asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Great Britain's fisheries dispute with Iceland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement upon his discussions with the Icelandic Foreign Minister regarding the claim to extend fishing limits to 50 miles; what is the present position in waters off Iceland; and what action he is taking to protect the interests and welfare of British deep-sea fleet fishing in those waters.

There is nothing I can add at present to what I told the House in my statement on 19th October.—[Vol. 843, c. 458–63.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give for the longest period of time the total number of rules, regulations, orders, etc., issued by the European Economic Community which will in any way affect Great Britain.

The number is approximately 1,900.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek restitution and compensation for the confiscation of property of all those British nationals of whatever origin summarily expelled from Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ugandan Government to treat Asians with British passports with humanity and to allow them to remove from Uganda their personal property and possessions or its equivalent value.

General Amin, in a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has said that it is not Uganda's intention to confiscate the assets of those expelled. If it is clear after 8th November that satisfactory arrangements for compensation are not being made, I will certainly take this up with the Uganda Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to convene a meeting of members of the Commonwealth in order to discuss the plight of Ugandan Asians and with a view to dismissing Uganda from the Commonwealth.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Normanton).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give the reasons for the change in the Government's declared policy of only assisting those Ugandan Asians who can produce British passports to include stateless Asians and others without British passports; how many additional immigrants will be admitted under this new arrangement; and whether all stateless persons with or without British passports will now be able to claim admission into Great Britain.

There has been no change of policy. As my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, said on 18th October, Her Majesty's Government have made it clear that they do not accept responsibility for stateless Asians in Uganda. The Government have decided that passports may be granted to Asians who had acquired Ugandan citizenship but whose renunciation of United Kingdom citizenship was registered too late for them to retain Ugandan citizenship. It is expected that up to 600 heads of families will be entitled to apply for United Kingdom passports under this arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he can give an assurance that the rate he is now applying regarding the admission into Great Britain of Ugandan Asians who failed to apply, or wrongly applied, for their British passports, and therefore became stateless persons or non-British citizens, will apply to all stateless persons or others in a similar situation now, or in the future, so far as these Ugandan citizens are concerned.

The Ugandan Asians who acquired Ugandan citizenship after independence and lost it because they failed effectively to renounce their United Kingdom citizenship in time, did not lose their United Kingdom citizenship. They are not stateless, and the procedures regulating their admission into the United Kingdom are not therefore relevant to those governing the admission of stateless persons. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made it clear in his statement on 18th October that we cannot and do not intend to admit any stateless Asians from Uganda.—[Vol. 843, c. 261–75.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken, or proposed to be taken, to recoup from Uganda the expenses to which Great Britain has been, is being, and will be put by reason of the expulsion of Ugandan Asians and their reception in Great Britain.

I would refer my right hon. and learned Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave to his supplementary question on 18th October.—[Vol. 843, c. 261–75.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the continuance of sanctions against Rhodesia.

I have made it clear on a number of occasions that during the period of reflection in Rhodesia, Her Majesty's Government would maintain the status quo, including sanctions. We shall be debating this subject next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by his Department in regard to Rhodesian participation in the Olympic Games.

As I told the House on 24th July, we responded to inquiries from the Federal German Government by pointing out the possible applicability of certain Security Council Resolutions. We made no representations to the International Olympic Committee.—[Vol. 841, c. 206.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the States referred to in the Security Council resolution of 28th July which have failed to comply with the provisions of the Security Council sanctions and other resolutions on Southern Rhodesia contrary to their obligations under Article 25 of the Charter of the United Nations; and what consequences are provided in the Charter for breach of its provisions.

No. Security Council Resolution No. 318 did not name any States.Article 6 provides for possible action against a member which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the Charter, but there is no provision in the Charter for penalties in the event of individual breaches of obligations under Article 25.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent efforts he has made to achieve a settlement with Rhodesia.

I made it clear after the Pearce Report was announced that Her Majesty's Government hoped there would be a period of reflection inside Rhodesia during which the Rhodesians themselves could seek to reconcile their differences. We should not begrudge them time. Private efforts have been made recently to initiate a dialogue between the races and we welcome such developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the High Commission in Lusaka has taken to follow up the acknowledgment received from the Zambian authorities concerning Mr. Mansfield Brown's claim for terminal benefits.

The British High Commission has been asking the Zambian authorities to recalculate the moneys due to Mr. Mansfield Brown. They recently agreed to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether progress has been made towards restoring diplomatic and trade relations with Albania.

The position remains as stated in my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 24th April.—[Vol. 835, c. 175.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been given in the last six months to Bangladesh.

In the last six months the British Government have pledged £9 million for relief in Bangladesh. This brings the total relief contribution to £12 million, and is in addition to the loans of £4·8 million which were signed last February. We are also providing two helicopters for relief operations, and we have chartered a helicopter, which is now operating in Bangladesh and which will remain there until the first helicopter is delivered. We have provided a further £100,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross to assist it in its operations in the whole of the sub-continent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent official visit by the Minister of State for the Overseas Development Administration to Botswana.

The object of my six-day visit to Botswana was to acquaint myself with the country; to discuss with His Excellency the President, the Vice-President, Ministers and officials Botswana's development aims and problems; and to meet people concerned with the British aid programme there. I was able to visit the Orapa diamond mine, the Selibe-Pikwe copper-nickel developments (the Shashe project), the Botswana Meat Commission at Lobatse, the Geological Survey headquarters, the Agricultural Research Station and other centres of interest. I was able to see something of the main towns of Gaborone, Francis-town and Lobatse, to attend the laying of the foundation stone of the Botswana campus of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, and to be present at the university's annual graduation ceremony.I think that my visit to Botswana, which was part of a tour including also visits to Lesotho and Swaziland, was a useful preparation for talks to be held shortly in London between the Botswana and British Governments, at which the level of British development aid for the three years 1973–74 to 1975–76 will be negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has make in respect of the damage to the British Embassy at Tripoli; and whether compensation has been received and an apology recorded.

On 19th August formal protests were made to the Libyan Authorities here and in Tripoli. I reinforced these with a personal message to the Libyan Foreign Minister. The Libyan Ambassador expressed his personal regret, but no formal apology or offer of compensation has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what terms Her Majesty's Government publishes and distributes United Nations publicity material and literature; what is the cost to public funds; and to what extent the Government enlists the co-operation of the United Nations Association for the purpose.

There is no expenditure by Her Majesty's Government on distribution of material produced by the United Nations. Her Majesty's Stationery Office are sole agents for the sale of United Nations publications in Britain; a discount is granted on this material, however, which covers the costs of sale.The Central Office of Information and Her Majesty's Stationery Office spent a total of £4,460 last year on the production and distribution of information material on the United Nations, mainly United Nations Day leaflets, United Nations Day posters and United Nations Second Development Decade posters. Distribution of the leaflets and posters is carried out largely by the United Nations Association, which co-operates for this purpose with the Central Office of Information regional offices.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also transmits copies of all United Nations documents to the House of Commons Library, at negligible cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to initiate a boycott of selective services such as airlines in respect of countries actively harbouring or encouraging the activities of those guilty of international piracy and terrorism abroad.

We are playing an active part in the International Civil Aviation Organisation in seeking agreement on a framework for effective international action, including the suspension of air services, in cases involving violence against civil aviation. The essence of success of any such action lies in its collective application by the international community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take whatever action is open to him to combat the growing incidence of terrorist activities against persons in countries not involved in war or conflict and against citizens of neutral states visiting those involved.

Yes. The danger to innocent people is one of the most odious aspects of terrorism and reprisals against terrorism. As I stated in my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison), international action to curb terrorism is now under consideration at the United Nations and we shall play our full part. Action, to be effective, must be collective, but the hon. Member may rest assured that I shall take all action open to me to stop this violence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Japanese Government about the latter's scheme of generalised preferences so far as it affects Hong Kong.

The Japanese Government in response to our representations have undertaken to reconsider this question. During his visit to Japan last month my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed the matter further with the Japanese Prime Minister. Mr. Tanaka agreed then that the exceptions list for Hong Kong should be re-examined on the occasion of the overall review of the Japanese scheme which is to be conducted in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, having regard to the release in France of Frazeh Khelfa, accused of the attempted murder of the Jordanian Ambassador in London, he will seek to revise the Anglo-French extradition treaty of 1876.

No. A proposal to renegotiate the treaty having as its purpose a revision of the nature of offences of a political character would be unlikely to be fruitful.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Mrs. Margaret Morgan, a British subject who became stranded in New York, was given no assistance by his Department; and whether he will arrange to reimburse the air fare and other expenses incurred in her return to Great Britain.

British subjects stranded abroad are advised that public funds may be lent (against a signed undertaking to repay) for repatriation only if they have no money and are unable to raise enough from friends, relations or banks, etc. The answer to the second part of the hon. Member's Question is therefore No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now protest to the Soviet authorities concerning the 20 hour incarceration of Moscow Jewish scientist Vladimir Slepak in a cement box 3 feet by 18 inches with spiked walls, the same being contrary to civilised usage of international convention.

We have no independent information on this case, and it would not be appropriate for us to make representations to a foreign Government on behalf of one of its own citizens, however distressing the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the threat to world peace, he will initiate international action in the Security Council designed to persuade the Government of Israel to desist from offensive action against neighbouring countries and to encourage her to seek the assistance of the United Nations in combating international piracy and terrorism.

We have made it clear to the Government of Israel that we do not think that military action against her neighbours serves the cause of a final settlement of the Arab-Israel dispute. We take the view, however, that it is for the Government or Governments primarily concerned to decide whether to have recourse to the Security Council. We have also made it plain that we consider the United Nations an appropriate forum in which to discuss measures to combat international terrorism whatever its source.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations have taken place with producers regarding consistency in the quantity marking of washing powders and detergents in preparation for metric conversion.

Officials of the Department have had consultations with the trade association with a view to a greater measure of standardisation. We have also been in close touch with international bodies working in this field, notably the European Committee for Standardisation. Further discussions with consumer bodies are expected shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give, for each of the last six years, the numbers of Commonwealth immigrants who have applied for assisted passages home and the number of assisted passages granted.

The following is the available information in regard to families repatriated under arrangements made by the Supplementary Benefits Commission:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the measures taken by his Department to establish the need for pre-school playgroups places throughout England and Wales; and whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the estimated need and of the number of places available in each of the 20 largest county boroughs and cities of England and Wales outside London.

My right hon. and learned Friend and I have recently asked Welsh and English local authorities to submit to us by 28th February, 1973, their plans for the development of the personal social services, including playgroups, over the next ten years after assessing the needs to be met. The comparisons requested in the second half of the Question for a current period could not be made without a special inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that overweight vehicles arriving at the port of Newhaven have to use inadequate roads before their weights can be checked; and if he will install a weighbridge at Newhaven.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local housing authorities have so far sought dispensation from making the full £1 rent increase for their tenants on 1st October; in each case, what level of increase was regarded by each respective local authority as adequate to achieve a fair rent; and what decision he himself imposed about the extent of the rent increase required.

The following table lists the authorities in England who have sought a direction under Section 62(4) of the Housing Finance Act, 1972, to increase rents from 1st October, 1972, by a smaller average amount than the Act requires (which in some cases is less than £1); the amount of the average increase which each authority proposed; and the amount of the average increase contained in the direction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reason he has authorised the double white lines on the A6 road leading into Market Harborough from Desborough.

These lines have not been authorised, and they are being altered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons, not belonging to the United Kingdom, have been reported as desertting ships in English or Welsh ports in 1971, and in 1972 to the latest convenient date; to what countries they are believed to belong; and how many have been located.

During the 12 months to 30th September, 1971, from the 1,028,159 foreign and Commonwealth members of ships' crews calling at United Kingdom ports 308 foreign and 274 Commonwealth seamen deserters were reported. A total of 280 foreign and 111 Commonwealth seamen were traced. The numbers traced do not necessarily relate to seamen reported as deserting during the period. Details of nationality are given in the tables below. During the nine months ended 30th June, 1972, 244 foreign and 190 Commonwealth seamen deserters were reported, and 243 foreign and 95 Commonwealth seamen deserters were traced. Details of nationality are not yet available for this period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities have indicated that they will not accept any Ugandan Asians; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities recognise that they have no power to accept or refuse anyone who wishes to reside in their areas. Some 300 housing authorities have so far offered a total of about 1,500 homes to the Uganda Resettlement Board; many others are still considering the board's request for accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, up to and including Friday, 20th October, 1972, what was the total number of Ugandan Asians admitted into the United Kingdom since the action taken by the Ugandan Government to expel these citizens; how many of these were children; where they have been settled or temporarily transferred; and how many have gone to the London Borough of Newham.

The number admitted up to 20th October was just under 17,500. I shall not be able to say for a few days how many of these were children but will write to the hon. Member as soon as I have this information.More than half of those admitted have been accommodated in the Uganda Resettlement Board's resettlement centres: and most of the remainder have made private arrangements in various parts of the country. On the basis of intentions notified to them by individual refugees, the Uganda Resettlement Board estimate that rather more than 200 have gone to the London Borough of Newham.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated aggregate gain that would accrue per year to those with incomes below £1,000 a year and to those, respectively, in each successive £1,000 income bracket above the initial £1,000 per year, on the basis of introducing tax credits now, at the levels listed in the Green Paper.

The aggregate gain for those below £1,000 a year would be £150 million. Other figures are not available in the form the hon. Member wants, but round estimates for broader income groups are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the numbers of tax inspectors at the latest available date.

At 2nd October, 1972, there were 5,323.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of, respectively, direct and portfolio investment by residents of the United Kingdom in the six member countries of the European Economic Community in the first two quarters of 1972 and in the corresponding period in 1971 and 1970.

The following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of inward investment in the United Kingdom by residents of the six member countries of the European Economic Community in the first two quarters of 1972 and in the corresponding period in 1971 and 1970.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are employed in Wales.

At 1st January, 1972, there were 19,865 non-industrial civil servants employed in Wales and Monmouthshire.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) how many new Civil Service jobs have been created in Wales since June, 1970;(2) what steps he is taking to increase the number of Civil Service posts in Wales.

Information is not available in precisely this form, but in the period April, 1970, to April, 1972, 1,230 jobs were created in Wales under the policies of dispersal and the setting up of new offices away from London wherever possible, and 8,500 more are to be set up there under existing plans over the next few years. In addition, Wales, along with other parts of the country, is being considered as a possible receiving area for work which may be dispersed from London as a result of the current location review. I can give no assurances at this stage as to where work might go.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement about the review of the training of Army officers.

A reviewing body, to be known as the Committee on Army Regular Officer Training, has been appointed and will shortly be holding its first meeting.The Committee will be under the chairmanship of Lieutenant-General Sir Allan Taylor and the members will be Sir Cyril English of the City and Guilds of London Institute, Dr. P. S. Haskell of Portsmouth Polytechnic, the Deputy Under-Secretary of State (Army), the Vice-Adjutant-General and the Director of Army Training.The Committee's task will be to review, and to make recommendations on, the pattern of officer education and training from first commissioning of the young man of 18 to the staff College graduate of about 37 years of age and will include a review of the pattern of officers' careers.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many craft apprentices are being trained in Rosyth Dockyard from other Ministry of Defence, Navy, establishments; and if he will give the details.

There are at present 53 at various stages of training:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give figures for full-time and part-time pupils in maintained, direct grant, recognised independent and other independent nursery schools for each local education authority in England and Wales.

The information is as follows: