asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the oil tanker "Al Badiah" registered in Great Britain and on charter to BP was recently diverted from a British port to Le Havre in France where it discharged its cargo of 208,000 tons of oil.

The destination of this vessel was changed en route in order to meet certain operational requirements, so that another larger vessel could be switched from a foreign destination to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has concluded his inquiries into the affairs of London and Counties Securities Group Limited; and if he will make a statement.

I have decided to appoint inspectors to investigate the affairs of London and County Securities Ltd. under Section 165(b) of the Companies Act 1948 and to report thereon in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The decision to appoint inspectors has been made with the support of the new board of London and County Securities Ltd., and that of the First National Finance Corporation which has assumed responsibility for the management of the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has had discussions with the District Heating Association regarding energy policy and the part that can be played by this association both in the short and long term.

No. There has been no approach from the association on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what general directions he has given to nationalised industries concerning advertising in politically designated publications.

None. Advertising policy is a matter for each industry's own judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what resources are at present committed to research into the development of alternative sources of energy other than oil: and what progress has been made.

The UKAEA is spending £42·5 million in the current year on research and development on nuclear fission reactors, and research in this field also features in the research programme of the CEGB. The major part of the effort is devoted to the prototype fast reactor which is expected to achieve a significant level of power output early in 1974.The United Kingdom is also participating in research on nuclear fusion research being conducted as a European venture. The research has reached the point when a major new research facility is to be designed.Researches on hydrogen from water and on solar energy are also being carried out as European ventures at a total estimated cost to the Community of about £0·9 million in 1973. The research on hydrogen has encompassed the partial evaluation of a number of theoretically possible process routes but the preferable route has yet to be identified. The solar energy project is new in 1973.Elsewhere in the public sector, the National Coal Board has a research project at the laboratory stage on coal liquefaction, and the Electricity Council and British Rail are pressing ahead with laboratory research on improved battery systems for transport purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of gross domestic product has been devoted to investment in plant and machinery in manufacturing industry in, respectively, the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, West Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Japan and Sweden for each year since 1950.

Figures for plant and machinery alone are not obtainable, except possibly at prohibitive cost, for a long run of years or for all countries requested. The table gives total investment in the manufacturing and construction industries for as much of the period requested as is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will have consultations with the North Eastern Gas Board about its experiences of running approximately 400 vehicles on propane gas with a view to making this knowledge more widely available.

I am aware that this fleet of vehicles is being operated successfully on propane gas. Propane gas is a valuable raw material, and its wide use for vehicle propulsion could, at the moment, only be met by reducing supplies to industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was (1) the capital expenditure on land and buildings required in order to move Companies House to Cardiff, (2) the cost of putting the existing files on microfiche, (3) the estimated annual cost of the new system with facilities in London and Cardiff, compared with facilities in London alone as at present, and (4) the number of staff likely to be employed in London and Cardiff, given separately, under the new system, and the number currently employed.

The estimated cost of the buildings to house the Companies Registration Office at Cardiff is £3·5 million of which about £1 million had already been spent at 30th November 1973. The estimated value of the land which was already in Crown ownership when it was decided to disperse is £200,000.My reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost) on 14th November stated that the estimated cost of putting the existing files on microfiche was £800,000. This measure has been planned for some time to improve the service to the public, independently of the decision to transfer work to Cardiff.As stated in the Department's Annual Report "Companies in 1972", the total cost of the facilities at Companies Registration Office in London during 1972 was approximately £1·9 million. This covers cost of staff, common services and accommodation. Comparable figures for the new facilities are not available.865 staff are currently employed; this is below the complement required for current work and by 1976 the increased demands which will be made on the Companies Registration Office are expected to require a staff of approximately 1,100. Separate figures for Cardiff and London cannot be given until my consultations on the facilities which should remain in London have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the liquidation of Kirkdale Haulage, Kirkby, a subsidiary of Consolidated Tin Smelters Limited, and on the action his Department is taking to prevent redundancies of the employees.

Kirkdale Lewis Haulage Limited went into creditors' voluntary liquidation on 6th November 1973. The creditors appointed Mr. M. J. London, of 19 Eastcheap, London E.C.3, as liquidator of the company, and the conduct of the liquidation and the realisation and distribution of the assets are in his hands. I understand from him that he is at present continuing the company's business and has on hand negotiations for a sale as a going concern.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the light of the concern expressed regarding the proposed restrictions coming into force on 1st January 1974 and limiting the right of suitably qualified engineers to achieve chartered status, he will take steps to suspend the coming into force of CEI-sponsored changes to the byelaws.

No. Sir. I have no authority to alter a Privy Council decision taken in 1965 to raise the qualification standards for chartered engineers. Separately I am arranging for recognition in Europe for members of institutions outside the Council of Engineering Institutions. The question of further amendments to the charter and bye-laws of the CEI will be for discussion when the position in the EEC has been clarified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average wages of male workers between the ages of 18 years and 20 years in Wales, and also the average wages of male workers of 21 years and over in Wales, for a normal working week.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th November 1973; Vol. 864, c. 186], gave the following information:The relevant New Earnings Survey estimates of average gross weekly earnings excluding overtime earnings of employees in Wales are:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the average wage for female workers in Scotland of 21 years of age and over, and for female workers between the age of 18 and 20 years;(2) what is the average wage for male workers over the age of 21 years in Scotland,

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 15th November 1973; Vol. 864, c. 233], gave the following information:The relevant New Earnings Survey estimates of average gross weekly earnings of employees in Scotland are:and so the estimates for this group are subject to wider margins of error.