asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with the representatives of the European Commission regarding the compatibility of investment allowances with membership of an enlarged European Community.

I take it that my hon. Friend is referring to investment incentives generally. Informal talks have been held with officials of the Commission who are concerned with these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions the Government have now had with the European Economic Community Commission regarding regional policy; whether he will accept the Commission's proposals that investment in certain schemes should be abolished and that investment grants should be limited to 20 per cent.; and what is his estimate of the effects of such a policy on future employment prospects for Merseyside.

Our officials have had informal talks with the Communities on these as on other matters. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the hon. Member on 13th July, the Community is in the early stages of formulating a policy and we would be able to influence that policy if Parliament agreed that we should join the E.E.C. I know of no reason, as I indicated to the House on 22nd July, to suppose that entry would limit our ability to pursue vigorous regional policies on Merseyside or elsewhere—and, of course, entry should improve rather than diminish the employment opportunities available in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Trade and Industry if he will arrange for an addendum to be issued to Command Paper No. 4715 showing the detailed calculations upon which he has based his judgment that the response of British industry to membership cannot be quantified in terms of its effect upon the balance of trade, with particular reference to loss of exports in industrial trade with the Commonwealth Preference Area and the European Free Trade Association.

No. It was decided not to put forward estimates in this field because they would involve too many very large assumptions about all the factors which would be operating on our balance of trade, many of which are totally unpredictable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is his estimate of the effect of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on trade with each of the countries of the Commonwealth;(2) what is his estimate of the effect of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on trade with each of the European Free Trade Association countries.

For the reasons given in paragraphs 44–45 of the White Paper (Command 4715) it is not possible to make valid estimates of the effect of our entry into the Community on our overseas trade in general. It is, therefore, quite impossible to give estimates in respect of trade with individual countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what negotiations he has had with Caledonian/British United Airways about its membership of the International Air Transport Association.

I have had no such negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware of the increase in noise levels resulting from recent low flying regulations at Luton Airport; and whether he anticipates that alternative procedures and routes will be able to alleviate the position in the future.

I am well aware of all aspects of the serious noise disturbance in the vicinity of Luton Airport. In cooperation with Luton Corporation we are considering possible route adjustments and other forms of alleviation. I hope that some improvement may be possible eventually, though I cannot promise immediate or dramatic results.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an inquiry into the activities of debt-collecting and credit-investigation firms.

I am at present considering the Report of the Committee on Consumer Credit which made certain suggestions about the control of both types of firm. I should be glad to consider any specific point the hon. Member wishes to bring to my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a further statement on Government policy about the shipbuilding industry.

Government policy was made clear during the recent passage of the Shipbuilding Industry Bill. I

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek powers to control the activities of companies selling cancer insurance policies; and if he will make a statement.

Press reports indicate that the particular company the hon. Member has in mind has decided to stop house-to-house sales of these policies. I will, however, bear his suggestion in mind in the review of the Department's powers over insurance companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, the detailed list of investigations and actions taken into public and private companies for alleged malpractices, as contained in the communication which he sent to the hon. Member for West Ham, North under date of 14th July, 1971.

Yes. Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why, as there were 2,394 applications or cases notified to his Department for action under Section 164, Section 165(a)(i) and Section 165(b) of the Companies Act, only in 156 cases was action taken in appointing inspectors; what happened in these 156 cases; and what prosecutions ensued and with what results.

As regards the answer to the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the information which will be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT in response to his earlier Question. Of the 156 cases reports were published in 45, winding-up orders were made upon petitions presented by the Department in the case of 21 companies; successful prosecutions ensued in the cases of 26 of the companies and civil proceedings were instituted by the Department in the case of 15 of the companies for recovery of damages. In addition, in a number of cases proceedings were instituted by official receivers following the making of winding-up orders or by other liquidators following compulsory or voluntary winding-up proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give the dates in chronological order when his Department received requests for investigations under the Companies Act into matters connected with alleged irregularities on the part of the Bridgwater Nurseries Limited; and what action he has taken.

Ten requests were received from two persons over the period 1963 to 1971. The eight requests made before the company went into liquidation concerned failure to produce accounts in time and other alleged irregularities. The failure to produce accounts was taken up with the company; insufficient information was given about the irregularities to justify the appointment of inspectors. The other two complaints concerned the liquidators. There was no ground for intervention by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received the communication from the non. Member for West Ham, North enclosing a letter from Mr. R. H. Blakesley alleging neglect and maladministration on the part of his Department in carrying out its duties under the Companies Act concerning alleged irregularities upon the part of two companies; and what action he has taken with regard to this letter and the companies mentioned.

The hon. Member's letter was received on 19th July. A reply will be sent as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he received a communication from Mr. A. Hughes concerning alleged illegalities and malpractices upon the part of public and private companies and their continuing evasion of the Companies Act; and whether he will publish this communication in the OFFICIAL REPORT with the text of his reply.

A letter from Mr. A. G. Hughes was received on 13th July. A reply will be sent as soon as possible. I do not intend to publish either the letter or the reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total annual cost of the Atomic Energy Establishment at Winfrith; and how much has been earned by the Authority in respect of repayment work during each of the last three years.

This is a matter of day-to-day management for the Authority, and I am therefore asking the Chairman to write to my hon. Friend providing the information asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further consideration he has given to the survey fees payable for the registration of yachts.

These fees, in common with fees for other marine surveys, were increased from 1st May, 1971, in order to achieve recovery of the full cost of providing the relevant services, in accordance with Government policy. I have, however, received a number of representations which I am considering.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs have been lost in the Northern Region during the past 12 months; and how many new jobs have been created.

About 18,000 redundancies were notified as likely to occur in the year ending 30th June, 1971. No estimates are available of the total number of new jobs, but projects of over 10,000 sq. ft. for which Industrial Development certificates were issued during this period were estimated by the applicants to provide work for nearly 8,000 people when completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the present position of the authorised shipbuilding credit guarantee schemes.

Ample credit is available for all ships which commence on berth before mid-1973. We intend to make a further announcement before the recess on future arrangements for credit facilities for orders placed in United Kingdom yards by United Kingdom owners.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Trade and Industry in view of the current burden of night jet flights at Gatwick, whether he will make clear to the British Airports Authority well in advance that he intends for the season of 1973 to reduce the current permitted level at Gatwick.

I do not expect to commence consideration of the 1973 summer limit on night jet movements at Gatwick until next year, when I shall undertake the usual consultations before reaching a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will not offer grants for insultation against aircraft noise to those in the worst affected areas round Gatwick and if, in view of the inadequacy of the scheme of grants available for the Heathrow area, he will now improve the scale of the grants and the methods of administration.

Details of the proposed grant-aided soundproofing scheme for areas around Gatwick, including the scale of grant and methods of administration, are under consideration between the Department, the British Airports Authority and the county councils concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to give financial and other assistance in the creation and functioning of small claims arbitrators along the lines of the Manchester Small Claims Arbitration Court, and to enlist support from the Law Society, local authorities, consumer protection organisations and the citizens' advice bureaux.

The Manchester scheme is a most interesting development, but I think we must wait to see whether consumers make adequate use of it before deciding whether similiar developments should be encouraged elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement concerning workers' shares in the Old Rolls-Royce Company.

The possibility of affording some form of special treatment to the holders of workers' shares in Rolls-Royce Limited is still being explored but no way has yet emerged in which the Government could legitimately intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the criteria used to value shares and/or assets held by the Government in joint stock companies before sale to private bidders.

In disposing of Government-held shares or assets for which I am responsible I shall have regard to market values, the need to safeguard public funds, the industrial logic of the sale and, where necessary, any special factors that may be involved. I shall also have regard to expert advice where appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now announce further production funding for Concorde.

Since I informed the House on 10th May of the latest position, the manufacturers have commenced work on four more aircraft, bringing the total under construction to 10; ordering of long-dated materials for a further six aircraft is also in hand. The future programme will be discussed between my French colleague and myself later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the public warning about the flight of Concorde close to the constituency of the hon. Member for North Down on 15th July, 1971, did not indicate more precisely the time of the expected sonic boom in view of the fact that a time range of eight hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. gives inadequate warning for elderly and nervous people.

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the flight on 14th July since there was no flight by Concorde on the West Coast route on 15th July.BAC forecasts whenever possible flights of Concorde on the West Coast route to within a four-hour period. The B.B.C. regional stations are given 24 hours' advance warning of these forecasts and are also informed when the aircraft has taken off.The flight on 14th July required stable weather conditions, and it was only possible on this occasion to indicate that the flight would fall between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The B.B.C. regional stations were informed when the aircraft took off.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the exercise of his responsibilities for the sponsorship of computer software contracts.

I recognise that the question of the Government placing more of their own computer software contracts with industry is an important issue, and we are at present considering our policy. I hope to make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for stimulating exports to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, bearing in mind the potential market and the present gap between imports from, and exports to, that country.

There is no lack of effort on the part of our exporters. It is not stimulation they are in need of, but orders.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken since his undertaking on 27th January last to consult the oil companies, the Port of London Authority and other interested parties, to ensure the safety of navigation in the Thames Estuary, with particular reference to Canvey Island.

I understand that the Port of London Authority proposes to issue further general directions to vessels in the Thames in order to promote the safety of navigation. Under the provisions of the Port of London Act, 1968, such directions have to be agreed with Trinity House and the Chamber of Shipping.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications he has now received for renewal of marking orders relating to country of origin under the Trade Descriptions Act; how many are under consideration; how many decisions he has given; and what has been the nature of these decisions.

I have received 15 applications, of which eight are still under consideration and seven have been rejected. Others have been made to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the trade associations, industries, and products for which he has received applications for marking orders relating to country of origin under the Trade

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he has, to date, of the effect of his regional policies in relation to Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar Question by him on 10th May.—[Vol. 817; c. 16–17.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has regarding the revised contract prices and delivery dates for the Rolls-Royce M45H engine, currently being produced for the VFW-Fokker Group.

These matters are confidential to the companies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if

Yes. I will publish these details of the applications I have received in the OFFICIAL REPORT; other have been made to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.Following is the information:he will make a statement concerning Government approval for the proposal of Christiania Spigerverk to build a plant for the production of steel reinforcement products in the United Kingdom; and if he will report on the discussions which he has had with the British Steel Corporation relating to the proposal.

The company has been told that consent under Section 15 of the Iron and Steel Act, 1967, will be granted if it finds a site acceptable on distribution-of-industry grounds. This general policy issue was discussed with the B.S.C., but it is not consulted on individual proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek powers to ensure that the amount of the contents of packaged goods are stated in a uniform manner for each category of goods, so that shoppers may readily calculate and compare the unit price of packs of various sizes and of different manufacturers.

I have no powers to require unit pricing under existing legislation. However, I will bear the suggestion in mind for when further legislation in this field is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will issue a general direction to gas boards to ensure that all complaints concerning natural gas conversions are dealt with expeditiously.

The boards already have this responsibility for dealing with complaints as expeditiously as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received to date from individual firms concerning the change from investment grants to investment allowances; and how many have been in favour and how many against the change.

There have been few representations on the policy of changing from investment grants to a system of capital allowances against taxation but a number of firms have approached the department about the effect of the transitional arrangements for ending investment grants on particular programmes of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost of the continued research and development for the RB211 will be from 1st February to 1st August; and what extra after 1st August will be required to bring the RB211 to commencement of commercial production.

The cost of all work on the RB211 programme from early February to 8th August will be about £30 million, which the Government have undertaken to meet. As well as development, this includes production, which is already well advanced.I have set in train a review of forward estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he now hopes to make a statement on the Rolls-Royce RB211 engine.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to Questions by the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mr. Walter Johnson), the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) and my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. Scott-Hopkins).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what offers have been received from private interests to take over the trading activities of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders or any one of its shipyards.

I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the present responsibilities of inspectors appointed under the Weights and Measures Acts with regard to the accuracy and efficiency of automatic machines dispensing goods, foods, drinks, stamps and other articles; if he will list them; if he will introduce legislation to increase them; and if he will take steps to make known to the public what protection they have in this connection.

The responsibilities of inspectors under the Weights and Measures Act extend only to those vending machines which are required by law to measure out what they sell. They therefore do not cover machines selling, for example, stamps and books or offering services such as those in launderettes.I have no plans to introduce legislation to extend the inspectors' responsibilities in these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will issue a general direction to the gas board and other nationalised industries for which his Department is responsible, that, when prices are increased, they should in no circumstances be more than doubled.

No. The chairmen of the nationalised industries have agreed to match the performance of the private sector members of the C.B.I. by accepting the same restraint on prices on the same conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) in view of the announcement of the reduction by Imperial Chemical Industries Fibres Limited of 535 jobs at their factory at Pontypool, what further measures he intends to take to bring alternative employment into this development area;(2) whether, in view of the announcement of large numbers of redundancies at Pontypool, he will now make this area a special development area.

I do not think any change in status is justified at present. Substantial incentives are available to encourage industrial development in the area which should also benefit from the measures announced recently by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Wales and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a study of the scheme proposed by a leading tour operator in regard to methods of dealing with complaints from holidaymakers, a copy of which has been sent to him, with a view to introducing legislation on the subject; and if he will make a statement.

I welcome arrangements which will help to deal with difficulties between tour operators and holiday-makers but I do not consider that this is a matter requiring legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average amount spent by Great Britain yearly on European aerospace programmes in the last 10 years; and if he will list projects in which there is currently United Kingdom-European cooperation, including electronics, vertical take-off and landing, materials and research.

The average annual expenditure by Her Majesty's Government over the past 10 years on aerospace and allied projects in which we have collaborated with other European countries has been of the order of £50 million: this figure excludes those projects under the aegis of N.A.T.O. which involve collaboration on both sides of the Atlantic. The major current programmes include the Concorde, Jaguar and multi-rôle combat aircraft, the Anglo/French helicopters, the Martel and Exocet guided weapons, military radar, and telecommunication and aeronautical satellites. In addition, there are a number of projects such as the A300B and the F28 in which Her Majesty's Government have no direct financial stake but in which British industry has a substantial rôle.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the workings of the Trade Descriptions Act in respect of advertising by estate agents; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the Act deals adequately with advertising by estate agents of the services they offer, but it does not apply to descriptions of houses for sale.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times the Companies Act Consultative Committee has met since it was established; when it is proposed that it will meet next; what representations he has received from shareholders for the re-convening of this committee; and what action he has taken.

As the Committee last met in 1956 information about the number of its meetings is not readily available. A request that the Committee be reconvened was received last year. It was refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the amount invested in the iron and steel industry of the United Kingdom in each year from 1967 to 1971, expressed in dollars and excluding investment, designed to provide directly for steel castings, hot and cold drawn tubes, cold colled strip, bright bars, wheels and axles and steel forgings, excluding drop forgings, respectively.

The total amounts invested annually in fixed assets by the iron and steel industry of the United Kingdom are given in "National Income and Expenditure" published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. It is not possible to apportion these totals among the finished steels products to which the investment is directed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average transport cost element in the price of coal in the United Kingdom.

This is a matter for producers, distributors and, in the case of industrial coals, the consumers. I am, however, asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give further details of the action taken by his Department under Section 109 of the Companies Act, 1967, in the case of the 145 public companies and 103 private companies up until 31st May, 1971; in how many cases were inspectors appointed; what action was taken; and in how many cases this included prosecution.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take in connection with the inspectors' report on the affairs of Pergamon Press Limited.

Action is likely to depend on the information contained in the further reports which I understand the inspectors intend to make. The Department's intention is to defend the proceedings instituted against it by Mr. Maxwell and the British Printing Corporation Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department was first requested to take action with regard to the illegal practice known as cube cutting; with what results; and when he expects to finalise action in connection with this matter.

As I said in reply to a question from the hon. Member on 18th January, 1971, the Board of Trade's attention was drawn to this matter by the hon. Member in January 1969. As regards the remainder of his question, I refer him to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General gave him on 22nd July, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to introduce generalised tariff preferences for manufactured goods and certain processed agricultural products of developing countries under the arrangements agreed last year in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; and which countries will benefit.

My right hon. Friend intends to lay later this year an Order and Regulations under the Import Duties Act, 1958, when it is amended by the Finance Act, to bring the new arrangements into effect from 1st January, 1972. They will be broadly the same as the offer submitted to U.N.C.T.A.D. last year, and full details will be published as soon as possible. The beneficiaries of our scheme initially at least will be the countries in the so-called "Group of 77" in U.N.C.T.A.D. and dependent territories that are the present beneficiaries of the E.E.C. scheme as well as developing Commonwealth countries not members of this group.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to prevent gifts of minimal value, but which are attractive to children, being advertised so as to promote the sales of certain brands of expensive essential goods, such as shoes.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates he has made of the new jobs in prospect for the Doncaster travel-to-work area; and how these compare with the numbers currently unemployed.

1,940 jobs are expected to arise mainly in manufacturing industry in the next few years in the Doncaster travel-to-work area. Comparable figures for the service sector are not available. The total registered unemployed in July was 5,422.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will instruct the British Ambassador in Dublin to make formal representations to the Government of the Irish Republic about the speech of the Prime Minister of the Republic, on 11th July, on reunification of Ireland, in view of its consequences upon the situation in Northern Ireland.

Her Majesty's Ambassador in Dublin called on the Foreign Minister of the Irish Republic, Dr. Hillery, on 21st July. He made it clear that in view of Her Majesty's Government, the speech made by Mr. Lynch on 11th July, while containing certain passages that were helpful in tone and substance, also contained other passages which were distinctly unhelpful at the present time, not least in a speech made the day before the Orange parades of 12th July. Her Majesty's Government's view on the status of Northern Ireland has repeatedly been made clear, and was repeated to Dr. Hillery.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on talks with Malta about revision of the Defence Agreement.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence, visited Malta and discussed with the Malta Government on 19th and 20th July their proposals for revision of our Defence and Financial Assistance Agreements. These discussions served to clarify our respective positions; but they did not reveal a basis for a revised agreement.The Government are consulting their N.A.T.O. Allies and will be in further communication with the Malta Government on this subject as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official reports he has received from the British Embassy of the behaviour of the Spanish police towards a number of young people from Great Britain on the island of Ibiza on or about 17th July, 1971; and what protest he has made to the Spanish Government.

Our Consul in Palma has reported that two United Kingdom citizens were amongst a number of foreigners in Ibiza arrested on 16th–17th July, 1971. They later appeared before an investigating magistrate and were granted provisional liberty on 22nd July. Those concerned are well and have not complained about the treatment they have received. The question of protest to the Spanish Government does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the amount of money from public funds expended in the last six months upon the entertainment and transport in Paris of Members of Parliament whose journey to France had been sponsored and paid for by political organisations; and on what Vote that expenditure is borne.

None so far as I am aware. Some hon. Members who have visited Paris during the last six months may have been entertained to a meal by Her Majesty's Ambassador as part of his normal official duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the growth rate in the Common Market in 1969 and 1970; and what are forecast growth rates for 1971 and 1972.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply has been received from the European Economic Community about the Government's proposals relating to the Safeguarding of Employment Act of Northern Ireland.

Agreement has been reached with the Community under which we will have, for a period of five years, a derogation from the Community's legislation in the field of free movement of labour in respect of Northern Ireland. This will permit the maintenance in force of the Safeguarding of Employment Act, 1947, during this period, and we have told the Community that if we were to judge it necessary at a later stage, after we have joined, we would wish to revert to the matter within the institutions of the enlarged Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government of Northern Ireland or any public body constituted by that Government will be entitled to claim against the European Social Fund in respect of expenditure incurred under Article 125 of the Treaty of Rome; what arrangements have been made to enable such claims to be lodged; and whether existing Northern Ireland legislation on resettlement grants and vocational retraining will have to be amended.

New regulations are being compiled for the operation of a reformed European Social Fund and it is not yet possible to determine the extent to which Northern Ireland may benefit from its provisions if we enter the Community. The question of what administrative procedures might be followed to enable claims to be lodged can only be determined in the light of the regulations which have still to be approved by the Community. At this stage, we are not aware that any amendment to Northern Ireland legislation will be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the existing European Economic Community schemes for the retraining of redundant workers and the payment of resettlement grants compare with those which exist in Northern Ireland at the present time.

The European Economic Community imposes no harmonisation of schemes operated by Member States for the retraining of redundant workers and the payment of resettlement grants. Member countries have their own schemes which are similar in intent but which differ in detail from those in force in Northern Ireland.European Coal and Steel Community schemes provide for financial help to be given to workers faced with redundancy and enable training to be given to workers before they become redundant. Workers obliged to move can obtain resettlement grants. The European Social Fund—which is being reformed with effect from the 1st of January, 1972— enables member Governments to be reimbursed with half the cost of retraining unemployed workers or workers subject to prolonged under-employment and resettling workers who have to move to obtain new employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT matters of major national interest over which Her Majesty's Government could prevent the Council of Ministers or the Commission of the European Economic Community making a decision contrary to British interests; and whether matters not designated of major national interest would, if the Council or Commission so decided, be binding on any Government and Parliament of the United Kingdom.

It is neither possible nor appropriate to list in advance matters which Her Majesty's Government may consider to be of major national interest in an enlarged Community from 1973 onwards. The arrangements referred to by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement on 24th May protect the vital national interests of Member States in the Community. In any event the Community treaties require unanimous decisions in many important areas.—[Vol. 818, c. 32.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the percentage contributions to the European Economic Community budget in 1980 by each of the members of the enlarged Community, assuming that all four present candidates accede, on each of the assumptions considered in the course of the negotiations.

It is not possible to make meaningful estimates for either the gross or net contributions for 1980 for members of a Community of Ten. In the case of the present members, the correctives which limit changes in an individual country's share of the budget—see annex A of Cmnd. 4715—will not apply after 1977. In the case of the applicant countries no limits will apply to budgetary contributions after 1979. For the reasons explained in Cmnd. 4715 in respect of the United Kingdom, no valid estimates can be made in these circumstances of gross budgetary contributions in 1980 and afterwards. Similarly it is not possible, so far ahead, to make a meaningful forecast of the pattern of Community expenditure or of the budgetary receipts of individual member countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost, to the latest available date, of the poster campaign advertising the Government's White Paper on the European Communities and to what Vote that cost has been charged.

There has been no poster advertising for the White Paper (Cmnd. 4715).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will complete the table in paragraph 93 of Command Paper No. 4715 by showing similar figures of gross contributions and possible receipts, upon the same assumptions as to membership, in those years for the six existing members of the Community.

I have nothing to add to the answers given to the right hon. Members for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) and Stepney (Mr. Shore) on 19th July and 21st July.—[Vol. 821, c. 224–6; Vol. 821, c. 313–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the total direct and indirect cost to public funds that will have been incurred by his Department from 1st June last to the end of October next in exposition of and promotion of the policy of accession to the European Communities; and to which sub-heads of his Department's Vote such cost will be charged.

The only estimated costs are for the Factsheet operation and the short version of the White Paper. On the basis of present plans for the period in question these amount to £615,550. But in the case of future expenditure much will depend on public demand for these documents. These costs will be borne on the Central Office of Information and Her Majesty's Stationery Office votes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received the communication from Mr. Maurice E. Green relating to Jersey and Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community; and whether he will make a statement upon the matters raised therein.

Yes, on 14th June. The reply made it clear that the contents of Mr. Green's letters have been noted but that the composition of Jersey's Constitutional and Common Market Committee is a matter for the Insular authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Government's discussions with the Independent Television Authority for time to advertise the Government's case for entry into the Common Market; and what were the results of these discussions.

Television advertising was considered in order to publicise the availability of the Fact-sheets on "Britain and Europe" only. The advertising film prepared for this was of similar content and wording to the Press and poster advertising for the Factsheets.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether in his negotiations he will press for amendment of Paragraph 4 of Article 48 of the Treaty of Rome, to enable the benefits of the freedom of movement of labour to be extended to those employed in the public services.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the Libyan Government's act of piracy in forcing down a British Overseas Airways Corporation airliner and the kidnapping of passengers therefrom, Her Majesty's Government will now break off diplomatic relations with the Libyan Republic.

No. Her Majesty's Government have, however, voiced their strong sense of outrage at this action. They are now considering what further action should be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the worsening employment situation in Monmouthshire, he will take action under the Special Areas (Development and Improvement) Act, 1934, to relieve the situation.

The Act referred to was repealed in 1945. Existing legislation is both more comprehensive and more effective. The measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer last week, combined with the accelerated programme of public works and the major new concession on free depreciation, will stimulate investment to improve employment trends.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to announce the result of the public inquiry into the Central Flintshire Water Board; and if he will make a statement.

I am at present considering the inspector's report of the public inquiry held to consider objections to the Board's application under Section 40 of the Water Act, 1945, for powers to levy increased water rates and charges. I will announce my decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what difficulties stand in the way of the acquisition of land at Cil Melyn, Penrhosgarned, Bangor, as a site for the new general hospital there; and if he will make a statement.

The land is in multiple ownership and there have been problems in the negotiation of the terms for acquisition. Discussions are continuing and the planning work is proceeding at the same time.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in view of the reduction by Imperial Chemical Industries Fibres Limited, Pontypool, of 535 jobs, he will initiate inter-departmental discussions with a view to creating alternative employment for the men affected.

All Departments concerned, including my own, are already in close touch with one another about the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now introduce legislation in regard to the sale of refrigerators so that retail establishments can be responsible for the removal and disposal of a model no longer needed by the purchaser; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend sees no justification for imposing such an obligation on retailers. A householder need only ask his local council if he wishes to dispose of an old refrigerator.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made to protect the rights of the Channel Islands before Great Britain enters the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will not, on entry into the European Economic Community, take any action unilaterally to break or amend any of the charters and treaties in being between Great Britain and Jersey;(2) to what extent Her Majesty's Government have discussed, or will discuss, the effect on Jersey's exports of the Common External Tariff with the Jersey Parliament and Government before entry into the European Economic Community; and whether he will make a statement;

Under the Customs and Excise Act, 1952, products of the Channel Islands enter the United Kingdom free of customs duty, but the equivalent of the excise duty must be paid on goods that are liable to excise duty in the United Kingdom. Such free entry would not be affected in practice by the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community if the Islands were also to become a part of the Community. But full membership of the Community would present difficulties for the Islands. After consultation with the authorities there and in the Isle of Man, Her Majesty's Government are, therefore, seeking for all the Islands arrangements short of full membership that would provide for an exchange of reciprocal rights and obligations between the Community and the Islands. We have proposed to the Community that that might best be achieved under a form of association designed to take account of the special circumstances of the Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of foreign and non-Commonwealth workers entering the United Kingdom for the years 1968, 1969, and 1970, and the comparable numbers of workers entering each country in the European Community from outside the Community in the same years.

The numbers of foreign workers entering the United Kingdom were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can yet state when he expects to receive the Erroll Commission's report.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. William Price) on 24th June.—[Vol. 819, c. 1567.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many untrained entrants have been recruited to the Probation Service in the first six months of 1971; and how these figures compare with the two previous six-monthly periods.

Sixty-four, compared with 35 in the first half, and 68 in the second half, of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the magistrates' courts in England and Wales in 1970 refused fewer, and how many refused more, applications for legal aid for committal proceedings than Swansea;(2) in 1970, how many magistrates' courts approved a higher proportion of applications for legal aid, and how many approved a smaller proportion, than Swansea for committal proceedings, summary proceedings and committals for trial, respectively;

I do not have information about grants and refusals of legal aid by individual courts (other than those in inner London). Figures in respect of each county and county borough were given in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) on 7th July.—[Vol. 820, c. 407–12.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been sent by him to Northern Ireland to investigate criminal offences since August, 1969; what are the names of these officers; on what dates were they dispatched to Northern Ireland; and for what specific purpose or general reasons were were sent.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) on 28th June.—[Vol. 820, c. 38–39.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether policemen under his juridiction have been accorded the status of civil authorities in Northern Ireland; and whether he will make a statement.

Metropolitan police officers assisting the Royal Ulster Constabulary do so under the provisions of Section 1 of the Police Act, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is saisfied with the equipment supplied to the police for monitoring the noise of road vehicles; and how many successful prosecutions, based on such equipment, there have been in each of the last three years.

The value of noise meters to the police is limited by the conditions under which they can be used. Separate figures for prosecutions based on noise meter readings are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the factsheets on Great Britain and Europe were produced on a size of paper approximately one-and-a-half times too big, which required paper trimming 47 per cent. above normal; and what was the additional cost of this to public funds.

The paper supplied for the printing of the first two Factsheets necessitated trimming at a cost approximately £260. The remaining nine required normal trimming at no additional cost.The Compendium of the Factsheets was printed on paper supplied by some of the contractors and it is known that one used large-width reels to obtain the correct width for printing. This involved no additional cost to public funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate was made, prior to February, 1971, of the number of decimal coins required in the United Kingdom; and what number has been produced.

It was estimated prior to 15th February, 1971, that 3,500 million United Kingdom decimal bronze coins might be needed during the early part of the transition. To date 3,700 million have been produced, of which 3,494 million had been struck by 15th February, 1971.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the publication of a special edition of the OFFICIAL REPORT to contain the debates on the Common Market on 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 26th July; and if he will consider publication at marginal cost price.

No. Ample copies of the Daily Parts of HANSARD will be available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables showing the net income of a single person, a married couple without dependants of whom the man only has income, and of a married couple of whom the man and the wife have equal earnings, over a standard range of gross earnings between £12 and £100 per week, after payment of income tax and national insurance contributions at the rates now proposed.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the employment prospects of constituents of the hon. Member for Bedwellty, following the announcement of further redundancies in south-east Wales, notably those at Imperial Chemical Industries Fibres Limited, Pontypool, and British Aluminium Newport, Monmouthshire; and if he will make a statement.

I do not expect the employment prospects of the hon. Member's constituents to be much affected by the redundancies at Pontypool announced by Imperial Chemical Industries. I understand that no redundancy at British Aluminium, Newport, is expected this year. Bedwellty has special development area status and should benefit from this, once the amount of mobile industry increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the present employment situation for school leavers and young people in North Staffordshire; and what proposals he has to assist those who will be seeking jobs at the end of July.

On 12th July, 1971. there were 323 young people registered as unemployed in North Staffordshire, including 87 school leavers. It is estimated that about 4,100 young people are leaving school for employment this summer, and a number have already obtained employment. Careers officers are doing everything possible to assist the remainder, who should find jobs within a reasonable period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of redundancy notices, together with the number of people involved, known to his Department for each month since June, 1970, in Wales.

It is not the practice to keep records of every minor redundancy, but the following is the information available for redundancies notified in Wales since June, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list of firms known to his Department which have issued redundancy notices since June, 1970, in Wales, giving the number of people involved in each case and the location of the firm.

Information supplied by individual employers is usually provided for official use only and I would not feel justified in publishing it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cost in the current year and a full year, respectively, of the retraining measures he announced on 20th July.