asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the consequences for the steel industry in Wales following the Government's statement on the future of the British steel industry.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will initiate a departmental study into the future prospects and strategy for the Welsh economy in the next five years.

These matters are kept under continuous review and a special study is not called for at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now take steps to support the control of land sale prices in Wales in order to ensure that the house purchaser is aware of the fixed house price when he lodges his deposit as part of the house purchase price.

No. In cooperation with local authorities my right hon. Friend is already taking steps to increase the supply of land for housing. This will be more effective in stabilising prices than direct controls would be. In any case land availability is by no means the only factor determining house prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure that the Forestry Commission in Wales has an adequate supply of the chemical that is being used to treat trees that have been affected by Dutch Elm disease; and if he will make a statement.

The hon. Member is presumably referring to the treatment of elm disease by injecting affected trees with a systematic fungicide. This treatment is still experimental and the Forestry Commission are carrying out a wide range of tests on it this year. It is too early to say how effective it will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in how many of the subjects for which he bears responsibility there are separate Welsh estimates and statistics, and in how many there are not.

Separate Welsh estimates and statistics are available in all fields where they are considered necessary for administrative purposes and where it is practicable to produce them. A very wide range of such figures are published in the annual Digest of Welsh Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what relation the figure of 10,925 houses under construction in Wales in the private sector 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 13½ per cent. increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent he has estimated the inflow of industrial investment in Wales should Great Britain join the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

I am confident that industrial investment in Wales, and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, will be increased as a consequence of entry into the European Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress Rolls-Royce is making on research and development for the more powerful version of the RB211 which will be needed to power the longer range Tri-Star now being developed by Lockheed.

Rolls Royce (1971) Ltd. carried out some research work in order to prepare the proposals for funding an up-rated RB211 which it recently sent me; and is continuing with similar work pending a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now make a further statement on the Mediator system of air traffic control.

This is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to providing that gas and electricity meters should be read by the same official.

As my hon. and gallant Friend will realise this is a matter which has caused concern and considerable interest. Feasibility studies two years ago led to the conclusion that the organisational problems and the costs involved would outweigh the likely benefits. However in order to ensure that those decisions can still be justified, I am myself looking into this problem again.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a detailed breakdown of expenditure to date on the Concorde project in Great Britain, in France and in other countries.

Expenditure on development up to 30th April, 1972, in the United Kingdom has been £335 million and in France £305 million. Of this amount, £27 million has been in third countries. On production £27 million has been spent so far in the United Kingdom, and a similar amount in France. Some £2 million of this production expenditure is estimated to have been spent in third countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much will be included in the price of each Concorde aircraft as a contribution to research and development costs.

An element for this purpose will be included, but it would not be in the best commercial interests of the project to give further details of the pricing formula.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received a copy of the petition of the United Kingdom Federation Against Aircraft Nuisance to the European Commission of Human Rights submitting that Sections 40 and 41 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1949, deprive individual citizens of legal remedy against aircraft nuisance; and what action he is taking to restore this right to citizens of the United Kingdom.

A copy of the petition has been received. As the petition may be referred to the Government by the European Commission on Human Rights it would be inappropriate at present for me to add anything to the answer given to the hon. Member on 20th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to alleviate the nuisance of aircraft noise over Chelsea, in particular by alternating the use of the runways at London Heathrow Airport.

Runway alternation for westerly landings has been in force at Heathrow since 10th January this year subject, unavoidably, to operational conditions. Investigation of alternative approach techniques which might assist in reducing disturbance from landing aircraft, affecting Chelsea and other areas, is continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what inducement he proposes to give to commercial firms and service industry generally to build in the development areas; and whether he proposes an inducement to replace the offer of rent-free accommodation to such firms and industry in these areas.

The powers sought in the Industry Bill to provide selective assistance, and the powers to provide land and buildings under the Local Employment Act, could be used to help service industry projects in appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what inquiries he has had from prospective tenants for vacant advance factories on the Crook and Meadowfield industrial estates; and what steps he is taking to provide further male employment in the West Durham area.

Since November, 1970, the two Crook factories have been suggested to seven firms and the Meadowfield factory to one firm. We will continue to do all we can to find suitable occupants. However, the main and immediate hope for the area must be in the working through of the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in Cmnd. 4942.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to promote Orders in Council under Sections 1(6) and 2(3) of the Uniform Laws on International Sales Act, 1967, following sufficient ratification of The Hague Conventions of 1964 on these topics, in time to bring the relative provisions of the Act into force on 18th and 23rd August, 1972, when the Conventions come into effect internationally.

I am arranging for an Order to be made under the Act which will bring the laws into operation in the United Kingdom, including Scotland, on 18th August.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that, following the changes of ownership in British Lion Films Limited, there will be adequate film studio facilities to meet the British film industry's requirements in the forseeable future; and if he will make a statement.

A change in the ownership of British Lion would not in itself affect the availability of film studio facilities. I refer my hon. Friend to my replies to him on 18th May.—[Vol. 837, c. 204–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now appoint through the National Film Finance Corporation a Government director, to replace Sir Leslie Robinson who retired on 30th September, 1970, to supervise the special Government share in British Lion Films Limited and to ensure that the Shepperton Film Studios continue to be used for the purpose of filmmaking in accordance with the conditions of sale in 1964.

The right to appoint a Director to the Board of British Lion Films Ltd. rests with the National Film Finance Corporation. The Corporation will no doubt exercise the right if they think it desirable to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and industry what variations he has authorised the National Film Finance Corporation to make in the conditions of sale by Her Majesty's Government of British Lion Films Limited to the purchasing consortium as reported to Parliament on 4th February, 1964.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what request he has received through the National Film Finance Corporation from British Lion Films Limited to authorise the sale of the Shepperton Film Studios to a financial group with no previous experience of the film industry; and what undertaking this group has given to maintain film production as a major activity at the Shepperton Film Studios, in accordance with the original conditions of sale by Her Majesty's Government to British Lion Films Limited.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18th May in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. Gorst).—[Vol. 83, c. 205.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the continuing use of the Shepperton Film Studios for film making was a criterion in the valuation at £1½ million by Sir William Lawson of British Lion Films Limited's assets in 1964, in view of the present valuation of £5½ million.

The 1964 valuation of British Lion's interest in Shepperton Studios Limited was based on the then permitted user of the property. This was for film studio and ancillary purposes and/or warehousing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what value he has placed on the Government's special share in British Lion Films Limited in connection with its sale to Barclay Securities Limited.

The Special Preference Share held by the National Film Finance Corporation in British Lion Films Ltd. has a nominal value of £1. The share has not been sold.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the public interest, and the former connection of the Government with the British Lion Film Corporation, he will seek, in the light of the undertakings given by the National Film Finance Corporation, to prevent this company being sold to private property speculators or to ensure that the profits from the sale are paid to the Treasury.

I refer the hon. Member to replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. Gorst) on 18th May.—[Vol. 837, c. 204–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he is having with the aircraft industry about the Marshall Report: and if he will make a statement.

None. I am, of course, in touch with leaders of the industry on a broad range of issues of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the public acts which enable the Government to acquire share capital in private companies in return for loans, grants or assistance from public funds.

I am enabled to acquire share capital in private companies under the following Acts:—

• Industry Act, 1971,
• Rolls Royce (Purchase) Act, 1971,
• Atomic Energy Authority Act, 1971 and
• The Local Employment Act, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he has completed his study of the North-West Industrial Development Association's report on the problem of out-dated industrial premises; and if he will make a statement;(2) what studies his Department have made of the relationship between industrial productivity and the age of industrial property.

Yes, and I am satisfied that productivity may be impaired by out-dated buildings. One of the objects of the proposal now before the House to make regional development grant available for industrial building throughout the Assisted Areas is to encourage the modernisation and renewal of out-dated buildings so as to promote greater efficiency, competitiveness, and stable employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the total exports, for the last 10 years, of the National Coal Board.

Exports by the National Coal Board totalled 38 million tons over the 10 years to March, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what cases have been brought to his notice of mineral exploration within the national parks for which no prior planning permission was sought.

I am aware of nine cases involving preliminary geophysical or geochemical work where planning permission has not been sought. I understand that in all these cases local planning officers have been informed of the work being done and of the areas of operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many authorised explorations for copper, tin, gold, zinc, lead, fluorspar, and nickel, respectively, are currently proceeding within the area of the national parks; and how many of these have been assisted under the Mineral Exploration Act, 1972.

Sixteen mineral exploration programmes in national parks have been submitted to the Department in accordance with the arrangements for administering the Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act, 1972. No applications for contributions towards the cost of these programmes have yet been received. The breakdown of minerals sought is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to amend the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, to make it illegal to charge more than the advertised price for a package holiday; if he will seek to amend the law to prevent additional charges being made for extras which appeared to be included in the total price; and if he will make a statement.

When the time comes to review the Trade Descriptions Act, we can certainly consider whether express provision regarding these and similar matters should be added, but I have no immediate proposal for legislation on them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has yet received the Inspector's report following the public inquiry resulting from the application of the Central Electricity Generating Board to construct an oil-fired power station at Insworke, Mill-brook; and when he hopes to make his decision on this proposal.

Yes, but I cannot anticipate when a decision will be made. It is a long report which will need careful study and consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the powers to be vested in him in the Industry Bill, he will state the extent of his intention to promote new office projects in the county of Durham.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 15th May in answer to a Question from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Waddington).—[Vol. 837, c. 19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received the information from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding the desire of the English Tourist Board for hotels to be statutorily registered on a classification and prices basis; and whether he will introduce legislation for these purposes.

I have received the information to which the hon. Member refers and am at present considering the proposals sent to me by the English Tourist Board. A decision has not yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent his plans and proposals for a cutback in the output and production of the British steel industry as a result of arrangements with the European Coal and Steel Community on Great Britain's entry into the Common Market will reduce manpower in the steel industry in general and in Middlesbrough in particular.

As I told the hon. Member on 8th May there has been no such arrangement with the Community.—[Vol. 836, c. 915.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, dated 2nd May, regarding the problems of the Steel Industry on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community so far as pricing, distribution points, transport costs, regional policy, charges, the effects of the automobile industry, the shipbuilding industry in general and Harland and Wolff in particular are concerned; and whether he will make a statement on the matters raised therein.

The answer to the first part of the Question is no. In answer to the second part I would refer the hon. Member to the reply of 4th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Cockeram).—[Vol. 836, c. 205–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the British Scrap Federation held on Monday, 15th May; and to what extent discussions ensued on the concern felt by the association at the adverse effects upon the control and loss of British exports on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I have taken note of the Federation's representations on 15th May about ferrous scrap and these covered both short and long-term considerations; these and other relevant representations are being considered urgently. The Federation have stated that, whilst the home market will continue to be the main outlet for British scrap, entry into the EEC will provide greater market opportunities for British scrap merchants and processors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give a detailed list of the employees within his Department who on 12th May had a basic wage of £17·20 or less.

There are about 30 grades employed in my Department which have pay scales with minima below £17·20 a week at the national rate. The numbers of staff involved could not be established without extensive inquiry and at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount of visible trading surplus for that part of 1972 for which figures are now available; and how this figure compares with the amounts of the same period during each of the last four years.

In the first four months of 1972 there was a deficit of £164 million, seasonally adjusted. For earlier corresponding periods figures are: 1968. deficit of £241 million; 1969, deficit of £175 million; 1970, surplus of £78 million; and 1971, deficit of £31 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to find tenants for the empty advance factories at Treherbert and Ynyshir.

The Department directs the attention of all suitable inquirers to these factories. Negotiations are in progress for occupation of one of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in view of the number of interests involved and the complex issues in connection with the evolving of a common commercial policy for textiles within the Community, whether he will give an assurance that he will not reach an agreement with the Commission or Court of Ministers of the European Economic Community before notifying the British textile industry and the House of Commons.

My Department will keep the industry and the House informed on progress towards a common commercial policy for textiles in discussions with the Commission and Member States. The views we put forward will take account of points made by industry and Members of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has discussed with representatives of British industry engaged in the cotton yarns business the Community's attitude regarding the ending of quotas on cotton yarn; what has been their attitude to the Community's liberalisation of imports of these products; and whether he will make a statement.

The Department has held discussions with representatives of the textile industry who are concerned about this. I am not in a position to make a statement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the rule of confidentiality of discussions with the Commission in Brussels ends on the Commission reaching an agreement for submission to the Council of Ministers; and whether he will agree to make an announcement to the House of Commons when agreement has been reached with the Commission about a common Community commercial policy for textiles.

While details of confidential discussions between the Commission and a Member State are not published, the House will have ample opportunity to discuss the issues before the Council of Ministers eventually take final decisions on a common commercial policy for textiles.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether, how and in what way the adoption of Regulation 160/72/EEC of 25th January, 1972, establishing a Community supervision on imports of unwrought lead, other than bullion lead, coming from countries listed in Annex 11 to Regulation (EEC) No. 1025/70, will affect British industry engaged in these activities; and whether he will make a statement.

Regulation 160/72, which expires next January, will not apply in the United Kingdom. Its application by the Six has had no effect on our export trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how and in what way the adoption of Regulation No. 2822/71/EEC of 20th December, 1971, amplifying the provisions of Regulation No. 17 or implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty will affect British industry so far as competition is concerned; and whether he will make a statement.

The Regulation will relieve British firms of the need to notify to the European Commission certain additional categories of agreements which fall within the scope of Article 85 of the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he has refused to supply to the hon. Member for West Ham, North a copy of the Report on the Rolls Razor Company Limited; and whether he will review this matter and make a copy of this report available to the hon. Member.

I consider that the arguments which led me to decide that this report should not be published apply with equal force to the furnishing of copies on request to individual hon. Members or members of the public. These arguments are that it would be improper to give any public currency to a report containing reflections on individuals. after the conclusion of criminal proceedings in which allegations against those individuals have not been proved or have been withdrawn.

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

Hughes asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a statement on the Pearce Commission Report.

I would ask hon. Members to await the statement which my right hon. Friend will be making tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the Government of South Africa why they have expelled the editor of the Witwatersrand University student newspaper, Mr. Mark Douglas-Home, a British subject, of Selkirkshire.

I would refer to the answer by hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 15th May.—[Vol. 837. c. 31.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he is unable to make a special allocation of economic aid to the Sudan to assist measures towards reconciliation of north and south in the present financial year.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 15th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker).—Vol. 837, c. 2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much economic aid was provided to the Sudan in 1970–71 and 1971–72; and upon what projects was it spent.

British economic aid to the Sudan in 1970–71 was £571,000, £175,000 of it in capital aid and £396,000 in technical assistance. The principal items of technical assistance were the provision of training courses in this country (£200,000) and the provision of British personnel in the Sudan £145,000). The capital aid provision covered miscellaneous capital goods.Provisional figures for 1971–72 show that our aid that year was £712,000. £388,000 of this was capital aid and £324,000 technical assistance. All but £50,000 of the capital aid provided was spent on renewing 40 gates at the Sennat Dam. The training of Sudanese personnel and the provision of British personnel cost £188,000 and £92,000 respectively out of the total provision of technical assistance. We also assumed liability for the payment of expatriate pensions previously paid by the Sudanese Government. I estimate that these amounted in 1971–72 to 335,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will increase the financial provisions for emergency relief supplies to South Vietnam to cover the trebling in the number of refugees, following the invasion by the regular forces of North Vietnam, since the original provision was made.

Our contribution of £10,000 worth of supplies for refugee relief was in response to a request from the Vietnamese and was intended only to meet immediate and urgent needs which they themselves had difficulty in dealing with. Reports that I have received indicate that the Government of the Republic of Vietnam now have the refugee supply situation under control.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many graduates admitted to the Diplomatic Service during the past five years had been to Oxford or Cambridge Universities, London University, Manchester University and other universities, respectively.

The breakdown of graduate entrants to the Diplomatic Service who took their first degrees at these five groups of universities is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to give effect to paragraphs 357 to 367 of the Plowden Report in relation to Branch A of the Foreign Service; and how the current figure of recruits compares with the 94 per cent. entry from Oxford and Cambridge and the 5·3 per cent. entry from other universities set out therein.

Since these helpful recommendations were made by Lord Plowden's Committee the Diplomatic Service can record good progress under each of the points of comment. The proportion of officers joining the Administrative Grades in 1971 who attended universities other than Oxford and Cambridge was 47 per cent. as compared with the 5·3 per cent. figure recorded in the Plowden Report. So far as school background goes the proportion of entrants to the Administrative Grades in 1971 coming from LEA-assisted schools was 70 per cent. as compared with 28 per cent. noted in the Plowden Report. There have been six entrants to the Administrative Grades during the past five years with a scientific academic background; the skills they being are very welcome.Fifty graduates have entered the Executive Grades since 1967. The range of work undertaken by these officers has been extended. This encouraging picture of a broadening of the basis of Diplomatic Service graduate entry is largely due to the vigorous efforts made in recent years to extend our recruitment activities throughout British universities on a number of fronts, but the Diplomatic Service must continue to seek the best talent wherever it can be found.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to promote recruitment to the Foreign and Diplomatic Services from the new universities; and how many entrants have been recruited therefrom.

There have been 12 entrants to the Diplomatic Service from the 10 "new" universities whose establishment began with Keele. The Diplomatic Service has taken positive steps in recent years to extend its recruitment activities in the new universities through visits in both directions by representatives of the Service as well as by academic, appointment officers and students, participation in their seminars and sabbatical leave for officers to attend some of these universities. We have noticed an encouraging growth of interest in diplomatic careers among students at these universites.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give a detailed list of the employees within his Department who, on 12th May, had a basic wage of £17·20 or less.

The following table gives the number of staff in question, according to their grades. Some of the staff listed are on pay scales which rise above £17·20 a week:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the implications for future relationships between Great Britain, an enlarged European Economic Community, Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa with special reference to the common currency and common tariff arrangements between Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa; and whether he will make a statement on relevant negotiations between Great Britain and South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho with special reference to commitments which have been made by Great Britain.

Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho have been offered the three possible ways of ordering their relations with the enlarged Community set out in Protocol No. 22 annexed to the Treaty of Accession.The choice of option is entirely for the Governments of the countries concerned. Negotiations for the establishment of the arrangements provided for in Protocol No. 22 will begin as from 1st August, 1973. The terms of this Protocol recognise the need to find appropriate solutions to the specific problems arising from the special circumstances of these three countries, which are in Customs Union with South Africa, if they choose one of the first two options.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the Customs Treaty Series No. 47 (1972) Amendment to the Convention on the Valuation of Goods for Customs Purposes done at Brussels on 15th December, 1950, was made available to Members of Parliament in the English translation; and what action he proposes to take to speed up the publication of such documents in the future.

The Amendment entered into force on 18th April, 1972, and the English and French texts (both equally authentic) were laid before Parliament on 11th May, 1972, and published in the Treaty Series on 12th May, 1972.It is the practice of Her Majesty's Government to lay before Parliament the texts of all Agreements and Amendments thereto signed by the United Kingdom, as soon as possible after signature or adoption. On some occasions there are administrative and technical reasons why such texts cannot be laid and published immediately, but every effort is and will continue to be made to provide Parliament with such information as speedily as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when the English translation of Part 3 of Community Institution Regulation 2533/71/Euratom of 22nd November, 1971, became available to Members of Parliament; and what action he proposes to take to speed up the publication of such documents in the future;(2) when the English translation of Part 2, Commercial Policy, Regulation 160/72/EEC, of 25th January, 1972, became available to Members of Parliament;(3) when the English translation of Part 5, Customs Questions, Regulation 2861/71/EEC, of 20th December, 1971, became available to Members of Parliament; and what action he proposes to take to speed up the publication of such documents in the future.

English texts of the instruments referred to were published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office on 5th May and became available to hon. Members through the Vote Office on that day.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give details of the delegation of Ministers and Members of Parliament who attended the laying of the foundation stone of the new Parliament in Strasbourg of the Council of Europe and the Common Market; and in what way Members of Parliament were chosen for this visit.

The ceremony, which was held on 15th May on the occasion of the 50th Ministerial Meeting of the Council of Europe and the recent meeting of the Consultative Assembly, was attended by the British parliamentary delegation to the Assembly and by myself.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent Great Britain will contribute towards the cost of the new Council of Europe and Common Market Parliament; and in what way the British Parliament will have power to question or reduce any proposed contribution.

The new Council of Europe building is expected to cost FF70 million (approximately £5½ million) of which the British contribution will be 18·96 per cent. or approximately £1 million. The British contribution will be paid as part of Her Majesty's Government's subscription to the Council of Europe, estimates for which will be presented to Parliament for approval in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Ministerial delegation which visited the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in the week commencing Monday, 15th May; who were included in the delegation; what was the purpose of the visit: and what were the costs incurred.

I led the British delegation. This consisted of our Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, his deputy and officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The purpose of the visit was to attend the 50th Ministerial Meeting of the Council of Europe on 15th May. The cost was £440.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factories have been closed in Fife in the last two years; how many are likely to close in the next three months; and how many jobs, male and female, respectively, are involved.

Not all closures are notified to my Department, but according to our records during the two years from 15th May, 1970, to 14th May, 1972, there were 13 closures of establishments engaged in manufacturing industry in Fife, involving 559 jobs for males and 798 jobs for females. Two such closures have been notified as, due to occur during the next three months, from 15th May to 14th August, 1972, involving 165 jobs for males and 42 jobs for females.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the intermediate area of Hull and north Humberside; and what are his future plans for industrial training boards to safeguard the quantity and quality of skill for industries such as engineering and shipbuilding.

Although employers in some areas are having difficulty recruiting in a limited number of skilled occupations, the situation generally is of a surplus of skilled workers. This is the position also in Hull and north Humberside. However, if the hon. Member will let me know of any particular difficulties, my Department will do everything possible to help the employers concerned overcome them. As regards the second part of the Question, the proposals for the future work of industrial training boards and a national training agency set out in "Training for the Future" include activities to maintain the quality and quantity of training for skill in industry and the provision of financial incentives where necessary in key areas. Decisions on these proposals will not be taken until present consultations have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list under individual industrial categories the number of industrial accidents in the Bolton district of the factory inspectorate for 1971.

I am arranging for an analysis to be prepared and sent to my right hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men were wholly unemployed in each of the Edinburgh and Lothian employment exchange areas in March and April, 1972, who last worked in the construction industry: how many were registered as bricklayers, plumbers and pipe fitters, painters, plasterers, slaters, joiners and electricians, respectively; and what were the corresponding figures for March and April in 1971 and 1970.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what the percentage rates of male and female unemployment were in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in April and May, 1972; and what the corresponding rates were in 1970 and 1971.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and women, respectively were wholly unemployed in each of the Edinburgh and Lothian employment exchange areas in April and May, 1972; and what the corresponding figures were in 1970 and 1971.

Following is the information: