asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the negotiation of a regional agreement to control the dumping of waste at sea; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce that Her Majesty's Government have signified their approval of the text of a Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft, which they expect to sign within the next few weeks. The Convention will control dumping of waste at sea by participating countries in the North-East Atlantic area. Approval by the national authorities will be required for all dumpings in the sea and there will be a prohibition on the disposal of some substances and tight control over others requiring special care. The Convention will establish a Commission to co-ordinate its working and will provide for international co-operation in research into and monitoring of the marine environment.Her Majesty's Government have played a full part in the negotiation of this Convention, which originated in a meeting of the North Sea countries convened by the United Kingdom in London last June.Legislation providing for the statutory control of dumping at sea in conformity with the Convention will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits.I have arranged for copies of the provisional text of the Convention to be made available in the Library of the House. The final text will be laid before the House, after signature, in the usual way.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what action he proposes to take to enable bacon curers to maintain their contracts with pig producers for 1971–72.

In order to enable curers to maintain their contracts with pig pro- ducers for 1971–72, the Government have decided to suspend for the last quarter of the current year the target differential arrangement in the Bacon Curing Industry Stabilisation Scheme.Both the Government and the industry recognise the need to establish in the future a better relationship between the number of pigs contracted for by the curers and the level of bacon production which can be marketed successfully. This longer-term problem is to be the subject of further discussions with the curers to ensure that the actual level of United Kingdom bacon production in 1972–73 is more in line with the level of production allowed for in any arrangements for the continuation next year of the Bacon Market Sharing Understanding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to prohibit the export of live animals for slaughter abroad.

No. Cattle, sheep and pigs for immediate slaughter may be exported only to those countries whose Governments have given the Balfour Assurances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will supply a bread-fruit processing machine to the Montserrat Government; what estimate he has made of the contribution such a machine could make to the food supply of Montserrat; and if he will make a statement.

The Montserrat Government is now examining with my Development Division in Barbados and with the United Nations Development Programme the possible use of breadfruit for animal feed and also as an export for human consumption. If these discussions are satisfactory, I shall be ready to consider an application for financial assistance towards the provision of processing machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the staff of the overseas development administration were serving in diplomatic missions at 31st December, 1971; and what was the breakdown between posts by numbers and ranks.

Twelve officers of the Overseas Development Administration were serving in diplomatic missions at the end of last year.The breakdown between posts, by numbers and ranks, was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many meetings for which the African National Congress has applied have been banned by the illegal Rhodesian régime;(2) what representations he has made to the illegal Rhodesian régime concerning its banning of meetings by the African National Congress;(3) whether he will make a statement on the practice of the illegal Rhodesian régime requiring the presence of police or their agents at all meetings held by the African National Congress; and if he will make representations to them to cease this practice.

The agreed proposals for a settlement make clear that during the test of acceptability normal political activities will be permitted to the satisfaction of the Pearce Commission, provided they are conducted in a peaceful and democratic manner.The proper procedure is therefore that any complaints which the African Nationalist Council may have are for the Pearce Commission to consider and Bishop Muzorewa has in fact written to Lord Pearce on the matter. Lord Pearce has in turn taken it up with the Rhodesian authorities and has issued a statement on the current position in the following terms:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he took on the contents of the letter dated 22nd December from the General Secretary of the Labour Party regarding the proposed visit of a delegation of the Labour Party to Southern Rhodesia.

I have written to the General Secretary of the Labour Party and have been in touch with the right hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) about the general question of visits to Rhodesia by Parliamentarians.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the illegal Smith régime in Southern Rhodesia about its ban on the entry to that country of Sir Dingle Foot, Q.C.

I would refer the hon. Member to the information I gave the House on 17th and 19th January. I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 829, c. 42–4; c. 464–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning whipping as a penalty by the illegal régime of Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

Although it has' been discontinued in the United Kingdom, corporal punishment is still practised in many countries in Africa. Rhodesian legislation prior to the illegal declaration of independence permitted corporal punishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the illegal Rhodesian régime concerning the proposed amendments to the Drugs Control Act, 1969, and Dangerous Drugs Act, 1955, whereby it is proposed to introduce penalties of whipping; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Africans have been arrested in Rhodesia, or detained without trial, by the illegal Rhodesian régime since the publication of the Anglo-Rhodesian settlement proposals; and what representations has he made in connection therewith.

I have no information about the total number of arrests since the publication of the Settlement Proposals. Thirty-one persons then in detention were subsequently released in accordance with the undertaking given at that time by the Rhodesian authorities. There was, however, one new case of detention between the date on which the Settlement Proposals were published and 18th January when, as I informed the House on 19th January, Mr. Garfield Todd, his daughter and three Africans were placed in detention. In addition it is reported today that Mr. and Mrs. Chinamano have been detained and three people have been detained at Gwelo under 30-day Orders under Emergency Powers.I have made no representations in the matter other than those of which I informed the House on 19th January.—[Vol. 829, c. 464.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been expelled from the Hunyani area outside Gwelo in Rhodesia; and what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government in connection with this expulsion.

If the hon. Member is referring to movements from European designated land in the Chilimanzi District, my information is that in 1970 some 2,000 families were moved variously to Que Que and Gokwo according to their choice. I have made no representations in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if Her Majesty's Government supported the application of the German Democratic Republic to join the World Health Organisation; if Her Majesty's Government will support an application by the German Democratic Republic to join the World Health Organisation on a future occasion; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the main reasons why Her Majesty's Government and other Governments refused to admit the German Democratic Republic into the World Health Organisation, in view of the contribution which the German Democratic Republic medical research and technology can make to strengthening the World Health Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government have not supported and have no plans at present to support the application by the German Democratic Republic to join the World Health Organisation.That international status of the German Democratic Republic has for long been in dispute. The question of German Democratic Republic participation in the World Health Organisation is, therefore, a political issue which, we believe, should not be dealt with in a technical body such as the World Health Organisation but in an appropriate political organ of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will carry out researches into the number of people who have arrived at terminal three, London Airport, Heathrow, and been prevented from proceeding on their flight until they had obtained a British passport to replace their British visitors passport;(2) if he will take steps to have a warning printed on the front of British visitors' passports to make clear their restricted area of recognition.

As a further safeguard against holders of British visitor's passports attempting to travel to countries for which the document is not valid, the latest print includes the warning desired by my hon. Friend. I do not think, therefore, I would be justified in asking all airlines using London Airport if they have details of wrongly documented passengers they have rejected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the South African authorities either release Quentin Jacobsen, a British subject, or bring him to trial without any further delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make representations to the South African Government concerning the detention in Johannesburg without trial of Mr. Quentin Jacobsen, a member of the London Freelance Branch of the National Union of Journalists; and whether he will include in such representations the fact of Mr. Jacobsen being in solitary confinement.

Her Majesty's Ambassador in South Africa has made repeated representations to the South African Government about the continued detention without trial of Mr. Quenin Jacobsen and the conditions in which he is held.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in negotiations with France over the delimitation of the sea floor around the Channel Islands.

Negotiations are continuing with the French Government over the delimitation of the continental shelf in the English Channel, including the Channel Islands area, and the Western Approaches. Some progress has been made, but the two Governments are not yet ready to sign an agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken to obtain payment of the debt left by the former Haitian Chargé d'Affaires in respect of his flat.

The Haitian Chargé d'Affaires in London has been repeatedly asked to give this matter his closest attention and we have twice received an assurance that the matter has been referred to the Haitian Government. We shall continue our efforts to bring about a settlement of this outstanding matter.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many vacant places there were on the technician training scheme at Rosyth Dockyard in 1970–71.

In 1971, 45 places were offiered; of these, 22 were unfilled.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many applications there were from boys in 1970–71 for acceptance to the technician training scheme at Rosyth Dockyard.

74 candidates attended for interview of whom 12 were found not to have the necessary academic qualifications.

asked the Minister of State for Defence for what reasons there are no instructors on the interview panels which determine which boys shall be accepted for the technician training scheme at Rosyth Dockyard.

The purpose of the Technician Apprentice Interview Board is to assess the personal qualities of academically-qualified candidates and their potential suitability for management posts. It is, therefore, necessary that the members of the Board should be those who can draw upon wide management and professional experience and it is because of this that the task is entrusted to the judgment of senior officers drawn from the Dockyard organisation and the Civil Service Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many dockyard foremen are currently in the training centre at Rosyth Dockyard; what length of time they have been there; and if he will make a statement on their qualifications for being in charge of apprentice training.

There are currently four foremen (PTO II) employed in the Apprentice Training Centre, H.M. Dockyard, Rosyth. Two of these posts are recent additions to complement, following a restructuring of the apprentice training organisation. The periods for which the present officers have been serving at Rosyth are 13 months, five months, two months and two months.Posts in apprentice training at foreman level are filled in general by officers with a minimum academic qualification of O.N.C. or equivalent, with wide experience of dockyard trade practices and organisation, and requisite personal qualities to be in charge of young people.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give a table of figures showing how many foremen, involved in apprentice training at Rosyth Dockyard, possess a Higher National Certificate.

One of the four foremen at present concerned holds a Higher National Certificate.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what consideration was given as to how many of the 1,100 boys, candidates for the 120 craft apprenticeship places at Rosyth Dockyard, could be appropriately channelled into the technician scheme.

It is for qualified candidates themselves to choose whether to apply for Technician Apprenticeships. Craft apprentices who do well in their first year's training are eligible for consideration for transfer to technician apprenticeships. At Rosyth, the 489 candidates who sat the entry test for the 88 craft apprenticeships available in 1971 were made aware of the opportunities open to them.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what system of interview exists at Rosyth Dockyard for candidates for places in craft apprenticeship.

Entry as a craft apprentice at Rosyth depends upon success in the written entry test or on the possession of exempting qualifications. There is no interview.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what guidance is given to boys at Rosyth Dockyard in the matter of choosing a trade.

Before the entry competition is held, visits to the Dockyard by school parties are encouraged and Dockyard training officers also visit the schools. The work of the trades employed in the Dockyard is explained and discussed during these visits.Candidates successful in the entry test are then sent a description of the various trades. When they subsequently attend the Dockyard for trade selection, they are shown examples of the work of the trades and training staff answer questions and offer advice.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he proposes to discontinue the use by the Defence Department of Northolt Aerodrome before 1980.

No.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how much the increase in Service pensions is to cost in the first full year, and what is the projected cost for the next five years.

The increases payable to Service pensioners from 1st September,

	Years ending 31st March
	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71
(1) Teachers in service in February including part-timers at full-time equivalent	306,402	316,945	330,181	344,434	363,033
(2) Full-time men teachers under 60 in service at beginning of year	116,216	118,234	120,742	123,742	N/A*
(3) Net wastage during year, excluding transfers to other grant-aided establishments, of teachers in (2)	2,316	2,419	2,878	2,905	N/A*
(4) (3) as percentage of (2)	2·0	2·0	2·4	2·3	N/A*
* Not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schoolchildren were convicted of assaults on teachers in each of the last 10 years.

The collection of statistics about convictions for assault is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, but I understand that his Department does not collect information in this form.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers in maintained schools left the profession for jobs outside teaching in each of the last five years, and what was the total number of teachers in maintained schools in each of these years.

Statistics about jobs taken outside teaching are not available, but the table below gives relevant information. The figures for men in line (3) and (4) include those dying, or retiring on health grounds; those going to teach in universities, independent schools or overseas; and those moving to educational administration or inspection. They, therefore, overstate the drain from education to other work. The corresponding figures for women would be dominated by wastage on marriage or childbearing.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much she has authorised Lindsey County Council to spend on the provision of new buildings and the improvement of existing buildings in maintained primary schools in the county in 1972–73; and what were the equivalent figures for each year since 1965.

Information about the value of major projects started, or authorised to start, in each year is given below. In addition, the authority will normally devote a substantial proportion of its annual allocation for minor capital projects to primary school building.

Maintained primary schools in Lincolnshire (Lindsey): value of projects in major school building programmes, 1965–73.
Year	Authorised expenditure on building work £000's
Actual Starts
1965–66	113
1966–67	312
1967–68	404
1968–69	104
1969–70	223
1970–71	97
Authorised Starts
1971–72	381
1972–73	432

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement on the future of Church Lawford School, near Rugby.

My right hon. Friend has recently approved a statutory proposal to change the character of the Church Lawford C.E. (Controlled) Junior and Infants School to a First School for pupils between the ages of 5–8 years. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State has written to inform the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about the future of Ryton-on-Dunsmore School, near Coventry.

My right hon. Friend has deferred a decision on the statutory proposal to change the character of the Ryton-on-Dunsmore C.E. (Controlled) Junior and Infants School to a First School for pupils between the ages of 5–8 years. The local education authority has been invited to consider revised proposals for the future of the school. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State has written to inform the hon. Member of this decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decisions have been reached on the proposals submitted under Section 13 of the Education Act, 1944, in respect of King Charles I Grammar School, Kidderminster, the County Girls' High School, and other schools involved in the Worcestershire three-tier plan for the Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley areas.

My right hon. Friend has approved all the statutory proposals submitted in respect of schools in these areas except those for the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Hartlebury, the Kidderminster High School for Girls, and the King Charles I Grammar School, Kidderminster. The local education authority has been so informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men have been made redundant in the Hartlepool exchange district since June, 1970; how many vacancies are registered; and what proportion of the totally unemployed has been out of work for six months and more.

Our records, which are not comprehensive, show that redundancies involving 1,250 males were due to occur in the Hartlepool and Hartlepool Headland travel-to-work area in the period 1st July, 1970, to 31st December, 1971. Provisional figures for January, 1972, show 27 notified vacancies for males unfilled in the travel-to-work area; 37·2 per cent. of the males wholly unemployed had been registered as unemployed for six months or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what approach the Government has received from the Government of Bavaria about the opening of a labour office to recruit British workers.

Following talks between the Federal Institute of Labour and my Department, arrangements have been operative since July, 1971, whereby vacancies with West German firms are circulated to employment exchanges in this country, and details of British workers interested in the vacancies and others

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT 10TH JANUARY, 1972 (PROVISIONAL)
					Men			Women
					Aged 18 to 54	Aged 55 and over	Total	Aged 18 to 54	Aged 55 and over	Total
Bexhill	…	…	…	…	109	244	353	28	13	41
Hailsham	…	…	…	…	83	160	243	24	6	30
Rye	…	…	…	…	58	65	123	21	5	26

In addition there were 10 boys and eight girls under 18 years of age registered at the Bexhill careers office, which also covers the Rye, Hailsham and Battle areas. Of these, one boy and one girl were school leavers registered for first employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now satisfied with the quality of safety barriers on the M1; and if he will make a statement.

No. The matter is at present under investigation. A statement will be made when this is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether provision will be made in all contracts not yet completed for the construction of new motorways to require the installation of crash barriers.

No. As mentioned in the answer to my hon. Friend's question of 16th December, 1970, some motorways will not carry enough traffic

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye employment exchanges on 16th January 1972; and how many of these were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age and school leavers, respectively.

The following table shows, by age group, the numbers registered as wholly unemployed:upon opening to justify barriers at that stage. The most heavily trafficked motorways must be dealt with first.—[Vol. 808, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will have more powerful electric lamp bulbs fitted in the old type of fog warning signals at the sides of M1 and other motorways, in view of the fact that they are often concealed temporarily by high vehicles and are missed by drivers travelling in the middle and fast lanes.

No; this would not be practicable without a complete re-design of the equipment, the cost of which could not be justified in view of the fact that it is being progressively superseded, by permanent remotely operated signals located either overhead or in the central reservation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have responded to his request to make provision for permanent gipsy sites; and how many local authorities have made no such provision.

26 local authorities have provided 42 sites; 32 county councils and 98 London and county borough councils have made no provision. Some of these have applied for exemption under the statute or are under no statutory duty to make provision. The others have site proposals at various stages of consideration or execution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the outcome of the inquiry held following the collission of several trains at Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, towards the end of 1971; and whether the inquiry recommended additional safety arrangements to avoid a recurrence of such accidents.

The public inquiry revealed that one of the ballast trains involved was considerably overloaded, went out of control on the steep gradient and then collided with another engineer's train which, in turn, was pushed forward into collision with a third train. The lines were closed to passenger traffic at the time. British Railways have already taken action to prevent a recurrence. The Inquiry report and its further recommendations will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to give local authorities the power to control or eliminate objectionable odours in urban and residential areas; if he will give powers for local authorities to prosecute where such offences take place; and if he will make a statement.

The Public Health Acts already empower local authorities to require, and the Courts to enforce, the abatement of offensive odours which are a nuisance. I have however recently set up a working party, including representatives from local government and industry, to examine the problem of unpleasant odours and advise on the best practicable means for their minimisation and suppression.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he is doing into the job-creating value of short- and medium-term public works, per £ sterling spent.

The extent of the additional employment created by public works is extremely difficult to measure, because of the diversity of factors involved. But I am considering what can be done to improve our information in this field, perhaps by way of a survey.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the case of Bertha Mary Scorse, a prisoner in Holloway Prison.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the police on traffic conditions at the junction of Harrow Road, Wembley, with Elms Lane and Maybank Avenue, in view of the number of collisions occurring there involving the destruction of garden walls of houses on the corner and accidents to pedestrians crossing the road.

I have been asked to reply.No. I understand that the London Borough of Brent, in consultation with the police, are investigating conditions at the junction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities have indicated to him their disagreement with the provisions of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill.

Following is a list of local authorities who have expressed disagreement with the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill.1.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he proposes to have with the Church of Scotland, the Roman Catholic Church, and other Scottish Churches in regard to the constitution of education authorities under the proposed regional government reorganisation.

Consultations will be held with the churches in good time, but it is too early yet to say what form they will take.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will inquire into the price-fixing arrangements previously revealed between companies selling broad-spectrum antibiotics which led to the claim of $25,000,000 in the United States of America, details of which have been sent to him, where this concerned the companies or parent companies supplying the National Health Service;

I am satisfied that the arrangements of the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme and the hospital contracts provide a proper basis for ensuring that the prices of these drugs to the National Health Service are reasonable. In fact, there have been very substantial price reductions in the main broad-spectrum antibiotics over the past 10 to 12 years. The proceedings in the United States of America to which the hon. Member refers are not directly relevant to the prices of drugs in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, why the National Health Service has not saved approximately 60 per cent. of its costs in supplying Terramycin by substituting one or other of the ovytetracyclines now produced by British drug companies.

Because they are not necessarily exact therapeutic equivalents and because it is a fundamental principle of the Health Service that a doctor is free to prescribe any drug he considers necessary for his patient. The attention of doctors has been drawn to the difference in price and there has in fact over the past few years been a very substantial decline in the prescribing of Terramycin in the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange for miners on strike and with families to be paid at their nearest local office; and if he will make a statement.

This is not always practicable. Special centres have been opened to deal with claims from miners where this is necessary to prevent disruption of the service to other members of the public. Each claimant should only have to call once; subsequent claims will normally be dealt with by post. Assistance with fares will be considered within our usual rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the syringe containing Scotch whisky and accompanying advertising material from Tillots Laboratories, which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West, which has been part of a sales promotion to pharmacists, forms part of the acceptable sales promotion in the terms of the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme for the National Health Service pharmaceutical services.

I am inquiring whether this promotion conforms to the code of practice of the pharmaceutical industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the powers which enable him to order the release of a patient's medical records;(2) if he will list the statutory provisions which relate to the ownership of a patient's hospital and other medical records.

There are no statutory provisions specifically relating to my ownership of such records or to my powers to release them. I have a general power of direction to hospial authorities under Section 12 of the National Health Service Act, 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why social security benefits paid to wives and dependants of strikers are not repaid by the striker when he is again in work; and if he will seek to arrange for this course to be adopted in the future.

I do not think that this course would on balance be desirable at present. The Government will, however, be keeping the question of supplementary benefit payments to the dependants of strikers under review and will introduce further legislation if this seems necessary in the national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will extend the exemptions for National Health Service prescription charges to include systematic sclerosis on the Specified Conditions list; and if he will make a statement.

It is not practicable to extend the list of specified conditions for the reasons mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 25th May last. I am not certain as to the precise form of sclerosis the hon. Member has in mind, but the list includes any continuing physical disability which prevents a patient from leaving his residence except with the help of another person. Exemption is also available on grounds of age or income, and where exemption cannot be claimed the prepayment certificate is available for those who need frequent prescriptions. —[Vol. 818, c. 69–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities provided domiciliary night nursing services in each of the years from 1961 to 1971, inclusive.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. and learned Member on 5th May last.—[Vol. 816, c. 388–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the North Western Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(2) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the North Eastern Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(3) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the Yorkshire Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(4) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the Merseyside and North Wales Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(5) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the South Wales Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(6) if he is aware that eight men and no women served as members of the Midlands Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(7) if he is aware that eight men and no women served as members of the East Midlands Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal oppor- tunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(8) if he is aware that eight men and no women served as members of the Eastern Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(9) if he is aware that eight men and only one woman served as members of the South Western Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(10) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the Southern Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(11) if he is aware that eight men and only one woman served as members of the South Eastern Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(12) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the London Area Electricity Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal oppor- tunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(13) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the North Western Area Gas Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(14) if he is aware that eight men and no women served as members of the Wales Area Gas Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(15) if he is aware that six men and no women served as members of the West Midlands Area Gas Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(16) if he is aware that nine men and no women served as members of the East Midlands Area Gas Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;(17) if he is aware that seven men and no women served as members of the North Eastern Area Gas Board according to the List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st January, 1971 (Command Paper No. 4611); what changes have taken place since; whether he intends that women should be given an equal opportunity to serve when new appointments are made; and what action he proposes;

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 17th January.—[Vol. 829, c. 16–18.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the new European Economic Community directive concerning assistance to shipbuilders in the European Economic Community and the steps that have been and are being taken to harmonise aid in the interests of fair competition within the industry; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to these matters.

As is well known, the Government's general policy is to support efforts to reach international agreement on proposals for dealing with factors distorting competition in the shipbuilding market.The Community has under consideration a new draft directive on shipbuilding aids on which we are being consulted. In brief, under this draft directive, Community countries would be asked to continue to adhere to the O.E.C.D. Export Credit Understanding for Ships; to limit aids directly affecting shipbuilding costs to specified proportions of the contract price; and to refrain from instituting any measures stipulating that shipbuilding or manufacture of products incorporated in ships must be effected within their national territory.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements have been made to secure the continuation of the M45H engine project.

Development of the M45H engine for the VFW/Fokker VFW 614 aircraft was begun in 1966 by Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd., later Rolls-Royce Ltd., in collaboration with S.N.E.C.M.A. The Federal German Government had undertaken to bear one half of the development costs then foreseen, the remainder being borne by the engine companies.Since the appointment of the receiver, discussions have been taking place between the parties concerned with a view to arranging mutually satisfactory terms for the continuation of Rolls-Royce Ltd.'s part in the project by Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. in the light of the substantial cost increases that have arisen since the project was begun. I am glad to report that the Federal German Government have agreed to extend their contribution to cover one half of the development costs now foreseen.There are a number of points still to be resolved between the firms; but provided that satisfactory contractual arrangements can be concluded, Her Majesty's Government will in turn provide up to £11 million launching aid to Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. to enable the company, in collaboration with S.N.E.C.M.A., to complete the development and undertake production of the engine. The necessary provision in estimates will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what study he has made of the work being undertaken for the United States Department of the Interior by Bituminous Coal Research Incorporated on developing a commercial process for converting coal to synthetic natural gas, details of which are in his possession; and what steps he is taking to promote such research in Great Britain.

Scientists of the National Coal Board, the Gas Council, and my Department are making a joint study of a number of routes by which substitute natural gas can be manufactured from coal. The process being developed by Bituminous Coal Research Incorporated is included in the exercise. A study of this nature is a necessary precursor to any future research in this field which might be undertaken in this country, and a decision to initiate any such programme would be a matter for the nationalised industries concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will be in a position to make a statement as a result of the investigation into the accident to the Piper Cub, GAYPN, which crashed near Petersfield, Hampshire, on 28th August, 1971.

I regret that until the inspector's investigation into this accident has been completed, I shall not be able to add to the factual information contained in Accident Information Bulletin No. 1, issued on 22nd November, 1971, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend and a copy of which I will also place in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken on the recommendations in paragraph 1250 of the Report of the Rochdale Committee that shipping companies should not normally be granted exemption under the Companies Act, 1967, from publishing their true profits and losses.

Since 1967, these exemptions have been granted very sparingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken on the recommendations in paragraph 1442 of the Report of the Rochdale Committee that the Government should encourage the rapid adoption of a code of conduct by shipping conferences.

At the beginning of last year, we and 10 other Governments of European martime countries and the Government of Japan jointly asked our ship owners to prepare a Code of Conference Practice in consulta- tion with our shippers. The resultant code has since been accepted by these 12 Governments and also by the Government of Spain. As I told the House on 9th December, 1971, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat), we have asked our ship owners to work for the adoption of this Code in conferences serving our import and export trades and the other 12 Governments have done the same. We hope that a Code of this kind may ultimately gain world-wide acceptance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many applications for industrial development certificates in Rugby were refused during 1971;(2) how many industrial development certificates were granted in Rugby during 1971.

No application was refused; eight certificates were granted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been granted in Rugby during the past five years; and how many have been refused.

76 have been granted and two refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were granted in Warwickshire during 1971; and how many were refused.

116 were granted and seven refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were granted in the West Midlands during 1971; and how many were refused.

For schemes of 10,000 sq. ft. and over, 206 were granted and 23 refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the objective of the National Coal Board to accrue revenue not less than sufficient for meeting all outgoings properly chargeable to revenue account was set; and whether it applies to the financial year 1971–72.

The objective which the hon. Member seems to have in mind is the one laid down in Section 1(4)(c) of the Coal Industry Act, 1946. The Act provides that the Board's policy shall be directed to securing the objective not in individual years, but on an average of good and bad years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to future permanent arrangements concerning quotas imposed on textile imports into the United Kingdom.

We expect discussions with the E.E.C. and with our trade partners generally about world trade arrangements in textiles in anticipation of the review of the G.A.T.T. Long Term Arrangement on Cotton Textiles due to be held before September, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the number of accidents caused by old and unsafe gas cookers, he will take steps in conjunction with the Gas Council to encourage members of the public still owning such cookers to dispose of them and obtain more efficient gas burning equipment, both in their own and the public interest.

I am not aware that this is a particular problem, but perhaps my hon. Friend would send me any details he has.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the latest prospects for the RB211 engine.

The production model of the engine is undergoing certification testing. Lockheed have orders or letters of intent for 149 Tristars with RB211 engines. They and Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. are actively seeking further orders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps when drawing-up legislation regarding value-added tax to prevent sporting organisations from having to bear the burden of such taxation; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering all aspects of the value-added tax and will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to issue a 20 pence piece during 1972 or 1973.

It is too early, for a variety of reasons, to reach a decision on the need for an intermediate denomination between the 10p and 50p, but I shall keep the matter under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations into alleged or suspected tax frauds, other than those in connection with company activities, were initiated and how many were concluded in 1969, 1970 and in 1971; and how long on average such concluded investigations take.

The information is not available.Figures of cases concluded during the three years are published in Table 25 of the 114th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue; but these do not distinguish between companies and individuals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, according to the Commission of the European Economic Community's Annual Report on the short-term economic situation, adopted by the Council of Ministers in October, wage increases in member States in 1972 should be pegged to between 3 per cent. and 3½ per cent. and price rises to between 6 per cent. and 7 per cent. and that other measures recommend that public spending should rise by no more than the increase in the gross national product; and to what extent on entry into the European Economic Community the United Kingdom will have to adopt such rules and practices.

I am aware of the Report which sets out guidelines for the member countries of the Community in 1972. The hon. Member has quoted the figures for wages and prices the wrong way round. The Report states that it is desirable to reduce the rise in prices to an annuual level of about 3 to 3½ per cent. in the last quarter of 1972 and to contain wage increases (including additional benefits) at an annual rate of about 6 to 7 per cent. As a member of the Community, the United Kingdom will take part in the formulation and discussion of similar reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average price of bread in Cardiganshire compared with the United Kingdom average.

Individual figures for Cardiganshire are not available. The major plant bakers have for many years imposed a transport surcharge in areas remote from their bakeries. In areas such as the west coast of Wales, their recommended retail price for the standard large loaf, sliced and wrapped, is 10½p. as against 10p. in most areas of Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for encouraging development of professional theatre in Wales so that Welsh artists and writers may enjoy Government support other than through the Welsh Arts Council.

It has been the policy of successive Governments to channel assistance for this purpose, in Wales as elsewhere in Great Britain, through the Arts Council. In addition, Welsh local authorities have power to contribute financially towards the professional theatre.