asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries he has made about the availability of funds from European Economic Community sources to compensate special national interests that are damaged by European Economic Community regulations.

There are a number of provisions for Community expenditure to assist member countries who face special problems as a result of the adoption of Community policies. As a member the United Kingdom would have access to these funds on the same terms as any other member.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest position in connection with the United Kingdom application to enter the Common Market.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the continuing detailed negotiations with the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) and other hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs whether, on Great Britain's entry into the Common Market on the signing of the Treaty of Rome, under Article 189 thereof, the British Parliament will be enabled to carry out all and every function as now; or to what extent there will be changes in the present practices.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. and learned Friend on 15th June.—[Vol. 819, c. 71.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government propose to take by way of regional economic policy to counter the accelerated economic pull towards the south-east of Great Britain which entry into the European Economic Community will induce.

I have been asked to reply.The Government will continue to pursue a vigorous regional development policy which takes full account of the interests and needs of the development and intermediate areas. Expanding firms in the European Community will no doubt have in mind that these areas have important reserves of experienced industrial manpower and a substantial industrial and social infrastructure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last consulted representatives of Commonwealth countries about the progress of the negotiations for British entry into the European Economic Community.

We have maintained regular contact with Commonwealth representatives on the progress of the negotiations, notably briefings after each Ministerial negotiating meeting. The last briefing was in London on 11th June when my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster reported fully on progress at the negotiating meeting on 7th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a complete list of all the concessions which have been made by the countries of the European Economic Community to the United Kingdom, and the concessions which have been made by the United Kingdom to the countries of the European Economic Community during the course of the negotiations in Brussels.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has reported regularly to the House. From his statements it will be apparent that as in all negotiations there have been concessions on both sides.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to negotiate with the European Economic Community on amendments to the common fisheries policy to safeguard the interests of the British fishing industry.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Banff (Mr. W. H. K. Baker) and the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent consultations with Commonwealth countries concerning the European Economic Community proposals for sugar.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the sugar negotiations with the European Economic Community countries and the reaction of cane sugar producers in the Commonwealth.

I have nothing to add to the statements by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 17th May and 9th June.—[Vol. 817, c. 885–6; Vol. 818, c. 1043–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish as a White Paper details of his discussions with Governments of developing Commonwealth countries concerning the implications for their social and economic policy of possible entry by Great Britain to the European Economic Community.

Throughout the current negotiations close consultation with all Commonwealth countries has been maintained. These have led to the securing of satisfactory arrangements for developing Commonwealth countries, after enlargement. But publication of the details of these discussions would not be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent, on acceptance of the Treaty of Rome, Members of Parliament will continue to be free both to question and refuse to accept decisions of the Council of Ministers arrived at by the European Economic Community, as they affect the United Kingdom, and to be able to amend or alter such decisions and regulations as arrived at by the Ministers of the Seven.

Joining the European Economic Community will not affect the rights of honourable Members to table Questions on European Economic Community matters affecting the United Kingdom. In relation to the second part of the Question, if Parliament approves a Treaty of Accession to the Treaties of the Communities, the powers of Parliament would be exercised in the light of Article 189 of the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has now specified to the European Economic Community those regulations of the Common Fisheries Policy which would need modification to meet the needs and circumstances of an enlarged Community.

All the regulations of the Common Fisheries Policy so far agreed by the Community are currently under discussion with the Commission of the Community. This will enable us to identify those points, in addition to control of access to coastal waters, where we would wish modifications in the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he proposes to publish in full the texts of agreements reached with the European Economic Community.

I would refer to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17th June concerning the White Paper which will describe arrangements provisionally made with the Community in the current negotiations.—[Vol. 819, c. 643–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances have been given to the European Free Trade Association partners not seeking full membership of the European Economic Community, about the United Kingdom position in relation to any proposed re-erection of trade barriers between the United Kingdom and such countries.

At the Ministerial meeting of the E.F.T.A. Council in London on 28th April, 1967, the United Kingdom Government joined with its E.F.T.A. partners in affirming their intention to work towards the goal of European economic integration, and in reiterating their strong interest in safeguarding, as an important part of an enlarged European Community, the free market already established in E.F.T.A. by the successful dismantling of trade barriers with the Association.At this meeting, E.F.T.A. Ministers agreed that it would be the purpose of Governments that, should it be necessary in order to give a reasonable opportunity to their partners in the Free Trade Area to conclude negotiations, sufficient transitional periods should be provided for, with a view to avoiding disruption in European trade patterns. Her Majesty's Government and the Governments of other E.F.T.A. countries have since then stated their desire that all the relevant instruments of accession and arrangements with the Community should enter into force simultaneously.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what, in purely economic terms, is his estimate of the cost and benefit to the United Kingdom of association with the European Economic Community as compared with full membership.

The option of association is no politically acceptable to Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the existing European Economic Community regulations deal with agriculture and industry, respectively.

There are currently in force approximately 1,830 European Economic Community regulations dealing with agriculture. There are about a further 330 regulations in force which affect the industrial section, relate to miscellaneous subjects and also cover European Coal and Steel Community and Euratom matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Six have accepted his proposal that the Australia sugar quota under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement should be phased out gradually during the transitional period.

The Community has agreed that we may fulfil our contractual commitments to Australia under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement until 1974. We shall be discussing further with the Community, at an appropriate time in the context of the transitional arrangements for agriculture, the problem of phasing out, after 1974, Australian supplies of sugar under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the European Economic Community have, in the course of the negotiations for British entry, put forward firm proposals for the total elimination of their surplus production of apples and pears, by the end of the transitional period.

To protect British producers against Community surpluses the lower prices in the Community we have made special arrangements for apples and pears during the transitional period. Levels of horticulture production in an enlarged Community are matters on which we shall be able to express our views if we become a member of the Communities.

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

I have nothing to add at this stage to the statements made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 9th June and by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10th June.—[Vol. 818, c. 1043–5; Vol. 818, c. 1235–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his negotiations of British entry into the European Economic Community, the Community have put forward firm proposals for the elimination of surplus production of sugar in the Community and in its associated territories.

No, but levels of sugar production in an enlarged Community are matters on which we shall be able to express our views if we become a member of the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the present subsidy to fuel in Northern Ireland is compatible with the regulations of the European Economic Community.

Since this subsidy operates in Northern Ireland and is to manufacturing industry rather than to fuel producers, it would, in the context of the provisions of the Treaty of Rome on regional policy, appear to qualify for exemption from limitations on State aids.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether extra financial provision will be made, outside the annual allocation for overseas aid, for the assistance which is being sent to Pakistani refugees in India.

As I told the hon. Member for Kensington, North (Mr. Douglas-Mann) on 16th June, funds are at present being found from the Contingency Provision in the Aid Programme.—[Vol. 819. c. 105.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he has taken to facilitate the flow of relief supplies to East Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech by my right hon. Friend in the House on 9th June. U Thant's representative, Mr. I. T. Kittani, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have now both been to West and to East Pakistan and have had discussions with the Pakistan authorities. The United Nations' Secretary-General has issued an appeal for funds and we shall contribute as soon as immediate needs have been identified by his representatives.—[Vol. 818, c. 1066–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total amount of aid from British Government sources which has been directed to India to assist with the problems facing the refugees from East Pakistan.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 15th June.—[Vol. 819, c. 72.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will identify the sections of the relevant United Nations resolution which require the United Kingdom to maintain a naval patrol off Beira; and if he will state the minimum force laid down by the United Nations as being the force which this country is required to maintain for this purpose.

Operative paragraph 5 of Security Council Resolution 221 of 9th April, 1966 calls upon the Government of the United Kingdom to prevent, by the use of force if necessary, the arrival at Beira of vessels reasonably believed to be carrying oil destined for Southern Rhodesia. The means of achieving this objective is within the discretion of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Malagasy Republic regarding the use of facilities in that country by the Royal Air Force in connection with the Beira Patrol, and with what result.

The Government of the Malagasy Republic have told Her Majesty's Ambassador in Tananarive that they would like to review the need for the Royal Air Force detachment to remain at Majunga. Confidential exchanges with the Malagasy Government on this subject are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to press for a settlement of Bulgaria's external sterling bonded debt on behalf of British nationals.

Her Majesty's Government share the desire of all bondholders to see an early settlement of this long outstanding matter. The question is kept under regular review but no recent approach has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for how long he intends to maintain consular representation in Taipeh.

The maintenance and staffing of diplomatic and consular posts abroad are the subject of regular review. This includes the maintenance of a consulate on Taiwan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Scottish in-shore fishing organisations, since the beginning of June, about the retention of the existing 12-mile fishing limit; and what replies he has sent.

Since 1st June six letters from Scottish fisheries interests expressing views about the 12-mile limit have been received in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The replies sent have described Her Majesty's Government's proposals to the European Eco nomic Community on fisheries and outlined the existing Treaty rights of European Economic Community members and co-applicants for membership in the 6–12 mile belt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received from the east coast of Scotland fishing organisations employed in in-shore fishing, regarding the retention of the existing 12-mile fishing limit; and what replies he has sent.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a number of letters from organisations in eastern Scotland concerned about fisheries. Not all of these referred directly to the 12-mile fishing limit but the four communications received since Her Majesty's Government put forward proposals on the Common Fisheries Policy, refers to it specifically. The replies to the letters have outlined Her Majesty's Government's attitude to the Common Fisheries Policy of the Community at the time in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals there are for keeping in Singapore reserves of trained personnel and materials for future use in disaster areas likely to be found in the Indian Ocean area.

Her Majesty's Government have made no plans of this nature but I understand that The League of Red Cross Societies maintains a stores depot in Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a White Paper setting out the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the United Nations machinery required to deal with emergencies arising from natural or man-made disasters.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government on this matter is already clear. It is to work for the creation of an effective system of international relief co-ordination for natural disasters along the lines of our memorandum to the United Nations Secretary-General. The application of the system to man-made disasters could be considered subsequently. This memorandum has been published and copies are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the Security Council Resolution of 4th July, 1969, on the status of Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement on how it is being observed.

I am arranging for the text of Security Council Resolution No. 267 of 1969 to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT. There has been no indication from the Secretary-General that the Israeli authorities have agreed to implement this Resolution. Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly made plain that we deplore any unilateral measures which could have the effect of prejudging the future status of Jerusalem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has given to the Greater London Council concerning the collaboration of council officials with Israeli authorities in plans for developing Arab Jerusalem, in the light of Israeli attempts to alter the status of Jerusalem contrary to unanimous resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

I am informed that the Greater London Council have accepted an invitation for their officials to advise upon the setting up of a municipal planning department in Jerusalem and upon the system of planning there. Their acceptance of the invitation in no way implies approval of any plans which would have the effect of prejudging the future status of the City.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Government are guaranteeing £7,000 towards a British involvement in the World Hunting Exhibition at Budapest in 1971; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) and Bristol, South (Mr. Michael Cocks) on 17th June.—[Vol. 819, c. 130–131.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in the light of the recent visit to Madrid by the Permanent Secretary, he is yet in a position to say if he will be paying an official visit to Spain in 1971.

My right hon. Friend does not at present have any plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposal he has received from the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for a five-power nuclear disarmament conference; and what reply he has made.

A proposal concerning a Conference of the Five Nuclear Powers was conveyed to the Prime Minister by the Soviet Ambassador last Thursday. We are studying it carefully, and would certainly wish to be represented at any such conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that squatters' huts are again being occupied by the poorer section of the Hong Kong community because of recent rent rises in the private and public sectors; and what steps he is taking to prevent the deterioration, as a result, of the living standard of the poor.

I have no evidence of any recent increase in the number of squatters in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware that teachers' starting salaries in Hong Kong have recently been reduced from 1044 Hong Kong dollars to 889 Hong Kong dollars per month; and what steps he is taking to safeguard the living standards of the profession.

In accordance with the policy that teachers' salaries should be the same in Government schools and in schools subsidised from public funds, new salary structures and scales are now under discussion with staff associations and representatives of the subsidised schools. The new starting points under discussion vary from Hong Kong 889 dollars per month for full-time trained non-graduate teachers to Hong Kong 1674 dollars per months for those with diplomas and honours degrees. I can assure the hon. Member that the Hong Kong Government has every intention of safeguarding the living standards of the teaching profession.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to pay an official visit to Tanzania to discuss with the Prime Minister the situation of Zanzibari refugees at present resident in the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to visit the United States of America.

I intend to go to New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly; I hope to see other Foreign Ministers at the same time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the latest international discussions concerning the Falkland Islands.

Talks between Britain and Argentina on improved communications between the Falklands and the mainland are due to start today in Buenos Aires. The British representatives have just visited the Falklands and the Islands are also represented in the talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting in Lisbon.

This was a successful meeting at which a broad range of issues was discussed. I will not attempt to summarise the outcome since the conclusions reached are set out in the Communiqué which was as follows:N.A.T.O. COMMUNIQUE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has given Her Majesty's Ambassador at the United Nations regarding the representation of China in the United Nations.

No fresh instructions have yet been given in the context of this year's General Assembly. It is by no means clear yet in what form the issue will be presented this time at the next General Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government to permit the opening of the Suez Canal.

None on this specific point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received from the Government of Holland expressing concern that the recent statement by the Prime Minister and the President of France contained no references to a Federal Europe; and what reply he has sent.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of discussion with the Rulers of the Trucial States.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has now been made with the setting up of a union of Arab emirates; what other forms of association between Gulf states are under consideration; and what new consideration has been given to mutual defence arrangements in the Gulf.

Despite the efforts of the Gulf States themselves, the Governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and of Her Majesty's Government, the difference between the nine States of the Union of Arab Emirates have not yet been resolved. We are now considering the present situation with the States concerned. As regards defence arrangements, the offers set out in my right hon. Friend's statement of 1st March still stand.—[Vol. 812, c. 1227–32.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his official visit to Lisbon.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) and my hon. Friend, the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will give details of the help and assistance which his Department has given to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association during the past 12 months;(2) whether, before giving financial and other forms of assistance to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association he will ensure that they operate a democratic procedure regarding the selection of their delegations to the countries of the Commonwealth.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintains a close liaison with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and renders what assistance it can when asked to do so. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association receives no grant in aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about the extension of the territorial scope of the Commonwealth Development Corporation's activities.

Approval has been given for the Corporation to undertake activities in Thailand, subject to consultation with the Overseas Development Administration as to the scale and content of the Corporation's intended investment programme in that country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much British aid he is offering in support of the Nigerian Development Plan 1970–74.

The Nigerian Government intends to carry out its four-year Development and Reconstruction Plan during the period ending March, 1974. The Plan calls for a total expenditure in the public sector of £910 million, of which £176 million will have to be found outside Nigeria's own resources. Her Majesty's Government have offered the Federal Military Government a loan of £13 million for the provision of British goods and services. Up to £3 million of this loan will be used as soon as possible for the purchase of miscellaneous capital goods, and the balance is being earmarked for project aid. This loan will carry interest at a rate of 2 per cent. and have a maturity of 25 years. The Federal Military Government has expressed its satisfaction at this offer.During the period of the Plan I am also continuing to disburse an estimated total of £13·85 million of capital aid in respect of existing commitments. The Federal Military Government has been told that we expect to maintain the value of our technical assistance to Nigeria at about £6 million over the four-year period.Her Majesty's Government will also be giving substantial indirect aid to the Plan through their contributions to the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and the specialised agencies.The Federal Military Government has also accepted our offer to reimburse the cost of expatriate pensions which it pays in respect of pre-independence service in Nigeria. This offer will take effect from the year 1971–72 and is likely to be equivalent to a saving on Nigeria's foreign exchange commitments of about £4·5 million during the period of the Plan.Further commitments have been undertaken in Nigeria by the Commonwealth Development Corporation in 1970. These will total about £1·8 million, and the Corporation is looking for further opportunities for investment.I hope that British private investors will also contribute to Nigeria's development during the Plan and that the measures outlined in the recent White Paper on British Private Investment in Developing Countries will help them to do so. Apart from any such investments, the total contribution by Britain to Nigeria's four-year Plan will be about £39 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the report published by Dr. Gordon Goodman and Mr. Brian Roberts, a copy of which is in his possession, he will now reassess his policy towards the submissions to his Department on heavy metal atmospheric pollution in West Monmouthshire made by several persons, including the hon. Member for Bedwellty.

I am considering this report in detail, and will bear in mind the suggestion made by the hon. Member, but I must point out that the report does not attempt to establish a correlation between its findings and any clinical conditions in persons resident in the areas covered by the research.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many rural bus services are now being subsidised by local authorities in Wales; what is the total cost involved; and what part of this is borne by the Government.

There are at present about 170 but services operating in rural areas of Wales which local authorities are subsidising or likely to subsidise at the rate of £250,000–£300,000 a year.I am empowered to make a direct contribution of 50 per cent. under Section 34 of the Transport Act 1968; the balance qualifies for the resources element of rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of providing a bilingual version of place names signs where such do not already exist but where there is, in fact, such a version commonly used in the locality.

It is not possible to make an estimate on the basis of information currently available, but the question of the cost of providing bilingual traffic signs is one of the matters being examined by the committee now sitting under the Chairmanship of Mr. Roderic Bowen, Q.C.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total bid made by Welsh housing authorities for house approvals in 1971 and how this bid compares with that in each year since 1964.

Meaningful comparison of this sort cannot be made. Not all local authorities inform me annually of their future building intentions. The information given is purely tentative as a general guide to what these authorities have in mind. It has not been the practice to publish this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many house approvals were agreed by his Department for 1971 and how this figure compares with each year since 1964.

Up to the end of May, 1971, 1,859 dwellings had been finally approved. The corresponding figures for the first five months of the earlier years were: 1964, 5,455; 1965, 4,392; 1966, 3,788; 1967, 3,995; 1968. 2,454; 1969, 1,959; 1970, 1,610.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many housing starts there were in Wales in each month from January to April, 1971, and how these figures compare with each year since 1964.

The following figures show the numbers of houses started in Wales:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list those housing authorities with schemes which his Department has approved in principle, but upon which no construction has begun, how many houses are involved in such schemes, and when they are likely to begin.

At the end of April, 1971, work on 2,459 new houses which had been finally approved for 56 local authorities had not started. In addition, cost limits had been determined for schemes entailing 2,487 houses for 73 local authorities.It is not possible to say when work will begin on individual schemes or dwellings within schemes.If the hon. Member wants further details, I will gladly give them.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list those authorities in Wales which have indicated to his Department their reluctance to undertake any new housing development until greater detail of the new proposals for financing local authority housing is known.

One authority—Burry Port Urban District Council—has indicated its intention to defer schemes for that reason.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of New Zealand's exports of meat and dairy products to the European Economic Community in 1970, compared with New Zealand's exports of the same commodities to Great Britain.

In the year ending June, 1970, New Zealand's exports to the European Economic Community were for meat £0·9 million, and for dairy products £19 million. The figures for exports to the United Kingdom were £53·1 million and £65·2 million, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of New Zealand's sales went to the British market in 1960 and 1970, respectively.

53 per cent. and 34 per cent. to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of New Zealand's mutton exports go to Japan.

68 per cent. in the year ending June, 1970; the figure for lamb was negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Thames Pilot and Boat Owners Association on the working of the Pilotage Act, 1913, in view of its current dispute with the Corporation of Trinity House; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand that some members of the Association have written to a number of hon. Members asking for their support. As some aspects of this matter are the subject of an appeal in the courts, it would not be proper for me to comment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the action he is currently taking to attract new industry to Sunderland.

The Department draws to the attention of firms seeking new locations or considering expansion

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will pay an official visit to Sunderland.

My right hon. Friend and I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT an up-dated version, for the years 1958 to the latest available date, of Table 11 in the White Paper, "Britain and the European Communities", Command Paper No. 4289.

The following table provides figures for 1958 and 1970:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which products exported to the European Economic Community will benefit from a larger market by the achievement of economies of scale in production or marketing.

Potentially there would be opportunities for all British products. Much would depend on the enterprise shown by individual firms in exploiting the opportunities of the larger market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry since the size and structure of the British steel industry are matters for the British Government, what powers the European Coal and Steel Community would have over the British steel industry in an enlarged European Economic Community.

Those powers deriving from the Treaty of Paris, the overall objective of which is to secure a situation of orderly competition within the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the loss of trade between Great Britain and Australia if Great Britain were to enter the European Economic Community without obtaining any exemption from the Common Agricultural Policy for imports from Australia.

No reliable estimate is possible but a wide range of Australian exports to Britain are not covered by the Common Agricultural Policy. It has been agreed in our negotiations with the E.E.C. that where the application of that policy threatens to cause serious difficulties for significant volumes of trade from third countries, it is the intention of the enlarged Community to take effective measures to deal with disruption.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent imports of newsprint and woodpulp from Scandinavia and elsewhere, which would be duty-free in accordance with his recent statement, would be subject to quota restrictions if Great Britain were to join the European Economic Community.

We are assured of duty free imports of woodpulp without quantitative limit. As regards newsprint the duty free quota would be for needs in excess of domestic production.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the application of the Common Market's policy on the ending of state monopolies and the unrestricted market in trade and goods will have to be applied to Great Britain's state industries on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and what effect this will have on these industries.

The measures agreed by the Community as regards State Monopolies refer to specific goods, for which no monopoly exists in the United Kingdom. Our nationalised industries will not be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the application of the Treaty of Rome's rules on competition will affect the copyright fees on tape recordings for British firms on Great Britain's entry into the Community.

These fees are negotiated by copyright owners. I know of no reason why they should be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the application of the Treaty of Rome rules or the provisions dealing with sales and dealership arrangements which involves fixed prices would apply on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community generally and with regard to the radio and television industry in particular.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Article 85 of the Treaty of Rome which contains a general prohibition on restrictive agreements and practices between companies which affect trade between the member states of the E.E.C. This Article and the Regulations made under it would apply to British industry, including the radio and television industry, in the same way as they now apply to industry in the Six.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will undertake to meet Mr. Hepper of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders to resolve contradictions in their respective accounts of recent events in the company; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many persons are likely to be made redundant at Spadeadam, Cumberland, in the immediate future; what are the prospects for obtaining suitable employment for them; and if he will give an assurance that there will be no further redundancies.

26 persons will be leaving the establishment by 30th June, 1971; it is not expected that the redeployment of most of these workers will present any undue problem. It is likely that the numbers employed will be further reduced by the end of the year mainly by natural wastage. The situation will be discussed by the management with the local representatives of the unions concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he is aware of the decline in industrial investment in the Manchester area; what steps he is taking to assist with new capital investment in this area; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he is aware of the decline in industrial development on the Trafford Park Estate; what steps he is taking to assist with new capital investment on the estate; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The help available in Manchester is the same as that available for other places outside the assisted areas. The industrial development certificate control will continue to be operated with proper regard to the employment situation in the Manchester area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance has been given to Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited for the development of the Rolls-Royce M45 turbo fan engine; and whether the company is seeking further Government finance for the project.

The Federal German Government provided financial assistance for the M45H engine which was undertaken by Rolls-Royce Ltd. in collaboration with SNECMA for the VFW614.Proposals for revised funding arrangements are under discussion with Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited and its French and German partners.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current rate of increase in borrowing by the British Steel Corporation and what is its outstanding indebtedness.

At 31st March, 1971, the British Steel Corporation had borrowings of £231 million outstanding from the National Loans Fund and facilities for £135 million of temporary borrowing. Command 4635 anticipated further borrowings of £289 million from the N.L.F. during 1971–72; but my right hon. Friend expects to make a further statement on the Corporation's financial and development position soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he was informed that the Board of Dollar Land Company Limited would hold a meeting to consider the 1969 accounts by the end of May; when this meeting was held; and what action he took to satisfy himself that the promise of the Board of Directors as made to him was in fact carried out.

We were informed early in May that a meeting of the company's directors would be held on 19th May, and we were afterwards informed that the meeting had been held on that day.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new manufacturing firms have announced their intention of locating in Wales in the first five months of 1971; how this compares with 1969 and 1970; and what is the total employment envisaged.

The Department is aware of 12 firms who have decided in the period 1st January to 31st May, 1971, to locate new manufacturing projects in Wales. The firms concerned estimate that these projects will eventually employ nearly 2,400 people when fully manned. The figures for the same period in 1969 were 24 firms and 2,300 jobs, and in 1970 14 firms and 1,700 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new advance factories have been authorised since June, 1970, under the rolling programme and how many applications have been refused.

Six have been authorised. Application for replacement is not required since it is considered under the rolling programme whenever an existing factory is allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many completed advance factories are lying empty in Scotland; and how many are presently under construction.

10 and 12 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries have been received about presently constructed advance factories in Scotland in each month since January; and how many of these have led to occupancy.

Six inquiries specifically related to completed Department of Trade and Industry advance factories have been received since January, 1971. Four of these were in January, one in March and one in April. None of these has so far resulted in a factory being allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total output of pulverised fly ash from Central Electricity Generating Board power stations during each of the last five years, the volume sold annually, and the income derived therefrom on an annual basis.

This is the responsibility of the Central Electricity Generating Board and I am asking the Chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the effect on commercial aviation of the creation of a second-force international airline.

The immediate effect has been to provide a sound basis for the future development of the independent sector of the industry. The main benefits will accrue over time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why his Department leased to the Esso Oil Company at St. Michaels in the Hamlet, Toxteth, land and storage tanks which are a potential danger to the public in that they are not fitted with any alarm system to indicate when tank capacity is reached.

In accordance with the terms of the agreement for hire between the Depart and Esso, the company was required to obtain a petroleum storage licence before conducting operations on the site. The licence which was obtained was not conditional on the provision of alarms.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the overall balance of trade surplus for the 12 months from June, 1970, and the overall balance of trade deficit for the 12 months from October, 1964.

Quarterly information on trade, visibles and invisibles, is published for periods up to the end of 1970 in the March, 1971, issue of Economic Trends. Figures for the first quarter of 1971 were given in the Treasury Press notice on the balance of payments issued on 8th June, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to find a tenant for the advance factory at Mosshill Industrial Estate.

This factory has just been completed. Efforts to find a tenant are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make an early announcement about a further advance factory building programme.

I continue to keep the need for further advance factory building under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been issued in Scotland in each of the past six months; how many potential jobs are involved; and how these figures compare with those for the first six months of 1970.

The information requested is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the standards of nursing in the United Kingdom will be maintained if nurses from the Common Market countries are freely admitted into the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington, South (Sir B. Rhys Williams) on 5th May.—[Vol. 816, c. 393.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the standards of medical qualifications in the United Kingdom will be maintained if doctors and other medically qualified professionals from the Common Market countries are freely admitted into the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins) on 1st December last, and to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Kenneth Clarke) on 4th May.—[Vol. 807, c. 1056–7; Vol. 816, c. 1159–60.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he has given further consideration to the proposal of the Disabled Drivers' Association for a more flexible scheme of mobility assistance for disabled persons;(2) if he will introduce measures to enable disabled drivers to purchase their own cars by granting to them a maintenance allowance comparable to that provided to service pensioners who are eligible for cars.

All these proposals are being examined in the course of the present review of the invalid vehicle service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether the estimated cost of the land acquisition, road widening and pedestrian underpass in Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, was included in the estimated cost of the new radiotherapy and out-patient and casualty departments;

The land acquisition costs for the new out-patient and accident and emergency departments and the new radiotherapy centre were approximately £80,000. These costs were not included in the estimated costs given in my replies to the hon. Member's previous Questions. The cost of the road widening and pedestrian underpass in Upper Maudlin Street will be borne by the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ascertain the impact of increased prescription charges on the rate of attendance of patients, on the type of symptome being presented and the number and type of drugs being prescribed.

I am keeping the statistics of National Health Service prescriptions dispensed under review and will consider in the light of this whether any further investigations are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and which of the hospitals within the area served by the West Cornwall Hospital Management Committee date back to the outbreak of the Boer War, and how many, and which, date back to the Crimean War; and what replacement programme has been planned.

Budock Hospital, Falmouth, Barncoose Hospital, Redruth, St. Clement's Hospital, Truro and the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro date back to the Crimean War. Camborne-Redruth Hospital, Fowey and District Hospital, Perranporth Hospital, Meneage Hospital, Helston, and the Bolitho Maternity Home, Penzance, date back to the Boer War. The buildings do not all date back similarly; some are relatively modern. The South Western Regional Hospital Board plans considerable further development in the area, including a third phase of building at the main hospital centre—the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, but at this stage it is not possible to forecast in detail the effect of this development on the present facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds and in which respective general, maternity and geriatric hospitals in the area served by the West Cornwall Hospital Management Committee are permanently and temporarily, respectively, out of use due to staff shortages.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total staff shortage, shown in categories, in general, maternity and geriatric hospitals, respectively, in the area served by the West Cornwall Hospital Management Committee; and in which hospitals do those shortages occur.

There is no chronic staff shortage in the area; temporary vacancies, spread over the 21 hospitals in the group, at present exist for 8 nurses, 7 mid-wives and 6 therapists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is yet able to issue instructions to the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board concerning the future use of the Cheshire Joint Sanatorium, Loggerheads.

This hospital has been closed and is to be disposed of. We are waiting for an indication of possible planning permission from the Staffordshire County Council to enable the district valuer to assess current market value.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimate he has made of the effect of a higher than average incidence of lead in the atmosphere on the human body;(2) what estimate he has made of the effect of a higher than average incidence of cadmium in the atmosphere on the human body;(3) what estimate he has made of the effect of a higher than average incidence of copper in the atmosphere on the human body;

Information on the effects on the human body of traces of airborne metals in the atmosphere is derived mainly from the study of industrial toxicology, and maximum allowable concentrations for factory atmospheres are set by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories. The results of recent research on the atmospheric concentrations of the substances mentioned are being examined to see if further work is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the matters which have been referred to local advisory committees by the appropriate Minister or the Supplementary Benefits Commission since 1st July, 1967, and any special problem brought to the notice of the Minister or Secretary of State arising from local conditions.

Apart from their routine function of advising, as required, on the constitution of National Insurance local tribunal panels, and on proposals for the siting or closure of local offices, local advisory committees have been asked to consider the following matters since 1st July, 1967: