asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will approach the Government of India to make payable legacies left to individuals outside India, particularly in view of the free remittances of some £100 million to India from immigrants in the United Kingdom.

As I have told my hon. Friend, we are looking into this question. We understand that there is no outright prohibition of the remittance of legacies from India; each case is considered on its merits by the Indian exchange control authorities. We are always ready to explore individual cases with the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the population of Hong Kong in the following age ranges and how many in each group attend school: 7–8 years, 8–9 years, 9–10 years, 10–11 years, 11–12 years, 12–13 years, 13–14 years and 14–15 years.

On the assumption that the age ranges 7–8 years, 8–9 years etc., relate to children aged seven but not yet eight, those aged eight but not yet nine etc., the following table gives the information required:

Age	Total Age Group	Number attending Schools
7–8	104,778	99,059 (95%)
8–9	107,362	102,676 (96%)
9–10	102,631	98,606 (96%)
10–11	113,386	109,039 (96%)
11–12	102,485	98,149 (96%)
12–13	108,292	101,101 (93%)
13–14	101,802	88,093 (87 %)
14–15	97,635	72,660 (74%)
15–16	96,902	60,726 (63%)
Total	935,273	830,109 (89%)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates the British Ambassador to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen visited Socotra in connection with the alleged construction of a Russian base on the island.

Her Majesty's Ambassador to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen visited Socotra from 7th to 8th January, 1971, in the company of other members of the Aden Diplomatic Corps and a small number of journalists.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Gibraltar.

My right hon. Friend visited Gibraltar on 18th to 19th September, when he took the opportunity to reaffirm our pledges to Gibraltar and to reassure Gibraltarians of our continued support and backing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the team from the Land Resources Division to complete their study of the Nawal Parasi area of Nepal; what arrangements are being made with other bodies to follow this project with multilateral aid; and if he will make a statement.

The study should be completed, as planned, by the end of 1972. The team's interim findings have led to prelminary discussions with the Nepalese authorities about the possibilities of developing tea estates in the Nawalpur area. It is naturally for the Nepalese Government to initiate subsequent action with the multilateral aid-giving agencies. The Nepal Tea Corporation has already given information about this project to the World Bank's representative in Nepal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what offers of air to the authorities in Dacca have been made by Her Majesty's Government to help overcome the economic and social problems arising from the recent war; and whether, in discussions about the form of such aid, he will ensure that all necessary help is made available to the Comilla co-operative scheme in view of its record of achievement in rural development.

Her Majesty's Government have made no offers of aid to the present authorities in East Pakistan, but in any future aid programme my right hon. Friend would certainly consider a request for assistance for the comilla co-operative scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, at the forthcoming meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, he will put forward the proposal advanced by the United Kingdom delegation to earlier meetings of the United Nations Committee for Trade and Development for compensatory finance to developing countries suffering unexpected shortfalls in export earnings, and also the suggesting linking special drawing rights in the International Monetary Fund to development finance.

Bith proposals are already on the agenda of the third session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his proposals for assisting students from Bangladesh who may have to give up their studies prematurely because of lack of funds arising from recent events.

In the exceptional circumstances, the Supplementary Benefits Commission is prepared temporarily to help those students from the area who have not enough means to continue to maintain themselves while studying here. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development is providing additional awards in the present academic year to cover the fees of such students whose normal means of support has been interrupted. I hope these exceptional and temporary arrangements, covering both maintenance and academic fees, will ensure that none of these students will have to give up their studies prematurely because of lack of funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now arrange for the recognition of Bangladesh, following the release of Sheikh Mujib by the Pakistan Government; if he will ensure that all the diplomatic channels of his Department are put at the disposal of the new State of Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government expects to recognise the new authorities in Dacca.

I have nothing to add at this stage to my statement of 18th January. We are at all levels in working touch with the Bangladesh administration.—[Vol. 829, c. 215–17.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by how much he estimates that Great Britain's statutory contribution to the European Development Fund, if Great Britain enters the European Economic Community, will, over each of the subsequent five years, lead to a reduction in her official bilateral aid contributions to developing countries or to other multilateral aid programmes, particularly those of the United Nations.

On entry we shall not become party to the present Yaoundé Convention which expires on 31st January, 1975. In 1973 and 1974 we shall therefore pay nothing to the present E.D.F. Any new E.D.F. thereafter, and the amount of our contributions to it, will be settled in the Community's negotiations with the developing countries concerned, which are due to start in the autumn of 1973. From the best estimate I can make I do not think it likely that what we might pay over these five years towards any such Fund will lead to any reduction in what we now spend either on bilateral or on multilateral aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in relation to Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community.

The House was kept fully informed of developments during the negotiations which have now been completed, and the Treaty of Accession signed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is now able to make a statement on his most recent discussions with the European Economic Community on matters pertaining to the free movement of labour within the countries of the Six on Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; and whether he will give an assurance that all British subjects, whether former immigrants from the British Commonwealth or otherwise, will be entitled to unrestricted travel, residence and jobs in the countries of the Six on the same basis as British-born citizens.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer given earlier today to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish details of the agreement on fishing reached with the European Economic Community in so far as it affects fishermen operating from Northern Ireland.

The arrangements set out in my statement of 13th December apply to all parts of the United Kingdom.County Down is among the areas off whose coast fishing up to 12 miles will be limited to British vessels and to those of other countries with existing rights to fish there for certain species of fish. —[Vol. 828, c. 51–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position of the negotiations with the European Economic Community as to the definition of nationals in the context of the provisions of the Treaty of Rome, and its requirements in respect of free movement of workers.

The negotiations have now been completed. In my statement of 1st December I gave the House the definition of a United Kingdom National for the purposes of Community treaties and legislation. The European Community have taken note of the definition which I gave at my meeting with them on 29th November.The European Economic Community provisions on free movement of labour will apply to those persons included in that definition.—[Vol. 827, c. 446.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E2119 Intra-State Provisions to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(2) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community so far as the European Coal and Steel Community E.1; E113 Financial Machinery for Scrap are concerned to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(3) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community so far as the European Coal and Steel Community E.1; E1130 Establishment of Financial Machinery are concerned to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(4) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community so far as European Coal and Steel Community E.1; E1131 Procedure for Equalisation Payments are concerned to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(5) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community so far as the European Coal and Steel Community E.1; E1132 Price Fixing and Costing are concerned to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(6) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community so far as the European Coal and Steel Community E.1; E1133 Maximum Prices are concerned to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(7) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community so far as the European Coal and Steel Community E.1; E1134 Calculation of Interest are concerned to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(8) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community so far as the European Coal and Steel Community E.1; E114 Financial Machinery for any other products are concerned to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(9) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E20 Legal Bases to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(10) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E21 Trade, Tariffs and Quantitative Restrictions to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament.

A pre-accession series of English texts of secondary legislation of the Communities was published on 13th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid has been given to Mauritius between 1969–70 and 1970–71.

In 1969–70, £1,996,000 and in 1970–71, £1,686,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the financial negotiations with the Government of Malta.

As the House will be aware, further Ministerial discussions were held in Rome last week. An increased N.A.T.O. offer was put forward. But progress towards settling the outstanding issues of concern to N.A.T.O. and ourselves remained slow and difficult; and Mr. Mintoff raised new financial demands. Discussions between officials are at present taking place in Malta, with the aim of narrowing the area of disagreement between the two sides; but no precise arrangements have been made yet for a further meeting at Ministerial level.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the continuation of the advisory functions initiated by the Steering Committee for Malta under the chairmanship of Lord R obens.

None. Both the British and Malta Governments have accepted the Joint Steering Committee's view that its advisory rôle should be regarded as at an end.I should like to take this opportunity to thank Lord Robens, as Chairman, and his two colleagues, Professor C. R. Ross and my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, for the contribution they made by their advice in following up from the British side the 1967 Joint Mission's recommendations for strengthening and expanding the Maltese economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action he is proposing to take in order to secure the rights of United Kingdom citizens who have had their property in Tanzania confiscated without compensation.

We shall continue to press on the Tanzanian Government the need to honour their obligations under international law towards any United Kingdom national or company affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has noted that the Resolution passed by the North Atlantic Assembly on Greece at their recent plenary session, where all the member countries of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation except Greece were represented by parliamentarians, described the present repression of democratic freedoms in Greece as dangerous to the internal cohesion of the North Atlantic Alliance; and whether Her Majesty's Government will use their political influence upon the Greek Government as requested in the resolution.

I have nothing to add to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to the right hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) on 6th December, 1971.—[Vol. 827, c. 222.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the steps that have been taken to ensure that the Pearce Commission in Rhodesia will receive the opinion of political leaders now held in prison by the Rhodesian Government.

Lord Pearce has told me that he expects no difficulty in arranging this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that normal political action is being permitted in Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the Statement which I made at the end of Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication he has received from the Pearce Commission in Rhodesia in regard to the effect upon its inquiry of the outbreak of violence, the shooting of an African by the police, and the statement by Edson Sithole, the nationalist leader, that opponents of the proposed Rhodesian settlement terms are being harassed and arrested.

I would refer the hon. Member to the recent statement made by the Pearce Commission the text of which was given in my answer to Questions from the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) on the 21st of January. The Commission have told me, and have also stated publicly, that their intention remains to carry out their task to the best of their ability. —[Vol. 829, c. 271–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has made to the illegal Smith régime concerning the continued detention of Mr. Joshua Nkomo and the Reverend N. Sithole.

None. As I told the hon. Member on 17th January, the White Paper sets out the arrangements which were finally agreed with Mr. Smith for dealing with the cases of detainees, and no purpose would be served by further representations on this general subject.—[Vol. 829, c. 36–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many cases during 1970 and 1971 whipping was imposed as a penalty by the illegal courts of Rhodesia.

These figures are not available to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why members of the Press are permitted to attend the Pearce inquiry only if they are escorted by information officers in the employment of the illegal Rhodesian régime; why they are not permitted to hold private interviews; and what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government with regard to this.

I understand that the restrictions referred to by the hon. Member apply only in the Tribal Trust Lands and not in the rest of the country. Whilst the necessity to impose any restrictions on journalists may be regretted, it must be observed that no complaints on this score have so far been received by the Pearce Commission and that the full accounts appearing in the Press suggest that the arrangements made for journalists are working satisfactorily. I have made no representations on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking in connection with the current argument relating to the representation of East Germany at the proposed United Nations Conference on the Environment due to be held in Stockholm in June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the British Government in relation to the representation of East Germany at the United Nations Stockholm Conference in 1972.

The General Assembly has passed by an overwhelming majority a resolution inviting States members of the United Nations and its Specialised Agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency to attend the Stockholm Conference. The German Democratic Republic does not fall into any of these categories. But we are anxious that a political issue such as the international status of the German Democratic Republic should not prejudice the success of the Conference; we have, therefore, together with our Western allies, made proposals which would permit full working participation by East Germany at the Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the official talks recently held with Iceland in Reykjavik upon the proposed 50 miles fishing limits on the Icelandic shelf.

It has not yet been possible to reach agreement with the Icelandic Government. Both sides are now considering the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that President Bhutto of Pakistan has announced his Government's decision to nationalise his country's iron and steel industry, heavy engineering, electrical, car and tractor production, public utilities, heavy chemicals, cement, gas and oil refineries; what action he has taken or intends taking to protect British investments in these industries; and whether he will make a statement.

I am aware of the statement which President Bhutto made in a broadcast on 2nd January in which he announced that ten categories of industry had been put under State control. However, he also said that the decision would not affect foreign investment or foreign credit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made as a result of the initative taken by Her Majesty's Government, as co-President of the Geneva Conference, to reactivate the 1954 agreement on Cambodia.

Unfortunately the Soviet Co-Chairman would not agree to join with us in seeking to re-establish the International Control Commission in the Khmer Republic. We believe this step would have helped the Khmer Government's courageous efforts, with which we have the greatest sympathy, to resist North Vietnamese aggression.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will instruct Her Majesty's Ambassador in Washington to make a donation towards the upkeep of the White House.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Her Majesty's Government voted in support of a resolution at the United Nations on 14th December calling on Israel to withdraw from the occupied areas before the resumption of peace talks.

The resolution on the Middle East adopted by the General Assembly on 13th December [No. 2799] does not call on Israel to "withdraw from the occupied territories", or indeed to make any withdrawal, before the resumption of peace talks. Her Majesty's Government's vote in favour of the Assembly resolution was fully consistent with their adherence to the terms of Security Council Resolution 242 of November, 1967, and with their support for Dr. Jarring's mission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reservation he intends to make in respect of Hong Kong when he ratifies the international convention on civil and political rights.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question earlier today. It follows that it is too early to say anything about reservations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Iraq Government have paid the Iraq Petroleum Company Limited and subsidiaries compensation for curtailing the size of concessions granted to the companies in the 1930's under laws passed in 1961 and 1967; and what steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to ensure compliance with the principles of international law now that the North Rumeila Oilfield, within that concession, is about to start production.

No compensation has yet been paid to the Iraq Petroleum Company by the Iraq Government. The Company is currently discussing the whole range of problems outstanding with the Iraq Government. It is my hope that an equitable solution will be reached. It would be unprofitable at this stage to go into the details of the position of Her Majesty's Government in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British and Anglo-Dutch petroleum companies have been compensated for distribution networks, equipment and service taken over by the Libyan Government several years ago; and what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to ensure compliance with international law that compensation should be paid within a reasonable time after acquisition.

Her Majesty's Government drew the attention of the Libyan Government to the requirements of international law that compensation in such cases should be prompt, adequate and effective. Her Majesty's Government asked for information as to when the compensation committees specified in the nationalisation decree would be set up and how the oil distribution companies nationalised on 4th July, 1970, would have a formal opportunity to represent their case to the committees. So far as I am aware, no compensation has yet been paid, although as regards certain companies an assessment of the compensation payable to them has been made by the Committees established under the nationalisation decree.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals have been received from the Libyan Government to pay compensation for the acquisition by that Government of British Petroleum.

Her Majesty's Government have received no specific proposals from the Libyan Government on this matter. The Libyan nationalisation decree provided for the appointment of a committee of three Libyan officials who have three months to arrive at a figure to be awarded to British Petroleum as compensation. British Petroleum have called for arbitration in accordance with the terms of their concession, and this has the full support of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when British oil companies or British petroleum interests are called upon to negotiate with the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries or member States over the future of their interests, whether he will make representations to ensure that the original contractual terms are complied with, or that if percentage participation is insisted upon by certain member States in contravention of these agreements, such participation should only be conceded on the basis of full market value being paid for the investment acquired.

Since the discussions between the O.P.E.C. States and the oil companies on this extremely complex issue are still in their initial stages it would be premature for Her Majesty's Government to decide what action to take in what for the present are hypothetical circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further initiatives Her Majesty's Government is taking in connection with the situation in the Middle East.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken or intends taking during 1972 to attempt to resolve the problems of the Middle East in general and the Israeli-Egyptian dispute in particular; and whether this will include a visit by himself to these two countries.

Her Majesty's Government remain ready to help in any way open to us, to promote the search for a settlement.As the House will remember, my right hon. Friend visited Cairo last September at the invitation of the Egyptian Government, and will be visiting Israel in March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total official debt owed to the United Kingdom by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru.

The amount outstanding from Government to Government loans owed to the United Kingdom by Argentina is £743,050.69, by Brazil £253,123.21, by Chile £3,425,464.3, by Colombia nil and by Peru £1,159,988.94.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries of Latin America are attempting to re-schedule their debts with the United Kingdom.

Chile is the only country in Latin America currently seeking to reschedule her overseas debts with the United Kingdom. The request, received on 10th November, will be considered at a meeting of creditor countries next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will take steps to ensure that a consultant in ear, nose and throat surgery be appointed to be based at Aberystwyth;(2) if he will take steps to ensure that the process of centralising consultants' services at Carmarthen for the Mid-Wales area ceases, and that consultants' services for the Mid-Wales area are made available from Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth.

I have no reason to change the Welsh Hospital Board's plans in these matters. They have been given full and careful consideration by the board and are designed to improve the consultancy services for the Mid-Wales area, and also for South West Wales, including those for the ear, nose and throat specialty.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when the public inquiry is to be held into the extension of the M4 in the area of the villages of Cornelly and Groes.

I expect the inquiry to take place in the summer. It will cover objections to our proposals for dealing with side roads as well as those relating to the line of the motorway. Draft Orders containing our side road proposals should be published before the end of February.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authority sponsored nursery schools there are in Wales, and what are the figures on a county basis.

The numbers at January, 1971, the latest date for which information is available, were:

Authority	No. of Schools
Breconshire	1
Carmarthenshire	1
Flintshire	1
Glamorgan	11
Monmouthshire	10
Cardiff	9
Merthyr	1
Newport	6
Swansea	4

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many privately run nursery schools registered with local authorities are in existence in Wales, and what are the figures on a county basis.

None. Privately run nursery schools are not registered under the Education Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what immediate advantages he expects to accrue to the ball and roller bearing industry as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Accession to the Treaty of Rome; and if he will make a statement.

Wider market opportunities and the expected increase in economic activity in the United Kingdom will be the immediate advantages arising from our membership of the E.E.C.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he is considering about the position of the Iron and Steel Consumers' Council in relation to the signing of the Treaty of Accession to the Treaty of Rome.

My right hon. Friend has already told the House that the Iron and Steel Consumers' Council will be wound up in conformity with the Treaty of Paris when we become members of the European Coal and Steel Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the Commission of the European Economic Community have drafted a directive to harmonise the information which joint stock limited liability companies are required to disclose in their balance sheets and profit-and-loss statements; to what extent on entry into the European Economic Community the United Kingdom will be bound by these rules and how it will affect British companies; and whether he will make a statement.

The Commission have presented to the Council proposals for a directive on company accounts. The proposal is under consideration in the Community, and we shall have an opportunity to make our views known before any directive—with which we shall have to comply—is issued. Much of the effect of the draft directive is already covered by our Companies Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on financial support to the North-East Development Council.

The North-East Development Council is to receive grant in aid of up to £20,000 in the current financial year and grants are proposed of up to £15,000 in 1972–73 and of up to £10,000 in 1973–74. These grants are conditional on the council raising increasing amounts of qualifying non-Government contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research and development projects he has promoted in the Northern Region.

Research and development work supported or contracted by the Department in the Northern Region is currently in progress to the value of some £¾ million. This covers a variety of subjects, including ship design, marine technology, electronics and engineering.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken on the recommendation in paragraphs 267 of the Report of the Rochdale Committee relating to the obtaining of agreement between Western European countries on shipping safety regulations.

Action is being taken on the variety of matters referred to in the paragraphs of the Report leading up to the recommendation in paragraph 267. The need for formal consultation with other Western European Governments has not arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken in the recommendation in paragraph 1672 of the Report of the Rochdale Committee that investment allowances should be granted on ships.

This recommendation was taken into account when the Government's policy on investment incentives was being considered in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken on the recommendation in paragraph 1445 of the Report of the Rochdale Committee that the Government should initiate discussion on the possible content of an international treaty embodying a code of shipping conduct.

International shipping problems, including those referred to in paragraphs 1445 and 1592 of the Report of the Rochdale Committee, are continuously under discussion between governments in several international organisations, including questions relating to a Code of Conference Practice. When a basis of agreement exists for an international treaty to cover the wide range of subjects including flag discrimination and flags of convenience, suggested by the Rochdale Committee we shall be ready to consider with other Governments how this might be given effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many successful prosecutions there were for offences by officers of companies in liquidation under Sections 328, 329 and 330 of the Companies Act, 1948, respectively, for each of the years 1967 to 1971, inclusive.

The figures for the years 1967 to 1970 inclusive have been published in the Companies Annual Reports. In 1971 there were two successful prosecutions under Section 328, none under Section 329, and four under Section 330.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he is undertaking into the design of vessels capable of navigating both the England waterways of this country and on the continent and the intervening sea.

No research is being undertaken on this type of vessel at the National Physical Laboratory owing to lack of demand from industry. However, shallow water testing equipment is to be installed at the Laboratory's Ship Division.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for stimulating the construction of barge-carrying ships, in view of the increasing importance of commercial barge traffic on the continent of Europe.

This is a matter for the industries concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has now completed his investigations into Golden Chemical Products Limited; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the enquiry is being considered, along with the question of Pyramid Selling generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for industrial development certificates have been received from those anxious to set up businesses within the London Borough of Lewisham; how many have been approved; how many have been rejected; and, in the former case, how many new jobs have been created.

In the period 1st January, 1967, to 31st December, 1971, nine industrial development certificates were issued for the Lewisham Employment Exchange Area, which were estimated by the applicants to provide 59 jobs. None was refused in the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men and how many women, respectively, were carried by air in the most recent 12 months.

Records of numbers are not available for the United Kingdom, nor generally for other countries. However, surveys made by the United Kingdom Air Corporations indicate that some 60 to 65 per cent. of adult passengers carried by them are men.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what qualifications he considers persons should have to make them suitable for appointment by him to public boards controlling and administering the coal, gas, electricity and transport industries, respectively.

In the case of the coal, gas, and electricity industries the qualifications required of board members, as expressed in the relevant statutes, are that they should have had experience of, or shown capacity in, one or other of certain specific areas. These are listed as industrial, commercial or financial matters, applied science, administration, local Government, agricultural matters, the organisation of workers, or experience of the industrial processes covered by the particular Board. In the transport industries for which I am responsible—the nationalised Air Corporations—there are no specific qualifications laid down by Statute, but I would apply, as appropriate, the same sort of criteria as for the other industries. The personal qualities of the individual to be appointed to a Board are, of course, in all cases a vital consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what immediate advantages he expects to accrue to the coal industry arising from the signing of the Treaty of Accession to the Treaty of Rome; and if he will make a statement.

Apart from benefiting from the general increase in economic activity expected to follow our membership of the E.E.C., the industry should gain from the removal of restrictions against our coal exports and from eligibility for the grants and loans of the European Coal and Steel Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what immediate advantages he expects to accrue to the steel industry from the signing of the Treaty of Accession to the Treaty of Rome; and if he will make a statement.

Accession will bring the advantages of a much larger market and of greater activity amongst the steel industry's customers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value, respectively, of exports to and imports from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in each of the last two 12 month periods for which figures are available; and how they compare with the figures of Japanese trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the same periods from information available from international sources.

Following is the information:

	Imports from U.S.S.R. £ million, c.i.f.	Exports to U.S.S.R. £ million, f.o.b.
United Kingdom
1970	210	102
1971	205	89
Japan
1970	200	142
January/October, 1971*	172	129
* Latest period available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of British exports of computers and computer components to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in each of the last three 12 month periods for which figures are available.

£0·4 million, £4·3 million and, provisionally, £3·7 million for the years 1969, 1970 and 1971, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on solid fuel supplies during the next two months.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Minister for Industry on 9th January, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many successful prosecutions were brought under the Protection of Depositors Act, 1963 for each of the years 1967 to 1971, inclusive.

There was one successful prosecution by the Department in 1967, three in 1969, and two in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the productivity per man-shift in the coal industry for each of the years from 1960 to the latest available date, and the annual rundown in manpower and the numbers of pits closed in the same period; and if he will make a statement.

The figures are:

MANPOWER, PRODUCTIVITY AND PIT CLOSURES, N.C.B. MINES
Year	O.M.S. (cwts.)	Percentage change on previous year	Manpower Rundown (000)	Pit closures
1960	28·03	—	-51·0	35
1961	28·94	+3·2	-21·8	29
1962	31·20	+7·8	-25·0	51
1963	32·96	+5·6	-25·6	33
1964	34·35	+4·2	-26·0	34
1965	35·90	+4·5	-37·7	44
1966	36·35	+1·3	-32·4	61
1967	38·18	+5·0	-32·0	29
1968	41·73	+9·3	-57·3	70
1969	43·45	+4·1	-24·9	26
1970	44·10	+1·5	-16·5	10
1971	43·94	-0·4	-4·3	4

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total coal production figures for the years 1970 and 1971.

Total coal produced in 1971 was 144·7 million tons and in 1970 it was 142·3 million tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many successful prosecutions were brought under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act, 1958, for each of the years 1967 to 1971, inclusive.

There were three successful prosecutions by the Department in 1967, five in 1968, one in 1969, three in 1970 and seven in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will ensure that, in the Government's promised White Paper on Metrication and its effect on the United Kingdom, details will be given of the financial costs to the country in general, industry, and the consuming public in particular; and to what extent these stated costs will increase the cost of living.

I invite the hon. Gentleman to await the publication of the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will instruct the Industrial Liaison Service to make its services available only on a fee-paying basis.

No. Industrial Liaison Centres will continue to offer their services without charge while their future is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of his Department's advertisements have been published in national and in Yorkshire area newspapers which were aimed at encouraging the transfer of existing or proposed industrial activity to other parts of the United Kingdom.

Advertisements about the Assisted Areas have appeared over 300 times in selected national and regional newspapers and periodicals since 1st January, 1971: six of these were in two Yorkshire newspapers. Their main purpose has been to influence industrialists to put significant expansion as well as new projects in the Assisted Areas including the Yorkshire Intermediate Areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the value to industry of low-cost automation centres and the amount of use made by industry of this Government service.

A review of the low-cost automation centres supported by the Department was completed last year, which included inquiries of a random sample of firms who had made use of the service, Whilst it is for industry itself to say what value it attaches to the centres, the inquiries showed that all the firms interviewed claimed to have derived some benefit from the services provided, including increased productivity, improvement in product quality, reduced stockholding and reduction in material wastage. It was estimated that the direct economic benefits to the users resulting from the provision of these services were several times greater than the Department's costs. Well over a thousand firms a year, covering a wide range of industries have made use of the services offered, which include the provision of training courses and information, advisory and consultancy services on all aspects of the subject. Following our review I have authorised a continuation of the Department's support for the centres in the expectation that they will become self-supporting in a reasonably short time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many airmen in the Royal Navy were killed in flying accidents during 1971; and how this figure compares with the previous five years.

The numbers of Royal Naval aircrew, officers and ratings, killed in naval flying accidents during 1971 and each of the five preceding years were:

1966	16
1967	10
1968	11
1969	5
1970	8
1971	2

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force personnel have been killed as a result of aircraft crashes in each of the last five years.

The numbers of Royal Air Force personnel killed as a result of Royal Air Force flying accidents during the five years 1967 to 1971 have been as follows:

1967	1968	1969	1970	1971
55	34	20	21	24

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will list the total number of Royal Air Force aircraft which have crashed in each of the last five years.

During the five years 1967 to 1971 the numbers of Royal Air Force aircraft destroyed in flying accidents have been as follows:

1967	1968	1969	1970	1971
47	42	25	29	38

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether Captain M. R. A. Campbell of the Omani Army, killed by guerillas in July, and Lieutenants E. W. MacDonald and G. Wayne, of the Sultan of Oman's Air Force, killed on 11th May, were seconded or contract officers; and whether he will give the names of any other British officers killed in Oman.

Captain Campbell was a seconded officer; Flight Lieutenants MacDonald and Wayne were contract officers. In addition Major Taylor and Captain Rae, R.M. who were on secondment have been killed; and I understand that a Captain Mawle, an ex-British Army officer on contract to the Sultan's Armed Forces, has also died.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on what action was taken by the security forces following the escape of seven detainees from the "Maidstone" prison ship in Belfast harbour on Monday, 17th January.

Immediately the escape was suspected, with the discovery of the stolen bus in Verner Street, Belfast, the area was cordoned and searched. In addition, all available troops, including members of the Ulster Defence Regiment, were deployed to mount road-blocks around Belfast and in the rural areas beyond.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will now assume responsibility for security on the prison ship "Maidstone" in Belfast harbour and take steps to improve it.

No. The security arrangements on the "Maidstone" are the responsibility of the civil authorities although the Army remains in close touch with them and provides necessary assistance. I understand that a number of measures are in hand to improve security on the ship, including the provision of catwalks, additional bars and wire outside the portholes, and improved external lighting.

asked the Minister of State for Defence to what extent the security forces on the "Maidstone" prison ship have been strengthened after the two prison escapes from the Belfast Prison in recent weeks.

The "Maidstone" was not in use as a place of detention when the escapes occurred from Belfast Prison in November and December. However, those escapes were taken into account before the ship was brought back into use; additional precautions were taken inside the vessel, two additional guard posts were mounted and 12 additional soldiers have been deployed for external guard duties. I understand that the number of Northern Ireland Prison Service personnel has been adjusted according to the number of detainees held on board.

asked the Minister of State for Defence on how many occasions, since the "Maidstone" was first used as a prison ship in August, 1971, have consultations about security arrangements taken place with the Northern Ireland Government; and whether reports of the action taken on them by the Northern Ireland Government were made to the security forces thereafter.

The Army remains in constant touch with the civil authorities who are responsible for the security arrangements and has been kept fully informed of developments.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the number of hospital beds available in British Services hospitals to Service personnel, married families and dependants of the British Army of the Rhine and Royal Air Force Germany.

670 beds are available in the four Army Hospitals and 220 beds in the R.A.F. Hospital: a total of 890.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the number of medical officers at present serving with the British Army of the Rhine and Royal Air Force Germany, respectively; and what doctor/patient ratio this represents with regard to the total number of Service personnel, married families and dependants in Germany.

There are 192 medical officers serving in B.A.O.R., and 47 in R.A.F. Germany. Excluding those employed on medical administrative duties this represents a doctor/patient ratio of approximately 1:750.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many hours were lost through strikes in the Scottish vehicle manufacturing industry in 1971; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous seven years.

In official statistics loss of time through industrial stoppages is measured in terms of "days lost". Scottish figures for 1971 are not yet available but I will write to my hon. Friend in due course.The comparable figures available are:

Stoppages of work due to industrial disputes Motor vehicles*: Scotland
	Working days lost in all stoppages in progress in year
1970	120,000
1969	82,000
1968	123,000
1967	19,000
1966	66,000
1965	52,000
1964	18,000
* For 1970, MLH 381 of the Standard Industrial Classification 1968 and for earlier years, MLH 381 of the 1958 edition.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set up a committee to inquire into labour relations in the Scottish vehicle manufacturing industry.

I do not think that a committee of inquiry into labour relations generally in the motor vehicle manufacturing industry in Scotland would be helpful. However, my officers are always prepared to discuss industrial relations problems with management and unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what are the total numbers of males and females unemployed at the latest available date in the Greater London area;(2) how many young persons are unemployed in the Greater London area at the latest available date.

The provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the Greater London area at 10th January, 1972, was 86,840–74,173 men and 9,508 women aged 18 years and over and 2,178 boys and 981 girls under 18 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men are employed in the building industry in the Greater London area at the latest available date; and how this compares with the same period last year.

The estimated numbers of male employees in employment in Greater London in the construction industry at June, 1970, the latest date for which figures are available, and at June, 1969, were 201,500 and 236,900 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many building workers are unemployed in the Greater London area at the latest available date; and how this compares with the same period last year.

The numbers of people registered as unemployed in Greater London at December, 1971, and December, 1970, who last worked in the construction industry were 10,107 and 8,559, respectively. An industrial analysis of the figures for January, 1972, is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage change occurred in the cost of living index during the calendar year 1971.

The General Index of Retail Prices rose by 9·0 per cent. between 15th December, 1970, and 14th December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the numbers of engineering apprentices who are at present on short time, he will take further steps to ensure that they receive suitable training of some kind when not at work.

The Government's initiatives in respect of the training of apprentices have been related to providing opportunities for initial training of young people who would otherwise have been unemployed. Responsibility for the training of apprentices in employment rests with the industry and the Engineering Industry Training Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the number of young people in Bolton who have recently left school without getting permanent employment and who in some cases are seeking jobs for the third time, what steps he proposes to take to improve liaison between the officers of his Department and the schools.

In Bolton, where the Youth Employment Service is provided by the local education authority, there is already good liaison between careers officers and the schools. The 25 school leavers registered as unemployed in January represent less than 2 per cent. of the 1,500 young people who left school last summer.In the circumstances I do not think it is necessary to take further steps to improve local liaison.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in the manufacture of central heating equipment, and its installation, respectively, giving the details separately for Scotland and Great Britain.

I regret that the information is not available. My Department's employment estimates are not analysed in the amount of detail necessary to provide this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what financial incentives exist to encourage unemployed workers to undergo retraininig; and what number and percentage of unemployed workers undertook retraining in 1970 and 1971.

Training allowances were substantially increased last September and are now up to £5 per week above unemployment benefit. I regret that information about the number and percentage of unemployed workers undertaking training is not available. However 66 per cent. of all applicants accepted for training during September, 1971, were unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of those unemployed are 30 years of age and under; and, of those unemployed aged 30 years and under, how many have been so for six weeks or more.

A detailed age analysis of the unemployed is made in January and July. Figures for January, 1972 are not yet available, but at July, 1971 there were 740,831 people registered as wholly unemployed in Great Britain of whom 300,167–40·5 per cent. —were under 30 years of age. Of those under 30 years of age, 138,833 had been registered for more than six weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of male and female employees, respectively, in the lowest tenth and the lowest quarter of average weekly earnings are to be found among the non-industrial Civil Service, the industrial Civil Service, the National Health Service, the local government service, the nationalised industries, any other public services and the private sector, respectively.

The following estimates are derived from the results of the New Earnings Survey, published in the November, 1971, issue of the Department's Gazette. They relate to men aged 21 and over and women aged 18 and over in full-time employment, in both manual and non-manual occupations, whose earnings were not affected by absence in the survey pay-period in April, 1971.They relate to employees whose gross weekly earnings were below the lowest decile, or the lowest quartile, in the over-

		Lowest tenth		Lowest quarter
Group	Collective Agreements covered	Men	Women	Men	Women
		Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
All industries		100	100	100	100
Civil Service	Technical and scientific; executive; clerical grades	3	—	2	1
	Government industrial establishments	3	—	2	—
National Health Service	Administrative and clerical; nurses and midwives; ancillary staff	2	3	2	5
Local authoritie	Administrative, professional and technical; general and clerical; building and civil engineering; engineering craftsmen; manual	11	7	10	7
Nationalised industries	Specified agreements in coal, steel, gas, electricity, water, Post Office, railways, road passenger transport	12	1	12	1
Other public services	Teaching, police and fire services	1	—	1	—

The above-mentioned collective agreements cover the great majority, but not all, of the employees in the various parts of the public sector. The private sector will account for most of the residual balance in each column.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of offences under Section 334 of the Companies Act 1948, and how many of these resulted in successful prosecutions, respectively, for each of the years 1967 to 1971, inclusive.

These figures are not immediately available. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as they can be obtained.

asked the Attorney-General how many courts are at present available for use under the Courts Act, 1971; and how many such courts will be needed when the Act is fully implemented.

There are at present 238 court rooms available for use by the High Court and the Crown Court in England and Wales, including a number shared with magistrates' courts, and some temporary accommodation. More court rooms are urgently wanted if

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to prevent the creation of leasehold on houses, and of permanent rent charges on freehold houses.

No. I have no evidence to suggest that leasehold interests in house property should be prohibited. The subject of rent charges is under consideration by the Law Commission, and any decision as to legislation must await its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children between the ages of 15 and 16 years, now in receipt of maintenance grants, will cease to receive them following the raising of the school leaving age.

This information is not available. The return mentioned in the reply I gave the hon. Member on 20th January, 1972, did not distinguish between pupils of different ages. —[Vol. 829, c. 239.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, when granting an application by the governors of a direct-grant school to remove the school to new premises in a new pupil catchment area, she imposes conditions concerning maintenance of that school in direct-grant or voluntary assisted status.

No. My approval of new buildings would not be required if the school itself did not intend to continue as a direct-grant school or to seek maintained status.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she intends to take to ensure that schools of direct-grant status do not, after support from public funds, become independent schools.

Direct grant is paid to schools in respect of current services which they render: if they choose to discontinue these services they are free to do so. There is no investment of public funds which might need to be protected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his officials have carried out any recent inspection of the refuse tip at Stretton Lane, Wolston, near Coventry.

Yes. A senior chemist of the Department visited the site on 21st December. On 14th January, at the invitation of Rugby Rural District Council, six officials of the Department attended a meeting of public authorities and interested parties in Rugby to discuss allegations concerning the dumping of drums of toxic waste on this tip. It has been decided that sampling by the Severn River Authority of surface water and shallow wells in the area will be intensified but there is no evidence that water supplies have been contaminated. Core samples are being taken at Wolston to determine whether there are toxic substances present in sufficient quantities to constitute a hazard to public health.