asked the Lord Privy Seal if any research is being undertaken into the effects on people employed in the Palace of Westminster who work with visual display units for more than three hours a day; if there are any plans to introduce guidelines for using them safely; and if he will make a statement.
In this, as in other matters, the House of Commons seeks to maintain standards broadly in line with the Civil Service, and it follows the relevant guidelines from the Cabinet Office (MPO), Her Majesty's Treasury Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and the Civil Service Medical Advisory Service in the light of their research into the effects of working with VDUs. The
| Total Agricultural Exports* | ||||||||||
| 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | ||||||
| MECU | Per cent. | MECU | Per cent. | MECU | Per cent. | MECU | Per cent. | MECU | Per cent. | |
| Germany | 7,019 | 13·9 | 8,100 | 14·3 | 10,003 | 14·6 | 10,916 | 14·9 | 11,375 | 14·5 |
| France | 11,595 | 23·0 | 13,835 | 24·3 | 16,589 | 24·3 | 16,646 | 22·7 | 18,590 | 23·7 |
| Italy | 4,373 | 8·7 | 4,180 | 7·4 | 5,335 | 7·8 | 5,829 | 7·9 | 5,876 | 7·5 |
| Netherlands | 10,897 | 21·6 | 12,000 | 21·1 | 14,477 | 21·2 | 16,008 | 21·8 | 17,141 | 21·9 |
| Belgium/Luxembourg | 4,220 | 8·4 | 4,749 | 8·4 | 5,763 | 8·4 | 6,296 | 8·6 | 6,550 | 8·4 |
| United Kingdom | 5,222 | 10·4 | 6,116 | 10·8 | 7,296 | 10·6 | 7,757 | 10·6 | 7,972 | 10·2 |
| Ireland | 2,032 | 4·0 | 2,316 | 4·1 | 2,425 | 3·5 | 2,596 | 3·5 | 2,830 | 3·6 |
| Denmark | 4,099 | 8·1 | 4,494 | 7·9 | 5,367 | 7·9 | 5,957 | 8·1 | 6,272 | 8·0 |
| Greece | 916 | 1·8 | 1,033 | 1·8 | 1,093 | 1·6 | 1,370 | 1·9 | 1,765 | 2·3 |
| Total of member states | 50,373 | 100 | 56,823 | 100 | 68,348 | 100 | 73,375 | 100 | 78,371 | 100 |
| * Including exports to other Community countries. Products covered are SITC, headings, 0, 1, 21, 22, 232, 24, 261–265 + 268, 29, 4, 592·11 + 592·12. | ||||||||||
guidance issued jointly by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and the Council of Civil Service Unions entitled "The Human Factors associated with the use of Cathode Ray Visual Display Units" was distributed to all Heads of Departments in November 1983. Everything possible is done to ensure that VDUs are sited correctly and that ergonomic factors are fully taken into account, including where relevant the provision of special furniture and screen filters. There is also a system of voluntary eye tests provided by the Nursing Sister for those employed or to be employed on VDUs.