asked the Lord President of the Council how many dummy bound volumes of Hansard have been produced in the size which this House refrained from approving on 5th May; by what authority such volumes were ordered and at what cost to public funds; and if he will place any such volumes in the Library.

Six copies of dummy bound volumes, in A4 size, of the two week's compilation of collected daily parts of the Official Report of both an average and above average thickness have been produced. The production was authorised by the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office to illustrate the effect on the size of bound volumes of Hansard of a possible change to A4 size. The total cost of the 12 volumes was £147·50. Copies of both dummy volumes will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received about the three tourism development projects initiated by his Department; and if he is satisfied with progress so far.

The working parties in each area have sought and received many comments. Subject to a planning inquiry in Scarborough, the responses have been sufficiently encouraging to allow the working parties to proceed to the next stage of preparing the draft plan, taking into account the representations received.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why the Wales and Scottish Tourist Boards, together, are to receive more money than England in 1977–78 in the form of selective tourist project assistance.

As with total tourism budgets, the allocation of funds for selective tourist project assistance in Scotland and Wales is a matter for, respectively, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales. These are not, therefore, determined centrally, but allocated having regard to the overall economic needs and potential of the country concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the latest figures for, and the latest estimates of: (a) the index of competitiveness and (b) the terms of trade index.

The latest available information on export price competitiveness and the terms of trade is given in Table B23 and Table A2, respectively, of the November issue of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the movement in the terms of trade for machinery and transport equipment since 1970; what has been the decline in relative volume over the same period; what relation there is between the two; and what are the forecasts for 1978 in the two indices.

The figures required are given in table F4 of the November issue of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. No simple relationship exists between changes in the terms of trade and relative volume. Movements in relative volume will be influenced by factors such as home and overseas activity and also price competitiveness, for which the terms of trade index will provide an approximate guide only in view of differences in products exported and imported. No forecasts of the terms of trade and relative volume indices for machinery and transport equipment are available for 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current rate of purchases of cutlery and flatware, including stainless steel, by value, type and number of pieces to date in the current year; how much of this total is being imported and from which countries; and how the figures for the current year compare with each of the previous five years.

Aggregate information is shown in the following tables. More detailed information is published in Business Monitor PQ 392 and the Overseas Trade Statistics, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

TABLE 1
Cutlery, spoons, forks and plated tableware*
	Home demand†	Imports‡
	£ million	£ million
1973	59·2	16·5
1974	68·5	22·6
1975	72·5	24·1
1976	82·7	30·8
1977 (January to June§)	46·7	17·6

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by what criteria the National Film Finance Corporation decides to provide assistance towards the production costs of British films; and if he is satisfied that these criteria have been met, in the light of films selected for assistance by the National Film Finance Corporation, in the last two years.

Under the provisions of the Films Act 1970 the National Film Finance Corporation may make loans to persons who, in the judgment of the Corporation, have

"reasonable expectations of being able to arrange for the production or distribution of films on a commercially successful basis."

Within these statutory limitations the criteria used for selecting films are a matter for the Corporation, and I have no reason to believe that the Corporation has acted otherwise than in accordance with the statute.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the films for which the National Film Finance Corporation has provided finance in the last three years, together with a comment, on each film, as to the actual financial outturn at the box office, compared with the estimated outturn on which the National Film Finance Corporation funding was based.

The films are: "Akenfield"; "The Man Who Fell to Earth"; "Bugsy Malone"; "Sam and the River"; "The Romantic Englishwoman"; "Overlord"; "Duel Blade"; "The James Dean Story"; "Lisztomania"; "At the Earth's Core"; "Jabberwocky"; "The Duellists"; "The Disappearance"; "Black Joy"; and "Tarka the Otter". The criteria by which loan applications are judged are matters for the NFFC within its statutory limitations. The individual earnings of films are regarded as commercially confidential information by the NFFC, with disclosure being a matter for the individual producers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what, if any, representations he has received from sectional interests in the film and cinema industry, concerning representation on the National Film Finance Corporation; and if he proposes to make any changes in the composition of the National Film Finance Corporation.

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the persons who serve on the statutory Census of Distribution Advisory Committee appointed under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947, together with a brief note of their qualifications.

Name				Sponsored by		Organisation
Mr. L. S. Berman, C.B. (Chairman)						Director of Statistics for the Department of Trade.
Mr. R. Ash	…	…	…			Director Business Statistics Office.
Miss S. P. Carter		…	…			Chief Statistician, Central Statistical Office.
Mr. P. H. Richardson			…			Chief Statistician, Department of Trade.
Mr. J. M. Simmonds			…			Chief Statistician, Business Statistics Office.
Non-Official members
Mr. S. H. Ainsworth			…	Cooperative Union Ltd.	…	Economic and Research Officer, Cooperative Union Ltd.
Mr. A. F. Alexander, M.B.E., F.C.I.S., F.C.C.A.				Scottish Grocers' Federation		Director, Scottish Grocers' Federation.
Mr. K. P. A'Court		…	…	Market Research Society	…	Manager of Market Research Department, Imperial Tobacco Limited.
Mr. H. G. Daniels, J.P.			…	Institute of Chartered Accountants.		Partner, Alfred Simmons & Co. (Accountants with retail customers).
Lady Hall	…	…	…	National Economic Development Office.		Chairman of the Distribution Statistics Committee of the Economic Development Committee for the Distributive Trades.
Mr. S. Larton		…	…	Confederation of British Industry.		Director and Secretary, Express Dairy Co. Ltd.
Mr. B. Lyons, C.B.E., J.P., D.L.				United Drapery Stores Group Ltd.		Chairman and Managing Director, United Drapery Stores Group Ltd.
Mr. J. Phillips		…	…	Trades Union Congress/Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.		Assistant General Secretary, USDAW.
Mr. J. N. Rowse		…	…	Drapers Chamber of Trade	…	Chairman and Managing Director, F. H. Rowse Ltd.
Mr. P. E. Shields, O.B.E.			…	Federation of Wholesale and Industrial Distributors.		Director, Dick and Goldschmidt Ltd.
Mr. D. W. Sizer		…	…	National Chamber of Trade	…	Proprietor, Colour Cameras Ltd.
Mr. J. de Somogyi		…	…	The Retail Consortium	…	Head of the Economic Information Department, Marks and Spencer Ltd.
Mr. R. Temple		…	…	The Retail Consortium	…	Financial Director, Tesco Store (Holdings) Ltd.
Miss R Weatherall		…	…	Department of Prices and Consumer Protection.		Statistical Officer, Services and Survey Unit, Consumers' Association.
Miss J. Willson		…	…	National and Local Government Statistical Liaison Committee.		Principal Planner, Director-Generals' Department, Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the recent discussions with the Danish authorities on air services between the United Kingdom and Denmark and in particular on the proposed link between Birmingham and Copenhagen by British Midland Airways.

Talks were held between the United Kingdom and Danish and other Scandinavian Governments in Oslo on 22nd and 23rd November. I regret that the Danish authorities were not prepared to issue the necessary operating permission to British Midland Airways, despite our firm assertion that

The information requested is as follows:such refusal constitutes a breach of the air services agreement. Further talks have been arranged for January. In the meantime, certain temporary operating permits issued to Scandinavian Airline System outside the terms of the agreement will remain suspended.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the low power/low drag trial conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority at London Heathrow is now completed; and if he will make a statement on the implications of this technique for other British airports.

The trial has been extended until 31st March 1978. Provided the outcome from both the noise abatement and operational points of view is successful, I understand that the Civil Aviation Authority intends considering the application of similar procedures to other United Kingdom airports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) when he expects consultation on the White Paper Amendments to the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 to be completed;(2) when he expects to introduce legislation following the White Paper Amendments to the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958.

The consultative document "Amendments to the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958" (Cmnd 6893) invited written comments by 30th September 1977; about 60 bodies have responded. Work is now in hand on the preparation of amending legislation, but pressure of parliamentary business may not permit its introduction until the next Session.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what information she has on speedy use of the United Nations emergency machinery for natural disasters in the case of the 10,000 casualties sustained because of the cyclone in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; what long-term rehabilitation plans are being arranged with United Kingdom participation; and if she will make a statement.

The House will be saddened to learn that latest estimates put the number of deaths in the wake of the cyclones at over 20,000. Most of the casualties are in Andhra Pradesh State where the cyclone struck on 19th November.The United Nations Agencies concerned, principally the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator, have kept in close touch with the situation throughout and a formal offer of United Nations assistance was made by the Secretary General on 21st November. The Government of India announced on 22nd November that they welcomed all voluntary assistance from the international community. We understand that the Indian Government have specifically requested assistance from the United Nations Children's Fund which has ongoing programmes in India.On 23rd November the UNICEF Executive Director authorised an emergency contribution of ․200,000 additional to its current India programme.As I told the House on Friday, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has spoken to the Indian Prime Minister and offered any help we can give. An RAF Hercules chartered by my Ministry left RAF Lyneham this morning carrying drugs provided by my disaster unit and three vehicles, groundsheets and blankets provided by the voluntary societies. In addition our High Commissioner in Delhi has made a cash contribution of £25,000 to the Indian authorities for urgent relief, and has been authorised to offer sums totalling £50,000 as an immediate contribution to the relief efforts of the three States most concerned.Subject to parliamentary approval, I propose to make grants-in-aid of £250,000 to the British Red Cross for assistance in co-operation with the Indian Red Cross and £25,000 to UNICEF for immediate aid. Parliamentary approval will be sought in supplementary estimates to the Overseas Aid Class II 8 Vote. Pending that approval the necessary expenditure will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.These are responses to meet initial needs, but it is clear that there will have to be a massive rehabilitation exercise. We hope the international community will respond generously. The British Government will offer all the help we can both through our bilateral aid programme and through multilateral channels.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what proportion of the British overseas aid budget has been disbursed through international or multilateral agencies in each of the last five years; and if that proportion is likely to be further increased.

The proportion of our overseas aid disbursed through international or multilateral agencies in each of the last five years was:

	Percentage
1972	18
1973	23
1974	25
1975	31
1976	27

The relative proportions of our bilateral and multilateral aid involve a number of factors. I expect the proportion of multilateral disbursements in 1977 to be about 28 per cent.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if it is her policy to provide aid to any country in Latin America, designed to assist the training or equipment of security and counter insurgency personnel; and if she will make a statement.

It is not my policy to provide training or equipment, in Latin America or elsewhere, for persons engaged in security or counter insurgency activities and I do not finance military training.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when she now proposes to present to the House the Report of the Fay Committee of Inquiry into the Crown Agents.

I propose to present the report, together with a statement of the Government's conclusions, for acceptance as House of Commons Returns, which I hope to have published on Thursday, 1st December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Supplementary Benefits Commission intends to publish its review of supplementary benefits; and if it will publish minority views of members of the Commission who may disagree with the official findings.

This is a departmental review, carried out in close consultation with the Supplementary Benefits Commis- sion, and I expect to receive a report early next year. I intend that any proposals for changes in the scheme should then be published, so that they can be widely studied and it will be open to the Commission to comment on them. I would also refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel) on 22nd November—[Vol. 939, c. 1295.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report any correspondence his Department has had from United Dominion Trust Limited with regard to the proposed Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation scheme for leasing cars to beneficiaries of the mobility allowance.

While it is not the practice to publish correspondence with commercial firms, the scheme to which my hon. Friend refers was produced by the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation in collaboration with the United Dominions Trust. I can also report that officials of my Department had some technical discussions with them about the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many Giro cheque investigations there were in June, July and August, respectively, in the St. Pancras local office of his Department: and how many Giro files set up were subsequently uninvestigated in that the claimants were not subsequently interviewed.

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and use of fraud officer's time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present purchasing power of the 25p per week given to pensioners over 80 years of age as an age addition compared with when it was introduced; and what are his proposals to improve this position.

On the basis of the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices—all items—to October 1977, the latest date for which a figure is available, the present equivalent of the age addition of 25p introduced in September 1971 is 11p. We have no plans to increase the rate of the age addition.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he can give an assurance that all hospitals have regular and frequent fire drill; whether he will give details as to the frequency of such drills; and how many have taken place in the London area during the past two weeks.

All National Health Service hospitals should have regular fire drills and my Department has advised in detailed guidance on fire precautions that these should be held at least twice a year. Detailed arrangements are left to individual health authorities according to local circumstances at their hospitals, and no central records are kept of fire drills.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a list of family practitioner committees in the North West Thames Region which admit to their meetings observers from community health councils.

I am pleased to say that all seven family practitioner Committees in the North West Thames Region, namely:

• Bedfordshire
• Hertfordshire
• Barnet
• Brent and Harrow
• Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow
• Hillingdon
• Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

admit observers from community health councils to the non-confidential parts of their meetings.I am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of my Department's recent circular commending this practice to family practitioner committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what discussions have been held with the Peterborough Development Corporation following the dispersal programme review by the Secretary of State for the Environment to consider health needs afresh and to determine the future pattern of primary and secondary health services in the Peterborough health district;(2) whether he can now respond to the need for additional capital resources in the East Anglian Region to take special account of the exceptional population growth in Peterborough health district to which the annual report of the Peterborough Development Corporation for 1976–77 (H.C. 539) refers.

The area health authority has made a study of the health needs of the population of the Peterborough Health District, in consultation with Peterborough Development Corporation and will be reviewing its conclusions in the light of new assumptions available to the development corporation. Officers of the regional and area health authorities are in close touch with officers of the development corporation about possible sites for a second district general hospital in Peterborough. It is expected that the regional health authority will consider early in the new year a programme for deployment of capital resources available to them in the coming years; capital allocations to regional health authorities take account of the official projections of their future populations. In preparing its programme for the region, the regional health authority will take account of the high priority given by the area health authority to development of health services in Peterborough.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much an individual or his wife can earn per week in disregarded income without its affecting the total weekly income of his household from social security benefits, rent and rate rebate, training allowance and fuel discount.

As regards social security benefits I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 16th November 1977.—[Vol. 939, c. 221–4.] The conditions governing eligibility for rent and rate rebates, training allowances and fuel discounts are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Secretary of State for Employment and the Secretary of State for Energy, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why St. Faith's Hospital, Brentwood, is being closed, in view of the work it has done for people suffering from epilepsy.

The responsible health authorities are not proposing the closure of this hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on any link between nuclear fall-out and cancer.

The National Radiological Protection Board tells me that following an accident during testing of thermonuclear weapons at Bikini in 1954, a number of inhabitants of the Marshall Islands and a few Japanese fishermen were exposed to high doses of acute radiation from fall-out. An increased incidence of benign and malignant thyroid modules related to radiation has been founa in these people. This is probably the only group ever to be so affected. An increase in the incidence of cancer attributable to fall-out has not been demonstrated in any other population, and in particular there is no known link between fall-out and cancer in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will ensure that all persons issued with a behind-the-ear hearing aid are made aware of the use of the T adjustment in connection with the coil induction system of listening to television broadcasts.

Not all users of an aid can benefit from a loop system or will wish to avail themselves of it. Advice on the use of the "T" position is, therefore, a matter best left to the discretion of staff at hearing aid centres. As a matter of practice, information is contained in the leaflet issued with the aid and also in the revised version of my Department's booklet "General Guidance for Hearing Aid Users" given to patients newly fitted with a hearing aid. The social worker for the deaf and voluntary organisations will usually be able to offer further advice. As the booklet stresses, a loop system should be fitted to a radio or television set only by a qualified service engineer.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons have received hearing aids under National Health Service arrangements; and whether he is satisfied that the arrangements made are satisfactory.

Figures of total issues since 1948 are not available, but my hon. Friend may like to know that during 1976 approximately 92,000 hearing aids were issued to new patients in England. The issue of hearing aids is proceeding as fast as the resources of individual hearing aid centres allow.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances the 9,500 full-time and 800 part-time foreign students, currently taking English language courses in England and Wales, are eligible to draw British social security benefits; and if he will itemise all such benefits for which such a student could be eligible.

National insurance benefits may be payable to foreign students if they are able to satisfy the normal contribution and other conditions for the benefit concerned. The benefits most likely to be claimed would be unemployment or sickness benefit, but the number of foreign students who would be entitled to these benefits is likely to be extremely small. So far as supplementary benefit is concerned, foreign students are admitted to this country on the understanding that they will be self-supporting for the duration of their stay and benefit is therefore not normally payable to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current number of kidney machines in use in the National Health Service; whether the total number has been reduced as an economy measure; and how the present figure compares with those for 1975, 1974 and 1973.

There is no central record of the number of kidney machines in use, but the number of patients with chronic renal failure in England receiving treatment by haemodialysis during the last five years is as follows:

Year ending 30th June
1973	1437
1974	1645
1975	1822
1976	2048*
1977	2226

These figures indicate that although some health authorities, for financial reasons, may have restricted the number of patients admitted to the dialysis programme, the total number of dialysis patients has continued to increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research is being done in the problems of accidental radiation and its consequences.

The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) tells me that in considering the effect of ionising radiation on man, the source of the radiation, accidental or otherwise, is immaterial. Work in this field is being carried out at present in the United Kingdom by the Medical Research Council, NRPB and a number of university departments and research institutes. A wide variety of studies is being undertaken, ranging from work with animals in which the effects of radiation on cells and organs and the metabolic pathways of radioactive substances are being investigated, to follow-up studies on groups of men exposed to ionising radiation during the course of their work. The subject has been recently comprehensively reviewed by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the effects of ionising radiation in their publication "Sources and effects of ionising radiation" (United Nations, New York, 1977).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the latest available figures showing the number of people who have suffered from accidental radiation; and if he will list the kind of illnesses which might be expected, and which have developed.

Figures showing the number of persons subject to the Factories Act 1961 who have received doses of radiation in excess of the statutory permitted levels are published in the annual report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories (HMSO). The recent figures are as follows:

NUMBER OF PERSONS
1968	87
1969	64
1970	52
1971	78
1972	41
1973	38
1974	28
1975	34*
1976	37*
* not yet published.

My Department also collects figures of successful claims for benefit, other than death benefit, made under the industrial injuries scheme in respect of radiation-caused diseases—prescribed diseases number 25—but these are not published. The figures since 1948 are as follows:

NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL CLAIMS
1948 to 1957	63
1958–59	11
1959–60	4
1960–61	2
1961–62	2
1962–63	0
1963–64	2
1964–65	1
1965–66	1
1966–67	4
1967–68	1
1968–69	0
1969–70	1
1970–71	0
1971–72	4
1972–73	3
1973–74	2
1974–75	2
1975–76	1

Exposure to radiation may cause a number of conditions, including inflammation of malignant disease of the skin or subcutaneous tissue, or of the bones, and alterations in the blood such as anaemia, which affects the red blood cells, and certain types of leukaemia, which affect the white blood cells. It may also affect the eyes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has showing the extent to which the advice contained in Health Circular HC(77)26 has been acted upon by the authorities to which it was addressed.

The circular is concerned with counselling arrangements for women seeking abortion and does not require health authorities to report their action formally to my Department. Informally, however, we are aware of active consideration being given to counselling arrangements, and in particular to the need for appropriate training, in at least six regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the accepted safety level of nuclear radiation.

Nuclear radiation safety levels in Great Britain are derived primarily from the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, and vary according to the category of the person concerned and to the relevant environment. For employed persons subject to the Factories Act 1961, these levels are laid down in the Ionising Radiations (Sealed Sources) Regulations 1969 and the Ionising Radiations (Unsealed Radioactive Substances) Regulations 1968. For those employed persons who are not subject to the Factories Act, the general provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 apply, but there are no specific requirements at present. However, new regulations are in preparation and would be applicable to such people, in replacement of existing provisions. These proposed new measures will also take account of the recent Euratom Directive on Radiological Protection which, in addition to laying down standards of protection for workers, prescribed dose limits for students, apprentices and members of the public. For large establishments subject to licensing procedures under the Nuclear Installation Act 1965, the same levels apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of revenue lost to the National Insurance Fund from the current level of unemployment in Scotland and the United Kingdom, respectively.

It is not possible to make an accurate assessment of this loss of contribution income, as there is no data on the range of earnings which unemployed people had when they were in work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he received the report of Sir John Foster on Scientology; when he expects to conclude consideration of the report; and why it has taken so long to com to a conclusion.

The report of Sir John Foster on Scientology was submitted to the Secretary of State for Social Services of a previous Administration and was published in December 1971. The whole question of Government policy towards scientology is under active consideration but I cannot yet forecast when that consideration will be concluded. I will write further to the hon. Member about this matter as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the local concern over proposals by the Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) to phase out medical, surgical, geriatric, obstetric and gynaecological services at Highbury Hospital, Nottingham, if he is satisfied that in formulating these proposals the area health authority (teaching) has taken fully into account the views of the local community.

Responsibility for determining the closure and changes of use of health service buildings rests with area health authorities, subject to adequate local consultation and the agreement of community health councils. These proposals, which have been public knowledge for some considerable time, will be the subject of widespread consultations by the area health authority (teaching) with local bodies, including community health councils and staff interests, before final decisions are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect the proposals to phase out medical, surgical, geriatric, obstetric and gynaecological services at Highbury Hospital will have on these services overall to the local population.

These and other proposals related to the opening of the University Hospital mark the first step towards a significant improvement in hospital facilities for the people of Nottingham. Nottinghamshire AHA(T) proposes that the same level of acute medical and surgical in-patient services at present provided from four hospitals, including High-bury Hospital, will, in 1979–80, be provided at the University Hospital, supported by the General Hospital. Similarly, the obstetric and gynaecology beds at Highbury Hospital will be replaced, during the next few years, by new facilities at the University Hospital. The AHA(T) plans to replace the 22 geriatric beds at Highbury Hospital by at least 45 beds at the General Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what revenue savings the closure of the medical, surgical, geriatric, obstetric and gynaecology facilities at Highbury Hospital will effect.

Approximately £1·125 million will be released for the provision of health care services by Nottingham Area Health Authority (Teaching).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether closure of certain services at Highbury Hospital will involve loss of jobs for present staff.

Proposals related to the opening of the New University Hospital call for the employment of more rather than less staff in the city's hospitals. It is likely that some staff will have to change their place of work but the area health authority (teaching) has already reached broad agreement with staff organisations on detailed arrangements to be made to protect the interests of staff and to minimise inconvenience to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what services for the mentally handicapped are to be provided in future at the Highbury Hospital, Nottingham.

The 90 mental handicap beds at the hospital are to continue in use. In addition, a new 48-bed unit for mentally handicapped adults now being built on the hospital site is due to open in 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the future intended use of those parts of the Highbury Hospital, Nottingham, from which it is proposed to remove present facilities.

Nottingham Area Health Authority (Teaching) plans to review the future use of vacated accommodation at Highbury Hospital and of other vacated health service accommodation in Nottingham before the first phase of the University Hospital opens in 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what has been the allocation of revenue funds to Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) in 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78;(2) what has been the amount of capital expenditure, including the value of new equipment, in the area for which the Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) is responsible in 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78.

The information is as follows:

	Revenue	(£ million) Capital
1974–75	43·4	7·8
1975–76	56·8	12·8
1976–77	65·3	11·0
1977–78 (provisional)	74·5	13·6

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additions there have been since 1st April 1974 in the numbers of consultant medical staff, other medical staff, general medical practitioners, hospital and community nursing staff in the Nottinghamshire Area Heath Authority (Teaching) area.

The information, in whole-time equivalents, is as follows:

Consultant medical	15·8
Other medical	55·2
General medical practitioners	12·0
Hospital nurses	501·0
Community nurses	159·0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services with which countries the United Kingdom has reciprocal arrangements for the payment of family allowances or child benefit.

Reciprocol arrangements on family benefits exist with all EEC member States and with the following countries outside the EEC:

Australia	New Zealand
Austria	Norway
Canada	Spain
Finland	Sweden
Guernsey	Switzerland
Isle of Man	Yugoslavia.
Jersey

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will reduce the average time period of six weeks taken to pay dentists following the treatment of patients under the National Health Service;(2) what is the average total amount of money outstanding to dentists, payable by the National Health Service at any one time.

Present arrangements do not call for any action on my right hon. Friend's part.Payments to dentists working in the general dental services are authorised by the Dental Estimates Board. Dentists submit claims for monthly payment at weekly or more frequent intervals. The claims are in the hands of the Board for about three weeks on average. However as the Board is handling over 100,000 claims forms every day it is necessary in the interests of efficiency to phase their arrangements for authorising family practitioner committees to pay individual dentists. Family practitioner committees are allocated a date in each month, which does not vary, when the schedules of payments to dentists on their dental lists are despatched by the Board. This is known as the scheduling date. On receipt of schedules it is for family practitioner committees to make the payments to the dentists. Most dentists recognise that they have a particular pay day and arrange the submission of claims accordingly. I have no reason to believe that generally there are undue delays in making payments.It is not possible to estimate the value of claims which are in the post or are pending payment by family practitioner committees. However, an estimate of the value of claims with the Dental Estimates Board at any one time is £12 million. The total expenditure on the general dental services in the past year was £230 million, of which £50 million was payable to the dentists at the time of treatment as the patient's contribution.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the matters for which he is responsible in England he is not responsible for in Scotland; for which matters he is currently responsible in Scotland; and which matters for which he is currently responsible in Scotland will become the responsibility of the Scottish Assembly and Executive under the terms of the Scotland Bill.

In general, matters for which in England I am the responsible Minister are in Scotland the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. There are a few matters, chiefly in relation to food supply and to notifiable diseases of animals, for which I am responsible in Scotland as well as in England; none of these will be devolved by the Scotland Bill. There are some matters for which I have a joint responsibility with one or more of my right hon. Friends. That for forestry is dealt with in Schedule 10 to the Scotland Bill.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify each reform of the common agricultural policy secured by the British Government since 1972, the nature of the reform and the date on which the reform was introduced.

The operation of the common agricultural policy is subject to a continuing process of negotiation and adaptation, and it is not practicable to list all the decisions of the Council, including those on the restraint of support prices to which the British Government have contributed since the signing of the Treaty of Accession. The following developments were, however, of special significance:

Application of Community financed monetary compensatory amounts as import payments for countries like the United Kingdom with devaluing currencies:—February 1973.

Provision for variable premiums to be paid to beef producers in the United Kingdom so that intervention ceased to be the first line of support in the beef market:—November 1974.

Arrangements for subsidising the imports of sugar during the sugar shortage of 1974–1975:—November 1974.

The signing of the Lomé Convention which secured access for 1·3 million tonnes of sugar from the developing countries in Africa, the Carribean and the Pacific as well as providing almost completely free entry for their other agricultural goods:—February 1975.

Specific provisions for the supply of New Zealand butter up to 1980 and for a review taking place of access provisions for New Zealand cheese:—March 1975.

The Less Favoured Areas Directive which made provision for farmers in less favoured areas, including the United Kingdom hill areas, to receive special assistance so that they did not have to rely entirely on the general price level:—April 1975.

More flexible import arrangements for beef under which the level of external protection falls when Community prices rise:—April 1977.

Provision for milk producers to share in the cost of dealing with the surplus:—May 1977.

Provision for a 100 per cent. Community financed subsidy on butter sold in the United Kingdom:—May 1977.

In the course of the revision of the EEC hops régime the position of Hops Marketing Board was secured as the channel through which income aid is paid to United Kingdom producers until the end of 1980:—May 1977.

Introduction of separate support for non-breadmaking wheat at the same level as for other feed grains:—August 1977.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list all outstanding reforms of the common agriculture policy which it is his policy to pursue; what is the nature of each such reform; what is the present position in negotiations to secure each reform; and when he expects all such negotiations to be completed.

I set out the outstanding aims that were before us for the reform of the common agricultural policy in my address to the House on 11th May 1977, and we shall continue to pursue these objectives. I have brought the House up to date on five occasions since then, and I shall continue to do so regularly.—[Vol. 931, c. 1359–1375; Vol. 932, c. 450–461; Vol. 933, c. 509–10; Vol. 935, c. 2048–2059; Vol. 936, c. 836–837; Vol. 938, c. 677–685.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the latest estimate he has made of expenditure in 1977–78 by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce under Common Market organisations of the EEC, together with comparable figures for the preceding year.

Following are details of the latest estimates for the financial year 1977–78, together with comparable figures for the outturn in the financial year 1976–77:

EXPENDITURE BY THE INTERVENTION BOARD FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
£ million
	Latest estimate of Outturn 1977–78	Actual Outturn 1976–77
Cereals	4·8	29·8
Beef and veal	9·4	16·3
Pigmeat	0·4	12·3
Sugar	89·2	71·2
Herbage and field bean seeds	1·4	1·2
Hops	0·5	1·1
Processed products	17·0	8·8
Milk products	74·6	24·1
Others	6·6	6·6
Total	203·9	171·4

Expenditure by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce includes the beef variable premium scheme, refunds on imports and exports, certain production subsidies, aids for private storage and animal feed and the net cost of intervention buying. Of the estimated outturn for 1977–78, £146·5 million is expected to be financed from the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), the balance being financed from Exchequer funds; in 1976–77 £168·7 million was financed from EAGGF. Some of the expenditure shown above benefits consumers and overseas exporting interests rather than United Kingdom producers.The increase in expenditure in 1977–78 compared with the previous year is mainly due to increased purchases into intervention of butter and skimmed milk powder. These purchases, which are initially financed by the Exchequer, also account for the lower ratio, compared with expenditure, of the EAGGF receipts in 1977–78.The consumer butter subsidy, which is paid through the Intervention Board, is not included in the above table.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why, in the light of the views expressed by the National Farmers' Union and the Milk Marketing Board that risks to human health from the sale of untreated milk from brucellosis accredited herds are minimal, he is pressing forward with the ban on the sale of untreated milk from 1980.

I am aware of the opinions that have been expressed by the union and the board. On the other hand, medical and public health interests have expressed concern about the risks to consumers of contracting salmonellosis or other milk-borne diseases through drink-

									Latest estimate of outturn 1977–78† £ million	Actual outturn 1976–77 £ million
I. PRICE GUARANTEES*
Sheep	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·4	0·2
Wool	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	-2·2	-2·4
Potatoes		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	5·6	0·8
Total I		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·8	-1·4
II. OTHER GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES
Temporary pig subsidy				…	…	…	…	…	10·6	6·3
Milk non-marketing premiums					…	…	…	…	12·0	—
Dairy herd conversion scheme					…	…	…	…	5·7	4·4
Guidance premiums for beef and sheepmeat							…	…	7·8	2·2
Lime	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·1	4·6
Calves	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	24·0	26·1
Beef cows		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·2	10·5
Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme and farm accounts grants								…	18·0	3·7
Farm structure			…	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·4
Farm capital grant scheme				…	…	…	…	…	61·6	61·6
Co-operation grants			…	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	0·8
Grants for horticulture (national schemes)							…	…	2·8	2·6
Hill livestock compensatory allowances‡						…	…	…	50·4	82·7
Brucellosis eradication incentives					…	…	…	…	12·0	17·2
Others		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	1·6
Total II		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	211·9	225·7
Grand Total				…	…	…	…	…	215·7	224·3
* Expenditure under the milk guarantee arrangements is estimated at £227·6 million in 1976–77 and £134·4 million in 1977–78. This expenditure is attributed to food subsidies.
† Some of this expenditure attracts contributions from the European Guidance and Guarantee Fund. These are mainly received in the following year. In 1977–78, £29·3 million is expected to be received from the Fund as compared with £11·6 million in 1976–77.
‡ Some unavoidable delay in payments of hill livestock compensatory allowances in 1975–76 resulted in a carry-over of £16·4 million into 1976–77.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the latest estimate he has made of the cost in 1977–78 of expenditure by his Department and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland under United Kingdom price guarantees and other grants and subsidies, together with comparable figures for the preceding year.

Following are the details of the latest estimates for the financial year 1977–78 together with the comparable figures for the outturn in the financial year 1976–77.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his examination of the export of live animals for food will be completed; and if he will undertake to publish the report.

My right hon. Friend the Minister hopes to be able to announce the outcome of this examination early next year and would certainly expect to provide the House with a full explanation of the reasons for the Government's conclusions.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will review the rules governing political activities by civil servants to ensure that individuals who are associated with extreme Right-wing organisations such as the National Association for Freedom are not responsible for the positive security vetting of others.

The rules governing the political activities of civil servants are already being reviewed by a committee of inquiry, under the chairmanship of Sir Arthur Armitage, which is expected to report shortly. The establishment of the committee was announced on 19th May 1976 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will state the proportion of school leavers in the academic year 1975–76, expressed as a percentage of the relevant age group, with (a) five or more higher grade O-level or CSE results, and (b) three or more A-level passes.

The proportion of school leavers in 1975–76 with (a) five or more O-level Grades A to C or CSE Grade 1, and (b) 3 or more A-level passes, expressed as a percentage of the relevant age group, is 22·4 and 8·3, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is (a) the percentage of school pupils on fifth form rolls gaining five or more O-levels grades A to C or CSE grade 1 in 1976 and (b) the percentage of their age group still at school gaining three or more A-level passes in 1976.

My Department does not collect statistics in the form required.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she can give an assurance that all schools have regular or frequent fire drills; if she will give details as to the frequency of such drills; and what guidance she has issued to education authorities in this matter.

Local education authorities are responsible for fire safety in educational buildings, and they are advised by my Department that fire drills in schools should be held at least once a year. My Department does not collect information about the number of fire drills held in schools. Detailed guidance about all aspects of fire safety is given in DES Building Bulletin 7, and advice was recently offered in connection with the threatened industrial action in the Fire Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the additional cost of paying a full grant and fees to all students over the age of 18 years in higher education, irrespective of parents' income.

It is estimated that it would cost about £100 million in the current academic year to pay the full grant to higher education students aged 18 or over resident in England and Wales at present receiving awards.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of those who successfully completed their courses at colleges of education in the summer of 1977 have not yet obtained employment within the teaching profession.

Figures are not available for colleges of education separately. The estimated number successfully completing all types of initial teacher training courses in England and Wales in the summer of 1977 was 36,500. Of these, 15,156 had taken up full-time employment as teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England and Wales by 30th September 1977, the latest date for which figures are available. Total figures of those who have obtained employment of any kind within the teaching profession after successfully completing a training course in the summer of 1977 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional funds have been made available to Northamptonshire under the recently announced rate support grant settlement for 1978–79 in pursuance of her statement about availability of funds to pay for employment of more teachers and to finance an expansion of nursery education.

The expenditure forecasts underlying the 1978–79 rate support grant settlement provide a basis nationally to enable local authorities, if they so choose (a) to employ additional teachers for pupils who need remedial education or are otherwise disadvantaged and (b) to increase the number of pupils in nursery schools and in nursery classes in line with an increased nursery building programme for 1978–79. The rate support grant is a block grant in aid of local government expenditure as a whole and it will be a matter for each local authority to examine the implications of the settlement for its own plans and decisions. Authorities will be informed of their grant entitlements for 1978–79 shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether rents and mortgage payments, respectively, are allowable deductions in assessing the entitlement on income grounds of parents for the provision of free school meals for children in England and Wales.

In arriving at net weekly income for the purpose of assessing entitlement to free school meals in England and Wales both rent and mortgage payments may be deducted from gross income. The other main items of expenditure which may be deducted are income tax, national insurance and superannuation contributions, life assurance premiums, rates, and fares to and from work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has to equalise the salary structure of university teachers as compared with teachers in polytechnics; and if she will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 21st November to Questions from the hon. Members for Somerset, North (Mr. Dean). Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) and Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight).—[Vol. 939, c. 509–10.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will detail in the Official Report a list of research projects which have been carried out in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years, funded partly or wholly by public money, carried out directly or indirectly through her Department, relating to the principle of comprehensive education or mixed ability teaching, stating which of these research projects had their findings published and which of the remainder are intended to be made public, and when.

The great majority of educational research is funded directly by the Social Science Research Council, the Schools Council, the National Foundation for Educational Research and individual institutions. The information available to my Department does not enable me to give a fully comprehensive list of all the relevant research carried out under their auspices in the last 10 years and funded partly or wholly by public money. My Department itself has directly commissioned two major studies in this area since 1965, as follows:

(i) A factual inquiry into comprehensive education undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research and others at a cost of £225,000 in the period of 1965–72. This resulted in the following publications:

• Comprehensive Education in Action—T. G. Monks.
• Comprehensive Education in E & W—
• A Survey of Schools and their Organisation—T. G. Monks.
• Comprehensive Schools in Focus—J. Ross and G. Channan.
• A Critical Appraisal of Comprehensive Education—J. Ross and others.
• One School for All—Margaret Cox.

(ii) A study of the social and economic consequences of different patterns of secondary school organisation undertaken by the University of Oxford, Department of Educational Studies at a cost of about £44,000 in the period 1970–77. The following publication has just been issued:

• Ability Grouping—The Banbury Enquiry—D. Newbold.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of uniformed personnel serving in the Royal Navy.

The information requested is as follows:

	30th September 1977
Royal Navy	64,186
Royal Marines	7,547
WRNS	3,289
QARNNS	650
LEP (Non United Kingdom Personnel)	425
Total	76,097

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of seagoing personnel in the Royal Navy.

All active service members of the Royal Navy are liable for sea service. The total number on sea service as at 30th September 1977 was:

Royal Navy	26,047
	(40·6 per cent of total RN)
Royal Marines	344
	(4·5 per cent. of total RM)

In addition, 22 locally enlisted personnel were at sea.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientists are now engaged on research into biological warfare at Porton; what is to be the future establishment; and what was the establishment in 1964, 1970 and 1974.

The number of scientists engaged on biological defence will be reduced next year to about 10. This is substantially fewer than the number currently engaged at MRE Porton. It is not the practice to reveal exact complements of defence R & D establishments, past or present.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which clauses of the defence agreement with Kenya still remain operative.

We have no formal defence agreement with Kenya. There are continuing arrangements, dating from 1964, under which British forces train in Kenya from time to time and under which training assistance is given to Kenyan service personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of empty Ministry of Defence houses in each constituency in (a) Staffordshire, (b) Warwickshire, (c) Shropshire, (d) Worcestershire and (e) the West Midlands Metropolitan County.

The latest available figures show vacant houses administered by units in the following constituencies:

(a) 100 in Lichfield and Tamworth;

(b) 110 in Stafford and Stone;

(c) 140 in Stratford on Avon;

(d) 10 in Rugby;

(e) 40 in The Wrekin;

(f) 330 in Oswestry;

(g) 70 in Hereford;

(h) 100 in Worcester;

(j) 60 in South Worcester;

(k) 70 in South West Staffordshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff at the proposed new Ministry of Defence offices in Cardiff and Glasgow will be recruited from within Wales and Scotland, respectively.

It is too early to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if it is still the Government's intention to disperse Ministry of Defence employees from London to Cardiff and Glasgow; how many posts it is intended will be transferred to Cardiff and Glasgow, respectively; and how many of these posts, respectively, will be filled by employees being transferred from England to Glasgow and Cardiff.

In accordance with the timetable for dispersal of Government work announced in July last, 4,000–5,000 Ministry of Defence posts will be moved to Cardiff and 1,500 posts to Glasgow in 1983–84 and up to a further 4,000 to Glasgow in 1985–86 to 1987–88. It is too early to say how many of these posts will be filled by employees being transferred from England.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will arrange for a party of members of both Houses to visit British forces in Belize.

There would be a number of difficulties in arranging a visit at present, but I should be glad to know from hon. Members who might be interested in such a possibility some time in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of extra jobs which would be provided if the shortages of spare parts for tanks for the Army in Germany were supplied; and what would be the saving in unemployment pay.

The Chieftain tank fleet in BAOR is operationally effective and the supply of spare parts is generally satisfactory.There is, therefore, no reason for special measures to increase the provision of spare parts for these vehicles, and the question of creating extra jobs for this purpose consequently does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take immediate steps to ensure that beds, showering facilities and adequate heating are provided for Her Majesty's Forces engaged in fire duties at the Royal Army Medical Corps training centre in King's Road, Old Trafford, Manchester.

Conditions at the RAMC training centre at Old Trafford are being improved. The central heating is now in operation and will be supplemented by other heating; each man has a camp bed; and the possibility of installing portable showers is under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the cold, uncomfortable accommodation, unequipped with proper washing or showering facilities, currently provided for members of Her Majesty's Forces on fire duty at the Royal Army Medical Corps Training Centre at King's Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, he will authorise the use by the forces of the excellent, heated, well equipped accommodation at the local fire station while it remains unoccupied by the firemen.

No. Improvements are being made as indicated in the answer to another Question from the hon. Member today. Nevertheless, if accommodation offering better facilities can be found, we shall consider using it, but it is not Her Majesty's Government's policy to use fire stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Armed Forces Pay Review Body is free to publish in its reports any conclusion which it has reached as to (a) the shortfall of the level of Service pay compared with other occupations and (b) the resulting hardship suffered by those serving in the Forces; and whether it is free to suggest what would be appropriate rates of pay for the Services even if they cannot be implemented under the Government's pay policy.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the setting up by Sheffield District Council of a monopoly for the sale of tickets for concerts in the City Hall.

No. The Director General of Fair Trading has considered this case and has concluded that there are no powers under the Fair Trading Act to make a reference to the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection in comparing the cost of food in the EEC with that available outside, what weighting is attached to prices for cereals, dairy products, fruit, meat and sugar, in reaching conclusions about the overall effect of EEC membership on food prices in Great Britain.

There is no official estimate of the effect of EEC membership on food prices because it is not possible to estimate reliably how prices might have moved had we not joined the Community. It is not sufficient just to compare the cost of food in the EEC with that available outside. For example, it is clearly difficult to estimate the prices at which we would have been able to buy Commonwealth sugar or New Zealand dairy produce if we were not in the EEC.

				United Kingdom: Percentage change*
				February 1974 to October 1974	October 1974 to February 1975	February 1975 to October 1975	October 1975 to February 1976	February 1976 to October 1976	October 1976 to February 1977	February 1977 to October 1977
Bread	…	…	…	-0·9	8·7	5·7	5·1	16·9	4·9	10·8
Butter	…	…	…	6·4	12·5	20·2	9·7	36·2	17·1	-6·4
Bacon	…	…	…	12·1	5·9	12·6	12·3	3·8	-1·6	5·5
Coal	…	…	…	4·9	20·5	25·2	0·9	20·9	0·3	13·8
Gas	…	…	…	2·2	7·7	9·2	17·7	1·9	9·0	10·7
Electricity		…	…	26·0	7·0	37·5	1·1	16·8	—	12·7
		1968 Sic
Steel†	…	(311, 312)		29·1	16·5	4·2	3·9	25·1	4·3	7·4
Bricks†		(461/2)	…	17·0	11·2	11·8	4·6	11·9	6·7	10·6
* Based on the Retail Price Index (January 1974 equals 100) (Prices relate to mid-months.)
† Based on the output indices of the Wholesale Price Index (1970 equals 100). (Monthly average.)

Corresponding information for the other EEC countries for these periods is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain how and why the retail price of bread flour costs 18 per cent. more than ordinary flour.

I do not consider that it would be appropriate at this stage to

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by what percentage the price of manufactured foodstuffs has increased since June 1975 to the nearest date.

The Wholesale Price Index for home sales of foods—excluding animal and poultry feeds—manufactured in the United Kingdom rose by 47¼ per cent., between June 1975 and October 1977, based on provisional figures for the latest month.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish a table showing the percentage increase in the following commodities, cumulatively, at the end of February and the end of October, in the nine EEC countries; bread, butter, coal, electricity, bacon, bricks, steel and gas.

I understand that the hon. Member is seeking, for each of these commodities, the eight-and four-monthly percentage increases in prices to end-October and end-February respectively from end-February 1974. Available information is as follows:direct the Price Commission to examine flour, the price of which varies according to its type and origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action is being taken to carry out the review of the legislation and institutions governing competition policy; and whether he will make a statement.

The review stems from concern at the increasing concentration of ownership in British industry and the effect that this may be having on the economy, the disappointing results of many mergers and the Government's desire to ensure that competition policy makes its full contribution to improving industrial performance. The review will reflect the fact that competition policy and the industrial strategy are complementary, in that they share the same basic objective of increasing the efficiency of British industry.We have decided to set up an interdepartmental group whose task will be to prepare a preliminary study for Ministers by the spring.The group will carry out a survey of the existing evidence on the causes and consequences of concentration, the factors that encourage mergers and their results, the effects of monopolies, and the effectiveness of the present competition legislation. It will have regard to competition policy in other countries and especially the development of the EEC rules of competition. It will see what lessons can be drawn from the evidence and what further studies may be necessary. It will be giving special attention to the implications of United Kingdom membership of the EEC as well as the increasingly international structure of markets and the generally more competitive international trading environment in which our industry has to operate.The group will concentrate initially on possible changes in mergers and monopoly policy and the way that this is applied in the legislation. It will also make a preliminary assessment of further aspects of competition policy, including restrictive trading practices, and possible changesThe information about the bodies for which I am responsible is detailed below:

	Full-time*	Part-time	Salaried	Fee Paid	Unpaid
Advisory Committee on the Safety of Household Electrical Equipment	—	15	—	—	15
British Hallmarking Council	—	8	—	—	8
Consumer Protection Advisory Committee	—	15	—	15	—
Hearing Aid Council	—	12	—	12	—
Metrication Board	—	13	13	—	—
Monopolies and Mergers Commission	1	23	24	—	—
National Consumer Council	—	17†	17†	—	—
Scottish Consumer Council	—	12	1	11	—
Welsh Consumer Council	—	12	1	11	—
Office of Fair Trading	1	—	1	—	—
Price Commission	1	14	15	—	—
Tate and Lyle Customer Safeguards Committee║	—	7	—	—	7
Nationalised Industries' Consumer Councils:—
Domestic Coal Consumers' Council	—	21	—	—	21
Electricity Consumer Council	—	13‡	1	—	12‡
Eastern Electricity Consultative Council	—	27	1	—	26
East Midlands Electricity Consultative Council	—	20	1	—	19

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will state which of the matters referred to in Parts 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 10 to the Scotland Bill are presently his responsibility.

No matters in Part I of Schedule 10 are directly my responsibility but Group 25—civil law matters—touches upon matters for which I have responsibility.Among the matters listed in Part II of Schedule 10, I am wholly or partly responsible for safety standards of goods; restrictive trade practices and monopolies; regulation of credit; regulation of charges and prices.Certain enactments relating to these matters are listed in Part III of Schedule 10.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish a list of all bodies to which he appoints members other than civil servants, distinguishing between full-time and part-time, salaried, fee paid and unpaid appointments, indicating for each category of appointment the number of such appointees.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 22nd November 1977; Vol. 939, c. 697–8], gave the following information: