HC Deb 26 May 1970 vol 801 cc456-7W
Mr. Hall-Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what was the number registered as unemployed and the percentage of insured persons unemployed in the Lancaster and Morecambe area in March in each of the seven years 1964 to 1970;

(2) what was the number registered as unemployed and the percentage of insured persons unemployed in the Morecambe area in March in each of the seven years 1964 to 1970.

Mr. Dell:

Following is the information:

sales of the Cheap Books Scheme in each country in the last five years;

(2) what steps he is taking to improve the distribution of the Cheap Books Scheme;

(3) in which countries the British Council operates the Cheap Books Scheme.

Mrs. Hart:

I have been asked to reply.

The countries in which the English Language Book Society (E.L.B.S.) Low Priced Books Scheme operates at present are listed below. British Council representatives have some responsibility for publicising the schemes in those countries in which the council is represented, but the books are promoted and sold through normal trade channels. I regret that the detailed information requested about sales in individual countries is not available; total sales in the last five years were approximately 3½ million. Ways of improving the distribution of books under the scheme are frequently examined with the publishers, the Central Office of Information, the British Council and the Book Development Council. Centralised sales arrangements have recently been established in Britain, and an E.L.B.S. books officer, responsible for promoting the scheme in India, was appointed to the British Council's office in New Delhi two years ago.

I. AFRICA

Burundi: The Federal Republic of Cameroon; Central African Republic; Republic of Chad; Congo Republic; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Republic of Dahomey; Ethiopia: French Territory of the Afars and Issas (formerly French Somaliland); Republic of Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Republic of Ivory Coast; Kenya; Liberia; Malagasy Republic; Malawi; Republic of Mali; Republic of Mauritania; Mauritius; Republic of Niger; Nigeria; Republic of Rwanda; Republic of Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somali Republic; Tanzania; Togo Republic; Uganda; Republic of Upper Volta; Zambia.

II. ASIA

Afghanistan; Brunei; Burma; Ceylon; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Malaysia; Nepal; Pakistan; Singapore; Thailand; Vietnam.

* Countries in which the British Council is represented are in italics.