzania Government.—[Vol. 805, c. 434.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the countries in the Caribbean area has requested special aid for its inter-territory air services; and what reply he has given.

None, but aid has been, and is being given, towards improving facilities for civil aviation in the Caribbean.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for increasing economic aid to the Caribbean countries.

Our aid to the Caribbean has been increasing over recent years and we hope to be able to maintain this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further proposals he has for the still dependent territories in the Caribbean, following the visit of the Minister of State.

The purpose of my visit was to acquaint myself at first hand with the problems of some of these territories, and of the Associated States. 1 was able to see something of the way in which our aid programme is being administered, and I shall be following up with my colleagues most directly involved, ways of pursuing various projects in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that British aid to India and Pakistan takes sufficient account of the increasing populations of these countries; and if he will make a statement.

We play our full part in the international consortia for aid to India and Pakistan and even within the static aid ceiling of recent years our disbursements to these two countries have grown to more than a quarter of the total programme. We shall continue to bear the needs of these large and poor countries very much in mind as our aid programmes increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the effect on trade with India on the basis, that during a transitional period after Great Britain had joined the Common Market, the Generalised Scheme of Preference replaced the existing arrangements.

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the effect which British entry into the European Economic Community would have on trade with India. After enlargement many Indian exports will continue to enjoy free entry to the enlarged Community because the Common External tariff is zero, or will benefit under the Community's Generalised Preference Scheme offer. The Communities have also agreed to examine after enlargement any problems arising in the field of trade with a view to reaching appropriate solutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the value of Government advances to the Commonwealth Development Corporation in 1970

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the contribution which would be due from Great Britain to the European Development Fund if this country joined the European Economic Community.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development and the value of repayments of capital and interest, respectively, by the Corporation to the Government in the same period.

In 1970 Government advances to the Commonwealth Development Corporation amounted to £8,850,000. Capital repayments and interest payments by the Corporation to Government totalled £2,364,000 and £4,647,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid each of the remaining colonies and dependencies are receiving from Her Majesty's Government.

Following are the figures for 1969–70, the latest year for which information is available:has made no estimate. The existing Funds have been set up under the Yaounde Convention and its predecessors, and that Convention will expire on 31st January, 1975. The form of any future Convention, the size of any Fund to be established thereunder, and the proportionate contributions of the individual members in an enlarged Community to such a Fund will only be determined in negotiations due to start in August/September, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement arising out of his official meeting on 1st February with representatives of the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the latest position in the negotiations for British entry into the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the state of the negotiations for British entry to the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position in the Common Market negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add at present to my statement to the House of 4th February. I shall continue to make regular statements after Ministerial Meetings with the Communities and when events justify this, as in the case of my Caribbean visit about which I shall be making a statement later today.—[Vol. 810, c. 1936–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from leaders of the coal and steel industries in the United Kingdom in order to enable him to negotiate a suitable transitional period for those industries on entry to the European Economic Community.

Her Majesty's Government maintains the closest consultation with the National Coal Board and the public and private sectors of the steel industry on all aspects of the negotiations for membership of the European Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the effect of the enlargement of the European Community on the development of European defence policy within the Atlantic Alliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the advantages to Great Britain of the more closely integrated defence policy with the Six that membership of the European Economic Community will make possible than is possible in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation alone.

It has been the belief of successive British Governments that the enlargement of the European Economic Community will strengthen the contribution to her own defence which Europe can make within the Atlantic Alliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the dates of forthcoming Ministerial and deputies' meetings so far arranged, with regard to the European Economic Community negotiations.

There are to be Ministerial negotiating meetings on 16th March, 11th May and 22nd June. It is not excluded that meetings may he longer or more frequent than this if necessary. Meetings at Deputy level will take place on the 23rd and 24th February, 9th and 10th March, 24th and 25th March, and provisionally on 6th and 7th April and on 21st and 22nd April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official contacts he has had in recent weeks with European Economic Community countries apart from the negotiating conferences.

I visited Luxembourg on 11th January for the Western European Union Ministerial meeting. In London I met M. Deniau of the Commission of the European Communities on 4th January, Dr. Ferrari Aggradi the Italian Minister of Finance on 3rd February. On 4th February both my right hon. Friend and I had discussions with Dr. Scheel the West German Foreign Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the increase in the Community Budget if a plan for structural reform of agriculture on the lines of the Mansholt plan were to be introduced, and of the cost to the United Kingdom.

The Council of Ministers of the European Communities have taken no decision on the Commission's revised proposals for structural reform of agriculture. It would not therefore be realistic at this stage to publish detailed figures for their effect on the Community budget or on the size of the United Kingdom contribution, the range of which, of course, remains a matter for negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received in the course of negotiations for United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community of the trades union organisations within the Community which are opposing the continuance of the European Community.

The information available to me shows that trade unions in the Six fully support the continuation of the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have consulted with the European Community about ways in which the United Kingdom could fulfil her responsibilities to the Third World as members of an enlarged Community.

Both Britain and the European Community have always taken their full share of responsibility towards the developing countries. We would expect to continue to do so within an enlarged Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his latest discussions with other member countries of the European Free Trade Association regarding their future relationship with the European Economic Community.

We are in close and regular touch with our E.F.T.A. partners. The next E.F.T.A. Ministerial Council meeting is to be held on 13th and 14th of May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many regulations, currently in force, have been issued by the Commission of the European Economic Community under the terms of the Treaty of Rome.

There are approximately 3,000 regulations, directives and decisions of the European Economic Community currently in force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the negotiations with the European Economic Community Great Britain accepts the three draft directives published in March, 1969, which enable doctors to practise in any member State, which make mutual recognition of doctors' qualifications obligatory and which co-ordinate legislation, what effect he estimates they would have on the National Health Service; and what consultation he has had with the British Medical Association, the Medical Practitioners' Union and the Junior Hospital Doctors' Association on this matter.

The draft directives have not yet been agreed by the Community. Her Majesty's Government are watching the situation closely.There is full consultation between Her Majesty's Government and the General Medical Council and the British Medical Association about developments in the Community and the likely effects of our entry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the event of British membership of the Communities, the Commonwealth will benefit from the European Development Fund.

We expect that Commonwealth countries which become associated with the Community under arrangements succeeding the present Yaounde Convention will benefit from any aid programme established under those arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which European Economic Community bodies the trade unions are represented.

Trade unions of the Six are represented on more than twenty committees reporting to the Commission of the Communities. They are also represented on the recently established Committee on Employment which links representatives of the Council of Ministers, Commission, trade unions and employers, and they take one-third of the seats on the Economic and Social Committee, one of the Community institutions set up by the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his present estimate of the annual amount that Great Britain would have to contribute to the budget of the European Economic Community at the end of the proposed transitional period; and what percentage of the total budget of an enlarged Community this would represent.

The range of the United Kingdom contribution to the budget of the European Economic Community remains a matter for negotiation. I gave estimates in my statement on 16th December and in answers following that Statement. It is impossible accurately to assess our contribution 10 years from now in view of the uncertainties about the levels of Community and world prices, the pattern of United Kingdom imports, the scale of our domestic production. and the size of the Community budget.—[Vol. 808, c. 1354–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place in the Library the evidence upon which he bases his claim that the European Economic Community's entry requirements are similar to those of a secret society; and whether he will make a statement on the discussions which ensued in Brussels on Tuesday, 2nd February, 1971.

My reference to entry requirements similar to those of a secret society was made in the context of an exchange of views on the question of Community finance. on which I reported to the House on 4th February.—[Vol 810, c. 1937.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the attitude being adopted by the French delegates to the European Economic Community negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the Common Market as expressed in Brussels on Tuesday, 2nd February, he will now withdraw Great Britain's application and cease negotiations for any terms of entry.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish details of the factual basis upon which he assessed the net annual cost to the United Kingdom of European Economic Community membership at the end of the transitional period as being in the range of £260 million to £480 million.

The figure of £260 million is made up by the addition of £60 million (being the lower estimate of the net contribution to Community budget arrived at by subtracting approximately £100 million estimated receipts from 13 per cent. of $3,000 million) and of £200 million, which was the lower of my estimates for the adverse impact effects on trade balances. Similarly, £480 million is the sum of £300 million, the higher of my estimates for the adverse impact effects on trade balances, and £180 million, which is the higher estimate for the net contribution to Community budget representing 15 per cent. of $4,500 million less the same figure for receipts.The figures for the adverse impact effects on trade balances were stated to be speculative. They are influenced by increased food import bills and their effect on competitiveness, and by tariff changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he can now say what the position will be of Commonwealth workers in the United Kingdom in relation to their acceptance into the European Economic Community as community workers in the event of United Kingdom entry into the Community.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what control of exports of capital to other countries of the European Economic Community there will be should Great Britain become a member of the European Economic Community.

As a member of the Community the United Kingdom would comply with the Community's rules on freedom of capital movement after a transitional period.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many regulations have been issued to date by the European Economic Community which would have to be accepted by the United Kingdom, involving a change of British law, should this country join the European Economic Community.

Regulations of the European Economic Community are of direct application in Member States. So far some 8,000 regulations have been issued of which about 2,000 are still in force. A detailed examination in conjunction with the Commission of the European Communities forms part of our current negotiations for entry.This examination has revealed so far that only a very small proportion of the regulations, estimated at less than 1 per cent., would require any amendment to English law should this country join the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the progress of negotiations for Great Britain to join the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the progress of negotiations on United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community.

I would refer to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) and other hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has made to members of the European Economic Community regarding the imposition of the value-added tax in the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) and Banbury (Mr. Marten). We have proposed to the Community a five-year transitional period for fiscal har-monisation. This would apply to the introduction of a value-added tax which we shall have to adopt if we join the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is now able to state what the basic minimum terms would be for Her Majesty's Government to recommend acceptance to the House of Commons and the electorate for admission into the European Economic Community; and why, when such terms were not yet available, he made a statement stating that Her Majesty's Government hoped to sign the Rome Treaty by the end of the year, before Parliament and the electorate have been consulted.

The terms on which Her Majesty's Government might recommend acceptance of entry into the European Communities remain a matter for negotiation. At this stage in the negotiations It is not for me to state what minimum terms would be acceptable to Her Majesty's Government. We seek terms which are tolerable in the short term and clearly and visibly beneficial in the long term.If Her Majesty's Government decide to introduce an instrument of accession to the treaties of the Communities, this will be the subject of full consideration and discussion in Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is proposed through the Five-Power Pact or the Colombo Plan to help stabilise South-East Asia.

Good progress has been made towards the establishment of five-power defence arrangements in Malaysia and Singapore. We expect these arrangements to come into force later this year.The Colombo Plan provides the forum for bilateral negotiations on questions of technical assistance and as such does not directly assist political stabilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation publication, "Trends and Highlights", are distributed in Great Britain through official channels.

Three.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expression of concern, on humanitarian grounds, has been lodged with the Government of the Guinea, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, regarding recent capital sentences passed on those convicted of political crimes in that country.

I have nothing to add to the Answer my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary gave to a Supplementary Question by the hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. Russell Johnston) on 25th January.—[Vol. 810, c. 24.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will move for reconsideration by the United Nations Security Council of the report and activities of the Special Mission to the Republic of Guinea, and for appropriate consequential action, in the light of subsequent events in that country.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what control the British Government exercises over the work of those in 6–8 Agar Street under contract to the illegal régime in Southern Rhodesia.

The staff working in the office at 6–11 Agar Street are engaged on activities of a broadly humanitarian nature, principally the payment of pensions. This is subject to the concurrence of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any of the South African police and troops operating in Southern Rhodesia are supplied from, given air support from, or make use of the medical facilities available at, the Katima Mulilo air base in the Caprivi Strip.

According to my information there are no South African troops in Rhodesia. I am not aware of any contact between South African Police in Rhodesia and the air base at Katima Mulilo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to be in a position to make a further statement on Rhodesia.

I regret that I cannot forecast the timing of a further statement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals are currently held in the People's Republic of China and as political prisoners.

There are four British subjects believed to be detained in China. I have nothing to add to the details about them contained in my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow), on 25th January, 1971.—[Vol. 810, c. 27–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take following the decision of the Austrian Government to override the recommendation of the international panel of experts that the design of the British firm of architects, Building Design Partnership, be accepted for the United Nations Headquarters and Conference Centre in Vienna.

The decision of the Austrian Government to reject the Building Design Partnership's design and the advice of the panel of international experts is naturally a matter for regret. However, I understand that the Austrian Parliament has now set up a committee to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the special Commonwealth Study Group set up to examine the provision of arms to South Africa.

The purpose of the Study Group to which my hon. Friend is presumably referring is not to examine British policy on arms sales but to consider in the broadest terms the factors affecting the security of maritime trade routes in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, which are of real importance for a large number of Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth Secretary-General is in touch with the Governments which are to be represented on the Study Group, with a view to enabling an early start to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take stronger action in the case of the claim against the Zambian Government in respect of the lands previously owned in Zambia by Mr. F. Riley of Weymouth; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government have made formal representations to the Zambian Government concerning the Lands Acquisition Act, 1969. They have invited their attention to a number of cases of persons affected by the Act, including that of Mr. Riley, and have asked what steps the Zambian Government will take to compensate United Kingdom nationals who are, or may be, adversely affected by the Zambian Lands Acquisition Act, 1969. A reply is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations have been made to the South African Government concerning the arrest of the Anglican Dean of Johannesburg.

No representations have been made to the South African Government since those on 23rd January, to which I referred in my answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg) on 29th January.—[Vol. 810, c. 218–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to raise at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council the use of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation arms by Portugal in Mozambique or Angola.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the progress of talks on the Union of Arab Emirates.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on future relations with the Gulf States.

I would refer to the answer which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends, the Members for Bradford, West (Mr. Wilkinson) and Cambridge (Mr. Lane).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in attempts to persuade Denmark to cease taking salmon to the detriment of the rivers of the United Kingdom and Northern Europe.

As a member of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and the International Commission for the North-West Atlantic Fisheries, Denmark has accepted measures approved by the two Commissions last summer to restrict fishing for salmon. These measures will be in force for the current year. Copies of the resolutions containing the measures were placed in the Library on 21st July, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the latest prospect for an East-West security conference.

There have been no significant developments since the N.A.T.O. meetings in December; I would refer the hon. Member to the full account my right hon. Friend gave to the House after that meeting in the debate on 9th December.—[Vol. 808, c. 441–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government propose to ratify the European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage presented to Parliament in Command Paper No. 4553 in January, 1971.

I am consulting my Ministerial colleagues whose Departments would be responsible for giving effect to the provisions of this Convention. with a view to early ratification.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances he will support the establishment of an international security force, including contingents from the four Powers, on Israel's pre-1967 frontiers.

We believe that some outside presence will be needed to reinforce any settlement concluded between Israel and the Arab States. To say more at this stage would not be helpful to important discussions which are now going on in New York and elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs if he will now initiate a feasibility study into the practicability of a world disaster stockpile for the emergency relief of victims of famine, earthquakes, cyclones and other disasters on the lines of the proposal made at the recent Annual Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in The Hague.

I would prefer to await the report on international co-ordination of disaster relief which the United Nations Secretary General will present to the Economic and Social Council in July and to which we are contributing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Four-Power talks about Berlin; and whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to secure free access to West Berlin.

The Four Power Talks which began last March on ways to improve the situation in and around Berlin continue at Ambassadorial and Counsellor level. Her Majesty's Government remain determined to work for a satisfactory outcome to these talks including a guarantee of access to Berlin.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the appropriate Ministerial committees the career prospects of those British nationals who are working in European organisations such as the Western European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Council of Europe.

Her Majesty's Government are aware of the problems faced by the employees of the European organisations and hope that discussions currently being held in committees of these organisations will lead to an improvement in career prospects.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people emigrated with the help of assisted passages in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what steps he is taking to encourage further use of the Assisted Passage Scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

The Australian Assisted Migration Scheme is the only migration scheme with which Her Majesty's Government are directly involved. The latest available annual figures for that Scheme show that the numbers of migrants born in the United Kingdom and Ireland provided with assisted passages were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the future status of Jerusalem, in the light of the United Nations Resolution 242.

My right hon. Friend described our attitude towards the future status of Jerusalem in some detail in the speech which he made at Harrogate on the 31st of October, 1970. This attitude has not changed. A text of the speech is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place in the last 12 months between Ministers and officials of Her Majesty's Government and those of the Republic of Ireland Government in the course of which there has been consideration of possible adjustments in the constitutional status of Ulster.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the residents of Tristan da Cunha can negotiate the prices they receive for their crayfish, in view of the fact that their buyers have a monopoly.

Under an Agreement between the South Atlantic Islands Development Corporation and the Governor of St. Helena the former pay royalties on their net profits. The profits arise mainly from the Company's fishing operations in the waters of the Dependency but also derive from the proceeds of crayfish caught by Tristan fishermen employed by them on either a permanent or a casual basis whose catch is processed and packed locally in the Company factory. The wages and catch bonuses paid to the Tristan fishermen working for the Company as well as the rates paid to the Company's processing and packing workers are freely negotiated by the parties.There is legislative provision for arbitration over wages disputes in the Tristan da Cunha Trades Disputes (Arbitration and Inquiry) Ordinance No. 5 of 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether negotiations for the refinancing of Ghana's debts have now been concluded; and if he will make a statement of the outcome.

Negotiations have not yet been concluded. They were adjourned in November and we have since been studying the questions which the Ghanaians have raised and are trying to arrange with them an early resumption of the negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now give permission for the diary of Sir Thomas Preston, His Majesty's Consul at Ekaterinburg in 1918, to be published, as he was in a position to keep a record of the happenings on the day of the shooting of the Czar and his family.

I have been unable to trace any request from Sir Thomas Preston for permission to publish his diary. However, his reminiscences Before the Curtain, which include an account of these events were published in 1950 with the consent of the Foreign Office. Sir Thomas Preston's official reports on events in Ekaterinburg in 1918 are available for inspection in the Public Record Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to decrease the number of footmen at the British Embassy in Washington.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the duties of the 92 members of the diplomatic service, 110 military attachés and personnel, 150 civil servants, and 300 locally engaged staff of

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 8th February.—[Vol. 811, c. 32–33.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of members and ex-members of the Commonwealth giving the date of membership or withdrawal.

Members and former members are listed below with dates of membership and withdrawal:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent was the £73 million increase in the cost of imported timber and processed timber including pulp and paper between 1968 and 1970 attributable to the rise in the volume imported, and to rising prices, respectively.

Most, if not all, of the increase in the value of imports between 1968 and 1970 was due to price changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now give details of the capital reconstruction of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited.

As announced in my right hon. Friend's statement on 11th February, precise details of the capital reconstruction remain to be worked out.—[Vol. 811, c. 808–13.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what level of growth in unemployment in the north-east of England he will deem it necessary to increase Government assistance in order to speed up industrial expansion in the region.

I would refer the hon. Member to the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18th February in which he indicated the additional measures being taken to encourage industry to move to areas such as Tyneside and Wearside.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the approximate number of cars not produced by the United Kingdom automobile industry during 1970 as a result of industrial disputes in that or associated industries, and what is the ratio of this lost production to cars actually produced.

No detailed figures are available, but it is estimated that up to one-seventh of production may have been lost in 1970 as the result of disputes. A proportion of this loss would have been made good when normal working was resumed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and industry what negotiations he has held with European and other interested Governments about the liberalisation of rules governing charter flights; and whether he will make a statement.

International discussion of non-scheduled services has taken place largely in the European Civil Aviation Conference (E.C.A.C.). The United Kingdom has played a full part in this. Negotiations within E.C.A.C. have led to agreement on several kinds of non-schedule flights which may be carried out freely in Europe. These are defined in the Multilateral Agreement on Commercial Rights for non-schedule Air Services in Europe. There has also been a considerable liberalisation of inclusive tour charters, particularly in Europe.Study and discussion of the rules governing closed group affinity charter and other types of charter operations are continuing in E.C.A.C., and at need with other administrations. Outside Europe these contacts are mainly exploratory.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of complaints about aircraft noise from Leeds /Bradford Airport registered with his Department from 1st January to 26th October, 1970, inclusive.

The Department received 36 complaints. In addition, together with Department of the Environment, 51 representations were received about the noise likely to be associated with runway extension.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many aircraft noise monitoring units are used by his Department at airports in the United Kingdom; how many personnel are employed on this work; and if he will make a statement about the effect of this work in reducing the number of incidents of aircraft breaking the day and night permitted sound levels.

The Department employs 26 staff in one unit at Heathrow and 16 staff in the second unit at Gatwick. Over 99 per cent. of total departures comply with the prescribed maximum noise levels and it is only by monitoring that the number of infringements is known.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he did not propose a loan for Yarrow Limited through the Shipbuilding Industry Board; and whether there have been any precedents for similar loans to shipbuilders by his Department.

The loan to Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Limited will be made by the Ministry of Defence because of the importance of the yard for the present orders and future programme of the Royal Navy.

Reed asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what

There may be prospects for hydrocarbons in Cardigan Bay, but their actual presence has not yet been established.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the number and value of dogs exported from the United Kingdom during each of the last five years.

The information is not available, except for greyhounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what percentage of the total imports of each of the member countries of the European Economic Community is represented by timber in each of the last three years; and what were the comparable figures for the United Kingdom;(2) what was the amount of timber imported into each of the member countries of the European Economic Community in each of the last three years; and what were the comparable figures for the United Kingdom.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why it is his policy to await the outcome of negotiations with the European Economic Community before announcing the Government's intentions following their review of the need for hallmarking legislation.

Given the progress of the review, it is unlikely that the Government's conclusions can be formulated before the second half of this year. Whether they will then require further consideration in the light of Britain's possible obligations as a member of the Community cannot yet be predicted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his inquiries into various oil slick dispersals carried out by his Department have now been concluded and when he expects the Report to be available.

The Department have completed experiments to develop a method of testing the effectiveness of oil dispersants at sea and have tested several dispersants. A report on the test method will be published in due course, but information about the performance of commercial products is for departmental use only.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total value of contracts placed in Northern Ireland in 1969–70 by his Department; what is the estimated value for 1970–71; and what are these figures as a percentage of the total of the United Kingdom figure.

I regret that the information is not readily available. With minor exceptions the Ministry of Aviation Supply places all contracts on behalf of this Department, but their value cannot be readily segregated from that of other contracts which the Ministry of Aviation Supply places.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether it remains the policy of his Department to impose upon all exporters a system of pre-entry recording of exports in spite of the opposition of the Association of Chambers of Commerce;(2) whether he has finally decided the form of his pre-entry scheme for exports; and if he will state his intentions on this matter;(3) what replies he has given to those organisations concerned with exports who have represented that his suggested pre-entry scheme for exports will result in many delays of the shipment of goods.

The consultations I promised to hold about the pre-entry of exports are not yet complete. I will make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those areas in Wales which are designated as special development areas.

The employment exchange areas designated as Special Development Areas in Wales are as follows:

Aberdare, Abertillery, Ammanford, Bargoed, Blackwood, Brynmawr, Cymmer, Dowlais, Ebbw Vale.

Ferndale, Garnant, Maesteg, Merthyr Tydfil, Mountain Ash, Neath, Newbridge, Pontardawe, Pontlottyn.

Pontyclun, Pontypridd, Resolven, Tonypandy, Tonyrefail, Tredegar, Treharris, Treorchy, Ystalyfera, Ystrad Mynach.

Reed asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will adopt an open bidding system for the allocation of exploration and exploitation rights of United Kingdom shelf oil resources in newly designated areas.

As I told my hon. Friend in reply to his Question on 16th February, we expect shortly to make an announcement which will include details of the terms and conditions on which new areas will be offered.—[Vol. 811, c. 411–12.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many tourists came to Great Britain in each of the last 10 years;(2) how much revenue Great Britain received from tourism in each of the last 10 years.

Following is the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the criteria upon which he determined the employment exchanges to be included in the West Central Scotland Special Development Area.

A number of factors were taken into account. These included the level and character of the unemployment in the areas, their present industrial structure and future prospects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state which areas, which were designated as growth points in Scotland in 1963, have not been included in the new West Central Scotland Special Development Area.