asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the most recent official discussions he has had with representatives of the Australian Government.

I would refer to the answers which my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 5th July. This is apart from normal discussions with the Australian High Commission.—[Vol. 820, c. 260–262.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he hopes to pay an official visit to Australia.

I hope to do so for the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation meeting early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now seek to pay an official visit to Australia.

I hope to do so for the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation meeting early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the terms for New Zealand's dairy exports to the United Kingdom in the event of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's statement on 24th June and to the White Paper laid before the House on 7th July.—[Vol. 819, c. 1606–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British Government first approached the Norwegian Government with a view to making a common approach to the European Economic Community over fishing.

We are maintaining close consultation with the Norwegian Government and other applicants about the common fisheries policy of the Community. Of course, the present arrangements of other applicants differ from ours.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange, at public expense, publication and distribution similar to that given to the "Fact-sheets on Britain and Europe", for a series of pamphlets setting out with comparable impartiality further facts leading to the opposite conclusion.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the terms under which Northern Ireland will be entitled to continue her existing regulations for the protection of employment in the event of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community.

In the negotiations Her Majesty's Government have sought a five-year transitional period for Northern Ireland before the application of the Community's requirements on free movement of labour. During this period any available work there should be reserved, as it now is, for residents of Northern Ireland in the first instance, We have also proposed to the Community that it may well be necessary towards the end of the five years to consider whether, and if so what, further special measures will still be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what benefits he anticipates will be obtained by the sugar-producing countries of the Commonwealth if they obtain associate status compared with the benefits received by the overseas departments of France such as Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion.

The position of the French Overseas Departments, which form an integral part of France, is not comparable with that of independent countries which are associated with the Community.In the view of Her Majesty's Government, association with the Community would provide the framework for the Commonwealth countries concerned to make favourable arrangements not only for sugar but also for a wide range of other products of interest to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Australian and New Zealand Governments about the proposed terms of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I would refer to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Yarmouth (Mr. Fell).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has now been able to secure safeguards for Australian sugar exports to the United Kingdom after 1974 if Great Britain should join the European Economic Community.

We have secured explicit recognition by the Community in relation to products, such as sugar, which would become subject to levies under Community policies, and it would take rapid and effective action to deal with any risk of serious disruption of significant volumes of trade with our traditional trading partners over the transitional period.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made as to whether negotiations between other European Free Trade Association states and the European Economic Community will be concluded before Parliament is asked to vote on the issue of United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community.

The discussions of those members of the European Free Trade Association which are not candidates for full membership are at a relatively early stage, but E.F.T.A. Governments and the Community have expressed the desire that these arrangements should come into force at the same time as the enlargement of the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to date of printing, publishing, distributing and advertising the documents called "Fact-sheets on Britain and Europe".

The costs incurred in the Factsheet operation to date are £164,350.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the percentage contribution the United Kingdom would make as a member of the European Economic Community to the Community's budget; and what percentage of the Community's expenditure the United Kingdom would receive in 1980, assuming a continuation of existing economic trends until that date.

I have nothing to add to the information set out in the White Paper published last week.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what documents will be required by British citizens wishing to travel within the enlarged European Economic Community if the United Kingdom joins the European Economic Community.

If the United Kingdom joins the European Economic Community, the documentary requirements for British citizens wishing to travel within the enlarged Community will be unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have now been taken in the European Economic Community negotiations to protect British trade links with Australia.

We have made arrangements to help Australia over certain industrial raw materials; we have secured a reasonable transitional period for the application of the Common External Tariff; and we have secured a specific assurance that abrupt disruption of trade between us and our traditional trading partners during the transitional period in any commodity subject to levies will be avoided.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Australian Government about the terms agreed for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I would refer to the answers which my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 5th July.—[Vol. 820, cc. 260–262.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to seek to make an early visit to South Africa.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the supply of ships, aircraft and equipment to South Africa for maritime defence.

I have nothing to add to what I told the House earlier this afternoon in my reply to Questions from the right hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) and my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider the supply of free water to the poorer people of Hong Kong in view of the recent 50 per cent. increase in the water rate.

From April, 1971, the first 2,000 gallons per quarter consumed through each domestic meter are supplied free and the new rate of Hong Kong $3 per thousand gallons will be applied only to consumption in excess of that minimum. About half of the million or so people living in resettlement estates pay a flat rent which covers water supply. They will, therefore, pay no more. For the remainder who pay separately for water, the average monthly water bill will be reduced by about 30 cents.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why, in view of the fact that the Hong Kong Government have a current budget surplus of 600 million Hong Kong dollars, it has been considered necessary to raise the fees in English-speaking schools for all secondary pupils by £100 per year.

It has long been the policy of the Hong Kong Government to bring into line the subsidies provided to various educational institutions, and it has been necessary to raise the fees in English language schools because the cost of running those schools is over three times the cost of running the equivalent Chinese language schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent visit of his negotiators to the illegal Smith régime for a settlement of independence for Rhodesia on the basis of majority rule.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the conversations between Lord Goodman and the régime in Rhodesia.

I would refer to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) and other hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made for officers of his Department to visit Rhodesia.

I would refer to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) and other hon. Members.Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have visited Southern Rhodesia to assist Lord Goodman.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Lord Goodman has made to the Smith régime in Rhodesia to guarantee unimpeded progress to majority rule in the current discussions.

As I have said, the content of our exploratory exchanges must remain confidential. We are endeavouring to find whether a basis exists for negotiation within the Five Principles, of which the first requires a programme of unimpeded progress to majority rule.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealh Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit of Lord Goodman and senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials to Rhodesia.

I would refer to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) and other hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his official talks on 6th July with Dr. Hillery, External Affairs Minister of the Irish Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his meeting with Dr. Patrick Hillery, Minister for External Affairs of the Irish Republic, on Tuesday, 6th July.

My right hon. Friend and Dr. Hillery had discussions over a wide range of issues, including the European Economic Community and the present situation in Northern Ireland. Dr. Hillery also had discussions with my right hon. and learned Friend the Chan- cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The details of these discussions must, of course, remain confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to place the murder of over 4,000 Polish prisoners of war in the Katyn Forest on the agenda of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government in the decision of the International Court on Namibia.

I would refer to the reply I gave earlier this afternoon to the hon. Members for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes) and Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will initiate within the Security Council discussions with a view to implementing the recommendatons of the International Court of Justice for an economic boycott of transactions purported to be made on behalf of Namibia by the South African Government.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend told the House earlier today in reply to Questions by the hon. Members for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes) and Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd).

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

Her Majesty's Government's position remains as set out in my statement on 1st March. Consultations are still proceeding between the States in the Gulf about the future political structure for the area.—[Vol. 812, c. 1227–91]

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

The question of a Ministerial visit to Malta is under consideration with the Prime Minister of Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he is satisfied with progress in stepping up relief supplies from Great Britain to the Indian East-Pakistan border areas ; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes ; relief supplies from the United Kingdom are being stepped up as agreement is reached on requirements. Of the additional assistance of £5 million to ease the burden of the refugees on the Government of India which we announced on 23rd June, nearly £3 million has already been committed, in agreement with the Indian authorities, for the purchase of rice, shelter materials and tents.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Her Majesty's Government did not support the admission of the German Democratic Republic to the World Health Organisation at its 24th Assembly.

The international status of the German Democratic Republic is in dispute. The question of German Democratic Republic participation in the World Health Organisation is, therefore, a political issue which, we believe, should not be dealt with in a technical body such as the World Health Organisation but in an appropriate political organ of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs if he will seek to pay an official visit to the Somali Democratic Republic.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is proposing for air and sea patrols to check vessels from poaching in the fishing grounds of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This matter is being carefully watched by the recently appointed administrator of the Turks and Caicos Islands and his fisheries officer. If, as a result, the Government of the territory make a request for British assistance in dealing with this problem, we will be ready to consider it sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majsty's Government have responded to the repeated appeal of the Government of the Khmer Republic for international action to secure the demilitarisation of the area containing the cultural monuments of Angkor; and whether he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government attach great importance to the preservation of these magnificient cultural monuments. We are already in contact with the Khmer Government in response to their recent appeal for international action, to see what practical steps we can take to help.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, having regard to the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations, he will make a statement on the transfer of the Tiaoyutia Islets to China.

Neither the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration nor any binding international agreement deals in express terms with the future of the Tiaoyutai Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the time comes to re-negotiate the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement in 1974, who will be responsible for those negotiations.

If Britain enters the European Economic Community the arrangements for the importation of sugar after 1974 from the Commonwealth developing countries will be worked out in the framework of the negotiations on association or on trade agreements, depending on which of these alternatives the countries concerned opt for. These negotiations will take place between these Commonwealth countries and the enlarged Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of industrial projects in the developing countries assisted by his Department between June, 1966, and June, 1971 ; what is the approximate cost; and what were the methods of financing them.

Disbursements of financial aid for industrial projects were £30·6 million in the period from 1st January, 1966, to 31st December, 1970. Of this, £6·9 million was provided in grant form and the rest as loans. In addition, new investment

		1966–67 £	1967–68 £	1968–69 £	1969–70 £	1970–71 £	1971–72 £
I.P.P.F.	…	6,000	50,000	50,000	100,000	250,000	275,000
U.N.F.P.A	…	—	—	40,000	—	250,000	750,000
O.E.C.D. Development Centre		—	—	—	—	10,417	10,417
Total	…	6,000	50,000	90,000	100,000	510,417	1,035,417

No contributions were made before the financial year 1966–67.The Government also make substantial contributions to other international organisations not primarily engaged in the population field, but much of whose activities contributes directly or indirectly to the solution of population problems. These include the U.N. Specialised Agencies and the International Development Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for the improvement of hospital facilities in Montserrat.

We have for long accepted the need for a new hospital in Montserrat. Sketch designs for a new 69-bed hospital, prepared under British technical assistance, have been agreed. The consultants are now being asked by the Government of Montserrat to prepare detailed proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the amount of contributions made by the Government in each of the years since 1965 to international organisations for the purpose of world population control.

Contributions have been made to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, to the U.N. Fund for Population Activities, and to the O.E.C.D. Development Centre's population programme, as follows :—

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to announce his decision on the public inquiry held at

The inspector who held the inquiry fell ill shortly afterwards. He has now returned to duty, and a decision will be announced as soon as possible after the report of the inquiry has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what application he has had from the British Overseas Airways Corporation for compensation for the routes transferred from the British Overseas Airways Corporation to British United Airways/ Caledonian ; and what reply he has sent;(2) what applications he has had from British European Airways for compensation for the routes transferred from British European Airways to British United Airways /Caledonian ; and what reply he has sent.

B.O.A.C. has asked for compensation and B.E.A. has expressed concern at its loss of revenue. I have already made it clear to the House that air service licences are not a form of property in respect of which compensation could properly be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of British industrial investment in the developing countries in each of the years 1966 to 1970.

Following are the figures for the net flow of private direct investment to developing countries from 1966 to 1970 (excluding oil). Reinvested profits are included. About two-thirds of net investment is in industry and commerce, and about one-third in agriculture, transport and finance.

	£ million
1966	61
1967	63
1968	91
1969	147
1970	131*
* Preliminary estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent Great Britain's entry into the European Coal and Steel Community will allow or prevent pay increases from being claimed and applied by the National Coal Board.

Our entry will have no effect on wage negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made in his consideration of replacing the orders that ensure that imported foods bear an indication of origin when exposed for retail sale after 30th November, when the current marking orders lapse.

Only a limited range of foods are covered by existing orders. I am still considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of these merit further orders, but we hope to put forward our conclusions before long.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek powers to give greater protection to consumers who purchase defective new British cars.

We hope to legislate before long to nullify contractual clauses in consumer sales—whatever the origin of the goods—which limit the seller's responsibility under the Sale of Goods Act as regards fitness for purpose and merchantable quality.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions took place between his Department and the Shipbuilding Industry Board between October, 1970, and June, 1971, regarding the financial position of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders.

Discussions took place between my Department and the Shipbuilding Industry Board on a number of occasions throughout the period in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the view of the Government director was sought on the financial position of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders on 18th November, 1970.

There was no director appointed by the Government on the Board of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd. The director nominated by the Shipbuilding Industry Board was present at the meeting on 19th November at which the Chairman and other directors of the company presented to my hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley), one of the Under-Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry, the Company's report dated 18th November, on its financial position and prospects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department took between 11th February, 1971, and June, 1971 to satisfy itself that the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders would have a viable future.

Financial returns were received from the company. Until 8th June these did not contain anything to cast serious doubt on the assurances the directors had given in February about its viability.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Government are taking to implement the recommendation of the Hunt Committee that publicity should be given to the considerations determining the exercise of industrial development certificate control.

An article on the operation of the i.d.c. control has been published in the current issue of Trade and Industry and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library. Copies of the article will also be available at all the Department's regional offices, and, with the assistance of industrial and local Government associations, will be circulated widely to industry and local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the import of medicines and pharmaceutical products from China fell from £27,745 for 1964 to £242 for 1970.

I understand that supplies at the earlier level are no longer available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will not give answers to hon. Members' questions which do not give the statistics requested, but instead give references to publications in which figures can be found, which increases the work of Members in finding them.

I am always ready to help hon. Members in matters relating to statistics, but where information asked for can readily and easily be extracted from published sources available in the Library, I propose to continue the established practice of referring hon. Members to these sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total figures of industrial development certificates issued for projects over 5,000 square feet in the areas of Nottinghamshire in the last 12 months compared with the number of industrial development certificates applied for, giving the estimated employment, industry by industry.

From 1st June, 1970, to 31st May, 1971, 79 industrial development certificates for 1·3 million sq. ft. were issued for projects of 5,000 sq. ft. and over in Nottinghamshire. These were estimated by the applicants to provide 1,550 jobs of which 1,150 are for males. During the same period no application of this size was refused. I regret that statistics of approvals industry by industry are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of all complaints made to weights and measures officers under the Trades Description Act were relating to motor vehicles, for each of the years since the coming into force of the Act.

I am not informed of complaints received by local weights and measures authorities. The percentages of successful prosecutions under the Act which related to motor vehicles or accessories were:

	Per cent.
1969	28
1970	27½
1971 (to 30th April)	38½

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current annual rate of consumption of coal by Electricity Board power stations, and how this compares with the rate 12 months ago.

Total coal consumption by power stations in the first half of 1971 was 37·8 million tons compared with 41·1 million tons in the corresponding period of last year. One about 1 per cent. of these totals was accounted for by power stations which are not producing electricity for public supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he expects supplies of smokeless fuel to be adequate for the winter of 1971–72 ; how he anticipates demand rising in the next year ; and by how much he expects production to increase, or decrease, in the public and private sector, respectively.

Forecasting future demand is subject to many unavoidable uncertainties, but producers and merchants are confident that they can meet next winter's needs so long as weather is not exceptionally severe and that supplies are not seriously affected by industrial dis- putes. During 1971–72 production in the gas industry is likely to decrease by 900,000 tons while increases are expected in the remainder of the public sector of 500,000 tons and in the private sector of 600,000 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the tonnages of United Kingdom coal stocks at the last available date and at the same time last year, and the average figures for the last five years in total, at pit heads, and at all power stations.

UNITED KINGDOM STOCKS OF COAL
	26th June, 1971 million tons	27th June, 1970 million tons	Average at end June, 1967 to 1971 million tons
Total	26·2	26·1	35·0
Undistributed :
at collieries	5·6	9·8	16·1
at opencast sites	2·2	2·3	3·3
Total	7·8	12·1	19·4
Power stations	13·7	9·6	11·0

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken by his Department to assist in producing a new generation of airliner to deal with short-haul, inter-city and inter-urban air transport, offering quiet short take-off and landing capability with a speed of 600 miles per hour and seating capacity for 150 passengers.

The Government and industry are carrying out wide-ranging studies to assess the prospects, embracing aircraft definition, the market and environmental questions ; manufacturers, however, have not yet felt able to put forward firm proposals for the development of a new project.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the current wage claim by the miners for increases of between £8 and £9 per week is in accordance with the Government's policy towards wage increases in the public sector.

I understand that the National Coal Board has no claim before it. It would not therefore be appropriate for me to comment on the figures mentioned in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what would be the necessary increase in average earnings in the coal mining industry to bring them up to the European Economic Community levels.

The only figures available are for average earnings in the countries of the European Economic Community. I am afraid they are not broken down into separate industries. Insufficient data are available to make a meaningful comparison of average earnings for individual industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give the actual number of occasions since the end of 1970 when his Department approached the Dollar Land Company Limited for the justification of its 1969 accounts; which directors he has approached to ensure publication as quickly as possible of the 1969 accounts; and on what dates each of these approaches were made.

The Department has been in touch with the secretary or other officers of the company on this and other matters on some 20 occasions since the end of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, on entry into the Common Market on signing the Rome Treaty, Great Britain will, in respect of public enterprises to which it grants special or exclusive rights, be able to enact or maintain in force measures in support of such favourable discrimination under the Treaty rules, particularly those rules provided for in Article 7 and in Articles 85 to 94, inclusive ; and whether he will make a statement.

On entry into the E.E.C. the United Kingdom would be governed by the treaty rules, including those designed to ensure fair competition. The position of public enterprises is recognised in Article 90 of the Treaty of Rome, and I do not foresee any difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the Common External Tariff of the European Economic Community on timber, particularly that intended for house building, and whether this will apply to United Kingdom imports in the event of entry into the Community.

Taking timber as wood in the forms described in C.E.T. headings 44.03 to 44.05 inclusive, all the duty rates applicable as from 1st January, 1971, are free with the following two exceptions:

	Per cent
44.03B.I—Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of its bark or merely roughed down : posts of coniferous wood, of a length of from 6 metres inclusive to 18 metres inclusive and a circumference at the butt end of from 45 cm exclusive to 90 cm inclusive, injected or otherwise impregnated to any degree	3·6
44.05B.II—Wood sawn lengthwise, sliced or peeled, but not further prepared, of a thickness exceeding 5 mm : coniferous wood, of a length of 125 cm or less and of a thickness of less than 12·5 mm	10·6

The duty-free positions within headings 44.03 to 44.05 include the forms of timber most widely used in house building. The application of the C.E.T. to United Kingdom imports is explained in paragraph 79 of Cmnd 4715.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is proposed to hive-off to private enterprise any of the existing functions of the electricity supply industry ; if he has been in communciation with either the Electricity Council or the electricity boards on this matter ; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Palmer) on 14th June.—[Vol. 819, c. 8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he anticipates that the Committee on Invisible Exports will publish the results of its investigation into how possible United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community will affect the country's invisible export earnings.

I understand that the Committee intends to publish its study in about a fortnight.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet decided whether his proposed value-added tax would apply to electricity ; what is the likely effect on electricity tariffs for consumers ; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend said in his Budget speech, the precise rates and coverage of the value-added tax are matters for decision nearer the time of its introduction. Until those decisions are taken, it is not possible to say what effect its introduction might have on any particular item.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is aware that a married man with four children, earning £25 per week, has a take-home pay of £24·92 when at work and £29 when unemployed, and can be better off unemployed than at work for seven weeks per year ; and what corrective action he intends to take ;(2) if he is aware that a married man with no children, earning £15 per week, has a take-home pay of £12·77 when at work and £15·40 when unemployed, and can be better off unemployed than at work for 10 weeks per year; and what corrective action he intends to take.

Yes. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I give him on 6th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will tabulate all instances of families of 0–4 children, under 11 years of age, earning £15, £20, £25, £30, £35, and £40, where the take-home pay when out of work can exceed the take-home pay when at work, stating for how many weeks in a year this state of affairs can prevail.

The examples are as follows :

Number of children	Weekly wage at which take home pay when out of work can exceed take home pay when at work	Maximum number of weeks for which take home pay when out of work can exceed take home pay when at work
	£
None	15	10
	20	20
1	20	10
	25	18
2	20	5
	25	14
	30	20
3	25	10
	30	17
4	15	25
	25	7
	30	14

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total amount of tax refunds paid annually as a result of unemployment benefits being exempt from taxation ;(2) what is the total amount of tax refunds paid annually as a result of unemployment, sickness and social security benefits being exempt from taxation.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will open a Government bookshop in Leeds.

No. There is at present insufficient demand for Government publications in the Leeds area to warrant the opening of a Government bookshop.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider freeing from purchase tax specialised inflatable play equipment for mentally and physically handicapped children.

I understand that these articles are suitable for use as general purpose play equipment, but in view of the information which my hon. Friend has sent me I am making further inquiries about the degree of their specialisation and I will write to him as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce his provision of funds for a trunk road programme within the Greater London area.

I have nothing to add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to his hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. John Hannam) on 23rd June—[Vol. 819, c. 288–92.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will name those coastal authorities which still discharge sewage into the sea in an untreated condition, indicating which of them have plans for providing some form of treatment in the near future ;(2) which local authorities at present discharging untreated sewage into the sea are using outfalls which discharge at, or not far below, the low water mark ; and what representations he has made to these authorities to encourage them to provide better facilities in the near fuure.

As such information as I have at present is incomplete and might therefore be misleading I have decided to ask coastal local authorities about their current methods of sewage disposal to the sea and I very much hope they will co-operate with the Department in supplying the necessary details. Where it has come to notice that pollution of beaches or bathing waters was being caused by a sea outfall, officers of my Department have encouraged local authorities to plan and carry out the necessary improvements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals have been dealt with by his Department in the last 12 months; and how many appeals are outstanding at the present time.

2,763 planning appeals were decided by my right hon. Friend during the 12 months to 30th June, and 2,404 were decided by Inspectors. At that date appeals outstanding numbered 6,752 including 1,126 cases on which action was not proceeding at the request of the appellants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to follow up the Humberside Report now that the Reports on Tay-side and Severnside have been published.

I am satisfied that there are no pressing reasons which would necessitate decisions on the Humberside Report before 1972, as the Report itself suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now completed his discussions with local authorities on housing finance ; and when he will publish his White Paper.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 7th July.—[Vol. 820, c. 1310.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give as much information as may be readily available showing the rise and/ or fall in actual figures or as a percentage of the number of council houses built to let and the number of houses built for sale during the period from 18th June, 1970, to 18th June, 1971 ; how these figures compare with the year ended 18th June, 1970 ; and if he will give details of the number of staff employed in his Department and the cost of administering his Department for the same periods.

From 1st July, 1970, to 31st May, 1971, 119,000 dwellings were completed in England and Wales for local authorities and new towns, of those 400 were for sale. Compared with completions of 129,000 and 800 respectively in the period 1st July, 1969, to 31st May, 1970, there are falls of 7½ and 50 per cent.During these same periods in the private sector for England and Wales there were 153,000 dwellings completed up to 31st May, 1971, and 149,000 completed up to 31st May, 1970, a rise of 3 per cent.Building figures for June, 1971, are not yet available.Staff within the Department of the Environment or its predecessors attributable to housing administration numbered about 500 throughout the period. Cost of administration was about £1·2 million in 1969–70 and about £1·3 million in 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total contribution paid to local authorities towards the provision of council housing during 1969–70; and what percentage of the total was paid to the County Borough of Birmingham.

The amount of subsidy paid in 1969–70 to local authorities in England for the provision by them of new permanent dwellings was £112·1 million of which 1·96 per cent. was paid to the County Borough of Birmingham.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what survey of the incomes of council tenants has been undertaken since the publication of Report No. 62 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, Command Paper No. 3604.

No subsequent survey has been carried out on the scale of that undertaken by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in 1968, but the Department of Employment's continuing annual Family Expenditure Survey provides information on the incomes of all households, including those of council tenants. Income analyses of council tenants derived from the F.E.S. are published from time to time in Housing Statistics (Great Britain), copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents involving injuries to pedestrians by cyclists have occurred during each of the past three years; and whether he will review the possibility of obliging cyclists to carry a third-party insurance.

Figures for 1969 and 1970 are not readily available ; in 1968, 15 pedestrians were killed and 1,000 injured in accidents where, a pedal-cycle was the only vehicle involved. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to state the intended publication date of the Ministry of Transport Survey on the cost/benefit of railway services in Cornwall which was carried out during the summer of 1970.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council how the 30 hon. Members attending as delegates the various European Parliamentary Assemblies in the countries of the Community during the coming recess will be selected, appointed or elected ; and what form of procedure will be adopted for these elections.

The delegates referred to in my reply to the hon. Member of 1st July were selected after discussion through the usual channels, and in accordance with the procedures adopted by successive Governments in this matter.—[Vol. 820, c. 205.]

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will seek to arrange that before Great Britain enters the European Economic Community all appointments of Members of Parliament to conferences and assemblies in Europe will be on a basis which permits representation of differing points of view on the question of Great Britain's entry, a wide selection of geographical locations, and a cross-section of industries which will be affected in different ways by Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community.

I believe the existing procedures for selecting Parliamentary delegations to conferences and assemblies abroad already ensure that they are properly represented.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what has been the expenditure in terms of foreign currency out of the £17 million spent on the maintenance and operation of the Royal Air Force element of the Beira Patrol stationed at Malagasy to date.

£860,000.

Date	Guinea Pigs	Mice	Rabbits	Hamsters	Voles	Monkeys	Sheep	Rats	Chicks	Others*
1952	14,707	78,645	3,604	—	—	236	—	31	—	116
1953	18,893	54,346	3,309	—	—	331	—	2,841	—	50
1954	20,638	68,077	3,649	—	—	182	—	563	—	4
1955	14,854	88,683	3,067	34	—	51	—	429	—	5
1956	13,782	92,590	3,116	12	—	110	—	1,101	—	29
1957	10,190	92,770	2,316	—	—	60	—	904	480	6
1958	11,307	92,324	2,283	—	—	17	—	146	768	—
1959	8,483	86,358	1,693	—	—	57	32	100	777	—
1960	11,846	82,244	1,341	6	—	6	—	6	—	22
1961	10,786	77,127	2,041	20	—	10	3	118	—	24
1962	11,002	83,856	1,614	—	—	—	54	72	—	7
1963	9,348	75,986	1,137	—	—	1	10	25	—	6
1964	9,195	54,829	1,794	—	—	—	8	314	—	2
1965	2,054	121,536	1,701	2,212	—	—	16	1,026	—	4
1966	704	96,981	1,405	5,260	67	27	4	106	—	11
1967	1,669	126,619	1,679	1,688	29	53	44	—	—	—
1968	5,789	98,992	1,117	4,256	413	44	46	63	—	32
1969	7,315	127,390	1,218	1,157	76	119	43	94	—	29
1970	8,555	175,836	1,233	1,214	15	29	82	49	—	14
* These figures are mainly for Cats (105), Dogs (74), Cattle (64) and Frogs (79).

asked the Minister of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Colonels of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales to ensure that the Welsh depot at Cwrt-y-Gollen remains a purely Welsh institution ; and whether he will make a statement on its future.

In the course of detailed examination of the allocation of the eight regiments constituting the Prince of Wales's Division between the division's two depots, the Colonels of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales have urged that the Welsh character of the depot at Cwrt-y-Gollen should be preserved. I am not yet able to say what the outcome of the examination will be.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give a detailed breakdown showing the numbers of each animal used for experimental purposes at the biological centre at Porton for each year in which the centre has been open.

Our records show only the number and types of animals available to the Microbiological Research Establishment for experimentation over the period in question. Not all were subject to experiments. The details are :

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date she officially approved the Derby Education Committee's reorganisation proposals for Sector A ; and on what date the Derby Education Committee officially commenced to send out written notices advising parents and teachers that the reorganisation was being implemented as from next term.

My approval was notified on 25th June. I have had inquiries made of the local education authority and I now understand that it told head teachers on 3rd June of the arrangements which would obtain next term if I approved the statutory proposals. Head teachers were, however, authorised to issue letters to parents on 18th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers have resigned from schools in Derby Borough Sector A since the reorganisation proposals were published by the Education Committee in January last; how the percentage of resignations compares with resignations in other areas of the borough ; and what explanation for the resignations she has asked for and been given.

I have had inquiries made of the local education authority and I understand that 29 teachers have resigned from secondary schools in Sector A since January, 1971. This represents 13·6 per cent. compared with 13·4 per cent. in the rest of the borough. It is not my practice to require explanations of local statistics of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many individual letters she has received from parents and teachers objecting to the Derby Education Committee's proposals for reorganisation of secondary education in Sector A, and what replies she has sent.

I received 366 letters from objectors to the local authority's proposals under Section 13 of the Education Act, 1944. I do not know how many of them came from teachers. I am send- ing my hon. Friend a copy of the reply sent to the objectors by my Department on 2nd July.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what reply she gave to the Breadsall/Chaddesden Parents' Committee who lodged an official objection on 8th March last to the proposed reorganisation of secondary education in Sector A in Derby ; when the reply was sent; and what consultation has taken place between the committee and her Department ;(2) what consultations she has held with elected representatives of the committee of parents objecting to the proposals for the reorganisation of secondary education in Derby Borough Sector A ; and when they took place.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Department's official reply of 2nd July to this committee. It did not seek a discussion with me, but before I reached my decision on the local authority's proposals I gave careful consideration, as my hon. Friend knows, to the committee's views. No other committee of parents expressed objections.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the amount spent on research and development in each of the countries comprising the European Economic Community for the past six years, together with the comparable figures for the United Kingdom.

Figures of expenditure on research and development by the countries comprising the European Economic Community are given in Table 3.7 of "Statistical Yearbook, 1969" published by U.N.E.S.C.O. For the United Kingdom the figure for 1966–67 has been revised to £926·3 million and later figures are 1967–68, £962·1 million and 1968–69, £1,016·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the rights which local education authorities or headmasters have to refuse admission to their schools for the purpose of training of student teachers from university departments of education and colleges of education.

The conduct of a maintained school, including its use by teacher training establishments for their students' teaching practice, is a matter for the local education authority, the managers or governors and the head teacher in accordance with the provisions of rules of management or articles of government made under Section 17 of the Education Act, 1944.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what conclusions she has reached on the recommendations on the future of art education made by the Coldstream Committee.

I am communicating my decisions in a circular to local education authorities and colleges and will place a copy in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions took place with industry and the trade unions before exemptions were made to Regulation 9(1) of The Abrasive Wheels Regulations, 1970.

H.M. Chief Inspector of Factories has, in accordance with his powers under Regulation 5 of the Abrasive Wheels Regulations, 1970, issued the following certificates of exemption from Regulation 9(1), which refers to the training and appointment of persons to mount abrasive wheels.

28th August, 1970	Certificate No. 1 (Abrasive wheels used in the manufacture of crystal glass).
13th October, 1970	Certificate No. 3 (Certain types of wheels used in a variety of industries).
7th July, 1971	Certificate No. 7 (Certain types of wheels used in the manufacture of pottery).

Certificate No. 1 was issued following the public inquiry into the draft regulations when both sides of industry expressed agreement on the subject of exemption, a view supported by the Com- missioner.I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Commissioner's report. Certificate No. 3 is the subject of another question today by the hon. Member.Certificate No. 7 was issued following an application by the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation. Details of the application were sent to the Ceramic and Allied Trades Union on 14th April, 1971, and on 21st May the Chief Inspector was informed that the union's council could not agree to any exemption. As a further letter, dated 7th June, asking for the specific grounds of objection did not receive a reply, he decided that as there was no significant risk of the wheels concerned bursting, he would issue the certificate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what recommendations he received before issuing Exemption No. 3 in respect of the Abrasive Wheels Regulations, 1970.

The exemption in question was issued by FI.M. Chief Inspector of Factories, who considered that the requirements of Regulation 9(1) of the Abrasive Wheels Regulations, 1970, referring to the training and appointment of persons to mount abrasive wheels, were inapplicable to certain types of abrasive wheels where the methods of mounting did not call for any particular skill or special instruction and where there was no significant risk of bursting.He wrote to the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress on 3rd July, 1970, informing them of his proposal to exempt these wheels from Regulation 9(1) and seeking their comments. Neither body raised any objection to the proposal and the Chief Inspector accordingly issued certificate of exemption No. 3 on 13th October, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, how many summonses have been issued by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate under the Abrasive Wheels Regulations, 1970.

So far, four summonses have been issued on the Inspectorate's application.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions are going on in his Department about the possibility of identity cards for United Kingdom citizens within an enlarged European Economic Community ; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to find new employment for the 200 workers likely to be made redundant by the closing down of the plant of Imperial Smelting at Avonmouth, Bristol.

My Department's local officers are in close contact with the company and arrangements have been made for a job team to go into the works to give information and advice about other employment as soon as firm information about the redundancies becomes available. Special approaches will be made to other employers for vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of employees in employment in Perth in each year since 1955.

Following is the information for 1955 and each year up to 1969, the latest date for which information is available :

Estimated numbers of employees in employment in the area covered by the Perth Employment Exchange.
1955	26,000
1956	27,000
1957	27,000
1958	27,000
1959	29,000
1960	27,000
1961	28,000
1962	28,000
1963	28,000
1964	28,000
1965	27,000
1966	27,000
1967	27,000
1968	26,000
1969	27,000