asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is a condition of the stabilisation arrangements for bacon curers that foreign pigmeat put into cure will not qualify for this support.

No; but if the quantity of imported pigmeat put into cure were to reach substantial figures, my right hon. Friend would consider whether to recommend to the House a change in the Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the required qualifications, in terms of minimum weekly bacon production, to be approved as a bacon curer by his Department; and what is the minimum weekly bacon production required before stabilisation payments are made to bacon curers.

There is no qualifying level of production for registration as a bacon curer, and so for receipt of bacon curing stabilisation payments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give his reasons for expecting a reduced price to the consumer for liquid milk if Great Britain should sign the Treaty of Rome.

The return to the Milk Marketing Boards for milk sold for liquid consumption is already above the target price in the European Economic Community. Under our present system increases in the retail price of milk are necessary in order to finance the guarantee and the Milk Marketing Boards receive a high return for milk sold for liquid consumption and a low return for milk sold for manufacture into milk products. If the United Kingdom were to be a member of the European Economic Community, the United Kingdom milk producer would receive during the transitional period an increasing return for milk sold for manufacture and the need for increases in the price of liquid milk to the consumer would be removed or reduced. Liquid milk is generally cheaper in the European Economic Community than in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a comparison between the current price of liquid milk in the United Kingdom and each of the Common Market countries, taking into account the latest price review.

Precise comparison of retail prices of liquid milk between countries is difficult because of differences in quality, packaging and service. The following prices from official sources however, give a broad indication of relative levels in January, 1971—October, 1970 in the case of Italy:

			Retail price per pint New pence
United Kingdom	…	…	5*
Belgium	…	…	4†
France	…	…	4†
Germany	…	…	5
Italy	…	…	5½
Netherlands	…	…	4
* Following the 1971 Annual Review Award the maximum retail price will be increased by ½p at the beginning of July, 1971.
† Price increases have been announced recently by the French and Belgian Governments. At the beginning of April the retail price of milk rose by 0·38p and 0·21p per pint in France and Belgium respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give up to date figures, from information available to him from international sources, comparing United Kingdom guaranteed prices for barley, pigs, fat cattle and milk with the target and intervention prices in the European Economic Community, taking into account the increased prices offered under the 1971 Annual Price Review and the recent increases agreed in Brussels for European Economic Community farmers.

The information is as follows:

U.K. prices for 1971–72 guarantee years		E.E.C. prices for 1971–72 marketing seasons
BARLEY (£ per cwt.) (July-June for U.K., August-July for E.E.C.)
Guaranteed price	1·45	Target price (Duisberg)	…	2·12 (a)
		Basic intervention price (Duisberg) (b)	…	1·95 (a)
CATTLE (£ per live cwt.) (April-March)
Guaranteed price	12·35	Guide price	…	15·24 (c)
		Intervention price	…	(d)
PIGS (£ per score deadweight) (April-March. 1971–72 for U.K., November-October, 1970–71 for E.E.C.)
Basic guaranteed price (subject to feed formula and flexible guarantee arrangements)	2·93	Basic price	…	2·92
		Intervention price	…	2·48–2·69
MILK (p per gallon) (April-March)
Guaranteed price (linked to a standard quantity)	22·1	Target price (farm-gate equivalent)	…	20·5
		Intervention price (e)	…	19·8

NOTES:(

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the comparative current average prices of main food items in the United Kingdom and in the European Economic Community countries.

Precise comparison of retail food prices in various countries is difficult because of differences in product definition, quality and systems of

RETAIL PRICES OF MAIN FOODSTUFFS IN THE UNITFD KINGDOM AND THE E.E.C. JANUARY, 1971
Pence per lb. (except for milk and eggs)
	United Kingdom	Belgium	France	West Germany	Italy*	Netherlands
MEAT
Beef	46½	76½	66	52	65	62
	(sirloin, boneless)	(steak)	(steak)	(hind, boneless)	(boneless)	(roasting)
Pork	35	44	27½	42	59	42½
	(loin, with bone)	(rib chop)	(rib)	(chop)	(boneless)	(rib chop)
Chickens (oven ready, for roasting).	21	25½	20	19½	n.a.	23
	(fresh or chilled)
MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS
Milk (per pint)	5	4	4	5	5½	4
Butter	18½	40½	43	39	50½	38½
	(New Zealand)
	21½
	(Danish)
Cheese	20½	30	43	46	n.a.	32
	(Cheddar type)	(various types)	(Emmenthal)	(Emmenthal)		(Gouda matured)
Margarine	12	12	15½	14	n.a.	12½
	(Standard)					(Vegetable)
Eggs (per dozen)	23	31½	29½	28½	34	20
	(Standard)
Bread	5½	5	7½	7	6½	5
	(white)		(average of Baguette & Parisien)	(dark, mixed)		(brown)
Sugar	4	7	5½	6	7½	6

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest available figure for the number of acres of apples, pears and peaches grubbed up in the European Economic Community; and what is the comparable figure for the United Kingdom.

The only published information of which I am aware is that by October, 1970, applications covering 11,268 acres of apple, pear and peach trees had been received in European Economic Community countries under the grubbing-up scheme introduced in December, 1969. No comparable figure is available for the United Kingdom, as the orchard-grubbing grants paid in this country are related to grubbing costs and not to acreage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can forecast the demand/supply situation for hard-topped fruit in the event of the United Kingdom becoming a member of the European Economic Community, and in the event of membership of the European Economic Community being enlarged by Norway, Denmark and the Republic of Ireland.

It is not possible to make detailed forecasts of market conditions which might obtain in the event of entry into the Community by the United Kingdom and the other applicant countries. The Community recognises that at present it has a structural surplus of apples and pears, and it is taking steps to bring this over-supply under con- trol. The elimination of internal barriers to trade is expected to result in further supplies from within the Community being available here, with lower prices during their marketing season and some stimulation of demand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ask John Hudson Limited not to proceed with its plan to dump industrial wastes in the North Sea, in accordance with its agreement with his Department, until the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution has completed its study on marine pollution, and until there has been time for Government Departments to analyse the findings.

No. Applications from this firm to dispose of waste at sea are at present being considered by my Department as part of the voluntary arrangements for disposals outside the three mile territorial limit. All applications are scientifically evaluated, and agreement is given only to methods and areas of disposal which will avoid harm to fisheries and the marine environment generally.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many craft apprentices are being trained in Rosyth Dockyard from other Ministry of Defence, Navy, establishments in Scotland; and if he will give details.

51, as follows:

The Clyde Submarine Base, Faslane	21
Armament Depot	12
N.C.R.E., Dunfermline	10
Other naval establishments	8

asked the Minister of State for Defence what reduction in the intake of craft apprentices to Rosyth Dockyard there will be in 1971 compared with the years 1969 and 1970.

The total entries in 1969 and 1970 for naval establishments were 229 and 186 respectively. The planned total entry for 1971 is 127. Entries in recent years have been inflated to build up the labour force for the nuclear refitting task. This build-up is now past its peak and entries have reverted to a more normal level.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many local applications were received for craft apprenticeships at Rosyth Dockyard in 1971, and how many of the applicants were not accepted; and if he will make a statement.

With a week to go before the closing date 477 applications have been received at Rosyth of which 417 are from Fife. The selection process will commence shortly, but past experience shows that many candidates do not pursue their applications.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many of the Rosyth Dockyard Technical College staff have not secured teaching appointments with Fife Education Authority; and how many have not the necessary qualifications to take up teaching posts with any education authority.

Fifteen of the College lecturers have not secured teaching appointments with the Fife Education Authority. Six of these have secured other appointments, and one other is temporary and age 66. Of the remaining eight, all are qualified for posts in further education and two are registered with the Scottish General Teaching Council. One of these and two others have teachers training certificates or equivalent.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when the arrangements for Fife Education Authority taking over the responsibility for the further education of civilian apprentices at Rosyth Dockyard will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

The Fife Education Authority has agreed to take over this responsibility from the beginning of the 1971–72 academic year and discussion of details involved in the transfer is now in hand between the authority and my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in view of the research work concerning the possible infective aspect of multiple sclerosis, and the general virological research which is carried out at the Medical Research Council's Demyeliminating Diseases Unit at Newcastle-on-Tyne, what prospect there is of the discovery of an effective treatment for this disease in the foreseeable future, and what extension of the work of the Newcastle-on-Tyne unit is planned.

Development of effective treatment is likely to depend upon the understanding of underlying disease processes that are as yet largely unknown. It is therefore not possible to assess the prospects of discovering such a treatment. The Council's policy is to maintain several lines of approach and to develop any which show promise of useful results. Further developments must depend on the results of current work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proportion of qualified teachers in each county education authority in England who occupy the following positions, heads of department A, B, C, D, E, and in secondary schools, the posts of head, deputy head or senior master/mistress.

It would involve disproportionate expense to produce figures for each county authority. The provisional information for England and

HEADS OF DEPARTMENT IN MAINTAINED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Grade				Heads of Departments not deputy head teachers	Percentage of all qualified teachers	Heads of Departments also deputy head teachers	Percentage of all qualified teachers	All Heads of Department	Percentage of all qualified teachers
A	…	…	…	19,312	6·2	566	0·2	19,878	6·4
B	…	…	…	13,154	4·2	281	0·1	13,435	4·3
C	…	…	…	8,371	2·7	193	0·1	8,564	2·8
D	…	…	…	4,027	1·3	113	(0·04)	4,140	1·3
E	…	…	…	1,501	0·5	20	—	1,521	0·5
Total		…	…	46,365	14·9	1,173	0·4	47,538	15·3

HEADS, DEPUTY HEADS* AND SECOND MASTER/MISTRESS IN MAINTAINED SECONDARY SCHOOLS
				Number	Percentage of all qualified teachers
Head teachers	…	…	…	5,641	1·8
Deputy head teachers*	…	…	…	5,584	1·8
2nd master/mistress	…	…	…	1,792	0·6
*Including deputy heads who are also heads of Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure upon education, excluding school meals by the West Riding County Council in each of the last three years, and the proportion of this expenditure met from local sources.

The information is as follows:

	Total Education Expenditure (excluding school meals)		Percentage of Total Net Revenue Expenditure on all Services met by the County Council
Year	…	£ million	Per cent.
1967–68	…	41·9	26·0
1968–69	…	45·0	26·2
1969–70	…	49·7	23·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the official statement which the Arts Council is making at her request.

No. My noble Friend welcomes this statement of the Arts Council's views and has noted the guidance given in the last paragraph. Not all of this was quoted in certain newspapers and I will arrange for the complete text to be made available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated cost of the principal road schemes in the preparation list at 31st March, 1971.

About £850 million, excluding schemes already transferred to the firm Roads Programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated cost of the trunk road schemes in the preparation pool at 31st March, 1971.

About £1,350 million, excluding schemes already transferred to the firm Roads Programme but including schemes expected to result from current Feasibility Studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the unemployment rate among males in each of the existing development areas in January and June, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967 and in June, 1966, 1965 and 1964.

PERCENTAGE RATES OE UNEMPLOYMENT FOR MALES IN DEVELOPMENT AREAS
			South Western	Merseyside	Northern	Scottish	Welsh
June, 1964	…	…	3·0	4·0	3·3	3·8	2·3
June, 1965	…	…	3·3	2·8	2·5	3·0	2·6
June, 1966	…	…	2·8	2·5	2·4	3·0	2·8
January, 1967	…	…	6·6	4·2	4·8	5·2	5·3
June, 1967	…	…	4·2	3·9	4·5	4·5	4·5
January, 1968	…	…	6·8	4·4	6·1	5·8	5·7
June, 1968	…	…	4·5	4·2	5·6	4·8	4·9
January, 1969	…	…	6·9	4·8	7·0	5·5	5·8
June, 1969	…	…	4·7	4·6	5·7	4·7	5·0
January, 1970	…	…	7·2	5·5	6·9	6·0	6·0
June, 1970	…	…	4·9	5·3	5·7	5·2	4·7
January, 1971	…	…	7·3	6·4	6·7	7·1	5·9

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he estimates that any increase in the work of probation officers will occur in the early stages of implementing the Children and Young Persons Act; and what plans he has in this connection.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No". Since 1st January, 1971, local authorities have taken over some of the work formerly carried out by the probation service in relation to children under the age of 10 appearing before juvenile courts. The Government intend, as resources become available, to raise by stages to 14 the age below which this work will normally be the responsibility of local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in controlling the conveyance by road of corrosive substances.

The Corrosive Substances (Conveyance by Road) Regulations, 1971 were laid before the House on 19th April. The Regulations will come into operation on 1st July next. They prescribe certain basic safety requirements to be observed during the conveyance, loading and unloading of some 120 corrosive substances, and require both vehicles and containers to be distinctly marked in a prescribed manner. Certain

Following is the information:exemptions are provided if only small quantities of corrosive substances are being carried, or if the receptacles concerned do not exceed a given size and are safely packed in a specified manner. The substances concerned are those listed in the Petroleum (Corrosive Substances) Order, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the official visit made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to The Hague on Tuesday, 20th April and his Press statement thereafter.

I attended a Western European Union meeting in The Hague, and discussed with Netherlands Ministers questions relating to the European Economic Community enlargement negotiations. Details of both the Western European Union meeting and my discussions with Netherlands Ministers are confidential. My Press statement on 20th April, covered, in broad terms, my discussions with Netherlands Ministers and after it I answered questions on the possibility of an Anglo-French summit, on Concorde, nuclear matters, sterling and European defence capability.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the fact that the Tanzanian Government has repudiated its legal and moral obligation to pay pensions to former servants of the Zanzibar Government, if he will take over immediately the responsibility of paying such pensions and deduct the money from any aid payments which may be made to Tanzainia.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 26th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Allason).—[Vol. 816, c. 23.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Norwegian Government concerning the dumping of industrial wastes in the North Sea by British companies; and what representations he proposes to make to them about the dumping of chemical wastes by Norwegian vessels in the waters overlying United Kingdom Continental Shelf territory.

On 15th April the Norwegian Government asked for information about the proposed dumping of waste in the North Sea by the British firm, John Hudson & Co. Ltd. They have been told that applications from this firm are now being considered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In assessing such applications care is taken to avoid possible harm to fisheries and the marine environment generally.We are issuing invitations to North Sea riparian States to take part in exploratory talks in London on 11th June at which the whole question of North Sea pollution will be discussed, including the dumping of waste whether by British, Norwegian and other vessels.

asked the Lord President of the Council to what extent the cost of supplying newspapers in the House of Commons for the use of Members and the staff of the House of Com- mons will rise resulting from the recently announced increases; and whether he will give details of the various increases that have taken place for the longest and most continuous period of time.

The recent increase of ½p in the price of the London evening newspapers will add a total per week of £2·77½ to the cost of providing newspapers in the House of Commons.I regret that the information sought in the second part of the Hon. Member's Question could not be provided without disproportionate expense.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many people in Great Britain live in areas where no British Broadcasting Corporation television is possible; and what percentage of these live in Wales.

The B.B.C. tells me that the figures are:

(i) about a quarter of a million.

(ii) 31 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount allocated to the Western Regional Hospital Board for its ordinary building programme for 1971–72; and how this compares with the previous five years.

Ordinary building programme allocations to the Western Regional Hospital Board for 1971–72 and the previous five years were as follows:

				£000
1966–67	…	…	…	1,778
1967–68	…	…	…	2,173
1968–69	…	…	…	2,006
1969–70	…	…	…	2,043
1970–71	…	…	…	2,534
1971–72	…	…	…	3,530

These figures include salaries of professional staff engaged on capital projects, special allocations for the relief of winter unemployment, and special supplementary allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further progress he has now made in the field of transferability of pension rights; and whether he will make a statement.

We are working on proposals for the preservation of occupational pension rights on change of employment as part of our more general review of the respective roles of State and occupational pensions; but I have no further statement to make just yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he

ENGLAND AND WALES
	1967	1968	1969	1970
Live births	832,164	819,272	797,538	784,000†
Still births	12,528	11,848	10,654	10,300†
Abortions notified:—
N.H.S. hospitals	N/A	13,606*	33,155	46,355
Others	N/A	8,650*	21,003	37,496
Estimated discharges and deaths from hospitals of N.H.S. patients, attributed to abortion:—
Therapeutic (I.C.D. 640)	N/A	20,341	N/A	N/A
Others (I.C.D. 641–645)	N/A	70,560	N/A	N/A
Deaths from all maternal causes except abortion (I.C.D. 630–639, 650–678)	139	150	120	115‡
Deaths from abortions:—
Induced for medical indications (I.C.D. 640)	1	4	10	10‡
Induced for other legal indications (I.C.D. 641)	center	1	center	—‡
Induced for other reasons (I.C.D. 642)	17	22	15	11‡
Spontaneous (I.C.D. 643)	44	12	8	7‡
Not specified as induced or spontaneous (I.C.D. 644)	11	10	2	4‡
Other (I.C.D. 645)	1	1	center	—‡
Illegitimate live births	69,928	69,806	67,041	64,700‡

NOTES:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the

Year					Syphilis	Gonorrhoea	Chancroid	Total
1967	…	…	…	…	3,473	41,008	56	44,537
1968	…	…	…	…	3,612	43,922	52	47,586
1969	…	…	…	…	3,268	50,037	56	53,361
1970	…	…	…	…		Not yet available

The corresponding figures for nongonococcal urethritis (males only) which is not statutorily defined as a venereal

They are currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of live births, still births, abortions and admissions to hospital arising from spontaneous or partial abortion, deaths due to childbirth, deaths attributable to spontaneous or partial abortion or criminal interference and of illegitimate births, in each of the years 1967 to 1970 inclusive.

Available figures are as follows:incidence of venereal disease in each of the years 1967 to 1970 inclusive.

The numbers of new cases attending clinics in England were:disease but which is sexually transmitted, were 1967, 31,884; 1968, 35,040; 1969, 40,320.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is a condition of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community that Community directives and regulations relating to the harmonisation of taxation will not be debatable in the United Kingdom Parliament, and will not be subject to prior approval by Parliament.

Proposals for regulations or directives relating to tax harmonisation are made by the Commission to the Council of Ministers. Before a decision is taken in the Council it is open to Parliaments of the Member States, and would be open to this House, to debate the issues involved. Community provisions on tax harmonisation can be adopted only by unanimous vote in the Council. Under Article 189 of the Treaty of Rome, Community regulations take direct effect in each Member State, while Community directives are binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each Member State while leaving the latter the choice of form and methods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he will not now introduce a wealth tax.

Because, among other reasons, it is my right hon. Friend's policy to reduce taxation, to simplify the tax system and to encourage personal savings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for the Mint to sell sets of decimal coins in special packs to coin collectors at the beginning of each new year of minting.

The Royal Mint are planning to issue a final £sd proof set towards the end of 1971. This will probably be followed by special sets of decimal coins but it may not be possible to issue these at the beginning of each year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost in the current year of giving relief to employees in respect of mortgage interest, contributions to life assurance, superannuation and occupational pension schemes, respectively, for both income tax and surtax.

Provisional estimates are as follows:

	Income Tax	Surtax
	£ million	£ million
Mortgage Interest	300	5
Life Assurance generally	100	nil
Pensions and superannuation schemes	80	2

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Revenue in the current year of giving relief to employers for contributions paid for the benefit of their employees for life assurance, superannuation and occupational pension schemes, respectively, for income tax, surtax and corporation tax.

Employers' ordinary annual contributions to these schemes are deductible as a business expense; the estimated additional taxes which would have been payable if employers' contributions to these schemes were not deductible in computing business profits is in the region of £300 million corporation tax, £5 million income tax and £1 million surtax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Revenue in the current year of giving relief to non-employed persons against investment income in respect of mortgage interest and life assurance.

I regret that information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the estimated total amount spent in 1970–71 by the Government to foster the development of industry in Wales.

This information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the estimated cost of the trunk road schemes in the preparation pool at 31st March, 1971.

£138 million, to which I have since added schemes to the value of £14·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the estimated cost of the principal road schemes in the preparation list at 31st March, 1971.

The estimated cost of schemes in the Principal Road Preparation List at 31st March, 1971, was £6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the total estimated commitments outstanding on 31st March last and the total estimated new commitments in 1971–72 in respect of new construction and major improvements for trunk roads and for principal roads and loans to highway authorities, respectively.

The information asked for is as follows:

	Commitments Estimated outstanding Commitments at 31.3.71 71/72
	£ million	£ million
Trunk roads (including motorways)	43·6	8·1
Principal roads	4·6	8·5
Loans to highway authorities	Nil	Nil
	48·2	16·6

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, following the announcement of the siting of the third London airport, he will now formulate a national airports policy.

The Government statement on the site and timing of the third London airport set out its broad policy on the development and use of the major airports in the South-East and adjoining areas. These airports, taken together, cater and will inevitably con- tinue to cater for by far the greater part of the nation's traffic. Given this firm base it is our intention to continue studies aimed at establishing the desirable pattern of airport development in the rest of the country. This work will be extended and developed by the Civil Aviation Authority, which will have the function of advising aerodrome owners and others on the development of aerodromes to match air services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will establish an inquiry into the stranding and abandoning of the Hull trawler "Caesar" off Iceland on Thursday, 22nd April.

We have ordered a preliminary inquiry under section 465 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, into this casualty.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had with the British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways and Caledonian Airways about the likely international repercussions of a differential pricing policy at London's airports.

None. It is for the British Airports Authority, after consultation with British and overseas airlines, to submit any proposals it may have for differential pricing. It would be a matter of judgment at the time whether any repercussions were likely to result but a scheme which did not discriminate between carriers would at least conform to our international obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total tonnage of imported coal, since the lifting of the ban, up to the latest available date and the total cost of this tonnage.

The information is given in Table III of the Overseas Trade Statistics for December, 1970, and March, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the total amounts of grants paid to industry in each of the scheduled development areas of the United Kingdom under

					Investment Grants paid under the Industrial Development Act, 1966		Grants offered per head insured employees
				L.E.A. Grants offered		Insured employees (mid 1969)	L.E.A. Grants	Investment Grants
				Financial Years 1966–71
Development areas				£ million		('000)	£	£
Northern	…	…	…	49·4	228	1,357	36	168
Merseyside	…	…	…	24·9	188·5	805	31	234
South-West	…	…	…	3·6	14·5	136	26	107
Wales	…	…	…	20·8	128·5	631	33	204
Scotland	…	…	…	42·2	232·5	1,938	22	120

NOTES:A breakdown of payments under the Local Employment Acts by development area is not readily available. The investment grant figures are on the same basis as in Table 6 of the Annual Report on investment grants for the year ending 31st March, 1970. Both the L.E.A. and investment grant figures include provisional totals for the year ending 31st March, 1971.The Question refers to the working age group in each area, which includes males between the ages of 15 and 64 years and females between the ages of 15 and 59 years. This breakdown is not available and the figures given refer to insured employees, i.e. including males and females from the age of 15 onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be able to publish the Departmental Report on the Air/Sea Helicopter Rescue Service.

It is not proposed to publish the analysis undertaken for the Department by a firm of consultants.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the Report on the Nuclear Ship Study.

The figures are as follows:

I am publishing today the Report on the Nuclear Ship Study. It concludes that nuclear merchant ships will not become economically viable in the foreseeable future and that no Government support should be made available for a nuclear ship project. I accept these conclusions, but, as recommended in the Report. I will continue to keep the technical and economic aspects of the nuclear merchant ship under review in case there are any changes to its longterm prospects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the tariff on clothing, wearing apparel and woven fabric and all textile manufacturers of vegetable fibres and not more than 50 per cent. silk or man-made fibres imported into Canada from the United Kingdom; and how this compares with the tariff applied to the European Economic Community countries;(2) what is the tariff on yarns and rovings of man-made fibres imported to Canada from the United Kingdom; and how this compares with the tariff imposed on similar imports to Canada from European Economic Community countries.

Since the information runs to several pages of print, I am sending it to the right hon. Lady.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and In- dustry what was the tariff payable on women's clothing of all cotton exported from the United Kingdom into Canada before 1st January, 1969; how this compares with the tariff payable by European Economic Community countries, and also the general tariff on countries to which it applies; and what are the comparable tariffs applicable for the years beginning 1st January, 1969, 1st January, 1970, 1st January, 1971, and 1st January, 1972, respectively.

CANADIAN TARIFF RATES FOR IMPORTS OF WOMEN'S CLOTHING MADE WHOLLY OF COTTON
Tariff Item	Description	Date	British Preferential Tariff	Most-favoured nation Tariff	General Tariff
52305–1	Clothing, wearing apparel and other articles, made from woven fabrics wholly of cotton; all textile manufactures, wholly or partially manufactured, the component fibre of which is wholly cotton, n.o.p. (not otherwise provided for).	31.12.68	24½%	24½%	35%
		1.1.69	24%	24%	35%
		1.1.70	22½%	22½%	35%
		to date
52310–1	Handkerchiefs, wholly of cotton	31.12.68	12½%	26½%	35%
		1.1.69	12½%	25½%	35%
		1.1.70 to date	12½%	22½%	35%
56805–1	Knitted garments, knitted fabrics and	31.12.68	20%	33½%	55%
	knitted goods, n.o.p.	1.1.69	20%	32%	55%
		1.1.70 to date	20%	27½%	55%
56821–1	Socks and stockings, n.o.p.	31.12.68	17½%	17½%	35%
	and per dozen pairs		—	68 cents	$1·50
		1.1.69	17½%	17½%	35%
	and per dozen pairs		—	61 cents	$1·50
		1.1.70 to date	17½%	17½%	35%
	and per dozen pairs		—	40 cents	$1·50
56830–1	Gloves and mitts of all kinds, n.o.p.	31.12.68	20%	25%	45%
		1.1.69	20%	25%	45%
		1.1.70 to date	20%	25%	45%
56910–1	Hoods and shapes, caps, bonnets	31.12.68	22½%	29%	45%
	and berets, n.o.p.	1.1.69	22½%	28%	45%
		1.1.70 to date	22½%	25%	45%
56915–1	Hats, n.o.p.	31.12.68	20%	25%	37%
	and per dozen		60 cents	80 cents	$1·20
		1.1.69	20%	25%	39%
	and per dozen		45 cents	60 cents	90 cents
		1.1.70 to date	20%	25%	45%
61905–1	Rubber clothing and clothing made	31.12.68	22%	26½%	35%
	from waterproofed cotton fabrics.	1.1.69	21½%	25½%	35%
		1.1.70 to date	20%	22½%	35%

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion, assessed by value, of United Kingdom exports to Canada enter free of tariff, are subject to up to 20 per cent. tariff, and are subject to tariffs in excess of 20 per cent., respectively; what proportion, assessed by value, of Canadian exports to the United Kingdom enter free of tariff, are subject to up to 20 per cent. tariff, and are subject

The following table gives the information required. Canadian imports from the United Kingdom are subject to the British Preferential tariff. Imports from European Economic Community countries are subject to the most-favoured-nation tariff.The Canadian Government completed their Kennedy Round reductions on 4th June, 1969. We have no information as to any changes which may be made in their tariff rates by 1st January, 1972:to tariff in excess of 20 per cent., respectively.

About 99 per cent. of Canadian imports enter the United Kingdom duty free. In 1968, the latest year for which figures are available, about 60 per cent. of United Kingdom exports to Canada entered duty free. Of the remainder, it is not possible to calculate the proportions which were subject to tariff rates up to 20 per cent. and greater than 20 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were granted in each region during the month

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES APPROVED*
1965
		March				1st Quarter
			Area% (thous. sq.ft.)	E.A.E.†			Area‡ (thous. sq.ft.)	E.A.E.†
		No.		Males	Total	No.		Males	Total
North	…	13	460	550	690	43	1,977	3,510	4,580
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	15	491	310	370	51	1,395	1,160	1,870
East Midlands	…	7	203	290	310	32	822	1,150	1,300
East Anglia	…	5	90	150	210	18	383	740	940
South East	…	34	565	640	1,030	115	2,823	2,460	3,600
South West	…	15	347	690	860	30	743	990	1,440
Wales	…	11	370	1,130	1,260	28	822	1,720	2,290
West Midlands	…	20	474	280	380	45	1,320	520	660
North West	…	24	997	780	1,290	53	2,094	2,020	3,460
Scotland	…	18	907	1,010	2,280	48	2,627	2,520	4,750

1966
		March				1st Quarter
			Area% (thous. sq.ft.)	E.A.E.†			Area‡ (thous. sq.ft.)	E.A.E.†
		No.		Males	Total	No.		Males	Total
North	…	22	861	1,080	1,950	41	1,597	2,460	3,600
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	1·6	607	180	720	42	1,388	980	1,700
East Midlands	…	12	574	210	280	31	1,029	530	760
East Anglia	…	17	1,012	1,080	1,400	36	1,600	1,540	1,950
South East	…	45	854	860	1,340	96	1,779	1,830	2,750
South West	…	15	423	440	690	35	908	880	1,450
Wales	…	9	395	600	1,290	26	1,090	1,940	3,390
West Midlands	…	18	539	270	460	64	1,502	1,410	2,020
North West	…	20	1,094	1,090	2,080	67	2,748	3,410	6,500
Scotland	…	16	701	610	1,360	50	1,612	1,980	4,200

1967
		March				1st Quarter
			Area (thous. sq.ft.)	E.A.E.†			Area (thous. sq.ft.)	E.A.E.†
		No.		Males	Total	No.		Males	Total
North	…	20	1,168	1,740	2,590	52	2,443	3,360	5,650
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	45	1,207	820	1,730	101	3,052	1,740	2,910
East Midlands	…	27	748	360	540	62	1,423	700	1,140
East Anglia	…	9	224	100	110	23	640	460	540
South East	…	58	1,411	980	1,460	180	4,637	2,490	3,330
South West	…	14	700	510	710	53	1,641	1,260	1,890
Wales	…	12	545	560	760	33	1,457	2,020	2,900
West Midlands	…	35	862	1,170	1,440	78	1,696	1,780	2,330
North West	…	43	1,142	1,060	1,600	96	3,098	2,710	3,680
Scotland	…	25	1,499	1,270	2,540	74	4,028	4,500	6,990

NOTES:

The information requested is given in the following table: