asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to have further talks with the political parties in Northern Ireland.

I wrote to the leaders of the four main parties in Northern Ireland on 16 January 1979. My letter, the text of which was published in the Official Report for 22 January, reviewed the talks held last year and set out the basis on which I believe that political progress can be made. I hope to have further meetings with all the main parties before very long.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied that his Department is kept full informed of all arrests made by the military authorities in Northern Ireland and that these arrests are accurately documented in all cases.

There is no requirement on the military authorities to notify my Department of arrests. Information about such arrests is, however, readily available, and I am satisfied that the relevant records are carefully maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he sees rural planning policy developing following the Cockroft report.

I anticipate that the adoption of the new rural planning policy I announced on 29 November will make it easier for people who wish to live in rural areas to obtain planning permission for single houses. In addition, it will also be easier for small firms, especially those involved with agriculture, to obtain planning approval.In some areas of Northern Ireland tight control will continue to be exercised over development to prevent urban sprawl and ribbon development and to protect important amenity areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the situation in the water service in Northern Ireland.

The industrial action which disrupted water supplies over some parts of the Province ended on 9 January and normal supplies are being restored as quickly as the 14-week accumulation of repairs can be dealt with. Water workers in Northern Ireland are linked for pay purposes with the water industry in England and Wales but difficulties in introducing comparable productivity bonus schemes gave rise to the industrial action. An interim productivity scheme has been in operation since March 1978 and it is hoped to introduce full schemes on 1 May 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with the Coalisland drilling operation.

The drilling of a borehole at Coalisland has been completed. Coals were encountered at a depth of approximately 3,500 feet but unfortunately the seams were too thin to be of commercial significance. However, the borehole has produced much interesting data which has yet to be fully evaluated.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the work of the Northern Ireland Economic Council.

The Northern Ireland Economic Council is a non-statutory body whose main purpose is to advise Government on economic matters relating to Northern Ireland. In performing this function it can carry out or commission, either at the Government's request or on its own initiative, research into economic or industrial matters, and where appropriate publish the results.Since its reorganisation under an independent chairman in 1977, the Northern Ireland Economic Council has investigated various key sectors of the local economy and has offered the Government advice on topics such as agriculture and energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been spent and how many men were employed on the salting and gritting of roads in Northern Ireland in the winter of 1963, of 1964 and during the present winter period; and if he will make available more funds for this work to ensure that roads are cleared of ice and snow as soon as possible.

The information relating to the winter of 1963–64 is not available. By mid-January this winter £1·3 million had been spent on materials, wages and plant and up to 950 men per week have been employed on salting and gritting work.I am satisfied that availability of funds is not a constraint.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the war against the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to a question from the hon. Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the actual or estimated weekly costs of keeping a prisoner in prison on Monday 22 January and the top wage of the lowest paid worker for which he has responsibility.

The actual cost of running the prison service on 22 January is not readily available. It is estimated that during the current financial year the average weekly cost of keeping a person in custody will be about £112. The lowest paid worker for whom my right hon. Friend has responsibility is a non-industrial cleaner earning £42·71 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasion since February 1974 the Metropolitan Police have been instructed not to prosecute persons against whom they had evidence of criminal action involving violence.

None. I have no power to give such instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to the Metropolitan Police since February 1974 with regard to the identification of subversive and revolutionary groups advocating the use of intimidation and violence to achieve their ends.

None. This is an operational responsibility of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions have been recommended by his Department concerning the admission to the United Kingdom of individuals who are known to have committed crimes of violence as visitors or as potential immigrants.

The immigration rules provide that, unless there are strong compassionate reasons, leave to enter the United Kingdom should be refused to passengers—other than wives or children under 18 of people settled here—who have been convicted anywhere of an extradition crime. I have no proposals for changing those provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the country of birth of those people held in custody between 15 November 1977 and 31 December 1977 and 1 January 1978 and 15 November 1978 as non-criminal prisoners under the Immigration Act 1971.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the table below gives the information available on the country of birth of those first received into prison department establishments in England and Wales, under the Immigration

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been given to magistrates concerning the refusal of bail and custodial sentences for pickets who have committed criminal offences.

These are matters for judicial discretion on which I have issued no advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given to chief constables with regard to the law in respect of picketing and the arrest of those who break the law.

The enforcement of the criminal law is the responsibility of chief officers of police, and it is not appropriate for me to give instructions or guidance on how they should discharge this responsibility. The statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 25 January has been drawn to their attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Almirante, former public relations officer of Mussolini, was allowed to enter the United Kingdom for the purpose of addressing a public meeting; and if he will give an assurance that such undesirable aliens will not be allowed entry in future.

Nationals of member States of the EEC are normally admitted to this country with the minimum of formality. The immigration officer who admitted Mr. Almirante would have had no prior knowledge of his history.As to the last part of the question, I have demonstrated that I am prepared to use the powers available to me, when this would be conducive to the public good, to prevent a person coming here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has received from hon. Members concerning intimidation and other illegal activities in the course of recent industrial strikes; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

The enforcement of the criminal law is the responsibility of chief officers of police, and breaches should be reported to them. I have received only a few specific allegations from hon. Members of breaches of the criminal law relating to recent industrial disputes. In each case I have passed the details to the chief officers of the forces concerned, so that the allegations can be properly investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will consider providing funds for a number of scholarships at the Council of Europe craftsman training centre in Venice such as other Council of Europe Governments have provided.

I have no power to provide such scholarships. Awards for courses at this centre would be a matter for local education authorities under their discretionary powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has issued any guidance to local education authorities regarding reimbursement to teachers of physical education who engage in voluntary activity outside normal school hours.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students aged 65 years or over have failed to complete Open University courses; and how that figure compares with the failure rate for other groups.

In 1977—the latest year for which figures are available—36 per cent. of Open University undergraduate students aged 65 or over failed to gain any credits. The comparable figure for all such students was 27·5 per cent.The 65 or over group formed just under 1 per cent. of an undergraduate population of about 55,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what support she is giving to the 1979 international mathematical olympiad; and if she will make a statement.

The 21st international mathematical olympiad, a mathematical contest for secondary school pupils, is to be held in London in July under the sponsorship of the Schools Mathematics Project and the Mathematical Association. Some 28 overseas countries have been invited to take part and my Department has agreed to make a financial contribution of up to £15,000 towards its overall costs. I welcome the decision to hold the olympiad in this country, and I hope that those secondary schools in the United Kingdom which have not already done so will consider entering suitable candidates for the preliminary competitions.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the Trades Union Congress.

I meet representatives of the TUC from time to time at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he will next meet leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

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

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth).

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the Confederation of British Industry.

asked the Prime Minister when next he will meet the Confederation of British Industry.

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

asked the Prime Minister when next he intends to meet the CBI.

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

I meet representatives of the CBI from time to time at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 1 February.

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle).

asked the Prime Minister if he will visit Heaton Mersey.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for the Environment for dealing with civil or natural emergencies.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister when he last took the chair at the National Economic Development Council.

I last took the chair at NEDC on 6 December, and will do so again on 7 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will dismiss the Secretary of State for Energy.

The hon. Member may assume that I do not intend to make any changes in ministerial appointments or responsibilities—including my taking on any of the existing responsibilities of other Ministers—unless and until I make a statement to the contrary.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Cowdenbeath by the end of March.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Attorney-General it, in the light of the judgment of the House of Lords in Joyce v Director of Public Prosecutions, he will make it his policy to prosecute all those who commit offences of a treasonable character by presenting British passports when visiting Rhodesia.

No.

asked the Attorney-General what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

None.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what changes have been made in the security arrangements required for recruitment to the non-industrial civil service since 1964.

As announced by my right hon. Friend the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 28 June 1968, the Government decided that, in considering persons not of United Kingdom origin for emploment on classified work in the Government service, length of residence in the United Kingdom would be taken into account in assessing the degree to which the persons had assimilated themselves in this country.—[Vol. 767, c. 148.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish a discussion paper or green papers giving a reappraisal of the appropriateness or otherwise of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and its associated organisations in the knowledge that nuclear generated electricity is now widely recognised as being unlikely to play the dominant place that was intended when the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority was created.

Since its creation in 1954, the authority has adapted itself to successive changes in circumstances and has a full programme related to current requirements including both the continuing support of nuclear power development as an essential element in meeting the United Kingdom's energy needs and under the Science and Technology Act 1965, work in non-nuclear fields. Its annual reports provide an opportunity for public and parliamentary assessment and the Energy Commission reviews national energy policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied that all available supplies of pulverised fuel ash are being directed into industrial use.

Out of the 12 million tonnes of pulverised fuel ash produced by Central Electricity Generating Board power stations, the CEGB markets about 4 million tonnes each year for use in the construction industry. Every effort is made to dispose of the remainder in the most useful possible manner; most of it is used for landscape engineering and land reclamation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied that the Coal Board and brick-making industry are fully utilising the available supplies of colliery waste in the production of bricks.

I understand from the National Coal Board that every effort is made through its minestone executive to supply colliery spoil for the manufacture of common brick.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

The electricity discount scheme was advertised in the Morning Star on Monday 22 January 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what parental qualifications of nationality are required by applicants for jobs in the Passport Office.

The normal nationality requirements of the Civil Service Commission General Regulations 1978 stipulate that to be eligible for appointment to a situation under the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, other than in the Diplomatic Service, both a candidate's parents must have been British subjects—citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies—Commonwealth citizens or citizens of the Irish Republic from birth.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what adjustments may be necessary to his Department's cash limits in the current financial year, in the light of the recent BBC pay award.

Present indications are that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will stay within its overall limits. The effect of the recent Central Arbitration Committee award on the BBC external services will mean an increase of £1·3 million in the cash limit for FCO4, but this will be offset by an equivalent reduction in FCO2.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to protect consumer interests in the current discussions on prices within the common agricultural policy for the forthcoming year.

In the national interest as a whole, my right hon. Friend the Minister will be pressing for the maximum restraint on CAP support prices in 1979–80. In particular, he will oppose any increase in support prices for products which are in structural surplus.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends implementing the resolution of the International Whaling Commission on non-trade in whale products from non- whaling countries; and if he will amend the open general import licence in terms similar to that applying to goods originating from Rhodesia.

There is a prohibition on importation into the United Kingdom from any source of all whale products except sperm whale oil, spermaceti wax, ambergris, products incorporated abroad into manufactured goods and certain minor whale products. My information is that there has been no significant use in this country of sperm whale oil from non-IWC countries for over ten years. In practice therefore the objectives of the International Whaling Commission resolution are being substantially achieved, though to implement its precise terms might involve conflict without international obligations under GATT and the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

None.

asked the Lord Advocate what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

None.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will explain the procedure for the allocation of Members' accommodation, desks, &c.; and if he is satisfied with the present position.

The Deputy Chief Whips of the two main parties are responsible, under arrangements agreed by the Services Committee, for allocating amongst their own Members their share of rooms and desks available in the Palace of West-minster and the precincts.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much overseas aid is to be used in the proposed sale to Pakistan of three SD18 cargo vessels; and if she will make a statement on her talks with Pakistan Ministers.

In my discussions last September with Pakistan's then Minister for Ports and Shipping, we agreed that Britain's regular programme of aid for Pakistan was already committed to high priority projects and programmes, and that none of these planned activities should be displaced to make room for ships.Mr. Gokal nevertheless emphasised his interest in obtaining finance to order some vessels from Britain as part of the planned re-equipping of Pakistan's national fleet. As these orders would be of industrial importance to Britain, I agreed to release funds, to cover a part of the contract price, from the 5 per cent. of the bilateral programme reserved for such opportunities.Discussions about this possible contract are still in progress. I shall inform the House of the outcome in due course.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

None. Our principal advertising activity is one of recruitment for posts overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure the executive and professional register receives notification of full and part-time teaching vacancies from local education authorities.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, whilst every encouragement is given to local education authorities and indeed all organisations in either the public or private sectors to make full use of the recruitment services offered by Professional and Executive Recruitment (PER) and the public employment service in general, it is not intended to introduce compulsory notification of vacancies for particular sectors or occupations. So far as the teaching profession is concerned, PER informs all individuals who inquire about teaching posts of the ways in which such vacancies are usually filled.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

On 11 January, the unemployment rate in Great Britain was 6 per cent. and 1,391,220 people were registered as unemployed.In order to reduce unemployment we must not relax our efforts to reduce inflation and improve our industrial performance.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of people who would have an arguable case of unfair dismissal but for the upper age limit imposed by paragraph 10(b) of schedule 1 to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974.

The unfair dismissal provisions are now contained in the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978. No such estimate has been made; but the number of applications which are barred because of the upper age limit is not thought to be very great.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will examine the workings of paragraph 10(b) of schedule 1 to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 with a view to repealing the upper age limit for unfair dismissal claims; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he is satisfied with the upper age limit imposed on unfair dismissal claims under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974.

The recent House of Lords judgment in the case of Miss Nothman v London borough of Barnet gave an authoritative interpretation of the provisions relating to the upper age limit for unfair dismissal claims. The effect of this judgment is being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those industrial closures in Scotland since the implementation of the Employment Protection Act 1975 where payments have been made to employees as compensation for not being given statutory notice of redundancy.

Protective awards under section 101 of the Employment Protection Act 1975 have been made in favour of employees of the following firms where the redundancies arose because of the closure of one or more establishments in Scotland

• Claymore Textiles Ltd.
• Clyde Casualwear Ltd.
• Collins (Glasgow) Ltd.
• Cuberay Ltd.
• Cumbernauld Woollen and Worsted Mills Ltd.
• Scofisco Ltd.
• Spillers-French Holdings Ltd.
• Wilkinson and Co (Patternmakers) (Scotland) Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the payments made in lieu of notice to former employees of Scofisco Ltd. of Shettleston.

Payments totalling £9,395·69 in respect of claims for payment in lieu of notice were made to 95 former employees of Scofisco Ltd between April and October 1978 under section 64(3)(b) of the Employment Protection Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the unemployment levels amongst United Kingdom North Sea oil industry divers.

I regret that precise information about unemployment amongst North Sea oil industry divers is not available. The occupational analysis of the unemployed does not separately distinguish those registered for such employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Keighley on 15 December 1978, if he will explain what has happened to the statistics on prosecutions under section 72 of the Factories Act 1961 compiled prior to 1976.

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that statistics on prosecutions taken under the Factories Act 1961 were published in the annual reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories from 1962 to 1974 inclusive. Since that time statistics have been published in the industry and services reports of the Health and Safety Executive. Prior to 1976, however, no regular statistical analysis of cases by the section of the Act under which the offence occurred was carried out, and a broader classification by the character of the offence was used. A central analysis is now carried out, but an analysis of cases taken before 1976 could now be obtained only by a lengthy search of records.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Keighley of 15 December regarding manual lifting, if he will make a statement explaining the delay in producing a code of practice for the lifting of weights.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the preparation of guidance on manual lifting has taken longer than anticipated because of the complexity of the subject involving many disciplines. It was also thought desirable that the guidance should cover wider aspects of manual handling than originally intended. The Commission will be considering the outcome of this work in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to repeal the Agriculture (Lifting of Heavy Weights) Regulations.

I understand from the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Commission has asked the Health and Safety Executive to submit proposals for the Commission's consideration concerning the lifting of weights. The Commission expects to have these proposals in the near future and will consider them in conjunction with the provisions of the Agriculture (Lifting of Heavy Weights) Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a list of meetings of the Health and Safety Commission and the attendances by members; and if he will place copies of the minutes of the various meetings in the Library.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the criteria regarding the organisations to which factory inspectors give lectures on health and safety at work; if a fee is charged to those organisations which exist to make a profit out of day schools or conferences; and if he will state the scale of such fees.

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the provision of speakers by Her Majesty Factory Inspectorate represents a considerable commitment of resources and each request is considered critically.Factory inspectors normally give talks and lectures only when it will assist or further the aims and functions of the Health and Safety Executive to do so, and where only an inspector or specialist inspector can provide the necessary expertise.A fee is charged to cover the full cost of providing a speaker at day schools and conferences run on commercial lines. Charges payable by other organisations vary according to their nature and purpose.The full cost rates are:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he anticipates that the Health and Safety Executive will publish its annual report for 1978; and if he will make a statement on his views on the desirability of publishing up-to-date information.

The main annual report of the Health and Safety Executive for 1977–78 was published with that of the Health and Safety Commission in December 1978. The reports for 1978–79 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the period to which they relate.The Commission's policy, in which I concur, is to publish promptly current information on health and safety matters in a variety of ways including guidance notices, consultative documents and a bimonthly newsletter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate who left the service during 1978, including those who retired, the number joining the inspectorate and the number failing the qualifying examination in the same year.

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that 51 inspectors left Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate in 1978, 65 joined the inspectorate, and no inspectors failed the qualifying examination in the same year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what advertisements have been placed in the Morning Star newspaper by his Department during 1979.

Nil. This does not cover MSC, HSE or ACAS.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the subjects on which professional consultants' reports were commissioned by his Department and by the Manpower Services Commission, and the total cost to the Department and the Manpower Services Commission of such reports, in each of the years 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24 Januuary 1979; Vol. 961, c. 166], gave the following information:Reports commissioned by the Department of Employment group which includes the Manpower Services Commission and the Health and Safety Commission are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside, in the light of the recent unemployment figures; and if he will make a statement.

, pursuant to his earlier reply, gave the following information:Although unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside is still too high, there has been a welcome improvement over the past year. The Property Services Agency is making a substantial contribution to present and future

construction employment on Merseyside through the following six large building projects. Five of these are already under construction:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of extra nurses and dialysis technicians who will need to be engaged to serve the 418 additional patients included in the plans he has recently approved; how many nurses are available who already have renal dialysis qualifications; how many new trainees he hopes to engage in this specialty; if the additional salary costs are to be met with in existing estimates: and if he will make a statement.

There is no renal dialysis nursing qualification as such. Nor is possession of a certificate necessary if the nurse has had experience of dialysis and is judged competent by her nursing officer. However, there are two joint board of clinical nursing studies courses in renal and urological nursing, and over the years these have been completed by 274 nurses. A further 46 are still in training. In 1979 around 120 training places will be available on these courses which are being held in 16 centres. It is not possible to identify separately the number of nurses and technicians required to meet the present expansion in dialysis facilities. The revenue provision required to treat the additional patients admitted to the programme will be taken into account in determining regional health authorities' allocations for 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from National Health Service trade unions about the Government's policy on hospital closures.

Apart from general discussion on closures during regular meetings between Ministers and the TUC health services committee, I have received a few letters from local branches of NHS trade unions about particular proposals for hospital closure, but none recently about the Government's policy in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the combined value of child tax allowances, after claw back, and family allowances/child benefit for the years 1946, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1964 and each subseequent year until 1979, taking into account the proposed changes in child benefit and child tax allowances, for the first, second, third and each subsequent child, aged under 11, 11 to 16 and over 16 years in standard tax-paying families expressed at November 1978 prices.

The information is as follows I regret the table does not show the value of child support for the years prior to 1971 because (a) child tax allowances were not age related until 1958; and (b) calculations for the years 1960–70 cannot be obtained without disproportionate expense:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether social security benefits paid to persons in respect of rent, but not in fact subsquently paid by those persons in rent, are included in the figures for amounts lost in fraud by his Department.

No. The failure of someone on supplementary benefit to pay rent is not fraud. Where exceptionally there is persistent default, the Supplementary Benefits Commission can pay rent direct to the landlord.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many community schools have secure units directly available to the Social Services Department and in which regions these are available;(2) how many community schools have secure intensive care units available; and in which regions they are situated.

It is not possible to distinguish between secure intensive care units and secure units. Nineteen community homes with education have secure units. The regions in which these are situated are listed below:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the number of vacancies in community schools during October 1978, November 1978 and December 1978; in which schools these vacancies occurred; and what were the special reasons for under-occupancy, if any;(2) how many community schools are available in the United Kingdom; and how many places there are for boys or girls in each.

There are 119 community homes with education on the premises—community schools—in England and Wales. I will arrange for the other information requested in respect of these establishments to be circulated in the Official Report as soon as possible.Different legislation applies to Scotland and Northern Ireland, but I am asking my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland if they are able to let the hon. Member know the number of similar establishments for which they are responsible and the number of places for boys or girls in each.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the dates of each occasion when dental and optical charges were raised since February 1974; and whether he will set out the revenue from dental and optical charges in each year from 1973–74.

The NHS (Charges) Amendment Regulations 1975 (S.I. 1975, No. 1945) changed the system of dental and optical charges with effect from 1 January 1976. Some charges were increased and some decreased.The NHS (Charges) Amendment Regulations 1977 (S.I. 1977, No. 279) increased charges for dentures, dental treatment and NHS lenses, and introduced higher charges for special dental treatment with effect from 1 April 1977. Additionally, charges for routine dental treatment increased automatically following the increase in NHS dental fees approved with effect from 1 October 1978. The maximum charge for such treatment remained unchanged at £5, the upper limit inrtoduced from 1 April 1977. The "current specified cost" which patients pay for NHS frames has increased automatically in line with manufacturers' increased costs in October 1975, January and September 1976, January and August 1977 and May 1978.The figures for revenue from dental and optical charges since 1973–74 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with progress in the preparation for phase four of the Walsall District General Hospital; and if he is in a position to name the commencing date.

Planning by the West Midlands regional health authority, although well advanced, is not yet complete. Substantial enabling works are expected to start at the end of this year followed by the main construction early in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have been employed in the National Health Service otological services testing for occupational deafness in each year since 1970.

Claims under the occupational deafness scheme have been accepted only since October 1974. The number of NHS personnel who administer tests for that purpose is not known, but no staff have been employed by health authorities solely to provide otological services for testing claimants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he will take to facilitate better working between volunteers and health and social services workers and their unions.

I am at present considering ways of promulgating as widely as possible among volunteers, paid workers, and unions working in the health and social services, the volunteer centre's "Guidelines for relationships between volunteers and paid non-professional Workers". These guidelines, drawn up by a working group on which the interests of statutory authorities, unions, and the voluntary sector were represented, were first published in October 1975 and were revised in September 1977. Since their publication they have made a proven contribution to better relationships.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting list time for each of the main specialities at the Basingstoke district general hospital for each of the last five years.