asked the Minister for the Civil Service if, in determining public expenditure for 1979–80, he will take into account the need to restore civil and public service pay to fair levels compared with the private sector.

As was made clear in the White Paper "Winning the Battle Against Inflation" (Cmnd. 7293), the assumptions used for cash limits in 1979–80 will reflect the Government's policy on pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many civilian in-patients were treated at Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich during the quarter ended 30th September;(2) what is the estimated annual cost of treating civilian patients at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich; and what arrangements are made to recover any part of the expenditure from the National Health Service.

During the quarter ending 30th September 1978, 584 National Health Service patients were admitted for in-patient treatment at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich. The estimated annual cost of treating NHS in-patients at the hospital, based on the current average bed occupancy rate, is £1½3 million. Some NHS patients are accepted on a fill-up basis and for these no charges are recovered. Discussions are proceeding on recovery of costs for the use of certain specialised facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the final cost of building and equipping the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, compared to the original estimate.

The present estimate for building and equipping the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, including the associated staff and training accommodation, is £18½7 miilion. A preliminary estimate of £6 million, at prices then current, was given on 8th July 1969.—[Vol. 786, c. 1164.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current estimated annual running cost of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, based on its full complement of 464 beds;(2) what is the estimated daily running cost per bed at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, based on the full complement of beds.

The current estimate of the annual running cost of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, based on its full complement of 464 beds, is about £7½2 million, approximately 20 per cent. of which will be attributable to out-patient facilities. The daily cost per bed based on the maximum occupancy is estimated to be £34.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian in-patients were treated at the Royal Herbert hospital, Woolwich, during each of the most recent five years for which figures are available.

The numbers of National Health Service in-patients treated at the Royal Herbert hospital, Woolwich, during the years for which figures are available are as follows:

Year	Total NHS admitted
1974	439
1975	440
1976	501
1977	120*
*3 months only

The Royal Herbert hospital, Woolwich, was closed on 31st March 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in implementing the improvements in the organisation and procedures of civilian personnel management envisaged in paragraph 161 of the 1977 Statement on the Defence Estimates. Command Paper No. 6735.

Following the management review of the Ministry of Defence, the results of which were announced in the 1977 Statement on the Defence Estimates, a further review was undertaken of civilian personnel management in the Department. Three studies were commissioned, covering career development in the administration group and some specialist grades; the management of executive grades in the administration group; and the organisation of personnel management for non-industrial staff.The conclusions and recommendations of these studies are being discussed with the staff side of the departmental Whitley Council and broad agreement on a number of the findings has already been reached. Discussions are continuing. The findings are now being implemented progressively in the light of these discussions, and subject to further consultation on their detailed implementation where appropriate. Copies of the reports of these studies have ben laid in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to complete his consideration of possible future uses for the Royal Herbert hospital, Woolwich.

I expect the present studies to be completed early in 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take the opportunity to include a clause in the proposed legislation amending the Local Government Act 1972, to allow the phasing in of the recommendations of the Robinson committee.

Legislation on councillors' remuneration could be introduced only after full consultation with the local authority associations and other interested bodies. These consultations will begin shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to make a statement on councillors' remuneration.

Yes. I intend making an order to increase the daily attendance allowance from £11 to £12·14. The House will recall that councillors, exceptionally did not receive any increase under phases 1 and 2 of the pay policy. The Government propose, therefore, to make a two stage increase in the attendance allowance taking account of phases 1 and 2 and the current 5 per cent. limit. The second stage of the increase, amounting to £1·14, will not be paid in this pay round.For the longer term, I hope soon to issue a Green Paper on councillors' remuneration, which will consider the recommendations of the Robinson committee report. This will allow the Government to start formal consultations with the local authority associations and other interested bodies on the whole range of issues involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of rate support grant paid per head of population to Kent local authorities in 1978–79; what was the rate income per head of population; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the past five years.

The amounts paid in rate support grant per head of population to local authorities in Kent for each of the years from 1973–74 to 1977–78, and the latest estimates for 1978–79, together with the rate income per head of population over the corresponding period, are set out below:

	Grant per head	Rate income per head
	£	£
1973–74	61	41
1974–75	90	43
1975–76	114	57
1976–77	120	66
1977–78	123	77
1978–79	129	89

An increase order has yet to be made in respect of 1978–79 grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the first Property Services Agency annual report will be published.

The first annual report of the Property Services Agency will be published on Tuesday 21st November, and I shall be arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the present salaries of the chairman and chief executive of the Wessex water authority; on what dates during the last three years they were increased and by what percentage; and if he is satisfied that such increases are within the Government guidelines.

The salary paid to the Chairman of the Wessex water authority, on the basis of a two and a hall days a week time input, is £6,208.He has received two increases in salary since 1975. but his time input has remained unchanged. With effect from 1st August 1976 there was an increase of 2 per cent. in line with stage 2 of the counter-inflation policy, and as from 1st January 1978 an increase of 10 per cent. in accordance with the Government's decision on the recommendations in report no 10 of the Top Salaries Review Body. These increases are within the Government's guidelines.The chief executive's salary is a matter for the authority but it is within a national salary scale settled by the industry's negotiating machinery. Increases in these scales over the past three years have been within Government pay guidelines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the discharge of effluent into rivers in England and Wales currently conforms to the standards laid down by the water authorities; what the corresponding proportion will be if the recommendations in the National Water Council's document "The Review of Discharge Consent Conditions" are accepted; and how this transformation is to be achieved.

The river pollution survey of England and Wales—updated 1975—showed that some 64·3 per cent. by number and 62 per cent. by volume of sewage effluent discharges, and some 63 per cent. by number and 94 per cent. by volume of industrial effluent discharges, to inland water courses conformed to the conditions of consent laid down by water authorities or their predecessors. These figures must be read with the qualifications described in the survey. As I explained in my letter to the hon. Member of 13th April, the review of discharge consent conditions will lay the foundations for continued improvements in our rivers based on river quality objectives and value for money. There is, of course, no question of any deterioration in present quality being permitted under the review. I cannot say in advance how many discharges will comply with the new consent conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken following the recent discoveries about the number of people affected by cadmium poisoning.

I am not aware of any recent discoveries about 'lie number of people affected by cadmium poisoning. I understand that some four cases a year resulting from occupational exposure have been notified in recent years under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act.We are aware of the risks associated with this substance and various studies are being undertaken to monitor levels in the environment generally and to check on levels in the human kidney.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to amend the laws relating to ancient monuments.

A consultative document. "Proposals to amend the laws relating to ancient monuments". was issued in March 1977. A Bill, closely following these proposals, will be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional allowances are currently available for mobility and wheelchair housing; on what dates the figures have been revised since his Department's circular of 2nd October 1975; and if he will make a statement.

The current allowances are set out in the attached table. These allowances, which are set out in appendix 4 to circular 24/78, supersede those contained in circular 92/75 dated

WHEELCHAIR HOUSING—ALLOWANCES PER DWELLING
			Number of people (i.e bedspaces) per dwelling
			1.	2.	3.	4.	5.	6.	7.
			£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Single storey units	…	…	900	900	1,100	1,100	1,600	1,500	—
Two storey units	…	…	—	—	—	—	800	1,000	800
Old person units category 1	…	…	700	700	—	—	—	—	—
Old person units category 2	…	…	550 (shared bathroom)	—	—	—	—	—	—
			750 (private bathroom)	900	—	—	—	—	—
MOBILITY HOUSING
An allowance of £60 per dwelling may be claimed for each dwelling designated as Mobility Housing.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied that the regulations for the transport by road of dangerous gases such as hydrogen or natural gas are sufficient to protect the communities through which such vehicles must necessarily travel.

The transport by road of hydrogen and natural gas —methane—is controlled by orders made under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928, which are broadly satisfactory. But the transport of certain other dangerous gases is not at present covered by specific regulations.I am most concerned that all dangerous goods should be transported as safely as possible. Comprehensive regulations are being prepared by the Health and Safety Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorway signs are to be altered by deleting Rochdale from them; and what is the estimated cost of doing so.

68 motorway signs, at 18 junctions, are to be altered by deleting "Rochdale" and substituting "Leeds". at an estimated cost of £3,000. 32 signs showing "Rochdale", at eight junctions. will be retained.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters he has received asking him to remove the name Rochdale from M62 motorway signs; and what were the principal sources of such requests.

Three letters, and considerably more oral complaints, have been received about the inadequacy of the motorway signs. No letters have requested the removal of "Rochdale" from signs; that change is a consequence of the up-dating of the signs to meet the complaints received and to reflect the development of the motorway network since the present signs were installed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will extend from 14 to 30 days the period within which objections may be submitted to applications by bus companies to vary services and fares published in notices and proceedings, in view of the impracticability of the present time limit.

No. I believe that the present prescribed time limits strike the right balance between operational needs and the convenience of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he anticipates completion of the second carriageway on the Whitchurch A34 bypass, work upon which is due to commence in early 1979.

In 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has obtained from the Japanese Government regarding British Nuclear Fuel Limited's contract for reprocessing fuel of Japanese electrical companies which was signed on 25th May.

Notes were exchanged with the Japanese Government on 22nd August on the return of waste and the form in which plutonium should be returned. Copies of these have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list in the Official Report those sections of the Consumer Protection Act which are now in force and those which have still to be brought into effect with an indication of what action he proposes to implement them.

The Consumer Safety Act (Commencement No. 1) Order 1978 made on 28th September 1978 brought into force on 1st November 1978 all the provisions of the Consumer Safety Act 1978 except those—section 10(1) and schedule 3—which repeal the Consumer Protection Act 1961, the Consumer Pro- tection Act (Northern Ireland) 1965 and legislation amending those Acts.The powers provided by the Consumer Safety Act will be used as and when necessary in the interests of the safety of consumers. Existing regulations made under the Consumer Protection Acts will be remade under the new Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the balance of visible trade with the United Kingdom's Common Market partners for the last 12 months and the balance for invisibles

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th November 1978; Vol. 958, c. 337], gave the following information:In accordance with established practice to refer Members to published information where this is readily accessible, I advise the hon. Member that figures for 1977—the latest 12-month period for which information is available for both visibles and invisibles—are given in table 14·1 of "United Kingdom Balance of Payments, 1967–77". Figures of the United Kingdom's visible trade with EEC up to the first half of 1978 were published in table 4 of the article "United Kingdom trade in the second quarter of 1978" which appeared in "Trade and Industry" on 8th September 1978. Copies of these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are registered with his Department as substantially handicapped in obtaining and keeping employment on account of psoriasis.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that information about the number of people registered as substantially handicapped in obtaining and keeping employment on account of psoriasis is not available. However, on 17th April 1978, the latest date for which information is available, 3,796 people were registered as disabled on account of skin diseases generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is proposing to amend section 48 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to deal with the anomaly of Crown immunity from prosecutions under the Act.

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to a Question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) on 24th October.—[Vol. 955, c. 841]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the present subsistence allowance paid to prisoners on discharge in the United Kingdom; and when it was last increased;(2) what is the current value in real terms of a discharged prisoner's subsistence allowance compared with the years 1968, 1958 and 1948, using 1978 as a base.

Discharge grants in England and Wales are reviewed annually. The current rates, from 13th November 1978, are £31 for a homeless prisoner and £13.90 for a prisoner who does not have to find accommodation. These rates would represent figures of £8.74 and £3.92 in 1968, when a single rate of grant of £4 was payable. No grant was payable in 1958 and 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to respond to the appeal for financial assistance made to his Department by the fund for the replacement of animals: medical (experiments).

A number of Government Departments which have an interest in the work of the fund for the replacement of animals in medical experiments have been invited to comment on this application, and a decision is unlikely to be taken for at least a further month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the annual cost would be to the ratepayers it retained firemen were withdrawn and replaced by full-time firemen;(2) if he will take steps to preserve the retained firemen in rural areas.

Information about the cost which would be incurred by replacing part-time retained firemen with whole-time firemen is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. It is for individual fire authorities to decide on the number of whole-time and part-time retained firemen which they need to discharge their stitutory responsibilities under the Fire Services Acts. I am not aware of any proposals from fire authorities to replace part-time retained firemen by whole-time firemen in areas where part-time retained firemen can be recruited and fire cover can be properly maintained by the employment of part-time retained firemen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that many taxicab users in London, including in particular tourists from overseas, are confused by the discrepancy between the basic fares shown on taxi meters and those which they are actually charged, and that numerous altercations arise because of the arrangement whereby extras are charged, if he will consolidate the increases in fares since 1974 to the basic fares shown on the meter.

The tariff for London taxi fares is at present under consideration and I hope that it will be possible for the new fares to be shown on the meter. There are, however, over 12,000 London taxis, and the work of converting and checking their meters will necessarily take some time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women are currently held in prisons or detention centres, including juvenile centres, for having possessed cannabis: and what was the figure at similar times in each of the last four years.

I regret that the available information does not enable such persons to be identified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of prosecutions for cultivating cannabis in each of the last three years.

The available information is as follows:

PERSONS PROSECUTED FOR CULTIVATING CANNABIS
UNITED KINGDOM
Year	Number of persons
1975	593
1976	811
1977	1,053

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will pub-

PERSONS PROSECUTED FOR POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO SUPPLY IT: BY RESULT UNITED KINGDOM
Number of persons
							Result
Year					Prosecuted	Not found guilty*	Fine	Custodial sentence†	Other‡
1975	…	…	…	…	384	108	66	184	26
1976	…	…	…	…	474	144	70	237	23
1977	…	…	…	…	497	171	89	215	22
* Including proceedings discontinued, charge withdrawn, acquitted.
†Including detention centre, borstal, immediate and suspended sentence of imprisonment.
‡ Including absolute and conditional discharge, probation, supervision and care orders, and otherwise dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the current annual cost to the legal aid scheme of conducting cases in respect of possession of cannabis.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State

PERSONS PROSECUTED FOR POSSESSION OF CANNABIS:BY RESULT UNITED KINGDOM
Number of persons
							Result
					Prosecuted	Not found guilty*	Fine	Custodial sentence†	Other‡
1975	…	…	…	…	8,611	656	5,553	1,039	1,363
1976	…	…	…	…	9,289	697	6,094	1,066	1,432
1977	…	…	…	…	9,904	843	6,490	1,123	1,448
* Including proceedings discontinued, charge withdrawn, acquitted.
† Including detention centre, borstal, immediate and suspended sentence of imprisonment.
‡ Including absolute and conditional discharge, probation, supervision and care orders. and otherwise dealt with.

The available information is as follows:

PERSONS PROSECUTED FOR SUPPLYING CANNABIS UNITED KINGDOM
Year	Number of persons
1975	469
1976	593
1977	562

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of prosecutions for possession of cannabis with intent to supply in each of the last three years; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in acquittal, fines, and detention, respectively.

The available information is as follows:for the Home Department if he will publish the number of prosecutions for possession of cannabis in each of the last three years; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in acquittal, a fine, and detention, respectively.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizen's arrests were made in the United Kingdom to date in 1978 and in each of the last five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been received, how many inspections carried out and how many certificates issued under the Fire Precautions Act 1971, between 1st January 1978 and the latest date for which the information is available.

I regret that this information is not available as returns are made by fire authorities only after the end of each calendar year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 were carried out in each year in 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The actual number of inspections made under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 is not known, but returns from fire authorities show that the number of fire certificates issued in England and Wales during the years in question were:

	Hotels and Boarding Houses	Factories Offices, Shops* and Railway Premises
1975	4,467	—
1976	4,599	—
1977	3,530	4,140
* Factories, offices, shops and railway premises did not come within the scope of the Act until 1st January 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the terms of reference of the proposed inquiry into the prison service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the terms of reference and membership of the inquiry into the prison service.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland and I have appointed Mr. Justice May as chairman of the committee of inquiry into the United Kingdom prison services with the following terms of reference:

To inquire into the state of the prison services in the United Kingdom; and having regard to:

(a) the size and nature of the prison population, and the capacity of the orison services to accommodate it;

(b) the responsibilities of the prison services for the security, control and treatment of inmates;

(c) the need to recruit and retain a sufficient and suitable staff for the prison services;

(d) the need to secure the efficient of manpower and financial resources in the prison services;

to examine and make recommendations upon:

(i) the adequacy, availability, management and use of resources in the prison services;

(ii) conditions for staff in the prison services and their families;

(iii) the organisation and management of the prison services;

(iv) the structure of the prison services, including complementing and grading;

(v) the remuneration and conditions of service of prison officers, governors and other grades working only in the prison services, including the claim put forward by the Prison Officers' Association for certain "continuous duty credit" payments and the date from which any such payments should be made;

(vi) allowances and other aspects of the conditions of service of other grades arising from special features of work in the prison services;

(vii) working arrangements in the prison services, including shift systems and standby and on call requirements;

(viii) the effectiveness of the industrial relations machinery, including departmental Whitley procedures, within the prison services.

We shall announce the names of the members of the inquiry as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the measures which he has taken specifically to assist the construction industry in the past two years; and if he will make a statement about the effect of these measures.

The Government have announced the following measures to assist the construction industry during the past two years:(

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been made to date for exemption from capital transfer tax in respect of the transfer of shares to employee trusts as per the provisions of the Finance Acts 1975 and 1976.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th November, 1978; Vol. 958, c. 323], gave the following reply:Two; and a further two under section 67 of the Finance Act 1978, which relaxed the rules for exemption of gifts and shares by individuals. A further 10 applications have been made for the exemption of transfers of cash to employee trusts with a view to the purchase of shares by the trustees. All 14 of these applications have been accepted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances a trader may not appeal to a value added tax tribunal against a decision of the commissioners of Customs and Excise; and if he is satisfied with the present arrangements.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases have been heard by value added tax tribunals concerning the records of traders on special schemes in each of the last four years; and in what percentage of such cases the traders concerned won their appeals.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many traders are registered for each of the value added tax special schemes.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to change the regulations concerning the keeping of records by value added tax registered traders on special schemes.

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

asked the Attorney-General if he will publish in the Official Report his statement on the checking of potential jurors.

No. I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a question of my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) put down for Written Answer on 13th November 1978.

asked the Attorney-General whether it is proposed to seek to amend sections 23, 24 and 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 in order to clarify the financial criteria on the redistribution of family assets between the parties.

No. These criteria, which are based on the recommendations made by the Law Commission in its report on financial provision in matrimonial proceedings (Law Corn. No. 25), were originally enacted in section 5 of the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act 1970 and have subsequently been re-enacted in the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. Parliament has adopted the same criteria in section 3 of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975—in relation to applications by members of the deceased's immediate family for reasonable provision out of the estate—and in section 3 of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978—in relation to claims for maintenance in magistrates' courts. All these enactments, while laying down clear criteria, preserve the discretion of the court to take account of the circumstances of particular cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current cost per

						Deep-mined coal production Great Britain (million tones)	Output per manshift overall at NCB collieries* (tones)
January-September 1970	…	…	…	…	…	104·0	2·24
January-September 1971	…	…	…	…	…	103·8	2·25
January-September 1972	…	…	…	…	…	73·4	2·14
January-September 1973	…	…	…	…	…	94·5	2·34
January-September 1974	…	…	…	…	…	69·0	2·10
January-September 1975	…	…	…	…	…	86·0	2·26
January-September 1976	…	…	…	…	…	80·1	2·22
January-September 1977	…	…	…	…	…	77·8	2·18
January-September 1978	…	…	…	…	…	77·3	2·23
* Based on manshifts worked on revenue production.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research has been undertaken on the cause, prevention, and cure of psoriasis; what has been the expenditure on research from both public and private sources in the past five years: and if she will make a statement.

Information about research funded by the Medical Research Council is readily available for

The official sales price of Saudi Arabian light "marker" crude oil is $12·70 per barrel. In November 1977 the trade weighted average exchange rate of the United States dollar against other currencies—the "effective rate "—was 13·2 per cent. higher than on 9th November 1978. The effect on the oil producers will depend on the origin and type of their imports which vary from country to country. In particular, the prices of their imports from the United States of America will not be directly increased by the fall in the dollar.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will set out a comparison of the levels of production and productivity achieved in the coal industry in the first nine months of every year from 1970 to 1978, inclusive.

The information requested is as follows:the last two financial years only. The details are as follows:PLACE OF WORK AND TITLE OF PROJECT

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why her White Paper, which proposes the introduction of a single system of examinations at 16-plus, makes no reference to the private student who at present studies for the GCE O-level examinations at home or overseas through correspondence courses.

The needs of private candidates studying by correspondence will continue to be met under the single system of examining. This will be facilitated by the provision in the White Paper that, within each new examining authority, a full range of board-based examinations must be made available, conforming to any national criteria for syllabuses and assessment procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from the Association of British Correspondence Colleges in connection with her White Paper, which introduces a single system of examinations at 16-plus in place of GCE O-level and CSE.

The chairman of the association wrote to me recently asking whether the needs of private candidates studying by correspondence would be met by a single system, and raising the question of representation on the new examining authorities. I have replied saying that the needs of these candidates will be met, and that the time for considering representation will be when the shape of the new authorities has emerged. I have offered a meeting with my Department should one be thought helpful.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many accused persons were remanded on bail in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months for which this information is available; and, of these, how many were subsequently found guilty of the offences with which they were charged;(2) how many accused persons were remanded in custody in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months for which this information is available; and, of these, how many were subsequently found guilty of the offences of which they were charged.

I have been asked to reply.The records of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland relate to persons remanded on bail or in custody for trial on indictment. Of these during the 12-month period ending 31st October 1978, there were 1,853 applications for bail made to the High Court, of which 676 persons were granted bail and 1,177 persons were refused bail.Information as to the number of such persons who have been convicted or acquitted or remain untried is not readily available but will be supplied to my hon. Friend as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many civil servants are employed at strike centres in the payment of supplementary benefits to the dependants of Ford strikers.

The number fluctuates according to the amount of work to be done. Arrangements have been made for information on staffing to be sent in at the end of the dispute, and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the returns have been summarised.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Speakman report on nursing to be published.

I would refer the right hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the right hon. Member for Wan-stead and Woodford (Mr. Jenkin) on 7th November.—[Vol. 957, c. 155.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost to the National Health Service of treatment of psoriasis.

I regret that the information requested is not available. It is not possible from the health services costing returns to identify the cost of treating specified diseases or conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people who suffer from psoriasis; and what is the incidence among (a) children, and (b) adults.

It is estimated that the number of sufferers from psoriasis in the United Kingdom is between 1 million and 1½ million. The disease is less common in children than in adults.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the recommendations of the Finer report which have been imple- mented and those recommendations which it is proposed to implement, giving the date of implementation or proposed implementation.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the cumulative means size of grant to families of handicapped children by the Family Fund in each month since September 1977 and the number of first payments to families;(2) if he will list the grants made each year to the Family Fund by his Department since the fund was set up in both money terms and constant prices based on the date of the first payment;(3) if he will list the average initial payment to a family from she Family Fund in each year since the fund was set up, both in money terms and at constant prices;(4) if he is satisfied that the Family Fund is still able to perform the function for which it was set up; and if he will make a statement;(5) if he will list any restrictions which have been introduced by the Family Fund on items for which grants could be made which have been introduced in each year since the fund was set up.

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, prior to its establishment no other organisation was performing the kind of functions for which the fund was created. It was to be expected that. during the first two or three years, the need for provisions by it would show a constant increase and then level out. This is what happened and, notwithstanding the effects of inflation, the fund has remained able to perform the functions for which it was set up. Naturally, the type and nature of help given by the fund has altered over the years. The reasons include changing demand, the increase in the number of second and third applications and the difficulty of making contact with families who, due to various causes, have not themselves approached the fund.Changing circumstances, notably the introduction of mobility allowance, have necessarily caused the fund's administrators to adjust their policies over provision in certain ways. For example, they would not now provide second-hand cars save in exceptional circumstances. However, the principal objective—that of relieving sreets—is still being met.The specific information about grants to the Family Fund by my Department to date—excluding grants towards administrative costs—is set out below:

	April 1973 to 30th September 1974	1st October 1974 to 30th September 1975	1st October 1975 to 30th September 1976	1st October 1976 to 30th September 1977	1st October 1977 to 30th September 1978
	£	£	£	£	£
Average payment	155	170	130	126	135
Constant prices based on RPI for September 1974	155	134	90	76	75

Initial payments are likely to be larger than subsequent ones, but available statistics relate only to average payments.The cumulative mean grant and number of first payments have been as follows:

Month	Cumulative mean size of grant	Number of first payments
	£
1977—
September	315	410
October	316	377
November	317	480
December	317	308
1978—
January	319	413
February	324	430
March	326	302
April	329	392
May	333	392
June	338	458
July	342	488
August	344	365
September	344	253
NOTE: The cumulative mean grant is the mean total amount paid to each family helped by the Family Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married women are currently in receipt of housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension.

On 3rd November 1978—the latest date for which information is available—39,172 women were in receipt of housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his

Insurance officers and local tribunals disallowed nearly 11,000 claims for housewives' noncontributory invalidity pension—HNCIP—between November 1977 and 12th September 1978 on the ground that the claimants were not incapable of normal household duties. If the decision of the Tribunal of National Insurance Commissioners given on 8th September 1978 had been applied, no doubt many of these cases would have qualified for HNCIP, but others would have been disallowed on other grounds—for example, that incapacity for paid employment had not been established.Decisions of insurance officers and local tribunals which are erroneous 'n law remain valid and can be re-opened only by appealing to the local tribunal or to the commissioner, as the case may be. There are time limits for appealing. These are:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of disabled married women who qualify for housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension (a) under the original regulations approved by Parliament, and (b) under the new regulations introduced on 13th September 1978; and if he will make a statement.

When the noncontributory invalidity pension for housewives—HNCIP—was introduced, it was estimated that some 40,000 women would benefit. In the period before the decision of a Tribunal of the National Insurance Commissioners dated 8th September 1978, some 44,000 awards were made, of which some 38,000 were then in payment. The new regulations are intended to have the same effect as the original regulations had before the tribunal's decision. The number of awards made is, therefore, expected to be the same, leading to a figure of about 40,000 awards in payment. Had amending regulations not been made, it is considered that the number of awards would have substantially increased, but no firm estimate is possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married women have had decisions on their claims for housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension delayed until the decision of the Tribunal of National Insurance Commissioners on 8th September; how many will now be awarded benefit from the date of their claim until 13th September 1978 when statutory instrument 1978/1340 came into force; and if he will make a statement.

All decisions on claims for the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension are made by the independent adjudicating authorities—the insurance officers, the local tribunals and the commissioners. My Department has no information as to the extent, if any, to which decisions were delayed until the Tribunal of National Insurance Commissioners had given its decision. I am informed that in some 400 cases awards were made which terminated on 12th September 1978. Future claims covering periods before 13th September 1978, when the amending regulation came into force, will be determined by reference to the original regulation as interpreted by the tribunal of commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of German measles were reported in each of the past 10 years; and how many have been reported in 1978 at the last date for which figures are available.

Rubella—German measles —is not a notifiable disease, but returns to the Royal College of General Practitioners from a representative sample of practitioners show the national trend, expressed as a weekly rate per 100,000 of the population, of all ages, to be as follows:

1967	12·9
1968	15·8
1969	8·8
1970	5·2
1971	10·6
1972	11·7
1973	9·3
1974	8·6
1975	8·5
1976	4·0
1977	4·3
1978*	15·8
*up to week No. 42

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the additional capital and revenue costs of providing enough secure places in community homes to bring the total in England and Wales up to the recommended figure of 600, showing separately the figures for those under construction and those not yet started.(2) if he will give the locations and estimated dates of completion of the 217 places in secure accommodation in community homes that are currently under construction; and if he will give the estimated capital and revenue costs of this provision.

The number of secure places under construction in England on 1st November was 188.The estimated capital cost of providing £4·9 million. The table the location and estimat date of each project.

Location	Estimated completion date
Tyne and Wear	November 1978
Rotherham	*
Leeds	August 1980
Eccles	December 1979
Liverpool	*
Liverpool	May 1979
Poulton le Fyyde, Lancashire	November 1979
Liverpool	August 1979
Poulton le Flyde, Lancashire	*
Nantwich	June 1979
Bolton	*
Wolverhampton	July 1979
Ripley	*
Chesterfield	*
Derby	*
Lincolnshire	December 1978
Moulton, Northants	*
Peterborough	*
Leighton Buzzard	December 1978
Oxford	*
Milton Keynes	December 1978
London SE19	August 1979
London E8	December 1979
London W12	June 1979
South Norwood	January 1979
Exeter	January 1979
Hampshire	*
* Completed not yet in use—Building work is finished but the units are being commissioned prior to occupation.

The estimated capital cost of providing an additional 105 places to bring the total provision in England and Wales to 600 places is £2.83 million. The figure of 600 was, however, derived from plans drawn up by children's regional planning committees in 1973 which are currently under review.Figures for revenue costs are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the meeting of the EEC Council of Health Ministers in Brussels on 16th November.

The second meeting of EEC Health Ministers was held to discuss economic aspects of health care, health education policies including those relating to smoking and nutrition, vaccination problems and other subjects of mutual interest. There was an exchange of information on control of health care costs, studies prepared for the Commission in this connection were noted and guidance given to the Commission on the preparation of further studies relating to pharmaceutical products, professional manpower and the harmonisation of definitions and statistical data relating to health care.It was agreed that the Commission should send out a questionnaire about the procedures and resources available for mutual medical assistance in the event of very serious accidents or outbreaks of disease. There was a discussion of problems arising from the implementation of the directives on the freedom of movement of doctors. It was agreed, at my request, to consider whether present arrangements for advising the Commission on medical questions should be made more effective by the creation of a permanent body of experts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide in tabular form the perinatal mortality for Kirklees, Yorkshire, and England in each year of 1975, 1976, 1977, and the latest available date in 1978, and also show in the table the number of immigrant children in Kirklees, Yorkshire, and England, who died either as a result of a stillbirth or within one week of being born, showing in the table the numbers requested for every 1,000 still and live births in the areas mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for the North-West regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977 (a) the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the whole population, and for socioeconomic classes I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, (b) the stillbirth rate, the perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms., (c) the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. for the whole population and for socio-economic groups I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, respectively, (d) the prevalence, respectively, of caesarian section and induction. (e) the number of inoculations against rubella given to, respectively, schoolgirls and adult women of childbearing age and the estimated percentage of girls inoculated by the age of 15 years, (f) the incidence of congenital rubella in 1977 and in 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available, (g) the numbers of births in each socio-economic class, and to unsupported mothers, (h) the number of births which were first pregnancies, second pregnancies, third pregnancies, fourth pregnancies and fifth or later pregnancies, and the perinatal mortality rates for each parity, (i) the numbers of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band, (j) the incidence of congenital malformations. and (k) the incidence of cerebral palsy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for the West Midlands regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977 (a) the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the whole population and for socio-economic classes I, II, III, IV and V and unsupported mothers, (b) the stillbirth rate, the perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing less than 2,500 grams, (c) the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,500 grams for the whole population and for socio-economic groups I, II, III, IV and V and unsupported mothers, respectively, (d) the incidence of congenital rubella in 1977 and in 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available, (e) the number of inoculations against rubella given to, respectively, schoolgirls and adult women of childbearing age; and if he will estimate the percentage of girls inoculated by the age of 15 years, (f) the number of births in each socio-economic class, and to unsupported mothers, (g) the number of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band, and (h) the prevalence, respectively, of caesarian section and induction.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for the North-West regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977 (a) the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the whole population and for socio-economic classes I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, (b) the stillbirth rate, the perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms., (c) the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. for the whole population and for socio-economic groups I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, respectively, (d) the prevalence, respectively, of caesarian section and induction, (e) the number of inoculations against rubella given to, respectively, schoolgirls and adult women of childbearing age, estimating the percentage of girls inoculated by the age of 15 years, (f) the incidence of congenital rubella in 1977 and in 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available, (g) the number of births in each socio-economic class and to unsupported mothers, (h) the number of births which were first pregnancies, second pregnancies, third pregnancies, fourth pregnancies and fifth or later pregnancies, and the perinatal mortality rates for each parity, (i) the number of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16, 16 to 19, 20 to 24, 25 to 29, 30 to 34, and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band, (j) the incidence of congenital malformations and (k) the incidence of cerebral palsy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for the North-West Thames regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977 (a) the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the whole population and for socio-economic classes I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, (b) the stillbirth rate, the perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms., (c) the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. for the whole population and for socio-economic groups I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, respectively, (d) the prevalence, respectively, of caesarian section and induction, (e) the number of inoculations against rubella given to, respectively, schoolgirls and adult women of childbearing age, estimating the percentage of girls inoculated by the age of 15 years, (f) the incidence of congenital rubella in 1977 and in 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available, (g) the number of births in each socio-economic class and to unsupported mothers, (h) the number of births which were first pregnancies, second pregnancies. third pregnancies, fourth pregnancies and fifth or later pregnancies, and the perinatal mortality rate for each parity, (i) the number of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band, (j) the incidence of congenital malformations and (k) the incidence of cerebral palsy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for the North-West Thames regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977 (a) the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the whole population and for socio-economic classes, I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, (b) the stillbirth rate, the perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms., (c) the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. for the whole population and for socio-economic groups, I, II. III. IV, V and unsupported mothers, respectively. (d) the prevalence, respectively, of caesarian section and induction, (e) the number of inoculations against rubella given to, respectively, schoolgirls and adult women of childbearing age, estimating the percentage of girls inoculated by the age of 15 years, (f) the incidence of congenital rubella in 1977 and in 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available, (g) the number of births in each socio-economic class and to unsupported mothers, (h) the number of births which were first pregnancies, second pregnancies, third pregnancies, fourth pregnancies and fifth or later pregnancies, and the perinatal mortality rates for each parity, (i) the number of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band, (j) the incidence of congenital malformations and (k) the incidence of cerebral palsy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list for England, for the North-Western regional health authority and for each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977 the incidence of cerebral palsy;(2) if he will list for England, for the North-Western regional health authority and for each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977 the incidence of congenital malformations;(3) if he will list for England, for the North-Western regional health authority and for each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977 the number of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band;(4) if he will list for England, for the North-Western regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977 the number of births which were (

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for Staffordshire regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977, the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the whole population and for socio-economic classes I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, the stillbirth rate, the perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. for the whole population and for socio-economic groups I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, respectively, the prevalence, respectively, of caesarian section and induc- tion, the number of inoculations against rubella given to, respectively, schoolgirls and adult women of childbearing age and his estimate of the percentage of girls inoculated by the age of 15 years, the incidence of congenital rubella in 1977 and in 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available, the number of births in each socio-economic class and to unsupported mothers, the number of births which were (a) first pregnancies, (b) second pregnancies, (c) third pregnancies, (d) fourth pregnancies and (e) fifth or later pregnancies, and the perinatal mortality rates for each parity, the number of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band, the incidence of congenital malformations and the incidence of cerebral palsy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for the Northern regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977, the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the whole population and for socio-economic classes I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, the stillbirth rate, the perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. for the whole population and for socio-economic groups I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, respectively, the prevalence, respectively, of caesarian section and induction, the number of inoculations against rubella given to, respectively, schoolgirls and adult women of childbearing age; and if he will estimate the percentage of girls inoculated by the age of 15 years, the incidence of congenital rubella in 1977 and 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available, the number of births in each socio-economic class and to unsupported mothers, the number of births which were (a) first pregnancies, (b) second pregnancies, (c) third pregnancies, (d) fourth pregnancies, and (e) fifth or later pregnancies, and the perinatal mortality rate for each parity, the number of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band, the incidence of congenital malformations and the incidence of cerebral palsy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for the South-East Thames regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977, the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the whole population and for socio-economic classes I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, the stillbirth rate, the perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. for the whole population and for socio-economic groups I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, respectively, the prevalence, respectively, of caesarian section and induction, the number of inoculations against rubella given to, respectively, schoolgirls and adult women of childbearing age; and if he will estimate the percentage of girls inoculated by the age of 15 years, the incidence of congenital rubella in 1977 and 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available, the number of births in each socio-economic class and to unsupported mothers, the number of births which were (a) first pregnancies, (b) second pregnancies, (c) third pregnancies, (d) fourth pregnancies, and (e) fifth or later pregnancies, and the perinatal mortality rates for each parity, the number of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band, the incidence of congenital malformations and the incidence of cerebral palsy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for Wessex regional health authority and each of its constituent area health authorities in 1977, the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the whole population and for socio-economic classes I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, the stillbirth rate, the perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing, less than 2,500 gms, the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms. for the whole population and for socio-economic groups I, II, III, IV, V and unsupported mothers, respectively, the prevalence, respectively, of caesarian section and induction, the number of inoculations against rubella given to, respectively, schoolgirls and adult women of childbearing age, estimating the percentage of girls inoculated by the age of 15 years, the incidence of congenital rubella in 1977 and in 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available, the number of births in each socioeconomic class and to unsupported mothers, the number of births which were (a) first pregnancies, (b) second pregnancies, (c) third pregnancies, (d) fourth pregnancies and (e) fifth or later pregnancies, and the perinatal mortality rates for each parity, the number of births to mothers aged, respectively, under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, and 35-plus years and the perinatal mortality rates in each age band, the incidence of congenital malformations and the incidence of cerebral palsy.

I am advised that it will take time to bring together the centrally available information. This will involve a joint effort by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and my Department. The intention is that the OPCS will publish information for each area health authority in England and Wales as soon as possible. Copies will be sent to hon. Members and placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which leading industrial States in the West forbid the use of saccharin on medical grounds.

I have been asked to reply.According to the information available to my Department, no leading industrial State in the West has completely forbidden the use of saccharin.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what talks he has had with fishing companies which find themselves in difficulties over the possibility of his Department chartering vessels for exploratory operations to assess the viability of fishing new grounds and new species.

This possibility has not been raised in discussions between fishing vessels owners and my Department about opportunities for exploiting unfamiliar fishing grounds and species of fish. However, my Department continues to conduct research with its own vessels, including the "G. A. Reay".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assistance he anticipates being able to offer to the home-produced bacon industry to enable it to regain its former share of the market;(2) what representations he has made within the EEC concerning the size of the monetary compensatory amounts paid to Danish and Dutch bacon producers.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) and others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many copies of his Department's Bulletin No. 214, "An ABC of Home Freezing", have been published; how many have been distributed; and, of these, how many were distributed free; over what time span; and what has been the cost of publication and the receipts to date.

A total of 7,500 copies of Bulletin No. 214, "An ABC of Home Freezing", were printed. Of these 5,619 have been distributed to booksellers and HMSO bookshops since the publication date of 8th May 1978. In addition, 200 copies were distributed for official use within the Ministry, 35 distributed to the press and broadcasting services for review purposes, and a further 236 to organizations and individuals entitled to free copies. The cost of printing and publishing was £5,050 and receipts to date total £9,833.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received in the past six months on the banning of the export of live animals; and what action he is proposing to take.

In this period my right hon. Friend has received many letters, some containing petitions, opposing the export of live food animals and a small number in favour of continuing the trade. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins) and others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how pig producers' returns in the United Kingdom compare with prices paid to Danish and Dutch pig producers; and if he will make a statement.

For the week ending 5th November 1978 the average prices for grade II pig carcases reported to the EEC Commission were as follows:

	National currencies per Kg	P/Kg*
United Kingdom	81·850p	81·850
Denmark	8·830 krone	87·108
Netherlands	3·212 guilders	81·004
* Converted to sterling at current market rates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of pigmeat have been imported from Holland during the past year; and what were the corresponding figures for the past 10 years.

The following is the information in respect of the most significant categories of pigmeat imported from Holland, with imports in 1978 up to and including 30th September, the latest date for which figures are available, and for the corresponding period in 1977:

IMPORTS OF PIGMEAT FROM HOLLAND
'000 tonnes
	Bacon and Ham	Canned
1968	8·9	24·0
1969	8·0	18·8
1970	7·2	27·5
1971	7·4	30·1
1972	8·8	30·5
1973	9·6	37·2
1974	12·0	33·1
1975	21·1	35·0
1976	25·5	41·1
1977	31·2	43·7
9 months (January to September):
1977	23·6	33·6
1978	30·3	26·3

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present and future position on the supply of green top milk.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bute and North Ayrshire (Mr. Corrie) on 13th November.—[Vol. 958, c. 92.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many elected workers' representatives there are on the Post Office Board; and how many vacancies existed as at 17th November.

The Post Office Board includes seven elected workers' representatives nominated by trade unions and appointed by my right hon. Friend. Of these seven posts, one vacancy existed as at 17th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what use has been made of section 1 of the Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972.

Between 24th February 1972—when the Act came into force—and 31st March 1978 assistance totaling £1,600,119 has been approved and grants of £835,384 have been made. No moneys have yet been repaid, but my Department is monitoring the progress of a few promising projects.Full details will be published in the annual report for 1977–78, whose publication is at present held up because of an industrial dispute at HMSO.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his Department has been in negotiation with any former Government employees concerning the oil mop device.

The Warren Spring Laboratory of my Department has been in contact with two companies in connection with the evaluation of oil mop devices. One of these companies is known to employ a former Government employee. I am unaware of the total extent of employment of former Government employees in companies contacted by the Warren Spring Laboratory. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will be in touch with my office, as I said in reply to his Question on Monday 13th November—[Vol. 958, c. 12–15.]—so that these matters might be discussed further.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement in regard to the development of industrial democracy in British Aerospace.

On 6th December 1977 my right hon. Friend laid before each House of Parliament copies of the report which British Aerospace had submitted in accordance with section 5(3) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977. The corporation has kept us closely informed of developments since then and my right hon. Friend has today laid before each House of Parliament copies of a progress report which was submitted to him in August.The report encloses the final joint report agreed by British Aerospace and the consultative committee of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions in February 1978. The corporation's report records the differences of attitude and opinion on industrial democracy between members of CSEU unions and other organisations which have emerged during discussions at each factory. The corporation now proposes to develop further its discussions with all its employees and their appropriate representatives to establish how its agreement with the CSEU can acceptably be related to the development of a single democratic structure embracing all its employees. If, after consultations, there is failure at any site to achieve this single structure, the corporation says that it will need to consider the alternative of a parallel structure. I have asked British Aerospace to report regularly to me on the progress of discussions and I hope to receive the first of these reports early next year. I shall continue to inform the House of significant developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many separate items of subordinate legislation affecting Wales were created in the 1977–78 parliamentary Session; of these, how many were made by himself or his Department; and if he will list them, and how many items under each of the two preceding categories were discussed on the Floor of the House or in Committee.

In the 1977–78 parliamentary Session, 129 statutory instruments were made by the Welsh Office and a further 87 were made jointly with other Departments on matters affecting Wales. As the lists are lengthy, I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.Of the instruments made jointly, 16 were debated on the Floor of the House or in a Standing Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if statistics on homelessness in Wales are yet available; and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh Office is today publishing statistics based on returns from authorities in Wales covering the period 1st April to 30th June 1978. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House. The conclusions that can be drawn from the first quarter's returns are necessarily limited, especially as these are the first returns under a new system of collecting homelessness statistics, and there are no comparable previous figures. However, it is clear that district councils throughout Wales are implementing the Act and I welcome this evidence that help is reaching those who need it.

asked the Prime Minister if he will issue instructions to all his Ministers to frame letters sent to the general public and to hon. Members in simple, straightforward English.

I have already done so.