asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total cost so far in the current calendar year of the extra wages payable as a result of threshold agreements triggered off by the rise in the retail price index under stage 3.

I regret that this information is not available, as there is no general requirement for threshold arrangements to be reported to the Pay Board until the next principal settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect rises in the prices of products and services provided by Government services or nationalised industries has had on the cost of living index in the last four months and up to June 1974.

The latest available index of retail prices relates to 21st May 1974. In the three months to that date, increases in the prices of those goods and services provided by nationalised industries which have a direct effect on the public produced a rise in the general index of retail prices of just under one-third of 1 per cent.As the index is designed to measure changes in retail prices paid by ordinary households it does not cover the cost of Government services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress he has made in regard to the planning of phased retraining and redeployment of workers likely to be affected by any subsequent reduction in arms expenditure; and whether he will publish such plans in the near future.

The training and employment implications of a revision of the defence programme are being studied as an integral part of the review of defence expenditure. Discussions are still taking place between officers from my Department and other Government Departments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether it is now his intention to exercise his consent powers to authorise wage settlements held by the Pay Board to be in breach of the Pay Code in the case of 125,000 shop workers in the employ of the co-operative societies, employees of Racal Electronics, employees of English China Clay, 70 employees of Ayrshire Yarn Dyeing Limited, J. S. Sharpe Engineering Limited, six employees of Toolpower Engineering, and officials of the National Union of Mineworkers, respectively.

Should the Pay Board inform me that there are special difficulties surrounding wage settlements for the co-operative societies' shop workers employees of Racal Electronics and J. S. Sharpe Engineering Ltd., and officials of the National Union of Mineworkers, then I will be prepared to consider whether a consent is justified.Having given careful consideration to the circumstances surrounding the pay increases restricted by Pay Board orders placed on Toolpower Engineering Ltd. and Ayrshire Yarn Dyeing Co. Ltd., I decided that these were insufficiently exceptional to warrant consents.A consent has been given in the case of English China Clays.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the operation of the Training Opportunities Scheme.

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mr. Craigen) on 17th May, 1974.—[Vol. 873, c. 556.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the operation of the Training Opportunities Scheme in the Northern Region.

In 1973, the first full year of operation of the Training Opportunities Scheme, during which time my Department was directly responsible, 3,583 people were trained in Northern Region, compared with 1,765 in 1971 and 3,023 in 1972. I understand from the Manpower Services Commission that the Training Services Agency which is now responsible for the scheme proposes to continue the expansion of training facilities in the north, as elsewhere in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider a wages council for all home workers.

No. I do not think that a single wages council covering a great variety of trades would constitute suitable machinery to protect the earnings of home workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he now expects to announce the results of his consultations on the future of sheltered workshops.

These consultations are continuing and I am not yet able to say when they will be concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage further the co-operation between trade unions and economics and statistics departments of universities in the preparation of trade union wage claims; and if he will make a statement.

The preparation of wage claims is a matter for trade unions themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many letters he has received about the future operation of industry training boards and their levies; and whether he will make a statement.

Since the Manpower Services Commission assumed responsibility for the industrial training boards on 1st April 1974 four letters have been received regarding the boards and their levies. As I said in answer to my hon. Friend on 30th April, if experience shows that the new arrangements require adjustments I have no doubt that the commission will inform me in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the trade union movement about the introduction of a worker director scheme.

There have been preliminary discussions with the TUC on industrial democracy. I understand that a final report on the subject is to be presented to this year's congress, and I shall be considering the timing of further discussions with the TUC after that.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on redundancies in the brick-making industry.

My information is that 115 workers have become redundant following the closure of two brickyards in the Peterborough area and 430 may become redundant in the late summer as a result of termination of the night shift at two brickworks in Bedfordshire and 150–180 for the same reason in Buckingham. It is not yet known how many will be redeployed in other brickworks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many works in the Fletton brick industry have been threatened with closure; and what are the number of workers likely to be laid off.

Two brickworks in the Fletton brick industry in Peterborough closed on 5th July 1974 and 115 workers were affected, but 62 only were made redundant. 430 workers in Bedfordshire and 150–180 at Buckingham are likely to be affected by decisions to terminate the night shift at three brickworks in these areas, but it is not known how many will become redundant.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library a definition of Her Majesty's Government's understanding of the terms of the social contract.

Much more valuable than any simple definition, I believe, is the statement issued by the General Council of the TUC on 26th June. A copy is already in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he can estimate the male and female job loss and gains in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

Precise information about jobs lost and gained is not available but an indication of net annual changes can be obtained by comparing the levels of the mid-year employment figures, the latest of which are for June 1973. Following is the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many British workers work regularly with asbestos; and how many industrial plants exist in

It is estimated that 15,000 workers in this country are regularly employed with asbestos.The Factory Inspectorate has records of factories in Great Britain using asbestos and to which the Asbestos Regulations 1969 apply. These number about 1,200.A large number of construction and demolition operations also attract the Asbestos Regulations 1969 from time to time. The size of the work force varies and the number involved at any one time cannot be estimated with any certainty.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT in tabular form, for each of the employment service offices within the Melton parliamentary constituency (a) the number of persons unemployed, by previous trade, and (b) the number of registered vacancies for each trade, at the latest convenient date.

The following table shows the available information. Occupational statistics are not collected from careers offices. Unemployed people are recorded against the occupation for which they are registered, which may differ from that in which they were last employed. The vacancy statistics relate only to vacancies notified to the Melton Mowbray employment office and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is being taken to publicise with organisations concerned the help available to the mentally and physically handicapped from the European Community's Social Fund.

The decision taken by the Council of the European Communities on 10th June to enable help to be provided, under Article 4 of the Council Decision of 1st February 1971, from the European Social Fund for certain narrowly defined measures to improve the quality of vocational rehabilitation facilities have already been widely publicised by the Information Office of the Commission for the European Communities in London; and have been discussed at the, International Seminar held in London last week by the British Council for Rehabilitation of the Disabled. I am arranging for the decisions to be discussed in the near future with my National Advisory Council for the Employment of the Disabled and I shall then consider, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, whether any further steps to publicise the decisions are desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will state the proportion of unemployed persons in England, Scotland, Wales and Gwynedd, respectively, who are under 20 years of age.

Statistics of unemployed people aged under 20 are normally compiled for January and July each year. Because of the emergency situation, however, the figures were not collected in January this year and the most recent statistics are for July 1973. Following is the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement about the abolition of the Pay Board.

Following the enactment of the Prices Act, Section 6 of which provides a power by order, to abolish the Pay Board, I have today laid before Parliament such an order in draft.The draft order must be approved by both Houses of Parliament before it can be made. Debates on the draft order will take place as soon as convenient dates can be arranged, following which it is hoped to bring the order into effect before the end of the month.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the penalties stipulated for in the Explosives Act 1875 with a view to substituting the present maximum fine of £10 by one of £1,000.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) and the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will take steps to require the Attendance Allowance Board to enable claimants to be represented before it in appropriate cases.

As my hon. and learned Friend knows, I have written asking that the Attendance Allowance Board review its procedures. The review is now in progress. It is hoped that the board's conclusions will be available by the autumn and it is not, therefore, appropriate for my right hon. Friend to take further steps in this matter at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals in the Trent Regional Health Authority area are having to refuse admittance of new sufferers from kidney failure because of the action being taken by the medical physics technicians over their pay dispute; and if she will make a statement on what action she is taking to ensure that these new sufferers from kidney failure can receive adequate treatment.

There are two units in the Trent Regional Health Authority Area at present providing haemodialysis for patients with chronic renal failure. Medical physics technicians at the Sheffield unit are taking industrial action. Delay in installing equipment in their homes has prevented some patients from transfering to home dialysis and, as a result, the hospital dialysis unit at Sheffield is now fully extended. My Department's officers are in close touch with the health authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what help is available from EEC funds to victims of the Flixborough disaster; and if she will make a statement.

A decision on the question of granting financial aid from Community funds is expected at a Council of Ministers' meeting later this month. If the Council approves such aid, full details will be made public.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will introduce legislation to end the discrimination against widows, whereby their pensions are taken into account when determining their entitlement to training grants; and if she will make a statement.

The present arrangements do not discriminate against widows. The general rule is that national insurance benefits are replaced by training allowances at a higher rate during training. The exceptions to this general rule apply to a widowed mother who can retain her widowed mother's allowance and receive in addition an abated training allowance normally at a weekly rate of £3·50 and to any widow during the first six months of widowhood. In both these cases more is payable, in total, to the widow than would be payable to other trainees. Perhaps my hon. Friend would let me know if he is aware of a particular case of difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what contribution Her Majesty's Government will be making to the financing of social projects to combat poverty under the European Social Action programme;(2) what social projects designed to combat poverty in the United Kingdom are expected to be financed by the European Commission under the European Social Action programme.

The Council of Ministers of the European Community approved in January a social action programme including the implementation, in co-operation with member States, of specific measures to combat poverty by drawing up pilot studies and projects. Draft criteria for the selection of schemes and proposals for the provision of funds by the Community and by the member States will be put to the Council of Ministers later this year. In the meantime the Government are considering what projects the United Kingdom might submit to form a part of this programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will undertake a survey of the availability of servicing facilities for invalid vehicles, both petrol and electric-driven, so that all major population centres are covered.

There are arrangements for the comprehensive repair and servicing of these vehicles at over 100 approved repairers. Minor repairs can be undertaken by any competent garage. Although the main firms are strategically sited throughout the country it is not practicable to have one in every large town. Arrangements are kept under review continuously and the services of additional specialist repairers are sought as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will publish the full weekly national insurance contribution payable by the following categories of people if contracted out of the Boyd-Carpenter graduated pension scheme in February 1974, September 1974 and April 1975, subject to the provisions of the Social Security (Amendment) Bill: (1)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will publish the full weekly national insurance contributions payable by the

Following is the information. The figures for April 1975 take into account the provisions of the Social Security (Amendment) Bill, 1974.following categories of people in April 1975 if the Social Security Act 1973 were to come into effect unamended: (1) employed earners earning £20, £40 and £69 each week; (2) married women exercising the option earning £20, £40 and £69 each week; and (3) self-employed persons earning £1,600, £2,500 and £3,600 each year.

The figures are shown in the tables below. It is to

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she expects to give approval to the proposal to build a health centre at Carterhatch Lane in the London borough of Enfield.

The London borough of Enfield did not include this health centre in its submission of priority schemes for a building start in 1974–75. I cannot say when any proposal for a start will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will mark the centenary of the founding of osteopathy by proposing to confer official recognition on the profession by means of State registration or otherwise; and, if not, if she will state her reasons for not so doing.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in view of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will consider the importance of short study courses for in-service staff for disseminating new or existing facilities and obtaining feedback of information on the needs for and use of such services;(2) if, in view of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will consider distributing a circular regarding the usefulness of odour-controlling agents; and if she will make a statement;(3) if, in view of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will consider what help can be given to district nurses who are often involved in advising and helping people suffering from incontinence regarding the most convenient methods of supplying and fitting the appropriate aids and appliances; and if she will make a statement;(4) if, in the light of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will undertake a reappraisal of the provision of laundry services, particularly the provision of linen, stimulate research and the search for a reliable and acceptable urinary appliance for women, and ensure provision by local authorities of a variety rather than a few styles of protective pants and padding to suit the differing needs of individuals;(5) if, in view of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will make further efforts to improve the continuity of care for patients discharged from hospital, especially those who, though physically able to help themselves, would benefit from the advice and support of district nurse or health visitors;(6) if, in the light of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will take steps to provide support and adequate periodic relief for relatives of incontinent people, particularly those caring for a person with severe mental impairment or a person with a long-term progressive illness;(7) if, in the light of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, her Department will make a greater effort to inform the public that incontinence can be successfully treated especially at an early stage and that a variety of services, equipment and personnel are available to help those awaiting treatment or for whom treatment has not been successful;(8) if, in view of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will publicise information about the less well-known but useful services and items of equipment for people suffering from incontinence;(9) if, in view of the Disabled Living Foundation survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will take steps to bring this report to the attention of professional groups involved in this problem; and it she will make a statement;(10) if, in view of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will review the arrangements for fitting individual urinary appliances in the home; and if she will make a statement;(11) if, in view of the DLF Survey on Management of Incontinence in the Home, she will review the situation for the collection for destruction of soiled disposable products as used by incontinent or colostomy patients in their own homes.

This valuable report has underlined the many practical problems facing people who suffer from incontinence and those who care for them. I shall, as soon as possible, issue a circular of guidance to health and local authorities dealing with many of the matters to which my hon. Friend refers. The circular will emphasise the importance of co-ordinating the various elements which go to make up an efficient service, The report of the DLF's survey has already been commended to district nurse training centres and I am considering what wider publicity can usefully be given to these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will review the mileage allowance paid to community nursing staff employed in the National Health Service in view of the increase in the running costs of their vehicles.

Mileage allowances for staff employed in the National Health Service are negotiated in the General Whitley Council. Increases to the present rates of allowances are currently being discussed in the council and details of the new rates, which will be backdated, will be circulated as soon as agreement is reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the average waiting lists in all hospitals in south Essex relating to operations for the following: tonsillitis, herias, gallstones and varicose veins.

Average waiting lists for hospitals in the Basildon and Thurrock district of the Essex Area Health Authority are as follows: tonsillectomies, 279; hernias, 51; gallstones, 5; varicose veins, 32.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if there is a shortage of Factor VIII in the clinics where haemophiliacs are treated on demand; what stocks of good quality human Factor VIII are held in the United Kingdom; whether the commercial firms holding stocks are licensed; and if she will make a statement;(2) if her Department will purchase the necessary quantities of Factor VIII to ensure that on demand patients are supplied with the amount needed for their optimum treatment; and if she will make a statement;(3) if she will initiate an extension of the present "on demand" treatment by Factor VIII for haemophiliacs to include a home therapy system in which the treatment would be given by patients themselves, by relatives or by general practitioners; and if she will make a statement.

The supply of Factor VIII produced within the National Health Service is at present insufficient for the optimum treatment of haemophilic patients. I hope that it will be possible to increase our supplies, and meanwhile product licences were issued last year to two firms to market imported Factor VIII in the United Kingdom. Adequate stocks, I understand, are held of this commercial material. It is not the Department's normal practice to make central purchases of health service supplies, but central contracts were arranged to facilitate the purchase of this material by health authorities.I recognise the desirability of enabling these patients to receive treatment at home but progress in this direction is likely to depend largely on the extent to which production of Factor VIII within the National Health Service can be increased.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is now prepared to initiate immediate joint con- sultations with everyone actively concerned in the evaluation of gluten-free diets and the recovery of multiple sclerosis victims; and if she will make a statement.

A conference, arranged jointly by the Medical Research Council and the Multiple Schlerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which I welcome warmly, is to meet in October. Those invited have all had experience in research into multiple sclerosis. The value of dietary supplements will be discussed. Later this month the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances will consider, with specialist advice, gluten-free and other substances in relation to multiple sclerosis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities have taken advantage of her circulars DH196/3 and 196/21 dated 4th June 1973 on the supply of environmental aids for the disabled; what response she has had from local authorities to these circulars; how many have been provided; how many have been rejected; and if she will make a statement.

Simpler environmental control devices are but some of a wide range of personal aids which may be supplied by local authority social services departments. We do not, however, collect separate figures for each type of equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement on the effects of staff shortages on the chiropody service; and what action she proposes to take to ensure that regular treatment is available for the elderly.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Stoddart), on 7th May.—[Vol. 873, c. 90.] I recognise that in some areas chiropody services are less than adequate at present, but the long-term objective is to expand and improve services to acceptable standards in all areas as manpower and other resources permit. For the time being area health authorities have been asked to continue to restrict treatment to existing priority groups, including the elderly. Arangements for the treatment of elderly and other patients are a matter for individual area health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds there are per 1,000 population in Great Britain and in each of the other member countries of the European Economic Community.

The European Commission, in its "Reports on the Development of the Social Situation in the Communities 1973" publishes the following statistical information in the table of social indicators. It should be borne in mind that there are many difficulties in the way of preparing accurate international comparative statistics and the results should be read with caution.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds are there per 1,000 population (a) in England and (b) in each area health authority area in England.

It will take a little further time to assemble the necessary information. I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will state how many hospital beds in each area health authority area in England are reserved for fee-paying private patients; and what proportion this represents of all hospital beds in each area.

Authority has been given for up to 4,574 NHS places in England to be made available for private patients, but since 1968 beds in NHS hospitals are no longer specifically reserved for this purpose. All existing authorisations were given before the appointed day in terms of individual hospitals and teaching groups. I am preparing a list of authorised places for each area health authority and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what changes he is considering in the administration of the Further Education Staff College as a result of the report of the University of Bristol.

None at present. My Department is currently discussing with the college its future development.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the statistics relating to charging for admission at the national museums and galleries, including comparative attendances for January, February and March of 1973 and 1974, numbers of day tickets sold, receipts from charging, and costs of collection, as supplied by letter of 14th May 1974 to the hon. Member for Warley, East, but adding thereto the breakdown figures of the costs of machines, etc., in England, and taking account of appropriate deductions of refunded receipts from the sale of season tickets and gift vouchers.

The information requested is given in the following table which incorporates some minor adjustments which revision of the figures since 14th May have shown to be necessary:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the public attendance figures at the national museums and galleries for the months of April, May and June 1973. broken down

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of gipsy children of school age; what proportion of them are receiving full time education; and how this compares with the national average.

My right hon. Friend has made no estimate of the number of gipsy children of school age—though he is aware of the estimates that have been made from time to time by others—and statistics of pupils in full-time education do not distinguish gipsies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the extent of educational provision for gipsies; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend believes that the kinds of provision being made are appropriate to the needs of gipsies but he acknowledges that much remains to be done in order to ensure that all gipsy children of school age receive

The attendances reported by the national museums and galleries were as follows:efficient full-time education. He hopes that the parents will increasingly avail themselves of the facilities available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any local education authorities have submitted to him arrangements which they propose for the education of gipsies which require his approval or assistance; and what action he has taken.

My right hon. Friend has received no such proposals, but local education authorities have from time to time sought financial assistance for the education of gipsies from the Home Department through the urban programme and such assistance has frequently been granted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special information he collects from local education authorities about their provision of education for gipsies.

None; but Her Majesty's inspectors and officers of the Department are in constant touch with local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what official inquiries have been held since 1944 into the effectiveness of educational provision for gipsies; and whether he will initiate such an inquiry.

The Central Advisory Council for Education included an appendix on the subject in its 1967 report, "Children and their Primary Schools". In 1971 the Schools Council for Curriculum and Examinations established a project on the education of travelling children. It is hoped that the report of the project—which will include a review of existing educational provision—will be published later this year in the Schools Council's Research Studies series. My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to set up a further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will increase the sum of £750,000 made available to the Arts Council to offset expenditure on VAT to a figure nearer to the Arts Council's assessment of £1·3 million.

No. The sum made available is a fair interpretation of the statement of the previous Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those establishments of further education whose articles of government are still awaiting approval.

The list is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in which year's building programme he has placed Emmanuel Church of England Primary School, Hampstead.

A project for the replacement of this school was included in the design list of projects to start during 1974–75. At present, under the terms of Circular 15/73, the project cannot start before July 1975.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is his most recent time scale for the proposed legislation on devolution for Scotland and Wales.

As I have said previously, the Government intend to bring forward their proposals in a White Paper in the autumn, and the legislative consequences cannot be assessed until that has been done.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will invite the Secretary-General of the OECD to pay an official visit to London.

Mr. Emile van Lennep, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, visited London for talks with Ministers and officials on 20th and 21st June. My right hon. Friend and a number of our colleagues had valuable discussions with him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Portuguese Government concerning association with the EEC.

None.The question of Portugal's relations with the European Community was, how ever, discussed by the Nine Foreign Ministers at their meeting in Bonn on 10th June and by the EEC/Portugal mixed committee on 27th June. Copies of the Press statements issued after these meetings are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any discussions with the Romanian Government concerning renegotiation of the terms of entry into the EEC, so far as trade relations with that country are concerned.

No. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 19th June to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose). During his visit to this country early last month, the Romanian Deputy Foreign Minister also had discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions the British representative on the UN Human Rights Commission received regarding the submission to the commission alleging that the Indonesian Government are guilty of a consistent and gross violation of human rights.

On 6th March the Human Rights Commission decided, with United Kingdom support, to establish a working group to consider this among other submissions. The working group will meet immediately before the next session of the Human Rights Commission in February 1975. We have therefore not had occasion to send instructions on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Malta and Cyprus were omitted from the list he published in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 20th June of Commonwealth countries that have, or are seeking association with, the European Economic Community; and if he will now publish a definitive and complete list.

I much regret that, due to an error, Malta and Cyprus were inadvertently omitted from the list published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 20th June, of Commonwealth countries that have sought, or are seeking, association with the European Economic Community. The correct position is as follows: Mauritius already has associate status under the Yaoundé Convention; and Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania under the Arusha Convention. Cyprus and Malta also have association agreements with the Community.The Commonwealth countries eligible for association under Protocol 22 of the Treaty of Accession are listed below. All are taking part in the negotiations for a new association agreement which are now in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to salvage the motor ship "Tudor Prince" from the bed of the Grand Harbour in Malta.

This is a Danish ship which was on a normal commercial voyage. The first salvage attempt was unsuccessful. I understand that the owner now intends to abandon the wreck as further attempts might cause the ship to fall into deeper water and in any event would cost more than the value of ship and cargo.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the proportion of United Kingdom motor bicycle production exported to the United States of America in each of the last five years, and in 1974 to date—expressed at an annual rate; and what was the United Kingdom share of the United States of America motor bicycle market at each stage.

Comparable information is not available over the period concerned for either United Kingdom production of motor cycles or the United States market. It is believed that in 1972 about 70 per cent. of production was exported to the United States.

asked the Secretary or State for Trade if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the revised negotiating mandates, agreed on 25th June, for negotiation with Spain, Israel and the Maghreb countries.

Negotiating mandates for these countries have not yet been agreed. However, it is expected that in respect of Spain and Israel they provide for the progressive introduction of free trade in industrial goods together with a wide range of agricultural concessions; and for the Maghreb, free entry for their industrial goods, concessions on agricultural products, aid and social security measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when, following the report of the departmental committee on trade marks, he proposes to implement the recommendations of the committee.

The report was published on 16th May. Interested bodies have been asked for their comments and we now await their replies. However, in considering possible legislation to implement the findings of the committee, we shall also have to take into account international developments in the field of trade marks.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list Britain's top 10 export markets, the value of goods sold

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is now the average common external tariff of the EEC.

About 8½ per cent. for industrial goods. It is not possible to compute an average for non-industrial goods, many of which are subject to variable levies in place of, or in addition to, customs duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the quarterly totals of air passengers between Newcastle Airport and London; and between Teesside Airport and London, over the past five years.

The information which my hon. Friend requires is published by the Civil Aviation Authority, and I am asking the chairman of the authority to write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will indicate the total of State funds in the form of loans and grants that has been made available to the aluminium industry in the United Kingdom during the past 10 years and the amount that is accountable as a result of implementing regional and employment policies.

I have been asked to reply.

Following is the information:Up to 31st March 1974, loans under the Industrial Expansion Act 1968 amounting to £59 million have been made in respect of aluminium smelter projects. Records of expenditure on investment grants and under regional assistance schemes are not kept by individual industries, and I regret therefore that details of the amounts attributable to aluminium industry are not available.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is his practice to arrange official receptions at No. 10 Downing Street for overseas delegates on Commonwealth parliamentary visits to Great Britain.

Following my practice in 1964–70, I received at Downing Street both groups of Commonwealth parliamentarians who visited Britain earlier this year under the auspices of the United Kingdom branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and hope to meet other such delegations in the future.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Bolsover.

I have visited Bolsover on many occasions and I shall no doubt do so again in the future.

asked the Prime Minister which of Great Britain's partners in NATO were notified of the recent nuclear test before it took place.

Apart from the United States of America, at whose site in Nevada the test was carried out, none.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with progress to date on the social compact.

Yes, we are continuing to make good progress. The TUC General Council report on "Collective Bargaining and the Social Contract", published on 26th June, provides a constructive framework for pay negotiations after the pay controls are abolished.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay an official visit to Washington.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Washington, USA.

I have at present no plans for a visit to the United States.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek a meeting with the new President of the Confederation of British Industry, Mr. Ralph Bateman, at an early date.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to meet the CBE.

I met the president and other representatives of the CBI when I took the chair at the meeting of the NEDC last Wednesday. I have no plans for a further meeting at present.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Department of Employment and other Departments concerning recruitment of staff in the public service.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a tour of industrial towns in the southern counties of England and Wales.