asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will lift the present naval arms embargo against the Republic of South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

No. We will continue to fulfil our obligations under the mandatory United Nations arms embargo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why there has been no reference to obtaining a political settlement in Cyprus in any Queen's Speech under the present Administration.

The section on foreign policy in Her Majesty The Queen's Speech is always very brief. The lack of a reference to Cyprus in recent speeches reflects no lack of interest in the Cyprus problem. We continue to see the need for a solution to be found as soon as possible. We support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and stand ready to do anything that he considers might help.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there are any plans for any Minister from his Department to visit Chile in the next six months.

There are no such plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the recent political unrest in Chile, the Government will review their policy with regard to arms sales and diplomatic relations with Chile.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made in the last six months to the Chilean Government with regard to violations of human rights; and what pressures have been put on the Chilean Government.

We have made plain to representatives of the Chilean Government our concern over the continued violation of human rights in Chile on a number of occasions. Most recently, my right hon. and learned Friend underlined our continuing concern on this question to the Chilean Foreign Minister on 27 September and to the Chilean Ambassador on 17 October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations from (a) hon. Members and (b) other persons the Government have received about the violation of human rights in Chile and about the sale of arms to Chile m the past 12 months.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received some 50 representations over the past 12 months from hon. Members in the form of letters, parliamentary questions and calls on Ministers. In addition we have received 175 written representations from other persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the level of precautions taken to prevent the smuggling into the United Kingdom of firearms and other weapons via diplomatic bags.

Yes. We are precluded by the provisions of article 27 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations from opening or detaining diplomatic bags, but diplomatic missions are well aware of the need for strict compliance with our laws concerning firearms. If evidence were to come to light that these laws had been flouted by a person enjoying diplomatic immunity, we should not hesitate to take firm action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the second secretary who serves as the representative of Her Majesty's Government in Grenada was able to report to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and the high commissioner in Barbados throughout the recent crisis; and whether he has been in regular contact with the Governor-General and with the United States and Caribbean military commanders since the military intervention took place.

The British High Commission representative on Grenada, Mr. John Kelly, was able to report to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and the British High Commission in Barbados throughout the recent crisis, except for the period of 25 October to 28 October when he was confined to his home by hostilities and telephone links were broken. He has been in daily contact with the Governor-General since 28 October.The high commissioner's defence adviser, has been in regular daily contact with United States and Caribbean military commanders from 28 October onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the number of casualties in Grenada since American forces arrived there.

The United Kingdom was not a party to the military intervention and we have no first-hand information on casualties. Civilian casualty figures are a matter for the Grenadan authorities who are being assisted by the International Red Cross. We have seen various figures for American and Cuban military casualties, but this is a matter for their respective Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to increase fees for passport and other consular services.

Yes. An Order in Council has recently been made — the Consular Fees Order 1983 — which provides for increases in passport and other consular fees with effect from next Monday 14 November. The fee for a standard 10-year passport will go up from the present £11 to £15 and that for a British visitors passport from £5·50 to £7·50. For a 10-year family passport, that is, with particulars of a husband or wife included, the fee will be £22·50 and for a family British visitors passport £11·25. The fee for a collective passport will be twice that for an individual 10-year passport, that is £30. There will be commensurate increases in fees for other passport services, and an average 55 per cent. increase in fees for non-passport consular services. United Kingdom visa fees will also be increased with effect from the same date. Even at the increased levels, United Kingdom passport fees are comfortably in line with those charged by other countries.The increases will be the first since March 1978. Since then costs both at home and overseas have increased substantially. At home, for instance, prices have increased by 77 per cent. over the period: by comparison, the increase in the standard passport fee is 36·4 per cent. It is the policy of this and previous Governments that receipts from users of the passport and consular services should cover the full cost of their provision.The increased fees for family and collective passports reflect special factors. Family passports take virtually as much work to issue as two individual passports. The Government have decided that the fee shall be one and a half times that for an individual passport. This is well below the recommendation of last year's Rayner scrutiny of the Passport Office that the fee should be twice the fee for an individual passport, less £2.The Government have accepted the Rayner scrutiny recommendation that the collective passport fee should be twice the standard passport fee: a collective passport will still be an economical travel document since up to 50 young people can travel on it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what have been (a) the number of job losses announced, (b) the number of new jobs announced, (c) the number of firms which have closed and (d) the number of new firms started in the west midlands since 21 March 1983 by each minimium list heading industrial classification.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested and could not be obtained without incurring excessive costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the effect on the Export Credit Guarantee Department of the re-scheduling of the debts of South American countries.

Ecuador and Peru have sought the rescheduling of their officially supported debts through the Paris club. The Export Credits Guarantee Department has now entered into a bilateral agreement with Ecuador and a similar agreement is in negotiation with Peru. Some £26 million of insured debt is involved and ECGD will have to meet claims from its policyholders up to this amount. Brazil has also requested rescheduling and this is at an early stage of consideration: it is not yet possible to assess the precise effect of this upon ECGD.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how it is proposed to implement the European Community directives on prospectuses issued when shares are listed on the Stock Exchange, on admission of securities to official Stock Exchange listing and on the continuing disclosure of information concerning securities admitted to listing on the Stock Exchange; who is to be the recognised authority in each case; and if he will make a statement.

The implementation of these three directives is under discussion between my Department and the Stock Exchange. I aim to introduce legislation in the first quarter of next year which, inter alia, will designate the Council of the Stock Exchange as the "competent authority" prescribed by the directives.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has decided upon the amount of grant to be made available to the Yorkshire and Humberside development association after present arrangements expire in March.

Officials have had meetings with the director and staff of the association, and the chairman accepted my invitation to a meeting in August to discuss the association's plans and its request for increased grant in aid in 1984–85.The YHDA has put forward proposals supported by outline programmes of promotional activities in respect of 1984–85 and has satisfied me that it is capable of mounting a realistic and effectively co-ordinated programme of events on behalf of the region, which will be incremental to the effort on behalf of the United Kingdom as a whole. I have therefore offered a grant in aid for 1984–85 of up to £463,000 under the second, more substantial, of the two options I set out in my letter of June 1982. The background to this was fully explained in my reply to the then hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North on 19 January 1983.—[Vol. 35, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the latest information on the comparative cost of base load electricity supplied by the Central Electricity Generating Board to the electricity boards according to whether the source of generation is coal, oil, water or nuclear power.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 November 1983, c. 14.]: The CEGB has carried out a comprehensive analysis on power station generation costs, including capital charges, and this information is contained in its "Analysis of Generation Costs", published February 1983, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House of Commons. This covers coal, oil and nuclear generation but does not deal with hydro generation, which is not used by the CEGB to generate base load electricity.

Infrastructure grants to Cornwall
Year	European regional development fund*†	European investment bank (loans)†	Transport supplementary‡	Derelict land clearance║	Coast protection	Sea defence¶	Land drainage¶
	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
1972–73	—	—	—	12	—	—	16
1973–74	—	—	—	11	—	—	7
1974–75	—	—	—	8	—	1	1
1975–76	28	—	205	15	—	—	22
1976–77	110	4,000	1,140	17	13	—	49
1977–78	137	2,500	1,216	25	—	2	54
1978–79	905	—	1,628	88	23	78	40
1979–80	731	—	3,178	2	—	93	4
1980–81	3,719	3,000	4,631	17	—	42	36
1981–82	1,024	3,000	5,438	28	137	1	97
1982–83	1,586	2,500	5,562	934	76	8	135
1983–84	n/a	n/a	5,750	458	n/a	n/a	n/a
* ERDF grant commitments have been awarded on a calendar year basis since 1975 and maybe subject to partial decommitment if works do not proceed as planned.
† ERDF grants and EIB loans often relate to jointly financed projects in Cornwall and Devon, in such cases half the award is estimated as falling to Cornwall.
‡ TSG is a block grant paid towards the county's overall annual transport expenditure since 1975–76, including infrastructure works.
ob/ The DOE derelict land clearance and coast protection grants presented are the initial awards.
¶ MAFF sea defence and land drainage grants cover small parts of Devon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has completed his review of the working of section 137 of the Local Government Act; and if he will make a statement.

We are examining the report, published last month by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, of a study of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972, carried out by Reading university. My right hon. Friend will consider in the light of this whether further action is necessary.

asked the Secretary o f State for the Environment when he expects to announce proposals

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of European Community and Her Majesty's Government grant aid and loans for infrastructure works in Cornwall in each year since 1972, distinguishing each different type of aid and loan.

The assistance given by the European Community and Her Majesty's Government towards the provision of economic infrastructure in Cornwall since 1972 is as follows, where this can be separately identified. Central Government finance Is also provided through the local authority rate support grant, which covers both revenue and capital financing costs. Additionally, many infrastructure agencies operate on a regional basis and finance capital works from earnings.resulting from his Department's consultation paper on the accommodation needs of long distance and regional travellers issued in February 1982.

Further discussions will be needed with those concerned and I hope it will be possible, as a result, to make some progress towards solving this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he intends to commission a report from the Building Research Establishment to cover those types of pre-cast reinforced concrete houses which have not already been investigated or are under investigation;

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction yesterday. — [Vol. 48, c. 422–31.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is satisfied with the extent to which privately rented accommodation is becoming available on shorthold tenancies; what steps he is taking to encourage this type of letting; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is his policy for increasing the supply of rented accommodation in the private sector in London and other large cities in order to meet the needs of the single homeless; and if he will make a statement.

Shorthold was one of a number of initiatives the Government took in the Housing Act 1980 to encourage private landlords to make more accommodation available—in the interests of all those looking for rented housing in large cities and elsewhere. It is too early to assess how shorthold has developed since its introduction, though the figure of over 5,000 shortholds achieved in the first year represent an important start. We are now considering what further steps might be taken to build on the initiatives in the 1980 Act to encourage more lettings throughout the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy for encouraging the establishment of hostels in London and other cities able to provide accommodation for single homeless persons; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are carrying out a major expansion in the provision of modern hostels. Since May 1979, the Housing Corporation has approved hostel and other shared housing schemes providing over 7,500 bedspaces using funds allocated by my Department. The Department also provides revenue support for housing associations to meet deficits incurred in hostel management.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue to the local authority associations consultation papers on housing subsidy for 1984–85.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and the Environment have issued consultation papers today. The first concerns the Government's proposals for calculating the increase which local authorities will be expected to find from local sources in arriving at their entitlement to housing subsidy for 1984–85. The second concerns the amount of management and maintenance expenditure to be treated as reckonable for housing subsidy purposes in 1984–85. Copies of the papers have been placed in the Vote Office and in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received a report from the Building Research Establishment on Smith's system houses; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 November 1983, c. 154]: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction yesterday.—[Vol. 48, c. 422–31.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the present arrangements for taking into account pension entitlements obtained prior to the National Insurance Act 1948; and if he will consider changes to benefit all those who paid contributions under the old Health and Pensions Act prior to 5 July 1983 and who, under the existing regulations, are unable to obtain benefit for such contributions.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to 5 July 1948 when the National Insurance Act was introduced. Contributions for old-age pensions under the former Contributory Pension Acts can count for retirement pension purposes only if insurance under those Acts continued up to 5 July 1948 when the National Insurance scheme was introduced. Insurance under those Acts was not necessarily continuous, and when a person ceased to be insurably employed his insurance continued for a prescribed period and then terminated. The application to individuals of the rules under which insurance was allowed to continue for a prescribed period are complex, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I shall be pleased to look into it for him. We have no plans to alter the basis on which contributions paid prior to 5 July 1948 are taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, when housing benefit is awarded to students, it takes into account unavoidable costs, such as cleaning costs, where these form an integral part of the rent.

Eligible rent for housing benefit purposes includes charges for any services for which the claimant has no option but to pay, and which the local authority considers are reasonably necessary for the proper enjoyment of the dwelling. A few charges are however specifically excluded from eligible rent. They are those for cleaning of windows, except windows of communal areas, sports facilities and laundering.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, when housing benefit is awarded to students, it takes into account the fixed kitchen charges, covering the costs of maintenance and fixtures but not food, where these form an integral part of the rent charged.

Regulation 16(2) of the Housing Benefit Regulations 1982 provides that eligible rent for housing benefit purposes shall exclude any amount which is charged for the provision of board.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations he is having with Action on Smoking and Health concerning the size of its grant for 1984.

None. We have agreed that Action on Smoking and Health should receive a grant of £118,000 in the current financial year. An application for funding in 1984–85 is not expected until next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations he is having with the Health Education Council concerning the size of its grant for 1984.

The Department is currently considering its financial allocation to the Health Education Council for 1984–85 and is maintaining its customary liaison with the council over the council's future work programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards the appointment of general practitioners as trainers for the vocational training scheme who are not members of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

This is a matter for the profession and not for Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in order to maintain improvements to general practice premises standards, he will take steps to safeguard the General Practice Finance Corporation;(2) when he expects to publish the results of the review of premises of general practitioners.

The activities of the corporation, which have remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1966, are currently being reviewed. Amongst other things we aim to ascertain whether the corporation is still needed or whether general medical practitioners are now able to obtain from other sources the finance they need to provide and improve practice premises to the necessary standards. Until the results of the review are available it will not be known whether it will be necessary to take steps to safeguard the corporation. There are no plans to publish the review which will take the form of advice to Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to allow company directors to pay monthly contributions at the highest rate throughout the fiscal year and a credit allowed at the end of the year if there is a surplus.

No. To do so would breach the fundamental principle of the national insurance scheme that contribution liability arises when earnings are paid. The new arrangements for assessing directors' contribution liability which we introduced in April this year have been generally welcomed by directors and their accountants, and we have no plans to change them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, at the last convenient date, was the number of emergency benefit cases outstanding at (a) the Department's Erdington, Birmingham, office and (b) all other offices of the Department in Birmingham; arid how long at the present clearance rate he estimates it will take to clear them.

All emergency payment records have now been linked with existing benefit documents and, where appropriate, arrears of benefits have been paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now announce the results of the review of the complementing system in the Department's offices in Erdington, other areas of Birmingham and elsewhere; what plans he has for consultation with trade unions concerned; and what time scale he envisages for implementing the review.

The review of the complementing system used in DHSS local offices is still continuing and is being conducted jointly with the trade unions. The first report, referred to in my reply to the hon. Member on 21 July—[Vol. 46, c. 210]—has been completed and has been widely disseminated within DHSS and explained and discussed in trades union circulars. The recommendations contained in these reports are now being pursued. The eventual report covering all the stages of the review will, of course, be sent to the trades unions and will be an open document. It is hoped to complete it by about the turn of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of fresh claims not actioned at (a) the Department's Erdington, Birmingham, office and (b) other offices of the Department in Birmingham on 31 October.

On 25 October, the latest convenient date, there were 948 such claims at the Erdington office and 4,047 at the other Birmingham offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of keeping old persons in (a) hospital, (b) public sector old folks' accommodation and (c) private sector old folks' accommodation.

In 1981–82 the average cost per day per in-patient for geriatric hospitals in England was £31; the costs of treating elderly patients in other hospitals are not identified separately from those of younger patients. The average cost of providing accommodation for residents supported by local authorities in public, private and voluntary homes was £12 a day, before allowing for charges paid by residents. We do not collect costing information relating to private homes; but we know that charges vary very widely depending upon location, services provided and other factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths in the last quarter of 1982 and the first quarter of 1983 mentioned (a) hypothermia, (b) bronchitis, (c) pneumonia, (d) influenza

Deaths from hypothermia and respiratory diseases, December and March quarters, 1978–1983
England and Wales
	Year and quarter
Cause	1978	1979		1980		1981		1982		1983
	December	March	December	March	December	March	December	March	December	March
Hypothermia (all mentions)	144	584	121	316	156	327	224	422	132	293
All respiratory diseases	19,326	30,654	19,696	26,175	21,029	27,405	21,273	29,997	20,591	30,627
Chronic Bronchitis	4,575	7,218	4,280	5,885	4,163	5,242	3,925	5,381	3,482	4,911
Pneumonia	12,133	19,053	12,685	16,478	13,611	17,656	13,742	19,195	13,098	19,417
Influenza	128	576	68	163	134	474	87	433	99	683
All other respiratory diseases*	2,490	3,807	2,663	3,649	3,121	4,033	3,519	4,988	3,912	5,616
* Includes acute bronchitis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether accounts are kept of the number of foreign visitors to the United Kingdom who receive treatment on the National Health Service, but who would not normally be entitled to such treatment.

Health authorities are legally required by regulations to take reasonable steps to identify whether overseas visitors are liable to charges for use of the NHS, and to charge those who are liable.

Nurse learners in England—whole-time equivalents
	30 September						30 June
	1960	1970	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
Students	51,800	46,300	51,900	51,100	53,200	54,800	53,900
Pupils	5,400	19,200	19,200	20,300	21,200	20,600	19,200
Total	57,200	65,500	71,100	71,400	74,400	75,300	73,100

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were in secure units in community homes and youth treatment centres on 30 April 1983, 31 May 1983 an on the most recent convenient date, respectively.

The information as regards the youth treatment centres is as follows:

	Numbers
30 April 1983	63
31 May 1983	57
31 Oct. 1983	61

Except for hypothermia, the information is not analysed by number of mentions for the diseases requested. In the following table the figures relating to respiratory diseases are based on underlying cause of death and include some of the deaths with mention of hypothermia. There is no definitive list of cold-related illnesses; there is increased risk with cold to people suffering a wide variety of conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many student nurses are currently training in the National Health Service; and what were the figures in 1960, 1970, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively.

The information requested is given in the following table. The latest available figures are those for 30 June 1983.Information is not yet collected routinely on numbers accommodated in secure units in community homes. Statistics will be collected as at 31 March 1984, and thereafter annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to amend the position of those in receipt of a small investment income or maintenance payment who, following the Housing Benefit Act 1982, are in real terms worse off than when their housing costs were met by his Department.

No. Housing benefit supplement ensures that claimants who would otherwise be worse off receive as much assistance with their housing costs as they did prior to the introduction of the housing benefit scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many employers have not yet received their copies of his Department's form CF391, giving the national insurance contribution tables for employers, effective from 1 August 1983; and whether he will make a statement.

I very much regret that, because of an error in distribution procedures, which has now been rectified for the future, employers in Scotland did not receive their copies of the NI contribution tables from the mailing contractor. As soon as we discovered this, we ensured that DHSS local offices in Scotland had enough tables for all employers, and we initiated a publicity campaign to encourage employers to collect tables from the local offices. Many employers obtained their tables in this way. We are taking further steps to ensure that the remaining employers obtain their copies of the tables as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many headquarters staff are employed in the two district health authorities in Northampton; and how this compares with the numbers employed in the two district health authorities and one area health authority prior to reorganisation.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many kidneys the National Health Service made available for transplants carried out in private clinics and hospitals in 1980. 1981 and 1982.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute an inquiry into the Brook advisory centre's practices concerning the prescribing of birth control pills to young girls; if, pending the outcome of such inquiry, he will withhold further grants to the centre; and if he will make a statement.

We are kept fully informed of the national policies of Brook advisory centres, and on the information available to us we do not consider that such an inquiry is needed. The work of the 16 local Brook advisory centres is undertaken almost entirely on behalf of health authorities. I expect the authorities concerned to ensure that the Department's guidelines on the provision of contraceptive advice to young peope are followed. These emphasise the importance of clinic staff seeking to involve parents when they are approached for contraceptive advice by children under 16. The question of a continued Departmental grant to Brook advisory centres will next arise when the present grant expires next April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total expenditure on the personal social services each year since 1970 at (a) current prices and (b) 1983 prices; and what were these totals as a percentage of gross national product each year.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses have been made redundant in each of the last 10 years.

Information on numbers of redundancies has not been held centrally since 31 March 1981, when the claiming of redundancy rebates from Department of Employment was devolved to health authorities. For the years 1975–76 to 1978–79 the numbers of doctors and nurses can be identified from the total numbers but, for the later years, only total numbers of redundancies are available. No information is available in respect of years earlier than 1975–76.The figures available are:

	Number of redundancies of
Year	Doctors	Nurses	all NHS staff
1975–76	Nil	16	122
1976–77	Nil	23	68
1977–78	Nil	68	247
1978–79	7	40	234
1979–80	N/A	N/A	340
1980–81	N/A	N/A	335

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to his answer of 4 November, Official Report, c. 488, he will now set out the regional manpower targets for March 1984 to which he referred in his speech of 27 October as having shown an increase of 7,000, Official Report, c. 457.

Regional health authorities put in suggested manpower targets for March 1984 which showed increases on the March 1983 figures as follows.The estimates were based on earlier revenue assumptions and would have been subject to extensive discussion in any case. The majority of the increases claimed would have been for those staff who are least directly involved in patient care. This would have followed the trend being followed during the first quarter of the year, before we gave our indicative manpower targets to authorities, when figures now show that the NHS was reducing the numbers of nurses and midwives employed and increasing the numbers of administrative and clerical staff. We have now agreed with the regions that the Government's targets will be achieved by concentrating on numbers of staff not directly involved in patient care.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what records his Department has kept, and now keeps, of the numbers of people who have been helped by the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.

Records are not kept specifically relating to services provided under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act. The annual publication "Domiciliary Services: Needs, Aids and Adaptations" in the Department's series of local authority personal social service statistics, contains information on the number of cases, by local authority, receiving certain services which may be provided under that Act or under other legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the total number of beds in (a) local authority, (b) voluntary and (c) private old people's homes each year since 1960, and the ratio per 100 of these totals to the number of persons of pensionable age in each of these years.

Information in the form requested has not been collected over the period in question, but the numbers of residents aged 65 and over in residential homes in England were as follows:This publication, which does not identify the statutory source of the service provision, is placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each year since 1953 the average length of stay in National Health Service hospitals of acute, geriatric and child patients.

I shall let my hon. Friend have the figures for England as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in money and percentage terms how much of the overall annual National Health Service expenditure is spent on (a) pay and related costs, (b) drugs, medicines, bandages, and so on, (c) medical equipment, (d) hospital building and maintenance, (e) administration and (f) general services and so on, catering, laundry and so on, in 1983 and for each year since and including 1979.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received the Health Service supply council's annual report for the year 1982–83; and if he will make a statement.

The Health Service supply council's annual report for 1982–83 has been received. It records steady and encouraging progress in improving the NHS supplies services. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament and I have approved publication of the report by the supply council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claim mobility allowance (a) in the city of Leicester and (b) in the United Kingdom; and what is the cost of such claims.

A total of 297,000 people in the United Kingdom are receiving mobility allowance at a cost of £290 million in the current financial year. Separate information is not available for the city of Leicester.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in (a) Leicester and (b) the United Kingdom have been refused mobility allowance in the last three years due to the fact that the qualifying medical conditions were not present before the claimant's 65th birthday; and what were the ages of such people.

The information for the United Kingdom is as follows:

	Number
November 1980 to October 1981	7,200
November 1981 to October 1982	7,800
November 1982 to October 1983	10,600

It is not possible to break down the figures according to age groups. Separate information for the city of Leicester is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the annual cost of increasing the cut-off age for eligibility for mobility allowance to 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 years.

The estimates below assume that the current upper age limit of 75 for payment of the allowance is retained.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate, under the present rules for eligibility for mobility allowance, the annual cost of abolishing the clause allowing payment until the age of 75 years and allowing the payment to continue indefinitely.

Extra benefit costs would not arise until 1989–90 when the oldest of the current beneficiaries reaches age 75. They will then build up to around £120 million a year by the end of the century, at November 1983 benefit rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average annual rise in the value of mobility allowance since December 1979 (a) in money terms and (b) in real terms.

Mobility allowance has gone up on average by 15·1 per cent. per annum between November 1979 and November 1982, in money terms. In real terms the average annual increase between November 1979 and November 1982 was 3·6 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the persons and organisations against whom writs have been issued in connection with the inadequacy of the cardiac block at Great Ormond street hospital for children.

The defendents in the action being sought by the board of governors of the hospital for sick children are as follows:McLAUGHLIN & HARVEY LIMITEDCUSDIN BURDEN & HOWITT (A FIRM)and the four partners in the firmR. T. JAMES & PARTNERS (A FIRM)and the 14 partners in the firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pints of blood were supplied to private hospitals in England and Wales in each year since 1978.

In 1982, the earliest year for which figures are available regional blood transfusion centres in England and Wales issued 31,437 units to non-NHS hospitals. Information is not available centrally on the number of units supplied to non-NHS hospitals through NHS hospital blood banks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there have been any shortages of blood supplies for National Health Service hospitals in any year since 1978; and if he will make a statement.

Detailed information is not available centrally but no widespread shortage has ever occurred during this period. Occasional local shortages of blood may occur, for example when an unusual blood group is required or at peak holiday times.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the highest handling charge per pint of blood levied by a private hospital known to his Department.

The Department does not collect information on charges levied by private hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is considering establishing regional health authority information officers; and what analysis of the cost involved he has made.

The establishment of regional health authority information services is a matter for those authorities. Each authority already has such a service headed by a public relations officer. The estimated salary cost of these officers and their direct support staff is £0·4 million per annum in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average income from social security benefit, including board and lodging and any other allowances, that can be claimed by the single homeless in London; and if he is satisfied that these benefits are being used for the purpose for which they are intended.

Information on the average income from social security benefits that can be claimed by the single homeless in London, is not readily available. I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what contribution Her Majesty's Government are making to the international conference on population in Mexico City in August 1984;(2) whether he will ask the Secretary General of the United Nations to use the influence of that organisation to seek a positive outcome to the international conference on population in Mexico City in August 1984.

I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for further implementation of the Children Act 1975 and the Child Care Act 1980.

In January 1984, we intend to implement the new provisions for appeals against termination of access to children in care—sections 12A-G of the Child Care Act 1980 as amended by the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983—with the exception of 12F(3) and 12F(4) which provide for guardians ad litem.On 1 April 1984, we intend to bring into effect regulations providing for the establishment of panels of guardians ad litem, together with section 12F(3) and 12F(4) of the 1980 Act and the remaining unimplemented provisions of section 64 of the Children Act 1975, under which parents will be able to get legal aid in care proceedings in all cases where a court considers that they should be separately represented. Section 7 of the Child Care Act 1980 will also be brought into enable courts to make the child a party to the proceedings and appoint a guardian ad litem in parental rights proceedings.At the same time, we intend to implement the provisions which will enable the courts to declare a child free for adoption and a number of smaller improvements to adoption procedures. This will complete the implementation of the Children Act's adoption provision with the exception of section 1 and 2 which provide for a statutory adoption service.By the end of 1984, as my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Health announced to the House yesterday, we intend, with the agreement of my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, to implement the custodianship provisions contained in sections 33·46 of the 1975 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many national industrial inquiries have been directed to (a) his Department and (b) the Northern Ireland Development Agency during the last month for which statistics are available.

Since September 1982 the Northern Ireland Industrial Development Board has been responsible for processing all inquiries about possible investment in Northern Ireland. The IDB received 17 firm inquiries from companies outside Northern Ireland in September 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which political parties are now participating in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The parties taking part in the Northern Ireland Assembly are the Ulster Unionist party, the Democratic Unionist party, the Alliance party, and the Ulster Popular Unionist party.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the convicted terrorists who escaped from the Maze prison have been recaptured; and whether any improvements in security arrangements have already been taken in advance of the inquiry report.

In my statement on 24 October I advised the House that 19 of the escapers had been recaptured within a few days of the escape but that 19 were still at large. This remains the case, but I can assure my hon. Friend that every effort will continue to be made to trace these men.As I also indicated on 24 October, progress has been made in improving security arrangements at Maze prison and at other prisons in Northern Ireland since the escape, and we shall continue to make such changes as appear appropriate in advance of Sir James Hennessy's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list for each year since 1978–79 to the latest date available and for each polytechnic (a) the number of students (full-time equivalents), (b) the cost per student, (c) the number of students as a percentage of applications, (d) the number of teaching staff,(e) the number of non-teaching staff and (f) the proportion of students enrolled in advanced further education courses.

Not all the information requested is available to the Department. That which is will take some time to collate and I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the amount spent by each education authority in the current financial year and past financial year on computer purchase and specific computer science education in secondary schools.

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the gross receipts from sales of all products and the gross operational costs of Prindus, respectively, for the years ending 31 March 1980, 31 March 1981, 31 March 1982 and 31 March 1983.

This information is contained in the reports on the work of the Prison Department for 1981-Cmnd. 8543—and 1982—Cmnd. 9057. Information for the year ending 31 March 1983 will be published in due course in the report for 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of staff employed by Prindus for the years ending 31 March 1980, 31 March 1981, 31 March 1982 and 31 March 1983; and whether he has any proposals to reduce these staffing levels.

The available information is as follows:

	31st March
	1980	1981	1982	1983
Headquarters staff-complement	170	192	190	190
Instructional staff in post at establishment	1,470	1,510	1,485	1,468
Other authorised posts at establishment	*	*	101	101
* Not available.

Staff levels are kept under close review, but there are no present plans for any general reduction in those of the Directorate of Industries and Farms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct urgent discussions with the management and trade unions of all industries affected by the manufacture or production in Her Majesty's prisons of any articles with a view to terminating all contracts at the first available date which relate to articles in respect of which there is proven spare productive capacity in those private or public sector industries affected.

The joint Home Office—Confederation of British Industry—Trades Union Congress consultative committee on Prison Industries already meets regularly and co-ordinates the views and interests of both sides of industry on the production of goods and services by Prison Industries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review all current contracts entered into by Prindus for the production and sale of any articles by Her Majesty's prisons and ensure that Prindus is not competing unfairly with private sector suppliers.

Prison Industries' goods and services are offered at prevailing market prices in order to ensure that its competition in the markets is fair. Individual prices are reviewed periodically in order to ensure strict adherence to this policy which is itself at present under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by type, size and price the quantities of step ladders and extending ladders manufactured and supplied from Her Majesty's prisons under a contract entered into by Prindus on 1 October 1981 for the years ending 30 September 1982 and 30 September 1983, respectively.

One type of extension ladder in five sizes and one type of loft ladder in one size are manufactured under the contract referred to. This contract does not include step ladders. Information on prices and quantities is commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much the levels of production of step ladders and extending ladders in Her Majesty's prisons are to be reduced during the current financial year.

Levels of production of extending ladders during the current financial year will not exceed the minimum stipulated in the relevant contract. Production of step ladders, which is under a separate contract, will also be at the minimum contract level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the current contract with Prindus for the manufacture, production and supply of step ladders and extending ladders by inmates of Her Majesty's prisons is not renewed after 30 September 1984 when the existing three-year agreement expires.

The current contract for the manufacture of extending ladders—that is, extension and loft ladders—with which I understand my hon. Friend is concerned, is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will invite the British Ladder Manufacturers Association to meet him urgently to discuss current levels of ladder manufacture and production in Her Majesty's prisons.

The views of the BLMA are already known to us but, if my hon. Friend has any further representations to make, my right hon. and learned Friend would be glad to receive them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take against the Greater London council following its decision to house an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh, Afia Begum; and if he will make a statement.

None. It appears from the Press reports that the Leader of the GLC said that council accommodation would be offered if Afia Begum was granted leave to remain. No such leave has been granted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the case of Afia Begum, an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh.

In January 1982 Mrs. Afia Begum Hamid obtained entry clearance to join her husband in this country but later the same month her husband died in a fire. His body was returned to Bangladesh for burial and when Mrs. Afia Begum and her daughter arrived here in June 1982, leave to enter was refused because she no longer qualified to enter as a wife. She lodged an appeal and was granted temporary admission. Her appeal was dismissed by an independent adjudicator on 6 July 1982. After representations from a number of Members had been considered, arrangements were made for her to leave the country in July this year. She broke the terms of her temporary admission by failing to present herself at the airport and she is now here unlawfully. Efforts to trace her are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons from Chile have been granted political asylum or refugee status since 1 January 1982.

£000's
	Police			Fire
Metropolitan County	Employees costs*	Gross expenditure	Percentage	Employees costs†	Gross expenditure	Percentage
Greater Manchester	103,373	124,547	83·0	23,405	28,724	81·5
Merseyside	68,714	86,646	79·3	17,587	20,585	85·4
Tyne and Wear‡	48,955	58,963	83·0	11,983	13,673	87·6
South Yorkshire	40,706	49,373	82·4	11,367	13,519	84·1
West Midlands	94,694	114,207	82·9	21,922	26,262	83·5
West Yorkshire	73,607	85,472	86·1	19,357	22,596	85·7

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the establishment and the pay of the police service and the fire service are determined by the local authority which employs them.

The police establishment of the Metropolitan police is fixed by the Home Secretary. For other forces, the police authority is responsible for fixing the police establishment, subject to the approval of the Home Secretary. Police pay is determined in police regulations, following recommendations to the Home Secretary from the police negotiating board, which

Seven up to 30 June 1983, the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken or contemplated for a national campaign of information about voluntary service in civil defence.

The role of volunteers in civil defence is crucial. That is why the new civil defence regulations impose further responsibilities on local authorities in the recruitment, training and exercising of volunteers. We shall keep under review my hon. Friend's suggestion of a national information campaign. There are already about 35,000 volunteers in different categories of civil defence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to introduce suspended youth custody orders, in the light of the decision of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in R. v. Dobbs and R. v. Hitchings.

My right hon. and learned Friend will give careful consideration to the remarks which the Lord Chief Justice made in his judgment in these two cases, but we do not foresee an opportunity for early legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the costs of (a) police and (b) fire services are staff costs for each of the metropolitan counties.

The information for the financial year 1981–82 is as follows:consists of an official side, composed of representatives of the local authority associations and the Home Departments, and a staff side, composed of representatives of the three police staff associations.The Home Secretary controls the number of civilian staff employed by the Metropolitan police and their pay. In other forces, the police authority or the county council employs the civilian staff and controls their number. Their pay is, by agreement, negotiated in the appropriate joint negotiating bodies, between representatives of the local authorities and relevant trades unions. Central government are not represented on these bodies and play no part in the negotiations.A fire authority's establishment is determined by the local authority, and there is no general requirement that the Home Secretary should approve it. Any reduction in the number of operational firemen or appliances, and the closure of fire stations, requires the Home Secretary's consent. Fire service pay is a matter for negotiation between representatives of fire authorities and their employees, in the national joint council for local authorities' fire brigades. The Home Secretary is not represented on it and its decisions are not subject to his approval.The pay of civilian support staff in the fire service is determined in the same way as that of civilian staff in police forces outside the Metropolitan police.

asked the Prime Minister in what ways Ministers are now involved in the management of their Departments; and what changes have been made since 1979 to this end which involve changes in the relationships between Ministers and the Civil Service.

Ministers have overall responsibility for the management of their Departments. In practice they may delegate day-to-day management matters as they consider appropriate to their permanent secretaries. There has been no change in the relationship between Ministers and their civil servants. We are, however, making significant improvements in the quality of management. In particular the new systems of financial management which are described in the White Paper, Cmnd. 9058, "Financial Management in Government Departments" will enable managers at all levels to have a clearer view of objectives and a better means of assessing performance.

asked the Prime Minister what has been the total of Government support for the tourist industry directly and indirectly over each of the past five years; and whether anything stands in the way of privatising this expenditure.

Direct support, through the five statutory tourist boards and the Highlands and Islands development board was as follows:

	£ million
1978–79	29·7
1979–80	39·4
1980–81	44·9
1981–82	50·4
1982–83	56·7

Figures are not available for the level of indirect support which takes many forms.The bulk of expenditure on promoting and developing the United Kingdom as a tourist destination is already incurred by the private sector, but the Government believe that there is a continuing need to co-ordinate this effort through the tourist boards and to encourage the improvement of facilities and attractions on offer.