asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the preparations for a meeting of Heads of Government of 10 Western European countries.

It was agreed at the meeting in Rome on 6th November of the Foreign Ministers of the Ten that the preparation and convening of a summit conference of the Ten during 1972 should be a matter for all ten countries. As yet, the time and location of the conference have not been settled. My right honourable Friend, the Prime Minister's support was clearly expressed in his Zurich speech in September.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the reasons for British opposition to the ruling of the International Court concerning the illegality of South African occupation of the former mandated territory of South-West Africa, now named Namibia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Adjournment debate on 19th October.—[Vol. 823, c. 678–86.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of Her Majesty's diplomatic staff are stationed in Namibia.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the recent Security Council resolution on Namibia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Adjournment debate on 19th October.—[Vol. 823, c. 678–86.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the United States of America on nuclear tests.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current initiatives being taken by Her Majesty's Government in connection with the situation in the Middle East.

We are extremely concerned about the situation in the Middle East. Various moves have recently been made, including the O.A.U. Mission. My right hon. Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, will be discussing the whole problem with Mr. Eban when he visits this country next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will initiate proposals at the current session of the United Nations General Assembly for a United Nations Peacekeeping Force in the Middle East.

We have already made clear on a number of occasions that Her Majesty's Government would be willing to participate in some form of guarantee arrangements with the necessary forces, if others were also willing so to participate and provided, of course, that this was acceptable to the parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received for assistance with the installation of a television broadcasting system in Zanzibar; what the estimated cost of such assistance would be; what evaluation has been made of the social benefits of such a system; what replies have been sent; and whether he will make a statement.

No financial assistance has been requested from Her Majesty's Government for this system. In response to a recent commercial inquiry to my Department, the Zanzibar authorities have been put in touch with the Crown Agents, who have proposed a preliminary survey of the service which the Zanzibar authorities contemplate establishing at their own expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the past year the British High Commissioner in Tanzania has visited Zanzibar; on how many of these visits he met First Vice President Karume; how many of these journeys were undertaken by public airline aeroplanes and how many by private aeroplanes; and what was the purpose of the visits.

The High Commissioner has visited Zanzibar six times in the past year, and saw the First Vice-President on all but one occasion. All journeys were made by scheduled air services. The visits were in pursuit of the High Commissioner's normal official activity within the United Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the application of world-wide town to town co-operation and increases in town twinnings in the interests of development and international co-operation, as submitted by the United Towns Organisation to the United Nations Organisation.

The Government regard town twinning as a valuable means of fostering international friendship and co-operation. But they believe that such links between civic authorities should be formed and maintained by these authorities themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent European Free Trade Association meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent European Free Trade Association Ministerial meeting.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 11th November, and to the European Free Trade Association Ministerial Communiqué circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT for that day.—[Vol. 825, c. 1237–48.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will cause to be issued a White Paper setting out the position which will obtain on British accession to the European Economic Community in respect of the movement of workers to and from the Community in the context of the relevant provisions of the Treaty of Rome, the British Nationality Act, 1948, and the Immigration Act, 1971.

No, Sir Accession to the European Economic Community Treaty and acceptance of Community instruments on freedom of movement of labour does not affect the British Nationality Act, 1948, and the Immigration Act, 1971. The situation was covered in Cmnd. 4715 and described in greater detail in No. 11 of the series of Factsheets on Britain and Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what system exists in the European Economic Committee equivalent to the Public Accounts Committee and Expenditure Committee to exercise parliamentary or political control over, or examination of, expenditure by the European Economic Community of moneys raised in one of the member States of the European Economic Community.

Final responsibility for all budgetary matters is exercised by the Council of Ministers. The European Parliament examines the draft Community Budget, and may propose amendments. The Community Accounts of Expenditure are audited by a special Control Commission which reports annually through the Commission to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Part V Chapter 3 Title II (Articles 199–209) of the Treaty of Rome, as modified by the Budget Treaty of 1970, lay down the full provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community is expected to affect United Kingdom trade with Argentina, bearing in mind the recent non-preferential trade agreement negotiated between the European Economic Community and Argentina.

The effect cannot be estimated precisely Imports from Argentina have risen steadily. The non-preferential trading agreement to which the United Kingdom will accede on becoming a member of the enlarged Communities, should ensure that this continues, and at the same time create new opportunities for the United Kingdom for increased trade with Argentina.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make arrangements for all Members of Parliament to be issued with the Foreign Office Table of Regulations of the European Communities still valid as at 30th June, 1970; and whether he will arrange also for these to be issued in chronological form on a subject basis, with a short description of their effect, in addition to the titles of the regulations.

The table referred to will continue to be available to hon. Members through the Library of the House, but it will be superseded by the index referred to in my answer to the hon. Member for West Ham, North on 19th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 231.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent tour of the Channel Islands undertaken by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to discuss matters pertaining to Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community and the effect of such entry on the economy of the Channel Islands.

I visited the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands on 18th and 19th November to commend to the Islands' authorities the Community proposals set out in my statement of 11th November. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further until the proposals have been considered by the Islands' legislatures.—[Vol. 825, c. 1238.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why copies of the agreement on the Channel Islands and the European Economic Community were refused to the hon. Member for West Ham, North and other Members of Parliament; and whether he will now ensure that copies are made available.

It is not the practice to supply advance information about the content of Ministerial statements other than through the usual channels in the House In answer to the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 17th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 154.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the official announcement from the European Economic Community that food prices in the countries of the Six will rise at least 12 per cent. before Great Britain is enabled to join the European Economic Community and that some prices such as meat in general and sirloin and steak in particular will rise by 50 per cent., if he will now withdraw Great Britain's application for entry into the European Economic Community.

No. A number of figures have been mentioned in Press reports, but no proposals of this magnitude have been put to the European Economic Community Council of Ministers for decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that the catalogue of Legal Services of the European Communities, Eighth Edition, is only complete upon until 31st December, 1969; whether he will discover when it is to be brought up to date; and whether he will make arrangements for all Members of Parliament to be issued with a copy.

The catalogue referred to is a Community publication which is revised and up-dated from time to time. With regard to the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. Member on 19th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 231.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will obtain enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Coal and Steel Community, E.1110, Levies in Accordance with Articles 49 and 50 of the Treaty of Rome, to enable him to circulate a copy to each Member of Parliament.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 19th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 231–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make proposals in the United Nations Security Council or the General Assembly with a view to a solution of the problem of East Pakistan and the refugees.

If the United Nations can take effective action for a political solution in East Pakistan and the return of the refugees, we will lend our strong support But before taking or encouraging an initiative, we must see some prospect that such a move would effectively lessen the tension We do not consider that this is the case at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further discussions have taken place with India and other Commonwealth members on the situation in Bangla Desh and the position of the refugees.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the Question of the right hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) to the Prime Minister on 18th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 626–28.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to urge other Governments to increase their financial contributions towards relief for refugees crossing into India from East Bengal.

An international appeal for the refugees from East Pakistan has been made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. We have given this appeal our full support, and have contributed nearly £15 million. Both in this House and elsewhere I have expressed the hope that other Governments would respond generously.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches have been received from the India Government seeking the good offices of Her Majesty's Government to settle the dispute between the governments of India and Pakistan.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to attend the next meeting of the Council of Ministers of Western European Union.

I attended the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Western European Union held in Paris on 20th November. No decision has been taken on who will attend the next meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, on his next visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for discussions with representatives of the Soviet Government, he will request them to allow Jews the same freedom of travel and immigration as that afforded to British Jews.

I have no doubt that my right hon. Friend will keep this suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his negotiations with the illegal régime of Southern Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for York (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon) and others.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he now has to pay an official visit to Rhodesia.

As the hon. Member is aware, a visit is taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement giving details of the times and dates when Lord Goodman acted on behalf of Her Majesty's Government in visits to Rhodesia to negotiate with the illegal Smith régime; what was the cost of such visits; what were and are his qualifications; and what results have been obtained as a result of each such visit.

With regard to the costs of Lord Goodman's visits, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Guy Barnett) earlier today.The dates of the four visits were 1st–6th April, 19th–27th May, 29th June to 7th July, and 16th–21st September His legal qualification and experience of the Rhodesian problem made Lord Goodman well suited to conduct exploratory discussions on Her Majesty's Government's behalf. This is borne out by the fact that they led to the current negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make it a condition of the continuation of talks in Salisbury that the police there discontinue the practice of torturing Africans for information.

We have no substantiated evidence to show that the police in Rhodesia are behaving in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common-wealth Affairs whether he has received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations an invitation to submit views on review of the Charter, in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 2697 of the 25th Session; and what reply he has sent.

A communication from the Secretary-General on this subject was received in March this year. No reply has yet been sent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the formation of the Union of Arab Emirates.

Progress is being made, but I cannot yet usefully add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 18th October.—[Vol. 823, c. 49.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made, following upon the termination of the Special Treaty relationship between Her Majesty's Government and the Bahrain Government on 15th August last for the operation of Bahrain International Airport.

The Government of Bahrain have assumed international responsibility for civil aviation matters but Her Majesty's Government have agreed that, as a measure of assistance, the Department of Trade and Industry will continue to share the cost of civil airport operation with the Government of Bahrain until the end of 1971. The cost of this to Her Majesty's Government is not expected to differ appreciably from that which would have arisen if, as was a possibility, the special treaty relationship had continued until the end of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a decision has yet been taken to locate the United Nations Office for Population Studies in London; and if he will make a statement.

The only such proposal of which I am aware was the recommendation of a United Nations feasibility study mission last December that a World Population Institute should be established and that the British Government's offer to house and contribute to the cost of such an institute should be followed up. During the past year both that recommendation and, more recently revised proposals for a World Population Training Institute—which did not include any specific recommendation on its location—have met with criticism from various quarters and no decision to set up an institute has yet been taken. Instead, the United Nations Population Commission has this month requested the United Nations Secretary-General to establish an an appropriate committee to develop a programme for inter-disciplinary training in population matters, including pilot projects and the expansion of the training programmes of existing regional and national institutes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his plans for further United Kingdom participation in the capital city project at Lilongwe and other projects in Malawi.

At present, Britain is financing nearly 80 projects in Malawi in the fields of renewable natural resources, transport and communications, and social infrastructure, and it is expected that this pattern will continue over the next few years. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development was able, while in Malawi last month, to discuss the project for a new capital city at Lilongwe with Malawi Ministers. Ways in which Britain might be associated with this project are at present under study.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the fact that a Rhodesian refugee returned from Botswana has been beaten to death, whether he will give an assurance that no further refugees will be returned, but will be afforded assistance and protection by the British High Commissioner in Gaberones.

Rhodesians may seek the help of the British High Commissioner in Gaborone, but permission to settle in Botswana can be given only by the Botswana Government.The admission of political refugees to this country is a question for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the American Government relating to the United Kingdom's position under the MacMahon Act.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers, male and female, were employed in Government owned factories in Maesteg at the latest convenient date; and what were the comparative figures for the past five years.

I regret that I am unable to give the numbers requested because there would be a risk of disclosure of information relating to individual undertakings.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers, male and female, were employed at the Bridgend Industrial Estate at the latest convenient date; and what were the comparative figures for the past five years.

The information is as follows:

September	Males	Females	Total
1971	4,190	1,720	5,910
1970	4,700	1,910	6,610
1969	4,300	1,810	6,110
1968	4,400	1,820	6,220
1967	4,060	1,860	5,920
1966	4,040	1,980	6,020

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to improve the current employment difficulties in Sunderland.

Sunderland should benefit from the measures the Government have taken to encourage faster growth in the economy. I am hopeful that firm projects will result from a number of inquiries made by companies who have shown an interest in locating in this special development area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men and women, respectively, were employed in Government-owned factories in the Northern Region at the latest available date.

In September, 1971, 38,983 men and 38,933 women were employed in Government-owned factories provided under the Local Employment Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much magnesite is imported into the United Kingdom; if he will give comparative figures for the period 1967 to 1971, an estimate for 1972 and a statement on the future prospects of the magnesite industry in the United Kingdom;(2) how much magnesite is produced by British firms, how much is exported and how much is provided for the home market.

The full figures show that imports in 1969–71 were substantially higher than in 1967–68; I prefer not to venture an estimate for 1972 Production and consumption figures for magnesite and non-pharmaceutical magnesium oxide are not available. Exports were not separately distinguished in the trade statistics prior to 1970, in which year they were 34,000 tons; in January—September, 1971 exports were about 19,000 tons.The following is the information asked for:

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS
	Magnesite	Non-pharmaceutical magnesium oxide
	tons	tons
January to September, 1971	97,241	22,333
January to September, 1970	89,762	22,358
1970	117,087	23,045
1969	122,201	*
1968	76,144	*
1967	61,067	*
* Not separately distinguished.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry according to what criteria the directors of Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited were appointed.

The directors of Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. were chosen on the basis of their ability to contribute to the successful management of the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been granted in the area of the Widnes parliamentary constituency since June, 1970; and how many men and women will be employed as a result.

From 1st July, 1970, to 31st October, 1971, 12 industrial development certificates were issued for the Widnes Employment Exchange area. They are expected by the applicants to give rise to 100 additional jobs when the projects are complete and fully manned. I regret that figures for the Widnes constituency are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the effect in reducing unemployment in the Widnes parliamentary constituency of the measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 27th October, 1970.

It is not possible to single out the effects of individual measures Widnes is well placed to benefit fully from our extensive regional measures as the massive steps we have taken to stimulate growth and investment work their way through the national economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry according to what criteria the part-time chairman of the British Airports Authority was appointed.

The person appointed to this post, as to other posts in the public sector, must have the right qualifications and personality. Wide general experience of industry and management are important factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total revenue expected by the Exchequer including royalties, site rentals and profits tax per million tons of crude oil extracted from the North Sea.

I am not able to say, because it is not possible at this stage to estimate the wellhead value of the oil—on which royalty is charged at 12½ per cent.—and there are many unknown factors which prevent a forecast of taxable profits. Any rental relating to the area of production would, under the licence conditions, be deductible from the amount of royalty payable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total revenue received to date from the sale of mineral exploration rights in the Scottish sector of the North Sea; and what are the future expectations from revenue from this source.

A sum of £38·7 million has been received since 1964 by way of considerations for the grant of off shore licences. Further revenue will be due in the future, but it is not possible to predict its level at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total value, on a yearly basis, of royalties paid to the Exchequer on North Sea supplies of natural gas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Accounts, which refer to the whole of the United Kingdom continental shelf, 1968–69 and 1969–70 (House of Commons Papers Nos. 61 of 1968–69, 129 of 1969–70 and 265 of 1970–71). The amounts are as follows:

	£
1967–68	365,952
1968–69	1,261,605
1969–70	1,470,295

The accounts for 1970–71 are expected to be available shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what price per million tons of crude oil extracted, is presently paid by the United Kingdom to each member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

I have been asked to reply.Payments for crude oil are commercial transactions between the international oil companies and the Governments of the producing countries, and detailed information in the form requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many shuttleless looms were installed by firms in the British wool industry in each of the last five years; how many of these were imported; and how many were of British manufacture.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to examine the trading effects on the United Kingdom arising from the 10 per cent. import charge imposed on all foreign imports into the United States of America.

I have arranged for the effects of the surcharge to be discussed with a large number of firms, and for a number of trade associations to let me have their assessments. The statistics of our exports to the United States are also being kept under close review, but distorting factors such as the United States dock strikes will make it impossible to draw reliable conclusions for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken to find a tenant for the unoccupied advance factory at Barley Mow, Birtley, County Durham, over the past 12 months, and what further action he will now take.

The factory has been suggested to 15 firms and visited by eight of them. We shall continue our efforts to find a suitable occupant.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of the increasing unemployment rate among adults and juveniles in the Chester-le-Street constituency area, what action he has taken over the past 12 months to promote and encourage new industrial development in the area.

The hon. Member will, of course, be aware of the many measures which the Government have taken in the last year to encourage faster economic growth. These should benefit Chester-le-Street along with other areas. As regards Chester-le-Street specifically, the Employment Exchange areas which together make up the greater part of the constituency have been suggested to 39 firms expressing an interest in locating in the Northern Region; representatives of 21 of these have visited the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future location of administration and clerical staff presently employed by the British Steel Corporation Tubes Division in Glasgow.

No. After consideration, I have decided in consultation with the Corporation that this is a matter for it, and I have asked the Chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he held with the Clyde Paper Company Limited concerning the effects on employment of their decision to move from Lanarkshire.

This decision, which is entirely one for the company's own commercial judgment, was not discussed with the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will arrange to issue to all Members of Parliament a subject index to secondary legislation of the European Communities' regulations and other legislative instruments other than those covering agriculture, fisheries and food; and whether he will ensure that these cover the period up to and including October, 1971.

I have already had placed in the Library a copy of an index to the secondary legislation available in the Department's Library. This index is not, however, definitive. A complete index to secondary legislation of the Communities in force on 10th November, 1971, and which will still be operative at the time of accession, will be published in connection with the legislation to be introduced into Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give a full and detailed report of the times and dates when his Department received reports concerning the breaking of the law by the Dollar Land Holdings Company Limited; what requests he received and from whom for action to be taken against this company under the Companies Act, 1948; and what action he took in each instance.

It would involve unjustifiable expenditure to examine all the Department's records and to seek to identify individual representations, as distinct from repetitions of earlier requests; nor would it be desirable to give details of complaints without the consent of the individuals concerned. The hon. Member will be aware that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration is considering a complaint against the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the evidence submitted to him showing that the Dollar Land Holdings Company Limited have been evading the 1948 Companies Act, he will appoint an inspector to investigate the affairs of this company under section 165(b)(iii) of the Companies Act, 1948.

My right hon. Friend sees no reason for appointing inspectors at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what general advice and guidance has been given to his Department on security measures at Heathrow Airport.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the Hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on Wednesday last, when I told him that security measures against theft at Heathrow were primarily a matter for the airlines and the British Airports Authority.—[Vol. 826, c. 148.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is yet in a position to give the views of Her Majesty's Government on the report of the Banks Committee on the British Patent System.

The Government have now had the opportunity to consider the recommendations in this Report and the observations made on them. The Report is generally welcomed, but it is proposed to give further consideration to some aspects of the recommendations, notably those relating to payment for the Crown use of inventions, the publication of abridgments and the settlement of disputes and appeals. Subject to this, the Government consider that the principal recommendations provide a satisfactory basis for further legislation when the Parliamentary time-table permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take urgent steps to secure a tenant for the unoccupied advance factory at Aberdulais in the constituency of the hon. Member for Neath, as a means of overcoming in part the problem which will be created for those workers who will be declared redundant from the Rheola Works, Neath, as announced on 17th November, 1971, by the British Aluminium Company; if he will investigate the possible building of a further advance factory in the Neath Valley; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has brought the factory to the attention of 34 industrialists, and we are in negotiation with a possible tenant Consideration will be given to building a further advance factory when the Aberdulais factory is let.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause to be published a Command Paper setting out for the information of Parliament and the people the procedures in regard to the operation of value-added tax obtaining in the member countries of the European Economic Community.

No. The work involved to produce such a Command Paper would be out of proportion to its very limited value. The possible procedures for the operation of value-added tax in this country are described in our Green Paper on Value-Added Tax (Cmnd. 4621).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the overall cost to the Exchequer for a married man with two children and without other allowances of raising the income tax threshold to £15, £20, £25 and £30 respectively of his weekly earnings and of applying similar appropriate adjustments to other current income taxpayers.

A married man with two children who earns £15 a week is already below the tax threshold. As to the other examples, I am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind but to raise the tax threshold to the levels suggested by increasing the married allowance, the single allowance and the wife's earned income relief all in the same proportion would cost about £850 million, £2,200 million and £3,250 million for a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money is received by the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise each year from professional sport and activities, such as betting, associated with it.

No estimate of Inland Revenue receipts is possible Customs and Excise receipts from pool betting and general betting duties in the year 1970–71 were approximately £117 million, mostly derived from betting on football, horse racing and dog racing. No reliable estimate can be made of the separate amount of purchase tax paid on goods used in connection with professional sport.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider excluding the cost of funerals from value-added tax.

I have noted the hon. Lady's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now increase the figure at which makers of craft goods become liable to purchase tax.

The exemption limit of £500 annual turnover, which applies to all small-scale manufacturers is kept has no proposals for changing it at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of men 55 years of age and over in the Burntisland, Kirkcaldy and Leven employment exchanges, respectively, registered as unemployed in Octo-

NUMBERS OF PEOPLE REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREAS COVERED BY THE BURNTISLAND KIRKCALDY AND LEVEN AND METHIL EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
		Burntisland		Kirkcaldy		Leven and Methil
		More than 26 weeks	More than 52 weeks (included in previous column)	More than 26 weeks	More than 52 weeks (included in previous column)	More than 26 weeks	More than 52 weeks (included in previous column)
October, 1971	…	61	31	529	344	668	419
October, 1970	…	32	18	423	279	486	357
October, 1969	…	25	7	439	324	566	419

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the unemployment rate in the departmental regions, respectively, East Midlands and East Anglia, London North, London South, London West, North

The following table shows the available information for 12th July, the latest date for which a detailed age analysis of the unemployed is available:

MEN AGED 55 YEARS AND OVER REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT THE BURNTISLAND, KIRKCALDY AND LEVEN AND METHIL EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AT 12TH JULY, 1971, AND THE NUMBERS OF THESE WHO HAD BEEN REGISTERED FOR MORE THAN 52 WEEKS
	Total men aged 55 years and over	Number registered for more than 52 weeks
Burntisland	23	10
Kirkcaldy	283	157
Leven and Methil	361	223

The analysis does not identify those registered for more than 104 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total numbers of people in the Burntisland, Kirkcaldy and Leven employment exchanges, respectively, who had been wholly unemployed for more than 26 weeks, and for more than 52 weeks in October, 1971; and what were the corresponding figures in 1970 and 1969.

Following is the information:Western Manchester, North Western Merseyside, Scotland, Wales, South Western, Northern Yorkshire and Humberside, and West Midland, for each quarter since January, 1970.

The following table shows rates of unemployment at three-monthly intervals in the London and South Eastern and the Eastern and Southern administrative regions, the standard regions, Greater London, the Manchester travel-to-work area and the

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Jan., 1970

Apr., 1970

July, 1970

Oct., 1970

Jan., 1971

Apr., 1971

July, 1971

Oct., 1971

Nov., 1971*

London and South Eastern

…

1·7

1·6

1·4

1·5

1·7

1·9

1·7

1·9

2·0

Eastern and Southern

…

2·1

2·1

1·8

1·8

2·4

2·5

2·4

2·6

2·8

South East

…

…

…

1·8

1·8

1·5

1·6

1·9

2·0

1·9

2·1

2·2

East Anglia

…

…

…

2·3

2·3

1·8

2·1

2·8

3·3

2·9

3·2

3·3

South West

…

…

…

3·2

2·9

2·5

2·8

3·4

3·5

3·1

3·6

4·0

West Midlands

…

…

2·1

2·1

2·2

2·4

2·5

3·3

3·8

5·3

5·5

East Midlands

…

…

…

2·4

2·5

2·3

2·3

2·7

3·4

3·0

3·3

3·3

Yorkshire and Humberside

…

3·0

3·0

2·8

2·9

3·3

3·7

3·9

4·4

4·5

North West

…

…

…

2·7

2·8

2·7

2·8

3·2

3·8

4·0

4·5

4·7

North

…

…

…

…

5·1

5·2

4·5

4·6

5·1

5·5

5·6

6·1

6·4

Wales

…

…

…

…

4·3

4·1

3·6

4·1

4·4

4·6

4·6

5·0

5·2

Scotland

…

…

…

4·4

4·1

4·3

4·5

5·3

5·7

6·2

6·3

6·6

Greater London

…

…

1·5

1·5

1·3

1·4

1·5

1·7

1·6

1·6

1·8

Manchester travel-to-work area

2·3

2·4

2·3

2·2

2·6

3·0

3·3

3·6

3·8

Merseyside Development Area

3·9

4·1

3·9

4·1

4·6

5·1

5·4

6·4

6·5

* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for males and females registered

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED
							Males	Females	Total	Temporarily stopped included in total
8th November, 1971 (provisional)
Dunstable		…	…	…	…	…	827	106	933	400
Luton	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,040	287	2,327	33
Leighton Buzzard			…	…	…	…	91	30	121	3
9th November, 1970
Dunstable		…	…	…	…	…	234	61	295	3
Luton	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,073	251	1,324	18
Leighton Buzzard			…	…	…	…	48	22	70	—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage increase in the price of whisky and gin since 18th June, 1970.

The index for bottles of whisky and gin in the General Index of Retail Prices rose by 2½ per cent. between 16th June, 1970 and 21st September, 1971, the latest date for which the index is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are receiving industrial training

Following is the information:in Government training centres in Lanarkshire; and how this figure compares with the numbers under training in 1968, 1969 and 1970.

Following is the information:

Date	No. in Training at G.T.Cs. in Lanarkshire
November 1971	373
November 1970	299
November 1969	351
November 1968	345

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions his Department has had, with management and unions, on the present dispute disrupting production at the Bristol Engine Division of Rolls-Royce Limited, Bristol; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has kept in touch with both sides throughout the dispute but no formal discussions have taken place. Some 5,500 employees of Rolls Royce (1971) Ltd. have been on unofficial strike since 1st November over a pay claim. Direct talks have been taking place between the Company and the unions. The last joint meeting was on 19th November and the workers who are on strike are meeting tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in order to present a complete picture of housing throughput, he will include the figure of houses approved but not started in the housing returns.

This is already done in Appendices I, II, III and IV of the Housing Return for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the continuing fall in house building in Scotland, he will resume the publication of monthly returns on progress.

Monthly statistics have proved to be of little value and could not cover the whole field of house building.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the number of projects submitted to him by Hamilton Burgh Council under the Public Works Programme; what consideration he has given to the submissions; and what is the cost of the projects, and the amount of Government grant in each case;(2) if he will list the number of projects submitted by Lanarkshire County Council under the recent Public Works Programme, the cost of each project, and the amount of Government grant in each case.

Detailed information in this form is not readily available in my Department Total approvals by counties—including burghs—were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton), on 10th November.—[Vol. 825, c. 177–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many known cases of multiple sclerosis there are in West Dunbartonshire.

Statistics showing the prevalence of this disease are not collected It may be helpful to know that in 1969, the latest year for which relevant statistics are available, 34 persons living in Dunbartonshire were discharged from or died in hospital with multiple sclerosis as one of the main diagnoses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the present extension to the M90 motorway is due to open for traffic.

The Kinross and Milnathort bypass will be opened on 13th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many primary schools in the county of Fife are over 70 years old; and if he will make a statement.

No record is maintained centrally of schools in use by date of construction. In connection with the primary school improvement programme education authorities were asked about the primary schools which in their view should be considered for improvement or replacement in the course of the 1970s. The information provided by Fife Education Authority shows that there are 26 schools in this category which are wholly or partly over 70 years old. Replacements for two of these schools have already been authorised and the others will be considered for later programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will reverse the decision of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board not to provide piped medical gases in the new operating theatre at Solihull Hospital.

Whether a piped gas service should be provided is a question of medical planning for which the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board are responsible I am not aware of any reason for intervening in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he is satisfied with the operation of Section 22 of the National Insurance Act, 1965; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he will now seek powers to revise the existing provisions relating to disqualification for unemployment benefit in consequence of recent decisions of the Commissioners relating to the grade or class and direct interest provisions of Section 22 of the National Insurance Act, 1965.

I have been asked to reply.I am satisfied that Section 22 of the National Insurance Act, 1965 normally works satisfactorily I have, however, undertaken to discuss with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment the recommendations which the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations made about Section 22(1).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many decisions of the National Insurance Commissioners were published in 1970, and how many decisions, both oral and written, were not officially published.

I have been asked to reply.The Chief Commissioner selected 19 decisions for publication out of the 2,576 appeals which were decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many appeals to the Commissioners for National Insurance have been decided in favour of claimants during the past 12 months; and to how many workers claiming unemployment benefit such decisions applied.

I have been asked to reply.In the period ending 31st December, 1970, the latest period for which figures are available, the Commissioners decided 2,576 appeals of which 1,096 were in respect of unemployment benefit 568 were decided in favour of the claimant and of these 249 were for unemployment benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what improvements will now be available in geriatric hospital care in the Medway area, following the additional provision made in the hospital programme.

Improvements to day space and sanitary accommodation are now in progress at Milton Regis Hospital The Regional Hospital Board hope to provide a new 30-bed geriatric assessment unit at All Saints' Hospital by the end of 1974 at the latest The Board hope to provide some 120 geriatric beds in the next phase of development of the Medway District General Hospital which will be undertaken as and when resources allow.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the rate of take-up of family income supplement at the latest available date, and what cost/benefit analyses have been done to show the impact of advertising on the rate of take-up.

85,000 families are benefiting from family income supplement after three months Of these 25,000 are wage-stop cases Although it is too early to assess cost/benefit accurately, research so far shows advertising to have had a potent impact, about equal as between press and TV Claims almost doubled after the July-August campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have claimed the family income supplement in the Hull area; and how many have been granted it.

The number of families now in receipt of family income supplements in the Yorkshire and Humberside departmental region is about 7,000. I regret that regional estimates of claims made and rejected and statistics for smaller areas than departmental regions are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he is making of the laws relating to antibiotics in the countries of the European Economic Community.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will name the professional and lay organisations which he intends to ask to send their views to him on the recommendations of the report of a subcommittee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee on the Organisation of Group Practice.

The following organisations have been invited to submit their views:

• Association of Directors of Social Services.
• Association of District Nurses.
• Association of Hospital Matrons.
• Association of Medical Secretaries.
• Association of Municipal Corporations.
• Association of Occupational Therapists.
• Association of Supervisors of Midwives.
• British Association for Physical Medicine and Rheumatology.
• British Association of Social Workers.
• British Dental Association.
• British Geriatric Society.
• British Medical Association: Central Committee for Hospital Medical Services.
• British Medical Association: General Medical Services Committee.
• British Postgraduate Medical Federation.
• Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.
• Central Midwives Board.
• Central N.H.S. (Chemists Contractors) Committee.
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
• Council for Postgraduate Medical Education.
• Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine.
• Council for the Training of Health Visitors.
• County Councils Association.
• Executive Councils Association (England).
• Faculty of Radiologists.
• General Medical Council.
• General Nursing Council for England and Wales.
• General Practice Finance Corporation.
• General Practitioners Association.
• Health Visitors' Association.
• Institute of Health Service Administrators.
• Institute of Home Help Organisers.
• Joint Consultants Committee.
• London Boroughs Association.
• Medical Practices Committee.
• Medical Practices' Union.
• Medical Women's Federation.
• Ministry of Health and Social Services—Northern Ireland.
• National Institute for Social Work Training.
• Panel of Assessors for District Nurse Training.
• Patients' Association.
• Pharmaceutical Society.
• Pre-School Play Groups Association.
• Queens Institute of District Nursing.
• Royal College of General Practitioners.
• Royal College of Midwives.
• Royal College of Nursing.
• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
• Royal College of Pathologists.
• Royal College of Physicians.
• Royal College of Psychiatrists.
• Scottish Home and Health Department.
• Society of Chief Nursing Officers (Public Health).
• Society of Chiropodists.
• Society of Clerks of N.H.S. Executive Councils.
• Society of Medical Officers of Health.
• Society of Medical Officers of Health: Dental Group.
• Society of Occupational Medicine.
• Standing Conference of Organisations of Social Workers.
• Teaching Hospitals Association.
• Trades Union Congress.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many suppliers of drugs to the National Health Service participated in the voluntary price regulation scheme in the year ending November, 1970; how many price redactions have been made; and how many negotiations are still outstanding.

I cannot conveniently reply in terms of November, 1970, but 103 companies have provided returns for their financial year ending in 1969; net price reductions were made by eight companies following negotiations and negotiations with four companies are outstanding.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average weekly cost of maintaining a psychiatric long-stay patient for the years 1960 to 1970, respectively.

Separate costs for all psychiatric long-stay patients are not available For the years 1960–61 to 1970–71 the average cost per in-patient week in Regional Hospital Board hospitals classified as psychiatric were as follows:

	Psychiatric Hospitals
	Mental Illness	Mental Handicap
	£	£
1960–61	8·37	7·48
1961–62	9·14	8·10
1962–63	9·77	8·63
1963–64	10·47	9·08
1964–65	11·30	9·88
1965–66	12·61	10·88
1966–67	13·55	11·58
1967–68	14·37	12·28
1968–69	16·07	13·49
1969–70	17·63	14·96
1970–71	21·39	18·86

Average costs up to and including 1968–69 relate to England and Wales and thereafter to England only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of local authority day nurseries in England; and in which local authority areas no day nurseries have been provided.

There were 453 local authority day nurseries in England at 31st December, 1970, the latest date for which information is available In the following local authority areas no local authority day nurseries were provided at that date:

County Councils
Berkshire	Rutland
Cornwall	*Salop
Cumberland	Suffolk—East
Devon	—West
Isle of Wight	Sussex—West
Isles of Scilly	Warwickshire
Kent	Westmorland
Lincolnshire—	Wiltshire
Holland	Worcestershire
Lindsey	Yorkshire—
Norfolk	East Riding
Northamptonshire	North Riding.

County Borough Councils
Barnsley	Hastings
Barrow-in-Furness	Northampton
Burnely	Norwich
Burton-on-Trent	*Rochadale
Canterbury	Rotherham
Chester	Solihull
Darlington	*Southend
Doncaster	Torba
Dundley	Tynemouth
Gloucester	West Bromwich
Great Yarmouth	Worcester.
Grimsby
London Borough and City of London
*Bexley	*Greenwich
*Bromley	*City of London
* These authorities have day nursery projects in the current three-year capital building programme

In 34 of the 49 local authority areas listed above private day nurseries have been registered under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the annual sums spent by local authorities on day nurseries and play groups respectively, for the latest date for which such figures are available; and what proportion of the moneys allocated to urban aid such figures represent.

Net revenue expenditure by local authorities on day nurseries during 1970–71, including loan charges and capital costs met from revenue, was £7·5 million This included £0·18 million out of a total of £2·6 million incurred through the Urban Programme No separate information is available for revenue expenditure by local authorities on play groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the case of agricultural workers who have lost their tied cottages with their jobs and are charged for use and occupation of the cottage while looking for alternative accommodation, he will bring mesne profits of this kind within the scope of charges recoverable from the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

In calculating a person's weekly entitlement to supplementary benefit the Commission are empowered to take into account his liability to pay mesne profits for the accommodation he is occupying.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make representations to the South West Regional Hospital Board that the committee to be set up to consider the medical needs of the people in the Bristol clinical area is fully representative, and in particular contains representatives from the south side of Bristol, where there are at present no hospital facilities.

This is a matter for the Board, who will not overlook their responsibilities towards their region, including the whole of Bristol.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those countries with whom the United Kingdom has reciprocal agreements to cover claims for industrial injuries submitted by British subjects when employed by their companies overseas, and name those countries with whom the United Kingdom is at present negotiating similar reciprocal agreements.

The countries with which we have made such arrangements are:

• Jersey
• Guernsey
• Cyprus
• Malta
• Bermuda
• The Irish Republic
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• The Federal Republic of Germany
• Israel
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• Yugoslavia

A reciprocal social security Agreement with Austria which includes similar arrangements has been signed but awaits ratification. Negotiations are also taking place with Canada, Jamaica and Spain which it is hoped will lead to the conclusion of Agreements with these countries incorporating industrial injuries reciprocity.