asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he intends to propose the raising of National Insurance contributions to finance the rising costs of the National Health Service;

(2) if he proposes to recommend the introduction of charges for persons visiting their National Health Service doctor for consultation.

Alternative sources of revenue for the health service are constantly under consideration subject always to the constraint that no change should prevent patients obtaining the treatment they need.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for privacy when the public visit his district offices; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the arrangements are generally acceptable. bearing in mind the need to deal speedily and efficiently with over half-a-million callers at local offices each week. But we are always seeking to make improvements wherever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to improve the care given to mentally defective children who are admitted to hospitals or other institutions of the National Health Service.

The programme of improvements started by the previous Administration is being accelerated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the increase in the number of retirement pensioners claiming supplementary benefit between 31st October, 1970 and 30th November, 1970; and how this figure compares with his Department's estimate of the increase in the number of pensioners eligible for supplementary benefit as a result of the increases in supplementary benefit levels on 2nd November. 1970.

The number of retirement pensioners receiving supplementary benefit during November, 1970 increased by about 30,000. This is broadly what was expected in the light of previous increases in supplementary benefit levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of retired people at present drawing State pension is also in receipt of supplementary benefits.

In December, 1970 the proportion was 27.7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will raise the level of disregards as they affect recipients of supplementary benefits before their real value falls below the level of pre-November, 1966 when they were last increased.

Disregards play an important part in the supplementary benefits scheme and we intend to increase them at the appropriate time. I cannot say at present when this will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if Her Majesty's Government will issue a 12-monthly report to Parliament of the numbers of different categories of families and individuals entitled to various State and local authority benefits and the number actually benefiting.

We will certainly do all we can to add to the information already available, but estimating entitlement is for many of the benefits very difficult because of the many factors involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit all forms of advertising and sales promotion of cigarettes.

This is one of a number of recommendations in the recent report of the Royal College of Physicians which the Government are studying.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the latest evidence by the Royal College of Physicians of the risk to health by smoking, what further restrictions he is considering on tobacco advertising.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to the Question by the hon. Member for Halifax (Dr. Summerskill).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he has made of the experiment in the almost total ban on amphetamines by doctors at Ipswich; and what conclusions he has drawn.

A medical officer of my Department has visited Ipswich and reported on the arrangements which have been made there. We welcome the voluntary ban on amphetamines and the fact that similar measures are being taken or planned in other areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he has made with the medical profession to restrict the issue of prescriptions for the amphetamine group of drugs of dependence.

Supplies of injectable methylamphetamine have been restricted to hospitals since October, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has recently given to the medical profession on the prescription of amphetamine pills.

It is not for my right hon. Friend to issue such advice, but the indications for the use of amphetamines and their dangers have been well documented and have been referred to in a letter from the Chief Medical Officer to all doctors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will name the conditions for which amphetamines are medically irreplaceable.

It is not for my right hon. Friend to give a ruling on clinical matters; but authoritative opinion holds that the number of conditions for which only the amphetamine group of drugs gives effective relief is very small; the main ones being narcolepsy and certain cases of epilepsy under heavy dosage of anti-convulsants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations with the British Medical Association he has had to discuss alternatives to amphetamines, to be recommended for cases of chronic depression.

This is a clinical matter in which it would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene; but the Association shares the Government's concern about amphetamines and has taken steps to discourage their misuse.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will discuss with the British Medical Association the imposition of restrictions on the amount of amphetamine which can be prescribed by an individual doctor.

We have this possibility in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any readily available figures of the number of babies, mentally or physically handicapped, born of mothers who have taken L.S.D. drugs within a year before the start of or during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No". As regards the second part I have nothing to add to the observations in the report submitted last March by the Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he proposes to have with the pharmaceutical industry to encourage the manufacture of a safety top for medicine containers to prevent the possibility of accidental poisoning to young children.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 2nd November, 1970.—[Vol. 805, c. 274. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to make a further statement on vehicles for the disabled.

My right hon. Friend's inquiries are not yet complete but are proceeding as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to introduce ambulance helicopters for use on motorways.

No. Helicopters are unlikely to convey a casualty to hospital as soon as ordinary ambulance transport because of the time needed to bring a helicopter from its base and to make the special arrangements required for its take-off and landing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the current salaries of medical laboratory technicians working in hospitals, and on how they compare with salaries for civil servants of similar grade and with technicians in industry.

Salaries since April, 1970, have been £1,129–£1,443 for the basic qualified grade and £2,294–£2,753 for the highest grade. I understand that they are broadly comparable with salaries in the Scientific Civil Service and industry although some adjustments are under discussion in the Whitley Council following a recent job comparison with corresponding grades in Government establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the discontent of medical laboratory technicians working in hospitals regarding their salary structure; if he is aware of the discrepancy between their salaries and those paid to civil servants and technicians in industry doing a similar job; and if he will take steps to improve the position.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement concerning the steps he has taken, is taking, and intends to take to reduce the number of families made homeless.

I am setting up a working party to consider any steps to be taken with regard to the problems of homelessness in London.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of those local authority children's departments which, within the past 12 months, have taken children into care because the local authorities in question have lacked adequate accommodation for emergency caring and rehabilitation of homeless families.

The available information is that local authorities in England recorded reception of 2,532 children into care in the year ending 31st March, 1970 on the ground that their families were homeless. But homelessness may have been a factor in other cases; and the figures for particular local authorities do not indicate directly the adequacy of the temporary accommodation for homeless families available to them since the decision to take children into care may in particular cases have been influenced by factors such as the illness of a parent in temporary accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve the position in Birmingham for children needing ear, nose and throat care in hospital.

I understand that progress has already been made in reducing the ear, nose and throat waiting list and that the Regional Hospital Board are considering plans to make further ear, nose and throat beds available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to offset increased transport costs for dependent relatives of hospital patients in calculating supplementary benefits.

The cost of visiting a close relative in hospital is one of the items taken into account when supplementary benefit is being calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what investigations are being undertaken by his Department into the claims of some cigarette manufacturers to have produced a safe, non-cancer-inducing cigarette; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not aware that any cigarette manufacturer has made such a claim, though I am aware that work is in progress on the production of what is hoped will prove to be less dangerous smoking materials.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the present general level of nutrition obtained by the average child; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. There is nothing I can add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and learned Member for Warrington (Mr. W. T. Williams) on 1st December, 1970.—[Vol. 807, c. 324. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether an unmarried, separated, divorced or widowed woman who has one or more children and is entitled to a family income supplement will be liable to lose such entitlement if she cohabits with a man.

No. Entitlement will continue for the period of the award.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give a complete list of the circumstances in accordance with which the family income supplement will not be payable at the same rate for 26 weeks.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the publication shortly of the relevant regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of recent price increases, what representations he has received in favour of raising the retirement pension by £5 per week.

Very few.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will extend the principle of selective assistance for those with the greatest need by introducing additional retirement pensions for those over the age of 75 years or any higher age group before the normal two-year review date for all retirement pensions has been reached, in view of recent price increases which primarily affect the elderly.

No. We have already announced that we shall be making provision in this year's review for these non-pensioners over 80, now and in the future, who were not covered by the National Insurance Act, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will hold a national spot survey of elderly people living alone in order to establish nutritional standards prior to deciding upon the amount of the pension increase required to prevent malnutrition claiming the lives of many old people.

Elderly people living alone were included in the survey referred to in my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 24th November, 1970.—[Vol. 807, c. 70. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what simple overnight accommodation was provided by local authorities in the Greater London area for casuals in the years 1960 and 1970, respectively; what policy changes in provision of this accommodation there have been in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

In 1960 homeless single men in London County Council Reception Centres at Camberwell and Woolwich averaged about 360 and a Centre in Southwark accommodated about 10 women a night. The Woolwich Centre closed in 1961. By 1970 Camberwell and Southwark, directly administered by the Supplementary Benefits Commission, housed on average about 530 men and 60 women a night. Both Centres increasingly emphasise the need to identify individual problems and handicaps and, where practicable, to help resolve them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the reasons put to his Department by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board for concentrating new hospital building in Bradford on the Royal Infirmary and Lynfield Mount sites.

The Regional Hospital Board's main reasons are that a single district general hospital would optimise the use of skilled staff and expensive equipment; and that the Bradford Royal Infirmary and Lynfield Mount sites are well situated with buildings in good condition and could be more easily, quickly and cheaply developed than the alternative site at St. Luke's Hospital and Horton Green.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he proposes to stimulate the recruitment and training of junior hospital staff, particularly in casualty departments, to meet deficiencies in the Bradford and Halifax areas evidenced in the recent report of the Leeds Regional Hospital Board.

I understand from the Leeds Regional Hospital Board that at Halifax recruitment has considerably improved as a result of linking casualty posts on a rotational basis with posts in associated specialties and that the Board are seeking to improve the position at Bradford by this and other methods.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost to public funds of supplementary benefits paid to the families of persons involved in the recent Scottish bakery strike, plus administrative arrangements necessitated thereby.

Supplementary benefit payments during the dispute totalled £14,200. Payments to the former strikers on return to work added another £1,900 to this. The administrative cost of paying this sum out is estimated to be about £1,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost to public funds of supplementary benefit payments to strikers and their families during 1970; and what was the percentage increase or decrease which this figure represented over the corresponding figures for 1969 and 1964, respectively.

During 1970 supplementary benefit payments to strikers' families during disputes approached £1.5 million, about twice as much as in 1969 and almost 30 times as much as in 1964. During 1970 rather more than £1 million should be added for payments to former strikers and their families on return to work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received a reply from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council as to whether brucellosis is satisfactorily covered by Section 56(2) of the Industrial Injuries Act.

No. The Council have not yet reported on the questions referred to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the number of people on the in-patient waiting lists per 1,000 of the population in all hospitals in England and Wales, in all hospitals of the Plymouth and District Hospital Management Committee, and in all hospitals of the West Cornwall Hospital Management Committee, respectively.

11.5, 17.4 and 13.4 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in line with the Government's incomes policy of agreeing to wage increases in the region of 10 per cent. annually, he will advise the increasing of nurses' salaries by that minimum percentage.

A claim covering salaries, allowances and working hours is currently under negotiation in the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council and it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to introduce legislation to make the transferability or maintenance of occupational pension rights compulsory for people changing their employment.

I cannot yet say when our legislation on the preservation of occupational pension rights will be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were in receipt of supplementary allowances on 18th June, 1970, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Newburn Urban District, respectively; and how many were in receipt at the latest available date.

I regret that the information is not available in this form. On 16th June, 1970, just under 33,400 persons were receiving supplementary benefits (including both pensions and allowances) in the areas covered by the Department's offices serving the county borough of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the urban district of Newburn. On 15th December, 1970, the number was just over 34,100.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will reconsider his proposal to increase dental charges to patients, having regard to the opposition of the British Dental Association.

No, the new system of charges should help towards an improved general standard of dental health.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many babies died of cot deaths in the United Kingdom in the years 1967, 1968 and 1969, respectively; and whether there has been any inquiry into the cause of these sudden cot deaths.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devon-port (Dame Joan Vickers) on 25th January.—[Vol. 809, c. 50. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review all aspects of home safety propaganda with a view to increasing the grant to local authorities for such purposes.

There is no specific grant to local authorities towards their expenditure on home safety propaganda, but the estimated expenditure is taken into account in arriving at rate support grant, already determined up to 1972–73.

I am anxious to see a reduction of accidents in the home and will continue to encourage efforts towards this end in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, the Health Education Council, local authorities and voluntary bodies working in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to extend the categories of women for whom gamma globulin to prevent rhesus immunisation is available.

The possibility of an extension is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the amount paid during 1970 in social security and health service benefits to persons earning in excess of £2,000 per annum; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will undertake a survey on the number of people earning in excess of £2,000 per annum who are receiving social security and health service benefits; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested about payments is not available and a special survey would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what efforts are being made to negotiate agreed reciprocal arrangements for the free provision of medical and hospital care for tourists with those countries with which such agreements have not yet been made.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Members for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes) and Bothwell (Mr. James Hamilton) on 10th November last. It is difficult to extend this network of reciprocal agreements as widely as the Government would wish because so many European governments base their medical services on the principle of insurance and are unwilling to provide them to non-contributors.—[Vol. 806, c. 78–9 ]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the annual cost to the National Health Service of treating patients suffering from respiratory or heart complaints where cigarette smoking is considered to be a contributory cause.

Information for an estimate is not readily available but I am considering how this and other relevant factors can best be assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take over the misuse of Health Service facilities for private patients by National Health Service consultants.

If the hon. Member will provide me with evidence of alleged misuse I will investigate it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the working party on the role of medical administrators in the health services and the training career structures for public health officers is expected to report.

I cannot yet forecast the date of the final report, but I have received an interim report, which I am studying.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of elderly persons waiting to enter hospital in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area; how many are from the Mexborough and district area; and if he will make a statement on the Government's policies to provided more geriatric beds.

The numbers of elderly persons on waiting lists are not separately identified. On 30th September, 1970, 841 persons were waiting for admission to geriatric and chronic sick beds in hospitals in the Region, including four from the Mexborough area. Hospital authorities have been asked to give high priority to the improvement of geriatric services, but Boards have also to consider competing demands on their resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans exist to provide further facilities for private patients in pay beds at the North Staffordshire hospitals.

The Birmingham Regional Hospital Board has no plans to increase the number of pay beds at these hospitals but it is proposed to use trust funds to modernise the existing facilities for private patients at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is yet able to appoint a hospital ombudsman.

I am still considering proposals for an ombudsman for the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider increasing the limit of earnings allowed to an unemployable war pensioner, which has remained at £104 for the past 10 years.

We have at present no plans for raising this earnings limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the dissatisfaction in mining communities regarding the decisions of pneumoconiosis medical panels, he will seek to reform their procedures.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the current salary scales for cardiological technicians.

Since 1st July, 1969 salaries have beenCardiological Technician—£650–910. Senior Cardiological Technician—£950–1,150. Chief Cardiological Technician—£1,150–1,360.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to enable salary negotiations for cardiological technicians to be resumed.

This is a matter for the Whitley Council. I understand that the two sides are trying to find a basis for resuming discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take steps to check multiple registration by drug addicts with different general practitioners in different National Health Service Executive Committee areas; and if he will take steps to require addicts to present a registration card on which prescriptions for certain classified drugs are entered so that doctors are aware of the quantities issued to any patient over any period;

(2) what is the time-lag between registration with a general practitioner, notification to the National Health Service Executive Committee, and that committee's ability to establish that a patient is registered, and has not cancelled such registration, with one or more other general practitioners.

The existing procedures are designed to prevent multiple registrations. The time taken to cancel a registration where necessary largely depends on the speed with which doctors notify Executive Councils of new registrations and the accuracy of the particulars enabling patients to be identified in the records.

I would not expect serious difficulties to arise in relation to notified addicts. The number of drugs upon which people may become dependent is such that any requirement that patients should produce a record of prescriptions would have to be of general application, and I am not satisfied that this is necessary or practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will consider making anti-influenza vaccine readily available free of charge to the whole community; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what consideration he has given to making anti-influenza vaccine readily available free of charge to elderly people;

(3) what consideration he has given to the saving of working days lost through influenza from making the anti-influenza vaccine readily available free of charge; and if he will make a statement.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advise my right hon. Friend that the spread of influenza is unlikely to be prevented by the routine use of influenza vaccine. The most that can be expected of vaccines currently available is short-lived protection for between 40 to 60 per cent. of individuals vaccinated. To give vaccine annually to the whole community would be an operation of enormous scale and of doubtful benefit.

Doctors have been advised that the committee's view is that vaccination may be indicated for the protection of persons suffering from certain chronic diseases in whom influenza might aggravate their disability; these are likely to include some elderly. It has also been suggested that there might be advantage in offering vaccination to inter alia, elderly persons in residential establishments. There would be no charge to the patients for such vaccinations.

I am doubtful whether an estimate can be made of the likelihood and extent that vaccination would reduce loss of working days through influenza but am considering the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the letter he sent to Ely Hospital, Cardiff, consequent upon his reference to that hospital in a public speech.

Yes. I wil circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the information:

I wrote to the Chairman of the Friends of Ely Hospital and to the Branch Secretary of the Confederation of Health Service Employees as follows:

"You wrote to me on 8th November (5th November) about my reference to Ely Hospital when I spoke to the Association of Hospital Matrons.

"I am sure that all concerned with hospitals for the mentally handicapped will agree with what I said about the staff-patient relationship and the need for effective protection for the patient. These principles are fundamental. I do, however, appreciate that the management and staff at Ely are trying to build up morale after a period of adverse publicity and I accept that it would have been better not to have mentioned the hospital in my speech".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the representations that have been made to him from all sources in which his attention is drawn to the position of retired pensioners and other recipients of social security benefits, and the reply he has given to such representations;

(2) what recent representations he has received from the Trades Union Council and other bodies regarding the position of retired pensioners and other recipients of social security benefits; and what reply he has sent.

Many bodies have expressed concern at the effect of rising prices on retirement pensioners and others dependent on social security benefits. A list of such representations cannot be readily compiled. Replies have stressed that the poorest received an increase of supplementary benefit last November, and that a review of benefits is forthcoming.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how large a sample the special survey was based that was drawn from the Family Expenditure Survey of 1968; and when this special survey is now due to be published.

Just over 2,000 two-parent families where the father was in full-time work are in the sample. I expect to receive an appraisal of the experimental study on 1968 and 1969 data about the end of March and shall then consider publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a White Paper on the problems of, and provisions made for, the mentally handicapped; when any such document is likely to be published; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply I gave on 1st December to the hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. Faulds).—[Vol. 807, c. 327. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he will make a statement on the Government's proposals for a new pension scheme;

(2) what conditions private occupational pension schemes will be required to satisfy in order to be accepted by his Department for purposes of contracting out of National Insurance contributions.

Our proposals will be announced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to strengthen the medical and psychiatric social work staff at the three special hospitals.

Complements are reviewed regularly. The Social Work Departments at Broadmoor and Rampton have been enlarged during the last year and now include three qualified social workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has received for an after- care service for long-stay patients discharged from mental hospitals, and for long-stay patients discharged from special hospitals; and what reply he has sent.

I have received suggestions from a former patient at one of the special hospitals that a national after-care service should be provided for patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals, including the special hospitals.

I am studying the availability and adequacy of the existing after-care services and their need for development.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will publish his proposals for the reorganisation of the National Health Service.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 14th January, 1971.—[Vol. 809, c. 104. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what extension of services he is considering for private patients within the National Health Service;

(2) what proposals have been made to him involving the imposition of charges for stay in hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to introduce charges for hospital beds and services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to recommend the introduction of charges for National Health Service patients in hospital.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins) today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to make a statement on the working of the Abortion Act, 1967.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today, to the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Kenneth Lewis) and my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of known fraudulent claims made for social security benefits in the Edinburgh area during the last three years; and how many prosecutions arose from the said claims.

Separate statistics are not kept for the Edinburgh area, and the information is not available in the form asked for. The estimated number of claims for social security benefits in Scotland which appeared to the Department to have been made with fraudulent intent in each of the last three years, and the number of prosecutions arising from them were as under: 1968 1969 1970 (provisional) Claims … 4,700 5,100 5,400 Prosecutions … 602 785 665

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of geriatric beds in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area for the years 1960, 1964, 1966, 1968 and 1970, respectively; and how these figures compare with the rest of the country per 1,000 of the population.

Following are the figures at 31st December: Sheffield Regional Hospital Board Area England Year Staffed beds allocated Beds per 1,000 elderly population Beds per 1,000 elderly population 1960 … 5,233 10.5 10.9 1964 … 5,338 10.5 10.3 1966 … 5,249 9.8 10.0 1968 … 5,261 9.8 9.8 1969 … 5,516 10.1 9.8

National figures for 1970 are not yet available: in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area at 30th September, 1970, there were 5,640 beds (10.3 per 1,000 elderly population).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation or otherwise encourage tour operators and travel agents to include in their advertising brochures advice on precautions to prevent contracting poliomyelitis in certain countries where they advertise holidays; and if he will make a statement.

It is the policy of my Department to encourage tour operators and travel agents to ensure that advice is given to intending travellers about precautions against all diseases likely to be encountered by them, but I do not consider that legislation would be appropriate. I am glad to note that there has been a considerable increase in the demand by travel agents for "Notice to Travellers—Health Protection".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how effective is the vaccine against poliomyelitis; what is its effect; how it is administered; what is the cost of administering it; and if he will make a statement.

The effectiveness of poliomyelitis vaccine can be judged by the decline in the disease in this country since its introduction into general use in 1956. In that year a total of 3,096 cases of poliomyelitis were notified in England. Subsequently the numbers declined sharply and annual notifications for the years 1968, 1969 and 1970 were 24, 10 and six respectively.

Initially poliomyelitis vaccine was available for administration only by injection, but in 1962 vaccine for oral administration became available, and has now largely supplanted injected vaccine.

The cost of the vaccine used in 1970 was £128,378; information about the cost of administering it is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to advertise widely the dangers of contracting poliomyelitis and other crippling diseases whilst on holiday overseas; if he will urge general practitioners and other responsible bodies to advocate protection against these diseases; and if he will make a statement.

In the leaflet "Notice to Travellers—Health Protection", a new edition of which was issued recently and has been widely circulated, vaccination against poliomyelitis is advised for travellers of any age going anywhere other than to Europe, Canada and the United States of America. Similar advice is given in "Essential Information" issued by the Passport Office, and also in the memorandum "Communicable Diseases Contracted Outside Great Britain" which has been sent to all family doctors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of poliomyelitis were contracted by residents of this country last year; in what country the infection was contracted; what was the age distribution and sex of those so afflicted; and if he will make a statement.

There were five notifications of poliomyelitis during 1970 for persons resident in England. Two were thought to have contracted infection in England, one in Greece or Turkey, one in Morocco or the Sahara and one in Nigeria or the Sahara. There were four males, aged 15, 27, 38 and 43 years, and one female aged 26 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will undertake an inquiry into the financial and other circumstances of retirement pensioners similar in scope to that undertaken in May and June, 1965, by the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance.

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF PREPAYMENT CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY EXECUTIVE COUNCILS IN ENGLAND ARE 6 monthly certificates 12 monthly certificates Period First issues Renewals First issues Renewals Quarter ended 31st December, 1968 … 20,300 — 21,100 — Quarter ended 31st March, 1969 … 7,400 — 6,500 — Quarter ended 30th June, 1969 … 4,300 11,700 3,200 2,100 Quarter ended 30th September, 1969 … 3,200 4,900 2,100 1,100 Quarter ended 31st December, 1969 … 5,300 12,300 4,900 16,300 Quarter ended 31st March, 1970 … 1,900 4,500 1,500 5,100 Quarter ended 30th June, 1970 … 2,800 10,600 2,100 4,700

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that during the period in which a single woman stays at home to care for an elderly parent she is credited with full National Insurance contributions and

I am considering whether an inquiry is needed, and, if so, what form it should take.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he is seeking from the World Health Organisation's Expert Advisory Panel on Drug Dependence, on the prevention of drug-taking among school pupils.

My Department's consultant adviser on drug addiction, Dr. P. H. Connell, is a member of this Panel and was a member of the World Health Organisation Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, whose Eighteenth Report, made in 1970, includes some advice on the prevention of drug dependence in school-children. The World Health Organisation intend to explore this matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many season tickets for exemption from prescription charges have been issued for each quarter year since they were introduced; for how long a period they applied; how many were reclaimed for subsequent periods; and what was the breakdown of claims by age, sex and class.

Information is not available for an analysis by age, sex and class of the holder, but the certificates are not needed by children up to 15, persons aged 65 and over and those with low incomes, who are already exempt.

is thereby able to claim pension at the standard rate when she retires or reaches the age of 65 years.

No. The general basis for the award of credits is that a person is experiencing a contingency against which he is insured under the National Insurance scheme. But where a supplementary allowance is awarded to a woman who has left employment to care for an elderly or sick parent the Supplementary Benefits Commission take into account the cost of a non-employed person's National Insurance contribution when determining the amount payable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that, during the past two-and-a-half years, the salaries of the higher-paid civil servants, judges and chairmen of the nationalised boards have been increased by 62 per cent.; and whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list showing to what extent the welfare benefits would have been increased if similar percentage increases at the same dates had been applied to the various State welfare benefits.

My information does not support the general statement in the first part of the Question. In any case, for the reason given in my reply to the hon. Member on 1st December, 1970, I do not think that the cost of producing such a hypothetical table would be justified.—[Vol. 807, c. 319. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that since June, 1970, all social welfare benefits have fallen in purchasing value by an annual amount of 1s. 4d. in the £ sterling; and whether, in view of the new information as published on 27th January showing the hardship suffered by the sick, disabled and those on retirement pensions, he will, before the proposed April tax cuts are implemented, increase all welfare payments and benefits.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 19th January about the forthcoming review.—[Vol. 809, c 249. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what authority he checks over-prescribing of dangerous drugs where the prescriptions are privately paid for.

I have no powers in relation to private prescribing but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has certain powers under the Dangerous Drugs Acts, 1965 and 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what spot checks are taken on over-prescribing of dangerous drugs; and what methods exist for dealing with offenders supplying prescriptions in excess of normal medical need, other than the National Health Service Executive Committee withholding payment.

Inquiries, initially through a visit by one of the Department's Medical Officers, are made whenever analysis of a doctor's National Health Service prescribing suggests that he has been prescribing unusual quantities of addictive drugs. If necessary, formal action can be taken under the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations, 1956; and I bring to the attention of the General Medical Council any evidence suggesting a prima facie case of professional misconduct.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the Government's plans and proposals for cutting down welfare benefits to strikers.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect he expects to result from increased dental charges on the numbers of people receiving treatment.

As people come increasingly to appreciate the benefits of regular dental care I expect after a temporary dip a gradual and sustained increase in demand for treatment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to make more bank credit available to builders.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) on 24th November, 1970.—[Vol.807, c.56.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of additional staff required, and at what annual cost, to substitute a value-added tax for the selective employment tax.

This would depend on the form and coverage of the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce economic measures to stimulate the economy, in order to reduce the present level of unemployment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the rise in unemployment, what economic measurers he proposes to take to reduce unemployment.

I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 18th and 28th January.—[Vol. 809, c. 211. Vol. 810, c. 197.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of those receiving incomes of £30 a week and under; how many are in receipt of incomes of more than £30 a week; and how many of these latter are in receipt of incomes of more than £50 a week.

Around 13 million, nine million and two million respectively, counting married couples as one unit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to withdrawing Rule 9 of Schedule E, which prevents any claims for taxation allowances from disabled persons arising from such expenses as wheel-chair lifts on vehicles.

While I have much sympathy with disabled persons I am afraid that I could not adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as much detailed information as may be readily available, giving for the longest convenient stated period of time the number of reported bankruptcies of all kinds, affecting both industrial undertakings and persons, where money has been or is owing to the Inland Revenue and the total amounts of such moneys due to the Inland Revenue which have not been paid.

The only information readily available is the amount of tax remitted on grounds of insolvency. This is set out in Table 28 of the report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the year ended 31st March, 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will introduce a tax system whereby the Inland Revenue shall have powers to recover taxes from busines men and entertainers who have evaded tax, and been declared bankrupt, on any new earnings or income and by confiscation of property and capital assets which may be obtained after the bankruptcy proceedings by these persons.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs will be available in Bootle when building for his Department is completed there; what redundancies or transfers of employment are envisaged in and from Bootle; and if he will make a statement.