asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total of claims against private and public authorities as well as the Government in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics which remain outstanding; and what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to get these debts honoured.

It is not possible to state with any accuracy the total of these claims. I can assure my hon. Friends that we continue to impress upon the Soviet Government their responsibility for compensating the claimants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent talks with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Irish Republic.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State to the hon. and learned Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu) and my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast. South (Mr. Pounder) on 12th July.—[Vol. 821, c. 70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet received from the Government of Libya an apology, an explanation of and compensation for their interference with a British Overseas Airways Corporation aircraft; and whether the two passengers taken from their aircraft have been returned.

We have not yet received an apology or a satisfactory explanation from the Libyan authorities. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State summoned the Libyan Ambassador again on 29th July and made clear our displeasure at the failure to provide an explanation for an action which his own Government on a similar occasion last year had described as an act of piracy which constituted a flagrant violation of the bases of international law.I understand that the International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations has accepted an offer by the Libyan Government to receive a delegation. I believe this could be very helpful.In the meantime, the United Kingdom Permanent Representative has written to U Thant explaining Her Majesty's Government's view of the Libyan action and reserving our right to pursue the matter in the appropriate organ of the United Nations.As the House will be aware, the two Sudanese passengers taken from the aircraft at Benghazi were handed over to the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum, tried and executed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake not to supply arms of any kind to Libya.

As I have made clear, it is Her Majesty's Government's desire to have good relations with Libya. The recent action of the Libyan Government has caused us to review all aspects of these relations, including arms sales, but I am not prepared to give the sweeping undertaking for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations have now been made to Libya, and what other action has been taken, in the case of the British Overseas Airways Corporation VC 10 aircraft forced to land and to surrender two of her passengers on political grounds.

I have already made clear in answer earlier today to my right hon. Friend, the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) the action which we have taken in the United Nations and the further representations made to the Libyan Ambassador here.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial aid and technical assistance is being given to Libya in the financial year 1971–72.

We are providing no financial aid, and about £4,000 in technical assistance. This covers the fees and maintenance of two Libyan students in surveying, who started their courses in February, 1970 and will complete them in March, 1973, and a contribution towards the cost of 12 British Council English language lecturers at the Universities of Tripoli and Benghazi.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet received the proposals of the Icelandic Government for Iceland to extend her fishing limits to 50 miles; if he will publish them; and what reply he has sent.

We have not yet received any formal proposal from the Icelandic Government.

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

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

An announcement was made on 18th July by six of the Trucial States Rulers to the effect that they have signed a provisional constitution for a Union. Her Majesty's Government welcome this useful preparatory step towards the establishment of a Union. Her Majesty's Government's offers of assistance to a Union were outlined in my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 1st March. Discussions are continuing both with the representatives of the Six forming the Union and with the Rulers of the other States in the Gulf.—[Vol. 812, c. 1227–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of sanctions against Rhodesia.

As I have made clear on a number of occasions, we are seeking to ascertain whether an acceptable basis for negotiations exists; meanwhile sanctions will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on progress made in the solution of the Rhodesian problem.

I would refer to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to hold an official meeting with the Australian Prime Minister as soon as possible.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 13th July to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis).—[Vol. 821, c. 670.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number, on 26th July, of rules, regulations and directives of the Commission and Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community which will have to be passed by the British House of Commons and House of Lords on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and how many of these will have to be adhered to in their entirety; how many will be amendable; and how many can be rejected.

I cannot provide an exact figure as the examination of Community legislation preparatory to enlargement of the Community is continuing. With regard to the powers of Parliament in relation to acts of the European Communities, I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. Member on 20th July.—[Vol. 821, c. 258–60.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he will not recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into all matters connected with Great Britain's possibly entry into the European Economic Community, the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the terms and conditions of entry, and to include on the Royal Commission representatives from the Commonwealth countries of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean and one from the Channel Isles.

Given the consideration already undertaken by the House, whose rôle it is to decide this matter, notably the recent debate and the prospect of a further debate in the next Session, Her Majesty's Government see no need to recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of any collective aid targets adopted by the European Economic Community for aid to the developing countries; and whether he will give details of the breakdown of such target figures between private investment, public investment, grants and interest-free loans.

The Community has not adopted any collective aid targets.

Official Flows		Belgium	France	Germany	Italy	Luxembourg	$ millions Netherlands
1 Bilateral	…	94	885	550	94	—	163
2. Multilateral	…	26	108	183	80	1	39
Private Flows	…	174	812	676	550	not available	238
Total	…	294	1,805	1,409	724	not available	440

No existing member of the Community provided tied budgetary assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he made to the Soviet Embassy at the time of the Riga trial of Ruth Alexandrova, in particular

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of interest rates charged by individual members of the European Economic Community on their loans to developing countries.

The average interest rates charged by individual members of the European Economic Community on their official development assistance loans to developing countries in 1970 were:

	per cent.
Belgium	2·3
France	3·7
Germany	2·9
Italy	3·2*
Luxembourg	—
Netherlands	2·9
* The figure for Italy is an O.E.C.D. estimate.
† Luxembourg made no official development assistance loans to developing countries in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the amount of aid provided in each existing European Economic Community member nation on the following bases, bilateral, multilateral, private, and tied budgetary assistance.

From table 11 of an O.E.C.D. Press Release of 28th June, 1971, net official and private flows in 1970 from existing members of the E.E.C. are calculated to have been:about her treatment during the eight months before her trial.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of the distribution of British provisions for humanitarian relief within East Pakistan.

The contribution by Her Majesty's Government for humanitarian relief in East Pakistan is being channelled through the United Nations. The United Nations Secretary General's representative in East Pakistan and representatives of the Food and Agricultural Organisation, World Food Programme, World Health Organisation and United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund are currently working with the Pakistan authorities on the receipt, storage, internal transport and distribution of relief aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in East Pakistan so far as British aid and interests are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in East Pakistan so far as aid from the United Kingdom is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Pakistan so far as aid from the United Kingdom is concerned.

I have nothing to add to the statement my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary made on 23rd June.—[Vol. 819, c. 1436–37.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the build-up of British relief supplies for refugees from East Pakistan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the disbursement of aid to India to assist with the burden of refugees from East Bengal; and whether he will now make a pledge of further aid in addition to the sums already announced.

We offered £2 million in response to the United Nations appeal. Most of this sum has been paid to the High Commissioner for Refugees. My right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary promised £5 million more on 23rd June. £2·8 million of this offer is committed to the purchase and shipment of rice and shelter materials, and £1·75 million is set aside for an emergency airlift of rice and for transport vehicles. Some of the promised funds are therefore still available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is his latest estimate of the cost of the development, budgetary and relief requirements needed to deal with the refugee, and deteriorating economic situation, in East and West Bengal; and what is now Great Britain's commitment for relieving the overall situation;(2) if he will summarise the development, budgetary and relief aid which will be given to Pakistan and to which he is still committed in the current year; and how much of this will be used directly or indirectly in East Pakistan.

In July, 1970, Her Majesty's Government pledged £10 million in development aid to Pakistan. Loans of £7·6 million were signed and this aid is continuing to flow. Most of this consists of non-project aid provided to the Central Government and it is not possible to say with any accuracy how much of it will go to East Pakistan. We provide no budgetary aid. We have offered to the United Nations £1 million of relief aid in response to the Secretary-General's appeal in June for the population of East Pakistan. No estimate has been made of the total requirements there.I answered a Question from the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 22nd July about the problems caused by the refugees in West Bengal, and I have nothing at present to add to it.—[Vol. 821, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest estimate he has received of the number of refugees who have reached India from East Pakistan, and the annual cost of relief, and what is the value of British official relief effort to which he is committed in the current year.

I have nothing to add at present to the answers I have made to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Lewis Carter-Jones) on 29th June and 22nd July.—[Vol. 820, c. 92; Vol. 821, c. 340–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to raise at the United Nations Human Rights Commission the question of the treatment of African workers employed by Charter Consolidated Limited which has resulted in the contraction of chronic asbestosis by 1,309 such workers in the last five years.

No. I understand that the management of Charter Consolidated Limited are already well aware of the allegations which have been made and I do not consider that reference to the Human Rights Commission would necessarily prove helpful in a case of this nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent United Nations Economic and Social Council discussion of the Secretary-General's report on a United Nations disaster relief centre.

The United Kingdom cosponsored and introduce a draft resolution at the Economic and Social Council directed to co-ordiating

"assistance in cases of natural disaster and other emergency situations".

It calls on the Secretary-General to appoint a Disaster Relief Co-ordinator who would report direct to him. The Co-ordinator would have a small permanent office which would be the focal point in the United Nations' system for disaster relief matters.The resolution was adopted by the Council on the 23rd of July by 24 votes with 2 abstentions and will now go forward for consideration at the 26th Session of the General Assembly.I have arranged for a copy of the resolution to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek improved relations with the Chinese People's Republic.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend earlier this afternoon to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) and my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for the proposed increase in fees for English-speaking schools in Hong Kong to be spread over a period of years.

The Salaries Commission which reported on 19th July has made recommendations bearing on this matter. It has accordingly been necessary for the Hong Kong Government to postpone the introduction and implementation of the proposed increase in fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the position of the British Ambassador to Uruguay who was kidnapped 28 weeks ago.

Her Majesty's Government continue to hold the Uruguayan Government responsible for taking all appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the Ambassador; they have maintained their efforts to fulfil this responsibility but so far without securing Mr. Jackson's release. Meanwhile we have recent evidence that he is alive and in a sound state of health. I believe that Members on all sides of the House will endorse my tribute to his courage in these appalling circumstances and to that of his wife and family in this country. Her Majesty's Government will not surrender to blackmail but we earnestly hope that those holding Mr. Jackson will soon be brought to share the view of responsible statesmen throughout Latin America that his captivity can serve no reputable political purpose and on humanitarian grounds should be quickly ended.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has received about the position of quasi-Government pensioners under the Pensions (Increase) Act; and if he will make a statement.

Since the new Bill was published I have received representations about six cases. The Overseas Service Pensioners' Association and my officials are together studying the position of certain categories of pensioners. I hope to make a further statement when they have completed this study.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has now taken in consequence of the Report of the Select Committee on Overseas Aid, Command Paper No. 298, 1971; and if he will make a statement.

My observations on the Report were published in Command Paper 4687. The House discussed these during the Aid Debate on 9th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of those developing countries which are at present receiving interest-free loans from the British Government; and whether he will publish details of any proposals he is entertaining for additions to, or substractions from, this list of countries.

Countries with which the British Government has signed agreements in respect of interest-free loans, partly or wholly outstanding for disbursement, are:

Afghanistan	Malawi
Antigua	Malaysia
Bolivia	Montserrat
Botswana	Mauritius
British Solomon Is.	Nepal
Cameroon	Nigeria
Ceylon	Pakistan
Dominica	*Peru
Gambia	St. Helena
Ghana	St. Kitts-Nevis
Grenada	Seychelles
*Guyana	Sierra Leone
India	Singapore
Indonesia	Sudan
Jordan	Swaziland
Kenya	Tunisia
Lesotho	Turkey
Khmer Rep.	Uganda
* The interest-free loans to Guyana and Peru are for special purposes; normal development loans to these countries are not free of interest.

Disbursements of these loans were made during 1970 to all of those countries except:

Afghanistan	St. Kitts-Nevis
Antigua	Seychelles
Bolivia	Sudan
Peru	Tunisia

Interest-free loans are no longer being offered to Guyana, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru or Turkey. I am unable to give further information about possible changes in the list.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial aid and technical assistance is being given to the Sudan in the financial year 1971–72.

Under an agreement dated August, 1969, £459,000 in capital assistance will be provided in 1971–72 to replace 40 gates of the Sennar Dam. These are being built in Britain.About £½ million in technical assist-will be provided during that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his policy to bring total British aid levels up to those of the European Economic Community.

Our official aid as a proportion of G.N.P. has been below the Community average, but the provisional figure for total flows from Britain in 1970 was a little above the average. Substantial increases in our official aid over the next few years have been announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many improvement grants have been made in respect of houses in the Lleyn, Caernarvonshire, Rural District during the past five years; what are the total sums advanced from central and local sources for this purpose; and how many houses thus improved are now let for weekend and holiday use, or otherwise partly occupied.

During the past five years Lleyn Rural District Council awarded to private applicants 341 house improvement grants totalling £99,126. The Exchequer contribution is equivalent to three-quarters of the loan charges on a loan equal to the grant and repayable over 20 years.Local authorities are not required to inform me of the use made of houses thus improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many improvement grants were made in respect of houses in Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, Merioneth, Cardiganshire and Pembroke-shire during the past five years; what are the total sums advanced from central and local sources in each of these counties for this purpose; and how many houses thus improved in each of these counties are now let for weekend or holiday use or otherwise partly occupied.

During the past five years 7,284 improvement grants were made to private applicants in respect of houses in Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, Merioneth, Cardiganshire and Pembroke-shire. For each of these counties, grants awarded during this period totalled £480,925, £730,520, £299,004, £445,366 and £535,034, respectively. The Exchequer contribution is equivalent to three-quarters of loan charges on a loan equal to the grant and repayable over 20 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what numbers of all children over two years of age are attending maintained nursery schools and classes in each county and county borough in Wales.

In January, 1970, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 10,150 children aged 2 and over in maintained nursery schools and classes in Wales. Of these, 2,730 were in nursery schools and 7,780 were in nursery classes in primary schools. The detailed breakdown of these figures is as follows:—

	Nursery Schools	Nursery classes in Primary Schools	Total
Anglesey C.C.	—	6	6
Breconshire C.C.	37	515	552
Caernarvonshire C.C.	—	564	564
Cardiganshire C.C	—	134	134
Carmarthenshire C.C.	41	431	472
Denbighshire C.C	—	498	498
Flintshire C.C.	81	620	701
Glamorgan C.C.	630	3,438	4,068
Merioneth C.C.	—	58	58
Monmouthshire C.C.	582	426	1,008
Montgomeryshire C.C		130	130
Pembrokeshire C.C	—	84	84
Radnorshire C.C	—	—	—
Cardiff C.B.C.	694	86	780
Merthyr Tydfil C.B.C	30	—	30
Newport C.B.C.	395	541	936
Swansea C.B.C.	240	249	489

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) which local authorities have made representations to him about the new membership of the Council for Wales; and what was the nature of these representations;(2) if he consulted Swansea Council about the changes in the Council for Wales which involved either members of Swansea Council or officials of Swansea Council.

All county councils and county borough councils, including Swansea County Borough Council, were invited on 4th February, 1971, to submit for consideration nominations for membership of the Welsh Council. The only local authority which has made representations since the appointment of the Council is the City of Swansea, which has protested that none of its elected members has been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which counties and which county boroughs in Wales do not have at least one of their councillors or aldermen as members of the Council for Wales.

Breconshire C.C., Caernarvonshire C.C., Cardiganshire C.C., Carmarthenshire C.C., Denbighshire C.C., Flintshire C.C., Monmouthshire C.C., Radnorshire C.C., Merthyr Tydfil C.B. and Swansea C.B.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many councillors and aldermen from each county borough in Wales are members of the Welsh Council.

The membership of the Welsh Council includes one alderman of the Cardiff C.B.C. and one councillor of the Newport C.B.C.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, how many health centres were set up in the area of the Flint and Denbigh Health Executive in each of the years from 1965 to 1970; how many health centres there are in Flintshire; and what is the proposed number to be set up in the years 1971 to 1974.

None between 1965 and 1970; one was completed in 1971 but is not yet in use. I have given approval for planning to proceed for 10 health centres in Flintshire and nine in Denbighshire in the years to 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Welsh Economic Council in their study of the effect upon Wales of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, will deal specifically with the problems which will face Welsh fishermen.

I have no doubt that the Welsh Council will take into account all relevant aspects in its study.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of the proposed closure of the British Aluminium Company's Aluminia Factory at Newport, Monmouthshire, if he will outline the steps he is taking to promote alternative employment for the 400 employees who are to be made redundant.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 19th July and to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 22nd June and 14th July.Intermediate area incentives are available in Newport.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Receiving Orders and Orders of Administration under Section 130 of the Bankruptcy Act, 1914, were made in England and Wales during each month of 1971; and how many redundancies are estimated to have resulted from these bankruptcy orders monthly.

The figures of Receiving and Administration Orders are as follows. Information about numbers of redundancies, so far as it is available, could not be compiled without undue expense.

	Numbers of Receiving and Administration Orders
1971
January	392
February	325
March	428
April	345
May	396
June	464

The numbers recorded were reduced to some extent in consequence of delays resulting from the postal strike.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take special action to increase employment prospects in the Oldham, Chadderton, Failsworth, Saddleworth, Shaw and Royton areas, in view of the doubling of the unemployment rate there within the last month.

I understand that about one-third of those registered in the Oldham and Shaw travel-to-work areas as totally unemployed in July were temporarily stopped. As to special action, I would refer the hon. Member to the measures announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 19th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the original cost of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation's equity holding in George Kent Limited; and what is the current value of this holding.

The I.R.C. holding in George Kent Ltd. comprising ordinary and deferred ordinary shares was acquired at a cost of £6,504,861. On the basis of the middle market quotation for these shares as shown by the Daily Official List of the Stock Exchange, London, for 28th July, the value of the holding was £3,524,536.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the fact that the Minister for Aerospace has now flown in Concorde, he himself will now take a flight at an early date.

I am looking forward to taking a flight in Concorde at a convenient opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the Concorde project division of his Department consults the British Aircraft Corporation before planning public relations activities concerning that aircraft.

The Concorde Division is in the closest touch with the British Aircraft Corporation. The responsibility for public relations and publicity is, however, a matter for the Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek to obtain from Pan-American Airways a copy of the evaluation report on Concorde being prepared for them by Mr. Scott Flower.

A copy of the report has been sent to the British Aircraft Corporation, which considers it to be a fair and favourable assessment of Concorde's flight characteristics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what facilities are available or planned for monitoring the noise levels of aircraft landing at London Heathrow Airport.

None. No purpose would be served by such monitoring. It is neither practical nor safe to require aircraft landing at Heathrow to comply with maximum noise levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the capital and revenue costs of monitoring the noise levels of all and of 10 per cent. of the aircraft landing at London Heathrow Airport, respectively.

Costs would depend upon the number and location of sites needed for adequate coverage of whatever area was selected for such hypothetical monitoring below the glide path, which aircraft must join at least 7 nautical miles from the runway.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often the regulations governing the ground running of jet engines at night have been broken this year; and what action has been taken against those responsible.

My information is limited to Heathrow where one possible infringement occurred, and to Gatwick where four minor infringements were recorded. Those responsible were admonished and cautioned against a repetition.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to register and classify hotels in the United Kingdom.

These powers are already available in Part III of the Development of Tourism Act, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now make a statement on future arrangements for credit facilities for orders placed in United Kingdom shipyards by United Kingdom ship owners.

As I told the House on 26th July, an announcement will be made before the Recess.—[Vol. 822, c. 3–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) for what reason in 1970 an industrial development certificate was refused to the German car components firm, Ed Scharwaechter AG, which would have provided 500 jobs in Corby, Northamptonshire;(2) whether he will grant an industrial development certificate for the German car components firm, Ed Scharwaechter AG, which will provide 500 jobs in Corby, Northamptonshire.

I am reluctant to discuss matters concerning a named Company by way of Parliamentary Question and Answer. I will, however, write to the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the oil requirements of the United Kingdom will be obtainable from the North Sea or other British off-shore sources in 1975 and 1980; and if he will make a statement.

It is too early to give firm forecasts. On present knowledge, there are reasonable prospects that reserves equal to about one-fifth of our requirements might be available from the United Kingdom Continental Shelf in 1975 or shortly thereafter. This proportion could be more than doubled by the end of the decade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what complaints, in the last 12 months, have been drawn to his notice about difficulties experienced by holidaymakers on inclusive tours overseas; and what estimate he has made of the total number of such holiday visits.

In 1970 we received about 120 complaints concerning various difficulties experienced by British holidaymakers on inclusive tours overseas of which 50 related to tours to Oberammergau arranged by one tour operator. In the same period there were some 4·8 million visits abroad, excluding visits to the Irish Republic, by United Kingdom residents on holiday. Of these some 2·7 million were estimated to be inclusive tours.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of the complaints since 19th July about accommodation overseas booked by British travel organisations, and in view of the failure to resolve many of these complaints, what representations or discussions he has had with travel agencies, tour operators and consumer organisations; what recommendations have come out of these discussions; and if he will make a statement.

I have not had any discussions with these organisations but I am aware of the action taken by the Association of British Travel Agents to resolve the recent difficulties which have occurred in Spain.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the grounding by officials of his Department of a flight to New York ostensibly organised by the Compass Club, and about the organisation and bona fide of the club and of its organiser, Mr. Hugh Hutton, in view of the latter's involvement with the Discount Air Travel Centre.

An application for permission for this flight by a United States airline from London on 28th July was received late on 23rd July and refused on 26th July because the Department was not satisfied that it complied with the requirements for closed group charter flights. Permission was, however, subsequently sought and granted for the airline concerned to make a flight to New York as a single entity charter (to which the group eligibility requirements would not apply). Investigations in this matter are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much coal was imported into each of the Common Market countries from Poland in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what are the current prices of Polish coal on world markets, and the price paid by European Economic Community countries.

Information on coal imports from Poland by the Common Market countries is published by the O.E.C.D. in "Statistics of Foreign Trade, Series C ", which is available in the Library. I regret that I am not able to give any information on current prices of Polish coal, for which I have no responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the total value of iron and steel imports into the United Kingdom in 1969 and in 1970, from countries from which more than 2 per cent. of the total imported originated, giving the value of the imports stated in each case.

Information is given by country under Division 67 in the Annual Statement of Trade for 1969 (Volume II) and in the Overseas Trade Statistics for December, 1970 (Table II). Countries accounting for more than 2 per cent. of the total imported in either or both years were Australia, Canada, Soviet Union, Sweden, Norway, West Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Republic of South Africa, Japan and U.S.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current level of public funds committed to International Computers Limited and what proposals there are for increasing this commitment.

Excluding funds committed by the Government as customer, the current level of public funds committed to International Computers Limited over and above payments already made amounting to some £14½ million is about £3½ million. This includes the outstanding balance of the purchase price of the Government's shareholding and outstanding commitments on contracts placed under the Advanced Computer Technology Project. As regards proposals for increasing this commitment, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn) on 30th July.—[Vol. 822, c. 196–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what subjects he has submitted for priority attention on the agenda for United Nations Conference on Trade and Development III in 1972.

We play our part in the discussions of the Agenda for U.N.C.T.A.D. Ill, but it is the priorities of the developing countries themselves which carry the most weight.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has considered the possible effects upon the interests of policy holders of a life insurance company, whose name is in his possession, of the continuing difficulties of the company's majority shareholder, whose name is also in his possession.

Yes. Although it appears to me that International Life Insurance Company (U.K.) Ltd. is in a position to meet its liabilities to its policyholders, I am concerned that the operations of the United Kingdom subsidiary should be insulated against the continuing crisis within the parent company, I.O.S. Ltd., and against any threat from any outside body. We have therefore, in exercise of powers under Section 80 of the Companies Act, 1967, required International Life Insurance Company (U.K.) Ltd. to maintain in the United Kingdom assets of equivalent value to the company's domestic liabilities and to place those assets or documents of title to them in the care of an approved custodian. Such assets or documents of title thereto may not be withdrawn from that custody without the written consent of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which countries purchased more than 2 per cent. of the total value of exports of iron and steel from the United Kingdom in 1969 and in 1970 in each of those years, giving the value of those exports stated in each case.

Information is given under Division 67 in the Annual Statement of Trade for 1969 (exports in Volume III and re-exports in Volume II) and in the Overseas Trade Statistics for December, 1970 (Table V). Countries accounting for more than 2 per cent. of the total exported in either or both years were India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada. Irish Republic, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, West Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Iran, U.S.A. and Argentine Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to control the prices charged for repairs by television suppliers and servicing companies.

It is our policy to rely on competition, which is certainly not lacking.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now designate the area of the Risca Urban District Council as a special development area.

No: because I am not convinced the change could be justified in the light of the needs of other assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further contact the Chief Inspector of Accidents has had with the Spanish authorities concerning the investigation into the Dan Air Comet crash near Barcelona last summer; and if he will now make a further statement.

The Chief Inspector of Accidents made considerable progress with the Spanish authorities in the course of detailed discussions with them on their draft report during his visit to Madrid on 21st July. He is expecting to receive a revised document shortly. When the report is released, I shall arrange for it to be published here without delay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that the Board of Customs and Excise have ruled that chastity belts are liable to purchase tax on the grounds that they are not a safety device but an item of apparel, if he will take steps to reverse this ruling.

The proper classification of these articles for tax purposes is not entirely free from doubt. The Commissioners of Customs and Excise are, however, prepared to regard them as not falling within the scope of the purchase tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that computers and accounting machines suitable for value-added tax accounting procedures will be available in sufficient number and early enough to be programmed and operational by April, 1973; and if he will make a statement.

As regards Government computers and machines, yes. It is for industry and commerce to assess their own requirements. H.M. Customs and Excise are of course prepared to receive representations on this or any point which might facilitate the introduction of V.A.T.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the numbers of persons, male and female, respectively, expected to be employed at the Value-Added Tax Centre at Southend when the office is fully operational; and if he will make a statement.

The actual numbers of staff to be employed on V.A.T. will depend on the final decision about the scope and coverage of the tax.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the abolition of toll on bridges of all classification where they originate from historical reasons; and if he will make a statement.

I have no general statement to make at present on privately owned tolls.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will provide information concerning the accident rate at night on motorways where lighting has been provided, and on other motorways.

The information is not immediately available but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he adopts or recommends in deciding when street lighting should be provided on motorways, trunk roads, principal roads and other roads.

For those roads for which I am either directly responsible or make grant, a system of priorities is operated on a national basis and within the limit of available funds, whereby the highest priority is accorded to those schemes which, having regard to cost, can be expected to bring about the greatest saving in accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the Government accepts financial responsibility for the provision of lighting on motorways, trunk roads, principal roads and other roads.

For motorways and trunk roads 100 per cent of capital cost and 100 per cent maintenance. For principal roads 75 per cent. of capital cost of approved schemes. No direct grant for maintenance. Other roads. No direct grant for either installation cost or maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his future intentions in regard to the provision of lighting on motorways.

Future policy is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce his decision to East Retford Rural District Council concerning their application for the road lighting of the A57 at Darlton, Nottinghamshire; and whether he will also give permission for work to begin on the group B1 lighting on the A638 at Ranskill, A631 at Everton and A620 at Clarborough, Nottinghamshire.

The lighting of the A57 trunk road at Darlton has now been agreed and the East Retford Rural District Council are being informed accordingly.I am unable to comment on the merit of the three principal road schemes until details are submitted to me by the appropriate highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the mileage of new motorways on which crash barriers will not be installed before the motorways are opened, the additional cost which would have to be incurred to provide the barriers before the motorways are opened, and the estimated cost of providing the barriers at later dates.

Upon the principle of the busiest first, there is, within the programme of 1,000 miles of motorway barriers by 1975, a distance of about 100 miles of motorway where barriers are not being installed before opening. Only another 125 miles of motorway will be opened without barriers and will not be so equipped under the present programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment after what date no new stretches of motorway will be opened without provisions for central anti-crash barriers.

1,079 miles of motorway are being equipped with central reserve safety barrier under the programme announced in August, 1970 and due for completion in 1975. Arrangements after that date are being reviewed and an announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now ready to make a statement arising out of the meeting held on the subject of industrial relations on 28th April between his Department, the hon. Members for Bassetlaw and West Lothian, and representatives of the Professional Footballers' Association.

Since that occasion I have met the Professional Footballers' Association and, subsequently, the Football Association to discuss disciplinary matters. I think it would be helpful to have a further talk and I am asking them both to meet me as soon as convenient.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the expected opening dates of those stages of the M4 motorway presently under construction between Stanton St. Quenton and Holyport.

The length between Stanton St. Quintin and Liddington is expected to be opened in the late autumn. Every effort is being made by the contractors to complete the remaining length from Liddington to Holyport by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of widening the M4 motorway between Slough, East, and Holyport; how long is the contractual period for the work; how many men are, or will have been, employed on the job; and what is the total contract value in terms of labour and materials.

About £2·4 million, over a contract period of two years, and an additional £0·3 million for ancillary works. Practically all of these amounts are attributable to labour and materials. The contractor employs on average 100 men per day on the site. In addition there are at times some employees of sub-contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken by his Department to reduce the quantity of polluting effluent entering the River Don by way of Sheffield sewage.

My Department have arranged a meeting next month with Sheffield C.B. and the River Authority to discuss a scheme which is being prepared by the City Council for a relief sewer through the Don Valley. The estimated cost of the scheme is between £6 and £7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the legal requirements affecting the working conditions of lorry drivers which are in force or proposed in European Economic Community countries compare with those in force or proposed in the United Kingdom.

The E.E.C. has lower limits on driving times and a 450-kilometre daily limit for heavier vehicles, but no limits on hours of duty. Rest periods are the same as here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount for the latest convenient period paid by way of the 25 per cent. grant for stage services to bus companies: and whether he will consider laying down a scale of minimum rates to be charged per mile in order to protect the competitive position of the small operators who do not receive this grant.

The 25 per cent. grant on new buses for use on stage services is available to all operators alike. £5·76 million was paid out in the financial year ending 31st March, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to the British Rail Board to provide free transport for vehicles of disabled drivers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on Friday, 30th July, to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris), Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) and Stoke Newington and Hackney, North (Mr. Weitzman).—[Vol. 822, c. 197–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the interests of disabled drivers of single-seater invalid tricycles and road safety in general, he will consult with the Secretary of State for Social Services so as to arrange for two-seater instruction invalid tricycles to be available at repairers approved by his Department for instructional purposes.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents have occurred during the past five years on the A645 near the bend at the junction of the road to Pollington, near Goole; and what steps he is taking to make this accident black spot less hazardous.

For the quarter-mile length of A635 east of the junction the figures are:

Year	Accidents
1967	5
1968	1
1969	2
1970	2
1971 (up to 28th July)	5

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has made to carry out, during this autumn, the new sample house condition survey for England and Wales.

Arrangements have now been made for the new sample survey of house condition to be carried out over about six weeks from 20th September. As I explained in reply to my hon. Friend on 5th May, this is intended to provide a more reliable and up-to-date assessment than we have at present of the condition of the national housing stock.To allow reasonable comparisons to be made of the results of this survey and those of the first survey in 1967, as nearly as possible the same sample of houses will be used and the same surveyors employed. I would like to express appreciation of the willing cooperation that we have had in making these arrangements both from the authorities in whose area the sample houses are situated and from the authorities who once again are lending staff to carry out the survey.The survey is concerned purely with the structural condition of the houses. A letter will be sent by the Department to each of the householders concerned shortly before the survey is due to start, explaining its purpose and asking for his co-operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made recently by the committee on the application of computers in the construction industry; and what action is being taken to make its work of relevance to small and medium sized building firms.

Work is in progress in several areas, notably in applications for services engineers, bringing progress to the attention of architects, and in the development of a proposal for a project file that will enable more effective applications throughout the construction industry.With the co-operation of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers, the committee has held meetings with small and medium-sized builders to encourage them to use computers, particularly for payroll. It has also made a thorough study of cost control programmes, in order to stimulate the development of programmes more suited to their needs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider making appropriate special grants to farmers in the Abergele and Llanfair Talhaiarn areas for the purpose of reinstating agricultural land damaged by the recent serious flooding, in respect of which no responsibility has been accepted by the Dee and Clwyd River Authority.

My right hon. Friend cannot make payments to compensate farmers for flood and storm losses, but the grants available under the Farm Capital Grants Scheme may be of help. My Department's divisional staff will be glad to deal with inquiries from individual farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, over the last convenient period of 12 months, what proportion of the increase in the price of food is attributable to the home producer, the processor, distributor and the foreign producer.

It is not possible to establish precisely the proportion of the increase in food prices which is attributable to the various factors but it is estimated that between one-third and one-half of the increase during the 12 months to June, 1971, was due to higher prices on world markets for many of the foods we buy from overseas. The direct and indirect effects of wage inflation in this country accounted for most of the remainder. Only a small part accrued to the home producer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what answer he has made to representations made to him by the farming industry about his proposals to alter the present Sire Licensing Inspectorate system.

I shall shortly be meeting the organisations concerned for a further discussion on the future of bull licensing. Most of the organisations concerned with boar licensing are in agreement with the proposal to bring licensing to an end.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the net cost of the Sire Licensing Inspectorate after taking account of the increased licence fees paid by stock owners;(2) whether he has obtained the views of agricultural representative organisations on the willingness of stock owners to pay such further increased license fees as would be required to make the present Sire Licensing Inspectorate system financially self-supporting;(3) to what levels licensing fees require to be raised to make the present Sire Licensing Inspectorate system financially self-supporting.

It is not possible to indicate precisely what is the net cost of the sire licensing arrangements without a detailed review of the costs involved. This review has been held over pending the outcome of the general consideration which is being given to the future of sire licensing. But undoubtedly there is a considerable shortfall between fee receipts and costs. A substantial increase in fees would be required to make the sire licensing arrangements self - supporting. The organisations concerned with bull breeding have told me that bull owners would be prepared to pay higher fees for licences. Most of the organisations concerned with boar breeding favour abolition of the licensing arrangements.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the projects for which his Department is responsible for which Peterlee new town is being considered as a suitable location.

The Department is not considering any new locations for its work except in the context of the current dispersal review. For the criteria affecting the choice of dispersal locations, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a number of hon. Members on 14th July.—[Vol. 821, c. 97–8.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the Departments which have responsibility for establishments using animals for experimentation and research.

This information is not kept centrally and the effort involved in collecting it could not be justified.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what attacks were made on the Army in Londonderry on the night of Tuesday, 27th July; how many shots were fired and bombs thrown by the rioters; whether the fire was returned; and what arrests were made.

There were a number of incidents during the night of 27th/28th July. A total of about 14 shots was fired at the Army, and a number of nail bombs thrown. There was no opportunity to return fire, and no arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence in how many establishments for which he is responsible animals are used for purposes of experimentation and research; and how many animals were used in those establishments for such purposes in 1970.

I regret that this information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local education authorities have established units, attached to normal primary schools, for physically handicapped children; and what is the estimated number of children who attend these units.

Returns from local education authorities show the following position as at January, 1971:

Authority	Pupils Full-time	in attendance Part-time
Essex	4	5
Kent	17	—
East Suffolk	6	—
West Sussex	7	3
Huddersfield	13	—
Liverpool	11	—

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers are specially trained for teaching deaf children; and how many are in training now.

At the end of 1970 there were 996 specially qualified teachers of the deaf. Approximately 180 were in training in the academic year 1970–71 of whom about 140 should qualify this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what survey has been carried out in the United Kingdom to determine the need for a grammar school, or a school to provide a more academic education for deaf children.

No such survey has been carried out by my Department. The total enrolment at Mary Hare has remained constant at about 160 pupils and I understand that no suitable candidates have been refused admission.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many trained teachers of the deaf are actually teaching deaf children.

820 in January, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many trained teachers of the deaf at present teaching children who can hear are receiving the allowance for teachers of the deaf.