asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend the payment of death grants to those who were over the minimum pension age on 5th July 1948.

No. Death grant was an entirely new benefit under the National Insurance Scheme in 1948, and those who were over pensionable age on that date had no expectation of such a benefit. They did not become insured under the new scheme and could not therefore be covered for death grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated cost of increasing the death grant to £60 for all those who die at age 75 years or later.

£14 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of courses of dental treatment carried out under the National Health Service for the most recent year compared with the number in 1969–70.

For England, the numbers of courses of dental treatment provided, including cases of emergency treatment, were 19·9 million in 1970 and 22·5 million in 1972, an increase over the two-year period of 13 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will next make a statement about invalid cars.

As soon as possible after Lady Sharp has submitted her report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will modify the present regulations to enable more handicapped people to have four-wheeled rather than three-wheeled motor vehicles.

Not at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the progress being made by the Rowntree Trust in distributing the £3 million provided by the Government for disabled children.

I cannot at present add to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State in the course of the Second Reading debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill on 22nd March. I am sending a copy of my letter to local authorities and of the trust's explanatory leaflet to my hon. Friend.— [Vol. 853, c. 754–57.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute an inquiry into the conditions and quality of life of physically and mentally handicapped children living in long-stay hospitals.

My Department has put in hand with hospitals and local authorities a variety of measures to improve con ditions for these children and to reduce the number who must spend long periods in hospital. The committee which, as has been announced, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I are to appoint to review the whole range of child health services can be expected to give further attention to the needs of severely handicapped children, and I do not think a further inquiry is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of that proportion of the income of people on supplementary benefit which is spent on food.

Information which relates specifically to those in receipt of supplementary benefit is not available. However, the latest family expenditure survey data shows that one-person households where most of the income is derived from retirement and/or supplementary pension spent an average of £2·89 a week on food.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to end the situation whereby the payment for spectacles is according to the complexity of the lens and not in accord with the standard pre scription fee charged for medicaments regardless of the severity of the illness.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give the current basic rates of pay for a mortuary attendant employed by the National Health Service in the provinces.

£19·80.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will investigate the numbers of National Health Service and private patients admitted to hospital during the hospital ancillary workers dispute, and publish his findings.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to his Question of 16th March.—[Vol. 852, c. 455.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the hospital ancillary workers.

I have had several informal discussions with the trade unions concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate allegations by members of the National Union of Public Employees that in hospitals affected by strike action National Health Service patients have been turned away in favour of private abortion patients; and whether he will make a statement.

Such allegations made about hospitals in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area were fully investigated by the regional hospital board. The board found that during the period in question admis- sion has been governed only by the relative clinical urgency for treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of hospital ancillary workers have basic wage rates of 50p an hour or less.

Eighty-eight per cent. reducing to 67 per cent. if the current offer is accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average number of hours per week worked by male hospital ancillary staff, and the average number of hours at which appropriate grades of such workers were on call in each week during 1972.

Revised estimate is 44; information requested about staff on call is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement about further easement of the earnings rule for pensioners, in view of the fact that the limit was last raised in 1971.

My hon. Friend will be aware that the earnings rule has never been changed at regular intervals. Its starting point was substantially eased in 1971 and a change in the proportionate band was made in 1972. We do not contemplate a further alteration at present.

the Secretary of State for Social Services what portion of the grant payable under Section 64 of the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968 to projects dealing with the physic ally handicapped was allocated to the Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

No grant has been requested by this association and none has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider his decision not to reconstitute the Standing Joint Committees on the Classification of Proprietary Medicines in view of the fact that there has been the greatest increase in the cost of the pharmaceutical services in any year since the National Health Service started.

No. This committee was concerned with the comparative efficacy of drugs and not with their cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what proportion of playgroups are in receipt of free milk; and how many children are involved;(2) how many children attend establishments registered under the Nursery and Child Minders Act; and how many of them receive free milk.

At 31st March 1972, there were in England 11,469 establishments, including 10,610 playgroups, registered under the Nurseries and Child Minders (Regulation) Act 1948 with a maximum accommodation for 285,579 children under school age. At the same date there were 7,449 playgroups, private day nurseries and child minders claiming reimbursement for milk supplied. Separate figures for playgroups claiming reimbursement and for the number of children supplied with milk are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of performing an abortion within the National Health Service.

No separate costing figures are produced in respect of the treatment of different medical and surgical conditions, and I regret, therefore, that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will exempt from prescription charges all those suffering from chronic bronchial asthma.

No. 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 two years, and we are satisfied that no useful purpose would be served by raising the matter again.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the workings of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970; and whether he will make a statement.

The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 replaced and strengthened earlier regulations and imposed comprehensive requirements on food traders. The local authorities enforce the regulations and I am satisfied that the provisions of the regulations, when vigorously applied, are effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends taking to preserve the real value of welfare allowances, including family allowances, to protect families of the lower-paid against the stage 2 formula.

The pay provisions in the Price and Pay Code for stage 2 of the counter-inflation programme are designed to improve the relative position of the lower-paid and to effect a real improvement in their incomes. Improvements have been made or will shortly be made in the provisions for family income supplements, rent rebates and allowances, rate rebates, free school meals and free welfare milk; as regards social security benefits in general, the Government have already announced their plans for increasing the benefits in the autumn without increasing the contributions of the lower paid. In the longer term, the success of the counter-inflation policy will be the best safeguard for the living standards of all families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for altering income and capital disregards applied to social security benefits.

None at present. The levels of the disregards will be reviewed at an appropriate time, and in the meantime the general increases in supplementary benefit effective from October will help all beneficiaries whether or not they have disregarded resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of amending the scales detailed in the Supplementary Benefits Leaflet SP1 (September 1971) of his Department if, for capital in excess of £325, the assumed income was amended to (a) 2½p instead of the present 5p for each extra £25 between £325 and £800 and (b) 2½p instead of the present 12½p for each extra £25 above £800; and what is the estimated number of persons in each of these two groups who would benefit from such amendments.

The proposal at (a) would cost at least £1£ million and would benefit about 60,000 people; (b) would cost a further £2¾ million and give a further benefit to just over half of the 60,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to enable a deserted husband, who is forced to remain at home to look after children, to claim social security benefits without being obliged to be registered for employment.

I have no plans to do so. In appropriate circumstances, supplementary benefit may be payable until satisfactory alternative arrangements can be made for care of the children. If my hon. Friend is concerned about a particular case, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what gross sum was paid out in social security payments in that region which contains Weymouth and Portland in February and August 1971 and 1972, respectively; and what is the population of the region.

I regret that monthly expenditure figures are not available but it is estimated that the annual expenditure on social security benefits in the Department's South-West region in the years 1970–71 and 1971–72 was about £250 million and £290 million respectively. The population of the region is about 3,792,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that a representative of the dental profession is appointed to area health boards; and if he will make a statement.

The Government will be proposing an amendment to the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill to require regional health authorities, when appointing members of area health authorities, to consult bodies representative of the dental profession. In addition, I intend that where the area of an area health authority (teaching) contains a dental school, three members will be appointed on the nomination of the university, of whom one shall be a registered dental practitioner.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of deaths certified as being due to coronary thrombosis in 1972, in 1971 and in 1960.

In England and Wales deaths from acute myocardial infarction—the relevant category of the International Classification of Diseases which consists almost entirely of cases of coronary thrombosis—totalled 99,710 in 1971 and 105,944 (provisional) in 1972. Due to changes in the classification no strictly comparable figure for 1960 is available but the total is estimated at 73,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities are still not discharging their duties under Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

I will as soon as possible make a further statement about progress made by local authorities in implementing the section, but I am not yet ready to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of local authorities which are now providing free contraceptive advice and supplies to all resident men and women or have taken the decision so to do.

Twenty-two.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the latest report issued by the Disablement Income Group, a copy of which is in his possession.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his policy towards the latest report from the Disablement Income Group.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 12th March. —[Vol. 852, c. 270–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that the draft order under the Medicines Act 1968 on hexachlorophane will provide for informative labelling of toilet preparations containing the chemical.

The Pharmacy and Medicines Act 1941 provides that the composition of medicines sold by retail should be disclosed on the label or container. There is therefore no need to make similar provisions in relation to medicinal products containing hexachlorophane in the draft order under the Medicines Act 1968. The order would not apply to toilet preparations which are not medicinal products.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the arrangements by which payment of rent by families in need of social help can be made directly, either by attachment of earnings or by the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

So far as I am aware, the respective arrangements are satisfactory. The attachment procedure, which is not primarily my Department's concern, was introduced in August 1971 and there is little information about its practical operation so far. If my hon. Friend is concerned about a particular case where either arrangement appears not to be working satisfactorily, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received asking him to raise family allowances.

In the past six months I have received 50 or so representations urging that family allowances be increased. These included four from recognised bodies, such as Child Poverty Action Group, and 25 petitions organised by private groups, containing a total of about 6,000 names. The remaining representations were from individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the intention to transfer responsibility for mentally-ill persons from the hospital service to local authorities, he will issue as a matter of urgency a White Paper on the matter which will introduce an effective community-based service for them; and ensure that the paper will include consideration of proper financial provision for such transfer of responsibility.

The question of transfer of responsibility does not arise. Responsibility for the mentally ill rests with the community as a whole, not with the hospital service.The intention is to provide services which so far as possible are those best suited to the true needs of the mentally ill. In many cases patients at present in hospital would be better cared for through the medium of the local authority social services, if these were sufficiently developed. The implications are matters to be taken into account in the general consideration of the balance of health and social services expenditure.I am aiming to issue a White Paper by the end of next year. The paper is intended to set out an overall strategy for health and social services for the mentally ill, restating, correlating and adding to guidance previously issued separately on different aspects.It will, so far as possible, set out, in the light of priorities for the health and social services as a whole, the way in which the main areas may be expected to develop. There will however be some areas in which, in the present state of knowledge, the aim will be to define the various policy options and to outline aspects needing further research and evaluation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the results of his discussions with a deputation from the Joint Committee of Ex-service Organisations on 15th February 1973.

My right hon. Friend gave the joint committee deputation a categorical assurance that the Government will continue to give special treatment to war pensioners and war widows. The substantial increases in war pensions and the special allowances for the severely disabled and war widows which my right hon. Friend announced in the House on 7th March to take effect from 1st October this year are a recognition of our determination to maintain that tradition. [Vol. 852, c. 412–428.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to obtain early completion of the District General Hospital in Walsall.

Planning should be completed by the mid-1970s, but it is not possible at this stage to forecast when the hospital will be commissioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any evidence as to the increase or decrease of alcoholism among young persons; and if he will make a statement.

Recent studies have indicated that the average age at which alcoholism is being diagnosed is decreasing and that offences connected with drunkenness among young people have increased, but as far as I am aware there is no recent published work on the prevalence of alcoholism as such among young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the British Standards Institution has set up its technical committee of methods of test for child-resistant containers; and, if so, what steps have been taken by his Department to assist such a committee.

Yes. Officers of my Department are members of the technical committee and have participated fully in its considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what interim guidance has been drawn up by the Department of Health and Social Security or by the British Standards Institution in order that pharmacists, doctors and the industry concerned may be advised as to child-resistant containers.

Interim guidance in the form of drafts for development on methods of test of resistance of pharmaceutical packages to opening by children is expected to be published soon by the British Standards Institution.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number and proportion of retirement pensioners are thought to have an income from all sources within two-thirds of national average earnings.

It is estimated that at the end of 1971 about 20 per cent. of married couple pensioners (370,000 couples) and about 5 per cent. of single pensioners (200,000) had gross weekly incomes of at least £20. Average weekly earnings of male manual workers in October 1971 were £30·93.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the following information on supplementary benefits in 1971 and 1972, respectively, giving in each case the figure both for strikers and their dependants, the number of such recipients, the number of working days lost, the total amount of supplementary benefit paid to them, excluding post-strike payments, and the average amount paid per working day lost, excluding post-strike payments;(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the following figures for the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively, the number of working days lost in industrial disputes, the potential claim for supplementary benefits arising from those disputes, assuming that each claimant's family consisted of a husband, a wife and two children aged between five and 10 years, the actual payment of supplementary benefits to them and the percentage that the actual payment was of the potential claim.

As the figures requested by my hon. Friend require extensive explanations, I am writing to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether strikers' dependants are entitled to free spectacles and dental treatment.

Supplementary benefit may be paid to meet a National Health Service charge incurred by a striker's wife, provided the normal qualifying conditions for payment of benefit under Section 6 of the Ministry of Social Security Act 1966 are satisfied. Optical and dental treatment are available free of charge for all children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement as to the state of negotiations concerning the payment of adequate compensation for doctors and hospital staffs who may be injured when acting as flying squads for motorway accidents.

My right hon. Friend is expecting to receive shortly a report by the Joint Superannuation Consultative Committee making recommendations for a new and improved injury benefits scheme covering all National Health Service staff who are permanently incapacitated by any injury sustained in the course of duty. Additionally and separately he is considering a claim for improvements in the injury benefits payable to junior hospital doctors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the firms whose hearing aids have been assessed in connection with the provision of an ear-level hearing aid.

Information has been sought from all British manufacturers and suppliers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he, in order to assist his consideration of proposals for their provision in the United Kingdom, will seek to assess the cost and efficiency of the Danish ear-level hearing aids and servicing.

All necessary relevant information will be sought and used.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many Medresco hearing aids have been in use for each of the last five years, which were supplied by the National Health Service.

Information in this form is not available. Issues in England and Wales, including replacements, in each of the last five years is as follows:

1968	233,975
1969	250,466
1970	255,258
1971	263,255
1972	284,065

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the National Health Service of supplying ear-level hearing aids to all deaf people who can benefit from them.

As an estimate of this kind would depend upon definitions of "deaf" and "benefit", and the extent to which it might be feasible to obtain ear-level aids capable of assisting various forms of hearing impairment, it is not possible to suggest a meaningful cost on these broad terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the unit cost to his Department of purchasing an ear-level hearing aid compared with a body-worn one.

A precise comparison cannot be offered because of the practice not to disclose prices paid under Government contracts. Ear-level aids would cost substantially more than the body-worn types now issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish the results of all departmental research projects in the hearing aid field.

Research organisations assisted by departmental funds are encouraged to publish their results in, for example, learned journals. If wider publicity seems desirable for any reason, the Department will consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Hearing Aid Industry Association, or individual firms, concerning the general National Health Service provision of an ear-level aid; and what reply he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has been asked to ensure that the fullest possible advantage be taken of existing commercial facilities and experience. He has undertaken to consider the representations.

	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
			£
Frequency transposition as a possible means of assisting the severely deaf.	October 1969	Completed Report is being studied but further work may arise.	3,530	Standard Telecommunication Laboratories Ltd.
Factors affecting auditory discrimination which may effect the design and prescription of hearing aids.	January 1971	January 1976	61,400	Nuffield Hearing and Speech Centre London,
Design aspect of post aural hearing aids.	October 1971	October 1973	7,605	Royal National Institute for the Deaf.
The nature and degree of hearing impairment among users of Medresco aids and determination of the hearing aid requirements of those adults who are too deaf to benefit from the existing range of aids.	January 1973	March 1975	6,100	Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital,

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are now receiving constant attendance allowance.

It is estimated that nearly 90,000 people are now receiving the attendance allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of infant mortality in Leek urban district

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take immediate action to assist the small minority of deaf people who are unable to receive any benefit from the present range of Medresco hearing aids.

A study has already started into the requirements of those who are severely deaf and unable to benefit from the present range of Medresco hearing aids.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the research studies being carried out by his Department in the hearing aid field showing (a) the date the investigation was started, (b) the date it is expected to be concluded, (c) the estimated expenditure, and (d) the names of the individuals and organisations who are involved or who have been consulted.

The following is the list of studies being undertaken:in the two most recent years for which figures are available.

The provisional number of deaths of infants under one year of age in the Leek urban district was five in 1972 compared with six in 1971, which represent rates per 1,000 live births (infant mortality rate) of 17 (provisional) and 22, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the number of prescriptions dispensed annually by chemists under the National Health Service in the Leek parliamentary constituency, or the most closely related area for which figures are available in each of the past 10 years.

The information requested is collected on an executive council basis and the most closely related such area is that of the Staffordshire Executive Council. Boundary changes were, however, made to this area in 1965 and 1966.The number of prescriptions dispensed under the National Health Service by chemists, drug stores or appliance contractors in the Staffordshire Executive Council area, as constituted in the relevant year, for each of the last 10 years, is shown in the following table:

Year	Number of prescriptions (thousands)
1963	3,702
1964	3,875
1965	4,573
1966	3,484
1967	3,004
1968	2,972
1969	2,973
1970	3,030
1971	3,021
1972	3,146

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has reached any decision following his Department's discussions with interested

Year		Local authority day nurseries	Places	Private nurseries providing full day care	Places	Children privately fostered
1970	…	2 (at 31st December 1969).	90	3 (at 31st December 1969).	68	123
1971	…	2 (at 31st December 1970).	90	4 (at 31st December 1970).	85	94
1972	…	2	100	4	89	125
Except where otherwise stated, figures are as at 31st March.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, to be finally completed; and if he will give a time scale of the work which is still to be done.

The North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board plans to bring the third and final phase of the hospital into use gradually over the period from January, 1974, when the building work should be finished, to January 1975.

I have at present nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 29th January.—[Vol. 849, c. 313.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision of hospital facilities will be made by the South East Regional Hospital Board for the new residential area of North Larkfield proposed in the Medway Gap town map.

I am informed that the proposal to develop the new residential area of North Larkfield has been taken into account by the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in the planning of district general hospital services in the Maidstone area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of local authority day nurseries and places, private nurseries and places, hospital nurseries and children privately fostered in Staffordshire in each of the past three years.

The available information for the administrative county of Staffordshire is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the need to introduce radiological screening methods for the detection of breast cancer into the National Health Service; and what replies he has given.

I have received many letters on the subject of breast cancer screening and several hon. Members have shown a keen interest in the subject. In replying to these representations. I have explained that it would not be justifiable to set up a national screening programme until much more information is available about the resources needed and the benefits to be gained. I will write to the hon. Member on this subject.

the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive a report from the working party which is studying evidence on the value of screening in the detection of breast cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Following recommendations by the working group, trial services for breast cancer screening have been set up. The working group cannot report on the value of screening in the detection of breast cancer until it has received the reports on these trials. I cannot say when this will be. It is likely to be several years before meaningful information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Insurance pensioners living in the area covered by his West Cumberland offices are in receipt of supplementary benefits.

In the area covered by my Department's Workington and White-haven local offices, about 5,200 national insurance pensioners, including widows over the age of 60, are also receiving a supplementary pension. It is estimated that, in addition, about 1,000 wives with retirement pension are provided for in their husband's supplementary pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients from West Cumberland were treated at hospitals in Carlisle during 1970, 1971 and 1972, including both in-patients and out-patients; and why treatment was not available in West Cumberland.

Patients from West Cumberland treated as in-patients in Carlisle in 1970, 1971 and 1972 numbered 770, 457 and 647 respectively. In each of these years over 10,000 in-patients were treated in West Cumber- land. Corresponding figures for out-patients are not readily available. Hospitals in West Cumberland provide a full service for patients except in those few specialties which are more effectively provided on a regional or area basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children from West Cumberland under the age of 18 years had to travel to Carlisle or beyond for treatment as hospital in-patients and out-patients during 1970, 1971 and 1972.

In 1970, 1971 and 1972, the number of children under the age of 18 from West Cumberland treated as in-patients at Carlisle were 231, 167 and 323 respectively, and at Newcastle 99 and 111 in 1971 and 1972 respectively. Similar figures for out-patients are not available but the need for children to attend out-patient clinics outwith the West Cumberland hospitals is minimal.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why young children from the West Cumberland area cannot receive treatment for ear, nose and throat problems as in-patients at the West Cumberland Hospital when surgery is involved; and if he will make a statement.

In the interests of patients, ear, nose and throat facilities are provided on an area basis in order to make the best use of available specialist medical resources and surgical facilities. The comprehensive in-patient unit for ear, nose and throat treatment serving both East and West Cumberland is based in Carlisle. The Newcastle Regional Hospital Board has, however, recognised the relative isolation of West Cumberland by establishing a small in-patient unit in West Cumberland Hospital in association with a full consultant service. The consultants take into account the condition to be treated and decide which would be the better location for the effective and safe treatment of the patient.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many vacancies at present exist in National Health Service hospitals for specialists in ear, nose and throat illnesses.

The effective strength in post—in whole-time equivalents—of consultants was 263 on 30th September last. There were 23 vacancies, which included newly-established posts waiting to be filled and posts held by locums—again in terms of whole-time equivalents. These figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total annual budget of the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, in the financial years 1970–71 and 1971–72; and what is the estimated figure for the year 1972–73.

The expenditure of the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, for the financial years 1970–71 and 1971–72, exclusive of central administration costs of the Management Committee and the Regional Board, and of selective employment tax, was £1,328,492 and £1,570,172; and the comparable cost for 1972–73 is estimated as £1,802,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to authorise the establishment of a geriatric day centre at the Mount Hospital, Bishopstoke, to serve the needs of the borough of Eastleigh.

The Wessex Regional Hospital Board has no proposals at present for the provision of day hospital places at the Mount Hospital, Bishopstoke. There is, however, a proposal in its 1974–75 programme for 30 places at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, which would be available to the elderly population of the borough of Eastleigh.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will be in a position to make a further announcement on his Department's study of the feasibility of a national disability income.

The range and level of cash benefit provision for the handicapped is under continuing review as witnessed by the extension of attendance allowance and this year's uprating proposals. But my right hon. Friend has no statement to make at the present time about further developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute an inquiry into the care of mentally handicapped children at "The Beeches", Ixworth.

I have carefully considered points made by the hon. Member and by parents and other relatives of children accommodated at this home before it was closed last year, together with the proceedings of the inquest which was held into the death of one of the children.I have concluded that a formal inquiry into standards of care in the home would not be appropriate. But I have also concluded that there are important lessons to be learnt about the special problems which can arise when a child is placed in residential care outside his own home area, and that there should be a proper study of the procedures for communication and investigation of complaints in such circumstances to ensure that the histories and problems of children placed in private and voluntary homes are known to those who may be involved in their care and that the problems of such children are handled no less effectively than if they had been placed in a home run by the local authority in their own home area.I am accordingly appointing a study group of experienced people from outside my Department to look into these matters and report, and I hope that the parents, the former owners of "The Beeches", the various authorities and all others concerned will give the study group the co-operation it will need to complete its work effectively and expeditiously. It is my intention to publish the study group's report. Its membership and terms of reference are as follows:MEMBERS:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many decisions the commissioner has reversed in the North-West in favour of claimants for industrial injury benefits arising out of claims for pneumoconiosis in 1972 and to the nearest available date.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what stage has been reached in regional planning under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.

The planning for the new public system of community homes for children in the care of local authorities has been a long and difficult task and some of the plans have only very recently been finalised. I have now approved all the regional plans for England and my right hon. and learned Friend has approved the plan for Wales. All the plans came into effect on 1st April. Improvements in the plans will continue to be made but the commencement of the community home system is a landmark in the development of services for children and the regional planning committees, local authorities and voluntary organisations concerned are very much to be congratulated on what has been achieved so far.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes to accept the recommendations of the Fourth Report from the Expenditure Committee 1971–72 on National Health Service facilities for private patients.

Yes. A White Paper on Private Practice in National Health Service Hospitals has been issued today (Cmnd. 5270). It contains a general statement of the Government's views on the matter as well as dealing specifically with the report and recommendations of the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will examine the scope for differential unit cost criteria in high-cost areas for school building purposes.

My right hon Friend has examined this issue and considers that national cost limits, sympathetically administered, are more appropriate to educational building than regional allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will consider more research into arthritis and rheumatism, in view of the recent findings about loss of working time through rheumatic diseases.

This is a matter for the Medical Research Council. In February 1972, after a review of studies on rheumatism and allied disorders, the council resolved to continue wide-ranging research in this field and identified specific areas of investigation to receive special consideration for their support. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services recently announced plans for new centres to demonstrate best practice in treatment and rehabilitation in cases of arthritis and stroke.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what regulations govern the provision of first-aid facilities in schools; what percentage of staff are required to have first-aid qualifications; and what provisions there are for training courses in first aid for in-post teachers.

There are no statutory regulations on these matters but guidance is given in the Department's publications "A Handbook of Health Education" and "Safety at School".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the building programme for the new Middle School at Burley in Wharfedale is up to schedule; and if she will make a statement.

This project started in 1971–72 as intended. Building progress thereafter is a matter for the local education authority which, I am satisfied, has done all it can to expedite construction. I understand that site difficulties have delayed completion, which is now expected at the end of 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many full-time qualified workers were employed in youth and community work in the United Kingdom in the years 1970, 1971 and 1972; what are the comparative figures for training youth workers for each of those years; and how many posts were not fully manned by qualified personnel.

My right hon. Friend has responsibility for the Youth Service only in England and Wales for which the figures are as follows:

	1970	1971	1972
Workers in post on 31st December:
Qualified	2,264*	2,100	2,261
Unqualified		421	470
Students completing training	199	43†	147
Vacant posts on 31st December	244	287	376
* Includes all workers: unqualified not separately recorded.
† Two year courses were introduced instead of one year courses in 1970; students qualifying in 1971 were those from a two-year course started earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has decided whether to study the incidence of turnover of staff of schools in areas where turnover is already high.

I am proposing shortly to consult the parties concerned about the possibility of conducting a sample survey next term among schools in all areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she proposes to take upon the Russell Report on Adult Education.

My right hon. Friend is still studying the report but I can repeat the undertaking she has al-already given that she will be consulting those organisations which have a special interest in adult education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many deaf children are unable to find places in suitable schools.

In January 1972 there were 126 deaf children in England awaiting places in special schools, 73 of whom were under 5 years of age. A new school for 90 primary' age children is expected to be in use in the summer of 1975, and a further school for secondary pupils is likely to be programmed in 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now hold an inquiry into the educational problems of all deaf children.

The Department is already considering various matters concerning the education of children with hearing impairment. Following this, I shall decide whether to issue guidance to local education authorities and to the voluntary bodies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will aproach the Church Commissioners with a view to the setting-up of a Church Treasures Museum in a suitable redundant church in each diocese of the Church of England, and give a grant for such purposes.

It is for the church authorities to decide how church treasures are best safeguarded. In many cases church property has been placed on loan in museums. Both the national and the local museums receive grants for the acquisition of articles of outstanding importance; these are available if the churches decided that disposal is the most satisfactory policy. It is not for my noble Friend to suggest what solution should be adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much per head of the population has been spent on education in each of the past five years.

The information for England and Wales is as follows:

	Out-turn prices
1967–68	£36·27
1968–69	£38·13
1969–70	£40·54
1970–71	£46·29
1971–72	£54·37

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what, on the basis of the most recent information available, is the number of children in each category of handicap waiting for a special school place;(2) what, on the basis of the most recent information available, is the number of children in each category of handicap, who have been waiting for a special school place for more than one year.

As at January 1972, the numbers were as follows:

	Awaiting admission for more than 1 year	Total number awaiting admission
Blind	49	122
Partially sighted	84	205
Deaf	26	126
Partially hearing	66	221
Physically handicapped	181	691
Delicate	301	831
Maladjusted	516	1,790
Educationally subnormal	4,795	10,761
Epileptic	17	47
Speech defects	42	107
Total	6,077	14,901

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children attended schools in Staffordshire in September 1970; what proportion took school dinners; what proportion of those taking school dinners had free dinners; and how these figures compare with the most recently available figures.

On a day in September 1970, 117,530 pupils attended maintained schools in Staffordshire; 67·6 per cent. of the pupils present took the school dinner and 9·3 per cent. of these received it free of charge. Corresponding figures for October 1972, the latest available, were, 126,291, 62·1 per cent. and 12·6 per cent.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what savings in expenditure he expects to make in respect of the proposed closures of Ministry of Defence research development establishments; and when he expects to implement the proposals and complete the second phase referred to in the Statement on Defence, paragraph 29.

Savings in expenditure from these closures will, it is estimated, be about £1·3 million a year. Plans to implement these decisions are proceeding with a view to completing the closures in three to five years. The second phase should be sufficiently defined for consultations with staff to begin before the end of this year. It is too early to say when the second phase will be completed.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when the decision announced by the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army to reimburse soldiers of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards for the duty payable on cars they sought to import on 8th December 1972 was communicated to each guardsman; and when he was paid.

The decision I announced to the House on 25th January was communicated to the battalion within 24 hours. It was then disseminated through regimental channels and I am satisfied that those serving with the unit would have been made aware of it very soon. Since the arrangements represent a substantial departure from normal practice, the preparation of detailed instructions took rather longer, but these were published in regimental orders on 9th March. The present position on the 17 individual cases in which the right hon. Member is interested is that nine claims were submitted between 20th March and 30th March. All have been passed for payment and five were settled by the unit on 2nd April. Of the other eight cases, one claim has been delayed because the soldier concerned is in hospital; two claimants have been reimbursed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, which has a third case under consideration. Three members of the battalion have sold their cars and one is to re-export his car later this year. I am in correspondence with the right hon. Member about the case of a constituent who left the Army before the decision was announced.—[Vol. 849, c. 622–24.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will list the units that have served in Northern Ireland, and the periods they have served since August 1969.

The following units have served since the date mentioned:

asked the Prime Minister what further meeting he has arranged with the CBI concerning the Price and Pay Code.

I have no specific arrangements for further discussions with the CBI, but we will be discussing the next stage of the counter-inflation policy with the CBI and I hope also with the TUC in due course.

asked the Prime Minister if, at his next meeting with TUC leaders, he will invite EEC trade union leaders to join the discussions.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his latest talks with the TUC.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins) on 27th March. [Vol. 853, c. 292.]

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the Secretary of State for Defence to the Surrey Conservative Club on 19th March on economic matters represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will invite the Turkish Head of Government to visit the United Kingdom officially.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official meeting with Mr. George Shultz, the American Treasury Secretary, on Monday 19th March regarding international monetary reform and American relations with Europe.

Secretary Shultz called on me at 10 Downing Street on 19th March. Our discussions covered international monetary developments, counter-inflation policies in the United States and Britain, trade negotiations and European-American relationships. The details are confidential.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a full survey of fat-stock marketing costs with regard to the efficient and economical marketing of livestock and wool.

Efficient marketing of agricultural and horticultural products is a subject of great importance which is being examined in the light of the recent Green Paper (Cmnd. 5121); but a separate and specific survey of fatstock marketing costs is not proposed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to cod under 30 centimetres;(2) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to haddock under 27 centimetres;(3) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to soles under 24 centimetres;(4) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to witches under 28 centimetres;(5) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to plaice under 25 centimetres;(6) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to hake under 30 centimetres;(7) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to lemon soles under 25 centimetres;(8) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to turbot under 30 centimetres;(9) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to brill under 30 centimetres;(10) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to megrims under 25 centimetres;(11) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to whitings under 25 centimetres;(12) how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 and the Immature Sea Fish Order 1968 with regard to dabs under 15 centimetres.

Following are the prosecutions since October 1968.

Cod	None
Haddock	5
Hake	None
Plaice	None
Witches	None
Lemon Sole	3
Sole	3
Turbot	None
Brill	None
Megrims	None
Whiting	3
Dabs	None
Total	14

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date and at what price the British Sugar Corporation last charged for wholesale ex-factory dried molassed beet pulp.

By mid-January, the British Sugar Corporation Ltd. had sold approximately 550,000 tons of dried molassed beet pulp to growers and merchants at the following scale of wholesale ex-factory prices, published in early September 1972.

Month of delivery	£ per ton
1972
October	24·50
November	25·00
December	25·50
1973
January	26·00

Its remaining stocks, comprising just over 12,000 tons, were sold in response to offers from merchants during the second half of January. It would not be appropriate to disclose the prices of these individual transactions as they are matters of commercial confidence between the corporation and the merchants in question.