asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest evidence he has of the prevalence of warfarin-resistant rats; what new areas have been infected over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

My latest information is that the Warfarin-resistant common rat persists in two main areas of England and Wales. The first centres on Welshpool and now extends over some 2,500 sq. miles the other consists of about 180 sq. miles in Kent. During the past 12 months we have also established that some pockets of Warfarin-resistant ship rats exist on Merseyside but there is no evidence that they are spreading.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies and what budget are devoted by Government research establishments to the production of methods of rodent control to take account of the developing numbers of rats that are now resistant to Warfarin.

This continues to be a key feature of the work of my Department's Pest Infestation Control Laboratory, where research is being undertaken in co-operation with the World Health Organisation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated rat population of the United Kingdom; what has been the recent trend in estimated numbers; and what assessment has been made of public health hazards on account of the growing areas affected by Warfarin-resistant rats.

The latest annual returns from local authorities in England and Wales, covering the four years 1966–69, suggest that the number of rat-infested premises is declining slightly in urban areas but showing a slight increase in the countryside. Similar trends have been discerned in Scotland and Northern Ireland.The relative degree of infestation in Warfarin-resistant areas is no greater than elsewhere. Any assessment of public health hazards is a matter for the local authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the price of heating oil for horticultural glasshouses in Great Britain and Holland and other members of the European Economic Community.

The list prices of heavy fuel oil (3,500 secs.) inclusive of tax, based on the figures published in the latest issue of the Petroleum Times, are 7·96p per gallon in Great Britain, 3·41p per gallon in the Netherlands and between 4·15p and 5·67p per gallon in other E.E.C. countries for which information is available. The actual price to the grower in Great Britain is reduced by the tax rebate of 1p per gallon and by trade discounts which may be equivalent to 2p per gallon or more.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will institute an inquiry into charges of vandalism and the deliberate breaking of furniture by soldiers carrying out searches in Catholic schools and other buildings in Northern Ireland.

No. All troops are under strict instructions to cause no unnecessary damage when conducting search operations. I have received no complaints of vandalism or deliberate breaking of furniture from the principals or headmasters of any of the schools searched by the security forces. However, in the case of one school, a claim for damage has been received by the Ministry of Home Affairs and is being investigated in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the details of the accommodation in relation to pupils at Helmshore County Primary School, Rossendale, submitted to her by Lancashire County Council in their application for grant; what accommodation she has authorised; and what further provision she proposes to make.

The accommodation at this school comprises a hall and eight classrooms and there were 352 pupils on roll in September. The Lancashire Local Education Authority has not submitted any proposals for this school to the Department but I understand that it proposes to start a minor building project at the school in this financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures for the number of unemployed persons in Oldbury and Halesowen at the last most convenient date.

At 6th December, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Oldbury employment exchange was 821, of whom 261 were temporarily stopped. The corresponding figures for the Halesowen area were 841 and 419.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the cost of employment exchanges during the first 10 months of this year as compared with the same periods in 1969 and 1970.

The estimated cost of employment exchanges and their subordinate offices, including costs borne on the Votes of other Departments, was £38·3 million in the first 10 months of this year. This compares with £27·1 million and £31·4 million, respectively, in the same periods in 1969 and 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to conciliate the dispute between journalists employed by provincial newspapers and their employers; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing further to add to the reply which I gave on 16th December to the hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. Harold Walker)—[Vol. 828, c. 173.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why it would cost more to provide crash barriers on motorways at the time of construction than to do so after the motorways have been opened.

The provision of safety barriers on motorways which are already in course of construction under a contract has to be carried out as a variation to that contract and additional costs are incurred on account of disruption. This will not occur where barriers either form part of the road construction contract documents from the start or where they are installed under a separate specific contract.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the motorways in order of the number of accidents per vehicle mile.

No, I see no value in this comparison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the reduction in the number of accidents attributable to motorway barriers; if he is satisfied with their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

Barriers have not been installed for long enough on heavily trafficked motorways to enable a comprehensive evaluation of accident statistics to be made, but from preliminary studies it appears that safety barriers will not reduce total numbers of accidents. They do, however, reduce the severity of very many accidents by virtually eliminating cross-over accidents with their resultant high fatality rates, and I am thus well satisfied with their effectiveness.

					1968	1969	1970	1971*
Miles of motorway in use as of 1st April				…	547	599	657	787
In daylight:
Injury accidents	…	…	…	…	280†	962	1,099	730
Fatalities	…	…	…	…	74	102	85	53
Serious casualties	…	…	…	…	413	601	515	367
In dark hours:
Injury accidents	…	…	…	…	282†	625	659	368
Fatalities	…	…	…	…	77	83	66	42
Serious casualties	…	…	…	…	361	383	365	211
* January-July.
† Fatal and serious accidents only.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the first report of the designated Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the boundaries of districts in non-metropolitan counties.

The Commission is already considering proposals received from local authorities and will initially publish its own draft proposals as a basis for consultation. But it will not make any formal report or recommendations

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why it costs £13,000 per mile to provide crash barriers before a motorway opens, compared with an estimated £11,000 per mile after it has opened.

The provision of safety barriers on motorways which are already in course of construction under a contract has to be carried out as a variation to that contract and additional costs are incurred on account of disruption. This will not occur where barriers either form part of the road construction contract documents from the start or where they are installed under a separate specific contract.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the numbers of accidents involving personal injury, and the numbers of fatalities and the numbers of serious injuries in such accidents, which occurred on motorways during the day-time and during the hours of darkness in 1968, 1969, and 1970 to date in 1971.

Following are the figures:until its position has been placed on a statutory footing by the passing of the Local Government Bill. I have asked the Commission Designate to plan its arrangements so that it can submit its final recommendations on the pattern of new districts in non-metropolitan counties in time for the necessary Order to be made before the end of 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for the long-term preservation and use of Heveningham Hall in Suffolk.

Discussions have begun with the East Suffolk County Council on the possibility of its taking over the estate on terms to be agreed. The object will be to ensure the maximum enjoyment by the public of this historic house, with its contents and grounds, consistent with the preservation and enhancement of their character.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce a decision on the public inquiry into the proposed reservoir for the Ipswich area at Tattingstone.

My right hon. Friend expects to give his decision very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what date he has set for the completion of the working party report on the financial implications of disposing offshore colliery waste, at present being tipped on the Durham coast.

No date has been set, but the working party will report as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now consider making derelict land clearance grants available to the extent of 85 per cent. of the cost of clearing colliery waste material from beaches on the Durham coast.

There would he no point in doing so while the tipping of waste continues.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the House of Commons Library copies of reports made to his Department since 1964 dealing with despoilation of beaches by tipping of colliery waste material.

There are two such reports. The first, completed in 1966, was by an official of the then Ministry of Housing and Local Government. His report was prepared for internal purposes and was in part based on material supplied to him in confidence. It was not made public by the last Government, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to do so now. The second is a scientific study by the Hydraulics Research Station, commissioned by the then Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Durham County Council and the Easington Rural District Council and completed in 1970. With the agreement of those authorities I am arranging to place a copy of the report in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why, in view of the call by rents tribunal chairmen, magistrates and others that publicity should be given to the recent High Court case over accommodation agencies and bureaux illegally charging rents, or fees for details of accommodation and of the information submitted to him of a case affecting an Ilford-based bureau, he will not initiate a publicity campaign to advise the public that these actions are contrary to the law.

Because there are many calls on the Department's publicity vote, and this subject is not at present considered to have sufficient priority. I shall, however, watch the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost to public funds of the Department's stand at the Building Exhibition.

The Department for the Environment stand at the Olympia Building Exhibition was designed and produced by the Central Office of Information at a cost of £36,006.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the box girder bridges in the United Kingdom indicating which have been under a restriction, which have now been inspected by his Department, whether the restriction has been altered or lifted since first imposed, which bridges need strengthening, and the estimated cost and planned date of completion in each case.

Steel box girder bridges in Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State. The physical inspection of the 51 English bridges in service was completed by the individual maintaining1. Traffic lane restrictions on Parton and Pirton Bridges over trunk road A40 Gloucestershire were replaced by weight restrictions on 6th October, 1971.2. BRIDGES ON WHICH RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED (19)(

asked the secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about financial aid to Mauritius.

As a result of recent discussions which I have had with a delegation from the Government of Mauritius, led by Mr. Ringadoo, the Minister of Finance, the British Government has offered the Government of Mauritius a further loan of £5 million. The purpose of this loan will be to provide capital aid in support of the Mauritius Development Plan over the next four years. It will be available for projects to be agreed between the Mauritius and British Governments. The loan, which is additional to a loan of £5 million already offered and accepted for the Mauritius Development Plan, will be free of interest and repayable over 25 years. The Government of Mauritius have accepted this offer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of proposed British ratification of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation resolution requiring member countries to return illegally exported works of art to their countries of origin, he will make representations to the Government of the United States of America regarding the returning of the only known authentic picture of Dr. William Harvey, in respect of which criminal proceedings took place in this country in 1961.

No. The case of this picture was dealt with in the courts at the time. Ratification of the Convention mentioned by my hon. Friend is still under consideration, but it would not, in any event, have any retroactive effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is yet in a position to announce the appointment of additional deputy chairmen of the Commission on Rhodesian opinion.

I have decided, after consultation with Lord Pearce, to appoint two additional Deputy Chairmen to this Commission. I am glad to be able to announce that Sir Glyn Jones and Sir Frederick Pedler, who both have a long and distinguished connection with Africa, have accepted invitations to serve.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the Royal Air Force Regiment, guarding the Salalah Air Base in Oman, at which the Royal Air Force has facilities, have been killed or wounded by the shelling of the base by guerrillas.

I have been asked to reply.There have been no Royal Air Force Regiment casualties at Salalah.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community so far as the European Coal and Steel Community E.1; E.112 Information on Production are concerned, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(2) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E.2100 Common Provisions, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(3) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E.2109 Intra-State Provisions, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(4) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E2; E.211 Customs Duties, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(5) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E.2110 Common Customs Tariff, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(6) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E.2111 Community Customs Quotas for the Federal Republic of Germany, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(7) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E.2112 Tariff Quotas and Inspection Duty, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(8) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E.2113 Acceleration Decisions, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(9) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E.2114 Approximation of Customs Laws, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament;(10) whether he can now state when he will have available enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Economic Community E.2; E.2115 Any other Decisions, to enable him to supply a copy to each Member of Parliament.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 7th December.—[Vol. 827, cc. 281–83.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is his policy towards a 24-hour service for the television and broadcasting media.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Proudfoot) in the debate on the fourth television channel on 15th December.—[Vol. 828, c. 573.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the recent public expenditure measures taken by the Government to assist development and intermediate areas and to promote employment, giving the estimated share of the Northern Region where this is possible.

The following are the main public expenditure measures which have already been announced:1. Increased financial assistance for house improvement in local government areas wholly or partly within development or intermediate areas. The additional expenditure is estimated to be at least £53 million, of which the Northern Region might account for about a third.2. Increased expenditure on infrastructure works, such as schools, hospitals and roads, in development and intermediate areas. Of the estimated total expenditure of about £164 million, the Northern Region's share at present seems likely to be of the order of £27 million.3. An accelerated naval construction programme of about £80 million. Approximately one-third of this expenditure is for ships to be built by Swan Hunter on Tyneside.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of Command Paper No. 4814 were printed; and how soon after publication stocks were exhausted.

To date, 10,000 copies of Cmnd. 4814 have been printed and a further 4,000 are on order. Stocks of the initial print of 6,000 were exhausted on 29th November, five days after publication, but supplies again became available on 3rd December.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average income of the head of a household living in private, furnished and rented accommodation; and what percentage is paid in rent.

I regret that the information currently available about the incomes of heads of households in relation to rents is insufficient to enable a separate figure to be given for this type of tenure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which education authorities in Scotland have monitoring arrangements to observe the effect on health of the withdrawal of milk to schoolchildren over seven years of age.

The monitoring arrangements referred to by the hon. Member are a study of physical development in schoolchildren conducted under the auspices of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. The study, which is being co-ordinated by Professor Holland of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Social Medicine of St. Thomas's Hospital, covers 20 areas in England and Wales and six in Scotland. I am advised by those responsible for the study that disclosure of the areas selected could affect the success of the study itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he intends to seek regarding future appointments to the Scottish area of the Sports Council.

I announced the membership of the Scottish Sports Council on 30th November, 1971, after obtaining the view of the Scottish Council of Physical Recreation and the local authority representatives. It is too early to consider the procedure for filling future vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to set up a passenger transport authority for the Greater Glasgow area.

In the longer term, after the reform of local government, the regional authority will be the appropriate body to co-ordinate public passenger transport in the Glasgow area. I accept, however, the view expressed in consultations undertaken by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Development with the local authorities concerned that the problem is too urgent to await the reorganisation of local government, and that at present Part II of the Transport Act, 1968, provides the only machinery which can meet the situation.I have, therefore, decided to set up a Passenger Transport Authority for the Greater Glasgow area. I regard this as an interim measure, to enable a start to be made in developing a co-ordinated and efficient system of public passenger transport to meet the needs of the conurbation. The ground can thus be prepared for a regional authority, which will succeed to the powers and responsibilities of the Passenger Transport Authority as soon as it is in a position to do so after reorganisation of local government.I am arranging for letters to be sent to all the local authorities concerned, informing them of my decision and inviting comment on my proposals for the precise area to be designated and the composition of the new authority. The local authority areas which I am proposing for inclusion in the passenger transport area are:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he has made regarding proposals to local housing authorities over payment by his Department of tent allowances above the present maxima to recipients of supplementary allowances in any high council rent areas.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the agreement about local authority rents which my right hon. Friend announced on 27th October, 1970 in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Mr. Benyon). Local authority rents are now being met by the Supplementary Benefits Commission to the extent provided by the agreement, arrears being paid where appropriate, except in a few isolated cases where details of the rents payable are still being worked out with the local authority. In these cases the claimants concerned are not being pressed to pay more than the commission is allowing.—[Vol. 805, c. 39–40.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent advertising each of the following benefits, namely, pensions for the over 80s, exemption from National Health Service charges, eligibility for free welfare foods, and family income supplement; and if he will make a statement on his future plans for publicising welfare benefit.

In 1971 £35,000 has been spent advertising pensions for the over-80s and £310,000 on family income supplement. Advertising of exemptions from charges and eligibility for free welfare foods was combined and cost £200,000. I shall take further steps next year to widen awareness of benefits and increase take-up but have no immediate plans to announce.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims have been received for free welfare milk and foods, and for exemption from prescription, dental and optical charges on grounds of low income other than by persons in receipt of supplementary benefit, in each week since his Department's advertising campaign commenced; how many awards were made in each of these weeks; what is the total number of

		FREE WELFARE MILK AND VITAMINS		PRESCRIPTION CHARGES		DENTAL CHARGES		OPTICAL CHARGES
		Number of Claims		Number of Claims		Number of Claims		Number of Claims
Week ending		Received	Granted	Received	Granted	Received	Granted	Received	Granted
27th April, 1971	…	26,300	7,600	12,800	3,300	5,300	700	11,000	1,600
4th May, 1971	…	24,200	10,400	15,700	5,600	6,000	1,400	12,000	2,900
11th May, 1971	…	20,500	11,600	15,000	6,400	7,000	2,100	13,500	4,200
18th May, 1971	…	14,600	9,800	12,700	6,900	6,500	2,400	12,000	4,900
25th May, 1971	…	10,000	8,000	10,100	5,700	6,500	3,100	11,700	5,700
1st June, 1971	…	6,400	3,800	6,000	3,400	5,100	2,300	8,400	4,200
8th June, 1971	…	6,100	4,600	5,500	3,400	4,900	2,300	7,700	4,100
15th June, 1971	…	4,700	3,800	5,700	3,500	5,100	2,700	9,000	5,300
22nd June, 1971	…	3,900	3,400	3,400	2,800	4,100	2,900	6,500	4,700
29th June, 1971	…	4,000	2,100	4,100	2,000	5,600	2,100	9,200	3,500
6th July, 1971	…	3,200	2,200	3,400	2,000	4,600	2,100	7,300	3,300
13th July, 1971	…	2,600	1,800	2,700	1,700	4,200	2,400	6,800	4,000
20th July, 1971	…	2,900	1,800	2,700	1,700	4,300	2,200	6,800	3,800
27th July, 1971	…	2,300	1,500	2,400	1,600	4,200	2,300	6,900	3,700
3rd August, 1971	…	2,100	1,200	2,000	1,100	3,500	2,100	6,200	3,300
10th August, 1971	…	2,200	1,300	2,000	1,200	3,700	2,200	7,200	3,900
17th August, 1971	…	1,900	1,300	2,100	1,300	3,500	2,000	5,800	3,500
24th August, 1971	…	1,700	1,100	2,000	1,400	3,400	2,500	6,100	4,100
Totals for period 21st April, 1971 to 24th August, 1971 (to nearest 1,000)		140,000	77,000	110,000	55,000	88,000	40,000	154,000	71,000
Four weeks ending 21st September, 1971	…	Not available	4,900	7,600	4,000	Not available	7,200	Not available	12,400
Four weeks ending 19th October, 1971	…	Not available	Not available	10,500	5,600	Not available	9,600	Not available	15,200

NOTES:—1. Numbers of claims granted in any one week do not relate to numbers of claims received in the same week. At 24th August, 1971, some claims remained outstanding.2. The collection of information on a weekly basis was discontinued at the end of August.3. Figures for prescription charges may include some claims with entitlement to refund only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the annual cost of the take up of their entitlements of all those persons or families entitled to the present range of available means-tested benefits.

I regret that owing to the many variable factors governing entitlement it is not possible to provide such an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many

The approximate numbers of claims and awards made in Great Britain for persons in low income families, other than those receiving supplementary benefits or family income supplement, are set out in the table below; reliable estimates of the numbers entitled to these benefits are not possible because of the variable factors involved.officers are employed by the Supplementary Benefits Commission; how many civil servants have registered a claim for family income supplement; and how many awards have been made to them.

Officers engaged on work for the Supplementary Benefits Commission are employed by my Department; they are now in the main integrated with former Pensions and National Insurance staff and it is no longer possible to identify them separately. No separate records are maintained of family income supplement claims by, or awards to, civil servants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to make available family income supplement statistics for areas smaller than departmental regions.

I am examining the possibility of doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why Mrs. Mavis Badham, a former senior physicist at Bristol Royal Infirmary, was dismissed after 18 years' service.

A number of incidents led up to the suspension and eventual dismissal of Mrs. Badham but the reasons for the termination of her employment relate mainly to her refusal to accept the authority and instructions of her head of department despite frequent warnings. This resulted in the lowering of the morale and efficiency of that department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on the basis of what information the Parliamentary Under-Secretary stated that the staff medical officer of the Bristol Royal Infirmary had persuaded Mr. Badham that his wife should have treatment in Holloway sanatorium; and whether the consultant psychiatrist at Holloway sanatorium had agreed that such treatment was necessary.

The information referred to was provided by the Board of Governors of the United Bristol Hospitals. There is no dispute, however, that Mr. Badham was persuaded of no more than that a follow-up appointment should be arranged for his wife. The last part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what investigations were made into complaints by Mrs. Badham about the treatment of certain patients in Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Mrs. Badham made certain allegations about the treatment of patients at Cheltenham. These allegations were investigated by a principal physicist on the staff of the United Bristol Hospitals and were discussed at length during the hearing in front of the disciplinary committee on 1st July, 1970. The committee had as an independent adviser Professor F. J. Roberts, head of the Department of Medical Physics at the Middlesex Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now order an investigation into the original complaint by, and into the treatment of, Mrs. Badham at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Mrs. Badham's dismissal by the Board of Governors of the United Bristol Hospitals has already been considered in detail by my Department. The board's decision was taken as a result of the findings of a disciplinary committee and was reviewed again at length by an appeal sub-committee. Mrs. Badham was present at both hearings and was given a full opportunity to present her case. In these circumstances we can see no justification for ordering a further investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange for compensation to be paid to Mrs. Badham for the distress she has suffered and the effect on her career of her dismissal from Bristol Royal Infirmary.

No. While we regret any distress which Mrs. Badham may have suffered, we are satisfied that the dismissal itself took place in accordance with the proper procedures for such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department is planning to reduce the number of visits by its officers to elderly people receiving supplementary benefit in Islington; and whether, in view of the risk to such persons which arises from this reduction, he will take action to prevent it.

New arrangements for home visiting in all areas now being considered would combine some reduction in the number of visits with regular postal contact with long-term recipients of supplementary benefit. These arrangements, which have the support of the Supplementary Benefits Commission, would have the effect of improving the service by providing more regular contacts with people, including the elderly, who are a long time on supplementary benefit than are at present possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much support the Department of Social Services is providing for the study in terminal care on the nature and size of the problem of home care for the dying; by whom and at what costs needs are being met; what is the nature and extent of unmet need; by whom such study is being carried out; and what area of Great Britain is covered thereby;(2) what support his Department is providing for the inquiry into experimental domiciliary services, service for patients in the terminal stage of illness and its evaluation; by whom such study is being carried out; and what area of Great Britain is covered thereby;(3) where and when conferences will be held to discuss the results of the inquiry into experimental domiciliary service for patients in the terminal stages of illness; by whom an article is expected to be submitted for publication in respect thereof; to whom; and when in 1972 it is expected that such article will be presented.

The study in the problems of home care for the dying being carried out by Dr. Ann Cartwright at the Institute of Social Studies in Medical Care is supported by my Department at a cost of £23,000. The work has been carried out in 12 regions of England and Wales and is based on a random sample, of some 800 deaths registered during the last six months of 1969.The evaluation of an experimental domiciliary service for patients in the terminal stages of illness is being undertaken by Dr. Cicely Saunders as part of a programme of work associated with the out-patient clinic at St. Christopher's Hospice and is supported by my Department at a cost of about £5,500 per annum. The service covers patients normally resident in the eight boroughs surrounding St. Christopher's.Publication of results is a matter for the research workers. A report on the work at St. Christopher's Hospice was made to the joint conference "Partners in Care" organised by the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing on 26th November, 1971. An

article appears in the American

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will request the British Standards Institute to inquire into and to establish a standard of effectiveness for child-resistant containers.

My Department has recently been asked by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain to support a request to the British Standards Institute that a committee be established to devise standards for testing such containers. In view of the likelihood that there will be a need for guidance to pharmaceutical and other interests about containers which come on to the market, my Department has conveyed this request to the Institute and has indicated its support for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to relax the rule which freezes the amount of pension paid to those pensioners who have fulfilled their contributory obligations but now reside abroad.

Persons drawing British pensions overseas already receive our pension increases if they live in countries which have agreed under reciprocal arrangements to pay their pension increases here. Nearly one-third of all pensioners abroad are covered by these arrangements which we are endeavouring to extend to as many countries as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will meet the Welsh Committee of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the 66 per cent. increase in unemployment in Wales.

I have made it clear that I would welcome an early meeting with the committee.