Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

WEDNESDAY 8th November 1978

Home Department

Lotteries

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence there is that the proliferation of professionally run local authority lotteries is causing inroads into the profitability of local charitable, football and cricket club lotteries.

I know of none.

Restricted Patients

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many

	1975	1976	1977
(a) Cases referred to the board	11	12	23
(b) Restricted patients detained in special hospitals on 30th June	1,293	1,323	1,290
(c) (a) as a percentage of (b)	0·9	0·9	1·8

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many restricted patients under sections 60/65 or 72/74 of the Mental Health Act 1959 who appeared before mental health review tribunals in 1975, 1976 and 1977 waited (a) up to one month,(b) one to three months, (c) four to six months, (d) seven to 12 months, (e) one to two years or (f) over two years for a decision from him following their tribunal hearing.

I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patients detained under sections 60/65 or 72/74 of the Mental Health Act 1959 were recommended for discharge by a mental health review tribunal in 1975, 1976 and 1977; and how many of these recommendations he accepted.

The table below gives the information about cases referred by my right hon. Friend to mental health review tribunals in respect of all patients who are subject to the restrictions set out in section 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959. The figures for the number of discharge recommendations which my right hon. Friend accepted are given for patients in 1975, 1976 and 1977 were designated as requiring special consideration before the Aarvold Board; and what percentage this constituted of all restricted patients at the time.

The following table compares, for 1975 to 1977, the number of cases referred to the Advisory Board on Restricted Patients and the mid-year population of restricted patients in the special hospitals. Only patients in such hospitals were considered for reference to the board and decisions on whether or not they required special care in assessment were not necessarily taken until a proposal for transfer or discharge had been made.the year in which he reached a decision irrespective of the date on which the Tribunal made its recommendation.

	Number of cases in which Tribunal recommended discharge	Number of tribunal's discharge recommendations which were accepted
1975	37	25
1976	29	22
1977	27	15

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patients detained under sections 60/65 or 72/74 of the Mental Health Act 1959 were not recommended for discharge by a mental health review tribunal in 1975, 1976 and 1977; and if he accepted all these recommendations.

	No. of cases in which tribunal did not recommend discharge
1975	216
1976	212
1977	237

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patients detained under sections 60/65 or 72/74 of the Mental Health Act 1959 appeared before mental health review tribunals in 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The table below gives the number of cases of patients subject to the restrictions set out in section 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959 which were referred by my right hon. Friend to mental health review tribunals in these years. I do not know in how many of these cases the patient appeared in person before the tribunal.

	No. of cases referred to tribunals
1975	344
1976	346
1977	362

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the recommendations for discharge, transfer or for no discharge made by the Aarvold Board in 1975, 1976 and 1977 were accepted by him;(2) how many recommendations of the Aarvold Board in 1975, 1976 and 1977 were

(a) for absolute or conditional discharge, (b) for transfer or (c) for no discharge.

The recommendations of the Advisory Board on Restricted Patients were as follows:

	1975	1976	1977
Discharge (conditional or absolute)	1	4	10
Transfer	6	3	5
No discharge or transfer	4	4	6

In addition, there was one case in 1976 and two cases in 1977 where the advice of the board drew attention to areas requiring further investigation before a final view could be reached.My right hon. Friend accepted the board's advice in all cases except for:

(a) one transfer recommendation in 1976;

(b) a transfer recommendation in 1975, and a discharge recommendation in each of the yeas 1976 and 1977. In each of these three cases the patient's relapse led to the withdrawal of the original recommendation before it could be put into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what Occasions he refers patients to the Aarvold Board for its advice.

I seek the independent expert advice of the Advisory Board on Restricted Patients in cases of special difficulty where it appears that its advice would be particularly likely to assist me in deciding whether to accept a recommendation that the patient be discharged or transferred.

Immigration Applications

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time (a) between the expiry of a conditional leave to enter the United Kingdom and the refusal of an application for an extension of such leave, (b) between the final expiry of conditional leave and the determination of any appeal against the refusal of the extension by the adjudicator, (c) between the final expiry of conditional leave and the determination of any appeal against the adjudicator's decision, and (d) between the final expiry of conditional leave and the communication of the final order to leave after appeal proceedings for this and each of the last four years, respectively.

Since 27th September 1976 the length of time between the expiry of a conditional leave to enter and the refusal of an application for an extension, where the application is made within the currency of an existing leave, has been nil. This is because the Immigration (Variation of Leave) Order 1976 automatically extends the leave in such circumstances to a date 28 days after the date of any refusal.The information requested at

(b) (c) and (d) is not readily available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. In the general run of cases, the average time between the final expiry of conditional leave and the determination by the adjudicator of an appeal against the refusal of the extension might be of the order of nine to 12 months. The determination of an appeal against the adjudicator's decision, if leave to appeal were granted, might take another two or three months. A further few weeks might elapse before the final instruction to depart was issued. If deportation proceedings have to be initiated there will of course be further delay.

Suppression Of Terrorism Act 1978

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has any present intention to apply to the Republic of Ireland the provisions of section 1(4) of the Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978 regarding political offences;(2) if he has any present intention, under the powers granted to him by section 5 of the Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978, to designate any non-convention country as a country to which the provisions of the Act should apply.

It was decided at a meeting of Ministers of Justice of the member States of the EEC on 10th October in Luxembourg to open for signature an agreement concerning the application among the Nine of the provisions of the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. Ratification of this agreement by the United Kingdom would involve the making of orders under section 1(4) and 5(2) of the Suppression of Terrorism Act in relation to the Republic of Ireland and an order under section 5(1)(b) of that Act in respect of any other member State which had not then ratified the convention. In accordance with section 8(5) of the Act, such orders are subject to affirmative resolution.We do not at present foresee any other occasion to make an order under section 5 of the Act.

Firearms And Shotguns

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list in the Official Report details of the number, by types, of shotguns confiscated by the police authorities in England and Wales, in the pursuit of crime during the years 1968 to 1977;(2) if he will list in the

Official Report details of the number, by types, of firearms confiscated by the police authorities in England and Wales, from persons apprehended in the pursuit of crime during the years 1968 to 1977.

Information about the number of weapons seized by the police under section 52 of the Firearms Act 1968 is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the number of appeals against a decision of a chief officer of police to refuse the grant or renewal of a firearms certificate, shotgun certificate, or a dealer's registration, heard in the crown courts and courts of quarter sessions, by circuit, for the years 1969 to 1977;(2) if he will publish in the

Official Report the number of appeals upheld by the Crown courts and courts of quarter sessions by circuits, for the years 1969 to 1977, of decisions by chief officers of police to refuse to grant or renew firearms certificates, shotgun certificates, or dealer's registrations.

Information about such appeals is not collected centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the number of appeals heard in courts of summary jurisdiction against decisions by chief officers of police refusal to grant or renew a firearms certificate or a dealer's registration; and how many appeals were upheld by the courts for the years 1921 to 1936.

This information is not available.

Licences And Certificates

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report details of licences, certificates, and any other form of authorisations in which police authorities in England and Wales have responsibility for granting such authorisations to members of the public and the fee charged for each such authorisation.

Police authorities constituted in accordance with section 2 of the Police Act 1964 have no such responsibility.

Gambling

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Gambling; and if he will disregard the recommendation not to apportion part of the betting levy to greyhound racing.

We have asked for comments on the Royal Commission's proposals to be sent to the Home Office or Scottish Office by the end of this year. Further consideration will then be given to their recommendations in the light of the comments received.

Mentally Disordered Offenders

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the result of his discussions on improving the arrangements for mentally disordered offenders.

A rapid solution to this problem is not to be expected. I have, however, discussed it with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, with particular reference to those mentally disordered offenders whose condition is, in the opinion of prison medical officers, such as to warrant their detention in hospital for treatment. The first step is to identify with more precision the numbers and characteristics of this group and we intend to do this, concentrating in the first instance on sentenced prisoners who are mentally ill.

				Strength Officers
			Police		Ethnic Minorities			Cadets
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Police Service, England and Wales—
1st April 1974	96,307	4,420	100,727	79	6	85	3,685	673	4,358
30th September 1978	99,718	8,322	108,040	172	39	211	2,336	1,109	3,445
Metropolitan Police—
1st April 1974	20,119	937	21,056	21	2	23	663	—	633
30th September 1978	20,258	1,417	21,675	66	17	83	667	140	807
West Midlands—
1st April 1974	4,935	300	5,235	10	—	10	238	20	258
30th September 1978	5,194	628	5,822	30	9	39	130	150	280
Greater Manchester—
1st April 1974	5,307	278	5,585	2	1	3	162	64	226
30th September 1978	5,554	708	6,262	6	2	8	131	89	220
Merseyside—
1st April 1974	3,614	250	3,864	3	—	3	56	23	79
30th September 1978	3,750	472	4,222	4	1	5	43	17	60
South Yorkshire—
1st April 1974	2,196	123	2,319	—	—	—	76	29	105
30th September 1978	2,242	224	2,466	—	1	1	51	54	105
West Yorkshire—
1st April 1974	4,086	267	4,353	5	—	5	177	64	241
30th September 1978	4,143	408	4,551	6	3	9	54	39	93

The problem was ventilated in the Fifteenth Report from the Expenditure Committee, whose recommendations are being given urgent consideration by the Government.

Prison Officers

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will institute an inquiry into the pay and conditions of prison officers.

I refer the hon. and gallant Member to my statement on 2nd November.

Police

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the latest strength of the police, distinguishing between men, women, cadets and coloureds, and show how this compares nationally and in the six largest cities with the position in February 1974.

Following are figures for metropolitan forces, giving current strengths and those at 1st April 1974. Those for February 1974 are not comparable with current strengths due to boundary changes.

Indictable Offences

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the increase in the number of indictable offences known to the police in real numbers and in percentage terms in

INDICTABLE OFFENCES RECORDED BY THE POLICE^*
Number of offences
		Increase		Percentage increase
Area	1964–77†	1970–77†	1974–77	1964–77†	1970–77†	1974–77
England and Wales	1,291,849	894,650	499,665	110	57	25
Greater London‡	259,665	212,152	122,515	92	64	29
London Borough of Sutton		3,544	2,346		105	51
^* Excluding criminal damage value £20 and under.
† Adjusted for changes in legislation and recording procedure.
‡ Comprises the Metropolitan Police district and the City of London.
… Not available.

Violence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the increase in the number of crimes of violence known to the police in real numbers and in percentage terms in (a)

INDICTABLE OFFENCES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PERSON RECORDED BY THE POLICE
Number of offences
		Increase		Percentage increase
Area	1964–77	1970–77	1974–77	1964–77	1970–77	1974–77
England and Wales	58,720	41,102	18,409	250	100	29
Greater London^*	9,101	5,694	3,412	226	77	35
London Borough of Sutton†			108†			146†
^* Comprises the Metropolitan Police district and the City of London.
† Available only on a different basis, covering nearly all indictable offences of violence against the person and certain sexual offences involving violence; 74 such offences were recorded in Sutton in 1974 and 182 in 1977.
… Not available.

Vandalism

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the increase in the number of acts of vandalism known to the police in real numbers and in percentage terms in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Greater London Area, and (c) the London borough of Sutton, when comparing the latest full year for which figures are available with 1964, 1970 and 1974, respectively.

Number of offences^*
		Increase		Percentage increase
Area	1964–777	1970–77†	1974–77	1964–77†	1970–77†	1974–77
England and Wales	115,990	106,005	56,795	1,470	593	85
Greater London‡	27,125	24,212	14,486	1,747	542	102
^* Excluding offences of "other criminal damage" value £20 and under.
† Adjusted for changes in legislation; however, figures for 1964 and 1970 are not entirely comparable with those for 1977.
‡ Comprises the Metropolitan Police district and the City of London.

(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Greater London area, and (c) the London borough of Sutton, when comparing the latest full year for which figures are available with 1964, 1970, and 1974, respectively.

The available information is as follows:the United Kingdom,

(b) the Greater London area and (c) the London borough of Sutton, when comparing the latest full year for which figures are available with 1964, 1970 and 1974, respectively.

The available information is as follows:

The available information is as follows.

There is no specific offence of vandalism: the following figures relate to offences of criminal damage and malicious damage.Information relating to the London borough of Sutton is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Offences of criminal and malicious damage

¹ recorded by the police—

Television Licences (Residential Homes)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the problems which occur regarding television licences in a home for severely handicapped people whereby, if a licence is paid for the central television set, confusion arises regarding the need to pay a full licence by each resident who uses a television set within that home, he will investigate this problem; and if he will make a statement.

In residential homes of this kind one licence covers the use of all television sets installed in communal rooms. A resident who uses a set in his own room requires a separate licence. If my hon. Friend know of any case where difficulty has arisen perhaps he will let me have details.

Scotland (Referendum)

asked the Lord President of the Council, in selecting the date for the referendum for Scotland, what advice he received as to the hours of daylight, depth of snow, and average daily temperature in the Highland regions of Scotland and in the Lowland upland areas at the beginning of March.

In proposing a date for the referendum, the Government were concerned to ensure the fairest possible test of public opinion, given the importation of the 40 per cent. test, by holding it just as soon as practical on the new register of electors and at a time when the worst of the winter weather could be avoided.

Union Of Taxpayers

asked the Lord President of the Council when a charter was granted to the Chartered Union of Taxpayers, 71 Fleet Street, London, E.C.4.

My office has no record of a Royal Charter having been granted to this organisation.

Employment

Skillcentres

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the trades and other occupations for which skillcentres in the United Kingdom are now providing courses and the duration of such training.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that its skillcentres provide training for a total of 70 trades or occupations which are set out below together with the length of each course.

TRADE GROUP/TRADE	No. of Weeks
Construction
Bricklaying	26
Carpentry and Joinery	26
Heating and Ventilating fitting	26
Painting and Decorating	26
Pipe Fitting (Petro Chemical Industry)	20
Plastering	26
Plumbing	26 or 32
Slating and Tiling	26
Street Masonry and Paving	26
Welding—Pipe H & V & Plumbing	14
Woodcutting Machinery	26
Engineering Production
Automatic Lathe Setting	32
Boring Setting/Machining	26
Capstan Setting/Operating	26
Centre Lathe Turning	26
Die Milling	39
Engineering—Blind Persons	8 or 10
Milling Setting/Operating	26
Plate and Structure Steel Work	26
Precision Grinding	26
Sheet Metal Working	30
Toolmaking Fitting and Machining	39
Welding—Electrical Arc (Pipe)	10 or 30
Welding—Electrical Arc (Plate)	26 or 30
Engineering Servicing
Draughtsmanship (Mechanical Engineering)	39
Engineering inspection	26
Fitting—General Maintenance	26
Fitting—Jig and Tool	26
Fitting—Machine Tool Maintenance	39
Fitting—Pneumatic and Hydraulics	26 or 30
Detailed Fitting and Machining	32
Electrical/Electronics
Electrical Inst and Maint	32
Fitting—Electrical	26
Industrial Electronics	13 or 26 or 39
Instrument Maintenance	52
NC Machine Maintenance (Electronics)	30
Radio, TV and Electronic Servicing	40
TV Field Servicing	23

Plant and Automotive Trades
Agricultural Machinery Repair and Maintenance	30
Contractor's Plant Repair and Maintenance	28
Heavy Vehicle Repair and Maintenance	30
Commercial Vehicle Body Building	26
Motor Vehicle Body Repair	26
Motor Vehicle Repair and Maintenance	26
Motor Vehicle Spray Painting	26
Motor Vehicle Body Repair/Spray Painting	30
General Servicing
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Servicing	26
Domestic Appliances Servicing	26
Office Machinery Servicing	26
Oil Fired Central Heating Servicing	3
Sewing Machine Repair and Maintenance	30
Typewriter Repair and Maintenance	40
Watch and Clock Repair	52
Miscellaneous
Boat Fitting	18 or 26
Commercial Cookery	16
Furniture—Cabinet Making	30
Hairdressing (Mens)	26 or 30 or 39
Plastic Injection Moulding	18
Scientific Glass Blowing	14 or 26
Screen Process Printing	26
Sewing Machining	8
Storekeeping (Engineering)	13
Tailoring (Handcraft)	36
Short Courses
Engineering Induction	up to 18
General Construction Operatives	" " 18
Miscellaneous Engineering	" " 10
Occupational Selection	" " 18
Office Skills	" " 18
Vocational Assessment	" " 18
Wider Opportunities	" " 18

Youth Opportunities Programme (Merseyside)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places have been taken up by the youth opportunities programme in Merseyside.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that during the period April to September 1978 some 2,800 young people entered the youth opportunities programme in the metropolitan county of Merseyside.

Merseyside

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for Merseyside.

At 12th October, 88,166 persons were registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area. While this represents a welcome decrease of nearly 3,700 on the previous month, and is just below the October 1977 level, it is clear that at 11·7 per cent. unemployment in the area remains far too high.Because of its status as a special development area, employers with investment projects on Merseyside will continue to qualify for the highest levels of regional incentives in Great Britain. In addition, the Department of Industry is continuing with its programme of advance factories for Merseyside and on 2nd August the Minister of State, Department of Industry announced another 230,000 sq. ft. for Liverpool and Birkenhead sufficient to provide a further 900 jobs.Merseyside will also continue to benefit from the wide range of special employment and training measures which have so far helped nearly 55,000 people there. Further benefits should result from the youth opportunities programme and, in view of the serious unemployment probblems among young people, I ask employers, local authorities and community groups to do whatever they can to make this programme a success.

Hartlepool

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are registered disabled in Hartlepool; and what is the proportion at present unemployed.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that 1,111 people are currently registered as disabled in Hartlepool. Of these, 173 or 15·6 per cent. were unemployed on 12th October 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered unemployed disabled persons in Hartlepool have been out of work for more than one year.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that on 6th July 1978, the latest date for which information is available, 81 registered disabled people had been out of work for more than one year in Hartlepool.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men over 55 years of age are registered unemployed in Hartlepool; and what proportion of these has been out of work for more than one year.

At 12th October there were 543 men aged 55 and over registered as unemployed in the Hartlepool employment office area. Of these, 34·3 per cent. had been unemployed for more than one year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies and new jobs were registered in Hartlepool in 1977 and 1978 to the latest available date.

In accordance with the provisions of section 100 of the Employment Protection Act 1975, my Department was notified during 1977 of 3,509 redundancies due to take effect in Hartlepool. So far this year the figure is 3,686. For various reasons many of the redundancies which are notified do not in fact take place.I understand that firms have informed the Manpower Services Commission of plans for expansion involving some 900 new jobs in Hartlepool during the next two or three years. This figure is not comprehensive, as employers are not required to inform the MSC of their plans and equally some of the proposed developments may not come to fruition.

Training Opportunities Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place a copy of the report of the Manpower Services Commission's review of the training opportunities scheme in the Library: and if he will make a statement.

The report of the MSC's Review of the training opportunities scheme—TOPS—was published today. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The report reviews the operation of the scheme since its inception in 1972 and makes proposals for its future development. It proposes that TOPS should make a greater contribution to meeting the needs of employers through occupational training and to helping the unemployed, particularly the long-term unemployed, in particular through the development of work preparation courses. The Government have welcomed the report and approved the general strategy for the future development of TOPS which it sets out.

Social Services

Doctors (Complaints)

63.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of complaints against general practitioners brought to the notice of family practitioner committees have not been able to be investigated because they were not lodged in time, and how many such cases he has turned down on appeal.

When a family practitioner committee decides not to investigate a complaint because it was made outside the time limit, the matter is not reported to my Department unless the complainant appeals, and information about such complaints is not maintained centrally. Since 1st April 1974 when appeal arrangements first came into operation, 118 appeals have been made in cases involving general practitioners, of which 21 were successful.

General Practitioners

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the average net remuneration, practice expenses, and other items included in payments to general practitioners.

The average net remuneration paid to practitioners for NHS general medical services in 1975–76, the latest year for which firm figures are available was £8,465 plus £153 for contraceptive services—these payments are dealt with separately. The average amount of practice expenses reimbursed directly in the same year was £2,512 and of practice expenses reimbursed indirectly through the various fees and allowances was £3,542.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the amount paid out by family practitioner committees for practitioners in 1977–78 for out-of-hours responsibilities and the average sum paid out to each practitioner; if this sum is included in the net remuneration target set by the review body: and if he will make a further statement about depputising services run for commercial profit.

The amount paid by family practitioner committees—health boards in Scotland—in 1977–78 to general family practitioner committees—health boards in Sctland—in 1977–78 to general medical practitioners for out-of-hours responsibilities was £30·8 million—unaudited payments figure—an average of about £1,280 per practitioner. These payments consist partly of net pay and partly of reimbursement of practice expenses: the amounts of each element cannot be identified, but they are included in the intended average per practitioner figures recommended by the review body.A new code of practice for deputising s services was introduced in April of this year, and I have no statement to make about these services at present.

Resident Doctors (Married Quarters)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the number of married quarters available for resident doctors in each of the London teaching hospitals and at the Central Middlesex hospital.

This information is as follows:

Hospital	Number of Married Quarters Available for Resident Doctors
Central Middlesex hospital	5
Middlesex hospital	30
St. Mary's hospital	14
Westminster hospital	14
Hammersmith hospital	54
Charing Cross	27
London hospital	21
St. Bartholomew's hospital	37^*
University College hospital	6
Royal Free hospital	0
St. George's hospital	48^*
Guy's hospital	14
King's College hospital	35
St. Thomas's hospital	30
Hospital for Sick Children	18^*
National Hospital for Nervous Diseases	0
Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear hospital	6
Moorfields Eye hospital	0
Bethlem and Maudsley hospital	20^*
St. John's hospital	1

National Heart and Chest hospital	15
Royal National Orthopaedic hospital	12
St. Peter's hospital	3
Royal Marsden hospital	4^*
Queen Charlotte's hospital	9^*
Eastman Dental hospital	0
^*These hospitals have a stock of accommodation which they allocate to medical and nursing staff flexibly, depending on need. The figure quoted is the number of married quarters at present occupied by medical staff.

Supervision Orders

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supervision orders under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 were in operation by the social service departments of county councils on 1st March in each year since the Act came into operation; and how many of these supervision orders had been allocated to particular social workers, giving figures on a county basis.

The numbers of supervision orders under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 in operation by the social services departments of non-metropolitan county councils in England on 31st March in each year are given below:

1975	7,165
1976	8,738
1977	9,069

Figures for 31st March 1978 are not yet available.The numbers of supervision orders in operation by the social service departments of county councils in England on 31st March for earlier years are given below. They are not comparable with the figures for later years because of the changes brought about by local government reorganisation in April 1974:

1975	2,716
1973	3,910
1974	5,068

Information is not available centrally on the allocation of supervision orders to particular social workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the supervision orders made by the Basingstoke Magistrates' Court requiring persons aged between 10 and 13 years to be supervised by social service workers were not allocated to specific social workers in the year ended March 1978.

Of the 18 supervision orders made by Basingstoke magistrates' court in the year ending 31st March 1978 requiring persons aged between 10 and 13 years to be supervised by social service workers by 31st March; one of these two orders was made on 30th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many court supervision orders under the Children and Young benches in England in each year since the Act came into operation, in respect of children aged between 10 and 13 years; and whether he is satisfied that the statutory requirements are being carried out efficiently.

The numbers of supervision orders under the Children and Young persons Act 1969 made by juvenile benches each year since the Act came into operation in respect of children aged between 10 and 13 years is given

CHILD ADDITIONS PAID TO CLAIMANTS RECEIVING WIDOWED MOTHER'S ALLOWANCE, INVALIDITY PENSION^* AND RETIREMENT PENSION
Date from which payable				Addition for first child only	Single person's adult rate	(2) as a percentage of (3)	Married couple's adult rate	(2) as a percentage of (5)
(1)				(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
				£	£	Per cent.	£	Per cent.
July 1948	…	…	…	0·37½	1·30	28·85	2·10	17·86
September 1951	…	…	…	0·50	1·50	33·33	2·50	20·00
July 1952	…	…	…	0·52½	1·62½	32·31	2·70	19·44
May 1955	…	…	…	0·57½	2·00	28·75	3·25	17·69
February 1958	…	…	…	0·75	2·50	30·00	4·00	18·75
April 1961	…	…	…	0·87½	2·87½	30·43	4·62½	18·92
March 1963	…	…	…	1·00	3·37½	29·63	5·45	18·35
January 1965	…	…	…	1·12½	4·00	28·13	6·50	17·31
October 1967	…	…	…	1·25	4·50	27·78	7·30	17·12
April 1968	…	…	…	1·40	4·50	31·11	7·30	19·18
November 1969	…	…	…	1·55	5·00	31·00	8·10	19·14
September 1971	…	…	…	2·95	6·00	49·17	9·70	30·41
October 1972	…	…	…	3·30	6·75	48·89	10·90	30·28
October 1973	…	…	…	3·80	7·75	49·03	12·50	30·40
July 1974	…	…	…	4·90	10·00	49·00	16·00	30·63
April 1975	…	…	…	5·65	11·60	48·71	18·50	30·54
November 1975	…	…	…	6·50	13·30	48·87	21·20	30·66
November 1976	…	…	…	7·45	15·30	48·69	24·50	30·41
April 1977	…	…	…	6·45†	15·30	42·16	24·50	26·33
November 1977	…	…	…	7·40†	17·50	42·29	28·00	26·43
April 1978	…	…	…	6·10‡	17·50	34·86	28·00	21·79
November 1978	…	…	…	6·35§	19·50	32·56	31·20	20·35
^* Invalidity benefit was introduced in September 1971.
† Child benefit of £1·00 payable in addition.
‡ Child benefit of £2·30 payable in addition.
§ Child benefit of £3·00 payable in addition.

The table does not include additions for second and subsequent children which, until April 1978, were reduced to take account of family allowances/child benefit payable for these children and were therefore lower than the first child rate. Since April 1978, the same rate has been payable for each qualifying child, whatever its position in the family.

below. The figures cover both England and Wales:

Year	No. of Persons
1971	7,090
1972	6,608
1973	6,421
1974	6,936
1975	6,381
1976	5,604
1977	5,605

I have no reason to suspect that the statutory requirements are not being carried out as efficiently as possible within the resources available.

Benefit (Child Addition)

asked the secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the value of the child addition paid to claimants drawing the higher rates of national insurance benefit for each relevant year since 1948; and if he will express these data as a percentage of the single percentage of the single person's and the married couple's adult rate.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will bring up to date the answer to the hon. Member for Colne Valley, Official Report, 27th June 1977, column 72, on

CHILD ADDITIONS PAID TO CLAIMANTS DRAWING SICKNESS AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT
Date from which payable				Addition for first child only	Single person's adult rate	(2) as a percentage of (3)	Married couple's adult rate	(2) as a percentage of (5)
(1)				(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
				£	£	Per cent.	£	Per cent.
July 1948	…	…	…	0·37½	1·30	28·85	2·10	17·86
August 1951	…	…	…	0·50	1·30	38·46	2·10	22·73
July 1952	…	…	…	0·52½	61·62½	32·31	2·70	19·44
May 1955	…	…	…	0·57½	2·00	28·75	3·25	17·69
February 1958	…	…	…	0·75	2·50	30·00	4·00	18·75
April 1961	…	…	…	0·87½	2·87½	30·43	4·62½	18·92
March 1963	…	…	…	1·00	3·37½	29·63	5·45	18·35
January 1965	…	…	…	1·12½	4·00	28·13	6·50	17·31
October 1967	…	…	…	1·25	4·50	27·78	7·30	17·12
April 1968	…	…	…	1·40	4·50	31·11	7·30	19·18
November 1969	…	…	…	1·55	5·00	31·00	8·10	19·14
September 1971	…	…	…	1·85	6·00	30·83	9·70	19·07
October 1972	…	…	…	2·10	6·75	31·11	10·90	19·27
October 1973	…	…	…	2·30	7·35	31·29	11·90	19·33
July 1974	…	…	…	2·70	8·60	31·40	13·90	19·42
4·75	…	…	…	3·10	9·80	31·63	15·90	19·50
November 1975	…	…	…	3·50	11·10	31·53	18·00	19·44
November 1976	…	…	…	4·05	12·90	31·40	20·90	19·38
April 1977	…	…	…	3·05^*	12·90	23·64	20·90	14·59
November 1977	…	…	…	3·50^*	14·70	23·81	23·80	14·71
April 1978	…	…	…	2·20†	14·70	14·97	23·80	9·24
November 1978	…	…	…	1·85‡	15·75	11·75	25·50	7·25
^* Child benefit of £1·00 payable in addition.
† Child benefit of £2·30 payable in addition.
‡ Child benefit of £3·00 payable in addition.

Benefit (Industrial Disputes)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money has been paid out so far in the current year in supplementary benefit payments and housing costs for (a) strikers' and (b) strikers' dependants.

Up to 3rd October 1978, —1⅔ million has been paid out in supplementary benefit for strikers' dependants and £4,400 to strikers without dependants. It is not possible to say how much of this was attributable to housing costs. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment tells me that

				Strikers' Dependants		Strikers
Week ending				Amount	Number of Payments	Amount	Number of Payments
				£		£
3rd October 1978	…	…	…	53	2	10	1
10th October 1978	…	…	…	112,191	7,424	10	1
17th October 1978	…	…	…	154,681	10,741	30	2
24th October 1978	…	…	…	127,919	10,106	24	2
31st October 1978	…	…	…	161,951	13,152	4	1

the value of child additions paid to claimants during sickness and unemployment benefit.

Following is the information:the amount of rent rebates and allowances and rate rebates received by people on strike is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the amounts paid out weekly in supplementary benefit to the families of strikers and to strikers themselves, with numbers in both cases, and the special administrative costs involved in connection with the present industrial dispute at the Ford Motor Company.

The information is as follows:

The administrative costs of dealing with claims arising from the dispute cannot be separately identified.

Nurses

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the establishment of nurses, at all levels, in the Kirklees area health authority; and how this compares with 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

Comparable figures are not available for 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973.From 1974 to 1977, there were funded establishments for the equivalent of 2,505, 2,542, 2,601 and 2,719 whole-time nurses respectively.

Psychiatrists

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what efforts are being made to increase the number of psychiatrists at all levels, and the number of psycho-geriatricians currently practising.

Our medical school expansion programme has been designed to improve our supply of doctors overall and this should help recruitment to the shortage specialties. Progress in increasing the number of doctors working in adult psychiatry has been fast: the ratio of one consultant psychiatrist per 50,000 population has already been reached and the target of one per 40,000 should be reached in the early 1980s.At present, psychiatrists working in psycho-geriatrics are not identified separately in statistics. On 30th September 1977, there were 1,045 consultants in adult psychiatry in post in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultant psychiatrists and psycho-geriatricians there are at present in the Yorkshire Region compared to the numbers in those positions in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The number of consultants in the specialty of mental illness—adult—in the Yorkshire region at 30th September for each of the years 1970 to 1977 is set out below. Figures for 1978 are not yet available. Psycho-geriatrics is not identified in the statistics as a separate specialty but a large proportion of these consultants would have responsibility for the treatment of elderly patients.

YORKSHIRE REGION
Year	Number	Whole Time Equivalent
1970	48	41·0
1971	50	47·0
1972	51	48·0
1973	54	49·8
1974	63	54·5
1975	65	56·5
1976	68	58·8
1977	71	61·6

Notes

(1) Years before 1974 refer to Leeds regional hospital board and the Leeds group of teaching hospitals. These figures are not comparable with those for years after 1974 because of NHS Reorganisation and subsequent boundary changes.

(2) Whole time equivalent figures for 1970 are not comparable with those for later years.

Drugs

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to allow for lower priced drugs to be substituted in using methods similar to those currently in use in New York State.

I have no plans to do so.

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total expenditure declared under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme on representatives and the average amount per general practitioner this represents.

Total expenditure on representatives by all companies submitting annual financial returns under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme in 1976, the latest year for which full information is available, was £26 million. Representatives visit hospital and community health medical staff and ophthalmic medical practitioners as well as general medical and dental practitioners, but it is not possible to distinguish between hospital and other visiting. The average expenditure per all doctors and dentists in the United Kingdom was £323.

Health Centres

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health centres were in full operation on 1st January 1978; how many were in the process of being built: how many had already received approval for future building; what is the number of new plans submitted in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

The latest information I have is that, at 31st March 1977, 731 health centres were in operation in England. During the 1977–78 financial year, 83 health centres were built, a further 66 health centres were under construction at 31st March 1978 and the construction of 95 health centres was planned to start in 1978–79.

Medicines

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish full data in book form on all medicines prescribed under the National Health Service.

It would be impracticable to produce such a publication, since there is no exhaustive list of drugs and medicines which can be prescribed at National Health Service expense. Under the National Health Service Act, doctors are free to prescribe any drug or medicine they consider necessary for the treatment of their patients.I also refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mrs. Wise) on 24th July.—[Vol. 954, cc.

544–45.]

Death Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much it would cost to increase the death grant so that it would equal the amount originally granted in 1948.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 7th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the death grant immediately in line with the cost of living.

I refer my hon.Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 7th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the exceptional problems when families find it impossible to insure an infant, and the infant subsequently dies, the Government will consider a special death grant to parents in this situation.

We have no plans to introduce a special grant in these cases. If payment of funeral expenses causes hardship to the parents, the Supplementary Benefits Commission may be able to augment the death grant. If my hon. Friend has a specific case in mind, perhaps he will write to me.

Funerals (Cost)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of a funeral in Yorkshire.

I regret that my Department does not keep information about funeral costs in particular areas. The present cost of an average funeral in Great Britain is estimated to be about £200.

Rheumatism And Arthritis (Lost Working Days)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of days at work lost last year through sickness in the United Kingdom as a whole and in Scotland alone which may be attributed to rheumatic and arthritic complaints.

Information is available only for days of certified incapacity for work in connection with national insurance claims. These include Saturdays but exclude days for which no claim has been made because, for instance. the spells were short or were in respect of married women who had chosen to pay reduced rate contributions.In the year ended May 1977ߞthe latest period for which figures are availableߞthe numbers of such days were as follows:

	United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland) million	Scotland million
Rheumatic complaints	5·3	0·6
Arthritic complaints	19·2	1·8
Total	24·5	2·4

Myoelectric Hands

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities exist for the National Health Service to assist with maintenance of myoelectric hands bought privately by parents for young children.

At present we are unable to provide this facility for patients who are outside the scope of the trial being run by my Department. I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 19th June.—[Vol. 952, c. 2–5.]

Regionl Country			population served (thousands)^*	Average daily number of available beds	Beds per 100,000 population
Northern RHA	…	…	3,116·0	26,254	843
Yorkshire RHA	…	…	3,571·9	30,890	865
Trent RHA	…	…	4,508·8	32,187	714
East Anglian RHA	…	…	1,827·4	13,241	725
North-West Thames RHA	…	…	3,414·1	29,575	866
North-East Thames RHA	…	…	3,743·5	31,040	829
South-East Thames RHA	…	…	3,562·8	30,092	845
South-West Thames RHA	…	…	2,963·7	28,115	949
Wessex RHA	…	…	2,698·2	19,634	728
Oxford RHA	…	…	2,237·1	14,184	634
South-Western RHA	…	…	3,006·6	25,190	838
West Midlands RHA	…	…	5,154·3	37,310	724
Mersey RHA	…	…	2,475·7	22,964	928
North-Western RHA	…	…	4,071·2	31,681	778
England	…	…	46,351·3	375,926	811
Northern Ireland	…	…	1,537·3	17,119	1,114
Scotland	…	…	5,195·6	59,367	1,143
Wales	…	…	2,768·2	23,993	867
^* Note: Population figures are provisional.

Hospital Bed Occupancy (Yorkshire)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the bed occupancy rate for the National Health Service beds in the Yorkshire Region.

In the Yorkshire region the average bed occupancy rate for all specialities during 1977 was 82·1 per cent.

X-Ray Machines

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much research is being done to provide more efficient and sophisticated X-ray machines in each region of the United Kingdom.

Research into more efficient and sophisticated X-ray machines is carried out by the manufacturers of such equipment, rather than by regions. My Department contributes some £200,000

The skilled resources available are currently fully employed in the fitting and maintenance of the hands now being supplied to the children who were selected to take part in the trial. When this evaluation has been completed the position will be carefully and sympathetically reviewed.

Hospital Beds

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds there are for each 100,000 of the population in each region in the United Kingdom.

Following is the information for 1977:a year to research and to the evaluation of new equipment.

Mental Illness (Departmental Definition)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what definition of the term mental illness is used by his Department.

Mental illness is one of the forms of mental disorder recognised in the Mental Health Act 1959, but is not defined in the Act. The White Paper "Review of the Mental Health. Act 1959"—Cmnd. 7320—published recently, proposes in paragraph 1.17 that mental illness should remain undefined. In the absence of such a definition it would fall to the courts to interpret the term if necessary, in the light of medical evidence.Outside of the provisions of that Act, the term "mental illness" may be used in the NHS in a variety of circumstances, but again there are no fixed definitions: illness of this and other sorts is often a matter of degree. For example, people in unhappy circumstances, such as the bereaved, may for a time be not merely unhappy but consequently suffering from some symptoms of the psychiatric illness called reactive depression—for example, impaired concentration; but most will carry on without medical assistance. If, in such circumstances, a general medical practitioner recommends some time off work, he could accurately use the description "mental illness", on the form, as he could accurately describe a cold as "respiratory illness", but because of the general fear of the term—which is a realistic fear only in the case of a few serious illnesses—the term is often avoided in such contexts.The Department's statistics in general follow the classifications of the WHO International Classification of Diseases.

Mentally Handicapped

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount of money is being spent in the identifying and dealing with the problem of the mentally handicapped.

In 1976ߝ77 about £260 million was spent on health and personal social services for the mentally handicapped in England. In addition, identifying and helping mentally handicapped people and their families involves a wide range of other servicesߞfor example, general medical services, social workߞbut the proportion of expenditure on these services that is attributable to the mentally handicapped cannot be quantified.

Scanners

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many scanners are available in each region of the country.

The numbers of CAT scanners available in each region are as shown below.

Region
Northern	2
Yorkshire	3
Trent	3
East Anglia	1
North-West Thames	5
North-East Thames	9

South-East Thames	4
South-West Thames	3
Wessex	1
Oxford	1
South-Western	3
West Midlands	3
Mersey	1
North-Western	5
TOTAL	44

Espilepsy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount of money is being used for investigating and treating epilepsy.

It is not possible to isolate expenditure on treating epilepsy, since most of the services involved are part of the general medical services provided by health authorities.The Medical Research Council has responsibility for basic biomedical studies, such as research into the management of epilepsy. However, research costs attributable to epilepsy cannot be identified separately, as much of the work involved will also be applicable to other neurological disorders. My Department is responsible for research into the organisation of services for the care of patients with epilepsy. The department of community medicine of St. George's hospital has been investigating this during the past three years and the results of its study are expected to be available during the next few months. The cost of this project in the current financial year is £30,000. This is funded through my Department's usual research arrangements.

New-Born Babies (Intensive Care)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of cots designated for intensive care of the new-born in each regional health authority and the proportion each figure represents per 10,000 births; if he is satisfied with the provision and distribution of intensive care of the new-born throughout the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 24th July—[Vol. 954,c. 557–8.]—in which I explained that until such time as regional health authorities have been able to implement fully the recommendations of HC(76)40 it will be difficult to distinguish between degrees of special and intensive care; and that full information on the amount rind location of intensive care practised in regions could be provided only through the most exhaustive enquiries.The actions of health authorities in implementing the recommendations of HC(76)40 are being followed up through the NHS planning system; and all regions have been asked specifically to cover the subject of perinatal and infant mortality and handicapping, and plans for improvement in areas with persistently poor figures in their planning statements due to be submitted in January 1979.Intensive care for babies in Scotland. Northern Ireland and Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, respectively.

Occupational Therapists

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many occupational therapists are currently employed by social services departments in England; and how many were in employment in each of the last five years.

The figures for 1978 are not yet available. The numbers—whole-time equivalent basis—at 30th September in earlier years were: —

1974	478·5
1975	510·0
1976	528·3
1977	535 (estimate)

Such statistics were not sought prior to 1974.

Disablement Income Group

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what grant his Department proposes to make to the Disablement Income Group during the current year.

The Disablement Income Group was advised in July that my Department was making a grant to them of £8,000 for 1978–79. This represents an increase of £3,000 over the previous year's figure and reflects the high regard which my Department has for the group's work..

Radiation

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how far the retrospective studies of past radiation workers and pensioners have been carried out as part of the investigations involved in compiling the National Radiological Protection Board National Registry for Radiation Workers;(2) by what means the progress of the National Radiological Protection Board National Registry for Radiation Workers is expertly assessed;(3) what is the current state of the National Radiological Protection Board National Registry for Radiation Workers; and if it now includes all those who are working or who have worked with incorporated radioisotopes.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

Child Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he is making for the payment of child benefits to parents in the United Kingdom, at present in receipt of tax allowances, whose children are domiciled overseas.

None. Broadly, child benefit, like family alowances, is paid for children resident in this country, including under EEC regulations children in the European Economic Community. It has been made clear, in response to representations earlier this year, that it is not regarded as a practical proposition that child benefit should generally be payable for children resident abroad.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Dairy Herd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number in the national dairy herd at the latest available date, compared with 1973.

The provisional results of the most recent sample inquiry for the United Kingdom indicate that the size of the dairy herd at June 1978 was 3,278,000 cows. This compares with the 1973 figure result is estimated to be in the region of of 3,436,000.

Fish Catches (Monitoring)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the current monitoring system of catches by EEC boats in Great Britain's 200-mile fishing zone.

There is room for improvement; and it is helpful that the EEC Commission have made proposals for an EEC enforcement regulation aimed at ensuring that all member States carry out adequate checks on fishing within their limits and on landings in their ports.In the meanwhile, our fisheries inspectorates and our fishery protection forces carry out a high level of checks on fishing by EEC and other vessels within United Kingdom fishery limits and on landings in this country by foreign as well as United Kingdom vessels.

Education And Science

Preston Polytechnic

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additions or alterations to buildings of the Preston polytechnic have been notified to her Department as urgent following the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act; and what financial authorisations, if any, have been issued to enable this work to be done as a matter of urgency.

None. Such work is subject to the approval of my Department only if it involves expenditure of £50,000 or more.

School Milk

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local education authorities have now indicated their refusal to reintroduce school milk in primary schools; and what is the extent of EEC subsidy lost in each case.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 7th November. It is not possible to estimate the amount of EEC subsidy lost in each case, but the total subsidy lost as a result is estimated to be in the region of £¾ million in afull year.

Migraine

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amount of money is being spent on research into migraine.

In the financial year 1977–78 the Medical Research Council spent approximately £70,000 on research into migraine and supported other studies which, though not specific to migraine, may yield relevant information. Other research is being carried out by universities and hospital medical schools, details of which are not available centrally. Relevant work is also supported by voluntary bodies, notably the Migraine Trust.

Student Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the real value of students' grants compared with 1970.

Using the General Index of Retail Prices, the following figures show the real increases between September 1970 and September 1978 in the values of the ordinary rates of maintenance grant for mandatory awards:

Student's residence and Real increase
Hall or lodgings
London	15 per cent.
Elsewhere	7 per cent.
Parent's home	5 per cent.

Teachers

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of teachers in all schools taking children up to 16 years of age and the total number of children for each of the years from 1970 to the latest available date.

The figures will take time to extract and I will write to my hon. Friend.

Industry

Kirkby Workers' Co-Operative

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to receive the report of the working party on the future of the Kirkby Workers' Co-operative, KME.

I understand that the working party hopes to report on 14th November.

Departmental Employees

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people were recruited for employment in Northern Ireland by his Department during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Catholics, Protestants or belonged to neither religious group, respectively.

None.

British Industry (Purchasing Policy)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the need for British industry and public utilities to buy British and, in particular, where firms and nationalised undertakings receive substantial loans and grants from the Government

Public utilities and private sector companies receiving Government loans or grants are encouraged to support British manufacturing industry. However, it is not possible under the terms of membership of the EEC and other international obligations such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to impose conditions on Government assistance requiring firms to purchase British products.

Transport

Davenham, Cheshire (Bypass)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in connection with the desirability of a bypass round Davenham, Cheshire, in place of the A533 route; and if he will make a statement.

We have received no representations about a bypass in place of the A533 through Davenham, though the hon. Member did of course mention it himself in the Adjournment debate of Wednesday 1st November. This is not a trunk road but one for which Cheshire county council is the responsible highway authority. In the circumstances it is not for us to make a statement.

Humber Bridge

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the progress of the Humber Bridge and associated roads, and give the present estimated costs and date of completion.

The Humber bridge is being constructed for the Humber bridge board by British Bridge Builders Ltd. It is not the responsibility of the Department. Construction work on the associated approach roads is complete, but work on the superstructure has run into difficulties and recently we called a meeting of all parties concerned to see if we could help to resolve them. The current estimated cost is about £67 million and the board has advised that completion should be achieved by late 1979. Both estimates are of course dependent on what progress can be made during the coming winter.

National Ports Council (Members' Pay And Expenses)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the National Ports Council have been introduced since April 1976; and what expenses were claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The rates of pay of the chairman, deputy chairman and one full-time member of the National Ports Council were increased from 1st January 1977 by £208·80 per annum in the case of the full-time member and in the other two cases by an appropriate fraction of that sum—namely, chairman £104·40 per annum, and deputy chairman £41·76 per annum. The rates were further increased, with effect from 1st January 1978, by 10 per cent.The rate of pay of the part-time members was increased, with effect from 1st January 1978, by 10 per cent.The expenses paid to council members are a matter for the council.

Trade

Marine Oil Pollution

62.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the present methods of, and arrangements for, dealing with oil slicks off the British coast; and if he will give the approximate annual cost to Government agencies and to local authorities, respectively.

We have recently carried out a comprehensive re-examination of our contingency arrangements for dealing with oil pollution. I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade gave my hon. Friend the Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 2nd August, announcing our conclusions. The cost of dealing with actual oil spills varies widely from year to year and, in those cases where the polluter is identified, is recoverable from the shipowner or his insurer.

Companies (Registration Fee)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present annual fee charged by the Registrar of Companies for the retention of a company on the register; and how this compares with the fee charged in 1974.

Twenty pounds. An annual registration fee became payable under the Companies Act 1967, initially at £3. It was increased to £20 in June 1975.

Heathrow Airport (Night Flights)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will continue to limit and reduce the number of aircraft movements at night at Heathrow and maintain or increase the length of the Heathrow night.

As I announced last November, movements at night of the noisier aircraft at Heathrow are being phased out completely by 1987. There will be a corresponding increase in the number of permitted movements by quieter aircraft while research into the relationship between aircraft noise and sleep disturbance is carried out. The restrictions on quieter aircraft and the definition of the night period will be reviewed in the light of the results of this research.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will arrange for night movements of aircraft at Heath row to be fairly apportioned between the main runways in accordance with a defined and public system of alternation except when safety or other vital considerations apply.

Having regard to the distribution of population close to the main runways at Heathrow, I do not think that there would be any overall environmental benefit in changing the present system of runway usage at night.

Advisory Committee On Airports Policy

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will give an account of proceedings to date of the National Airports Committee.

The Advisory Committee on Airports Policy held its first meeting on 20th September when it considered its methods of work and the main issues to be examined in its analysis of the longer-term options for handling air transport demand.

Northern Ireland (Departmental Employees)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many people were recruited for employment in Northern Ireland by his Department during the last complete year for which figures are available; and of these, how many were Roman Catholics, Protestants or belonged to neither religious group, respectively.

My Department has recruited two people for employment in Northern Ireland during the past twelve months. Religion is not relevant to recruitment and such information is neither sought nor available.

Live Cattle Imports

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many live cattle were imported from Ireland during the last six months; and what were the corresponding figures for 1977;(2) how many live cattle were imported from Northern Ireland during the last six months; and what were the corresponding figures for 1977.

Following is the latest available information on the numbers of live cattle imported into the United Kingdom from the Irish Republic and of those

						(a)	(b)
						United Kingdom Imports from Irish Republic	Sent from Northern Ireland to Great Britain
April-September 1978	…	…	…	…	…	263,933	275
April-September 1977	…	…	…	…	…	145,340	688

Sources:

(a) Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom (SITC Sub-group 001.1—live animals of the bovine species)

(b) Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture (figures exclude cattle imported on direct consignment from the Irish Republic).

Trade Mark Office

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he has taken, and what further steps he proposes to take, to ensure that the EEC Trade Mark Office will be sited in London; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Dodsworth) on 24th October.

Energy

National Coal Board (Staff Superannuation Fund)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the £187·7 million paid into the staff superannuation fund, National Coal Board, from 1974–75 to 1977–78 to cover deficiencies in the scheme, what is the amount contributed by Government subsidy or grant.

There has been no Government contribution towards the

	1976	1975
	£ million	£ million
Social costs^*	14·4	13·8
Contributions to the deficiency in the Mineworkers Pension Scheme	18·0	8·3
Regional grant	—	37·8
Contributions to the coal industry pneumoconiosis compensation Scheme	40·0	60·0
	72·4	119·9
^* This includes the cost of redundancy payments, and, for men re-deployed within the industry, travelling and removal expenses and the cost of subsidised housing.

Environment

Northern Region Strategy Team (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action

sent from Northern Ireland to Grant Britain.

deficiency payments made by the National Coal Board to the staff superannuation scheme.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the £169·3 million paid into the mineworkers' pension scheme from 1973–74 to 1977–78 to cover deficiencies in the scheme, what is the amount contributed by Government subsidy or grant.

The Government contribution to the deficiency in the mineworkers' pension scheme from 1973–74 to 1977–78 was £96·8 million.

Coal Industry (Finance)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the figure of £119·9 million social grants paid to the coal industry in 1975, Official Report, 16th May, column 122, is made up; and if he will give a similar analysis for the £72·4 million paid in 1976.

The figures are made up as follows:he has taken on the final report to the Northern Region Strategy Team published in March 1977.

Inter-departmental discussions on the final report of the Northern Region Strategy Team will soon be concluded. Work on the preparation of the response to the report is well advanced.

Local Authority Loans

17.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to write off all loans made by local authorities in respect of borrowings for properties built and demolished within the 60-year borrowing period.

None.

Government Bodies (Members' Pay And Expenses)

19.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the Housing Corporation have been introduced since April 1976; and what expenses were claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The annual rate of pay of the chairman was increased by £125·28 and the deputy chairman by £83·52, with effect from 1st January 1977.The rate of pay of the chairman, deputy chairman and other members of the corporation is to be increased by 10 per cent. as from 1st January 1978 and will then be £8,058, £4,316 and £1,100 respectively.The expenses claimed by the board of the corporation for the 12 months ending on 31st October 1978, totalled £3,065, and was mainly incurred in travelling expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman and members of the National Water Council and the chairmen of the regional water authorities have been introduced since April 1976; and what expenses were claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

With effect from 1st August 1976 the chairman of the National Water Council and the chairmen of the regional water authorities had an increase of £208·80 in their full time equivalent salary rate in line with stage 2 of the counter inflation policy. They received a further increase of 10 per cent., as from 1st January 1978, in accordance with the Government's decision on the implementation of the recommendations in Report No. 10 of the Top Salaries Review Body. From the same date some adjustments were made in the time input basis on which chairmen's actual salaries are calculated. No increase has yet been authorised in the £1,000 paid to the members of the National Water Council.Expenses claims are matters for the National Water Council and regional water authorities as appropriate, and the hon. Member may like to refer the last part of his Question to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the Commission for New Towns have been introduced since April 1976; and what expenses were claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The rates of pay of the chairman and deputy chairman of the Commission for the New Towns were increased, from 1st January 1977, by the fraction of £208·80 a year appropriate to their time commitment to the work of the commission. For the chairman—two days a week—this was £83·52 a year; for the deputy chairman—one day a week—£41·76 a year. The rates of pay are being further increased, with effect from 1st January 1978, by 10 per cent.The rates of pay of the members of the commission are being increased, with effect from 1st January 1978, by 10 per cent.Expenses of the chairman, deputy chairman and members are paid by the commission, not by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman and members of the Location of Offices Bureau have been introduced since April 1976; and what expenses were claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The chairman's salary was increased by £104 per annum with effect from 1st January 1977 and by a further £377 per annum with effect from 1st January 1978. Members' salaries were not increased during this period. The bureau's latest accounts are for the year ending 31st March 1978 and show payments to members, not individually identified, for "travelling and entertainment" totalling £790.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman and deputy chairman of the Countryside Commission have been introduced since April 1976; and what were the expenses claimed by each during the last year for which figures were available.

The rates of pay of the chairman and deputy chairman of the Countryside Commission were increased, from 1st August 1976, by the fraction of £208·80 per annum appropriate to their commitment to the work of the commission, namely; chairman—three days per week—by £125·28 per anum; deputy chairman—2½ days per week—by £104·40 per annum. The rates were further increased from 1st August 1977 by 10 per cent.During the year 1977–78 the chairman received £3,100 in travel expenses and subsistence allowances; no claims were made by the deputy chairman.

House Building Programme

22.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures are proposed to encourage the house building programme.

In the public sector the Government will continue to provide resources for a substantial programme and urge local authorities to take them up. In the private sector I shall encourage an adequate and reasonably stable supply of mortgage lending.

Rented Accommodation

25.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Bill on housing envisaged in the Gracious Speech will include new rights for private landlords in order to encourage the provision of private rented accommodation.

No. The Rent Acts are not within the scope of this Session's housing legislation.

32.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to increase the supply of privately rented accommodation in the Greater London area.

33.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make more private accommodation available to rent.

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Costain).

Myton Road, Warwick (Housing Land)

28.

Smith asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in for ministerial consideration Warwickshire county council's planning decision to release land for housing in the Myton Road, Warwick, area, in view of the objections of the town's residents on safety grounds.

I recognise that there is much local opposition to the proposal, but planning applications are, in general, called in only if issues of more than local significance are involved. This is not so in this case.

Home Purchase And Housing Corporation Guarantee Act

23.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to seek amendments to the Home Purchase Assistance and Housing Corporation Guarantee Act in the current session.

None.

Building Society Lending

26.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to lift the current restrictions on building society lending.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Birmingham, Stechford (Mr. MacKay) and Northampton, South (Mr. Morris).

Employement

Theatres Trust

27.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will receive a deputation headed by Lord Goodman to discuss the role of the Theatres Trust in relation to his general development order.

My right hon. Friend has replied to Lord Goodman's request explaining that he would not be justified in putting him and his colleagues to the trouble of coming to see him because he was unable to help. Lord Goodman has courteously and regretfully acknowledged the position.

Dangerous Substances (Emission)

24.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present regulations aimed at preventing the emission of dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere, especially in areas where there is a heavy concentration of chemical plants.

Yes. Processes which give rise to emissions of dangerous substances, if they are difficult to control, are scheduled under the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act 1906 and firms using these processes have to register with Her Majesty's Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate. Firms are required to use the best practicable means for preventing the escape or discharge of noxious or offensive gases and for rendering harmless what is emitted.

Planning And Slum Clearance Procedures

29.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to speed up the planning procedures, and slum clearance procedures, so that local authorities can act with greater speed.

I know there have been problems of delays, especially in the North-West, and I am concerned about them. Extra staff have been allocated to the work in that region and I expect an improvement.

Rate Support Grant

30.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had on the calculation of the rate support grant for 1979–80.

I have had extensive discussions with the local authority associations. I have also met the local government committee of the TUC.

52.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the local authority associations regarding improving the data base which will be used in allocating the needs element of the rate support grant settlement for 1979–80.

A working group of central and local government officials was set up late last year to look at the scope for improving the data base for needs assessment. Its conclusions were considered by the consultative council in April.

Pay Settlements (Local Authorities)

31.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to local authorities concerning the enforcement of the Government's pay guidelines.

Advice was issued in phases 1 and 2 of the pay policy asking local authorities to adopt the Government's own contractual procedures in their purchasing in order to reinforce the pay policy. I am considering what advice to give to local authorities for this pay round.

Council House Rents

34.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to limit increases in council house rents to 5 per cent.

The forthcoming Housing Bill will not alter the freedom local authorities have to set their own rent levels. However, in determining the level of the local contribution under the new subsidy system increases in average rents will be calculated to be broadly in line with increases in money incomes.

Rent Act 1974

35.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the operation of the Rent Act 1974.

The Act has been generally successful in preventing arbitrary eviction of tenants of non-resident landlords in furnished accommodation.

Council House Building (Report)

36.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to follow up the recommendations of the second report of the development management working group on value for money in local authority house building programmes.

Discussions have already been held at a meeting of the Housing Consultative Council on 23rd October to consider the Department's suggestions for next steps. They include ways of securing greater publicity for the report, arriving at ways to measure improvement in performance and for developing a programme of practical work to get improved performance. The Department also intends to revise existing advice to local authorities in the light of the working group's recommendations.

Weather Damage (Compensation)

37.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total expenditure incurred so far by his Department under the agreed compensation arrangements to local authorities in respect of losses incurred as a result of the floods and storms earlier this year.

Payments made by my Department so far amount to £249,000.

Preston (Compulsory Purchase Order Application)

38.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to give his decision regarding the Springfield Street/Aqueduct Street, Preston compulsory purchase order application made by Preston borough council.

The decision on this order should be issued early next year.

Local Government Reform

39.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what form the limited reform of local government provisions outlined in the Gracious Speech will take.

The Government are proposing changes in the allocation of functions between county and district councils in England. Following further consultations, we intend to introduce legislation that will permit transfers of certain functions where district councils seek them.

Council Houses (Heating Costs)

40.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet received the final report of the working party on heating costs in public housing.

The Joint Working Party on Heating and Energy Conservation in Public Sector Housing was charged with preparing a series of advice notes for public housing authorities on the efficient use of energy for domestic heating. To date it has published three notes. Two deal with electrically heated dwellings and the third with condensation in roof spaces. A copy of each domestic energy note has been placed in the Library.

Manchester Airport (Runway Improvement)

41.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with Manchester airport authority to see that any hard core for improving its runway is obtained from existing waste tips, and is not quarried specially, and that any such hard core is transported by rail rather than road.

Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has had discussions with the airport authority. The issues are properly for consideration by the airport authority and its contractor and we cannot intervene.

Industrial Rating

42.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the rating system is operating in the best interests of small industry.

The principles of the rating system aim at fair treatment for all sectors of property. But I hope to include two proposals which will help small firms in legislation brought before the House this Session. They will extend the right to pay rates by instalments to the commercial and industrial sector and extend domestic rate relief to a large number of mixed businesses and domestic properties.

Partnership Schemes

43.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he remains satisfied with the working of the partnership schemes.

All the seven partnerships have now agreed their inner area programmes for the years 1979 to 1982. The programmes are a good beginning for the co-ordinated commitment to their regeneration which these areas need and for translating that commitment into positive action to improve economic and social conditions in the inner areas.

Hampton Court Palace (Lime Trees)

44.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to have cut down an entire avenue of 180 lime trees in the gardens of Hampton Court Palace.

No. A number of alternative courses of action are being considered and an announcement will be made shortly.

Tower Blocks

46.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to discourage the erection of tower blocks for residential purposes.

I have often stated my strong opposition to the provision of high or medium rise flats and excessive density developments for families with children; and have taken action to stop such provision by local authorities or housing associations, and urging alternative use for existing high rise, high density stock. On the latest available figures, only about 1·5 per cent. of tenders approved by my Department are for blocks of five or more storeys, virtually none of which is for family accommodation. This compares with over 20 per cent. a few years ago. High rise flats can serve a useful purpose—for example, for housing single people, or childless couples—but they are generally not suitable for families with young children.

Operation Clean Up

45.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has had from local authorities involved in the Operation Clean Up scheme; and whether he will make funds available to other local authorities wishing to submit projects within the terms of the scheme.

The local authorities involved have generally welcomed the scheme. In order to use the available funds to greatest effect, they are being concentrated on the inner city partnership and programme districts.

Council House Building

47.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for housing starts and completions in the public sector.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker).

Mortgages

48.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he remains satisfied with the availability of mortgage funds for house purchase.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Stechford (Mr. MacKay).

Council House Tenancies (Transfers)

49.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to facilitate exchanges and transfers between council tenants in different housing authority areas.

Yes. I shall shortly issue a consultation document setting out my proposals for increased mobility in public sector housing. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Royal Parks Police (Conditions Of Service)

50.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what communications he has received from Civil Service unions about conditions of service for police in the Royal parks.

The Civil Service Union asked me on 23rd October to receive a deputation to express its concern at the setting up by the Civil Service Department of a committee to examine the relevance to the Royal Parks Constabulary of Lord Edmund-Davies' recommendations on police pay. Civil Service pay is not one of my responsibilities and I do not believe it would be helpful if I were to receive such a deputation, and I have written accordingly to the Civil Service Union.

Greater London Council (House Building)

51.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the construction by the Greater London Council of houses for its retired population in Cornwall and other areas outside of the Greater London Council area.

The GLC has power to provide housing outside the Greater London area. The use of those powers is for it and the local authorities concerned, and my Department has had no discussions with them.

Yorkshire-European Community (Waterway Trade Link)

53.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has now been made with South Yorkshire Navigation, the South Yorkshire county council, the appropriate industries, the Hull and Humberside port authorities, and the Commission of the EEC about a waterway link between central Yorkshire and Community markets and trading partners.

On 8th September my right hon. Friend approved the British Waterways Board's proposals for improving the Sheffield and South Yorkshire navigation between Doncaster and Rotherham at a cost of about £10 million. This scheme has wide support in the area and the South Yorkshire county council has undertaken to make a substantial contribution to the capital costs. The improvement will enable 700-tonne barges to navigate as far as Mexborough and 400-tonne barges to reach Rotherham. It is expected that it will stimulate waterborne traffic with Europe via the Humber ports. We are in process of preparing in consultation with the relevant authorities an application for grant from the European Regional Development Fund.

Hypermarkets

55.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his policy to encourage the establishment of more out-of-town hypermarkets; and if he will make a statement.

The Department's advice on the location of hypermarkets and other large stores is set out in Development Control Policy Note 13, which was published last December. I have nothing to add to that.

Rent Acts (Review)

56.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish the findings of the Government's review of the Rent Acts.

My right hon. Friend reported to the House on 21st June last. I cannot at present say when he will announce further policy conclusions.—[Vol. 952, c. 501–2.]

Northamptonshire (Rights Of Way)

57.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to produce a definitive map of public rights of way of the county of Northamptonshire.

A definitive map of public rights of way in Northamptonshire was completed in 1957 and revised in 1963 and 1968. A third review is now in progress together with a special review of roads used as public paths. The Department is at present consulting Northamptonshire county council on arrangements for several local inquiries to consider 40 objections to the draft review proposals involving some 50 rights of way of different types. This is a time consuming exercise and I do not expect that it will be possible to reach conclusions before the end of next year. The production of a map showing the finally agreed revisions will be a matter for the county council.

Departmental Tenancies (Bloomsbury)

58.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many residential tenancies on the site originally designated for the National Library in Bloomsbury remain under the ownership or control of his Department; what proposals he has for the future ownership of these homes; what rent increases he is proposing meanwhile for these tenants; and why.

There are 172 residential tenancies on the Bloomsbury Estate owned or controlled by the Department; 47 of these are in fact let to the London borough of Camden and 171 are surplus to Government requirements. Camden is buying 161 of them and may acquire another five. The remaining ones will be sold on the open market subject to existing tenancies.The rents proposed are comparable with similar neighbourhood properties and were arrived at in consultation with the local rent officer.The reason for the increases is that the Government decided to carry out a review during 1978 of all the rents of their residential properties throughout the United Kingdom. This is part of that general review.

Home Loans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many home loans have been provided by local councils in England and Wales in 1977 and during 1978.

Following is the information:

Year	Loans to persons for private house purchase
1977	23,100
1978 (January-June)	12,350

Preston Public Hall

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the inspector's report following the public inquiry held in Preston regarding the future of the Preston public hall; and when he expects to be able to give a decision thereon.

We hope to receive the inspector's report within the next two weeks. Until we have studied the report we cannot say when we shall be able to announce our decision.

House Purchase Assistance (Preston)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many young couples in the Preston borough area have been assisted in house purchase under the Government's savings scheme for first buyers.

The Home Purchase Assistance and Housing Corporation Guarantee Act 1978 comes into force on 1st December. On that date savings made under the scheme can begin to qualify for benefits under the Act. Details will then be widely available in the press, banks, building societies and post offices. First benefits will be paid two years later.

House Building, Central Lancashire

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses built for rent by the Central Lancashire development corporation had been allocated to tenants at 30th June 1978; and how many such tenants were registered applicants for council housing on the Preston borough council's housing waiting list.

1,376 dwellings, mostly built by the Central Lancashire development corporation, were let by or on offer from them to tenants at 30th June 1978. The development corporation does not have the other information requested.

Stroud Inner Ring Road

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he now proposes to make a statement about the Stroud inner ring road;(2) whether he has now had an opportunity to consider the inquiry into the Stroud inner ring road which took place two years ago; and when he now expects to make an announcement about it.

We are giving the report of the inquiry urgent consideration and will make an announcement as soon as possible. As the hon. Gentleman knows, this is a particularly difficult case.

Departmental Employees (Northern Ireland)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were recruited for employment in Northern Ireland by his Department during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Catholics, Protestants or belonged to neither religious group, respectively.

Twenty-six in the year ended 30th September 1978. No records are kept of the religions of members of the staff.

Cornwall (Retired Londoners)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions his Department has had with the Greater London Council about its policy of settling retired Londoners in Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Penhaligon).

National Finance

Gross Domestic Product

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated gross domestic product per capita in England, Scotland and Wales for 1977.

Gross domestic product per capita at current prices is now estimated to have been £1,958, £1,876 and £1,740 in England, Scotland and Wales respectively in 1976, the latest year for which estimates are available.

Development Land Tax Office (Staffing)

asked the Chancellor of the the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue has yet reached its decision on the appropriate level of staffing of the Development Land Tax Office; what figure has been decided upon; by how much the work load has increased so as to justify setting aside the recommendation of the Revenue's staffing survey report last November that the complement should be reduced from about 150 to below 120; and whether he will make a statement.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the table of staff in post at the Development Land Tax Office set out in the Minister of State's reply to the hon. Member for Melton, Official Report, 2nd March 1978, column 351.

At 1st November 1978 the staff in post in the Development Land Tax Office numbered 157, constituted as in the table below—

Grade	Numbers
Assistant Secretary	1
Senior Principal	2
Principal	5
SEO	12
HEO	32
EO	41
CO	28
CA	19
PS	2
Superintendent of Typists	1
Typist	10
Telephonist	2
Messenger	2
TOTAL	157

Devolution (Government Expenditure)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his latest annual estimate of Government expenditure per head of population in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively, for services which fall to be devolved to an Assembly and its Executive under the Scotland Act.

For services which fall to be devolved under the Scotland Act and the Wales Act respectively the following is the information:

1972–73

1973–74

1974–75

1975–76

1976–77

1977–78

1978–79

1979–80

1980–81

1981–82

Devolved Expenditure Scotland

…

495·39

533·83

542·57

570·01

552·85

563·88

566·78

575·66

582·94

588·93

English Equivalent

…

383·19

419·03

449·88

453·31

439·61

424·47

430·59

436·23

440·37

444·62

Devolved Expenditure Wales

…

408·20

438·71

454·72

462·27

460·35

444·42

464·44

469·17

473·69

478·06

English Equivalent

…

375·17

411·27

441·22

443·21

430·33

414·91

421·06

426·67

430·89

435·03

NOTES:

These figures are consistent with those published in "The Government's Expenditure Plans, 1978–79 to 1981–82" Cmnd. 7049.

Because the extent to which services for devolution to Scotland and Wales differs, the figures for the two countries are not precisely comparable.

Sterling Balances (Basle Facility)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchaquer, further to his Written Answer on sterling balances and the Basle facility,Official Report, 10th February 1977, columns 811–12, if he will now give details of the amounts, currencies and purchasers of the foreign currency bonds issued by Her Majesty's

Allotment					Sterling equivalent at time of issue £ million
8⅜ per cent. U.S. Dollar Bonds 1982: $202 million	…	…	…	…	117·5
8⅝ per cent. U.S. Dollar Bonds 1984: $88 million	…	…	…	…	51·1
8⅞ per cent. U.S. Dollar Bonds 1987: $18 million	…	…	…	…	10·5
7½ per cent. Deutschemark Bonds 1984: DM365 million	…	…	…	…	88·8
5⅞ per cent. Swiss Franc Bonds 1984: SF360 million	…	…	…	…	82·3
8 percent. Yen Bonds 1984: Y21·5 billion	…	…	…	…	45·1

It is not our practice to divulge the holdings of individual countries.

Manufacturing (Competitiveness And Terms Of Trade)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures

			1	2	3	4	5
1975=100			Relative export prices	Relative normal unit labour costs	Import price competitiveness	Relative profitability of exporting	Terms of trade in manufactures
1977—
1st quarter	…	…	97·9	88·7	93·9	96·5	98·1
2nd quarter	…	…	101·6	88·2	96·3	96·8	99·6
3rd quarter	…	…	103·3	88·2	96·1	96·6	101·0
4th quarter	…	…	107·0	92·2	96·6	96·7	102·8
1978—
1st quarter	…	…	110·0	95·6	97·6	97·0	103·7
2nd quarter	…	…	104·1^*	90·7^*	95·8	96·1	102·6
3rd quarter	…	…	n.a.	n.a.	95·7	95·5	102·8
^* Treasury estimates.

The indices are as defined in the Treasury economic progress report in February 1978. For the first three indices a fall represents an improvement in competitiveness. For the fourth index a fall represents an improvement in the profitability of exports relative to domestic sales. For the fifth index a fall represents a deterioration in the terms of trade.

£ Sterling

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentages the £ sterling has appreciated or depreciated in real terms, after taking account of Government to official holders of sterling; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th November 1978; Vol. 957, c. 57], gave the following information:In April 1977 foreign currency bonds amounting to £395 million were issued by Her Majesty's Government to official holders of sterling. The amounts and currencies of the bonds were as follows:for the index of competitiveness and the terms of trade for manufacturers.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th November 1978; Vol. 957, c. 133], gave the following information:The latest figures for the various indices are as follows:differential inflation rates, against the dollar, mark, yen, French franc and lira.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report,7th November 1978; Vol. 957, c. 133], gave the following information:There is no unique way of measuring appreciations or depreciations in real terms. There are a number of different price or cost indices which can be used: examples in use are export prices, wholesale prices, consumer prices, GDP deflators, value added deflators, unit labour costs and normal unit labour costs. The table below shows estimates for changes in exchange rate adjusted for changes in

PERCENTAGE APPRECIATION OF STERLING RELATIVE TO OTHER CURRENCIES (a) ADJUSTED FOR CHANGES IN WHOLESALE PRICES (b) ADJUSTED FOR CHANGES IN NORMAL UNIT LABOUR COSTS.
(appreciation (+), depreciation (-))
					January 1977–August 1978		January 1978–Auaust 1978
					(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
US dollar	…	…	…	…	+19	+16	+4	+6
Deutschemark	…	…	…	…	+9	+1	+1	-1
Yen	…	…	…	…	-13	-22	-14	-15
French franc	+10	…	…	…	…	0	-5	-5
Italian lira	…	…	…	…	+12	+6	0	-1

Scotland

Myoelectric Hand

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made of the evaluation of the myoelectric hand.

The evaluation will be undertaken on a United Kingdom basis and is likely to last one year. It will involve 29 children aged between 3½years and 5 years, of whom four will be from Scotland.The age limits take account of the size of hand available and the more favourable response that is expected from children in this age group. The evaluation in Scotland will be co-ordinated from the Princess Margaret Rose orthopaedic hospital, Edin, burgh and orthopaedic consultants at the Scottish limb centres have been asked to nominate suitable patients for selection.

			Estimated Population 30th June 1977		Projected Population 30th June 1991
Health Board			64–74	75 plus	65–74	75 plus
Asgyll and Clyde	…	…	37,500	20,100	35,800	23,700
Ayrshire and Arran	…	…	32,300	16,800	30,600	20,500
Borders	…	…	11,000	6,800	8,900	7,700
Dumfries and Galloway	…	…	13,600	7,600	12,100	9,100
Fife	…	…	29,500	15,900	28,300	20,300
Forth Valley	…	…	22,500	11,100	22,400	14,900
Grampian	…	…	41,600	24,900	38,100	31,100
Greater Glasgow	…	…	101,700	51,600	90,300	64,000
Highland	…	…	16,100	9,400	14,300	10,100
Lanarkshire	…	…	38,700	18,400	43,400	24,500
Lothian	…	…	67,400	37,700	63,400	48,300
Orkney	…	…	1,900	1,100	1,600	1,400
Shetland	…	…	1,900	1,200	1,500	1,300
Tayside	…	…	38,700	22,700	34,000	27,000
Western Isles	…	…	3,500	2,400	2,500	2,300
Scotland	…	…	457,700	247,500	427,100	306,000

Care Facilities For The Elderly

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the

Wholesale prices and in normal unit labour costs.

Health Board Areas (Population Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the most recently available statistics on the numbers in (a) the 65 to 75 year group and (b) the over 75 years group in each health board area; and what projections are available for likely numbers in the same categories for the next two decades.

The most recent estimates by age groups and health boards relate to mid-1977. These are shown in the table below together with the corresponding projections, based on mid-1976 estimates, for 1991, being the latest year for which such projections have been made. The population projections are based on assumptions as to mortality and migration, which are subject to revision in the light of changing trends.

Official Reportthe numbers of ( a) hospital beds and ( b) day care places available for the elderly with mental disability in each health board area; and how this

compares with the known waiting list in each area.

The information is not available in the form requested as not all elderly patients with mental disability are in beds designated for that purpose.The figures showing the position in each health board area are:—

		Beds designated at 30th September 1977for elderly with mental disability
Health Board	Total patients over 65 years of age with mental disability in hospital at 31st December 1976	Beds	Waiting List
Ayrshire and Arran	406	342	124
Borders	188	—	—
Argyll and Clyde	763	28	—
Fife	476	—	—
Greater Glasgow	2,093	451	129
Highland	429	—	—
Lanarkshire	726	24	—
Grampian	845	72	45
Lothian	1,159	306	14
Tayside	985	635	64
Forth Valley	458	—	—
Dumfries and Galloway	358	225	—
Totals	8,886	2,083	376

Corresponding waiting list figures are not available because waiting lists for beds other than the designated beds do not differentiate between the elderly with mental disability and other elderly patients.I regret the information requested on day care places is not available as no specific designation is made.

Licensing Appeals (Cumnock And Doon Valley)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many appeals against refusal of renewed licences, in the area of Cunmock and Doon Valley district licensing board, are now outstanding; and how long each appeal has been outstanding;(2) what representation he has received from Cumnock and Doon Valley district licensing board about premises remaining open because appeals have been lodged.

The board wrote in June about the provisions of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 and the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, whereby a betting office or liquor licence remains in force until an appeal against the licensing authority's refusal to renew the licence is determined by the sheriff or abandoned.Two appeals against refusals by the board to renew betting office licences at their meeting in March are still outstanding. I understand that the hearing of the appeals took place on 19th October and was adjourned by the sheriff, at the request of the appellant's counsel until 21st December.

Services For The Elderly (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he estimates that the report of the Scottish Health Services Planning Council on Services for the Elderly with Mental Disability, the Tim-bury report, will be published.

I have received this report which was prepared jointly by the Scottish Health Service Planning Council and the Advisory Council on Social Work but cannot yet give a publication date.

A75 Road

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to accelerate improvements to the A75 in the light of the high accident rate.

The accident rate is comparable with that of other roads, but its reduction is nevertheless desirable and is one of several reasons for improving the route. The planned improvement schemes will start as soon as possible once the statutory and design procedures have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the full improvement programme for the A75 including a forecast of the date when each improved section will be ready for use.

Improvements under construction and planned to start over the next five years are as follows:—

Under Construction

Newton Stewart bypass (open to traffic before end of 1978)
Shennanton bridge (estimated completion date—April 1980)

To start in 1979–83

Drumflower bridge
Palnure—Phase II Improvement
Carsluith diversion
Collin diversion

Muil-Ardachie
Barluka improvement
Creetown diversion
Threave bridge
Annan bypass
Glenluce bypass
Gatehouse of Fleet bypass

The schemes not yet begun are set out in the present likely order of starts. But because improvements on the road carry a high priority, they will be started as soon as possible once the statutory and design procedures are completed, and not necessarily in the above order. I cannot, therefore, state specifically now when each improvement will be completed and ready for use.

Royal High School

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of the cost of the purchase and renovation of the former Royal High school building.

			District council	Places provided by Other agencies	Total
Argyll and Bute	…	…	17	—	17
Bearsden and Milngavie	…	…	164	—	164
Clydebank	…	…	32	—	32
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	…	…	124	—	124
Cumnock and Doon Valley	…	…	114	—	114
Cunninghame	…	…	229	—	229
Dumbarton	…	…	58	—	58
East Kilbride	…	…	—	186	186
Eastwood	…	…	78	21	99
City of Glasgow	…	…	256	74	330
Hamilton	…	…	204	18	222
Inverclyde	…	…	117	100	217
Kilmarnock and Loudoun	…	…	212	—	212
Kyle and Carrick	…	…	196	30	226
Lanark	…	…	100	—	100
Monklands	…	…	116	—	116
Motherwell	…	…	138	—	138
Renfrew	…	…	163	44	207
Strathkelvin	…	…	40	68	108

At the same date developments providing a further 1,988 places were under construction or about to start.

Block Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the event of the Scottish Assembly being established, he intends to fix the block grant so that the additional sums at present paid for devolved services in Scotland will continue.

The sums to be paid into the Scottish Consolidated Fund under section 48 of the Scotland Act 1978 will take account of the level of devolved public expenditure according to the rela

The estimated cost of providing the accommodation needed for the Scottish Assembly and its staff is £3·75 million. This figure covers purchase and adaptation of the Royal High school and adaptation of parts of St. Andrew's House, including maintenance work which it seemed prudent to carry out during alterations.

Sheltered Housing Places (Strathclyde)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the latest available statistics on the total number of sheltered housing places provided by each distinct council in Strathclyde region.

The number of places available in sheltered housing in each district at 1st April 1978 was as follows:tive needs of the countries of the United Kingdom.

Employment (Defence Contracts)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the number of employees in Scottish industry currently engaged in work arising from Government defence contracts.

I have been asked to reply. The available methods of estimating employment arising from defence contracts do not, unfortunately, permit any geographical breakdown to be made.

Overseas Development

Third World

asked the Minister of Overseas Development in how many instances has (a) the interest and (b) the principle of a loan extended to countries of the Third world been written off during the period from 1st March 1974; and what is the total value in each case.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my announcement on 31st July—[Vol. 955, c. 24–25.] Other than the loans included in these arrangements, 59 loans by Her Majesty's Government to Third world countries have been written off since 1st March 1974. The details are as follows:

Country	Interest	Principal
	£	£
Dominica	—	989·58
(4 instances)	—	950·00
	—	910·42
	—	790·00
Grenada	—	2,484·00
(6 instances)	—	310,4·00
	—	1,918·00
	—	1,851·00
	—	1,100·00
	—	674·00
St. Kitts	—	13,708·00
(2 instances)	3,064·98	181,5·00
Costa Rica	79,402·84	—
(4 instances)	93,604·93	—
	103,730·96	—
	106,292·05	—
Nepal (1 instance)	—	100,000·00
Tanzania (22 instances) Totalling	15,549·00	7,799,267·00
Pakistan^* (20 instances) Totalling	1,853,030·00	11,446,596·00
Totals	2,254,674·76	19,376,157·00
^* Apart from the totals written off, grants totalling £11·436 million were made to Pakistan for relief in respect of further debt service payments due in 1976–77 and 1977–78. Under the United Kingdom/Pakistan Debt Relief Agreement 1976, Her Majesty's Government also relieved Pakistan of liability to repay £31,010,279 in respect of projects located in Bangladesh.

Unesco

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) what representations have been received from news agencies about the national communications policies of UNESCO; and whether she will make a statement;(2) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in UNESCO on the question of national news sovereignty and information control; and how the United Kingdom delegation has voted when the subject has been under discussion.

In relation to the draft declaration on the mass media, the United Kindom voted at the 1947 general conference of UNESCO that it should be redrafted by an expert committee. At the 1976 general conference the majority of delegates including ourselves found the draft still unacceptable, and voted that the text should be further redrafted.I have placed a copy of my speech to the UNESCO conference in the Library, and will keep the House informed.I have received no representations from news agencies.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in UNESCO on the concept of development journalism and the organisation's support of the Press Foundation of Asia and the non-aligned news agency pool.

Our policy in UNESCO on communication matters is governed by our conviction that the principle of the freedom of the media must be maintained. So long as the concept of development journalism meets that principle and does not involve State control of the contents, we would be in favour of it. That is also our attitude to UNESCO's support for media organisations.

Defence

Arms Standardisation

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the breakdown of negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and the West German Government on a future joint military aircraft; and if he will make representations about the continuing failure of European NATO nations to agree on arms standardisation.

I am not aware of any such breakdown. The Government are continuing discussions with our allies, including Germany, for a possible collaborative development of an aircraft, which in the United Kingdom would replace the Harrier and Jaguar; and we are playing an active role in the relevant discussions in the Independent European Programme Group. This is part of a continuing effort to improve operational effectiveness through greater standardisation and interoperability being made by all members of the Alliance.

Services Kinematograph Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the Services Kinematograph Corporation regarding admission to its cinemas in West Germany and any differentiation in that connection between civilians who are United Kingdom citizens.

I have no reason to believe that differentiation occurs other than that necessary to restrict admission to those entitled to use these cinemas and for reasons of security. I have, however, arranged for the matter to be raised at the next meeting of the board of management.

Codification And Agency Work

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what increase in efficiency would be gained by transferring RAF agency work from Mottingham to Harrogate;(2) what are the main causes of delay in coding items at the Defence Codification Authority;(3) when the Defence Codification Authority staff side was consulted about the proposed movement of the RAF agency work from Mottingham to Harrogate; and if he will make a statement;(4) what significant savings will result from moving the RAF agency work from Mottingham to Harrogate; and how the savings or costs compare with establishing the agency in Ministry of Defence property now vacant in the London borough of Greenwich;(5) if he will bring all codification work for the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force together under the control of the Director, Defence Codification Authority in the London borough of Greenwich.

After careful examination of an alternative proposal that all codifica tion work for all Services should be carried out by the Defence Codification Agency, it was concluded some years ago that the balance of advantage lay in dealing with the day-to-day work of codification as part of the Services supply management organisations. The DCA would remain responsible for policy, training, technical procedures, a national data bank and international matters. The transfer of work from Mottingham to Harrogate is in accordance with these conclusions.This transfer should produce a close relationship between the supply management and codification functions, and lead to increased efficiency. More specifically, collocation under a single overall management should lead to better control of priorities, fewer queries, greater speed in dealing with queries, less time lost in the exchange of information by post, and a more flexible response to Service requirements. Savings from the transfer of functions to an RAF agency side by side with the RAF supply management organisation are estimated to be over £100,000 annually. The greater part of these savings would be lost if the RAF agency were located at a distance from Harrogate. A further £26,000 annually is expected to be saved by transferring work from DCA Mottingham to the nearby Army Cataloguing Agency at Woolwich.The process of consultation with the staff on the future organisation and location of the DCA began in January of this year when comments were invited on a consultative document. Comments were received some six months later and a further consultative document was sent to the Staff Side of the Ministry of Defence Whitley Council on 1st November 1978.

Civilian Employees (Scotland)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of civilians employed at each defence establishment in Scotland.

At the latest available date, the total number of civilians employed in Scotland amounted to 21,600. These are spread over a large number of establishments, many of which employ few civilians. If the hon. Member wishes to specify any units of particular interest, I would, subject to security considerations, be prepared to consider providing details.

Service Men (Electoral Forms)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if every defence establishment had an adequate supply of forms for Service men and their wives to be registered on a register of electors.

Arrangements were made during the summer to provide all Service personnel and their spouses with registration forms. In addition, extra stocks of the forms are held at all Service units. If the hon. Member knows of any local shortages of these forms, I will of course be happy to look into the matter.

Armed Forces

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many men were recruited to the Armed Services other than the Ulster Defence Regiment in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Catholic, Protestant and of neither religious group, respectively;(2) how many men applied in Ulster to join the Armed Forces other than the Ulster Defence Regiment during the last complete year for which figures arc available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic and of neither religious group, respectively.

In financial year 1977–78, 1,922 men applied to careers information offices in Northern Ireland to join the Services and 741 Service men were recruited. These figures do not include officers since they are recruited centrally and regional figures are not readily available.Details of the religious faith of these applicants and recruits are not recorded except in the individual application and recruiting forms. The extraction of this information would be a lengthy process involving disproportionate effort.

Ulster Defence Regiment

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many men were recruited to the Ulster Defence Regiment during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Catholic, Protestant and of neither religious group, respectively;(2) how many men applied to join the Ulster Defence Regiment during the last complete 12-month period for which this information is available; and of these, how many were Protestant, Roman Catholic or neither, respectively.

In the financial year 1977–78, 3,305 men applied to join the Ulster Defence Regiment and 1,903 were recruited.Although details of the applicants' religion are recorded on individual application forms, central records of the religion of members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have not been kept for the whole of the period in question. Without expending disproportionate effort, it is only possible to give approximate percentages of Roman Catholics who applied to join and who were recruited by the Ulster Defence Regiment. These percentages were about 5·6 and 3 respectively.

Radiation

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Ministry of Defence employees are included in the National Radiological Protection Board national registry for radiation workers.

Ministry of Defence employees are not at present included in the National Radiological Protection Board national registry for radiation workers, but the Ministry of Defence supports the scheme. Detailed proposals for MOD employees to participate in the scheme have been discussed with the trade unions, and it is intended that the proposals be implemented as soon as possible.

Army Manpower

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the proposed increase in Army manpower will affect the recent reorganisation of the Army, particularly in the British Army on the Rhine; and if he will make a statement.

Army restructuring is now virtually complete. The principles of the reorganisation have been validated through experience and exercises during the last three years, but it has been shown that some adjustments were necessary. These include the introduction of the Task Force headquarters concept and an increase in manpower establishments. I have therefore set in hand within the Army a study to determine the extent to which the restructured organisation is likely to remain appropriate in the 1980s. The first results of the study are not expected to be available until late 1979 and no changes of any significance will be made for at least two years. We shall continue to maintain an Army force level of 55,000

		Applications^*			Premature Voluntary Releases
Financial year		Officers	Airmen†	Total	Officers	Airmen†	Total
1974–75‡	…	447	3,407	3,854	400	2,118	2,518
1975–76	…	472	2,821	3,293	427	1,520	1,947
1976–77	…	497	2,532	3,029	395	1,644	2,039
1977–78	…	778	2,925	3,703	414	1,871	2,285
1978–79 (April to August 1978)	…	234	1,283	1,517	189	541	730

NOTES:

^* Includes applications subsequently withdrawn.

† Airmen aircrew numbers excluded because of incomplete records.

‡ The airmen figures for 1974–75 are not complete. Some withdrawn and completed applications were not recorded.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Zambia (Arms Supplies)

59.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what appreciation he made of the threat to Zambia which necessitated the supply of British antiaircraft missiles.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement by my right hon. Friend in the House on 2nd November. —[Vol. 957, c. 186.]

Cyprus (British Subjects)

61.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have now been made for payment of compensation to British subjects in Cyprus who suffered loss and damage as a direct result of the Turkish invasion of 1974.

The Turkish Cypriot authorities have recently approved the first 24 claims submitted to them by the Claims Commission and it is hoped that the claimants concerned will be paid fairly soon.The High Commission in Nicosia has been told that the principles established

in accordance with our Brussels Treaty commitment.

Recruitment

asked the Secretary of State for Defence with regard to recruitment to the Royal Air Force, how many men have applied for premature voluntary release; and how many men have actually left in each of the last five years.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th October 1978: Vol. 955, Part I, c. 775], gave the following information:by the Claims Commission in determining these claims will be used when considering other cases and that this should lead to a speeding-up in the settlement of outstanding claims.

Buenos Aires (United Kingdom Ambassador)

60.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of persecution of religious minorities, such as Jehovah's Witnesses in Argentina, he will withdraw Her Majesty's ambassador in Buenos Aires.

We have had no ambassador in Buenos Aires since January 1976. The Argentine Government are well aware of the British Government's attitude to all abuses of human rights.

Rhodesia

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the British nationals kidnapped by Patriotic Front forces in Rhodesia who are now imprisoned elsewhere in Africa, indicating in each case what representations he has made to the heads of the Governments responsible for their present detention.

It has been reported that ZANU is holding three United Kingdom citizens in Mozambique. Our embassy in Maputo has addressed repeated inquiries about them to the Mozambican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Inquiries have also been made by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Conventions

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the States which are parties to the Tokyo, Hague and Montreal conventions, respectively, indicating in each case under what statutory or other authority the provisions of the conventions are enforceable in the United Kingdom by each of the States named.

According to latest available information, the following States have ratified or acceded to the Tokyo convention on offences and certain other acts committed on board Aircraft, 1963:

Afghanistan
Argentine Republic
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Brazil
Burundi
Canada
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Germany, Federal Republic of
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland, Republic of
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Korea, Republic of
Laos

Lebanon
Lesotho
Libya
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States of America
Upper Volta
Uruguay
Yugoslavia
Zaire
Zambia

The Tokyo convention is implemented by the following Acts:

(i) The Tokyo Convention Act 1967.

(ii) The Extradition Acts (for foreign States).

(iii) The Backing of Warrants Act (Republic of Ireland) 1965 (for the Republic of Ireland).

(iv) The Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 (for Commonwealth States).

According to the latest available information, the following States have ratified or acceded to the Hague Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizures of Aircraft 1970:

United Kingdom
Soviet Union
United States
Argentine Republic
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bangladesh

Barbados
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Byelorussia
Canada
Cape Verde
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Czechoslovakia
Dahomey
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
German Democratic Republic
Germany, Federal Republic of
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Ireland, Republic of
Italy
Ivory Coast
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Korea, Republic of
Lebanon
Lesotho
Malawi
Mali
Mexico
Mongolia
Morocco
Oman
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland

Thailand
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
Uruguay
Vietnam
Yugoslavia
Zaire

The Hague Convention is implemented by the following Acts:

(i) The Hijacking Act 1971

(ii) The Extradition Acts (for Foreign States)

(iii) The Backing of Warrants Act (Republic of Ireland) 1965 (for the Republic of Ireland)

(iv) The Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 (for Commonwealth States).

According to the latest available information, the following States have ratified or acceded to the Montreal Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation 1971:

United Kingdom
Soviet Union
United States
Argentine Republic
Australia
Austria
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Byelorussia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Egypt
Ecuador
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
German Democratic Republic
Germany, Federal Republic of
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland, Republic of

Italy
Ivory Coast
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Korea, Republic of
Lebanon
Lesotho
Libya
Malawi
Mali
Mexico
Mongolia
Morocco
Oman
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Ukraine
Uruguay
Yugoslavia
Zaire

The Montreal Convention is implemented by the following Acts:

(i) The Protection of Aircraft Act 1973;

(ii) The Extradotion Acts (for foreign states);

(iii) The Backing of Warrants Act (Republic of Ireland) 1965 (for the Republic of Ireland);

(iv) The Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 (for Commonwealth States).

asked the secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the States which have ratified or acceded to the New York Convention on crimes against internationally protected persons 1974, indicating to which such States the extradition Acts have been applied and the latter indicating in which cases an extradition arrangement is deemed to exist in the absence of a bilateral treaty.

According to the latest available information, the following States have ratified or acceded to the New York convention on the protection and punishment of crime against internationally protected persons, including diplomatic agents, 1973:

Australia
Austria
Bulgaria
Byelorussia
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Finland
German Democratic Republic
Germany, Federal Republic of
Ghana
Hungary
Iceland
India
Iran
Iraq
Italy
Jamaica
Liberia
Malawi
Mongolia
Nicaragua
Pakistan
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Romania
Rwanda
Sweden
Tunisia
Ukraine
U.S.S.R.
U.S.A.
Uruguay
Yugoslavia
Zaire

The extradition Acts have been applied to the following countries listed above with which the United Kingdom has a bilateral extradition treaty:

Austria
Chile
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Ecuador
Finland
Germany, Federal Republic of
Hungary
Iceland
Iraq
Italy
Liberia
Nicaragua
Paraguay
Peru
Romania
Sweden
USA
Uruguay
Yugoslavia

No Order in Council has yet been made under section 3(2) of the Internationally Protected Persons Act 1978 applying the extradition Acts as if the New York convention were an extradition arrangement. The Act has not yet come into force.

Hong Kong

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards the provision of free secondary education for all in Hong Kong.

Free public sector education for all children up to age 15 was started in September 1978. It will be fully implemented and compulsory by September 1980.

Mexico (Political Prisoners)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of Her Majesty's Government's commitment to the cause of advancing civil and human rights throughout the world, he will make representations to the Government of the United States of Mexico concerning those unacknowledged political prisoners who have not so far been released under the terms of the current federal and state amnesty laws.

My right hon. Friend is concerned about allegations of human rights violations wherever they may occur. We welcome the Mexican Government's recent amnesty law and hope that it will extend to all detainees throughout Mexico who are imprisoned because of their political beliefs. The Mexican Government have made considerable efforts to promote respect for human rights.

Belize

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present situation in Belize; whether external threats continue against the integrity of this British colony and what special assistance has been given by Her Majesty's Government following the recent hurricane.

We continue to seek a negotiated settlement to the dispute with Guatemala over Belize and my right hon. Friend put forward to the new Guatemalan Foreign Minister in late September proposals designed to speed up the process of negotiation and bring the controversy to an end.Her Majesty's Government provided assistance to the value of £99,000 immediately following the hurricane. A team of ODM officials is in Belize this week to discuss what further aid is needed.

Environment

Litter (London)

54.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Greater London Council concerning litter policy.

My Department has discussed with the local authority associations the implementation of section 24—which deals with litter—of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 which it is intended to be implemented next year. No separate discussions have been held with the GLC.

Wales

House Building

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the figures for housing starts, under construction, and completions in Wales, in the first six months of 1978.

In the first six months of 1978, 6,480 dwellings were started and 6,760 were completed. 18,583 dwellings were under construction at the end of June.

Hospital Waiting Lists (South Glamorgan)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are on waiting lists for treatment in each of the orthopaedic departments of hospitals in South Glamorgan; and what is the maximum period of waiting in such cases.

As at 30th September 1978 the number of patients on the waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery in hospitals in South Glamorgan was: University hospital of Wales, in-patient 175, out-patient 1,846; Prince of Wales orthopaedic hospital, in-patient 566; Amy Evans hospital, out-patients 150; Ely children's hospital, out-patient 41. While some 88 per cent. on the in-patient waiting list are treated within two years, some individuals have been on the in-patient waiting list for up to five years. The longest waiting time on the out-patient list is two years.

Improvement Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the figures for house improvement grants in Wales in the first six months of 1978.

In the first six months of 1978 the numbers of house renovation grants approved in Wales were as follows:

	For private owners^*	For housing associations
Conversion	179	232
Improvement	3,318	58
Intermediate and special	233	—
Repairs	99	—
^* Includes private owner grants for housing associations.

Northern Ireland

Governmental Information

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to satisfy the need for up-to-date information in published form on the work of government in Northern Ireland.

I have arranged for the preparation and wide distribution both at home and abroad of a series of information briefs covering the entire spectrum of Government activity in Northern Ireland. Where necessary, they will be periodically updated. Copies are being placed in the Library.

Municipal Employees

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Belfast during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or belonged to neither religious group, respectively;

(2) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Strabane during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(3) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Port Stewart during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(4) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Portadown during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(5) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Omagh during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(6) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Newton Abbey during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(7) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Newry during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(8) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Newcastle, Co. Down during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(9) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Lurgan during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(10) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Lisburn during the last complete year for which figures are available; and of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(11) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Holywood during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant. Catholic or neither, respectively;

(12) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Enniskillen during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(13) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Dunmurry during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(14) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Dungannon during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant. Catholic or neither, respectively;

(15) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Craigavon during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(16) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Coleraine during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively:

(17) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Londonderry during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(18) how many employees were recruited by the municipal authority of Carrickfergus during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(19) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Strabane during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively;

(20) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Port Stewart during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or neither, respectively:

(21) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Portadown during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(22) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Omagh during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants. Catholics or neither, respectively;

(23) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Newtown Abbey during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(24) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Newry during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(25) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Newcastle, County Down, during the last complete year for which figures are available; and. of these, how many were Protestants. Catholics or neither, respectively;

(26) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Lurgan, during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(27) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Lisburn, during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(28) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Holy-wood, during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(29) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Enniskillen, during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(30)how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Dunmurry, during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(31) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Dungannon during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(32) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Craigavon during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(33) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Coleraine during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(34) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Carrickfergus during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(35)how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Londonderry during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively;

(36) how many people applied for employment with the municipality of Belfast during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestants, Catholics or neither, respectively.

These matters are the responsibility of district councils in Northern Ireland.There are no municipal authorities of Lurgan, Portadown, Dunmurry, Enniskillen, Holywood, Newcastle, and Port Stewart. The first two towns fall within the district council area of Craigavon and the remainder within the areas of Lisburn, Fermanagh, North Down, Down and Coleraine respectively.

Royal Ulster Constabulary (Employees)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many men and women, respectively, were recruited by the Royal Ulster Constabulary during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Catholic, Protestant and of neither religious group, respectively;(2) how many men and women applied to join the Royal Ulster Constabulary during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Catholic, Protestant and of neither religious group, respectively.

During the year ended 31st October 1978, 2,318 men and 702 women applied to join the RUC. In the same period 579 men and 123 women were recruited to the force. Applicants are not required to state their religion, and it is therefore not possible to provide the additional information requested.

Housing Executive Employees

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many employees were recruited by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive during the last complete year for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were Protestant, Catholic or belonged to neither religious group, respectviely.

These matters are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many men and women, respectively, applied for employment with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive during the last complete 12 month period for which this information is available; and of these, how many were Roman Catholic, Protestant or neither, respectively.

These matters are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Water Acts 1945 And 1973

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision of law is in force under direct rule in Northern Ireland corresponding with Schedule 3 part 9 of the Water Act 1945 as applied by section 11(7)(b) of the Water Act 1973.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th November 1978: Vol. 957, c. 85–6], gave the following answer:There is no direct equivalent in Northern Ireland law to these provisions. The duty of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to supply and distribute water is set out in articles 3 and 4 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1973.

Volume 957: debated on Wednesday 8 November 1978

Written Answers To Questions

Home Department

Lotteries

Restricted Patients

Immigration Applications

Suppression Of Terrorism Act 1978

Firearms And Shotguns

Licences And Certificates

Gambling

Mentally Disordered Offenders

Prison Officers

Police

Indictable Offences

Violence

Vandalism

Television Licences (Residential Homes)

Scotland (Referendum)

Union Of Taxpayers

Employment

Skillcentres

Youth Opportunities Programme (Merseyside)

Merseyside

Hartlepool

Training Opportunities Scheme

Social Services

Doctors (Complaints)

General Practitioners

Resident Doctors (Married Quarters)

Supervision Orders

Benefit (Child Addition)

Benefit (Industrial Disputes)

Nurses

Psychiatrists

Drugs

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Health Centres

Medicines

Death Grant

Funerals (Cost)

Rheumatism And Arthritis (Lost Working Days)

Myoelectric Hands

Hospital Bed Occupancy (Yorkshire)

X-Ray Machines

Hospital Beds

Mental Illness (Departmental Definition)

Mentally Handicapped

Scanners

Espilepsy

New-Born Babies (Intensive Care)

Occupational Therapists

Disablement Income Group

Radiation

Child Benefits

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Dairy Herd

Fish Catches (Monitoring)

Education And Science

Preston Polytechnic

School Milk

Migraine

Student Grants

Teachers

Industry

Kirkby Workers' Co-Operative

Departmental Employees

British Industry (Purchasing Policy)

Transport

Davenham, Cheshire (Bypass)

Humber Bridge

National Ports Council (Members' Pay And Expenses)

Trade

Marine Oil Pollution

Companies (Registration Fee)

Heathrow Airport (Night Flights)

Advisory Committee On Airports Policy

Northern Ireland (Departmental Employees)

Live Cattle Imports

Trade Mark Office