Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 16th May 1978

Home Department

One-Way Working

54.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask for a report on the policy of the Metropolitan Police Force regarding refusals to allow one-way working in areas such as Richmond, in yew of the evidence that the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey, has sent to him.

The Commissioner of Police has been asked for a report, and my noble Friend the Minister of State will reply to the hon. Member's letter as soon as he can.

Official Secrets Act (Prosecutions)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place during the last five years under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act; how many of these prosecutions took place under Section 1 of the Act; and how many persons prosecuted were acquitted.

In the five years 1972 to 1976, 11 persons were proceeded against in England and Wales for offences under the Official Secrets Acts 1911 and 1920, five of whom were not convicted of any such offence. Six of the 11 were charged under Section 1 of the 1911 Act, of whom three were not convicted of a Section 1 offence. Figures for 1977 are not yet available.

Police (Recruitment)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking, in the light of the fact that the Chief Constable of Suffolk has reported a large increase in crime, to assist the Suffolk Police Authority to recruit enough new men and women to bring the size of the force up to its establishment of 1,086.

Recruitment to the Suffolk Constabulary is a matter for the Chief Constable. My Department supports the recruiting effort of all police forces in England and Wales by a programme of publicity, including advertising in the national Press. Budget provision for national recruitment publicity in 1978–79, subject to parliamentary approval, has been increased to £793,000, which is £200,000 more than for the last financial year.

Metropolitan Police (Divisional Crime Squads)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds divisional crime squads of the Metropolitan Police were disbanded at the end of April; and how long a period is likely to elapse before the new sub-divisional squads will become fully operational.

Crime squads and their disposition are operational matters for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Equal Opportunities Commission

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the salaries of the staff and the other total costs annually of the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Expenditure on salaries and administration costs of the Equal Opportunities Commission since its inception have been as follows:

1975–76 (total for part year)

£118,870

	Salaries, fees	Other costs
1976–77	£457,500	£392,930
1977–78 (estimated)	£680,000	£897,000

Prison Department Standing Orders

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to issue the new section of Prison Department Standing Orders and in particular those dealing with inmates' privileges.

Consultations are taking place, but I hope that the revised section on privileges will be issued soon.

Crime (Staffordshire)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage the crime rate has increased in Staffordshire in each year since 1970.

The information available is given below. Comparable annual figures are available only from 1975 because of the local government reorganisation on 1st April 1974.

Indictable offences^ recorded by the Staffordshire Police*
Year	Percentage increase over previous year
1976	6
1977	11
^* Excluding offences of "other criminal damage" value £20 and under.

Vandalism (Staffordshire)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the annual increase in crimes of vandalism in Staffordshire in each year since 1970.

There is no specific criminal offence of vandalism. The information available on offences of criminal damage is given in the following table which gives increases for only the last two years because comparable annual figures are available only from 1975 following local government reorganisation on 1st April 1974.

OFFENCES OF CRIMINAL DAMAGE^* RECORDED BY THE STAFFORDSHIRE POLICE
	Increase over previous year
Year	Number	Percentage
1976	272	24
1977	305	22
^* Excluding damage value £20 and under.

Parliamentary Questions (Incorrect Answers)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the longest and most convenient period of time the number of occasions where he has answered parliamentary Questions giving details and figures which subsequently he found to be incorrect where he has written to the Member to explain and apologise; and in how many such cases he arranged for the hon. Member to put a further parliamentary Question for correction purposes rather than insert a correction into the bound volume of the Official Report.

In the 1976–77 Session, a total of 2,138 Parliamentary Questions were answered by Home Office Ministers in the House of Commons. Of this total, five were discovered to contain factual errors and in each case a letter of apology was sent to the hon. Member concerned giving the correct information. In two of the cases the hon. Members were invited to table a further question; in the other three cases the correction was made in the Bound Volume of the Official Report.In the present Session—up to 15th May—of the 1,811 Parliamentary Questions answered by Home Office Ministers, four have been found to contain factual errors and in each case the correction has been or will be made in the Bound Volume of the

Official Report.

British Broadcasting Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, before granting his authority to the BBC to increase the cost of television licences, he will insist that it should not in the future, as in the past, incur expenditure such as spending £40 on taxis from London to the North of England to obtain spiders when such spiders can be obtained in London, without wasting the licence money as is now admitted by the BBC.

No.

Criminal Law Act 1977

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to bring into force Section 62 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

Under the Criminal Law Act 1977 (Commencement No. 5) Order 1977 which I made today, Section 62 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 will come into force on 19th June. Copies of a Home Office circular to chief officers of police about the operation of the section have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Parliamentary Constituencies

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the figures, by reference to the electoral register which came into operation in February last, of the 20 constituencies in England with, respectively, the highest and lowest electorates, specifying the same, and the number and percentage by which each exceeds, or falls short of, as the case may be, the prescribed electoral quota of 67,533.

Provisional figures for the 1978 register, including numbers and percentages by which each constituency exceeds or falls short of the electoral quota, will be published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in an OPCS monitor in a few weeks' time. Such constituencies on the 1977 register may be identified from Table 3 of "Electoral Statistics 1977" published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

Advisory Bodies

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the advisory bodies which report to him.

The information is as follows:

Police Advisory Board.
Committee of Inquiry on the Police.
Standing Committee on Crime Prevention.
Police Training Council.
Police Promotions Examinations Board.
Police College Board of Governors.
Training Centres Committee of the Central Conference of Chief Constables.
Traffic Committee of the Central Conference of Chief Constables.
The Working Party on the Administration of the Broadcast Receiving Licensing System.
Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council for England and Wales.
Standing Advisory Committee on Cinematograph (Safety) Regulations.
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Prisons Board.
Advisory Council on the Administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.
Parole Board for England and Wales.
Standing Committee on Probation Manpower Needs
Criminal Statistics Committee.
Advisory Council on Race Relations.
Race Relations Research Advisory Committee.
Advisory Council on the Penal System.
Criminal Law Revision Committee.
Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences.
Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship.
Frequency Advisory Committee.
Mobile Radio Committee.
Advisory Committee on Radio Interference.
Advisory Committee under the First Schedule to the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (Ships radio operators: Appeals against revocation of authority to operate).

Advisory Board on Restricted Patients.
Mental Health Review Tribunals.
Data Protection Committee.

Education And Science

Victoria And Albert Museum

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether she will make a statement about the future administration of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

My right hon. Friend is considering the advice about the status of the museum which she is receiving from a number of quarters, but will take no action without full consultation.

Further Education (Handicapped Persons)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has to improve provision for handicapped young people in further education.

My right hon. Friend will consider this provision in the light of the recommendations of the Warnock Report.

Comprehensive Reorganisation

11.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the progress made in the last four years in requiring local authorities to introduce schemes for comprehensive education.

Comprehensive schools and middle schools deemed secondary now provide for just over 80 per cent. of all secondary school children compared with 62 per cent. in 1974, but I shall not be satisfied until all schools are reorganised.

School Inspections

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools she estimates will be inspected by members of Her Majesty's Inspectorate in the current year.

Her Majesty's Inspectors are undertaking programmed inspections in about 700 schools during the academic year ending 31st August 1978. In addition a much larger number of schools are being visited on a less formal basis, but it is impossible to estimate their number.

Illiteracy (Unesco Campaign)

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from UNESCO to join with the arrangements being made for 8th September 1978 as a focal day for the campaign to combat illiteracy.

No representations have yet been received in respect of 1978.

Cardinal Wiseman School, Ealing

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received about the proposed reorganisation of Cardinal Wiseman School, Ealing; and what replies she has sent.

The Ealing authority notified my right hon. Friend on 17th April that they were in dispute with the Governors of Cardinal Wiseman School about the number of pupils to be admitted to the school this year. The authority asked the Secretary of State to determine the dispute, using her powers under Section 67 of the Education Act 1944. I understand that the local authority has been reconsidering the question; I hope that it may be possible for agreement to be reached locally, so that the notice of dispute can be withdrawn.

Boarding Schools

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are attending private boarding schools at public expense; and if she will make a statement.

About 30,000 pupils attend independent and direct grant schools as boarders with full or partial support from public funds, including the children of Service men and other Crown servants and handicapped and other pupils assisted by local education authorities. Exact information is not currenty available but is being collected.

Student Grants

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial support is available from central funds for the maintenance of over-16 year olds who leave school for full-time educational and training courses.

The main central source of funds for young people over 16 on full-time educational and training courses is the Manpower Services Commission, through its youth oportunities programme and various training awards schemes. Young people in full-time education may receive awards from their parent local authorities: expenditure on such awards attracts rate support grant from central Government funds. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 12th May—[Vol. 949, c. 617]—and the answer given earlier today.

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will take steps to make provisions for mandatory means-tested maintenance allowances for young people aged between 16 and 19 years who continue in full-time education, whether under the school or further education regulations.

I share my hon. Friend's concern about the opportunities for this age group and refer him to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 12th May—[Vol. 949, c. 617]—and the answer given earlier today.

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she held before announcing the level of student maintenance grants for the academic year 1978–79.

My Department consulted the local authority associations, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the National Union of Students.

Corporal Punishment

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice has been given to head teachers about the use of corporal punishment in schools; and if she will make a statement.

Such advice is primarily a matter for local education authorities, and I understand that about two-thirds of the authorities in England have regulations or issue guidance to teachers about the use of corporal punishment. I regret that corporal punishment continues to be used in schools and look forward to its disappearance.

Nursery Education

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that sufficient use is being made of surplus accommodation in primary schools to extend the availability of nursery education.

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied, but there has nevertheless been substantial progress. Since 1974 more than 1,500 new nursery classes have been established, providing places for an extra 62,000 children. She believes that authorities are well aware of the economic merits of using surplus primary school space for nursery education.

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has to develop the provision of nursery education within the Lancashire area through further capital input in 1979–80.

My right hon. Friend can make resources available nationally only for the development of nursery education. It is for each local education authority to decide whether to make use of the resources provided. Lancashire, in common with other LEAs, will be invited later in the year to bid for capital allocations from the 1979–80 nursery education building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy towards the proposal for a voluntary contribution from parents whose children attend nursery schools, in the light of the scheme proposed by the Bedfordshire Education Authority which is due to begin on 8th May.

Section 61 of the Education Act 1944 make it quite clear that nursery education must be provided free of charge. There is, however, nothing to stop an LEA which is so inclined from accepting gifts of money and, it would seem, from setting up collecting boxes for the receipt of such gifts. But if it does so, it must leave parents in no doubt that they are under no obligation to make a contribution in respect of the education that their child is receiving. The appropriate way for local authorities to raise funds to provide the services needed for their area is through the rate demand. I hope that we shall not see the spread of collecting boxes or anything which might be construed as soliciting for money.

School Governing And Managing Bodies

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the implementation of the Taylor Report.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier today to a Question by the hon. Member for Carshalton (Mr. Forman).

Absenteeism

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the level of absenteeism by the children in London's secondary schools.

My Department does not regularly collect statistics on absences from school. A survey of attendance at all middle and secondary schools in England and Wales in January 1974 showed that about 10 per cent. of pupils were absent on the day of the survey—just over 2 per cent. of whom had no known legitimate reason.

School Transport

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether consultations with local education authorities have yet begun on the recent report on school transport.

There have been preliminary discussions at official level with representatives of the local authority associations.

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost to local authorities in England and Wales of reducing from three miles to two miles the distance laid down in the Education Act 1944 within which free transport has to be provided for school children.

At least £25 million a year.

Comprehensive Schools

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many comprehensive schools are operating in two or more buildings which were previously separate schools.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. Information collected in 1975 and 1976 for the study of school building showed that 20 per cent. of secondary schools, or 1,000 in all, were on two or more sites.

Independent Schools

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to prevent the establishment of funds for the provision by local authorities of places at independent schools in the light of the proposal by Greater Manchester Council to provide, at a cost of £2 million, free or assisted scholarships for attendance at independent schools within the county.

I deplore the Greater Manchester Council's decision to establish this unnecessary scheme, but the council is not a local education authority and I have no power to intervene in its use of its powers under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.

47.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils were being educated at independent schools recognised by her Department during 1977.

In January 1977 there were 326,832 full- and part-time pupils in independent schools recognised as efficient. Arrangements for the recognition of independent schools as efficient ended on 30th April 1978.

Student Unions (Finance)

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations she has now received about her proposals for the reform of student union financing.

Following consultations with interested parties, my Department issued on 15th May a discussion paper suggesting possible new arrangements for the financing of student unions to be introduced at the start of the academic year 1979–80. Copies of this discussion paper have been placed in the Library. My right hon. Friend will be glad to receive views on the proposed new arrangements from as wide a range of interests as possible.

Gifted Children

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she is taking to improve educational provision for gifted children.

Arrangements for the education of gifted children are the responsibility of individual local education authorities. Her Majesty's Inspectorate continues to provide advice and information by means of publications, conferences and courses.

Literacy (Bullock Report)

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further action she is taking to implement the Bullock Report on literacy.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend gave to his Question on 14th February—[Vol. 944, c. 188.] In addition, I have invited local education authorities to provide, in their responses to my Department's Circular 14–77, an account of the steps they have taken to promote the development in their schools of coherent policies for language development in the light of the Bullock Report.

University Teachers (Pay)

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she now expects to approve the phasing of the settlement relating to the outstanding pay anomaly of university teachers.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for East Kilbride (Dr. Miller) on 5th May.—[Vol. 949, c. 289–90.]

Further Education

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a further statement on 16 to 19-years' old education.

My right hon. Friend attaches great importance to provision for this age group and will continue to work closely with local education authorities and other interested bodies to improve the opportunities available to it. A great deal of important work is going ahead, including the appraisal and development of courses and examinations in schools and further education, the evolution of new concepts of vocational preparation for those who traditionally receive little or no systematic training or further education after 16, and special programmes and initiatives for the young unemployed.

Pre-School Playgroups Association

40.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she last met representatives of the Pre-School Playgroups Association.

My right hon. Friend has not done so but I met national representatives at the Department on 3rd May 1977. I met local representatives when I addressed the annual general meeting of the Kent County Pre-School Playgroups Association (Sheppey Branch) on 13th May 1978.

National Union Of Teachers

41.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she last met representatives of the National Union of Teachers.

I attended the union's annual conference during the Easter Recess.

Road Safety

43.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will send a circular to schools suggesting the giving of further instruction on road safety.

No. My Department's booklet "Health Education in Schools", which was widely distributed at the end of last year, drew specific attention to the need to safeguard against accidents of all kinds, including the promotion of road safety.

Secondary School Pupils

42.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of pupils are staying on at secondary schools after the leaving age, and for how long.

In January 1977—the latest date for which information is available—28·7 per cent. of pupils aged 16 years remained at secondary schools in England and Wales beyond the compulsory school age. Of these, about 10 per cent. are expected to remain at school for up to one additional year and about 16 per cent. are likely to remain for two years. The small residual is likely to remain for up to three years.

Special Education

44.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from parents of children who require special education outside their local authority areas, where financial support from these local education authorities is not forthcoming.

My right hon. Friend has during the last 12 months received 20 letters from parents who consider that their children have special educational needs which could best be met by attendance at a school outside their local education authorities area. In most of these cases local education authorities have declined to give financial support because, in their view, education suitable to the child's needs can be provided in schools maintained by them.

Works Of Art

45.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further steps she is prepared to take as Minister with responsibility for the Arts, to prevent valuable works of art and historic items which form part of the British heritage being sold for export abroad.

I have recently announced very large increases in the acquisition grants for the national museums and galleries and the acquisition funds for local museums and galleries administered by the Victoria and Albert and Science Museums. In addition a further £1 million a year, at 1977 prices, will be available for the purchase of heritage objects with effect from 1979–80. Besides this there are the provisions for relief from capital transfer tax and capital gains tax and the export control on works of art, etc.

Open University Students

46.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has for encouraging a broader social structure among students of the Open University.

My right hon. Friend greatly welcomes the efforts being made by the Open University through publicity, its advisory services, links with industry and the trade unions, and special short courses with wide appeal, to attract students from a broader range of social classes.

Broadcasting (Education Functions)

48.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussion she has had with the broadcasting authorities about the education functions of the media.

My right hon. Friend has meetings from time to time with the director general of the BBC and with the chairman of the IBA. My Department and Her Majesty's Inspectorate keep in regular touch with the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Broadcasting Authority through representation on their educational councils.

Pre-1900 Schools

49.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of children on the roll of schools built before 1900 at the latest available date; and what was the number four years ago.

From the recent school building survey it is estimated that in January 1975, 1·9 million pupils in maintained primary, middle and secondary schools in England and Wales were in schools some or all of whose buildings dated from before 1903. About 1·4 million of these pupils were in primary schools. No comparable information is available for other recent years.

Comprehensive Education (Tameside)

51.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to receive the plans for comprehensive education in Tameside, in view of the political departure of the chairman of the education committee.

I have noted that the chairman of Tameside Education Committee was not re-elected in the recent local government elections. I have already received Tameside's reorgansation plans and I shall shortly be writing again to the authority.

Mathematics Teaching

50.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will announce further details relating to the inquiry into the teaching of mathematics already announced.

I am considering the composition of the committee.

University Teachers (Retirement)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the terms for the early retirement scheme for university teachers will be announced; and whether she will make a statement.

The universities' superannuation scheme already provides for the payment of accrued benefits to members retiring from the age of 50, at their employer's request, or from 60 in the case of retirement with the consent of the employer. Discussions are continuing on arrangements for the discretionary enhancement of accrued pension, where academic staff accept early retirement in the managerial interest of their employers. These discussions are necessarily complicated, but I appreciate the importance of an early agreement.

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Lancaster

60.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the ministerial responsibilities of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has overall responsibility for the work of the Duchy of Lancaster Office. He is, at my request, making a special study of the problems of small firms. More generally, my right hon. Friend acts as my adviser on economic and financial matters.

Marine Pollution

59.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the degree of co-ordination between the Ministry of Defence, the Department of the Environment and the Department of Trade in respect of problems of marine pollution.

Yes, but if my hon. Friend has any particular problem in mind, I will arrange for it to be considered.

Nationalised Industries

61.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the chairmen of the nationalised industries.

I keep in touch with heads of the nationalised industries both at NEDC and on other occasions. I have no plans at present for a further meeting.

Prime Minister (Engagements)

62.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16th May.

66.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official appointments for Tuesday 16th May.

68.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th May.

71.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16th May.

74.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 16th May.

75.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16th May.

76.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th May.

77.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th May.

79.

asked the Prime Minister of he will list his official engagements for 16th May.

83.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16th May.

84.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 16th May.

85.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for Tuesday 16th May.

86.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th May.

89.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16th May.

92.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th May.

93.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th May.

96.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 16th May.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Lewis).

Tuc And Cbi

64.

asked the Prime Minister when next he intends to meet the leaders of the TUC.

67.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

94.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 25th April.

90.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects next to meet the CBI and the TUC.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Ward) on 11th May.

Queen's Regulations

63.

asked the Prime Minister if there is a copy of Queen's Regulations for the Army, supplied at public expense, in the library at No. 10 Downing Street.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley).

Ministry Of Defence (Inquiry)

65.

asked the Prime Minister whether, pursuant to his statement that if he found the source of the leak regarding Service pay and related matters, he would instruct the Secretary of State for Defence to take appropriate action, Official Report, 27th April 1978, column 1637, he has now found the source and instructed the Secretary of State accordingly; and whether he will make a statement.

69.

asked the Prime Minister whether, pursuant to his statement that if he found the source of the leak regarding Service pay and related matters he would instruct the Secretary of State for Defence to take appropriate action, Official Report, 27th April, column 1637, he has now found the force and instructed the Secretary of State accordingly; and if he will make a statement.

73.

asked the Prime Minister if, pursuant to his statement, Official Report, 27th April 1978, column 1637, that if he found the source of the leak regarding Service pay and related matters, he would instruct the Secretary of State for Defence to take appropriate action, he has now found the source and invited the Secretary of State to take appropriate action.

80.

asked the Prime Minister whether, pursuant to his statement that if he found the source of the leak regarding Service pay and related matters he would invite the Secretary of State for Defence to take appropriate action, Official Report, 27th April. column 1637, he has now found the source and invited the Secretary of State accordingly; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is answering a Question on these matters today.

asked the Prime Minister whether the inquiries in the Ministry of Defence about the sources of the allegation in The Times of 27th April, that he had refused to see the Chiefs of Staff, and the Press Association report of 18th April about the numbers of Service personnel leaving or wishing to leave the Services, have been completed.

I have been asked to reply.Yes. I have inquired into both these matters and my inquiries are completed.As regards the allegation in

The Times. the source has not been identified.

The details published in the Press Association report, which gave some selective information about departures from the Services, were given to the Press Association by Service sources with the authority of the Chiefs of Staff. I have told the Chiefs of Staff that they should have sought the authority of Ministers in this matter. The Chiefs of Staff have accepted this and accordingly I regard the matter as closed.

Prime Minister (Speech)

82.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech on wage restraint to the policy conference of the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff at Eastbourne on 1st May.

91.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his May Day speech to the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff on wage restraint.

95.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his May Day speech on wages policy to the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff in Eastbourne.

I did so on 3rd May.

Aylesbury

88.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Aylesbury.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Walsall

70.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit the Beechdale Estate, Walsall.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Tamworth

72.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to visit Tamworth.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Luxembourg (Prime Minister)

78.

asked the Prime Minister when he now expects to meet the Luxembourg Prime Minister.

I expect to meet M. Thorn at the North Atlantic Council Meeting in Washington on 30th and 31st May.

Denmark (Prime Minister)

81.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to have his next meeting with the Prime Minister of Denmark.

I expect to meet Mr. Jorgensen at the North Atlantic Council Meeting in Washington on 30th and 31st May.

France (President)

87.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the French President.

At the meeting of the European Council on 7th and 8th April.

Scotland

Devolution (Health Services)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what latest representations he has had from the Scottish Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners regarding its disagreement with proposals for health treatment in the Scotland Bill.

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of a circular letter issued by the Royal College of General Practitioners, Scottish Council expressing the view that health care services should continue to be subject, after devolution, to the same regulations and standards throughout the United Kingdom.

Melanoma

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of skin cancer from moles occurred in Scotland in the last year for which there are figures.

It is assumed that the question relates to melanoma. According to the Scottish Cancer Register, the provisional figure of the number of new patients in Scotland with a diagnosis of malignant melanoma of skin in 1975 was 138–43 male and 95 female.

Births, Marriages And Deaths (Registrars' Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current remuneration for registrars of births, marriages and deaths; and when were the last two occasions on which this remuneration was revised.

Registrars who are full-time employees of local registration authorities are paid in accordance with their placing on the salary and grading structure for local authority administrative, professional and clerical staffs; these scales were last revised on 1st July 1977 and 1st July 1976. The recommended remuneration for part-time registrars is £64 per annum, plus £4·75 for every second entry in the registers up to 100 and £4·75 for every third entry over 100. This scale, which was last revised on 1st January 1975 and 1st January 1972, is under review at present.

Intestacy

asked the Attorney-General if he is satisfied with the operation of law governing intestacy disposition where the deceased testator was separated at death

HIGH COURT BENCH

(Excluding Heads of Divisions)

Name

Age as a 27.4.78

School

Appointed

Ackner

…

Highgate School

…

11.1.1971

Arnold

…

Wellington College

…

6.11.1972

Balcombe

…

Winchester

…

7.3.1977

Boreham

…

Bungay Grammar

…

10.1.1972

Brandon

…

Winchester

…

30.9.1966

Brightman

…

Marlborough

…

8.6.1970

Bristow

…

Eton

…

30.9.1970

Kilner Brown

…

Kingswood School

…

24.1.1970

Stephen Brown

…

Malvern College

…

30.9.1975

Browne-Wilkinson

…

Lancing College

…

18.4.1977

Bush

…

King Edward VI High School, Birmingham

…

29.11.1976

Cantley

…

Manchester Grammar School

…

8.1.1965

Caulfield

…

St. Francis Xavier's College, Liverpool

15.3.1968

Chapman

…

Westminster

…

18.4.1966

Comyn

…

Oratory School, Reading

…

9.1.1978

Croom-Johnson

…

Stowe School

…

19.4.1971

Michael Davies

…

King Edward's School, Birmingham

…

11.1.1973

Donaldson

…

Charterhouse

…

30.9.1966

Drake

…

St. George's School, Harpenden

…

3.3.1978

Dunn

…

Wellington College

…

13.1.1969

Forbes

…

Rossall

…

30.9.1970

Foster

…

Rugby

…

3.6.1969

Fox

…

Drayton Manor School. Hanwell

…

30.9.1975

Gibson

…

Charterhouse

…

21.2.1977

Goff

…

Eton

…

20.10.1975

Goulding

…

Merchant Taylors

…

10.3.1971

Graham

…

Shrewsbury

…

27.1.1969

Griffiths

…

Charterhouse

…

11.1.1971

Heilbron

…

Belvedere School

…

1.10.1974

Hodgson

…

Malvern College

…

30.9.1977

Hollings

…

Leys School, Cambridge

…

19.4.1971

Jones

…

Brigg Grammar School

…

11.1.1974

Jupp

…

Perse School, Cambridge

…

30.9.1975

Kerr

…

Aldenham School

…

11.4.1972

Lane

…

Malvern Girls' College

…

1.10.1965

Latey

…

Westminster

…

9.1.1965

Lawson

…

Not known

…

19.4.1971

Lloyd

…

Eton

…

9.1.1978

Mais

…

Shrewsbury

…

19.4.1971

Mars-Jones

…

Denbigh County School

…

4.3.1969

May

…

Clifton College

…

10.1.1972

Megarry

…

Lancing College

…

2.10.1967

but not divorced from the surviving spouse.

To the best of my knowledge the law referred to by my hon. Friend operates satisfactorily.

High Court Judges

asked the Solicitor-General if he will publish in the Official Report the details sent by the Lord Chancellor to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth pursuant to the reply of 2nd May on the subject of High Court Judges.

The details for which my hon. Friend has asked are as follows:

Name

Age as at 27.4.78

School

Appointed

Milmo

…

Downside

…

11.1.1964

Mocatta

…

Clifton College

…

2.10.1961

Neill

…

Highgate School

…

3.4.1978

Nield

…

Harrow

…

21.11.1960

O'Connor

…

Downside

…

30 9.1966

Oliver

…

The Leys, Cambridge

…

1.10.1974

Pain

…

Westminster

…

30.9.1975

Park

…

Blundell's, Tiverton

…

14.6.1965

Parker

…

Eton

…

11.1.1977

Payne

…

Hymers College, Hull

…

6.4.1962

Phillips

…

Rugby

…

30.9.1971

Purchas

…

Marlborough

…

22.4.1974

Reeve

…

Winchester

…

11.1.1973

Sheldon

…

Winchester

…

3.3.1978

Slade

…

Eton

…

24.11.1975

Slynn

…

Goldsmiths College

…

10.6.1976

Smith

…

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Royal Grammar School

…

10.4 1978

Melford Stevenson

…

Dulwich College

…

1.10.1957

Stocker

…

Westminster

…

4.6.1973

Swanwick

…

Winchester

…

4.7.1966

Talbot

…

Haileybury College

…

30.9.1968

Templeman

…

Southall Grammar School

…

2.10.1972

Thesiger

…

Greshams School, Holt

…

30.9.1958

Thompson

…

Bellahouston Academy, Glasgow

…

2.10.1961

Tudor Evans

…

Cardiff High School

…

21.6.1974

Walton

…

Dulwich College

…

11.1.1973

Waterhouse

…

Holywell Grammar School

…

9.1.1978

Watkins

…

Pontypridd Grammar School

…

19.4.1971

Whitford

…

University College School, Hampstead

12.1.1970

Wien

…

Cardiff High School

…

30.9.1970

Willis

…

Lancing College

…

18.4.1966

Wood

…

Shrewsbury

…

30.9.1977

Mr Leslie Chapman

asked the Attorney-General whether he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to prosecution under the Official Secrets Act the book "Your disobedient servant" by Mr. Leslie Chapman and the public statements by Mr. Chapman, a former senior civil servant.

I have made no such decision.

"The Government Record" (Dossier)

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the cost to public funds of producing the dossier "The Government Record"; how many Government Departments have contributed to it; how many civil servants in each have been engaged in this work; and how many copies of the dossier are being printed.

600 copies of the dossier "The Government Record" were printed, at a cost of £655. Twenty Government Departments contributed to it but it is not possible to apportion staff numbers or costs directly attributable to "The Government Record", since it is only one of a number of uses for which these facts and figures are collected.

Rent Arrears (Distraint)

asked the Attorney-General (1) what action has been taken to implement the recommendations, in 1969, of the Payne Commission on the enforcement of judgment debt which concluded that distress for rent should be abolished:(2) what action has been taken by the Government following the publication, in 1966, of the Law Commission interim report on distress for rent which recommended that distress for rent without the leave of court should be abolished.

Several recommendations of the Payne Report (Cmnd. 3909) have already been implemented. The recommendation to abolish distress for rent, however, is conditional upon the establishment of an integrated enforcement system. There is no early prospect of establishing such a system, having regard in particular to the resources now available. Leave of the court to levy distress on premises subject to the Rent Acts is already required. The Government have no present plans to extend this requirement.

Environment

Local Government Finance (Value For Money Proposals)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the local authority associations about the proposals on value for money contained in the Green Paper on Local Government Finance, Cmnd. Paper No. 6813; and if he will make a statement.

I have discussed the proposals in Chapter 7 of the Green Paper on Local Government Finance (Cmnd. 6813) with the representatives of the local authority associations, and with their co-operation my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I propose to set up a body, to be known as the Advisory Committee on Local Government Audit, with the following terms of reference:

"(i) to consider the annual report of the Chief Inspector of Audit and any questions arising from it which are of general public interest or concern, whether in the field of value for money or otherwise; and to make general recommendations to local authorities and to central government as it thinks fit; and

(ii) to invite information and submissions on comparative and other value for money studies from local authorities and their Associations and from other agencies concerned; and in the light of this and other information to advise on the need for such studies and arrangements for carrying them out."

My right hon. and learned Friend and I shall appoint an independent chairman, three independent members and five members from nominees provided by the local authority associations and the GLC. It is envisaged that the Comptroller and Auditor General will normally participate in the meetings, although statutorily he cannot be appointed a member of such a committee. All members will be appointed for an initial period of three years.The committee will make its reports, which will be published, to the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance.

General Development (Amendment) Order 1977

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his intention to proceed with the General Development (Amendment) Order 1977; if so, when; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering what might be included in a revised order in the light of the various representations received.

Palace Of Westminster (Cleaning And Restoration)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects that the cleaning and restoration of the exterior of the Palace of Westminster will commence, as recommended by the Third Report from the Select Committee of the House of Commons (Services) dated 14th March 1978; which parts of the Palace will be cleaned and restored; and what he expects the costs will be.

It is too early for me to give a commencement date. This is an expensive project and I must consider, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Lord President, and, if necessary, with officials of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether or how we are to fund it. If, as recommended by the Select Committee of the House of Commons (Services), the whole of the building is treated over a three-year period, the cost would be of the order of £3·5 million.

Desalination

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, bearing in mind the size of the fluoridation market for desalination plants, he will set up a desalination working party to consider research and development as related to possible overseas projects.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend gave to him on 2nd May—[Vol. 949, c. 26.] Research and development for overseas desalination projects is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry.

Council For Small Industries In Rural Areas

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to increase the maximum limit of a Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas loan from £30,000 to £50,000.

A proposal to increase the limit for a loan from £30,000 to £50,000, has been put forward by the Development Commission and is under consideration.

Club Facilities (Commercial Use)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with local clubs and local authorities for the use of their facilities by the community; and if he will make a statement.

My colleagues and I are attending the series of conferences which the regional councils for sport and recreation are holding at my request on the future of leisure provision. Making the fullest use of resources in the interests of the community is a central feature of these conferences. I shall make an announcement about follow up action in due course.

"An Office In Britain"

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he allowed reference to the privately-owned Wembley Conference Centre, but not the publicly-owned National Exhibition Centre, in the publication "An Office in Britain".

The design and content of the bureau's advertising brochure "An Office in Britain" were matters for the bureau and its advisers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the purpose of the publication "An Office in Britain".

An Order in Council, which came into force in August 1977, extended the bureau's terms of reference to include the attraction of international concerns to locate office employment in Great Britain. "An Office in Britain" is the bureau's first international brochure and launches an overseas campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why there is no reference to the facilities of Birmingham in the publication "An Office in Britain".

Questions of detailed content are for the bureau, but as the booklet itself explains it mainly

"outlines the advantages of Britain as an office centre and answers the first questions which arise for any firm considering the location of an office in Britain".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of "An Office in Britain" have been produced; and at what cost.

I am advised that the bureau has produced 10,000 copies of its booklet at a cost of £9,984.

Mobile Homes (Sales)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Mobile Homes Act 1975, so as to clarify the position whereby a tenant who sells his mobile home is obliged to pay the site owner a percentage of the sale value of the contents of the mobile home, including furniture; and if he will make a statement.

In my view there is nothing in the Act to suggest that items of moveable furniture and other contents need be included in the sale price of a mobile home and if they are not no question of commission appears to arise.

Gravel Extraction

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in each of the last 15 years his Department has overruled a county council decision to refuse planning permission for gravel extraction; and if he will indicate the counties to which these decisions relate.

The number of occasions on which appeals were allowed in each of the years 1963 to 1977 against refusal by local planning authorities of planning permission for the working of gravel or of sand and gravel are shown on the attached list, together with the counties in which the sites were situated. The list includes appeals allowed against decisions of borough of district councils acting on behalf of county councils prior to 1st April 1974.

1963
Bucks	1
Devon	1
Durham	1
Herts	2
Hunts	1
Kent	2
Leics	1
Middlesex	3
Peterborough	1
East Suffolk	1
Surrey	1
	15
1964
Cheshire	1
Essex	1
Herts	2
Hunts	1
Kent	2
Middlesex	1
Salop	1
	9
1965
Hereford	1
Herts	1
Kent	1
Lancs	1
Notts	2
Surrey	1
Warks	1
	8
1966
Bucks	2
GLC	1
Bexley LB	1
Hants	1
Hunts	1
Kent	1
Notts	1
Oxon	1
W Suffolk	1
Warks	3
Surrey	2
	15
1967
Beds	1
Hants	1
Herts	1
Kent	1
Salop	1
Staffs	1
W Suffolk	1
W Sussex	1
NR Yorks	1
	9
1968
Berks	3
Derbys	1
Dorset	3
GLC	2

Kent	1
Staffs	1
Warks	1
NR Yorks	1
	13
1969
Essex	1
Hants	1
Leics	1
Northumberland	1
	4
1970
Berks	1
Durham	1
Leics	1
Lincs (Kesteven)	1
Surrey	1
	5
1971
Herts	1
Oxon	1
W Suffolk	1
Surrey	1
	4
1972
Essex	1
Hants	1
Herts	1
	3
1973
Nil
1974
Reading CBC	1
1975
Herts	1
1976
GLC	1
Kent	1
Lincs	1
Norfolk	1
Northants	1
Warks	1
	6
1977
Kent	1
Surrey	2
	3

Location Of Offices Bureau

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, how many staff the Location of Offices Bureau has; and how many of these are based outside (a) London and (b) the South-East Region.

The Location of Offices Bureau has only one office, which is in London, and has a staff of 15.

Minister Of Housing And Construction (Merseyside Visit)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the visit of the Minister of Housing and Construction to Merseyside.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his meeting with councillors from the Wirral last week to discuss their inner area programme.

I visited the Wirral on Thursday 11th May. In the morning I met representatives and officers of the Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, the Merseyside County Council and the Wirral Area Health Authority to discuss the progress being made in the preparation of the Wirral's first inner area programme. The discussions were very helpful in explaining the approach adopted by the borough council to the analysis of needs and determination of priorities.In the afternoon I had a meeting with representatives of all the district councils in Merseyside and Cheshire, together with observers from the two county councils, about the operation of housing strategy and investment programmes. There was a useful exchange of views, which should help both central and local government in working and improving the system.

Wirral (Inner Area Programme)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which parts of the Wirral have an inner area programme.

The Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council intends in the first instance to concentrate on the inner area of Wallasey and Birkenhead on the east side of the borough stretching from New Brighton to Rock Ferry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of those inner area programmes in the Wirral, specifying the nature of the programmes and the level of Government assistance to each.

Wirral is one of the 15 non-partnership authorities which have been invited to draw up comprehensive programmes of action for tackling the problems of their inner areas. They can expect to benefit from the new priority being given to such areas in main spending programmes and have already benefited in this way through the cash allocations made under the housing investment programme system for 1978–79 and through additional sums made available for construction works. Along with others, Wirral will gain extra powers to assist with industrial regeneration under the Inner Urban Areas Bill, and it can expect to receive an allocation from the urban aid programme of about £1½ million per year between 1979–80 and 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environmment what are the differences in strategy between the Wirral inner area programme and the inner area programme for Liverpool.

It is too early to say what differences of approach might emerge in these programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the inner area programme for the Wirral relates to the comprehensive community programme already announced for that area.

In preparing its inner area programme, Wirral has drawn on earlier work carried out in the context of proposals for a comprehensive community programme, which has not been pursued as such.

Rent Arears (Distraint)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to introduce legislation to abolish the use by local authorities of distraint relating to rent arrears.

I have instituted a major research inquiry into rent arrears, their causes and methods of recovery. In the meantime, I hope that local authorities, in the exercise of their statutory responsibilities, will use distraint only as a last resort and with proper regard to the interests of the families concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons of policy the law does not permit council tenants to apply for a stay of distress in rent arrears cases or to pay the amount of the arrears by instalments or lay down that tenants can only avoid a distress by paying all the current arrears of rent and the cost of distress.

In the case of local authority tenants no opportunity exists for alternative arrangements to be agreed in court because the leave of the court is not required before distress is levied. However, I should expect a local authority to have discussed with the tenant concerned the prospects for payment at a later stage or in instalments well before the question of distraint arose.

Social Services

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the future of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital.

The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital has a fine tradition of providing medical care to women who wish to be treated by women and I am aware of the loyalty and support it has aroused as a result of its service to women.My predecessor decided that it would be uneconomic for the hospital to continue on its present site and that its facilities should therefore be transferred to a district general hospital within the same area in an identifiable form which would preserve the original concept of the hospital.I endorsed this decision in October 1976. The Camden and Islington Area Health Authority and the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority have calculated that capital expenditure of £500,000 would be required to make the Euston Road site viable for the longer term and that running costs of £900,000 a year would be incurred. The area health authority has also concluded that, even if the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital were to be upgraded, it would have too few beds to form an acceptable multi-specialty hospital and that it was not required to meet the area's service commitments.

In view of the tradition of service for women by women established by the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, the Government and the health authorities have made great efforts to make possible a transfer to another site. The Camden and Islington Area Health Authority proposed transfer of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson facility to the Whittington Hospital where two upgraded wards were to be made available immediately and a further two when upgrading was completed. Unfortunately this offer was not regarded as acceptable. As a result the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority has concluded that the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in Euston Road should be closed as soon as possible.

The future of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital has been under prolonged debate and I now have to take a final decision. I have reluctantly concluded that the hospital at Euston Road should close on 21st July 1978.

The area health authority will consult with the regional health authority with a view to finding additional sessions for consultants who lose sessions through closure of the hospital. All other staff will be offered alternative posts by the area health authority.

I fully understand the desire of hospital staff to remain on their present site, but this is not financially viable. If the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital is to survive as an entity the only practical possibility is a transfer to the Whittington Hospital. If the staff concerned now wish to take up the offer which was made last year I am prepared to ask the health authorities even at this late stage to consider whether the transfer could be effected. In this way the proud tradition of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital could be preserved.

I am aware that there is some demand by women patients to be treated by women and I believe that when a woman patient wishes—for religious or other strongly held reasons—to be treated by a woman, every reasonable effort should be made to meet her wishes. With the increasing number of women qualifying in medicine and the growing number working in the National Health Service it should be increasingly possible for the relatively small number of patients who want this service to obtain it in most parts of the country. I am asking regional health authorities to consider how, within manpower and resource constraints, they can ensure that the wish of some women to be treated by women can be met.

Health Authorities (Trade Union Membership)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many members of the National Union of Public Employees have been appointed to area health authorities and regional health authorities; and if he will give the numbers for each region.

Appointments to regional health authorities are made by my right hon. Friend and each RHA includes at least one member appointed on the recommendation of the trade union movement. Only one RHA, Oxford, is known to include a member of the National Union of Public Employees; other members of regional authorities may also belong to this union but such information is not

£ million
Year ending March			Write-off Debt	Subsidies to meet losses	Aids for stocking	Coking coal subsidy	Assisted coal-burn	Social grants
1973	…	…	449·6	—	—	—	—	15·4
1974	…	…	—	130·7	3·7	15·0	15·4	96·0
1975	…	…	—	—	1·2	7·1	—	119·9
1976	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	72·4
1977	…	…	—	—	11·1	—	—	43·4
1978^*	…	…	—	—	18·7	—	5·3	51·2
			449·6	130·7	34·7	22·1	20·7	398·3
^*Latest estimate.
The figures do not include grants payable to industry as a whole, such as regional development grants.

It is not possible to give exactly comparable figures for other member States of the Community but each year the Commission prepares a detailed report on aids to the coal industry, and the last of these, R/2829/77—covering COM (78) 70 final of 15th November 1977—which examined estimated aids for 1977, was deposited in Parliament at the beginning of December. The report shows the estimated aid to production in other Community coal-producing countries as follows: Belgium, £19·8/tonne; France, £13·3/tonne; and Germany, £2·6/tonne, which compare with £0·5/tonne for the United Kingdom.

North Sea Oil (Participation Agreements)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent progress has

held centrally. Nor is information available centrally on the trade union background of members of area health authorities who are appointed in part by regional health authorities and partly by local authorities.

Energy

Coal Industry (Finance)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out in tabular form the various amounts of financial support for the coal industry in the United Kingdom in each of the years from 1973 to the latest available date; if he will publish a breakdown of the figures according to the different purposes within the industry to which the money was allocated; and if he will provide comparable figures for each of the other eight member States of the EEC.

For the period since 1973 financial support for the coal industry in the United Kingdom has been:been made in participation negotiations with companies involved in North Sea oil development.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th March 1978; Vol. 945, c. 771], gave the following further information:I have signed today fully termed participation agreements with the British National Oil Corporation, Murphy Petroleum Limited and Ocean Exploration Co. Limited.The agreements cover Murphy and Ocean's share of Ninian production with Murphy and Ocean having certain rights to retain oil. BNOC has the right to purchase 51 per cent. of Murphy and Ocean's natural gas liquids on a long-term commercial basis.

There will be full consultations on a regular basis between Her Majesty's Government, advised by BNOC under Section 3(3) of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act 1975, and Murphy or Ocean on all matters of concern to either party. BNOC obtains an effective voice and a significant unfettered vote in respect of Murphy and Ocean's interest in the Ninian project, the voting arrangements being secured through a separate agreement with the Ninian partners.

The agreements announced today implement the memorandum of principles between the parties announced on 9th February 1977.

Electricity Generation

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what megawattage of electricity in the United Kingdom is generated from power stations which run on (a) coal, (b) oil, (c) gas, (d) nuclear power, and (e) hydro-electric power, respectively.

The latest information available is for 1976. It is not possible to give precise figures of electricity generated from coal or oil, but estimates provided by the industry for these fuels are in the following table:

Electricity generated by public supply—United Kingdom 1976
Source of generation:	Terawatt hours
Coal (a) (b)	171·9
Oil (b)	40·0
Natural Gas	6·1
Nuclear power	32·4
Hydro-electricity (c)	4·5
Total	254·9
(a) Including a small quantity of coke.
(b) Estimated.
(c) Including pumped storage.

Coking Coal

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what financial provision he plans to make during the present financial year to assist the National Coal Board and National Smokeless Fuels in the stockpiling of coking coal.

The Government have yet to take a decision on stocking aid for coal during 1978–79.

Prices And Consumer Protection

Metrication

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will make a statement on the future of the metrication programme.

The Government have in recent weeks engaged in extensive consultations with groups representing commerce, industry and the consumer about the future policy towards metrication. The move to metrication has been progressing for the last 13 years and has been supported by successive Governments. The main reason for the change has been to enable industry to rationalise its production, recognising that virtually all the United Kingdom's international trade is with countries which are metric or are changing to the metric system. The eductional system is now directed towards the sole use of metric units.As a result of its consultations, the Government are confirmed in their view that it is desirable to move to metrication as a single form of measurement in the retail sector and that this should be achieved on the basis of an orderly timetable. Nevertheless the Government are conscious that there is some apprehension about the prospects of legal sanctions against retailers who do not apply the metric units after prescribed dates.The Government have, therefore, decided that they will not proceed with orders which impose statutory cut-off dates for the use of imperial units at point of retail sale. These include the Weights and Measures Act 1963 (Hardware, Textiles and Floor Coverings) (Restrictions on Imperial Units) Order 1978 and the Weights and Measures Act 1963 (Weighed-out Foodstuffs) (Restrictions on Imperial Units) Order 1978. The Government will introduce further metrication orders which enable goods to be sold in metric units, such as the Weights and Measures Act 1963 (Potatoes) Order 1978 which will be considered in Standing Committee and in the House of Lords tomorrow. We shall also, in consultation with industry, promote orders which maintain progress towards metrication of prescribed quantity pre-packed goods. An amended version of the Weights and Measures Act 1963 (Various Goods) (Termination of Imperial Quantities) Order 1978 will be laid without inclusion of penalties on retailers who continue to sell in imperial prescribed quantities.The Government hope that the use of metric units at the retail level will be achieved on a voluntary basis with broadly the same target dates as currently envisaged. Without such an orderly changeover the interests of the consumer would suffer. In order to assist in this voluntary changeover the Government will be assisting in the provision of information for the consumer, including the display of price comparisons for metric and imperial units. We also propose to establish a metrication monitoring unit to deal with any complaints and to act as additional protection for the consumer. The Standing Reference to the Price Commission on Metrication will be maintained to ensure and demonstrate that metrication does not raise prices. The Government will also look to the Metrication Board to continue its assistance with the provision of information on metrication, and to co-ordinate the voluntary changeover and to monitor its effectiveness.

Water And Sewerage Charges

asked the Secretary of State for Prnces and Consumer Protection whether, in view of consumer concern at the charge for water and sewerage, he intends to refer the charges of water authorities to the Price Commission.

No. The water authorities are required to pre-notify the Price Commission of their intention to increase prices. Under the powers conferred on it by the Price Commission Act 1977, the Commission is investigating the Thames Water Authority's proposals but it decided not to take any action in respect of the other authorities.The immediate effect of initiating the investigation and the operation of the safeguard regulations was that the Thames Water Authority's increase for 1978–79 has been less than it would otherwise have been. Although under the safeguard regulations the authority has been allowed increases which will raise revenue by 7·2 per cent. it had originally proposed increases to raise revenue by 9·5 per cent.

The Price Commission is due to let my right hon. Friend know the outcome of its investigation by 23rd May and he will of course publish the report.

Employment

Employment Exchanges (Lincolnshire And Humberside)

53.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the boundaries of the employment exchange areas in North Lincolnshire and South Humberside to bring them more in line with local authority areas rather than the changing pattern of travel-to-work areas.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it has no plans to change the boundaries of the local employment office areas in North Lincolnshire and South Humberside.

Special Temporary Employment Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take action to remedy the differences in the treatment arising from the regulations governing the operation of the special tern porary employment programme which prohibit students leaving colleges of education from obtaining employment opportunities because they have not been six months unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

The purpose of the special temporary employment programme is to provide temporary jobs as an alternative to prolonged unemployment. The Government have decided that preference should be given to those aged 19–24 who have been unemployed for six months or more and to those aged 25 and over who have been unemployed for 12 months or more. Where no suitably qualified candidates are available, people who have been unemployed for shorter periods may be recruited. In addition to the 25,000 temporary employment opportunities to be provided under the special temporary employment programme, there will be openings for up to 8,000 adults to act in a supervisory or managerial capacity in projects mounted under the youth opportunities programme.

Central Policy Review Staff (Study)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the Manpower Services Commission contributed to the recent Central Policy Review Staff study of unemployment; and, if so, whether the evidence will be published.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it had informal discussions with the Central Policy Review Staff on unemployment, based on the evidence in the Commission's "Review and Plan 1977". The review and plan was published in November 1977.

Unemployed Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the numbers of unemployed males and females in each of the employment registers of the United Kingdom in March during the past 10 years who were classified as general labourers in occupation Group XVIII.

The following table gives the numbers of unemployed people in the United Kingdom who were registered at employment offices for employment as general labourers at March each year. Comparable information is not available for earlier years from 1973. The figures from March 1976 exclude adult students.

	Males	Females
March 1973	274,194	21,218
March 1974	237,312	18,431
March 1975	277,367	29,818
March 1976	390,294	55,286
March 1977	391,684	63,990
March 1978	407,809	72,834

Separate figures for each employment office in the United Kingdom could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the percentage of unemployment in Wirral;(2) what is the percentage of unemployment in Bolton;(3) what is the percentage of unemployment in Blackpool;(4) what is the percentage of unemployment in Oldham.

Unemployment rates can be calculated only for complete travel to work areas and the following table gives rates for the appropriate travel-to-work areas at 13th April:

	Per cent.
Liverpool (which includes the Wirral)	11·4
Bolton	5·7
Blackpool	7·7
Oldham	4·7

Young Persons (Derbyshire)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people aged between 16 and 21 years in the West Derbyshire area were unemployed at 1st May 1978 or the latest convenient date.

The latest date for which the half-yearly age analysis of the unemployed is available is 12th January. At that date, in the area covered by the Bakewell, Derby and Matlock employment offices, the numbers of unemployed people under 20 years of age, and aged 20 to 24, were 1,293 and 1,240, respectively. Information is not available for the precise age range specified.

Dock Labour Scheme (Insolvency Of Employers)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the provisions of the dock labour scheme fully cover all circumstances relating to insolvency of employers, which, but for Section 119 of the Employment Protection Act 1975, would be covered by Section 64 of that Act.

Registered dock workers are excluded from the application of Section 64 of the Employment Protection Act, which deals with payments from the Redundancy Fund in cases of insolvency, since registered employers do not contribute to the fund. If the industry wished to secure comparable benefits for employees, this would be a matter for negotiation between the employers and trade unions, not for the dock labour scheme.

European Social Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will resist any proposals that may be made for the increased disbursement of the Common Market Social Fund in France or Italy until he can be provided with evidence that the incidence of income tax evasion has been reduced to a level that compares favourably with that which is estimated to exist in the United Kingdom.

All decisions concerning allocations from the European Social Fund are the responsibility of the Commission of the European Communities. The Commission may make allocations only to training and similar operations which conform to the requirements specified in the regulations governing the Fund. These requirements apply irrespective of the member States in which the operation is undertaken.

Trade

Footwear (South Korea)

55.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is aware that in the first quarter of 1978 imports of footwear from South Korea increased by 167 per cent. in volume to 4·5 million pairs, valued at approximately £5·5 million; and whether he will make a statement.

I am aware of the facts which the hon. Member has set out. However, although imports from South Korea have been higher so far this year than in the corresponding period last year, total imports of footwear have been lower. Nevertheless we are concerned about the possible deflection of low-cost imports into the United Kingdom as a result of protective measures taken by other developed countries such as the United States of America and Canada. The EEC Commission is holding talks with the main low-cost supplying countries, including South Korea, in order to ensure that their surplus production is not diverted.

Cathedrals (Tourist Amenities)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will authorise the English Tourist Board to grant-aid tourist amenities in cathedrals and their precincts outside development areas.

I receive many suggestions for extending selective tourist project assistance more widely but it would put excessive pressure on a very limited budget to do so until the Government can make available more money to support wider coverage.

Oil Tankers (Pollution)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the Government will consider setting up a standard procedure whereby oil from tankers which break up off the British coast, and the oil of which is as a result a threat to the coast, is burnt immediately and, if necessary, the tanker's hull destroyed by means of explosives.

We intend to study further the possibilities of burning any oil remaining in a wrecked tanker. There are, however, substantial difficulties and objections to dealing with a casualty by this method. On present information it seems unlikely that we could adopt burning as our standard response to such situations.

Accountancy (Cross Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the recent report of the joint committee appointed by the accountancy bodies to consider the Cross Committee's proposals.

The joint committee is to be congratulated on the speed and thoroughness with which it has done its work. It is of course a matter for the professional bodies concerned to consider implementation of the recommendations addressed to them. These recommendations will require careful consideration by all concerned, but I am sure that the profession will respond promptly and responsibly to the very significant lead which the report has given.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Foxes

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the price payable to those who destroy foxes, indicating how the price per fox's tail has risen since 1945; and what plans he has for increasing these payments.

My Department is concerned only with payments to approved fox destruction societies, reflecting a proportion of the bonus paid to their members on production of the fox's brush. The maximum rates of contribution during the period to which the hon. Member refers were as follows:

	Adult Fox	Fox Cub
Up to February 1955	7/6 (37½p)	2/6 (12½p)
Thereafter	10/- (50p)	5/- (25p)

The provision in England is at present under review.The corresponding responsibility in Wales is now exercised by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales.

European Community

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish as a White Paper exchanges between Her Majesty's Government and the eight other Common Market countries relating to the terms proposed for the application of the agricultural regime to the new Common Market membership applicants.

No. But my colleagues and I will continue to report to the House on discussions which take place in the Council of Ministers and other important meetings.

Beef (Intervention Stocks)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total value of beef held in intervention stores in the United Kingdom.

Subject to final verification, the value of United Kingdom beef held in intervention stores on 30th April 1978 was £22,819,281. In addition, according to the most recent information provided by the Republic of Ireland, I understand that the value of intervention beef stored in the United Kingdom by the Republic is about £30·7 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the approximate value of current retail prices of the beef presently being held in EEC intervention stores throughout Great Britain.

It is not possible to make such an accurate estimate because the value at retail level can only be determined once the beef has been sold. However, subject to final verification, the value of United Kingdom beef held by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce in approved commercial stores in Great Britain on 30th April 1978 was £18,426,018. In addition, according to the most recent information provided by the Republic of Ireland, I understand that the value of intervention beef stored in Great Britain by the Republic is about £30·7 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef is held in the four intervention stores in Hull.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef is currently being held in the three EEC intervention stores in Grimsby.

Beef is stored by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce in approved commercial stores throughout the United Kingdom depending on availability and the location of the production point. For commercial and operational reasons the quantities of beef held in such stores is not published.

Intervention Board Stores

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amounts of the following commodities are now held in Intervention Board stores or EEC-aided private storage in the United Kingdom, and at what addresses the principal depots containing these stores are sited: cereals, beef, butter, sugar, and skimmed milk powder.

Subject to final verification the following quantities of the commodities concerned were held by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce on 30th April 1978:

Barley	21,233 tonnes
Beef	15,540 tonnes
Butter	8,468 tonnes
Skimmed milk powder	59,610 tonnes

On the same date 3,366 tonnes of beef and 253 tonnes of butter were held in the United Kingdom under EEC-aided private storage arrangements.

Agricultural Production (Report)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish the report of the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture on the contribution his Department could make towards reconciliation of national agricultural production with other national environmental objectives in the countryside; and if he will make a statement.

The report on Agriculture and the Countryside by the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture in England and Wales is being published today and copies of the report are available in the Library of the House. I am grateful to Sir Nigel Strutt and the members of the council for their work.The report provides a valuable contribution to a subject of topical interest and makes a number of important recommendations which will be considered carefully. Many of these are relevant to the Government's own review of countryside policy. But I should say that there is no intention of changing the allocation of ministerial responsibilities for the statutory countryside agencies.

Civil Service

Industrial Civil Servants (Pay)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what research is undertaken into the pay relationship of workers in the Industrial Civil Service into those in other industries.

The present system of pay and pay determination for industrial civil servants is based on the recommendations made in the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 146 "The Pay and Conditions of Industrial Civil Servants" published in April 1970—Cmnd. No. 4351. There is no agreement for pay research for industrial grades in the Civil Service; published statistics are the continuing source of information on their pay relationship with other industries.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the pay of workers in the Industrial Civil Service compares adequately with pay rates in other industries and with the income received by those who are unemployed.

Published statistics are at present the only systematic source of information on how the pay of industrial civil servants compares with that in other industries. Statistics currently available are not, however, adequate in isolation for making fair comparisons, because they neither give sufficient detail about the make-up of pay nor take account of the wide differences in pay settlement dates.The adequacy of pay cannot be appropriately judged by comparison with unemployment benefits.

Defence

Service Personnel (Resignations)

52.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the officers in each of the Armed Services who have resigned in each of the past three years were university graduates; and how many of these had part or all of their university fees paid by his Department.

This information is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the notice required to be given by men and officers wishing to resign from each of the three Services, respectively.

Where they are applicable, the minimum periods of notice required vary from nil to 18 months, depending upon the nature of the engagement and other circumstances. The timing of release may, however, be subject to manning and other considerations as well as the need to give notice.

Service Personnel (Political Speeches)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are currently in force governing the making of speeches on political matters by serving members of Her Majesty's Forces; and if different instructions applying to field marshals, admirals of the fleet, and marshals of the Royal Air Force differ from those applicable to all lower ranks.

Queen's Regulations lay down the general principle that members of the Armed Forces must not engage in public discussion of politically controversial issues. This applies to all serving personnel, including field marshals, admirals of the fleet and marshals of the Royal Air Force holding current appointments in the Services.

Army Officers (Retirements)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Stretford, Official Report, 27th April, c. 646–7, since he has been able to identify no more than two Army officers who have been deprived of their right to opt for payment of gratuity due to their applications to retire being time-barred, he will now take steps to ensure that these officers are not penalised in this way through no fault of their own and that they have restored to them the right to opt for payment of gratuity.

Since the premature release of a regular Army officer from the obligations of his commission is at the discretion of the Army Department, the question of a right to retire early and opt for the payment of a gratuity did not arise. Officers who are time-barred are normally required to serve for the full period of their time-bars. If they are later released, the terms of their release must reflect the conditions applicable at that time. These conditions do not now allow for the payment of a gratuity to regular officers after 10 years' service. I should add that of the two Army officers referred to in the Question one no longer wishes to retire prematurely.

Greenwich Market

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report, in his capacity as trustee for Greenwich Hospital, a similar reply in respect of Greenwich Market to that given in the Official Report, 4th May, columns 268–9, by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in respect of the Nine Elms (New Covent Garden) Market.

The rights and obligations of the Secretary of State in regard to Greenwich Market are limited to the holding of the market and the regulation of the conduct of business carried on there. No information is therefore available about the volume or value of the business transacted. Expenditure on maintenance, repair and renewals of the market area during the year ending 25th March 1978, the most recent period for which the figures are readily available, was £5,214·08. These costs are recovered from the market traders. The tolls, rents, etc. paid during the same period by the traders for the use of the market place are based on those prescribed in the Greenwich Markets Act 1849, so far as they remain appropriate and amounted to £335·40.

Territorial And Army Volunteer Reserve

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to foster the closer integration of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve with the Regular Army.

It has been decided that the Deputy Commander-in-Chief United Kingdom Land Forces should assume, in addition to his current responsibilities, the new appointment of Inspector General, Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. The function of the Inspector General will be to maintain and strengthen the already close links between the TAVR and the Regular Army, and to monitor the efficiency and standards of training of the TAVR.

National Finance

Capital Gains Tax (Farmers)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to a proposal that farmers who sell their farms to local authorities, for the purposes of their being let as smallholdings to young farmers entering the industry, should be partially or wholly exempted from capital gains tax on such land; and if he will make a statement.

This suggestion had not come to my attention, but I do not think it right that capital gains made in the way described should have a special exemption.

Personal Taxation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange through the Central Office of Information for the production of a series of public information films, for transmission on television, about the correct way to fill in an income tax return.

No. Full explanatory notes are issued with the return. In cases of difficulty, help is available from the taxpayer's own tax office or if this is inconvient from a PAYE inquiry office or any other inspector of taxes office.

Value Added Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much revenue was obtained from value added tax in the past year; and how much it cost to collect;(2) how many civil servants he estimates would be needed to undertake the work done in calculating their dues by those who pay value added tax;(3) how many civil servants are employed in the collection of value added tax.

Net receipts of VAT in 1977–78 were £4,230 million—provisional. It is estimated that the total cost, including relevant overheads, of administering the tax in 1977–78 was about £85 million.It is difficult to estimate the number of staff engaged in the administration of a particular tax or duty collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise because of the need to apportion the staff providing general support services to those staff who are directly concerned with the management and control of individual taxes and duties. However, on the basis of the latest detailed annual analysis—1977—of the functional use of the Department's staff, as modified by more up-to-date information about deployment of staff, the direct staff effort involved in management and collection of VAT is estimated to have been equivalent to approximately 9,870 man years. If allowance is made for staff engaged on administrative support work not directly attributable to VAT, the figure would be approximately 12,070 man years.No information is available about the total time taken by VAT payers in calculating liability or the number of civil servants who would be needed to maintain traders' records and calculate their tax liability therefrom. But as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) on 20th April 1977—[Vol. 930, c.

96]—a study of compliance costs is being conducted by a research team at the University of Bath.

Capital Transfer Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the costs of administering capital transfer tax in 1977–78; and how many staff were necessary for its administration.

Final figures are not yet available. The total cost of administering the capital transfer tax and estate duty in 1977–78 is expected to be of the order of £14 million. The number of staff employed on those duties in the capital taxes office at the end of 1977–78 was about 1,050.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why capital transfer tax was not included in the taxes proposed by the Government for inclusion amongst taxes covered by the directive of the Council of the European Communities dated 19th December 1977, No. 77/799/EEC.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following information:Member States generally did not think it appropriate to include capital transfer taxes within the scope of this directive.

Irrecoverable Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of capital gains tax and capital transfer tax written-off during the last two fiscal years as being irrecoverable; and what criteria are laid down in his Department for the determination of what is and what is not irrecoverable assessed tax.

Tax is written off as irrecoverable when it remains unpaid after all the possibilities of collection action have been exhausted. The amounts written off in the last two accounting years in respect of each tax were:

Capital gains tax:

year ended 31st October 1976 £708,000

31st October 1977 £907,000 (provisional)

Capital transfer tax and Estate Duty:

year ended 31st March 1977 £151,000^*

31st March 1978 £256,000 (provisional)

^* NOTE. The figure of £151,000 for the year ended 31st March 1977 was wholly in respect of estate duty. No breakdown is yet available of the figure for the year ended 31st March 1978.

Duchy Of Cornwall

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the payments made by the Duchy of Cornwall to the titular owner of £129,208 in 1976 and £290,605 in 1977 which are free of tax, if he will bring such payments within Her Majesty's Government's incomes policy.

No, it would not be appropriate to do so. My hon. Friend might wish to note that the sums mentioned in the Question, which are shown in the Duchy of Cornwall accounts, include the sums paid to the Exchequer in respect of half the net revenues from the preceding year.

European Community

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that he will oppose in the Council of Ministers or elsewhere the proposal of the Economic and Social Committee that it spends £11,865 to finance celebrations of its twentieth anniversary.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following answer:This proposal has been accepted by the Council of Ministers on the basis that the necessary money would have to be found from savings elsewhere on the Economic and Social Committee's budget, with no additional appropriations being transferred from the contingency reserve chapter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which categories of cases determined under the consultation procedure laid down in Article 9 of EEC Directive No. 77/799/EEC of 19th December 1977 have been agreed upon by the United Kingdom for regular exchange of information without prior request.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following information:The consultation procedure provided for in Article 9 has not yet been used by the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended to authorise the presence in the United Kingdom of tax officials of other EEC States as provided for under EEC Directive No. 77/799/EEC of 19th December 1977.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following information:There is nothing to prevent tax officials of other countries from visiting the United Kingdom for the purpose of giving information to or receiving information from the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or their authorised representative where the exchange of information is itself permitted under double taxation agreements or under the directive.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it was decided by the Government that the salaries of British Members of the European Assembly would be taxed at United Kingdom rates, following their election in 1979; and when the decision was announced.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following information:No decision has been needed, since there is no provision in Community law to exempt these salaries and the normal United Kingdom rules therefore apply.

Personal Incomes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what taxable income would be required to provide a net annual unearned income of £290,605, assuming the taxpayer is single with no family responsibilities and below the age of 35 years.

£14,149,000.

Manufacturing Output

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the growth of manufacturing output in the United Kingdom economy in the first four months of 1978.

Figures published today by the CSO show that manufacturing output rose 1 per cent. between the fourth quarter of 1977 and the first quarter of 1978. Figures for April will be published next month. This resumption in growth, taken with the trade figures for the first four months of 1978, are consistent with the Government's strategy of a steady improvement in the economy.

Transport

Perth-Inverness Railway Line

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the dualling of the track on the Perth-Inverness railway line to be completed.

The dualling part of the project was completed last month. I understand that the British Railways Board now expects to complete signalling improvements and further track work by the end of the year.

Motorways

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of motorway he expects to be open in England and Wales by 1980; what mileage of this will be three-lane; and what mileage will have no hard shoulders.

By the end of 1980, it is expected that in England there will be some 1,400 miles of trunk road motorway open to traffic. Of this, 1,050 miles will be dual three-lane with a very small amount of dual four-lane.Hard shoulders are universally provided except where motorways are on or under structures which would make the cost of provision prohibitive.Motorways in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

A428-Ashburnham Road (Roundabout)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to authorise and to complete the construction of a roundabout at the junction of the A428 and Ashburnham Road, Bedford; how much additional land would have to be acquired for the purpose; and at what cost.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and to the availability of funds, work is planned to start next February for completion in three months. The additional land requirement is 545 square metres. The cost of acquisition is a matter for negotiation between the vendors and the district valuer.

A45 Newmarket Bypass (Service Facilities)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allow a petrol station, refreshment facilities and a lorry park to be provided on the A45 Newmarket bypass between its earlier junction with the All near Chippenham and the western junction with the All near Six Mile Bottom.

A planning permission, to which the Department raised no objection, already exists for a service area on the A45 at Exring.

Manchester (Victoria And Piccadilly Stations)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has received from the British Railways Board on a new cross-city rail link between Manchester's Victoria and Piccadilly Stations.

None.

Crawshawbooth, Rossendale (Pelican Crossing)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the construction of the pelican crossing in Crawshawbooth, Rossendale to be completed.

The work should be finished in about a month's time.

Bedford-Leicester Railway Line (Electrification)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any proposal for the electrification of the line between Bedford and Leicester; and what would be the capital costs of this at present prices.

I have received no such proposal. Estimates of cost at present prices are not available to the Department and could not be prepared without disproportionate work.

Bromham Bridge, Bedford

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to authorise the rebuilding of Bromham Bridge near the junction of Ashburnham Road, Bedford on the A428 to permit electrification of the line beyond Bedford; and at what estimated cost.

There are no plans to reconstruct Bromham Road railway bridge.

Transport Supplementary Grant (Salop)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the transport supplementary grant avail, able to it was taken up by the Salop County Council in the last financial year.

The allocation of transport supplementary grant to Salop County Council for 1977–78 was £1.329 million—November 1976 prices. This was increased to £1.454 million under the provisions of the Rate Support Grant (Increase) (No. 2) Order 1977, and has been paid to the county in full.

Lucas Aerospace (Workers' Corporate Plan)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether his Department is prepared to give concrete support to some of the transport proposales in the Lucas Aerospace workers' corporate plan, such as the guided transport systems and braking systems and the hybrid power-pack;(2) whether he is prepared to support various transport proposals which are in the Lucas Aerospace workers' corporate plan, which include a guided transport system and regenerative braking system;

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is prepared to give concrete support to the Lucas Aerospace workers' proposals for the development of a hybrid power-back based on a small diesel engine, the performance of which results in the reduction of toxic emissions by 80 per cent.;

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether his Department is prepared to enter into a development programme with workers at Lucas Aerospace on an urban and rural guided transport system, the details of which are in the corporate plan produced by those workers;

(2) if he will give consideration to the transport proposals in he Lucas Aerospace workers' corporate plant, in particular, the hybrid power-pack, the guided transport systems, and the dynamometer based braking system.

My Department has now received a summary of proposals in the corporate plan. I have asked my officials to consider urgently those proposals which relate to the transport system.

National Health Service (Kent)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the distribution of moneys for the National Health Service in order that the National Health Service in Kent would receive extra funds in addition to the £50 million recently granted.

The allocation of financial resources to area health authorities is a matter for regional health authorities. The South-East Thames Regional Health Authority accepts the need for a more equal distribution of resources between the five area health authorities in the region. The pace at which this can be achieved depends on how quickly services in overprovided areas can be rationalised without disruption to the present pattern of care or to essential teaching and specialist needs. As a result of the regional health authority's redistribution policy Kent Area Health Authority's revenue allocation for the current financial year has been increased by £2·4 million

Nurses

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of community nurses employed by each area health authority in England on a stated date in each financial year since 1974, and express each of these figures per capita of the population aged 65 years and over in the area covered by the authority.

The following table shows the number of qualified nurses and health visitors—expressed in whole-time equivalents—in the community health service by each area health authority in England at the 30th September 1974, 1975 and 1976 and these figures expressed per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 years and over.

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Analyses of community qualified nursing and health visiting staff by area health authority of staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over 30th September—England

1974

1975

1976

Area Health Authority

Staff

^*†§

Staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over ‡

Staff

^*†

Staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over ‡

Staff

^*†

Staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over ‡

Cleveland

…

254·3

4·2

180·6

2·9

238·9

3·8

Cumbria

…

248·1

3·5

238·2

3·3

278·7

3·8

Durham

…

229·8

2·9

251·2

3·1

261·2

3·2

Northumberland

…

140·7

3·3

155·3

3·7

160·8

3·8

Gateshead

…

85·7

3·0

88·0

3·0

91·1

3·0

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

…

138·0

3·1

181·8

4·1

172·2

3·8

North Tyneside

…

92·6

3·5

100·6

3·8

98·7

3·7

South tyneside

…

52·0

2·2

63·1

2·7

94·2

4·0

Sunderland

…

119·0

3·3

136·4

3·7

144·3

3·9

Humberside

…

313·4

2·8

352·9

3·1

385·4

3·3

North Yorkshire

…

228·2

2·2

263·2

2·7

269·5

2·7

Bradford

…

200·6

3·0

228·7

3·1

211·1

2·8

Calderdale

…

92·0

3·0

90·3

3·0

85·5

2·8

Kirklees

…

160·9

3·0

155·1

2·9

167·6

3·1

Leeds

…

268·9

2·6

269·0

2·5

276·0

2·6

Wakefield

…

117·6

3·2

126·2

3·3

136·8

3·5

Derbyshire

…

308·6

2·5

315·4

2·6

352·9

2·9

Leicestershire

…

356·7

3·4

391·1

3·6

388·0

3·6

Lincolnshire

…

191·3

2·5

188·7

2·5

208·8

2·7

Nottinghamshire

…

326·8

2·6

418·8

3·3

441·9

3·4

Barnsley

…

82·8

2·9

94·4

3·3

94·3

3·3

Doncaster

…

119·0

3·6

146·4

4·4

151·2

4·5

Rotherham

…

111·8

4·2

98·7

3·6

113·7

4·0

Sheffield

…

268·9

3·3

297·7

3·5

291·4

3·4

Cambridgeshire

…

214·3

3·1

171·6

2·6

193·7

2·9

Norfolk

…

288·7

2·7

224·5

1·8

296·4

2·3

Suffolk

…

161·1

1·9

191·0

2·6

207·4

2·7

Bedfordshire

…

209·1

4·1

202·7

3·9

215·1

4·1

Hertfordshire

…

325·4

3·2

384·6

4·1

375·4

3·9

Barnet

…

80·8

1·8

106·7

1·8

119·1

2·0

Brent/Harrow

…

186·0

2·9

163·0

2·7

173·3

2·9

Ealing/Hammersmith/Hounslow

…

206·8

2·2

293·3

3·0

357·1

3·7

Hillingdon

…

106·8

3·8

112·2

3·9

110·9

3·7

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Analyses of community qualified nursing and health visiting staff by area health authority of staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over 30th September—England

1974

1975

1976

Area Health Authority

Staff

^*†§

Staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over ‡

Staff

^*†

Staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over ‡

Staff

^*†

Staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over ‡

Kensington and Chelsea/Westminster

…

159·3

2·9

150·4

2·5

183·0

3·1

Essex

…

407·9

2·2

463·6

2·4

512·2

2·6

Barking/Havering

…

139·4

2·8

127·2

2·5

105·5

2·1

Camden/Islington

…

255·0

4·8

251·5

3·9

297·8

4·7

City and East London

…

210·3

2·5

215·9

2·5

247·5

2·9

Enfield/Haringey

…

144·4

2·0

148·8

2·2

155·5

2·3

Redbridge/Waltham Forest

…

212·3

3·0

189·4

2·7

197·7

2·8

East Sussex

…

363·1

2·3

348·0

2·2

348·0

2·2

Kent

…

567·2

2·6

582·2

2·6

612·8

2·7

Greenwich/Bexley

…

222·7

4·0

251·5

4·5

248·1

4·4

Bromley

…

84·9

2·1

100·1

2·4

110·5

2·6

Lambeth/Lewisham/Southwark

…

385·3

3·4

409·8

3·6

420·8

3·7

Surrey

…

419·0

3·1

519·9

3·5

548·7

3·6

West Sussex

…

284·9

2·2

286·2

2·2

309·4

2·4

Croydon

…

134·4

3·2

135·7

3·2

130·5

3·0

Kingston/Richmond

…

175·4

3·6

143·2

3·7

158·7

4·1

Merton/Sutton/Wandsworth

…

348·1

3·7

301·8

3·0

306·7

3·0

Dorset

…

230·6

2·0

228·1

1·9

241·1

2·0

Hampshire

…

530·9

2·8

611·2

3·4

594·2

3·3

Wiltshire

…

260·1

4·0

268·7

2·8

266·2

2·7

Isle of Wight

…

51·2

2·1

55·0

2·3

59·4

2·5

Berkshire

…

344·8

4·9

374·3

4·6

376·8

4·5

Buckinghamshire

…

197·6

3·5

246·4

4·7

284·5

5·4

Northamptonshire

…

196·3

2·9

223·1

3·3

251·9

3·7

Oxfordshire

…

206·1

3·3

221·0

3·8

215·2

3·6

Avon

…

346·6

2·6

350·5

3·0

414·2

3·5

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

…

185·5

2·6

158·6

2·2

172·9

2·4

Devon

…

371·4

2·1

379·5

2·1

362·7

2·0

Gloucestershire

…

178·2

2·6

183·9

2·6

180·7

2·5

Somerset

…

158·8

2·4

156·7

2·6

146·3

2·4

Hereford and Worcester

…

271·0

3·4

302·4

3·8

287·4

3·5

Salop

…

129·7

2·8

145·9

3·1

160·9

3·4

Staffordshire

…

344·6

3·0

363·5

3·1

382·5

3·3

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Analyses of community qualified ursing and health visiting staff by area health authority of staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over 30th September—England

1974

1975

1976

Area Health Authority

Staff

^*†§

Staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over ‡

Staff

^*†

Staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over ‡

Staff

^*†

Staff per 1,000 head of managed population aged 65 and over ‡

Warwickshire

…

249·5

4·8

193·8

3·6

210·3

3·8

Birmingham

…

434·1

3·1

450·3

3·2

472·0

3·3

Coventry

…

160·6

4·3

177·4

4·7

178·6

4·6

Dudley

…

108·3

3·3

109·2

3·2

109·9

3·2

Sandwell

…

93·3

2·3

101·4

2·4

108·1

2·6

Solihull

…

59·0

3·3

65·0

3·5

800

4·1

Walsall

…

74·9

2·8

95·5

3·4

107·0

3·7

Wolverhampton

…

78·8

2·5

86·8

2·7

89·6

2·7

Cheshire

…

349·9

3·2

369·7

3·4

379·5

3·4

Liverpool

…

235·0

2·9

246·2

3·9

279·2

4·4

St. Helens and Knowsley

…

146·6

3·7

153·3

3·8

162·5

4·0

Sefton

…

122·7

2·7

119·7

1·9

130·4

2·1

Wirral

…

101·6

2·1

153·9

3·1

142·7

2·9

Lancashire

…

677·5

3·0

720·4

3·2

703·0

3·1

Bolton

…

128·3

3·5

137·2

3·8

145·5

4·0

Bury

…

81·8

3·5

98·5

4·2

92·5

3·9

Manchester

…

263·2

3·7

172·9

2·4

249·7

3·4

Oldham

…

100·0

3·3

100·5

3·2

120·8

3·8

Rochdale

…

96·2

3·6

109·9

4·1

108·9

4·0

Salford

…

146·2

4·0

145·8

4·0

143·8

3·9

Stockport

…

960

2·5

110·8

2·9

138·3

3·6

Tameside

…

106·8

3·6

92·9

2·7

103·6

3·0

Trafford

…

123·7

4·1

123·9

4·0

141·5

4·5

Wigan

…

155·1

4·1

142·7

3·7

156·3

4·0

^* Includes health visitors and TB visitors with HV certificate, home nurses SRN/SEN with/without district training and other SRN/SEN but excludes all midwifery staff, tutorial grades, TB visitors without HV certificate, HV students, nursing officers and above, auxiliary staff and school health service staff.

† Whole-time equivalents.

‡ The managed population figures are based on the number of persons actually served by the area health authorities rather than the number of persons living within their boundries.

§ Excludes all TB visitors.

British Railways (Markets)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish national statistics in the Official Report for the markets under the control of British Railways in the same form as done by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in his reply to the hon. Member for Maidstone, Official Report, 4th May, columns 268–9.

The British Railways Board says the only full time market it manages is at Stratford, London E15, at which the average annual rent per square foot is £0·75p—under revision—and expenditure on maintenance was £6,250 in 1976. The other details requested are not readily available.

Smoking And Cancer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the actual or estimated national expenditure during a stated period on the prevention of death or injury caused by cancer attributable to smoking; what are the figures for deaths and casualties due to this cause during the same period; and to what extent he estimates the expenditure has contributed to saving life and damage to health in this period.

The prevention of death and illness resulting from all diseases attributable to smoking is the concern of the health professions and of a number of voluntary bodies, notably ASH. The cost of their prevention work cannot be quantified. In the financial year 1977–78, the Health Education Council spent over £240,000 on anti-smoking activities, and about £900,000 on the Better Health Campaign which contains references to the dangers of smoking.In 1976 in England and Wales there were about 26,000 deaths due to lung cancer among men and women aged 74 or under. More than 20,000 of these deaths can be attributed to cigarette smoking. The hospital in-patient inquiry information for 1975 indicates that, in England and Wales, there were approximately 48,000 spells in hospital for the treatment of lung cancer.I cannot quantify the extent to which expenditure on prevention contributes to saving life and avoiding damage to health but in recent years the numbers of those who smoke cigarettes, and the number and average "tar" yield of cigarettes sold, has been constantly falling.

Fluoridation

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there are available any official figures of the results of artificial fluoridation on the teeth of adults who have been digesting added fluoride from birth.

The longest periods for which fluoridation schemes have been in progress are some 33 years in the United States and 23 years in this country. However, in both countries the published reports of studies in areas where the water supplies naturally contain similar proportions of fluoride ion—which is the same in all its properties whether present naturally or added artificially—have shown substantial reductions in dental caries among adult lifetime residents of various ages, compared with residents of the same ages in similar low-fluoride control areas. I therefore agree with the conclusion of the Royal College of Physicians in its report "Fluoride, Teeth and Health" (Pitman Medical, 1976)—which comprehensively reviewed these studies—that fluoride in water added or naturally present at a level of approximately 1 part per million over the years of tooth formation substantially reduces dental caries throughout life.

Skin Cancer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of skin cancer from moles occurred in England and Wales in the last year for which there are figures.

In 1970, the latest year for which complete figures are available, there were 16,192 new cases of skin cancer registered in England and Wales, including 1,082 new cases of malignant melanoma of skin. From the information collected it is not possible to distinguish between those cases of malignant melanoma which arose from benign pigmented moles and those cases which arose de novo.

Departmental Office, Llangollen

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now give a firm assurance that it is not proposed to close down his Department's office in Llangollen, Clwyd.

I wrote to the hon. Member regarding the matter on 12th May 1978.

St Faith's Hospital, Brentwood

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects a decision to be made about the future of St. Faith's Hospital, Brentwood, as a specialist epileptic hospital serving the National Health Service generally.

No proposal to change the use of this hospital has been referred to my right hon. Friend. Any such proposal would be subject to the full consultation procedure laid down.

Births

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of births in the United Kingdom during March and April 1978; and if he will publish the respective figures for March and April in each of the previous three years.

Live birth occurrences in the United Kingdom in March and April—in thousands—were:

1975	122
1976	120
1977	110
1978	115

The figure for 1978 is a preliminary estimate and is subject to later revision.

Medical Records (Transfers)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people change their doctors every year;(2) what is the procedure for transferring patients' medical records from one doctor to another;(3) how long it takes on average to transfer medical records of a patient from one doctor to another;

(4) what staff is required to deal with the transfer of medical records; and what is the cost of this;

(5) whether any experiments have been carried out to speed up the method of transfer of medical records from one doctor to another.

About 3,000,000 patients change doctors each year in England and Wales. The procedure for transferring medical records begins with a patient's registration with a new doctor. If the transfer is between doctors practising within the same family practitioner committee—FPC—area, the procedure is a simple one, consisting of a transfer of records from the patient's previous doctor to his new one on request by the FPC. Where, however, the patient has previously been registered in another FPC area, the new FPC needs to refer to the National Health Service central register to find out where the patient had been registered before. The new FPC informs the old FPC of the transfer, which then has to obtain the records from the patient's previous doctor so that they may be sent to the new doctor. The time taken to complete this procedure varies widely and small delays at several points can sometimes mount up to delays of a few weeks. With several million transfers each year, it is impracticable to ascertain the average time taken. There is an emergency procedure which can be operated if a doctor needs a new patient's record urgently.About 450 staff at FPCs deal with the transfer of medical records at a salary cost of about £938,000 a year. My Department has considered various ways of speeding up the transfer between doctors but since they would all place an extra burden on general practitioners and involve a greater degree of risk in the transmission of these confidential documents, experiments have not been pursued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any investigations have been made into the advantages of using computers for the transfer of medical records of a patient from one doctor to another.

There have not been any investigations into the direct transfer of medical records as a whole between one computer and another. One computer research and development project in the National Health Service is able to print records for the general practitioners participating; these records are structured and more legible than manuscript records and can be forwarded by those doctors to the family practitioner committee in the normal manner for onwards transmission to other doctors when necessary.

Retirement Pensioners (Ormskirk)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the total numbers of retirement pensioners in the parliamentary constituency of Ormskirk, and how many of them receive basic retirement pensions only.

I regret that information about the numbers of retirement pensioners is not kept on an area basis.

Deaf Adolescents

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will agree that severely deaf adolescents who have been provided with special commercial hearing aids through the National Health Service while in full-time education shall continue to have replacements aids issued to them when in employment.

I am aware of the difficulties created by the present age restriction. Our aim is to extend the range of hearing aids available through the National Health Service to meet the needs of people of all ages, either by easing or removing the present age bar for the supply of commercial aids, by improving the standard National Health Service range or by a combination of both methods. While I am very conscious of the importance of the problem, I know my hon. Friend will appreciate that the speed with which further improvement can be made in provision must depend upon the availability of resources.

Nurses (European Community Directives)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from health authorities about extra costs they will have to face as a result of the implementations of EEC directives on nurse training; and if he will make a statement.

From my recent visits to health authorities I am aware that there are worries that the implementation of the EEC nursing directives in June 1979 may require additional resources. The directives require that all student general nurses should have practical experience in certain fields of nursing, which are currently only optional. However, no minimum period of experience is stipulated and I expect that this flexibility given by the directives will enable health authorities to develop the programmes of practical experience within the resources available at any given time. The General Nursing Council for England and Wales, which will be the "competent authority" for the purposes of the directives, has offered to discuss with individual training schools any difficulties it feels they may have. The council is in close touch with the Department on this matter.

Health And Safety

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people working in the National Health Service were absent because of industrial injury or suffering from a prescribable industrial disease in 1975, 1976, 1977, and to date in 1978; what was the financial cost to the Service; what steps are being taken to reduce the number of people absent from these causes; how many people have been absent due to sickness in these years; what was the cost to the Service; and what will be the cost of setting up health and safety committees as required under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 370–1], gave the following information.I regret that there are no separate figures available centrally for the numbers of staff absent from the NHS for these reasons or for the cost of such absences. Most staff who were absent on account of industrial injury or prescribable industrial disease would have received benefits under the industrial injuries arrangements provided under the national insurance scheme. It is estimated on the basis of sample statistics that in the year ended 31st May 1975, the latest year for which statistics are available, persons employed in the medical and dental services in England, Scotland and Wales commenced some 13,000 spells of certified incapacity resulting from industrial accidents or prescribed diseases. Most of the staff concerned were NHS employees—who number in total over 1 million—but the figures also include staff working in other services or the private sector.A small number of staff have been awarded benefits under the National Health Service Injury Benefit Regulations 1974 on account of permanent incapacity arising out of industrial injury or disease. The numbers of awards—England and Wales only—were:

1975	21
1976	33
1977	25
1978	(to date) 10

Individual health authorities are responsible for taking steps to keep absences arising from industrial injury or disease to a minimum, in line with their general responsibilities as employers and the specific duties imposed on them by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.It has been estimated that the cost of bringing the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 into force in the NHS in England, Scotland and Wales might be in the region of £6 million in the first full year of operation. The actual cost will, of course, depend on the arrangements agreed by individual health authorities in the light of their obligations under the regulations.

Post-Operative Infection (Lewisham Hospital)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies he has made of the incidence of post-operative infection, with special reference to bone operations and orthopaedic procedures and whether there are any special problems connected with Lewisham Hospital in this respect.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following answer:I am not aware of any studies on the incidence of post-operative infection. Trials of two systems of providing ultra-clean air in operating theatres aimed at eliminating infection are being carried out by the Medical Research Council on behalf of my Department in 19 centres.A survey of post-operative infection at Lewisham Hospital was carried out in 1975 but comparable groups of patients in other hospitals were not examined and it is not, therefore, possible to determine whether the rate of infection revealed by the survey was higher than elsewhere.

Blind Persons (Allowance)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the need for a blindness allowance for blind people; what are the Government's intentions; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends and I have received a number of representations about the introduction of a blindness allowance. We have made it clear that we are prepared to examine proposals for a comprehensive disablement income, which would clearly include those who would be eligible for blindness allowance.

Juvenile Offenders

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has concerning amendments to the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 to ensure that juvenile courts have adequate powers to deal with boys of 11 years or less who have committed numerous offences and caused substantial damage to property while in the care of a local authority.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following information:Where the court has previously committed a child under 14 years of age to the care of a local authority, there remain certain limited powers that can be used if the child reappears before a court, but the main responsibility for controlling him rests on the care authority.

Northern Ireland

Examination Results

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the GCE O-level achievements of pupils in attendance at comprehensive schools compare with those in attendance at (a) intermediate schools and (b) grammar schools, in respect of any recent year, or years.

This information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Pollution Control And Local Government

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report those provisions of the law in Great Britain to be extended to Northern Ireland by the proposed draft Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and those not to be extended; and if he will list those provisions subsisting in Northern Ireland not paralleled in Great Britain.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following information:Sections 75, 77 (Part), 100, 101 and 109 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 already extend to Northern Ireland. The Draft Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 makes similar provision for Northern Ireland as already provided in Great Britain by the 1974 Act with the exception of Sections 15, 25, 26, 29, 31–56—but not 46(4)—85, 86, 89, 90, 92, 95, 97, 98, 106 and 107 of that Act.All the provisions of the draft order already exist in Great Britain, with the exception of certain minor amendments to the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 and the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1974, set out in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of Schedule 3 of the draft order.

Community Services

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the projects on which money may be spent under the community services recurrent expenditure heading and the formula for deciding the sums to be spent on staff, resource centres, community centres, voluntary groups and other headings and the percentage of the cost from public funds.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following information:

Money may be spent by district councils in the following categories:

(a) the running costs of community centres;

(b) the running costs of resource centres;

(d) grants which district councils may pay to voluntary groups for items (a) and (b) and approved staff.

The Department of Education for Northern Ireland agrees annually in advance with each district council the total budget for expenditure on community services having regard to the Department's financial resources for these services, the different levels of activity in each council area and the varying needs for community activity to be developed in each council area.

It is a matter for district councils to decide, within their approved budgets, the size of individual grants to local community groups, but where councils wish to increase their expenditure in the course of the year, or to depart substantially from the agreed pattern approval must be sought from the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the level of grant to councils for community services recurrent expenditure; if he plans to change the percentage payable.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978], gave the following information:Grant to district councils for approved community services recurrent expenditure is paid at the rate of 75 per cent. I have no plans to change this percentage.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Falkland Islands

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date Argentinians occupied Southern Thule; whether, apart from arrangements under the International Antarctic Treaty, there has been any other such foreign occupation of any part of the Falkland Islands or their dependencies since they became British territory; to what extent the Argentinian armed forces have been involved; what report he received from His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, and when; what action has been taken in the matter; and when he proposes to make a full statement to the House.

The Argentines carried out scientific work on Southern Thule in the 1954 and 1956 Antarctic seasons and established their present scientific station in late 1976. There have been no other cases of unauthorised foreign activity in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia or the South Sandwich Islands. Argentine Service personnel provide logistic support for Argentina's Antarctic scientific activities. We have remained in communication with the Governor throughout, and he has reported that the Islands councillors know of and fully support our actions to protect British sovereignty. We have left the Argentines in no doubt that we consider Southern Thule to be British territory and are pursuing this matter with them.

Wales

Caernarvon Area Family Practitioner Committee

asked the Secretary of State for Wales who appoints the chairman and members of the Caernarvon area Family Practitioner Committee and when the members of this committee will be reappointed.

The Gwynedd Family Practitioner Committee, which embraces the Caernarfon area, is appointed by the area health authority, the local authority and the local medical, dental, pharmaceutical and optical committees in accordance with Part II of Schedule 5 to the National Health Service Act 1977. The members elect one of their number to be chairman. Members are appointed for a four-year term of office which expires for half the present members on 31st July 1978 and for the other half on 31st July 1980.

General Practitioners (Appointment)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to whom the local family practitioner committees are responsible in relation to the appointments of general practitioners, and the definition of redefinition of the area of a practice and to whom appeals can be made against decisions taken by such a committee; and if he has powers to overrule such decisions.

Responsibility for filling a practice vacancy rests with the Medical Practices Committee. Delineation and classification of a practice area is also determined by that committee on the advice of the family practitioner committee, which consults the local medical committee. An unsuccessful applicant for a practice vacancy in Wales has the right of appeal to my right hon. and learned Friend and he can direct the Medical Practices Committee to grant the application either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as may be specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the relationship between his Department and the Medical Practices Committee in London in relation to the appointment of general practitioners in Wales; and when a Minister at the Welsh Office last met the committee.

The Medical Practices Committee, which includes a member from Wales, is appointed by the Secretary of State for Social Services in consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend. Among its responsibilities it has the task of deciding practice appointments. As a result, appeals can come to my right hon. and learned Friend from individual practitioners. It has not been the practice for Ministers to meet the Committee.

A5 (Improvement Work Finance)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what notification his Department has given to local authorities in Gwynedd and Clwyd informing them to be prepared for a sudden announcement that funds could be available for improvement work on the A5 trunk road.

No such notification has been given.

Museums

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what level of financial assistance has been given by him towards the work of the museums in Wales during each of the past five years; and what is the planned allocation for the current financial year.

Direct Government assistance is limited to the National Museum of Wales and to the Council of Museums in Wales, and has been as follows:

	National Museum of Wales	Council of Museums in Wales
	£	£
1973–74	1,217,087	4,532
1974–75	1,466,101	11,580
1975–76	2,638,106	17,243
1976–77	2,743,259	32,494
1977–78	2,749,077	39,250
1978–79	3,067,000^*	50,000^*
^* Estimate.

Welsh Language

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue a circular to local authorities in Wales requesting that each authority draw up an action plan for the recognition and use of the Welsh language in its area of competence, and for ensuring that consideration of the wellbeing of the language is a factor considered when decisions are taken in matters which could have an impact on the language.

It is for local authorities to decide their own language policies. Advice to local authorities on the use of the Welsh language is contained in Welsh Office circular 82/69, which is still operative. The hon. Member will be glad to know that I intend soon to publish the recent report by the Council for the Welsh Language on which I hope there will be a full public discussion.

Mathematics Graduates

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many mathematics graduates are teaching now in Wales; and how many are expected to be teaching from September 1978.

I am obtaining information about the number of mathematics graduates who were teaching in Welsh maintained primary and secondary schools on 31st March 1977 and I shall write to the hon. Member. Since the employment of teachers is a matter for local education authorities, I cannot forecast how many mathematics graduates will be teaching from September 1978.

Housing (Elderly Persons)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if it is his Department's policy, in estimating the permitted cost for elderly persons' bungalows, to base such cost on the provision of only one bedroom.

No.

Housing Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of total housing expenditure in Wales in 1978–79 is devoted to municipalisation or renovation; and how the figure compares with the English figure of 13 per cent.

Twenty-two per cent. of the total allocation for local authority capital investment is expected to be spent on acquisitions of property and capitalised repairs and rehabilitation works on all dwellings owned by local authorities. This proportion takes no account of expenditure on improvement grants to private owners, or work financed by the Housing Corporation. I am unable to identify the English figure of 13 per cent. for purposes of comparison.

Unemployed Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of those currently unemployed in Ceredigion, Dyfed and Wales, respectively, are under 25 years old; and what were the corresponding figures for the last three years.

The latest information relates to 12th January 1978, when the proportions were 32·4 per cent. for Ceredigion, 35·7 per cent. for Dyfed and 38·5 per cent. for Wales. The corresponding proportions for January 1977 were 33·8 per cent., 36·7 per cent. and 38·3 per cent. respectively and for January 1976 36·6 per cent., 37·6 per cent. and 37·4 per cent. respectively. Figures for January 1975 are not available.

Volume 950: debated on Tuesday 16 May 1978

Written Answers To Questions

Home Department

One-Way Working

Official Secrets Act (Prosecutions)

Police (Recruitment)

Metropolitan Police (Divisional Crime Squads)

Equal Opportunities Commission

Prison Department Standing Orders

Crime (Staffordshire)

Vandalism (Staffordshire)

Parliamentary Questions (Incorrect Answers)

British Broadcasting Corporation

Criminal Law Act 1977

Parliamentary Constituencies

Advisory Bodies

Education And Science

Victoria And Albert Museum

Further Education (Handicapped Persons)

Comprehensive Reorganisation

School Inspections

Illiteracy (Unesco Campaign)

Cardinal Wiseman School, Ealing

Boarding Schools

Student Grants

Corporal Punishment

Nursery Education

School Governing And Managing Bodies

Absenteeism

School Transport

Comprehensive Schools

Independent Schools

Student Unions (Finance)

Gifted Children

Literacy (Bullock Report)

University Teachers (Pay)

Further Education

Pre-School Playgroups Association

National Union Of Teachers

Road Safety

Secondary School Pupils

Special Education

Works Of Art

Open University Students

Broadcasting (Education Functions)

Pre-1900 Schools

Comprehensive Education (Tameside)

Mathematics Teaching

University Teachers (Retirement)

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Lancaster

Marine Pollution

Nationalised Industries

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Tuc And Cbi

Queen's Regulations

Ministry Of Defence (Inquiry)

Prime Minister (Speech)

Aylesbury

Walsall

Tamworth

Luxembourg (Prime Minister)

Denmark (Prime Minister)

France (President)

Scotland

Devolution (Health Services)

Melanoma

Births, Marriages And Deaths (Registrars' Pay)

Intestacy

High Court Judges

Mr Leslie Chapman

"The Government Record" (Dossier)

Rent Arrears (Distraint)

Environment

Local Government Finance (Value For Money Proposals)

General Development (Amendment) Order 1977

Palace Of Westminster (Cleaning And Restoration)

Desalination

Council For Small Industries In Rural Areas

Club Facilities (Commercial Use)