asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the future of the Transport Holding Company.

With the completion of the sale of Cooks earlier in the year the Transport Holding Company has disposed of all its interests. The way is now clear for its dissolution.The National Freight Corporation will be made residuary legatee of all the property, rights and liabilities of the Transport Holding Company.I intend to make the necessary order under Section 53 of the Transport Act, 1968, as amended by the Transport Holding Company Act, 1972, on or about 31st March. 1973. The chairman and all the other directors of the Transport Holding Company have agreed to serve until then.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any payment has yet been made to International Computers Limited following the Minister for Industrial Development's announcement, on 3rd July, of £14·2 million support for the company; and if he will make a statement.

The first instalment of £3·4 million was paid to the company on 29th September and was provided out of the Contingencies Fund. I expect to advance approximately £8·8 million in all to the company during the current financial year, and Supplementary Estimates for this purpose will be put before Parliament in due course. As I announced on 3rd July, it is intended that the Government's investment, which is to enable the company to maintain the momentum of its research and development programme, will be recovered by way of a royalty on subsequent sales or levy on profits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines for industrial development boards recently published.

Copies are available in the Library.