asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many advance or other factories were built by the Government or through Government agencies in the Mid-Wales Development Association's area during the year 1971.

Three factories were completed and work on seven others, including two groups of nursery factories, were started.

But is it not right that there has been a distinct slowing up of the programme of advance factories, which have been extremely beneficial in mid-Wales, and that the seven factories in process of erection are, save for one, all nursery factories on very small sites?

The programme of advance factories is reasonably good, and I do not think one could say that mid-Wales was lagging behind in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many advance factories in Wales he has visited during the past 12 months.

Three.

Will the Minister convey to his right hon. and learned Friend the serious concern felt in many parts of Wales about the number of advance factories that are empty? Will he urge his right hon. and learned Friend to visit not only those now tenanted but also all those in Wales which are still empty and, having visited them, to do something about finding tenants for them?

The hon. Gentleman will probably be aware that 15 advance factories have been completed in Wales in the last two years and that 11 are now being built or are in the planning stage. Certainly with regard to those that are not filled, it is the Government's intention—which the Government have shown in their latest policies—that by raising the level of investment it is hoped to find tenants for more of these advance factories.

How many of the advance factories now in course of construction were announced during the period of the previous Administration? When does the Minister hope that his Government will be able to match the average of about 10 advance factories a year which were announced and built by the previous Government?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question is "Not without notice." The answer to the second part is that, while recognising that advance factories have a definitive place in increasing employment, there are other methods which the Government are adopting and have adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek powers to prevent tobacco firms from advertising to induce the collection of coupons as a condition of their making a contribution to major sporting events.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 9th May.—[Vol. 836, c. 298.]

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to this rather disgusting advertisement by the firm of Rothman's? It contains a Government health warning, but its association of sport with smoking is presumably to induce our young people to die in a good cause. Will the Minister take what steps are necessary to have this advertisement withdrawn from the hoardings and see that our atheletes are provided from Government sources with the necessary money if it cannot be raised by ordinary voluntary means?

The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the advantages in the creation of the Sports Council for Wales since the present Government took office. With regard to the particular matter he raises, I understand that there is soon to be a meeting between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and the tobacco manufacturers.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has now received the report of the Welsh Hospital Board regarding the modernisation and extension of Llanelli Hospital.

Not yet.

Is the Minister aware that there is increasing anger and frustration in my constituency at the continual prevarication of the Welsh Hospital Board, a firm promise having been given as long ago as 1964? Will the hon. Gentleman urge the board to treat the matter as one of extreme urgency, requiring extreme priority?

I am very much aware of the hon. Gentleman's deep concern about the matter. I remember that on 17th April he brought a deputation from Llanelli to see me. I understand that the board is working on the preparation of detailed plans and I do not expect it to make the submission for several months. There is considerable difficulty in redeveloping an existing hospital on a restricted site and at the same time maintaining the service.

While in no way seeking to make things more difficult for the Minister of State while he is acting as Horatio today, may I ask him whether he is aware that in my time in office I received deputations about Llanelli hospital, and that the community is entitled to a much speedier answer than he has indicated this afternoon?

I am very grateful for the remarks from the right hon. Member for Tuscany. I can only say that I share his concern about this matter. I have myself looked into it fairly carefully and I am satisfied that the board is doing all it can to produce an answer with the best possible speed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total value of the school building programme in Flint-shire approved by his Department in the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

The total values in round figures are: £0·6, £0·8, £1·3, £1·3 and £1·4 million, respectively.

Does my hon. Friend expect to be able to maintain or, indeed, improve on this rate of progression in the year 1973–74? Can he further say whether, if he is so able, he expects in the reasonably near future to be able to provide replacements for schools which either expose pupils to great hazards in trying to cross main roads or have equipment which is now ludicrously out of date?

The corresponding total in 1973–74 is expected to be about £1,600,000. Danger and obsolescence are always matters which the local authority and ourselves take fully into consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of projects for replacement of primary schools in Wales in the 1974–75 programme and the comparable figures for 1969–70 and 1972–73.

The most recent programme relates to starts in 1973–74. This includes 41 projects for the replacement of old primary schools, compared with 38 in the 1972–73 and five in the 1969–70 programmes.

I welcome the notable improvements on the dismal performance of the previous Government in this respect. Will my hon. Friend indicate how long it will be before he expects to have rebuilt most of the oldest and inadequate primary schools still left?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his recognition of the great improvements in this programme. It is hoped that the total programme will be completed by about 1977.

Will the Minister of State give comparable figures for nursery school places in Wales, and will he acknowledge that if his Government——

Order. The Minister will not do so in answer to this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what efforts he is making to improve his Department's information on housing matters in Wales.

The Department already has available the information necessary to the discharge of my right hon. and learned Friend's responsibilities.

It is all the more amazing how the hon. Gentleman and the Secretary of State are rapidly becoming the "don't know" Ministers in respect of housing. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the answers to a whole range of Questions asked about the Housing Finance Bill show that he does not know the impact of the Bill? Has he shown any awareness of the rise in house prices? Is he to depend upon information sent to him by my hon. Friends and myself showing, for instance, that house prices in my constituency have risen by £1,000 in eight months?

The hon. Gentleman was responsible for housing matters in the Welsh Office two years ago. The methods now used differ very little from the methods used by himself. It is certainly not the intention of either myself or my right hon. and learned Friend to obtain information from local authorities which is unnecessary and which imposes a burden on local authorities and does nothing to further the work of my Department.

Would the Minister of State take a drive up the valleys if he feels that his departmental duties might be better fulfilled by seeing for himself how house prices in the valleys have exploded? He would then see that in con- stituencies such as mine developers of new estates have crossed off prices from the boards and are simply asking what they feel like asking when a prospective buyer comes along.

The Question concerned information which one would get from local authorities. During the debate in Welsh Grand Committee only about 10 days ago my right hon. and learned Friend and myself spent a good deal of our speeches explaining this matter to hon. Members.

Is not the way to knock house prices down to bring the maximum number of houses on to the market for sale? Would not the encouragement to local authorities to sell council houses have an effect on bringing prices down?

Certainly, yes.

In that case, what a pity it is that the number of starts is so low. Is the Minister of State aware that in his rather sharp rejoinder to my hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydfil (Mr. Rowlands) about information which the Question deals with, he forgot to indicate that the big difference was that my hon. Friend, unlike the Secretary of State for Wales, moved around Wales with every authority? Is it not astonishing that the Secretary of State—I am sorry to say this in his absence—is unable to give us an account of the effect of land prices on the cost of housing in the Principality?

As I have said in answer to the hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock), we covered this matter fairly well in the Welsh Grand Committee. I could not accept what the right hon. Gentleman says about the movements of my right hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what relation the figure of 16,856 houses under construction in Wales at the end of the first quarter of 1972 bears to the comparable figure for the end of the first quarter of 1971.

It represents a 4½ per cent. increase.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply, which indicates some improvement. But in view of the unprecedented demand in the last two years for home ownership in Wales, will my hon. Friend give an assurance that every encouragement will be given to local authorities to release land for house building and to expedite planning permissions so that supply can match demand?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. Yes, certainly. That is the policy of my right hon. and learned Friend and we have made this clear to Welsh local authorities.

If there has been a 4½ per cent. increase in the number of houses under construction during this period, what has been the percentage increase in rents and house prices over the same period?

That is a different question, which I should be happy to answer if the hon. Gentleman tabled it.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what towns, other than Newtown, in the mid-Wales area have increased their population between 1968 and 31st December, 1971.

Population figures are available only for mid-years. In addition to Newtown between mid-1968 and mid-1971 there were increases in population in seven boroughs and urban districts in mid-Wales. These were Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Bala, Lampeter, Llandrindod Wells, Llanfyllin and Welsh-pool. A number of rural districts also showed increases.

I am grateful for the information supplied in that answer. I know that the Minister of State has shared concern about the depopulation problem in mid-Wales. Do the Government intend to pursue the growth town policy? They appear to pay lip service to it, but they have done nothing about it since coming to office.

My right hon. and learned Friend outlined the Government's policy on mid-Wales to the Welsh Grand Committee when he spoke last year. It involves the concentration of resources largely, though not exclusively, on the growth towns to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers.

Have the Government any comprehensive policy for mid-Wales or are they just tinkering about with the Local Employment Act? If they have a growth towns policy, when will those towns be announced and when will anything be done in relation to that policy?

The Government's policy is perfectly clear on this matter, as I have said with regard to what my right hon. and learned Friend has already said. Though there is some depopulation in central Wales, which we would like to reverse, the fact remains that we are still supporting the policies which were very largely carried out by the previous Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the nutritional value of school meals in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Revised nutritional standards were brought into operation from the commencement of the summer term, 1966. Catering advisers appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science continue to maintain close supervision of the school meals service and are available to advise local education authorities.

Is the Minister aware that a recent survey of schools in South-East England showed that the nutritional standards of school meals were well below the standards set by the Department of Health and Social Security? Why did not the Minister conduct a similar investigation in Wales before he agreed to the raising of the price of school meals and doing away with free milk for small children at school?

Advice to local education authorities on nutritional standards of school dinners was given in a circular on 26th January, 1966. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and my right hon. and learned Friend have together set up a committee representative of local authorities' and teachers' interests to review the aims and organisation of the meals and refreshment services in schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he can estimate the total value of house improvement grants available annually in Flint-shire following on the grant of intermediate area status to the county; and if he will make a statement.

It is not practicable to estimate the future increased take-up of these grants. There is no limit imposed on the number which may be awarded.

Is my hon. Friend aware that we in Flintshire are grateful that with the grant of intermediate area status we have become eligible for house improvement grants at a higher rate? Will he look into the question whether various local authorities apply different standards in awarding discretionary grants, and will he consider issuing guidance on this matter to ensure a uniform standard?

I am certainly prepared to look into what my hon. Friend asks. I am not aware of any large difference in the methods used by local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schemes are currently under consideration by his Department for the clearance of derelict land in Rhondda.

Four, of which two have been prepared by the borough council and two by the county council.

Will the Minister of State say when the clearance of the Banana tip at Ferndale is likely to commence? In view of the high level of unemployment will he advise local authorities to use labour-intensive methods of clearing tips rather than heavy and expensive machinery?

In reply to the question about the Banana tip, the decision whether to participate in a coal recovery operation associated with a reclamation scheme is for the National Coal Board to take in the light of the commercial considerations. I do not want to add anything to that today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will give the estimated completion dates for each of the remaining stages of the Cardiff to Merthyr trunk road.

Work should be completed on the Nantgarw-Glyntaff section in December, 1972, and on the length from Glyntaff to Abercynon by the end of 1973. It is too early yet to forecast completion dates for the remaining stages.

his road, by agreement on all sides, is one of the most important key main routes in the economy of South Wales, particularly in the industrial valleys I represent, will the hon. Gentleman consider speeding up the construction of the remaining stages by startting from the Heads of the Valleys down so that the road may be completed all in one piece rather than piece by piece? I think there would be agreement on both sides of the House to the hon. Gentleman at least giving consideration to speeding up the construction of the road in this way.

I fully understand and share the concern of the hon. Gentleman that this road should be finished as soon as possible, but I assure him that it is much more likely to be finished quickly if the present plans and phasing decided by the engineers in conjunction with the Welsh Office are carried through in their proper order. Because of the geology the road is bound to be a difficult one to construct, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Welsh Office is pushing ahead with all possible speed.

Will the Minister reconsider that answer in view of the importance of such a road to the Heads of the Valleys communities generally? Will he not agree that to start from the north of the valley would not necessarily inhibit work coming from the south and, if the two sections of the road happened not to meet, as a constituent in Merthyr pointed out we should have two roads?

The hon. Gentleman seems to make it very easy. I assure him that there is no lack of will to complete the road. When his hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydvil (Mr. Rowlands) comes with representatives from Merthyr to see my right hon. and learned Friend about this, no doubt there will be further talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to prevent possible disruption of local government services to the community when the local government reform measures begin to take effect in 1973–74.

Existing local authorities will operate until 1st April, 1974. Elections to the new authorities will take place in the spring of 1973 so that there need be no disruption when they take over on 1st April, 1974. Staff interests are the concern of the Staff Commission-designate which is already at work.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that what he has just said does not represent the truth? There is serious concern among staffs and local representatives throughout Wales that chaos will arise if the Government proceed with their timetable for local government reorganisation, housing finance proposals and the reorganisation of the health services? Would it not be far more responsible and wiser to suspend certain proposals until the local government authorities are themselves adequately organised to deal with the new proposals?

I assure the hon. Gentleman that my original Answer was truthful. What he asks is a far wider matter which, if he will put down a Question, I will look into.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will institute an inquiry into the travelling costs of visitors to hospital patients of all categories, having especial regard to the larger district hospitals.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has already announced the commissioning of an operational research study which will cover matters of this kind.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that my information is that this research study concerns itself with child patients whereas I am concerned with all categories? Is he further aware that in all constituencies in South Wales there are complaints about the serious difficulties of low wage earners and elderly people who have to visit large district hospitals twice or three times a week, which may cost them £2 or £3 a week in fares, and that these visits are essential both to the patients and to the visitors?

I am aware of the concern about this matter. The hon. Gentleman will know that the operational research study into large hospital units commissioned by the Government will consider, amongst other things, the possible cost of access for patients, visitors and staff in terms of money, time and social hardship. Wales is covered by the study and the Swansea area has figured in part of the research.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the standard of paediatric services provided in mid-Wales at present: and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh Hospital Board is taking steps to improve the paediatric services in mid-Wales by appointing a second consultant paediatrician based at Carmarthen.

Is the Minister aware that that announcement will be very welcome in Wales? It follows the recommendation made by Professor Gray in his report last month. I thank the Minister most warmly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what prospects he is considering for the dispersal of central Government units to mid-Wales in the near future.

The claims of mid-Wales will continue to be borne in mind.

Surely the Minister will acknowledge that, with the great difficulties—probably as great as in any region in the United Kingdom—which this region experiences in the attraction resources from the outside should he of industry, it is vitally important that channelled? In the consideration which the Government are giving to the movement of units out of London, is mid-Wales being given priority?

It rather depends what the hon. Gentleman means by mid-Wales. If he means the smaller market towns of mid-Wales, there are obvious problems in bringing to them large scale decentralisation of this sort. It is obviously the Government's wish that something shall be done, but I cannot be specific today.

Will the Minister be a little more specific about this? There are excellent educational facilities in Wales and a dearth of reasonably high-grade jobs. A vast block is going up now in the area of the Newtown development corporation. Is it the intention of the Government to transfer a central government unit, or part of it, to occupy that block?

I have no announcement to make on that subject today. With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, the university colleges of Aberystwyth and Lampeter provide a valuable diversity of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the fall in unemployment in Wales is accounted for by special factors.

No factors can be identified which have not in some measure been present in previous years. This adds to the significance of the decrease of nearly 7,200 in the number unemployed, which is the largest decrease between April and May since 1940. [Laughter]

Does my hon. Friend agree that this is one of the largest increases ever recorded, and that it is about three times the normal seasonal average? Does he also agree that it is an indication of economic recovery, and is it not extraordinary that this fact is treated with derision by the Opposition?

Yes. I can never quite understand the Opposition's attitude to unemployment. All I would say is that I think the figures to which I have referred should be greeted with cautious optimism; they are certainly a matter of great encouragement, both to those who are affected and also to the Government whose policies seem to be taking some effect.

Can the Minister of State comment on the Report of the Welsh Council published some months ago entitled "Wales, Employment and the Economy"? Can he make a statement reconciling the figure of 6 per cent. growth in the British economy referred to by the Welsh Council as being of imperative importance if unemployment in Wales is to be reduced to an acceptable level by a reasonable period of time and the 5 per cent. growth referred to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech?

We always consider very seriously the views of the Welsh Council, but I cannot go into details in answer to the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question.

Is the Minister of State aware that we were amused at his use of the statistics, and that both sides of the House rejoice in the fall in unemployment? Is he further aware that unemployment in Wales is the highest in May since 1940, a fact which he forgot to mention to the House? Also, is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government have an all-time record for the speed with which they increased unemployment in the Principality and that they ought to work to get an all-time record for a reduction?

What I was trying to say is that I and the Government are glad at the improvement, and we hope that it will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what computerised data storage systems are in current use in his Department; and what controls are exercised on access to information stored in them.

Several compulter systems are used for statistical, research and information purposes and for computer aided design. Careful security measures are in force in order to ensure that no unauthorised person has access to any confidential information stored on them.

While I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that guarantee of confidentiality, may I ask him whether he is not aware that many of us on this side of the House would be particularly grateful to have access to information about how much of his Department's money spent on support to the machine tool industry is spent on imported machine tools? Is it not a fact that despite all these computerised systems the Government do not know how much of their £10 million will he going abroad?

I do not quite see that that is relevant to the Question, but if the hon. Member wants to put down a Question on those lines we shall consider it very carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the aggregate hire purchase debt has grown annually up to May, 1970, May, 1971, and May, 1972; and what forward estimate he has made for 1972 to 1973.

Total instalment debt owing to finance houses and retailers increased by £26 million between May, 1969, and May, 1970, and by £90 million between May, 1970, and May, 1971. Figures for May, 1972, are not yet available, but during the 10 months to March, 1972, there was an increase of £301 million in seasonally adjusted terms. I expect a further substantial increase during the next 12 months.

My hon. Friend scrupulously avoids referring to the fact that the total debt is now of the order of £1,600 million at the latest known date and is accompanied by a serious decline in the balance of payments. Is it not possible that these two are linked, even in spite of the fall in unemployment? What trend in the total hire purchase debt is expected by my right hon. Friend during the next few months?

Of the £1,678 million out standing at the end of March, £348 million was on industrial machinery, farm equipment and commercial vehicles and not actually of the consumer sort to which my hon. Friend has referred. I think it would be fair to say, as I said in my reply, that we expect this debt to increase, which is a way of showing to the consumer the necessary increase which is demanded in consumer spending to assist in dealing with the problems of unemployment.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that other forms of credit doorstep selling are also increasing, but they do not give to the consumer the protection of the Hire Purchase Act or the protection which over a year ago the Crowther Committee thought the consumer should have? Did not the hon Gentleman see reported in the newspapers only last week the case of such a credit firm going bankrupt and, because such arrangements were outside the hire pur-chase agreement, the consumers are still having to pay the finance house, although they have never received the goods and never will? Will the hon. Gentleman understand that the Government's indolence in extending consumer protection is really unacceptable?

My right hon. Friend and I have said that the Government accept the need for major reform. I know that my right hon. Friend intends to make a statement about this in the very neat future. There is no desire to be in any way indolent in this matter as the hon. Gentleman has suggested. That is definitely not the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is the practice of the Department of Trade and Industry, when a report is made under Sections 165 to 168 of the Companies Act, 1948, as amended, in which adverse criticisms are made of a person and a request is made by the person to make representations to the Department, to permit such representations to be made and to consider them.

Any request for representations where adverse criticism had been levelled at a person in a report made under Sections 165 to 168 of the Companies Act, 1948, as amended, would be fully considered on its merits.

Having been considered, will it be reported? Is my hon. Friend not aware that in the case of Maxwell and Pergamon Press the High Court judge referred to the conduct of his Department as contrary to national justice? Can he therefore say whether the facts which he has enunciated in his reply were applied in the Maxwell and Pergamon Press case or otherwise?

The Department was told on 3rd February that representations might be made. The Department replied indicating that in our view the position was valid, but no further communication was received by the date of publication on 10th April.

What is the practice of the Department as regards publishing these reports? Is my hon. Friend aware that it is apparently only in the idiosyncratic policy relating to publishing reports that the difficulty arises?

I accept immediately my hon. and learned Friend's remarks. The contents of the report are the responsibility of the inspectors. The Department's responsibility is to decide what action should be taken on the report. Obviously the defence of shareholders and consumers is uppermost in our minds.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been granted in Fife in each six-monthly period over the last five years; how many applications have been received since the beginning of 1972; and if he will express all these figures in terms of jobs involved, male and female, respectively.

The hon. Gentleman will realise that the answer contains three tables of figures. I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that, whatever the figures reveal, the fact is that youth unemployment and unemployment among school leavers has increased dramatically and catastrophically in the last year—among school leavers from 30 to 119 and in the case of youth unemployment from 323 to 571? The Bill which is to be debated in the House this afternoon does nothing to help the new town development corporations which have not yet completed or still have available advance factories which were started before March, 1972.

Yes, but I must say that the new regional measures will provide considerable stimulus to existing industries in the assisted areas. All the requests for development certificates have been met; none has been refused. I would point out—though I accept that it is only one month—that the unemployment figures for May in the hon. Gentleman's constituency are a noticeable decrease.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in addition to the advanced factory being built at Denaby Main, what other proposals he has for increasing employment opportunities in the Dearne Valley constituency.

The Government's regional policies and the proposals in the Industry Bill, which the hon. Gentleman will have the opportunity of voting for this afternoon, are very powerful inducements to encourage new industrial development and the modernisation of existing industry in the Dearne Valley.

Will the Minister not only quickly find a tenant for this factory, which will be completed very soon, but arrange for another advance factory to be built in my area? Second, will he consider making the area a special development district? Third, will he give serious thought to making a financial grant towards the building of a new canal bridge at Swinton, which would open up a quite large area for industrial development?

Industrial development certificates are generally freely available in the Dearne Valley. I think that meets the hon. Gentleman's second point. On his first point, I assure him that we are concerned to find tenants for the factory. On the third point, he will, I think, have to put a Question to another of my hon. Friends.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the amount of royalties paid to the Exchequer on North Sea supplies of natural gas for the year 1970–71 compares with royalties for 1969–70.

Royalties were paid to the Exchequer in round figures of £3.4 million for 1970–71, compared with £1£5 million for 1969–70.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider that the Government are getting a fair return on North Sea gas? When the allocation of area blocks is being determined, will he make it possible for the nationalised industries also to be partners in this scheme? Is he aware that, at the time of the last allocation, many expert economists in this country thought that the Government allowed them to go at give-away prices, a most unfair and quite disgraceful practice?

The policy which all Governments have maintained is to ensure the opening up of discoveries in the North Sea as quickly as possible. This policy is pursued in order to benefit both consumers and the industry. I am certain that that is what the hon. Gentleman himself wants.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he had before the bid for British Lion Films' properties was accepted; what advice he gave through the National Film Finance Corporation and received from the film trade unions to what extent the original guarantees given in relation to disposal have been adhered to; and what request he has made to ensure that the Government investment and the profit from it is being reapplied to promote the interest of the British film industry.

While I thank the hon. Gentleman for his letter to my right hon. Friend on 5th May, I am sorry that I have nothing further to add at this moment to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. Gorst) on 18th May.

In spite of that stalling reply, did not the Prime Minister himself pladge in 1964 that Shepperton would never be sold off to property speculators and should not the £3 million of profit arising from the sell-out to Barclay Securities, entrepreneurs only marginally concerned with film production, go to the National Film Finance Corporation and not into the pockets of the directors of British Lion?

The hon. Gentleman should, perhaps, consider the criteria necessary in considering this whole matter. As these are fairly detailed—] am sorry to have to refer him elsewhere—I suggest that he turns to the Written Answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) last Friday, 19th May. The criteria are there spelled out in full.

Will my hon. Friend agree, however, that most, if not all, of the original British Lion losses have been recovered through the profits earned by the efforts of the directors of British Lion—that is to say, those who were directors both before and after the sale of the company in 1964? Second, will he agree that it would be extremely unwise and undesirable far any profit which may have been made to be confiscated by some mean policy such as is suggested by hon. Members opposite?

We want to see benefit to the film industry and through the proper development of the site. The NFFC is now in consultation with British Lion.

In view of the Prime Minister's statement when he was the responsible Minister in 1964, to which my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) referred, as the forecast which my hon. Friend made at that time that this might happen has now been fulfilled, and in view of the public investment involved and the requirement to safeguard the industry and the interests of the unions, together with the clear certainty that land values have played some part in this deal, do not the Government have to say rather more than just refer us to a Written Answer?

The right hon. Gentleman ought to know that I was referring to a long and detailed Written Answer. I am certain that the House would have been annoyed if I had read it all out. The criteria are stated clearly there, and the right hon. Gentleman himself knows what they are.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the progress made regarding the review of investment in the shipbuilding industry.

Investment in the shipbuilding industry is one of the items to be examined in the long-term appraisal of the industry which is being carried out by the Department.

Will the Minister try to expedite that inquiry? Will he take it that some of us are disturbed that substantial aid is being given to the shipbuilding industry but it is going largely to the more inefficient firms, and efficient concerns such as those on the Wear at Sunderland are now most anxious lest they should lose the opportunity of having Government assistance?

I at once accept what the right hon. Gentleman asks: we want to pursue the inquiry as expeditiously as possible. It is our wish to ensure that the Government's plans for selective assistance to industry, contained in the Industry Bill just introduced, shall apply toeveryone and that the efficient side of industry should not be left out.

asked the Attorney-General when he expects to receive the report of the committee dealing with the law of contempt.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the law of contempt; and what plans he now has to seek to amend it.

The report of Lord Justice Phillimore's Committee is expected to be ready in about nine months' time. I appreciate the interest of hon. Members in this branch of the law, and the committee also is aware of it, But the subject is complex and has never been examined before, and the Government believe that it would be advisable to wait until the report is available before deciding upon any amendment to the law.

Does not the Attorney-General realise that this matter cannot brook of nine months' delay and that, in so far as it relates to the activities of the National Industrial Relations Court, it is one of great urgency? Is he not aware that Sir John Donaldson himself indicated that it was not simply a court of law, so that inhibitions on expressions of opinion about the activities of that court, which are necessary at the present time, constitute a great danger to democracy?

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is not confusing matters in this House with the law of contempt, which relates to matters outside the House. It is a court of record like any other, and the present law regarding contempt applies to it at the moment.

But does not the manner in which the law of contempt is being applied to the National Industrial Relations Court constitute one of the most serious threats to freedom of speech and freedom of expression for many years? Is it not manifestly absurd that newspapers and broadcasting authorities should not be permitted to report hostile or other comment by trade unionists and others for fear of having the law of contempt invoked against them? Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that the law of contempt is a totally inappropriate law in regard to industrial relations matters?

I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman has not recollected that the law of contempt is that one should not publish what would tend to prejudice current or pending proceedings, and one prejudices such proceedings, as the present law stands, by in any way attempting to inhibit persons from giving evidence. It is very unlikely that the court, constituted in this form, would itself be prejudiced, but witnesses and parties may be.

There is considerable public concern about the aspect of the matter to which my hon. Friends have referred. I am aware of the wide range of matters covered by the inquiry but, in the circumstances, will the Attorney-General consider inviting Lord Justice Phillimore to make an interim report upon this particular and special aspect of the problem, which is causing great concern in Fleet Street and among the public at large?

I will readily receive any representations which are made to the effect that there is such concern in Fleet Street on this matter. It is important that the law generally should be got right, and the Lord Justice Phillimore's Committee has a great deal to do; the law is complex, and its deliberations will cover all the different courts. I shall, however, consider any representations which are sent to me from Fleet Street that there are difficulties now with regard to this court.

Did not an absurd situation develop when a union had to ask permission to discuss a certain item related to its claim because that claim was the matter of an appeal at the time the union's conference was in existence? Is it not absurd that the trade union movement, quite apart from the Press, radio and television, should be in this situation when dealing with matters of industrial relations which I and my hon. Friends believe are not appropriate to take to law?

I should not have thought there were real difficulties. The proceedings of the National Industrial Relations Court and appeals therefrom seem to have been dealt with very expeditiously and the limits under the present law to discussion between first instance and appeal are very broad indeed. I should not have thought there was the difficulty to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Attorney-General what further steps he is now taking to reduce administrative delays at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Arrangements have been made for the provision of additional typists for Chancery work, and for an immediate study of the services provided to departments of the Supreme Court by the Scrivenery Department.

I thank the Attorney-General for that reply, but is he aware that a reply which he gave me recently concerning delays in the Chancery Division is hopelessly inaccurate? It takes many weeks for orders to be drawn up in that division at the moment. What hope does he have of reducing the delay by the number of additional typing staff that are to be employed?

I am sorry about the reply which was given to the hon. Gentleman which he says was inaccurate. It set out the normal time taken but there are bound to be exceptions. If he will give me examples I will see that they are looked into. One of the problems has arisen over the temporary removal during renovations to the east wing. There is a study at the moment and additional typists are being provided for the Chancery Master.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will arrange a ceremony on 23rd June to commemorate the bicentenary of the judgment of Lord Mansfield in Somerset's case.

It is not the practice to arrange official ceremonies to commemorate famous judgments.

Would the Attorney-General at least seize the opportunity to explain to the House that this was the case which stated that the English law does not recognise slavery? Is it not worth making an exception for the declaration which established that those present in this country under the protection of the common law are free and first-class citizens—or would the Attorney-General's ministerial colleagues dealing with immigration and industrial relations be reluctant to be reminded of this?

I did not refer to the particular subject matter of this famous judgment as I thought it more appropriate for the hon. and learned Gentleman who asked the Question to refer to it in his supplementary question. Of course, this is one of the most famous judgments that has ever been given by an English judge in an English court. I certainly appreciate its lasting value and importance.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the average time taken for a court to meet and issue its order after receipt of an application by a plaintiff, how long on average before a decision is given, and how long the plaintiff has to wait for the Appeal Court to meet and issue its findings on appeal following a court's order.

An average figure would not be meaningful and is in any event not available since the time taken can vary from a matter of an hour or two from the initiation of process to a much longer period of time, dependent upon the issue, the diligence of the parties, the urgency of the matter in dispute and the nature of the relief sought.

Is the Attorney-General not aware, as everyone else is, that these cases can and do take months and months? Would he perhaps consider referring the whole question to the National Industrial Relations Court to see whether the lawyers, who appear to be working by their rule book, are acting correctly or if it might be as well to have a decision from the court to see whether we could ask the lawyers to expedite their activities in the way that the railwaymen were asked?

There is an estimated waiting time of about six to eight weeks between a defended Queen's Bench action being certified as being ready for trial and the actual hearing. I should not have thought that was a particularly lengthy time. It has always been the case that certain cases in certain circumstances can be and are expedited, and this is what happened in the case to which the hon. Gentleman has referred.

Will the Attorney-General inform the House when, if ever, a trial in this country has begun at 8.30 on a Saturday night and when, if ever, the Court of Appeal has sat on a Sunday?

It is not unusual, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows, for judges to consider matters which are brought before them at different times and in different places. It often happens in vacation business. As for this particular application and the emergency procedures, I should remind the right hon. and learned Gentleman that in this instance the appeal was by the unions and the arrangements as to the time and date, fixed by the Court of Appeal, were made after consultation with the unions' legal advisers.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated date, details of the number of cases where a court has sat within a period of 48 hours of plaintiff's application for an order, and where the Appeal Court has met within 24 hours of the result of such an application; and whether he will take action to enable all courts to deal with cases on such a basis.

Statistics are not kept of the information for which the hon. Member has asked. Where time is of the essence, special arrangements are made to expedite hearing of applications and appeals. It is not desirable to accord all cases an equal degree of priority.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Member for West Ham, South (Sir Elwyn Jones) has stolen my thunder on this matter by his supplementary question on the previous Question. Why is it that when it suits the Government the courts can work quickly? Why was it that in this particular case the court was able to meet within a few hours but that on matters relating to poor old people who in some cases have been waiting for years no action can be taken by the Attorney-General or the Government to get the courts cracking?

I sympathise with the hon. Gentleman on the first part of his supplementary question. I anticipated that this matter might arise more on this Question than on the previous Question. But when certain matters arise, for instance relating to injunctions or habeas corpus, the courts sit immediately and the parties will go from the court of first instance directly to the Court of Appeal. This has happened and does happen. It is the decision of the court and not of the Government and the court, wholly independent of the Government, makes up its own mind and takes into account when expediting matters or not the consequences to the person or persons involved.

You do not even believe that yourself.

Would the Attorney-General agree that it is highly undesirable that the High Court of Justice should be so blatantly used as an instrument of Government policy?

I do not agree. The hon. and learned Gentleman totally distorts the position of the court and the position of the law.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that most people will have considered this special procedure not as something which would have suited the Government but as something for the convenience of hundreds of thousands of railway travellers?

I wholly agree with my hon. Friend. This is and has been the general reaction to the emergency sittings of these courts.

There was very substantial criticism in the Court of Appeal of the haste with which this matter was brought forward. Would the Attorney- General consider whether this kind of haste should be adopted in future in matters which have to be very carefully prepared?

The hon. and learned Gentleman should look again at the judgments in the Court of Appeal. The sitting and the time for sitting by the Court of Appeal was, as I have said. fixed by the Court of Appeal after the union appellants' legal advisers had spoken with the court. The comments were directed towards the original hearing which was on Thursday, 11 th May.