asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrialists have made application for industrial development certificates in North Lanarkshire since June, 1970; how many have received industrial development certificates; what number of jobs is expected to result therefrom; and if he will make a statement.

in the period 1st July, 1970, to 30th April, 1971, 15 industrial development certificates were issued for the North Lanarkshire group of employment exchange areas; there were no refusals. The additional employment estimated by the companies concerned to arise from these projects when fully manned is 820.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial certificates were applied for in the North-East development area in 1971 to the latest available date, and how this compares with the corresponding figure for the previous year.

In the period 1st January to 30th April, 1971, 38 industrial development certificates for projects of 10,000 sq. feet and more were issued in Durham, Northumberland and the North Riding of Yorkshire; the corresponding figure for the previous year was 53. There were no refusals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the extent of unemployment in the West Midlands, he will modify the policy of his Department in refusing industrial development certificates where permission is sought to make small additions to existing factories.

I.D.C.s for small extensions which have strong ties to the West Midlands have generally been granted. While the level of unemployment in the West Midlands is taken into account in considering i.d.c. applications, we must continue to give priority to the assisted areas with high and persistent unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were applied for in the North Lanarkshire area with particular reference to the Bothwell constituency in 1971 to the latest possible date; and how this compares with the corresponding figure for the previous year.

In the period 1st January to 30th April, 1971, three certificates were issued in the North Lanarkshire group of employment exchange areas of which one was in the Bothwell constituency. The corresponding figures for the same period in the previous year are five and one respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what private enterprise organisations dealing with consumer protection are now recognised by his Department for the purposes of official co-operation.

There is no set list of recognised bodies. We are open to views from all, and shall consult with whichever organisations seem best fitted to contribute on specific terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest estimate of oil consumption for 1971; and what estimated price increases he has been advised will take place.

Deliveries into consumption in the first quarter of this year were rather more than 4 per cent. higher than in the same period in 1970, and if this rate of increase continues throughout this year, deliveries will total 99 million tons. Price levels will depend upon market conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a general direction to the Gas Board to supply North Sea gas to commercial horticultural growers at a price strictly comparable with that paid by Dutch growers.

No. The prices charged to particular categories of consumer are primarily a matter for the area gas boards and for their consultative councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated tonnage of British ships in the last available year repaired in British ports and in foreign ports, respectively.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will exercise his control over air fares in a way which maintains parity between fares from Manchester and Liverpool.

Apart from certain limited exceptions, there is already parity. I have written to my hon. Friend explaining the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in order to promote an improvement in industrial relations, he will introduce legislation to require that no director be appointed to the board of a company registered under the Companies Acts without the support in a secret ballot of a majority of the individual shareholders eligible to vote.

No. The proposal is not practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he now has for restricting the importation of rare fur skins to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement regarding his recent meeting with the British Fur Trade Association.

At a meeting last month, the British Fur Trade Association agreed to provide certain essential technical information. When this is received, we will consider the practicability of import control promptly and sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make an official visit to Macclesfield.

Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what types of atomic reactor are now being considered to fill the gap between the advanced gas cooled reactor and the fast breeder reactor; and when he expects to be in a position to announce a decision on this question.

The study which was mentioned by my hon. Friend on 10th May is considering whether a further reactor system should be introduced before the fast breeder. The matter is complex, but I hope to be able to give detailed information towards the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an assurance that the proposed new regulations for the marine services of his Department will enable the manufacture of lifejackets and other equipment to be profitable in order to maintain employment and export orders; and whether he will consult with manufacturers on their problems before the regulations are presented for parliamentary endorsement.

The concession to manufacturers of lifejackets and lifeboats announced on 8th June by my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry was intended to minimise any threat to their profitability resulting from increases in marine survey fees. As the fees in question are contractual and not statutory, the changes will not be the subject of regulations requiring parliamentary endorsement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now make a further statement on the Government's policy towards the British Steel Corporation.

I hope to make a further statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry from information available to him from international sources, if he will list the individual steel companies and steel plants in Europe, including Great Britain, respectively, which have a capacity of over 1 million tons, stating annual production capacity, capital employed, persons employed, and location in each case.

This information is not readily available in the form asked for, but I have arranged for a copy of "Iron and Steel Works of the World" to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he can now state what arrangements are being made to honour the workers' share holding in the previous Rolls-Royce Company.

I cannot at present add to my right hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 29th March and to earlier statements on this subject.—[Vol. 814, c. 293–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the unsecured creditors and shareholders of Rolls-Royce Limited are officially represented in the negotiations on the price to be paid for the assets acquired by Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited.

The parties to the agreement for the purchase of those parts of Rolls-Royce Ltd. being acquired by Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. are the receiver, Rolls-Royce Ltd., Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. and the Government. The unsecured creditors are not separately represented but the receiver will be paying due regard to their interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had with trade unions in the car industry about the consequences for employment if the Government decide to lower the tariff barriers against imported cars.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further consideration he has given to the question of reducing tariffs on cars imported from abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now indicate the imported goods on which he is considering unilateral tariff cuts for the purposes of increasing competition; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer to the answer given today to Questions by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to prescribe solvency margins for individuals and firms who are members of the Stock Exchange.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage the provision of employment for the over 8,000 persons now out of work in Bristol.

Bristol will benefit from the strengthening of the economy and of business confidence which present policies aim to bring about.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the effect on imports and exports of the fishing industry of Great Britain joining the European Economic Community; and what reply he has sent.

I have received no such representations but the effect of entry on our trade in fish should be favourable subject to the satisfactory modification of the Common Fisheries Policy for which we have asked in our negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the information on which he based his estimate that, if Great Britain were to join the European Economic Community, then the Government would expect a growth rate of 4½ per cent. during the transitional period lasting about four years.

My hon. Friend is presumably referring to a report of my recent Press conference in Stockholm at which the subject of the United Kingdom growth rate in the E.E.C. was raised. I indicated on that occasion that it was not possible to predict the precise extent or timing of improvements in our economic growth rate. In reply to a suggestion that we might have in mind a growth rate of 7 per cent., I expressed the view that it might be advisable to think more in terms of 4 to 4½ per cent. being reached by the end of a transitional period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what benefits he expects to accrue to the paper industry if Great Britain should sign the Treaty of Rome.

I share the industry's view that the United Kingdom's adherence to the Treaty of Rome should create additional opportunities for trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken in the last few months to tighten up security within his Department.

Security arrangements within the Department are kept under continuous review. The procedures provide for frequent checks to ensure that the security rules are observed. Recently all staff have been reminded of those rules and of their individual responsibility to comply with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets of coal production he now estimates will be achieved this year; and what is the latest anticipated demand.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) on 29th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the Russian enterprises now registered in, and those now operating in, the United Kingdom; what is the nature of their activities; and how many British subjects, Russian citizens and other foreign nationals, respectively, they employ within the United Kingdom.

A comprehensive list could not be provided except at disproportionate cost. The Companies Acts do not require enterprises trading in this country, whether incorporated here or elsewhere, to publish a list of employees classified by nationality.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Government Departments he co-operates with on matters of sea pollution, and oil spillage which threatens the coast line.

With the Department of the Environment and the Scottish and Welsh Offices on oil spillages which threaten the coast and on matters affecting local authorities; with the Ministry of Defence on communications, salvage questions and assistance from the armed forces; and with the Fisheries Departments on fisheries aspects of oil clearance and on scientific aspects of sea pollution generally. Other Departments and bodies such as the Natural Environment Research Council are consulted as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases of oil spillage in the sea threatening the coast line or polluting the coast line have been reported to his Department in the last 12 months.

Three hundred and twenty-two oil spillages, including those resulting from casualties and from observed discharges by ships, were reported in the year ended 31st May, 1971. Of these, 34 caused coastal pollution, 63 threatened pollution which did not materialise, 206 were regarded as no threat and 19 proved not to be oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT, based on latest estimates or actual costs of construction and operation, for either the largest capacity or most efficient reactors and generating plant, what are now the capital costs per kilowatt, and operating costs per kilowatt-hour, of coal fired, oil fired, and atomic power stations within the United Kingdom.

Such estimates are prepared by the Central Electricity Generating Board and are, to some extent, dependent on the assumptions and definitions employed. I have therefore asked the Chairman of the C.E.G.B. to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date and from whom he received a file of papers making charges and allegations of irregularities being carried on by a firm whose name has been supplied to him; what action was taken; when the file was asked to be returned; by whom; when he returned the file; and whether he will make a statement.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to Valriff Ltd. The Department received a file of papers on 22nd May, 1969, from Mr. Redman and Mrs. Duveen of the Sunday Mirror. Mrs. Duveen asked for the file back on 10th October, 1969, and it was returned to her that day. A compulsory winding-up order was made on 6th October, 1969. The Official Receiver submitted a report which did not disclose sufficient evidence to justify further action.

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

I have offered the North-East Development Council a grant of £20,000 in the current financial year subject to the Council providing at least a similar sum from non-governmental sources. Grants for 1972–73 and 1973–74 are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an assurance that work will continue on the RB211 engine beyond 8th August and that further grant aid will be available should this prove necessary.

The parties principally concerned with the RB211/TriStar situation agreed that since the announced date for the beginning of the summer congressional recess is 6th August, it would be reasonable to expect a decision on the United States Administration's proposal to Congress by 8th August. If it appears that this timetable cannot be met, it will be necessary for Rolls-Royce and Lockheed and also the United States and British Governments to consult about the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the bulk fibre building board now imported enters duty-free and that the application of a common European Economic Community external tariff would involve a substantial addition to the cost of house building in the United Kingdom; and whether he will take steps to ensure that fibre building board is included with those commodities which will be permitted duty-free importation from outside the enlarged Community.

If, as I hope, arrangements are made to avoid the re-erection of tariffs between those members of E.F.T.A. which are not applying for membership of the E.E.C. and the enlarged Community, the bulk of our supplies would continue to enter duty-free. In any event the duty on fibre building board would represent a very small part of the cost of a house.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the figures of fuel consumption, coal equivalent, per capita in the United Kingdom and the United States of America so far as available to him from international sources, for the years 1960 to the latest available year.

The following figures are derived from the United Nations Statistics Papers Series J—World Energy Supplies. Owing to differences in statistical convention, these estimates are not comparable with those for the United Kingdom published by this Department.

asked the Sectary of State for Trade and Industry when he hopes to announce the future programme of the steel industry in Scotland; and in particular when he hopes to complete his investigation on the siting of a new complex.

I hope to announce shortly my decision on the B.S.C. investment programme in 1971–72, but the Corporation has not yet formulated proposals on the siting of a new complex.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies registered for the purposes of the Companies Act, 1948, have gone into voluntary or involuntary liquidation during the period June, 1961, to June, 1971; and if he will list them individually in the OFFICIAL REPORT together with their individual and accumulated losses, and, in the case of motor car insurance companies, the numbers of policyholders affected.

As the number from April, 1961, to March, 1971, inclusive was 28,365 I would not feel justified in circulating a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT.I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question could not be provided except at disproportionate expense, if at all.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those companies registered as carrying on motor car insurance business, together with their numbers of policyholders.

I would refer the hon. Member to the list of authorised insurers, some 260 in number, showing the classes of business which they were authorised to carry on on 31st December, 1969, which was appended to the Board of Trade Annual Report for 1969. The number of motor policyholders of each company is not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the workings of the 1948 and subsequent Companies Acts, in particular in respect of companies registered and trading under the categories listed in Section 59 of the 1967 Act; and if he will make a statement.

As stated on 2nd March, we are carrying out a thorough going look at the whole range of company law requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the value of United Kingdom exports to New Zealand in 1970;(2) what was the value of United Kingdom exports to Australia in 1970.

The information is published in the issue of Overseas Trade Statistics for December, 1970, which shows that exports to New Zealand were £129 million and to Australia £346 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in numbers and as a percentage of the United Kingdom market, what are the latest figures for car imports in 1971, and how this compares with 1970.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many recent suggestions he has received from the Monopolies Commission for references to be made by him to it, and what industries were involved.

I have not yet received any such suggestions. The Commission now has a reasonably full programme of work but is, I understand, surveying a wide range of industries preparatory to making proposals to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in view of the increased costs of fuel oil, imposed by the O.P.E.C. countries, and the increased pithead prices of coal, what revision he has made of his forward plans for the construction of atomic power stations; and if he will make a statement.

The changes in costs of alternative fuels are certainly taken into

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what participation by Her Majesty's Government is contemplated in the study group to be set up by the decision of the Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to prepare the way for a further concerted reduction in the barriers to international trade; and if he will make a statement.

I expect there to be a member from the United Kingdom on this group, which is

"to analyse trade and related problems which arise in a long term perspective".

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a list of investments transferred to him from the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation on 1st May.

The list is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is yet proposed to take action on the recommendations of the Blagden Report on Bankruptcy Law and Deeds of Arrangement.

The Government cannot undertake that time will be available for a Bill on bankruptcy in the present Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent proposals he has made, and what has been the Community's response, for the safeguarding of Australian sugar exports to the United Kingdom after 1974 if Great Britain should join the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add at present to my statement to the House and my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Miss Joan Hall) on the 17th May.—[Vol. 817, c. 885–6, 859–61.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement upon the talks with Norway regarding the fisheries policy in the Common Market.

I would refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 8th June.—[Vol. 818, c. 317.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations took place with representatives of United Kingdom fishing organisation about the proposals put recently to the European Economic Community for amendments to the common fisheries policy; and what representations were made to him about his proposals during such consultations.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland have been in continuous consultation with a large number of United Kingdom fishing interests throughout the negotiations. The recent proposals took account of the views they expressed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek during the negotiations for Great Britain's terms of entry into the European Economic Community to have a written agreement on conditions to safeguard the 14 Commonwealth sugar-producing countries, such agreement to be endorsed by the Governments of the 14 countries, prior to Great Britain accepting any terms of entry into the European Economic Community.

No. I explained in my statement on 9th June that the Community has been informed of the communiqué agreed at the consultations with the Commonwealth Governments concerned on 2nd and 3rd June.—[Vol. 818, c. 1043.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will ensure during the present negotiations for the terms of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community that the safeguards for keeping down unemployment in Northern Ireland under the Safeguards of Employment Act, 1947, will be maintained for at least 10 years after Great Britain's entry.

In the negotiations Her Majesty's Government have proposed that the Northern Ireland Safeguarding of Employment Act, 1947, should be maintained in force until 1978 and that towards the end of this period consideration should be given, in the light of circumstances at the time and of developments in the Community's policy, to what further special measures may be needed to meet Northern Ireland's special problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether during the forthcoming discussions for terms of entry into the European Economic Community he will, in the light of his recent talks with Commonwealth sugar-producing countries, insist that the 14 sugar-producing countries of the Commonwealth must be allowed to continue exporting sugar to Great Britain in the quantities specified in the existing agreement for at least 10 years after the agreement ends in 1974.

The question of exports of sugar from the developing Commonwealth to the enlarged Community after 1974 will be settled within the framework of negotiations outlined in my statement of 17th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the discussions held on the question of the six-mile fishing limit; whether the statement by Sir Con O'Neill that Great Britain wants a permanent safeguard of the six-mile fishing limit, as against a transitional arrangement, was made with his authority; and whether he will ensure that in any agreement for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community this is provided for in a written form of agreement, as against an oral agreement of intent.

In answer to the first part of the Question, I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to my hon. Friend the Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Body) and the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) on 8th June and to my statement on 9th June. As to the second and third parts, I can assure the hon. Member that the statement on fisheries was made with full authority and that any agreement reached with the Communities on fisheries will be formulated so as to be fully binding.—[Vol. 818, c. 842–3, 1045.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent conference with representatives of the Commonwealth sugar-producing countries.

I would refer to my statement on 9th June and to the communiqué agreed at the conference published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 9th June.—[Vol. 818, c. 1043–5, 1061–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in support of the Government's declared policy of the widest public debate to enable the British public to examine all relevant matters concerning Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community, he will arrange to distribute free the statement made by Her Majesty's Government to the representatives of the 14 Commonwealth countries interested in sugar production, made during their recent discussions with him in London.

No. The proceedings of the conference with the representatives of the countries concerned were confidential. Copies of the communiqué issued at the end of these consultations were placed in the Library of the House and released to the Press; the communiqué was also published in the OFFICIAL REPORT with my statement of 9th June. Further copies can be made available to those who ask for them.—[Vol. 818, c. 1061–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his official discussions with Mr. Douglas Anthony, the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, on that country's views for trade safeguards on any terms for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Anthony arrives in Britain on 16th June and I look forward to holding discussions with him on 18th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to make an official visit to Singapore.

My right hon. Friend was in Singapore in January. He has no plans at present to pay another visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times since August, 1969, official representations have been made to him by the Dublin Government concerning Northern Ireland.

Since my right hon. Friend assumed office, once.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in Gibraltar.

The Government and people of Gibraltar continue to face their difficulties with determination and resourcefulness. My right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary looks forward to his visit there in September. Meanwhile, Her Majesty's Government's policy remains exactly as set out in the statement by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State in the House on 6th July, 1970.—[Vol. 803, c. 460.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid is currently being given annually to India and Pakistan by Her Majesty's Government and the United Nations, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

Britain's gross aid dis-mursements in 1970 for India and Pakistan were £44·78 millions and £10·62 millions, respectively. In this fiscal year, ending on 30th June, 1971, the World Bank has signed or approved credits for India and Pakistan amounting to £101 millions and £20 millions, respectively. The total estimated cost of present projects of the United Nations Development Programme in India and Pakistan is respectively £15 millions and £10 millions. The Specialised Agencies may also be providing some aid from their own budgets.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions were taken on economic aid by the Aid for Pakistan Consortium meeting in Paris; what discussions took place regarding the use of this aid to relieve the suffering of refugees from East Pakistan; what action was proposed to relieve the victims of the conflict in East Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

On 30th April in Paris there was a private discussion between the donor countries of the Pakistan Aid Consortium. It was not a full consortium meeting and it did not reach any decisions on aid for Pakistan. Another similar discussion will take place later this month.The consortium is concerned only with development aid and has not discussed the matter for relief for the East Pakistan refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the £5 million from British public funds for relief and rehabilitation in the war-affected areas of Nigeria is being spent.

Except for a small sum for contingencies, the £5 million have now been committed. The money is being used to buy and move the following supplies:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the amount of capital aid being made available to Morocco.

The Royal Moroccan Government have accepted an offer by Her Majesty's Government to provide a loan of £1 million as the initial instalment of a programme of British capital assistance towards the economic development of Morocco. The loan is to be spent on British goods and services, and will be used to finance agreed development projects. The loan will be repaid over a period of 25 years, including a grace period of four years, and interest will be at 3 per cent. I expect drawings under the loan to start in the financial year 1972–73.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Pilots have tendered their resignations in the past 12 months in expectation of offers of employment by British European Airways; and how many of these have subsequently withdrawn their resignations or applied to re-enlist.

So far as can be ascertained, no Royal Navy or Royal Air Force pilot has applied within the last 12 months to leave the Service in expectation of employment by British European Airways.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he can now state how many widows survive of members of the Armed Forces who married after their husbands had retired from the Service, and receive no pension.

As my hon. Friend stated in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Mr. Neave) on 4th March, there are no records of such widows, but it is estimated that there are about 3,000.—[Vol. 812, c. 508.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what the cost would be of paying a pension under the Forces' Family Ordinary Pension Scheme to widows of members of the Armed Forces who married after their discharge or retirement.

We have no means of calculating the cost accurately, but the information we have suggests that it would be of the order of £750,000 a year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances two soldiers were fired on and injured at an Army post at Andersons-town, Belfast, on the night of Tuesday, 8th June; how many terrorists took part in the attack; what sort of guns they used; how many shots they fired; if the fire was returned; what searches were made; and what arrests resulted.

An officer and a senior N.C.O. were shot and injured by gunmen on the evening of 8th June when shots were fired at a group of soldiers and civilians standing near an Army post in Belfast. Four gunmen are thought to have taken part and to have fired some 50 shots from sub-machine guns. Fire was not returned because of the danger of hitting some children. The surrounding area was immediately searched. No arrests were made at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the development and production of the RB162 engine.

Development as a lift engine was completed in 1969. Its application has been limited to French and German prototype V.T.O.L. aircraft. Further development as a booster engine has also been completed and it is being fitted in the Trident 3B.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total value of exports of pharmaceutical goods from the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community in 1970; what percentage increase this represents over the total value of such exports to the European Economic Community in 1969; and if he will make a statement on the probable future increase of such exports following the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community.

United Kingdom exports of pharmaceuticals to the European Economic Community in 1970 totalled £27 million, an increase of 42 per cent. on the total in 1969. Entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community should in itself encourage a further increase in United Kingdom exports but it is impossible to foresee what the extent might be.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the European Commissioners' directives on the ending of restrictions on trade in pharmaceutical goods between member countries of the European Economic Community would be acceptable to the United Kingdom Government upon Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; and whether the United Kingdom Government intend to take part in the Commissioners' present discussions with member countries on further measures to remove restrictions on this trade.

The only directive on the subject which has so far been promulgated is acceptable to the United Kingdom Government. It is too early to assess the five additional draft directives that have been published; these are still under discussion within the Community. We should naturally play our full part in such discussions if we join the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services upon what grounds the Registrar General's Office has questioned the validity of the divorce of Dr. McComb in the State of Florida for the purposes of English law; and if he is satisfied that this case has been handled with due expedition in view of the particular circumstances of the case.

Because it does not, on the information before the Registrar General, appear to meet the required tests in the light of decided cases in the English courts. He is, therefore, awaiting further information. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much he estimates the social security offices covering the county of Derbyshire will pay in additional clothing grants as a result of the withdrawal of necessitous clothing grants by the Derbyshire Education Committee.

I regret that information is not available upon which such an estimate could be based.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many day patients were treated privately at the central out-patients department of the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, between 1st January and 31st May, 1970; and by what authority they were treated.

The hospital is covered by the general authorisation which was issued on the coming into operation of Section 2 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, and which, in effect, continued existing authorisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further steps he is taking to expand voluntary social welfare organisations.

I have at present nothing specific to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for King's Lynn (Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler) on 23rd February.—[Vol. 812, c. 81.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the precautions which exist against the introduction of cholera into the United Kingdom, in view of the outbreak in Pakistan and India and contacts with both those countries.

We are satisfied that all reasonable precautions are being taken. Since September, 1970 international certificates of vaccination against cholera have been required from all travellers who, during the five days beforehand, have been in any cholera-infected area. Those without a valid certificate are placed under surveillance. All travellers arriving from countries outside Europe, North America and North Africa are given a yellow warning card advising them what to do if they become ill within 21 days. Since only a proportion of those vaccinated derive protection and then only for a limited period, there is little evidence that vaccination against cholera is of value in preventing its spread. Medical officers of health and laboratories have been advised of measures to be taken in the diagnosis and prevention of cholera.I am advised that there is no certain way of preventing the introduction of cholera organisms into the United Kingdom short of a complete cessation of travel to and from cholera-infected areas, but if a case did occur here our high standards of environmental and food hygiene make its spread unlikely except perhaps to the patient's intimate household contacts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that up-to-date population figures are vital to local authorities considering the proposals for local government reorganisation, what steps he is taking to ensure that the first provisional population figures are speedily available for authorities in East Sussex, and when he expects such information will be public.

Preliminary returns from the 1971 Census are now being collated, and the Registrar General expects that provisional figures for the populations of all local authorities will be published about the middle of July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the capital cost of Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, to date; and what is the final estimate.Mr. Alison: The capital cost to date amounts to £9,595,000. The estimated final capital cost is £11,570,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are on waiting lists for admission to hospitals in the area of the North-East Metropolitan Hospital Board; and what is the comparable figure for one year ago.

30,006 on 31st December, 1970; 31,409 on 31st December, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the meeting held in his Department on 4th March, 1971, on the suitability of adapted four-wheeled cars for severe haemophiliacs.

Representatives of the Haemophilia Society explained in detail their view of the transport problems of this particular group of disabled people and how they might best be overcome. The discussion provided a useful contribution to the many suggestions for improving the invalid vehicle service which have been received from hon. Members, private individuals and voluntary bodies concerned with other groups of the disabled with mobility problems. All these representations are being given full consideration in the course of my right hon. Friend's comprehensive review of the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if in advance of the completion of his general review of the invalid vehicle service he will make an interim report on the supply of vehicles to sufferers from severe haemophilia.

My right hon. Friend is proceeding with his review of the invalid vehicle service as quickly as possible and hopes to complete it by the autumn. The review is a comprehensive one and piecemeal conclusions would not be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will specify the provisions under which a wife who has paid National Health Service contribu tions in her own right is denied particular advantages if her husband, who has also paid contributions, predeceases her; and whether he will take steps to end this situation.

A fundamental principle of the National Insurance scheme is that benefit shall not be duplicated. There are a number of provisions to this end, but the one which I think concerns my hon. Friend is Section 33(1) of the National Insurance Act, 1965, which provides that a woman shall not be entitled to more than one retirement pension for the same period. We have no proposals for changing this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many qualified speech therapists there are in England and Wales; and how many of them are employed under the National Health Service.

I understand that the records of the College of Speech Therapists show 1,124 members practising in Great Britain whole time or part time. The National Health Service in England and Wales employs the equivalent of 217 whole-time staff; the number of persons employed will be greater but cannot be calculated from the available statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give figures for the number of staff recruited, the number of staff lost and the shortfall in establishment among residential child-care staff in the years 1968, 1969 and 1970.

Figures are not available on this basis for 1968 and 1969. On 31st March, 1970, against an establishment of 11,370 posts, 9,365 full-time and 1,636 part-time residential child care staff were reported by local authorities and voluntary organisations as employed in children's homes, approved schools, remand homes and reception centres in England and Wales. Resignations from, and appointments to, the full-time service of individual authorities and organisations in the 12 months ending 31st March, 1970, were reported as 3,282 and 3,701 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received on the need to prescribe acrylamide poisoning as an industrial disease; and whether he will make a statement.

I have accepted recommendations made to me by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council that a prima facie case for prescription exists sufficient to warrant formal investigation of the question. I have accordingly referred to the Council for consideration and advice the question whether acrylamide poisoning should be prescribed under Section 56 of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1965, and, if so, for what occupations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek an agreement with Cyprus to phase-in the imports of early potatoes so that a glut is not caused on the United Kingdom market.

Cyprus potatoes largely satisfy a special demand and would not by themselves be responsible for any over-supply. Nevertheless the Potato Marketing Board exerts an influence on the level of marketings through regular meetings with representatives of Cypriot producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the proportion of the total catch of the inshore fisheries industry which has been caught between the six- and 12-mile limit since the establishment of the 12-mile limit.

I regret that statistics of landings are not collected on a basis which makes it possible to provide such information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has now made of the repercussions on the pool price of milk resulting from the introduction of the Education (Milk) Bill.

In determining the 1971–72 standard quantity for milk on which the guaranteed price is paid, we have already made allowance for the effect on liquid milk sales of changes in the school milk scheme. The Education (Milk) Bill will, therefore, have no significant effect on the net average price paid to milk producers in the United Kingdom in 1971–72.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the comparable average retail prices of compound animal feeding stuffs in Great Britain and France, respectively, on 1st June, 1971, or on the nearest convenient date.

The average ex-mill price for 1 ton lots of compound animal feeding stuffs, excluding turkey and horse feeds, in Great Britain during May was £48·048 per ton. I regret that similar information for France is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in his review of the industrial training boards, he will take into account the special position of the many small but highly specialised factories in Birmingham.

My right hon. Friend has the problems of these small and highly specialised firms very much in mind. As he said in a reply to the hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Knox) on 23rd February, he has already told industrial training boards that he is looking for a significantly greater exemption of small firms from levy schemes.—[Vol. 812, c. 117–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons available for employment aged between 15 and 18 years were unemployed at the latest convenient date and at the same date in 1970, respectively; how many at each date were school leavers seeking their first jobs;

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage increase in the take-home wages of industrial workers since 1st July, 1970, in the private industrial shipbuilding and ship-repairing sector.

I regret that it is not possible to assess the take-home wages. The latest figures that we have for earnings are for January, 1971. These show that the earnings of manual workers in the shipbuilding and repairing industry rose by 6·6 per cent. between June, 1970, and January, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the schemes for blind homeworkers; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have set up a small informal committee of officials from my Department and including representatives from the Department of Health and Social Security to review the working of these schemes in consultation with the interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what projections he has made of the size of the working

Following is the information:population in the 1970's; and whether the figures include or exclude persons over school-leaving age who are expected to be in full-time attendance at school, college or university.

Working population projections are made and published periodically by my Department. The most recently published estimates appeared in the March, 1969, issue of the Employment and Productivity Gazette. These indicated that the working population of the United Kingdom was likely to decrease by about 200,000 between 1971 and 1974 (mainly because of the raising of the minimum school-leaving age in 1973) and thereafter to increase by about 1,000,000 between 1974 and 1981.These projections are subject to the assumption of a constant pressure of demand for labour. They included estimates of the numbers of full-time students above the minimum school-leaving age who may be employed in vacation or other spare time jobs. A new set of working population projections will be published within the next few months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what examination is made at ports of entry to check that Cyprus early potatoes are not in fact ware potatoes and therefore not entitled to free entry.

Customs officers watch for imported notatoes being declared incorrectly as "new", but it would not be desirable to disclose the scale of examination.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is yet able to announce increases in pay for civil servants.

Yes. Last week increases based on pay research evidence of rates outside the service were agreed for nearly 300,000 civil servants in the administration group and related grades. They increased the overall wage bill by 11½ per cent. for the clerical grades and 9¾ per cent. for the former executive/administrative grades. The last pay research settlement for these staff was on 1st January, 1968.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many widows survive who married after their husband retired from the Civil Service.

There are no records, but it is estimated that there are probably no more than 1,000 widows who married after their husbands retired from the Civil Service.