asked the Secretary of State for Wales what sums of public money have been spent on the clearance of derelict land in Wales in each of the last five years; and what is the estimated expenditure during the current year and for the next four years.

Figures of total expenditure on derelict land clearance are not readily available, but total grant payments in each of the last five financial years 1966–67 to 1970–71 to the nearest £1,000 were:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a transcript of discussions he has had with Lord Crowther on the possible impact of the report of the Crowther Committee upon the powers of local authorities in Wales.

No, I talked to Lord Crowther about my local government reorganisation proposals, and he expressed his opinion that they need not be delayed on account of the Commission's deliberations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will give the newly elected councils in Wales an extended period to consider his proposals for the reform of local government in Wales; and whether in view of the changed representation he will discuss his proposals afresh.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Roderick).

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the impact on the Welsh labour market of the free movement, in search of employment, of the nationals of European Economic Community countries assuming that Great Britain joins the Common Market.

No precise estimate can be made. It is not thought that the impact would be significant.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if it is his intention to introduce a winter work programme this year; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are keeping a close watch on the employment situation and outlook in Wales, including the situation in the construction industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to complete his further consultations on the staffing of the Accident Unit at the Haverfordwest Hospital.

As I told my hon. Friend in my answer to him on 3rd May, I am seeking the views of the Advisory Committee on Consultant Establishments on whether the doctor in charge of the Accident and Emergency Unit at Haverfordwest Hospital should be of consultant status. I cannot say when consultations on this will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what agricultural and forestry establishments, respectively, in Wales he has visited officially during the past month; and whether he will make a statement.

I have not paid any official visits to agricultural or forestry establishments in Wales during this particular period. I see no reason to make a statement.

asked the Attorney-General if he will seek powers to ensure greater uniformity in fines imposed by magistrates on the basis that such fines are related to the means of those upon whom fines are imposed and further that the level of fines are not determined solely by the geographical area of the court.

No. My noble Friend does not propose to interfere in the exercise by magistrates of their discreation within the statutory limits laid down by Parliament. One of these limits is Section 31 of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1952, which requires a magistrates' court, in fixing the amount of a fine

"to take into consideration among other things the means of the person on whom the fine is imposed so far as they appear or are known to the Court".

asked the Attorney-General what changes he proposes to make to ensure a more balanced representation of local communities in membership of magistrates' benches.

None.The present system, which is based on the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1948 and has been carried on with improvements by successive Lord Chancellors, is designed for precisely this object and achieves it. My noble Friend and his Advisory Committees are always open to suggestions for improvement, either of principle or detail, and will gladly consider them. The same is true of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked the Attorney-General if he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions the activities of the Julian Press in sending unsolicited sexual advertising through the post, details of which have been sent to him.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has formed the opinion, with which I agree, that under the law at present in force prosecution in respect of the distribution of these leaflets would not succeed. The Unsolicited Goods and Services Act will come into force on 12th August. I will then ask the Director to reconsider the position.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the absence of statistics concerning the number of cases settled at the door of the court, he will issue instructions that in future such records be kept, in order that the business of the courts may be regulated accordingly.

I see difficulties in defining with precision the statistics sought by the hon. and learned Member. However, from 1st January, 1972, records will be kept distinguishing between cases which are tried, those which are settled and those which are otherwise disposed of.

asked the Attorney-General what recent action he has taken or intends taking with the object of reducing the cost of litigation in general and of High Court cases in particular.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his Question of 5th April.—[Vol. 815, c. 51.]

asked the Attorney-General whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain why, in the knowledge that the police were aware that Mr. W. Ross Wright of Pinnock Limited was resident and available for extradition from Australia, the Director of Public Prosecutions made an announcement which enabled Mr. W. Ross Wright to flee from Australia to a country where extradition facilities are not in operation; and why, before making such an announcement, the Director of Public Prosecutions did not issue a warrant for this man's arrest and deportation from Australia.

At the time when the Director of Public Prosecutions stated that he did not intend to take any action at this stage, neither he nor the police were aware of Mr. Ross Wright's whereabouts. That remains the position. Mr. Ross Wright's whereabouts have not been known to the Director or the police since 1967. If the hon. Member has any information, I hope that he will immediately give it to the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the European Free Trade Association Governments on proposals to grant duty-free entry for footwear from developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will discuss with the United States of America and Japanese Governments the problem of duty-free entry of footwear, so that there will be a common policy between each of these two countries and Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will discuss with the United States and Japanese Governments the problem of duty-free entry of footwear, with a view to reaching a common policy between each of these two countries and Great Britain.

There have been full discussions in the O.E.C.D. about the proposed schemes of generalised preferences for developing countries. Footwear is included in the offers of the United Kingdom and some other countries, subject to various arrangements to provide safeguards under certain conditions for domestic industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent he estimates, on any possible con- ditions of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, the duty-free entry of footwear from the countries of the Six will affect the British footwear industry in this country.

It is not possible to make exact estimates but the removal of tariff barriers will stimulate trade in both directions and offer the British industry opportunities which it would welcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the recent meeting at Washington, which representatives of his Department attended, between a European Civil Aviation Committee delegation, the Civil Aeronautics Board, Department of Transportation and the State Department, which discussed regulations governing charter flights across the North Atlantic.

The United States is proposing that charter services should be regulated by bilateral agreements between Governments as scheduled services are now. The meeting explored the American ideas and allowed a first exchange of views between those with a major interest in North Atlantic traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of recent actions by his Department in regard to the bona fides of Affinity Group Charter Flight passengers, he now intends to review the regulation of Affinity Group Charter services.

I have been reviewing the situation for some little time, but, as I have explained on several occasions, changes cannot be made quickly in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inspections were carried out during 1971 into the eligibility of passengers embarking on group charter flights; how many passengers were refused permission to board aircraft; what are the minimum requirements for the acceptance of passengers under charter-flight arrangements; and how many warnings have been issued or notices of intended prosecution served on organisations, individuals and firms seeking to evade the requirements of approved periods of membership prior to travel.

Two such inspections have been carried out as a result of which the airline concerned refused to carry 112 passengers on one flight and 46 on the other. The requirements are set out in Schedule 1 (Category B) of the Civil Aviation (Licensing) Regulations, 1964. I have no comprehensive figures of the number of warnings given in 1971 but proceedings have been commenced in four cases and I am considering what action to take in a number of other cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the occasions during the last 12 months when his Department has had to act against independent airlines with a view to checking whether all passengers on their group charter flights were bona-fide members of clubs which entitled them to cheaper charter airline fares; what flights were affected; which airlines were involved; what steps he intends to take to stop this practice; and what strictures have been applied or imposed on the airlines and clubs involved.

The Department has made a detailed check of passengers on affinity group charter flights operated by independent airlines three times in the last 12 months. All three flights were from Gatwick to New York. The first was a B.U.A. flight on charter to the Cinematic Arts Club; the other two were Laker Airways flights on charter to the European Emigrant Families Association and the Left Hand Club. One summons has been served, and I am considering what action to take on the other two cases. I shall continue to take such measures as appear to be necessary to deal with breaches of the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the practice of illegally exploiting the six-month rule of club membership for group charter flights is evident to his Department; and if he will specify how many airlines and clubs have been warned in any way by his Department during the last 12 months.

I am aware that many clubs which charter aircraft are not always careful to see that passengers conform to the six-month rule and that there have been instances of gross abuse. Airline, both British and foreign, are warned if checks by the Department show that an infringement has taken place and are also altered to possible irregularities on flights which have not been checked. I have no comprehensive record of all such warnings. It is not my practice to warn clubs since these are not regulated directly under present arrangements. I am considering what further steps to take in addition to those envisaged in Clause 26 of the Civil Aviation Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his proposed levying duty for cotton textiles from India will come into effect; and if such duty will be terminated as part of the duty free quota allowed in the European Economic Community if Great Britain becomes a member.

As I informed the hon. Member on 17th May, the duty on imports into the United Kingdom of cotton goods from India and from other Commonwealth countries is due to come into effect on 1st January next. It is too early to say how our arrangements would be assimilated to those of the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what, for the latest convenient stated period, have been the United Kingdom's foreign exchange earnings from shopping expeditions from France and the Benelux countries; and what estimate he has made of the effect on this trade of United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community.

I cannot give an exact figure but I doubt if the amount was more than £1 million out of the total expenditure of £44 million by all visitors from these countries in 1970. I have made no estimate of the kind asked for in the econd part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give an assurance that the policy of awarding industrial development certificates will be continued in the event of United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community.

There are no grounds for thinking that the operation of the i.d.c. system would be affected by entry into the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in his review of the hallmarking law, he will include the administration of assay offices.

Yes. When we have established the desirable details of a reformed law on compulsory hallmarking, we shall consider what provisions can best enable the assay offices to play their proper part in operating it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement about the position of the RB211 engine, in view of contractual arrangements now made between Lockheed Aviation and Rolls Royce (1971) Limited.

I have nothing to add to what I told the House on 10th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what pro vision for indication of country of origin on imported items of clothing he proposes to make after the expiry of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.

Requests for new origin marking Orders for certain types of clothing are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he now proposes to take to ensure that the consumer is made aware of the fact that goods purchased have been manufactured outside the United Kingdom when this is the case; whether he will make regulations to mark country of origin, or whether of foreign or Commonwealth manufacture where appropriate; and if he will list those countries which now demand country of origin on goods, or invoices, for all imported goods.

Our existing origin marking requirements lapse automatically on 30th November. We shall be prepared to impose new ones under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, where we are satisfied in particular cases that origin information would really help the consumer to select the goods best suited to his needs. However, our experience to date in considering specific proposals suggests that this criterion will rarely be satisfied, outside the field of foodstuffs. Ten countries require origin marking on all imported goods; many more require it in import invoices, but this is not in order to inform consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what con sultations he is having with British European Airways about its aircraft supply programme over the next 15 years.

I am in regular touch with British European Airways about its aircraft requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice is given to those trading overseas regarding the expression of opinions in the Press or otherwise by their employees on foreign societies and Governments.

None. This is a matter for the firms concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to halt the decline in employment in the paper and board industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware of the growth of unemployment in the paper-making and board-making industry, and of the closure of mills and the general contraction of this industry, at a time of increasing demand, now largely met by Scandinavian imports; and what steps he is taking to increase the level of domestic production in this industry.

We have had several discussions with the industry about its problems, and I have written to it describing the action which will now be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to improve the standard of safety of the United Kingdom's civil air transport operations.

The Department and the Air Registration Board, with the cooperation of the industries, are constantly building on experience to improve requirements and procedures in all matters affecting air safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit house-to-house salesmen selling goods made or marketed by commercial undertakings purporting to be sold on behalf of or in the interest of disabled or handicapped persons unless such goods are sold on behalf of a recognised charitable body.

No. The activities of house-to-house traders who claim that disabled persons are employed in the production, preparation or packing of goods or that disabled people benefit from the sale of such goods are subject to the control of the Trading Representations (Disabled Persons) Act, 1958, which is administered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the evidence submitted to his Department, he will take steps to reduce the service fees for Board of Trade life jackets, which have been increased by 950 per cent., in view of the damage done to the export trade orders.

The increase is part of a general increase in marine survey fees to ensure full recovery of costs in accord- ance with Government policy. I am ready to consider any evidence submitted to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he is making towards agreeing a scheme of arrangement between the creditors of Rolls-Royce Limited, the receiver and manager of Rolls-Royce Limited and the Board of Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited.

It is not for the Government to arrange such a scheme. I doubt whether the idea now remains a practical possibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated value of the goodwill, work in progress, and research and development incurred by Rolls-Royce Limited on the RB211; and what price Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited will pay for these assets

The prices to be paid for the assets acquired by Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited from the receiver will be settled by negotiation between the parties. While these negotiations are in progress it would not be right for me to attempt to answer detailed questions of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now list the companies, subsidiary and steel-making activities, other than bulk steel manufacturers, of the British Steel Corporation which could be hived- off completely or merged with private enterprise companies, to make independent commercially viable production units; and what estimate he has made of the cash which would be generated in this way by means of the sale of these capital assets, to make a contribution towards the capital requirements at home and abroad for bulk steel manufacture.

I am not yet in a position to add to the statement my right hon. Friend made on 27th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has now reached a conclusion in relation to the consideration of cutting import tariff charges on foreign cars.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing which industries enjoy tariff protection, and indicate the extent of the protection in each case.

Complete tables are published in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Tariff and Overseas Trade Classification, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what percentage West Germany increased exports to the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 1971 compared with the percentage increase of United Kingdom exports to West Germany.

United Kingdom imports from and exports to West Germany were 27 per cent. and 4 per cent. higher, than in the first quarter of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what have been the changes in industrial production for each month since June 1970.

I have been asked to reply.The percentage changes in the index of industrial production compared with the previous month are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the quantity of steel scrap exported in the years 1967 to 1970, respectively, and the figures for 1971 to the latest available date.

Figures for iron and steel scrap for 1967 to 1969 are published in Volume I of the Annual Statement of Trade for the relevant years, and for 1970 and January to March, 1971, in the Overseas Trade Statistics for December, 1970, and March, 1971, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much steel was imported in 1969 to 1971 to the latest available date.

4·9 million tons of ingots, semi-finished and finished steel from January, 1969, to March, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to provide fuel for domestic heating to retirement pensioners at concessionary rates during the coming winter.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 19th May.—[Vol. 817, c. 314.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many passengers, of what nationalities, and scheduled for what destinations, were accommodated aboard Britannia Airways Charter Flight BY 8405 which left Luton Airport for Kuala Lumpur at 12.40 on Tuesday, 18th May, 1971; to what organisations those passengers belonged; how many of those passengers were members of the Malaysian Cultural Society (U.K.); and how many of those members of the Malaysian Cultural Society (U.K.) had held their membership for a minimum of six months before 18th May, 1971.

The information is not available within the Department, but Britannia Airways is being asked to provide it and I will write to my hon. Friend when the information becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the steps his Department has taken since June, 1970, to cut back the services and finances which were assisting British firms to export.

Since June, 1970, the Government have been concerned with the need to stabilise expenditure on export promotion assistance to British firms and to make it more cost effective. We have accordingly established limits to the expenditure on trade promotion in the current financial year. For missions the financial limit this year is £650,000, and as from 1st June assistance for outward missions will be limited to 50 per cent. of the air fare in general. We have also rationalised the Export Marketing Research and Group Export Representation Schemes and have limited assistance under them to 33⅓ per cent. of the cost of approved market research.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he anticipates his proposed British Export Board will be constituted; what savings in finance are expected; and what is its likely total cost to Her Majesty's Government.

We hope to appoint the chairman as soon as possible and thereafter the other members of the board. It is expected to be fully operational by January, 1972. The rationalisation which we will be able to achieve under the new organisation's arrangements will yield some savings but I am not as yet in a position to give a precise figure. I expect the total cost of the work of the new board, subject to any savings that are made, to be about £11 million, including staff costs and overheads.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many British National Export Council staff are likely to be made redundant as a result of his recent statement on the reorganisation of Government-financed export activities; how they are to be compensated; and at what total cost.

These are matters which we are currently discussing with the B.N.E.C. and which remain to be decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the persons and organisations he consulted, giving times and dates, before he announced his planned reorganisation of of the British National Export Council and export services on 11th May, 1971.

We began consultations in November, 1970, with the B.N.E.C. We consulted the main representative bodies of industry in the early months of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many protests he has received, and from whom as a result of his announced curtailment of Government finance for export missions and his plans to abolish the present British National Export Council.

A number of questions have been tabled by hon. Members about the changes in the missions scheme, which B.N.E.C announced in April. Other people, including mission sponsors, have written to the Department direct on particular points. We have only had a few letters about the change in the organisation of export promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all the export organisations, services and Government Departments that will be affected by his recent announced plans to reorganise the export activities of the British National Export Council and to set up the British Export Board.

The export promotion work hitherto carried out by the D.T.I. and the B.N.E.C. separately will come under the British Export Board, which will be concerned with the overall direction of the Government effort in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many civil servants of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office he estimates will be required to staff the British Export Board.

I estimate that the existing complement of Department of Trade and Industry staff engaged on export promotion work, about 1,200, will be sufficient. There are also 821 staff, both United Kingdom based and locally engaged, employed on trade promotion work in embassies and consulates abroad. This latter number excludes clerks and typists.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the high level of unemployment in Wales, he has made a reappraisal of the number of jobs in prospect for 1972–73 and 1974; how many of these are industrial jobs for men; how many are industrial jobs for women; and if he will make a statement.

25,200 jobs are expected to arise in Wales within the next four years in authorised new industrial buildings and existing buildings taken over by manufacturing industry. Of these, 17,800 are for males and 7,400 for females. It is not possible to make reliable estimates for periods shorter than four years ahead. The Government's policies are designed to put the economy on a sounder basis so as to encourage development and provide extra employment in Wales and elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support he is giving to the proposals made to him by European Governments for the provision of new aeronautical satellites; and whether he is satisfied with existing facilities in this field.

The U.K. is playing a full part, in co-operation with its partners in the European Space Conference, in carrying out the Aeronautical Satellite Programme agreed in Brussels in July, 1970. The existing facilities are adequate for the existing air traffic, but improvements are continually necessary to keep pace with increased traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much is being spent by his Department in 1971 on advertising and other promotional activity designed to interest industrialists in the development areas; and if he will give the corresponding figures for the previous seven years.

The provision for the financial year 1971–72 is £203,800. £45,725 of this has been committed to date. Expenditure in previous years was:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and industry (1) whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that all life insurance policies for over £1,000 sum assured are valid only if they are contracted through recognised insurance bodies, or qualified professional advisers who owe a professional responsibility to the insured;(2) whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that insurance agents employed by or commissioned by insurance companies are declared to be agents of the company and to ensure that the company is responsible for all their representations in the cause of their employment.

These suggestions will be taken into account in the review to which my right hon. Friend referred on 10th March in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South West (Mr. Boardman).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that declining match consumption in the United Kingdom has already caused a number of match factories to be closed in the past few years; and why, in these circumstances, he has recently permitted an increased quota for the importation of matches from Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Matches can be imported without restriction from all sources other than the eastern area. Imports of matches from Czechoslovakia and Poland in 1970 accounted for less than 10 per cent. of total imports. The small increases in quotas granted to Poland and Czechoslovakia were in accordance with our policy of relaxing discriminatory restrictions wherever this is possible and bearing in mind our export prospects to the countries concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the names of the gas fields in the British sector of the North Sea which contain helium.

The West Sole, Leman Bank, Indefatigable, Viking and Rough fields each contain a very small amount of helium.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the chemical composition of the natural gas derived from the mineral gas fields in the British sector of the North Sea.

The gas so far discovered in the British sector of the North Sea contains a very high proportion of methane.The precise composition of the gas varies from field to field but commercial considerations require the details to be kept confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the quantity of helium imported into the United Kingdom for each of the past five years, the value thereof, and the cost in dollars.

Helium is not separately distinguished in the trade statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the principal industrial uses of helium in the United Kingdom; and what he estimates will be the United Kingdom annual requirements by 1975.

The main industrial uses of helium in the United Kingdom are in metallurgy, cryogenics and gas-cooled nuclear reactors. It is not possible to estimate what the annual requirement will be in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many civil servants there are in his Department.

There were 24,550 non-industrial staff and 1,679 industrial staff in post on 1st April, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number and designation of the officials in his Department above the rank of Assistant Secretary;(2) if he will publish the salary scales of the officials in his Department above the rank of Assistant Secretary.

The information requested in relation to 1st April, 1971, is contained in Table II of the Appendix to Class IV, Vote 1 of the Supply Estimates 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many technical and scientific advisers he has in his Department; what are their qualifications; and if he will list the parts of his Department where they are currently engaged.

There are two posts with the title of Scientific Adviser in the Department of Trade and Industry—the Chief Scientific Adviser (Energy) on the industry side and the Scientific Adviser (Civil Aviation) on the civil aviation side. They are occupied respectively by Mr. E. C. Williams, M.Sc. A.M.I.E.E., and Mr. D. E. Morris, B.Sc., A.F.R.Aero.S.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had with local authorities and others in the Bournemouth area with a view to helping to provide alternative employment following recent announcements about redundancies in the aircraft industry at Hurn.

As my hon. Friend knows, I have recently met deputations from the aircraft industry in the area. The local authorities have not sought special meeting on this subject. I am aware of the views of the trades councils, and am continuing to keep a close watch on the local employment situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for industrial development certificates in the Bournemouth area he has received in the past 12 months and in the past three months; how many he has granted; and how many additional jobs are expected to result.

The number of industrial development certificates approved and the jobs expected to arise when the projects are complete and fully manned in the two periods are:—

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the British market for typewriters is met from overseas suppliers.

The proportion for the year 1970 was 83 per cent. by value, but about 70 per cent. of home production is exported.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any reference has been made by his Department to the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning tours arranged by travel agents or other bodies to the Oberammergau Festival.

Certain inquiries by the police are being made. When these inquiries are completed, a report will be sent to the appropriate authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the nature of the United Kingdom's obligation to maintain the Biera Patrol; and, in particular, whether it has the force of law and for how long it has to be maintained.

The Beira Patrol is the instrument by which the United Kingdom carries out Security Council Resolution 221 of 9th April, 1966, which imposed legal obligations. As the House knows, we are exploring the possibilities of a just settlement of the Rhodesian problem and the Beira Patrol, like other aspects of sanctions, will be maintained meanwhile.

asked the Sec retary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the numbers of staff employed in the United Kingdom's Washington, Paris and Moscow embassies, respectively; and if he is satisfied that they are adequately and economically deployed to enable Her Majesty's representatives in those embassies to represent the policies of the Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the figures I gave in my reply to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 1st March. I am satisfied that the Missions are properly staffed for the tasks they have to perform.—[Vol. 812, c. 330.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the levels of imports in value and volume into the United Kingdom from New Zealand; what are the figures for lamb and butter given separately for the years 1968, 1969, 1970; what steps he has taken to protect New Zealand exports during the Common Market negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

The value of imports from New Zealand in 1970 was £204 million of which 290,000 tons of lamb accounted for £80 million and 155,700 tons of butter accounted for £46 million; figures for earlier years are given in Volume II of the Annual Statement of Trade. The statistics called for in answer to the second part of the Question are given in the table below.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs whether he will set up a small group of bankers to report whether the proposed safeguards for Common wealth sugar will have any adverse effect on the credit-worthiness of the producer countries involved.

No. The Community's assurance is designed to safeguard all aspects of the problems of the developing Commonwealth Sugar Agreement countries. The offer of association together with the specific reference to sugar, provide a basis on which quantities exported, prices and levels of employment may be safeguarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the pro posed safeguards for Commonwealth sugar extend to Swaziland as well as the other countries named.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs to what extent he estimates that the assurances given under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement that, if Great Britain joins the European Economic Community, Her Majesty's Government cannot be committed to continuing contractual obligations after 31st

The linked offers of assurances on sugar and options under the 1963 Declaration of Intent now made by the Community exceed in certain respects the commitment under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement. Not only are they designed to cover all factors relevant to future sugar production, such as quantities, prices and employment. They also afford access to the markets of the enlarged Community for other products. There will of course be full consultation with Governments of developing Commonwealth Sugar Agreement countries about the Community's declaration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimates he has made of the effect of the latest agreement reached in Brussels with the European Economic Community on United Kingdom imports of sugar from the Commonwealth on the provision of aid by the United Kingdom to developing countries.

I have no reason to believe that additional aid will be required as a result of this agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has negotiated safeguards to prevent any expansion of sugar beet production in an enlarged European Economic Community which would adversely affect the interests of commonwealth cane sugar producers after 1974.

Levels of sugar beet production in an enlarged Community will be governed by the Community's regulations, as they are in the present Community. The relevant provisions are reviewed annually and it would be reason able to expect the review to take account of the Community's assurances on sugar from developing Commonwealth countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of the official luncheon held by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in Brussels on 11th May for the Foreign Ministers of the Six; and what was the purpose of the function.

The cost of the luncheon was £194.59. It provided an opportunity for valuable informal discussions at an important juncture in the European Economic Community negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place in the Library the full text of the public statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in Brussels on Tuesday 11th May, 1971, concerning the nature of the discussions between the United Kingdom negotiators and their counterparts from the Six.

No. I made no public statement on 11th May, but as is customary in the course of the day I gave two briefings to journalists which covered developments during the day in the discussions on sugar. The full texts of my statements in the negotiating conference are of course confidential, but on 17th May on my return from Brussels and Reykjavik I reported fully to the House on the previous week's negotiating meetings with the European Economic Community.—[Vol. 817, c. 882–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT full and detailed information showing to what extent the public proposals of the Ministers of the European Economic Community in Brussels on 11th May concerning Commonwealth sugar differed from those made by the Commission in November, 1970.

No.Proposals made by the Commission were to the Council of Ministers of the Community; these are confidential as are the details of the proposals put to Her Majesty's Government by the Community in the negotiating conference. The nature of the Community's proposals on Commonwealth sugar and Her Majesty's Government's reaction to them, were dealt with in my statement to the House on 17th May.—[Vol. 817, c. 882–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that confidential information regarding the Brussels negotiations is given to the Press, radio and television, by representatives of Her Majesty's Government; and whether he will reconsider his methods of informing Parliament about these talks in the light of these leaks.

Arrangements for briefing Press, radio and television correspondents during the Ministerial negotiating meetings with the European Economic Community follow standard procedures. I am not aware of any leaks attributable to representatives of Her Majesty's Government. I see no reason to vary my practice of making a statement to the House, as I did on 17th May, as soon as it is possible after each Ministerial negotiating meeting.—[Vol. 817, c. 882–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the event of Parliament approving the instruments of accession to the Treaties of the Communities, he will propose in the accompanying legislation that the House of Commons should be able to renounce membership on behalf of the United Kingdom at any future date.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish an official translation of the assurance given by the European Economic Community relating to the interests of the sugar-producing countries of the developing Commonwealth.

As I told the House in my statement on 17th May, the Community declared that it would have as its firm purpose the safeguarding of the interests of the existing associate states of the Community and of those Commonwealth countries to whom the alternatives in the Community's Declaration of Intent

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the tonnage of sugar grown, and the tonnage of sugar exported, for the years 1960 to 1970, by the Commonwealth Caribbean islands for whom special arrangements are being sought in the negotiations with the European Economic Community.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will lodge a protest with the Soviet Embassy at the detention and assault of British citizens upon the embassy premises by embassy staff and the theft of property by the embassy staff which they allege to belong to demonstrators at the embassy.

No. As I suggested in my reply to a related question by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) on 19th May, I cannot agree with the assumption on which this Question is based.—[Vol. 817, c. 314.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he made an apology to the Soviet Embassy following incidents involving embassy officials and British citizens without calling for a full inqury into the allegations that embassy staff assaulted persons seeking Soviet visas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 18th May to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis.—[Vol. 817, c. 277.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent Her Majesty's Government have already taken, or are proposing to take, action on the lines suggested by the resolution adopted unanimously by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 108th session in Caracas in April on the problem of international drug traffic, a copy of which has been sent to him; particularly, what action has been taken to implement the decisions of the United Nations Commission on narcotic drugs; and if he will make a statement.

The terms of the Council's resolution are acceptable to the Government with one reservation. The high priority given to the subject of drug misuse and trafficking in this country will be demonstrated by the passage this Session of the Misuse of Drugs Bill. The Bill will enable new initiatives to be taken on the lines suggested by the Inter-Parliamentary Council. All the decisions so far taken by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs have been implemented by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a statement on Great Britain's performance in 1970 under the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 1 per cent. target.

The following are the provisional figures for 1970, which are subject to the reservations given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the facilities of British diplomatic missions have been made available to United Kingdom residents of Pakistan origin anxious to inquire after the safety of relatives in East Bengal; and whether any distinction is made between citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies and others in this respect.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has handled numerous inquiries about United Kingdom nationals in East Pakistan, including many of Pakistan origin. Our representatives in Pakistan have of course no formal standing to make inquiries about Pakistan citizens. As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member on 17th May, that must be a function of the Pakistan High Commissioner in London. The High Commissioner has now personally assured me that he welcomes inquiries about Pakistan citizens in East Pakistan, from whatever quarter they may come.—[Vol. 817. c. 868–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Emperor Hirohito is to make his State visit to Great Britain.

From 5th to 8th October this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters he has received concerning the State visit of the Emperor Hirohito of Japan; and what replies he has sent.

Nine. All have received replies. The nature of the reply has depended on the letter. Japan's increasing influence in world affairs and the repeated friendly contacts in recent years between members of our own and the Japanese Royal Families are two points common to most replies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he considers that Great Britain will be able to renounce its derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights in respect of Northern Ireland.

We will be able to withdraw this notice of derogation when we are satisfied that the situation in Northern Ireland no longer requires it to be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the security of British interests and property in Tanzania and the possible question of compensation following the passage of the Nationalisation Act in that country, and on the outcome of recent representations by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Tanzania on this issue.

A number of buildings partly or wholly owned by United Kingdom nationals have been compulsorily acquired by the Tanzania Government under the recently passed Acquisition of Buildings Act. Her Majesty's Government have therefore sought an assurance from the Tanzania Government that, in accordance with the well-established principles of international law, prompt, adequate and effective compensation will be paid in respect of the United Kingdom interest in any building which is acquired under the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that Northern Ireland will be able to retain its Safeguarding of Employment Act in the event of United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community.

I have been asked to reply.I am in close consultation with the Northern Ireland Government about the Safeguarding of Employment (Northern Ireland) Act but I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the effects of United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community on the constitution of Northern Ireland.

I have been asked to reply.None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the powers of the Northern Ireland Government which would be liable to be modified by entry into the European Economic Community.

I have been asked to reply.As the powers of the Northern Ireland Government derive from Westminster the only effects on them of the United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community would be consequential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to further the cause of human rights through existing international agencies in European countries with regard to Spain, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Poland, Russia and Portugal, where political, ethnic and religious minorities are persecuted.

The only international agency based in Europe of which the United Kingdom is a member and which deals specifically with Human Rights is the Council of Europe, under whose auspices the European Convention on Human Rights was concluded in 1950. The countries mentioned are not members of the Council of Europe and are not eligible, therefore, to be parties to that Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he now expects to publish his report on the review of Industrial Training Boards; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend hopes to publish a consultative document in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make an order forthwith to give effect to the increase in the statutory minimum rates for the Retail Draper, Outfitting and Footwear Trades Wages Council (GB) as confirmed by the Council at its meeting on 6th April.

The necessary wages regulation order was made on 19th May.