asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will add to the details as published of the various parliamentary delegations to the Council of Europe, Western European Union and North Atlantic Assemblies by giving the names of the Members who

Meeting	Members attending
W.E.U. Presidential Committee (The Hague) …	Rt. Hon. Duncan Sandys, Rt. Hon. Michael Stewart.
C. of E. Social and Health Questions Committee (Paris).	Dame Joan Vickers, Mrs. L. Jeger, Mr. W. Molloy, Sir B. Rhys Williams and Dr. M. S. Miller.
C. of E. Social and Health Questions—Sub-Committee on 4th Seminar on International Voluntary Services (Paris).	Mr. W. Molloy.
C. of E. Regional Planning and Local Authorities Committee (Paris).	Dame Joan Vickers, Mrs. L. Jeger, Mr. Arthur Jones and Mr. W. Molloy.
C. of E. Budget Committee (Vienna) … …	Mr. P. Emery.
C. of E. Regional Planning and Local Authorities —Sub-Committee on Protection of Natural Environment (Paris).	Dame Joan Vickers.
C. of E. Economic Affairs and Development Committee (Paris).	Rt. Hon. G. Darling, Mr. F. Judd, Mr. S. Wingfield Digby, Sir B. Rhys Williams.
C. of E. Agricultural Committee (Paris) …	Mr. J. Scott-Hopkins.
C. of E. Political Affairs Committee (Paris) …	Mr. J. Peel, Mr. D. Marquand, Mr. S. Wingfield Digby, Sir John Rodgers.
C. of E. Agriculture—Sub-Committee on Fisheries (Paris).	Mr. J. Scott-Hopkins.
W.E.U. Scientific Technical and Aerospace Questions Committee (Bordeaux).	Mr. J. Lloyd and Rt. Hon. P. Gordon Walker.
W.E.U. Defence Questions and Armaments Committee (Taverny).	Mr. J. Scott-Hopkins and Mr. H. Boyden.
W.E.U. Defence Questions and Armaments— Sub-Committee on a Conference on the Rationalisation of the European Defence Efforts (Paris).	Mr. J. Peel.
W.E.U. Defence Questions and Armaments Committee (Paris).	Mr. J. Peel, Mr. J. Scott-Hopkins and Mr. H. Boyden.
C. of E. 1st Part of 23rd Session of Consultative Assembly (Strasbourg).	Rt. Hon. Duncan Sandys, Mr. D. Coleman, Rt. Hon. G. Darling, Mr. S. Wingfield Digby, Mr. P. Grieve, Mrs. L. Jeger, Mr. F. Judd, Mr. I. Lloyd, Mr. R. Maclennan Mr. D. Marquand, Mr. J. Peel, Sir John Rodgers, Rt. Hon. M. Stewart, Dame Joan Vickers, Mr. H. Boyden, Mr. A. Dodds-Parker, Mr. P. Emery, Mr. E. Fernyhough, Mr. J. E. B. Hill, Mr. Arthur Jones, Mr. S. B. Jones. Dr. J. Dickson Mabon, Dr. M. Miller, Mr. W, Molloy, Mr. J. Scott-Hopkins, Mr. D. Steel, Rt. Hon. P. Gordon Walker, Mr. D. Walters and Mr. W. Whitlock.
W.E.U. Presidential Committee (Brussels) …	Rt. Hon. Duncan Sandys and Rt. Hon. Michael Stewart.
North Atlantic Assembly Committee Meeting (Brussels).	Mr. J. Peel, Mr. E. Bishop, Mr. A. Dodds-Parker, Mr. J. Dunn, Mr. K. Lomas, Sir Fitzroy Maclean, Rear Admiral Morgan Giles, Rt. Hon. J. Morris and Mr. P. Wall.
C. of E. Science and Technology Committee (Ankara).	Mr. P. Emery, Mr. I. Lloyd, Dr. M. Miller and Mr. W. Whitlock.
W.E.U. General Affairs Committee (Paris) …	Mr. P. Emery and Mr. F. Judd.
C. of E. Political Affairs Committee (Strasbourg)	Sir John Rodgers.
C. of E. Agricultural Committee (Strasbourg) …	Mr. J. Scott-Hopkins.
C. of E. Agriculture—Sub-Committee on Fisheries (Strasbourg).	Mr. J. Scott-Hopkins.

The names of the members of the Parliamentary delegations who attended the meetings of the Council of Europe, Western European Union and North Atlantic Assembly described in my reply of 8th July, 1971, are as follows :

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the comparative figures available for the first six months of 1970 and the first six months of 1971 with regard to margarine and butter sales.

The most recent estimate for the use of butter in the United Kingdom in 1971, with the figure for the same period of 1970, is :

	'000 tons
January-May, 1970	193·5
January-May, 1971	187·3

Comparable figures are not available for margarine but estimated production of margarine in the United Kingdom was :

	'000 tons
January-May, 1970	131·7
January-May, 1971	137·5

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) under what circumstances the Army was called to a sports shop in Bedford Street, Belfast, early in the morning of Monday, 12th July, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion ; at what time the explosion occurred ; at what time the Army arrived on the scene ; what was the result of its investigations ; what damage was done ; whether the area was sealed off ; what searches were made ; and what arrests resulted ;

A number of people are assisting the police with their inquiries concerning these and other incidents during the night of 11–12th July ; others face charges in the courts. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to add further details at this stage.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether the Army was called to Irvingstown Orange Hall, Northern Ireland, after the hall had been wrecked by an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion early in the morning of 1st July ; what was the result of its investigations ; at what time the explosion occurred ; at what time the Army arrived ; whether the area was sealed off ; what searches were made and what arrests resulted.

Army experts were called to the scene of the explosion, which occurred at about 3 a.m. They arrived shortly afterwards, the area having first been cleared. The normal searches and forensic investigations were carried out. They revealed that a charge of about 20 1b. had been used, but found no evidence to indicate the identity of the person or persons responsible. No arrests were made by the Army at the time of the incident.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the uncovering of over 100 1b. of gelignite a short distance from the border inside Northern Ireland near Newry by Army investigators in the last few days ; what similar caches have been uncovered in this vicinity in the past month ; and if he is satisfied that the source of this gelignite supply has been effectively sealed off.

The Army has no record of this incident.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances Rifleman David Walker was shot dead by Irish Republican Army gunmen in Belfast on Tuesday, 13th July ; how many shots were fired ; what sort of gun was used ; how many shots struck Rifleman Walker ; if he was wearing a bullet-proof vest ; whether the fire was returned ; if the area was sealed off ; what searches were made ; and what arrests resulted.

Shortly before 5.30 p.m. on Monday, 12th July, three shots were fired by a person or persons unknown at an observation post on the roof of Northumberland Street Mill. It is believed that a high velocity weapon was used. One shot hit Rifleman Walker, who was not at the time of the incident wearing a flak jacket. There was no opportunity to return fire. The area was searched without success. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances a soldier was shot dead in Belfast on Wednesday, 14th July, by Irish Republican Army gunmen ; how many shots were fired ; what sort of guns were used ; how many shots struck the victim ; whether he was wearing a bulletproof vest ; if the fire was returned ; whether the area was sealed off ; what searches were made ; and what arrests resulted.

Shortly after midnight a land rover patrol of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, was ambushed by unknown gunmen in the Andersonstown area of Belfast. The vehicle, which was carrying four soldiers, was fired on with 20 to 30 rounds from an automatic rifle. The driver was hit by one shot and died almost immediately. He was wearing a flak jacket. Fire was returned at the gunmen's position, and a cordon and search operation was instituted. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when he expects to be able to announce his conclusions after his study of the Memorandum submitted by the Officers' Pensions Society on the subject of widows' pensions.

This complex problem has been under detailed examination by my Department and the Department of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. We hope it will be possible to announce our conclusions shortly.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what he estimates to be the capital value of the Fishery Protection Squadron.

The six vessels at present making up the Fishery Protection Squadron cost over £3 million to build over 10 years ago. Their depreciated current value, even allowing for subsequent refits and improvements, would be well below that figure. Their replacement cost would be a good deal higher.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the annual operational costs of the Fishery Protection Squadron.

Between £1·0 million and £1·1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is now her Department's policy to make a decision in advance of the recommendation of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art about the future of Titian's painting, The Death of Actaeon.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question on this subject on 8th July.—[Vol. 820, c. 433–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is her Department's policy that there will be no future financial assistance in terms of special grants to retain in Great Britain major masterpieces of painting which are now likely to come on the market following the high prices realised by the Velasquez portrait of Juan de Pareja and the Titian painting, "The Death of Actaeon".

No. A special grant was made on 24th March to enable the National Gallery of Scotland to acquire a painting by Domenichino and on 8th June to enable the National Por- trait Gallery to acquire important Hilliard and Oliver miniatures. Each case will be decided on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of those who graduated from universities and other establishments of higher education in 1970 have still not found permanent employment.

The latest information about university graduates is that 2,563 students obtaining first degrees in 1969–70 were recorded as still seeking employment in December 1970.There is no information about graduates from other institutions of higher education.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has yet agreed to the proposal of the Distributive Industry Training Board for an increase in levy from 0·5 per cent. to 0·9 per cent. of payroll ; and if he will make a statement.

The board has made revised proposals to my right hon. Friend for a levy at the rate of 0·7 per cent., which he is now considering.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the average Welsh working family's income is represented by the purchase of food and by how much this proportion differs from the United Kingdom average.

The latest information available, which relates to households as defined in the Family Expenditure Survey, is as follows :

Proportion of total weekly household expenditure spent on food over the period January, 1969 to December, 1970
	Wales United Kingdom
	per cent.	per cent.
Including meals out	28·1	26·0
Excluding meals out	25·0	22·6

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if Her Majesty's Government have ratified the International Labour Organisation Convention 100 which requires signatories to enforce the principle of equal pay for work of equal value without discrimination on the grounds of sex.

Yes. On 15th June, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many presiding officers were engaged at polling stations in the recent local elections ; how many were men and how many were women ; and in what local authority areas no women were employed in that capacity.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the latest corrected figures for murder in England and Wales during 1970 and each of the six preceding years.

The latest corrected figures for offences of murder known to the police in England and Wales are as follows :

1964	135
1965	135
1966	122
1967	154
1968	148
1969	119
1970	138 (including two offences not yet disposed of by the courts)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to public funds of providing one hundred copies of Command Paper No. 4715 for every hon. Member to distribute among constituents.

Provided no special arrangements were necessary for urgent production, the cost of reprinting the White Paper in order to provide 100 copies for each Member is estimated to be £2,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to implement the recent recommendations made by the Royal College of Nursing to improve the conditions, remuneration and status of student nurses and to improve conditions in the nursing profession generally ; and if he will make a statement.

The recommendations to which the hon. Member refers were made in evidence to the Committee on Nursing under the chairmanship of Professor Asa Briggs. A number of them concern matters which have for some time been under active consideration within my Department and by hospital authorities throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now in a position to state what changes would have to be made in the Opticians Act, 1958, if Great Britain joins the Six.

Draft directives concerning opticians are still under discussion within the Community, and until they have been finalised it is not possible to forecast what changes might be needed in our legislation if we join the Six.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the take-up level of inoculations and vaccinations made available to children of up to 15 years of age through the National Health Service ; and if he will make a statement.

No. We should like to see higher acceptance rates especially for vaccination against measles and rubella. For vaccinations generally, to assist doctors in the health education aspect of their task and to inform and interest parents the Health Education Council provides leaflets and posters. As regards measles the Chief Medical Officer of my Department has written to medical officers of health urging them to make vigorous efforts to secure an adequate level of vaccination. Against rubella the vaccination campaign, aimed at young girls between their 11th and 14th birthdays, was started only a year ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of families that are now designated as homeless in the Greater London area, borough by borough; and how these figures compare with the corresponding period last year.

The numbers of families living in temporary accommodation at 31st March, 1970, and 1971 are as follows :

Inner London	At 31st March
	1970	1971
Camden	136	179
Greenwich	63	59
Hackney	132	135
Hammersmith	76	54
Islington	351	455
Kensington and Chelsea	71	56
Lambeth	279	353
Lewisham	146	167
Southwark	129	150
Tower Hamlets	81	120
Wandsworth	152	116
City of Westminster	87	89
City of London	1	1
Total Inner London Boroughs	1,704	1,934

Outer London	At 31st March
	1970	1971
Barking	10	10
Barnet	56	43
Bexley	43	48
Brent	110	140
Bromley	21	22
Croydon	69	108
Ealing	37	60
Enfield	12	5
Haringey	110	145
Harrow	13	14
Havering	6	7
Hillingdon	17	26
Hounslow	106	122
Kingston-upon-Thames	8	8
Merton	36	74
Newham	38	38
Redbridge	30	28
Richmond-upon-Thames	23	24
Sutton	27	30
Waltham Forest	23	27
Total Outer London Boroughs	795	979
Total Greater London Area	2,499	2,913

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make an estimate of the effect on the financial performance of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited of wage increases granted in the past three years; and of the effect on the financial performance of the company of lost production due to strikes; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment, has explained to my hon. Friend, I regret that the information needed to make such estimates is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will give details of the factory space made available in each of the years since the districts were given development area status, to the latest available date, in the Seaton Delaval, Blyth and Bedlington area ;(2) if he will give details of the advance factories built and area of factory space provided in each of the years since the districts were given development area status, to the latest available date, in the Seaton Delaval, Blyth and Bedlington areas.

The information in respect of the Department's factories is :

	Advance Factories		All Factories and Extensions
Year	Number	Area (sq. metres)	Number	Area (sq. metres)
1966	—	—	—	—
1967	3	13,525	3	13,525
1968	1	2,459	2	3,102
1969	—	—	—	—
1970	3	9,009	3	9,009
1971 (to date)	—	—	1	1,951

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the new jobs made available in each of the years since the districts were given development area status, to the latest available date, in the Seaton Delaval, Blyth and Bedlington areas.

The additional employment estimated by the companies concerned to arise when projects for which industrial development certificates were issued in the Bedlington, Blyth and Seaton Delaval employment exchange areas are completed and fully manned is given in the following table :

Idc approvals Period	Estimated Additional Employment
1st September–31st December, 1966	300
1967	3,990
1968	1,070
1969	2,270
1970	1,690
1st January- 30th June, 1971	290

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide, from information available to him from international sources, the details of trade between the Yaoundé States as a whole and each member of the Six separately in 1958 and 1968.

Following is the information :

Imports and exports of the Yaoundé States U.S. $ million
	Imports		Exports
	1958*	1968	1958*	1968
Belgium/Luxembourg	132	116	195	337
France	506	702	425	546
German Federal Republic	59	135	76	152
Italy	32	87	35	138
Netherlands	42	67	38	125
* The figures for 1958 include estimates in respect of the trade of some of the Yaoundé States.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the consumption of smokeless fuel for the latest available 12-month period, and for the two preceding 12-month periods ; and what were the stocks at the end of the latest available period.

Consumption of solid smokeless fuel in the domestic market was :—

	Million tons
Year ended 22nd May, 1971	6·7
Year ended 23rd May, 1970	7·8
Year ended 24th May, 1969	8·1

Total recorded stocks held by producers and merchants at 22nd May, 1971, were about 1·2 million tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the plants other than those in the gas industry which will contribute to the additional 500,000 tons of smokeless fuel anticipated for 1971–72 and the amount of contribution in each case.

It is not the practice of the Department to release planned production figures of individual manufacturers or individual works. I can only refer my hon. Friend to the producers, who are represented collectively by the Solid Smokeless Fuels Federation at York House, Empire Way, Wembley, Middlesex.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and industry (1) from information available from international sources, how many motor cars were manufactured in Germany, France and Italy in each year since 1958 ; and how the figures compare with the number manufactured in the United Kingdom in the same years ;(2) from information available from international sources, how many commercial vehicles were manufactured in Germany, France and Italy in each year since 1958 ; and how the figures compare with the number manufactured in the United Kingdom in the same years.

The figures are available from the Statistical Year Books and the Monthly Bulletins of Statistics, published by the United Nations and available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many commercial vehicles have been imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 1960 ;(2) how many motor cars have been imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 1960.

Information for the years 1960 to 1969 is given in detail in Volume I of the appropriate Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom ; for 1970 summarised information covering new vehicles (assembled and unassembled) and used vehicles is given on page III—76 of the Overseas Trade Statistics for December, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many commercial vehicles were manufactured in Great Britain in each year since 1960 ; and how many of these were exported.

Following is the information :

Thousands
Year	Number of weeks	Total commercial vehicles produced in Great Britain	—of which produced for export*
1960	52	458	168
1961	52	460	163
1962	52	425	155
1963	52	404	165
1964	53	465	179
1965	52	455	174
1966	52	439	178
1967	52	385	139
1968	52	400	150
1969	53	466	193
1970	52	458	190
* These figures may differ from actual exports as recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics because of differences in timing and coverage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many motor cars were manufactured in Great Britain in each year since 1960 ; and how many of these were exported.

Following is the information :

Thousands
Year	Number of weeks	Total cars produced in Great Britain	—of which produced for export*
1960	52	1,353	575
1961	52	1,004	402
1962	52	1,249	551
1963	52	1,608	640
1964	53	1,868	706
1965	52	1,722	653
1966	52	1,604	625
1967	52	1,552	564
1968	52	1,816	803
1969	53	1,717	824
1970	52	1,641	723
* These figures may differ from actual exports as recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics because of differences in timing and coverage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences entitling companies limited by guarantee to omit the word "Limited", from their title have been revoked this year ; and in what circumstances the issue of such licences is regarded as being unjustified in the future.

Seven licences have been revoked since 1st January. The most usual reasons for revocation are that the company wishes to change its activities, or change its constitution, or provide some financial benefit for its officers or members. There has been no change in the policy which guides the issue of revocation of these licences.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the numbers recruited to the mining industry in 1960, 1965 and 1971 to the nearest available date.

Numbers recruited to the coal mining industry in 1960 and 1965 were 42,428 and 32,452 respectively, and in the first six months of 1971, 17,622.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the numbers employed in the mining industry in 1960, 1965 and 1971 to the nearest available date.

The average numbers employed in the coal mining industry in 1960, 1965 and the first six months of 1971 were 602,100, 465,600 and 285,200 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to safeguard the carriage of traffic by British airlines on charter flights serving places in South-East Asia, in view of the difficulties encountered by the Air Transport Licensing Board in seeking to authorise this traffic within the present regulatory framework.

The main difficulty is that part of the operations in question does not fall within the present regulatory framework and there is a risk that if this part is excluded the whole of the traffic will be lost by British air transport. The traffic is apparently acceptable to the other Government primarily concerned. My right hon. Friend has, therefore, decided, after consulting the A.T.L.B., to exempt from the requirements of Section 1(2)(b) of the Civil Aviation (Licensing) Act, 1960, a limited number of services between London and South-East Asia by Caledonian/British United Airways (Charter) Ltd. and will be ready to give a similar exemption to British Overseas Air Charters Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Great Britain's membership of the European Economic Community will result in a need to alter the pattern and balance of overseas aid.

I do not expect any great changes, but we should expect to share in the aid arrangements that succeed the present Yaoundé Convention. These would no doubt have some effect, which I cannot at present predict, on the pattern of our overseas aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what annual contribution the United Kingdom will have to make during the transitional period to the European Development Fund.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a Question from the hon. Member for Islington, South-West (Mr. George Cunningham) on 22nd February.—[Vol. 812, c. 4–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the subjects of negotiation in respect of which decisions with the European Economic Community will be deferred until after Great Britain has decided whether or not to enter the European Economic Community.

In regular statements and by last week's White Paper Her Majesty's Government have continued to provide the House with the fullest information on the negotiations with the European Economic Community. This will continue throughout the stages outlined by my right lion. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement on 17th June.—[Vol. 819, c. 644.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the powers of the Commission of the European Economic Community in relation to aid granted by a member State in a manner incompatible with the provisions of the Treaty of Rome.

The powers of the Commission in this regard are specified in Article 93 of the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what, at the latest available date, was the average per capita income of an individual resident in the area covered by the European Economic Community.

The average per capita income in the European Economic Community, using gross national produce statistics, is 2,271 U.S. dollars per annum.The average income per employed person in the Community is 3,566 U.S. dollars per annum. This figure includes the value of earnings, social security contributions paid and fringe benefits provided by employers, but excludes self-employed and unearned income.These figures are based on current prices and exchange rates, and relate to 1969, the latest year for which the information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many regulations and directions were issued by the Commission of the European Economic Community in each year during the period from 1958 until 31st December, 1970.

The numbers of regulations, decisions and directives issued by the European Economic Community since 1958 are as follows :

1958	56
1959	49
1960	35
1961	17
1962	250
1963	828
1964	949
1965	757
1966	983
1967	1,877
1968	2,600
1969	3,169
1970	3,257
	14,826

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those fields in which the Commission of the European Economic Community is given power to promulgate law-making acts on its own.

Under the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community, the Commission does not have the power to promulgate lawmaking acts on its; own but can issue regulations, decisions and directives and take measures to enforce the provisions of the treaty in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances the Commission of the European Economic Community may bring proceedings against the Council of Ministers in the European Court of Justice.

Article 173 of the Treaty of Rome prescribes that supervision of the legality of measures taken by the Council and the Commission other than recommendations or opinions shall be a matter for the Court of Justice. It shall, for this purpose, have jurisdiction in proceedings instituted by a member State, the Council or the Commission, on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction, infringements of important procedural rules, infringement of this treaty or of any rule of law relating to its application, or misuse of powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he refuses to cause to be published and distributed at the expense of the Government fact sheets setting out the case against Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

This action would be inappropriate. The current Factsheet series "Britain and Europe" sets out to put, in a convsnient form, the information the public is demanding on the European Economic Community issue. The Factsheets do not seek to lead their readers to one conclusion or another and, where relevant, contain information about possible disadvantages.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will explain the nature of the action which would be taken by the European Economic Community if a significant volume of trade with third countries were at risk of serious disruption during the transitional period ; and what will be the position after the transitional period has ended.

Action by the Community could take a variety of forms according to the nature of the disruption. These could include, among other measures, day-to-day action at the level of the Community's Management Committee, amendment or modification of regulations, and action under Article 226 of the Treaty of Rome. The Community has promised prompt and effective action, which could be invoked at any time during the transitional period.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT further details of the agreement reached with the European Economic Community on capital movements.

Following is the basis of the agreement reached between Her Majesty's Government and the European Economic Community in relation to capital movements :

1. Her Majesty's Government agrees to adjust its exchange control rules in order to conform with the provisions of Community directives applicable to member states in relation to capital movements.

2. The necessary adjustments will be completed over a transitional period ending not later than five years after accession of the United Kingdom to the Community.

3. After liberalisation, transactions will be permitted in accordance with Community provisions, i.e. at the official rate of exchange or at a rate which does not diverge significantly or persistently from the official rate.

4. Particular categories of transactions will be liberalised not later than the various stages indicated in the list given below.

5. It is agreed that any part of the indicated timetable may be accelerated, if circumstances permit, at the discretion of the United Kingdom.

The Community has scheduled various types of international capital transactions in four lists : A, B, C, D. The directives which have been adopted by the Community call for freedom for transactions on Lists A and B to take place at (or near) the official rate of exchange. In the case of List C restrictions may be maintained or reintroduced and List D is not required to be liberalised.Following are the items in Lists A and B, with comments on the present United Kingdom position and proposals which the Community have endorsed :

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for providing further financial aid to Uganda.

I have offered the Uganda Government a loan of £10 million to assist in their development during the three-year period beginning on 1st April, 1972. The Uganda Government have accepted this offer, and we shall be discussing the terms of the loan and the precise purposes to which it will be put. I hope that a small mission will go from my Department to Kampala early in October to discuss ways in which the loan may be best used.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the new dock at Seaforth will be open ; what volume of trade has already been accepted ; approximately how many new jobs will be brought into Merseyside by this development ; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand from the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board that the first container berth in the new Sea-forth dock is expected to be in use by the end of this year, and that other berths will follow at about monthly intervals during 1972.The Board says that so far five companies have made firm commitments to use the new dock. Two of them are container lines, two are grain millers and the fifth is an international meat concern.Seaforth is being built to meet the new requirements arising from increasing ship size and the use of containers. In addition to new trade, it will, of course, have to cater for traffic transferred from the older up-stream facilities. The board, therefore, does not expect the new dock to give rise to any substantial number of new jobs. The real benefits expected to be gained from Seaforth are a steady return to viability for the port.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of the authorities in England which have erected new signs giving distances in kilometres.

Local authorities should not be erecting road signs showing distances in metric units. I will glady look into any case my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what Government loans have been sought by British Rail to finance its investment needs for the current year, and for the next five years, respectively, and what has been the response of the Government.

British Rail has so far this year sought and been granted new loans from the National Loans Fund totalling £22 million. No specific sums have been sought for future years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his policy regarding the investment needs of British Rail.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chippenham (Mr. Awdry) on 10th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 115.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the regulations relating to the use of drawbar trailers.

:If my hon. Friend will let me know more precisely what he has in mind, I will be glad to consider the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in his consideration of raising the maximum gross vehicle weight of heavy goods vehicles so that when Great Britain enters the Common Market British road hauliers may compete on equal terms with Common Market road hauliers.

I have no present plans to raise gross vehicle weights, but I am considering the implications of proposals made on this subject by the E.E.C. Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates publishing details of the finalised route of the A30 Camborne-Redruth bypass; and whether he will hold a public inquiry into the proposal.

Revised proposals for the Camborne/Redruth bypass were published on 22nd December, 1970. When objections to them have been fully considered, my right hon. Friend will decide whether or not to hold a public inquiry. Until he has made this decision he cannot give an indication of the timing of publication of final details.