asked the Secretary of State for Employment how soon he expects a Government training centre to be opened in Nottinghamshire in view of the level of unemployment in the area.

Subject to the early acquisition of a suitable site, a new centre in Nottinghamshire should be open for training by the spring of 1974. In the meantime, applicants for training will be offered places at other centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of persons unemployed in the West Midlands on 11th October.

The provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the West Midlands region at 11th October was 121,980, of whom 44,933 were temporarily stopped.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what sections or agencies exist in his Department for collecting information from, or giving advice and assistance to, private sector industry.

The following services are offered by the Department of Employment to assist and advise industry, including the private sector:

Employment services, including the Professional and Executive Register, and the provision of special job teams to deal with large redundancies.

The Manpower and Productivity Service which provides conciliation in industrial disputes and advice to industry on industrial relations and related manpower questions.

Training and rehabilitation services including Training Within Industry, instructor training courses and the provision of courses, including training sponsored by employers, in Government Training Centres, and special training assistance for firms in Development and Intermediate areas.

Advice from H.M. Factory Inspectorate on health and safety at work, and from the Wages Inspectorate on statutory wages regulations.

I am sending my hon. Friend a booklet about these services, all of which obtain information from private sector industry in the course of their work. Information is also obtained in connection with the administration of unemployment benefit and for purposes of pay policy. My Department also provides a statistical service based partly on returns from private sector employers.In addition, the Office of Manpower Economics, whose formation my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 2nd November last, collects information from industry for the purposes outlined in the original announcement.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the latest up-to-date estimate of cost of military operations in Northern Ireland.

The military operations in Northern Ireland will give rise to estimated extra costs in the current financial year of £11·6 million.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the ratio of Scottish regiments to those of other United Kingdom regiments serving in Northern Ireland.

Scottish regiments are currently providing three of the sixteen major units deployed in the infantry rôle and two of the five armoured reconnaissance squadrons.

asked the Minister of State for Defence on what date he requested reports from the Army on torture and disorientation techniques.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to allegations about the treatment of persons arrested in Northern Ireland on 9th August under the Special Powers Act. These are being investigated by Sir Edmund Compton's Committee of Inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the West Pennine Water Board have investigated every other possible source of water supplies before permitting the reduction of the quantities of compensation water which the Board arc required to discharge from their reservoirs.

The West Pennine Water Board has applied for a drought Order under the Water Act, 1958, to permit the reduction of the compensation water required to be discharged from several of its reservoirs, and this is receiving urgent consideration. The possibility of its obtaining water from other sources is, of course, a question to be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sections or agencies exist in his Department for collecting information from, or giving advice and assistance to, private sector industry.

The Department's Statistics Directorate receives regular information from a number of sources, notably the construction industry, road hauliers and other transport undertakings.The Directorate publishes a wide range of statistical information compiled from these returns, and makes available certain other information from the Department's records.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision about the controls required on vehicle exhaust pollutants.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will withhold the granting of consent for any railway closures in Wales and the other development areas of Great Britain until Her Majesty's Government are more able to estimate the nature of regional policies permissible for the United Kingdom within the European Economic Community.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate sum which is currently being spent by Her Majesty's Government to subsidise loss-making railways in Wales and in England, respectively.

Approximately £5·3 million and £51·8 million, respectively for 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the total of annual public expenditure on the protection and improvement of the environment listed under suitable headings.

Much of the expenditure included in Command 4578 under the heading "Miscellaneous Local Services", as well as some of the expenditure incurred by local authorities under other headings, may be considered as contributing to the protection and improvement of the environment. But since one programme or project may have several different objectives—a new sewerage works built to provide increased capacity may also reduce river pollution; a new bypass built to ease traffic flows may also improve the environment of the town centre—it is not possible readily to identify the costs attributable to this particular objective. I am writing further to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take following the arrest and imprisonment in East Pakistan of the unarmed relief worker, Gordon Slaven, a British subject.

Mr. Slaven who is a member of the Organisation known as Operation Omega was arrested on 4th October and charged under Section 3(2)A of the Foreigners Act of 1946 with entering Pakistan by a route not authorised for entry by foreigners. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced on 12th October to two years' imprisonment. A member of the Deputy High Commission in Dacca attended Mr. Slaven's trial.

Number of raids
						October	Total amount taken
April	May	June	July	August	September	(1–16)	(£)
1	2	—	2	8	8	8	41,811

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what sections or agencies exist in his Department for collecting information from, or giving advice and assistance to, private sector industry.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a spot check in any large hospital or hospital Arrangements have been made for further visits to him in goal and we shall continue to give him all the protection and help which is his due as a British subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sections or agencies exist in his Department for collecting information from, or giving advice and assistance to, private sector industry.

Several departments of the Home Office are in touch with industry, but do not exist for this sole purpose. If my hon. Friend will let me know more precisely what he has in mind, I shall try to provide the information he wants.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many raids there have been on post offices in Northern Ireland in each month during the current year; and what was the total amount taken in these raids.

The Post Office tells me that there were no raids in the first three months of 1971. For the rest of the year to date the information is as follows:group to ascertain how many junior hospital doctors were given a medical examination before appointment and the amount of fees for this service paid by the appointing authority.

Such a check at one large hospital, selected at random, has shown that all the 61 doctors in post on 1st October, 1971, in the grades of senior registrar and below were medically examined on taking up their present appointments. No fees were paid for the examinations, which were carried out by the hospital's own medical staff as part of their duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reply he has sent to the chairman of the Junior Hospital Doctors' Association regarding the request to hold an inquiry into the alleged victimisation of junior hospital doctors and damage to their career prospects for engaging in medico-political activities.

I have sent the hon. Member a copy of my Department's reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total take-up of family income supplement as a percentage of those eligible.

Including those who receive additional supplementary benefit under Section 13 of the Family Income Supplements Act, the number of families benefiting from the scheme on 19th October was nearly 82,000. This is 43 per cent. of the estimate of 188,000 eligible families given on Second Reading of the Family Income Supplements Bill, but this estimate, which as I explained at the time

PRESCRIPTIONS DISPENSED BY CHEMISTS, INCLUDING APPLIANCE CONTRACTORS IN ENGLAND
					Percentages of average total cost
Year				Average total cost per prescription	Ingredient cost	On-cost	Professional fee	Container allowance
1966	…	…	…	£0·527	67·8	9·6	21·1	1·5
1970	…	…	…	£0·672	72·4	7·8	18·5	1·2

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of contacts made by his Department's regional medical officers with doctors in England to discuss their prescribing costs in each of the last five years.

The numbers are as follows:

1966	1,295
1967	1,472
1968	2,844
1969	2,979
1970	3,552

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in the light of recent events, whether he will now carry out an inquiry into the care and treatment of terminal patients.

My Department is currently supporting two studies in terminal care. One of these, which is was erected on the basis of out-dated surveys and on the basis of very small samples, may be on the high side.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many copies of his Department's handbook on terms and conditions of service dated 4th January, 1971, were printed; and how many are still in stock.

Sixty thousand have been printed: approximately 12,000 remain in stock in my Department at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the percentages of the average total cost per prescription in 1966 and 1970 made up of ingredient cost, on cost, professional fee and container allowance.

The information is as follows:concerned to describe the nature and size of the problem of home care for the dying, by whom and at what cost needs are being met, and the nature and extent of unmet need, is in its final stages and the published results are expected in late 1972. The other is support provided for an experimental domiciliary service for patients in the terminal stage of illness and its evaluation. Results are discussed in conferences and seminars and an article is expected to be submitted for publication in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the anti-smoking display card being shown in chemists' shops in Scotland and issued by the Scottish Health Education Unit is being distributed to pharmacists in England.

The Scottish Health Education Unit and the Health Education Council—which serves England, Wales and Northern Ireland—keep in close touch so that they may learn from each other's experiences in developing sometimes different approaches to health education problems. The Council will consider discussing with the chemists the use of the display card that has been distributed to health service bodies in Scotland. The Council and the Pharmaceutical Society have had discussions about the pharmacist's role in health education, and the Society has expressed its willingness to contribute to action in the field of smoking and health.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many experimental tests were carried out in each of the last five years on hospital patients, National Health Service and private patients, respectively, which were directly or indirectly associated with the remedy or alleviation of the patient's own condition;(2) how many tests have been carried out on hospital patients during each of the last five years that were not directly connected with remedying or ameliorating the condition of the patient; and what was the annual breakdown by regional hospital board area.

I have no information about the number and content of clinical experiments undertaken by hospital consultants. Such work is carried out within the professional discretion of doctors themselves. Advice has been issued to hospital authorities to recommend that all such experiments should be carried out under the aegis of ethical committees and such Committees have been set up in the majority of teaching hospitals where the bulk of such work is done. I have received no evidence to suggest that a detailed enquiry by my Department to obtain the information requested by the hon. Member is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, where tests are carried out on hospital patients not directly connected with the remedy or alleviation of the patient's own condition, whether such tests are initiated with the consent of the patient or the relatives; and if consent is obtained, what the criteria are by which it is judged to have been secured.

The advice commended to hospital authorities is that where such tests are proposed the procedure should be in accordance with the guidance issued by the relevant professional bodies that a patient's consent to participation must be freely given, and must be based upon a proper understanding of the nature and consequence of what is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, where tests are carried out on hospital patients not directly related to the remedy or alleviation of their own condition, by what means such patients are selected.

Selection of volunteers is a matter for the individual clinician concerned but such patients must be volunteers in the sense that they must consent freely with a proper understanding of the nature and consequence of what is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the main regulations governing the carrying out of experimental tests on hospital patients; whether he is satisfied that they are operating satisfactorily; and what changes he proposes to make.

The principles applicable to clinical experimentation on human beings were set out in the Medical Research Council's Report for 1962–63—Cmnd. 2382. The report was issued to all hospital authorities, who were asked to ensure that it was brought to the attention of all hospital doctors. Further guidance by the Royal College of Physicians has been commended to hospital authorities and I have no evidence to suggest that the ethical considerations which these reports present are not being responsibly observed in hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, where tests are carried out on hospital patients which are not directly related to the remedy or alleviation of the patient's condition, what the main purposes are of the tests so conducted.

This information is not collected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the total cost for drugs and dressings used in hospitals is represented by the £3·392 million supplied under contracts last year.

The contracts concerned are also available to the Scottish Home and Health Department and other Government Departments. Approximately £1 million relates to expenditure by English and Welsh hospitals; this is 3 per cent. of the total cost of drugs and dressings, most of which are obtained against regional contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prescriptions were dispensed without charge in the area of the Middlesex Executive Committee; and if he will give the percentage of exemption in the following categories: under 15 years of age, over 65 years of age, free Executive Council exemption certificate, pre-paid exemption certificate, exemption certificate issued by his Department and those who claimed exemption without giving a reason.

The number of prescriptions dispensed without charge by chemists in the Middlesex Executive Council area during the 12 months July, 1970 to June, 1971, was 6·1 million. Sample information indicates that the grounds of patients' claims to exemption on these prescriptions were stated as follows:

	Percentage
Under 15 years of age	30
65 years of age or over	40
Executive Council certificate	7
Prepayment certificate	3
Department of Health and Social Security exemption certificate	10
Category not stated	10

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an inquiry into the whole field of means-tested benefits.

No. The Government have already taken steps to improve various means-tested schemes—notably by making benefits available to more people and extending the "passport" system to make recipients of family income supplement eligible for other benefits without a further means test. We have, moreover, greatly improved take-up of several benefits after a successful advertising campaign. Means-testing is only one way of giving help to those who need it and the subject will continue to be studied in the wider context of our examination of the subject of family poverty generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will issue a general direction to gas boards requiring them to abolish any basic charge made for inspections if the complainant is a pensioner.

No; this is a matter for the boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sections or agencies exist in his Department for collecting information from, or giving advice and assistance to, private sector industry.

These activities are part of the general work of the private industry divisions, industrial research establishments and other parts of the Department. More particularly they are relevant in the following areas:

• Exports Credits Guarantee Department.
• Export Services Division.
• Fairs and Promotion Branch.
• E.E.C./E.F.T.A. Information Unit.
• Overseas Projects and Technology Division.
• Investment Grants Division.
• Companies Registration Office.
• Business Statistics Office.
• Technology Reports Centre.
• Industrial Liaison Service.
• Low Cost Automation Centres.
• Interlab Service.
• Computer Aided Design Centre.
• Standards and Calibration Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the amounts provided to Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited by Her Majesty's Government in connection with the purchase of the aero-engine assets of Rolls-Royce Limited and the provision of working capital.

Date of payment		Amount £	Purposes of the payment
2nd March, 1971	…	20m.	Payment to the Receiver of Rolls-Royce Ltd. to meet the acquisition by Her Majesty's Government of the patents and industrial property rights previously held by Rolls-Royce Ltd. This payment was regarded as satisfying the first instalment payable under the Heads of Agreement announced by the Minister of Aviation Supply on 19th March towards the price to be paid for the assets acquired by Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. and Her Majesty's Government.
30th March, 1971	…	50,000	A loan of working capital advanced to Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. pending that company taking possession of the assets and its capitalisation as a going concern. This loan was repaid on 31st August, 1971.
31st March, 1971	…	10m.	*A payment to Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. with which they were able to pay the Receiver a further instalment of that amount on the price to be paid for the assets.
21st May, 1971	…	20m.	Payment to Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. for the acquisition of 20m. £1 ordinary shares in that company to provide working capital.
20th July, 1971	…	5m.	A loan of working capital advanced to Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. under interim financing arrangements pending its full capitalisation.
* This payment was advanced as a loan to the company. It is the intention that this loan shall be discharged in the near future by the issue to Her Majesty's Government of 10m. £1 ordinary shares in the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many objections have been received to the proposed scheme for the reorganisation of education in Redditch, as published on 4th December, 1970; when these objections were received, and when reasoned answers to these objections were received from the Worcestershire County Council.

Objections were received from 14 local government electors, the last of them in March, 1971. Representations were also received from the governors of Redditch County High School. The authority's comments were received on 1st April. These proposals, which required careful study, were approved on 18th October and similar proposals for Halesowen were approved on 19th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will name those local education authorities now supplying any food or beverage, free of charge, to primary school pupils aged seven to eleven years; and if she will estimate in each case the cost of such provisions and the comparable alternative

The information is as follows:cost of providing ⅓ pint of milk to the pupils concerned.

I have no information that any local education authority in England is now regularly supplying free food—other than free school meals in appropriate cases—or other refreshments to primary school pupils aged 7–11.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the operation of the five schools of architecture mentioned in the report of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a copy of which is in her possession; and if she will make a statement.

My approval for these courses has not been withdrawn. The question of their status was explained in a reply to the hon. Member for Waltham-stow, East (Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson) on 19th April and is a matter for the R.I.B.A., which has offered each school three years in which to achieve the standard for R.I.B.A. recognition.—[Vol. 815, c. 351–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the local authorities who are now able to sell milk on request to any primary school pupil aged 7 to 11 years, those who are able to sell it to some, and those who are not selling milk on request to any pupils of this age; and if she will indicate the charges being made.

All local education authorities are empowered by the Education (Milk) Act to provide milk for sale in schools maintained by them. The power is a general one and extends to senior as well as junior pupils. The decision whether and to what extent to use the power lies with the authorities. I shall have some indication of the extent of its use when the autumn census of school meals and milk has been completed. My right hon. Friend does not expect to receive detailed information about charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to receive the report of the James Committee of Inquiry into teacher training.

At about the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total annual public expenditure on support of the arts.

For 1971–72, Government expenditure is estimated at £30·3 million, including £4·6 million for services provided by the Department of the Environment and the Stationery Office, but excluding expenditure on ancient monuments and historic buildings. It is not possible to arrive at comparable figures of expenditure by local authorities on the arts.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of Her Majesty's Government's announced inten- tion of providing further funds for capital expenditure for public projects, he will now consider providing Cardiganshire Education Authority with sufficient money to enable them to provide one comprehensive school for all the children now educated at Ardwyn and Dinas schools, in order to avoid having a comprehensive school in two parts with a distance of half a mile between them.

The accelerated infrastructure programme that I have already announced relates to projects which are to be substantially completed by March, 1973. The allocation of £280,000 from this programme for secondary buildings at Aberystwyth was in response to the proposals submitted to me by the local education authority and reflects what I could reasonably expect the authority to complete within the time scale of this programme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sections or agencies exist in his Department for collecting information from, or giving advice and assistance to, private sector industry.

The Treasury has no regular contacts with private sector industry, which are mainly the concern of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The inland Revenue and Customs and Excise Department collect information from companies in the ordinary course of their duties; some statistical data thus obtained is published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect of the introduction of value-added tax on the soft drinks trade.

This will depend on the treatment of soft drinks under the value-added tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what authority Her Majesty's Stationery Office have been publishing advertisements stating that value-added tax becomes part of everyday life in Great Britain in April, 1973, in view of the fact that Parliament has not yet considered legislation on this subject.

These advertisements were not published by H.M. Stationery Office. I understand that they were published by the National Economic Development Office, which is not a Government Department.