asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will recommend a Royal Commission to inquire into the practicability of setting up a State insurance scheme to provide compensation for the victims of accident and illness.

The Government are giving urgent consideration to the recommendation of the Robens Committee on Safety and Health at Work that there should be an inquiry into the present system of actions at common law for damages, but have no proposals to extend state insurance into this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when the technical committee set up by the British Standards Institution at the joint request of the Department of Health and Social Services and of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain will be reporting on standards of tests for child resistant containers and packaging;(2) what consultations are taking place, and what consultations it is proposed will take place, with the medical and pharmaceutical professions and the industries concerned, regarding the marketing of child resistant containers for dangerous medicinal products.

Early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration is being given to practical considerations following the wider introduction of child resistant containers and the action that may be needed; and when such considerations will be completed.

The views of the medical and pharmaceutical professions and other interests are being taken into account, and there have been a number of informal discussions. I cannot yet say when consideration of this problem will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many home helps are now employed by local health authorities; and how far this number falls short of his estimate of the overall requirements.

At 30th September 1971, the latest date for which figures are available, the equivalent of 31,492 full-time home helps were employed by English local authorities. The survey of the home help service carried out by the Government Social Survey in 1967 suggested the need for expansion of the service to between two and three times its size, and my right hon. Friend has suggested to local authorities that they plan on this basis over the next 10 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many home nurses are now employed by local health authorities; and how far this number falls short of his estimate of overall requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health visitors are now employed by local health authorities, and how far this number falls short of his estimate of the overall requirement.

Returns from local health authorities indicate that some 9,000 home nurses and 6,000 health visitors in whole-time equivalents were employed by them in England in 1971. These figures compare with target estimates of between 11,500 and 18,500 for home nurses, and between 10,000 and 15,400 for health visitors, suggested to authorities earlier this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services from information derived from the Registrar General's returns, the Abortion Regulations 1968, the confidential inquiries into maternal deaths conducted by his Department and from coroners and other sources, how many women died within one month of operations under the Abortion Regulations in each calendar year since 1968; how many of such deaths were attributed to causes expected to have resulted in death had the operations not been performed; and whether he will detail such causes.

Women known to have died in England and Wales within one month of an operation under the Abortion Act numbered three in 1968, 17 in 1969, 13 in 1970, 14 in 1971, and 12 so far recorded in 1972. Information is not immediately available to answer the remainder of the question, but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally handicapped children are currently attending day nurseries, local authority homes and private homes, respectively.

Returns from local authorities indicate that at 31st March 1972 the numbers of such children under their care accommodated in local authority homes, in voluntary or private homes and boarded out in private households were, respectively, 949, 450 and 92. The numbers of mentally handicapped children placed privately in voluntary or private homes or attending day nurseries are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the percentage of general practitioners set up in practice

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 11th July. I am waiting for the Report of Mrs. Justice Lane's Committee.—[Vol. 840, c. 1378–79.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were carried out by National Health Service hospitals in the area covered by the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee; and what was the ratio of these abortions to live births.

Available information is as follows:in London during the last five years who gained their qualifications in Commonwealth countries.

The information is available for the last four years only and relates to those whose first registrable qualification was obtained in a Commonwealth country and who set up in practice in the areas of the inner London, north, east London and Middlesex executive councils. The average for the four years is 31 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will have further consultations with the British Medical Association with a view to exempting ex-patients of psychiatric hospitals from prescription charges for a stated period.

No, Sir. Extension of the list of specified medical conditions qualifying for exemption from prescription charges has been discussed with the British Medical Association twice during the past 18 months and we are satisfied that no useful purpose would be served by raising the matter again.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is made for people suffering from cystic fibrosis to obtain free prescriptions.

Exemption is available on grounds of age or income. Where exemption cannot be claimed on these grounds the prepayment certificate is available for those who need frequent prescriptions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will exempt all retirement pensioners from paying prescription charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider seeking powers to exempt women aged 60 years and over from the payment of prescription charges.

We see no reason to alter the existing arrangements which exempt all aged 65 and over. Help is available to other retirement pensioners who cannot afford to pay prescription charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now agree to propose exempting from prescription charges all children up to the age of 16 years who are attending school.

No. No relationship is intended between the age limit for automatic exemption from prescription charges and the age of ending full-time education.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons pre-paid prescription charges on a six-monthly or on a twelve-monthly basis during each of the years for which this facility has been available; and what sums have been received by the National Health Service Executive Council during each of such periods as a result of the payment of such charges.

Information is not available in the form requested. The available statistics are given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage increase in revenue from prescription charges between the years 1969 and 1971.

In England about 34 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he hopes to be in a position to evaluate the outcome of his scheme for persuading people who acquiesce in the use by hospitals of their kidneys, in the event of sudden death, to carry identification cards.

The scheme has been well received but it is likely to be quite some time before we can measure its success. We hope to see not only an increase in the number of kidney transplants but an improvement in the recipient's chances of getting a kidney which is closely matched with his own.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many regional hospital boards use form HMR 101/5 (1972) as part of their normal cervical or vaginal cytology service.

The use of this form is not mandatory, but it has been recommended for use since the beginning of this year. In most regions decisions on its use are left to individual hospitals. Most hospitals now use it and almost all which do not are using an acceptable alternative.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received, to the latest convenient date, about physiotherapists employed in the National Health Service and about how they are graded; and what further progress he is able to report in the Whitley Council negotiations.

Since 28th November I have received about 20 further letters on the subject of the grading structure of physiotherapists; otherwise I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member or to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes) both on that date.—[Vol. 847, c. 83–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what shortage of staff in the remedial professions exists within the area covered by the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee.

I am informed that the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee would like to employ three more staff in its occupational therapy and physiotherapy departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many physiotherapists are employed by the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board; how many vacancies there are; and what measures are being taken to fill these vacancies.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Colne Valley (Mr. David Clark) and for Cleveland (Mr. Tinn) on 13th November. Recruitment of staff is a matter for the responsible hospital authorities.—[Vol. 846, c. 47–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate discussions with the relevant authorities with a view to improving the chiropodist service for retired people.

In recent years there have been steady increases in the numbers of chiropodists employed by local health authorities, of students at schools of chiropody and of persons of pensionable age treated. I am confident that chiropody services will continue to improve.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that confidential information concerning people receiving supplementary benefit is not given on the telephone without checking the bona fides of the inquirer.

Instructions to departmental staff provide that information in social security records concerning individuals is to be regarded as strictly confidential. Staff have been warned in particular against giving information by telephone unless they are completely satisfied as to the identity of the inquirer and his entitlement to the information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to be able to provide detailed information regarding the closure of casualty units at hospitals in England.

The closure of nine departments has been approved in the last two years. In each case full information is given in the course of local consultation with all interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken this winter to bring to public notice the provision of extra benefit for fuel where mobility is restricted.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the discretionary additions which may be made to supplementary benefits on account of exceptional heating expenses. I would refer him to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Dormand) on 25th October.—[Vol 843, c. 326.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were receiving social security benefits on the last date for which figures are available.

On average the number of social security benefits being paid in any week in 1971 was about 17 million. The number of persons receiving benefits was substantially less because one person may receive two or more benefits, but it is not practicable to make an estimate of their number.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services it he will make a statement on the problem of homelessness in London and the policies of the Government to deal with the situation.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I are fully aware of the problem of homelessness in London, and we shall be meeting the London Boroughs Association again next month to follow up the action taken on the recommendations of our joint working party with the association on homelessness.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of homeless in inner London; and if he will make a statement.

The number of families living in temporary accommodation provided by social services departments in inner London at 30th June 1972 was 1,402.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is made for disturbed adolescents; what steps are taken to recruit trained staff to provide the care needed by emotionally disturbed young people; and if he will make a statement.

Provision covers a wide range. It includes adolescent psychiatric units in general hospitals and in mental illness hospitals, out-patient clinics and day hospitals, child guidance clinics, and residential establishments for those in local authority care. Recruitment of staff is a matter for hospital and local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now seek powers to increase the rates of contribution to the National Insurance Scheme.

No. The rates of contribution were last increased on 2nd October 1972 and are calculated by the Government Actuary to be adequate to support the benefits currently payable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many social workers are now employed by local health authorities, and how far this number falls short of his estimate of the overall requirement.

On 30th September 1971, the latest date for which figures are available, 46 whole-time and 50 part-time staff in England. No estimate of overall requirement is possible in isolation from the requirement of the local authority social services, on whom, under the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, the authorities' social work responsibilities generally rest.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to make a statement on the development of family planning in the Health Service.

I shall be making a statement on family planning at the end of Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what hospital regions it is required that hospital medical staff shall live within 10 miles of their hospital; in what regions it is required that they shall live within 10 miles or within half an hour's travelling time; and upon what criteria this difference is based.

The model forms of contract recommended by the Department for consultants and medical assistants require their private residences to be not more than 10 miles by road from their hospital unless specific approval is given by the employing board to a greater distance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of children made the subject of a care order is currently living at home.

The available information, based on provisional figures for 31st March 1972, is that 40,530 of the 86,504 children in the care of local authorities in England had been committed to care by a court order. About 17 per cent. of the total number in care were allowed to be under the charge and control of a parent, guardian, relative or friend, but it is not known how many of these were the subject of care orders.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider introducing legislation to provide equal retiring ages for men and women.

No. To reduce the minimum pension age for men would cause a massive increase in the cost of pensions and therefore in the contributions by which they are largely financed. To raise the pension age for women would discriminate against single women, since the joint benefit of a married couple is generally the same whether or not the wife has reached pension age.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has examined the report of the Hospital Caterers' Association on hospital catering, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he intends to take.

I have received the report and am considering it with other comments on management arrangements in the reorganised National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people he expects to be employed in the social and welfare services in the year 1973–74.

The estimated number that will be employed in health, education, social security and the personal social services in Great Britain at 1st April 1974 is 2¼ million in terms of whole-time equivalents. Of this number approximately 170,000 will be employed in the personal social services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider introducing legislation to prohibit cigarette advertising in public transport vehicles.

I have no plans for introducing legislation for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pre-registered house officers there are in the hospitals of England and Wales.

In England 1,948 and in Wales 91 as at September, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action to change the position where a person over minimum retirement age who elects to continue work and is thereby liable to pay the normal earnings-related rate of graduated contributions does not receive earnings-related sickness and unemployment benefits.

No. It has been accepted by successive Governments that it is appropriate for people over minimum retirement age to receive sickness and unemployment benefits at a rate equivalent to the flat-rate pension which would otherwise be payable. The graduated contributions which they pay count towards extra graduated pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what payments have been made to date since 1st August to the Ugandan Asians.

If my hon. Friend has in mind social security benefits, the information requested is not available because the amounts paid are not recorded separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has not had discussions with the Uganda Resettlement Board; and whether he will arrange to meet the board to discuss the problems of the resettlement of the Ugandan Asians.

My right hon. Friend sees no need to meet the board at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many vacancies there are for nurses at the North Staffordshire hospitals; and how many beds are unstaffed.

These hospitals have no approved nurse staffing establishments against which numbers of vacancies could be assessed. Their nurse staffing levels are at present limited only by the number of nurses—in particular trained nurses —who can be recruited. The number of beds available at any time is conditioned, not only by the staffing levels, but also by the effect of maintenance and capital works.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current sum collected per year by employers from their employees under occupational pension schemes; what estimate he has made of the increase in this sum as a result of the provisions of the Social Security Bill; how much of the current sum is invested by the employers in their own firms; and what steps he intends to take to safeguard these funds.

Members' contributions to such schemes were estimated to total £520 million in 1971. No reliable estimate can be made of increases which might result from the Social Security Bill; and no separate figures are available as to the investment of employees' contributions. The funds of recognised schemes will be supervised by the Occupational Pensions Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further representations he has received regarding the eligibility of pensioners for the Christmas lump sum payment; and what replies he has sent.

A number of hon. Members have written to me mainly about the ineligibility of certain persons under pension age to receive the special payments, and there have also been representations from some members of the public. In my replies I have pointed out that in carrying out a speedy operation of this kind it was necessary to have clear-cut categories who would benefit, and that the dividing line adopted was, in the Government's view, the appropriate one in the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were waiting for admission to hospitals in the area covered by the Wessex Regional Hospital Board at the latest convenient date; and what were the equivalent figures for 1970 and 1971.

18,744 people on 30th June 1972. I understand that the only comparable figures for earlier years are those I gave the hon. Member on 22nd February.—[Vol. 831. c. 260.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people he estimates have serious chronic disabilities without being able to obtain social security cash benefit, apart from supplementary benefit.

Precise figures are not available. There are about 140,000 people of working age who have been incapable of work for more than six months and are getting supplementary benefit without invalidity or industrial injuries scheme benefit. The 1971 Survey "Handicapped and Impaired in Great Britain" suggested that there are something under 100,000 married women housewives between 16 and 64 prevented by disablement from doing most of their household work. Some people in both these groups will be among the 22,000 adults of working age getting attendance allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue instructions giving priority to Scotland as a site for any future development of administration in his Department.

No, although as the hon. Member may know, I propose to establish a computer centre at Livingston which will process claims to unemployment benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to complete consultations on the Foster Report on Scientology.

I have at present nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) on 14th November.—[Vol. 846, c. 194–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to provide the approved schools with the professional skills and other resources that would enable them to accept seriously disturbed adolescents and if he will make a statement.

Approved schools already accept seriously disturbed adolescents in the care of local authorities, but I recognise that in particular cases a local authority may have difficulty in finding a place. Proposals from approved school managers for strengthening their resources in this regard are always sympathetically considered by my Department. When approved schools become community homes under local authorities' regional plans the authority or organisation which manages the home will be responsible for providing staff and other resources. From the regional plans, which are now before my right hon. Friend for approval, it is clear that local authorities intend to continue the progress which has been made under the approved school system. Opportunities for education and training in social work continue to expand under the aegis of the Central Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of general practitioners in the Yorkshire and Humberside region; and how the figure compares with the national average per 100,000 of the population.

At 1st October 1971 the number of general practitioners in the Yorkshire and Humberside region was 1,938 giving 40·30 doctors per 100,000 population.The corresponding figures for England at the same date were 19,374 and 42·04 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioners there are in the area covered by the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board; and how that figure compares with the national average per 100,000 of the population.

At 1st October 1971 the number of general practitioners in the area covered by the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board was 1,788, giving 38.42 doctors per 100,000 population.The corresponding figures for England at the same date were 19,374 and 42·04 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve out-patient facilities at Southampton Eye Hospital.

The Wessex Regional Hospital Board's capital programme includes plans to improve conditions for both out-patient and accident and emergency cases. The work is scheduled to commence in mid 1973 and be completed by the end of 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he is giving to the suggestion submitted by him by the Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospitals, that in certain cases his Department should make payments towards the travelling expenses of parents, since in their view parental visits can benefit the treatment of the child.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 24th October. The consultations with voluntary bodies to which I then referred have been completed and I shall shortly be issuing a circular about the role voluntary help can play in providing transport for visitors to hospital patients.—[Vol. 843, c. 230–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the symposium, organised by his Department, on 29th November, on The Care of the Dying.

The purpose of the symposium was to discuss the needs of the dying patient and his family in the broadest context and to consider the problems of caring for such patients in hospital and the home. Representatives from more than 50 organisations covering a wide range of church, professional and voluntary and other interests participated with a distinguished panel of speakers. I am considering the proceedings, a printed version of which I hope to publish and circulate widely in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding incorrect information submitted to the hon. Member by his Department: and what action he proposes.

None. The figure given in my letter of 2nd November to the hon.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many Government and local authority employees are drawing supplementary benefit.

People in full-time work are not entitled to supplementary benefit. No information is available as to the previous or normal occupation of supplementary beneficiaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployment benefits and how many supplementary allowances were paid out to juvenile claimants in 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, and what is the number so far for 1972–73 in the Port Talbot/Glyncorrwg area and the Aberavon division, respectively; and what are the comparable figures for Wales.

The information which is available concerns the numbers of payments current at particular dates for the areas served by the Port Talbot Careers Office and for the whole of Wales, and it is tabulated below. The Port Talbot Careers Office covers an area including Glyncorrwg and Aberavon, but it is not possible to distinguish separate figures for those districts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how many nurses each hospital within the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee area is under establishment.

The practice of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board is to fix what it regards as optimum establishments and to determine each year the percentage of these for which finance can be provided; for the current year this is 84 per cent. of optimum establishments. On 30th September 1972 the nurses in post in the East Cheshire Group amounted to 79 per cent. of optimum establishment although I understand there has since been some improvement. The position in the various hospitals on 30th September was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many beds are available for short-term geriatric patients per 1,000 people in the area covered by the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee;(2) how many beds are available for geriatric patients per 1,000 people in the area covered by the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee.

There are nearly 7·0 geriatric beds available per 1,000 elderly population of which nearly 2·5 are used for short-term assessment and initial treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many old people in the area covered by the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee on the A waiting list for geriatric beds have been waiting for more than six months, 12 months, and 18 months, respectively;(2) how many old people in the area covered by the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee on the accelerated admission list for geriatric beds have been awaiting admission for more than six months, 12 months and 18 months, respectively.

There is only one list of people waiting for admission to geriatric beds; no one has been waiting more than six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many offenders were committed under a restriction order, under Section 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959, in each year since its introduction.

The relevant parts of the Mental Health Act 1959 came into force on 1st November 1960. The number of persons admitted to hospitals in England and Wales (including the Special Hospitals) under Section 60 of the Act with restriction orders under Section 65 in each complete year was:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to alter the legislation under which those known to have committed acts of violence are placed in conventional mental hospitals to the danger of themselves and others.

I accept that potentially violent patients can create difficulties for some hospitals, but I am not convinced that changes in legislation are either necessary or appropriate to deal with these problems. The Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders under the chairmanship of the Lord Butler is, however, considering what changes, if any, are needed in the powers, procedure and facilities relating to the treatment of such offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the effect of Section 60 of the Mental Health Act 1959 in bringing those with known violent records into conventional mental hospitals; and what has been the comparative increase in the numbers of attacks on nurses and fellow patients since this was brought into effect.

The central statistical records do not indicate those persons with violent records admitted under Section 60. An order under this section may not, however, be made unless arrangements have been made for the admission of the offender to hospital. Comparative figures of attacks on nurses and patients before and since the Act came into force are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publicise the dangers of poisoning by aspirins to children of the age group in the lower classes of nursery and infant schools.

Health education on this and other subjects is primarily the responsibility of local authorities and of the Health Education Council. The council and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents have made available to local authorities publicity material on the dangers, particularly to young children, of poisoning by medicines; this includes a poster and a leaflet concerned specifically with the dangers of aspirin. I understand that the council is also conducting a study into the causes of home accidents, including the accidental poisoning of children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the total employees within the National Health Service are currently in receipt of weekly earnings of less than £25; and how many of these have been adversely affected by the wage freeze.

Detailed information about the earnings of employees is not held centrally, but we estimate that about half the total number of full-time staff, including students, earn under £25 per week. The standstill has affected pay negotiations for about 100,000 full-time ancillary workers earning under £25.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in consultations on the implementation of the proposals of the Briggs Report on the nursing profession.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and I have written to a number of interested organisations inviting them to submit comments on the report by the middle of January 1973. Comments would be welcomed from any other organisations within the same time limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate a review of the need for replacing old people's community homes with new modern buildings, with a view to seeking powers to give assistance in this regard.

My Department has recently carried out a national census of old people's homes which will provide information about the extent of the need for replacement. My right hon. Friend hopes to publish a report on the census next summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he will not take action to ensure that all unemployed, sick and disabled and those on social welfare benefits are granted, by Her Majesty's Government, the same facilities on the same basis of payment as the Ugandan Asians.

Because there is already a wide range of social security and welfare benefits available to unemployed, sick and disabled people, depending upon individual circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give for the latest and most convenient stated date the total number of retirement pensioners, both single and married couples, who were in receipt of

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimate he has made of the numbers admitted to hospitals in the United Kingdom due to self-poisoning with medical drugs for each of the past 10 years; and how many of these were children;(2) what proportion of emergency admissions to medical beds in the National Health Service were due to self-poisoning in the last complete year for which figures are available; how this figure compares with earlier years; and what was the proportion of adults to children.

The information is not available as the statistics of hospital treatment of cases of poisoning do not distinguish those of self-poisoning.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement with regard to the future of the Radiotherapy Department in the Ipswich hospitals.

I have written to my hon. Friend to assure him that speculation that the exising radiotherapy department is to be closed is ill-founded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a detailed statement on the different categories under which severely their basic pensions and no supplementary; how many were in receipt of supplementary; and on average what this amount was for this stated date.

The estimated figures for December 1971, the latest convenient date, are as follows:congenitally disabled children will qualify for benefits under the new Government scheme.

I will make a detailed statement about these arrangements as soon as possible, but I am not yet ready to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed comparative list of the social and welfare services and benefits which will be available to each of the countries of the Nine on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

Comparative social security tables prepared by my Department as at 1st August 1970 covering Great Britain and the Six, and as at 1st January 1970 covering the European Free Trade Association countries, including Denmark, are in the Library of the House.The European Economic Community is preparing comparative social security tables, including medical care provisions, as at 1st July 1972 covering the Nine. I cannot say when these will be available. Other general welfare provisions do not lend themselves to similar comparison.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the £25 maternity grant is payable to any applicant; and whether, in particular, a person who is unemployed and unable to pay his insurance is entitled to claim this allowance.

A national insurance maternity grant is payable where the woman, or her husband, satisfies the statutory conditions, including the contribution conditions. At least 26 contributions of any class must have been paid since entry into insurance, and in the relevant contribution year at least 26 contributions must have been paid or credited, including contributions credited in respect of weeks of unemployment. I have written to the hon. Member about the case which I think he has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the information sent to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning a constituent, a disabled person with a wife and three children and an expected fourth child, he will cause an investigation to be held to establish whether this person is receiving all the benefits to which he is entitled.

I have replied to the hon. Member's letter of 4th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the new evidence submitted to him since 21st November 1972 by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning the problems confronting the London Borough of Newham so far as it affects his Department's ministerial responsibility, he will arrange an early visit.

I have received a communication from the hon. Member which I shall be answering in detail. I have no plans for a visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that the National Union of Public Employees has given notice of a half day strike on 13th December to 51 hospital management boards in support of its claim for a £4 a week increase for hospital ancillary workers; and what action he proposes to take.

The standstill on prices and incomes has the effect of postponing a pay increase for National Health Ser- vice ancillary staff among others. I regret that demonstrations by these staff are being arranged for 13th December. My right hon. Friend has asked hospital authorities to seek to maintain essential services but the demonstrations may cause some unavoidable inconvenience to patients and the public.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his estimates of the number of persons currently benefiting from tax relief in respect of contributions for the purchase of retirement annuities under Section 226 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970; the total annual value of eligible contributions; and the amount of tax forgone.

For 1969–70, the latest year for which figures are available, about 150,000 claimed relief. The premiums allowed were about £25 million, and the tax relief, including surtax, was approximately £10 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the calculations which led him to inform the directors of Lloyds and Scottish and European Ferries, respectively, first that publicly predicted dividend increases would not contravene the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Act, and then that they would contravene that Act, respectively; and if he will take steps to compensate those who dealt in the shares of these two companies between the first decision and the second, on the basis that the predicted dividend increases would be paid.

The advice given in the first instance to these companies by the Treasury was based on the understanding, following discussions with these companies, that they had formally announced their dividends to the Stock Exchange and to the Press before the standstill in the terms referred to in the Treasury guidance of 7th November 1972. When it became clear that no such formal announcement of the kind set out in Treasury guidance had been made the companies were advised that their forecast higher dividends would not be consistent with the standstill.The answer to the second part of the question is "No".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will introduce tax relief for football league clubs to enable them to carry out safety improvements to their grounds in accordance with the recommendations by the Wheatley Report.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but he will be aware of the difficulties in the way of adopting his suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that from April next the Save As You Earn scheme will be at a disadvantage so far as interest rates are concerned in comparison with certain rates offered by building societies, whether he will consider raising the interest rates on the Government's Save As You Earn scheme.

I am not aware that either National Savings or building societies' SAYE schemes will be at a disadvantage after the introduction of unified tax. The terms of all National Savings securities are kept under constant review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many surtax payers there are; and how many there were at October for each year in the previous ten years.

Figures for the years up to 1969–70 are given in Inland Revenue Statistics 1972, Table 6. The figures for later years are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek to arrange to meet the Council of Ministers in Brussels to discuss the ending of the floating of the £ sterling and fixing its parity before Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what authority Members of Parliament are allowed to claim up to four separate tax-free allowances per day, when other taxpayers are allowed to claim only one.

Members of Parliament are subject to the same tax rules as other taxpayers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the estimated income that a man with a wife and two children, and a man with a wife and three children all under school-leaving age, respectively, can expect during training to take up work in a Remploy factory; and what will be their estimated average earnings on completion of training.

All training for severely disabled Remploy workers is provided on the job, at a basic weekly wage rate of £16·32 for men for a 40-hour week irrespective of family circumstances. Earnings on completion of training will depend upon a man's ability, experience, and trade; and the bonus schemes in operation. The average weekly earnings of severely disabled trained male employees in Remploy are currently £20.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will in future, when issuing his monthly Press statement on employment statistics, state the number of young persons out of work as well as the number of vacancies for young people.

Yes. The information sought will be included from this month onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will

The following is a list of reference made to the CIR since 1st January 1970:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now make a statement about the future of the Community Industry Scheme far young people.

The scheme has been extended to 31st March 1973 to enable Community Industry to use the whole of its original grant. An announcement on the longer term future of the scheme will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now specify what progress has been made in the provision of a Government training centre in the county borough of Newport.

Negotiations to acquire a site at Newport are well advanced. Planning arrangements for the new centre, which will have 240 places when complete, are being made as quickly as possible, and the first places are expected to become available by early 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of employable disabled people in Scotland; how many are in employment in sheltered workshops; how many in open work; and how many are unemployed.

When last counted in April there were 60,921 people in Scotland registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944. Currently 10,307 such people are unemployed; and 1,768 are employed in sheltered workshops. Most of the remainder are in open work; but it is not possible to give an estimate of the precise number. There is also evidence to suggest that there are as many unregistered, but registrable, disabled people in open work as there are registered disabled people in open work and that about one-fourth of unemployed disabled people known to my Department are not registered under the Act.