asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the commencement of the project for a new district general hospital in Nuneaton.

The first phase of rebuilding the George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton, is currently planned to start in the second half of the 1970s subject to progress with planning.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it was at his request that the Fisher Committee did not investigate wrongful claims for supplementary benefit by strikers for themselves or their dependants.

No. The only instructions given to the Fisher Committee were its terms of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that purchases for the National Health Service are made only from firms whose employment and trading practices conform to standards acceptable in the United Kingdom.

No. The general policy for public purchasing adopted by successive Governments requires the National Health Service to secure the best value for money spent while obtaining what is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the present distribution of merit awards.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the price increases since 16th April 1973 in the canteens of the hospitals covered by the Mansfield group of hospitals; and if he will givethe reasons for these increases.

Yes. In the Mansfield group hospitals prices for snacks were increased on 16th April 1973 for the first time for seven years. Prices for main meals are subject to annual review and are nationally negotiated. New prices for main meals were not introduced until 11th June. In both cases the prices take account of value added tax.Following is the information:Snack price increases since 16th April 1973 in hospital canteens—Mansfield Hospital Management Committee:

Scones	+ ½p	Revised charge 2½p
Toast and Butter	+ ½p	Revised charge 2½p
Toast and Butter and Marmalade	+ ½p	Revised charge 3½p
Tea Cakes	+ ½p	Revised charge 3½p
Salad Sandwich	+ ½p	Revised charge 3½p
Cheese Sandwich	+1p	Revised charge 4p
Egg Sandwich	+1P	Revised charge 4p
Sausage Sandwich	+1p	Revised charge 4½p
Salmon Sandwich	+1p	Revised charge 5p
Bacon Sandwich	+1½p	Revised charge 5p
Meat Sandwich	+1½p	Revised charge 5p
Tea	No change
Coffee	No change

Main meal price increases introduced on 11th June 1973:

Light Breakfast	+ ½p	Revised charge 5½p
Cooked Breakfast	+ ½P	Revised charge 6½p
Lunch	+ 1½p	Revised charge 20p
Tea	+ ½P	Revised charge 5p
Evening Snack	+1p	Revised charge 9½p

A charge of 1½p for tea and 2½p for coffee was introduced for beverages accompanying a main meal, formerly included in the charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make industrial-noise-induced deafness an industrial disability for which a pension can be awarded.

This will be considered in the light of the advice received from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, whose report on occupational deafness will, I understand, shortly be submitted to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider the provision of financial incentives to encourage doctors to move to areas where the supply of general practitioners is low.

Incentives are already available: initial practice allowances for additional doctors starting in under-doctored areas; designated area allowances payable to all doctors in areas where the shortage is long-standing or severe.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to meet the needs of the young chronic sick who have to spend long periods in hospital.

A programme which will more than double the number of beds available is well under way throughout the country for the provision of special units for the younger disabled in hospital. This is being financed largely from additional resources which the Government have made available for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of the official inquiry into the recent smallpox outbreak in the London area.

I understand that the committee of inquiry held a preliminary meeting on 25th May and started taking evidence on 18th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will improve the provision of leaflets for welfare and health benefits which are available in post offices.

This is a problem of distribution, which is being improved. About 18 million leaflets issued by the Department are distributed every year through post offices, and problems arise only when stocks need to be replenished. In consultation with the Post Office, we are tightening up the reordering system.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what checks are made by his Department on nursing agencies which supply nurses to National Health Service hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what checks are made by his Department on the qualifications of nurses supplied by private nursing agencies to National Health Service hospitals.

No checks are made by my Department. It is the responsibility of local authorities as licensing authorities to enforce the provisions of the Nurses Agencies Act 1957. I am advised that it is the duty of agencies to check the qualifications of their nurses. Any further checks would be at the discretion of the licensing or employing authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department will take steps to reduce the time taken to transfer patients' medical records from one doctor to another in a different area.

I am not aware that the present arrangements give rise to any general inconvenience for general practitioners or patients. Arrangements already exist for the immediate transfer of records which are requested urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he intends to make over self-employed British nationals in relation to EEC regulations for social security.

In discussion of the Community's social policy programme we shall press for the inclusion of the self-employed within the scope of the EEC Social Security Regulations. However, as there is at present no general social security cover for self-employed persons in other member States of the Community we cannot expect an early change of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many letters he has received since February 1973 on the subject of relief from prescription charges of people who are below the statutory school leaving age.

Eighty-one.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now raise the age below which young people qualify for exemption from prescription charges to correspond with the increase in the school leaving age.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Eddie Griffiths) on 14th June 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now abolish prescription charges for medicines for children under 16 years of age.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Eddie Griffiths) on 14th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the dental profession about the increased use of preventive dentistry within the National Health Service.

None specifically, but I understand the Working Party on Dental Services is considering the need for and practicability of extending the range of preventive treatments currently available to National Health Service patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the policy of his Department towards ensuring that the recruiting and training of nurses is not handicapped by inadequate availability of housing or residential accommodation at rents or charges which such nursing staff are able to afford.

We seek to ensure that suitable accommodation for nursing staff is available as and where required, at appropriate rentals or lodging charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Cheadle-Wilmslow area on the question of the need for a hospital to be provided; when the representations were first made; and what plans he has for meeting the increased requirement for such facilities.

Nine bodies and individuals, including my hon. Friend, have made representations to my right hon. Friend on the subject generally since he announced his decision in March 1971 that a district general hospital should not be built at Wilmslow Road, Cheadle. No final decision has yet been made about future hospital provision for the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to obtain information on the effect of current social services legislation on the health of schoolchildren; and if he will make a statement.

If the hon. Member is referring to the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill, the long-term effect will be the creation of a comprehensive child health service, from which all children should benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state approximately the acreage of land owned by hospitals which he estimates could be made available for housing and other social purposes nationally and in the North-West, respectively; and if he will take steps to release hospital land not required.

This information is not available but I have recently announced changed financial arrangements to give more direct incentive to hospital authorities to release land.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will encourage an increase in the number of training centres and residential hostels for the mentally handicapped in the county of Kent; and if he will make a statement.

Current proposals and the 10-year development plan for its social services indicate that Kent County Council wants to increase quickly the number of training centres and residential homes for the mentally handicapped—in fact faster than the pace set nationally by the White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" to which the resources currently available are matched. I welcome the council's enthusiasm, and regret that, in order to make resources available for authorities less far advanced, I am not able to permit it to proceed with its plans as fast as it would wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what new residential care facilities are being provided for the grievously mentally handicapped adult in need of special care to replace those which are no longer to be provided by regional hospital boards.

As envisaged in the White Paper, "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" (Cmnd. 4683), regional hospital boards will provide residential facilities for mentally handicapped adults who require specialist medical supervision or constant nursing care and local authorities for others. This will require a considerable expansion of local authority residential facilities and we are encouraging local authorities to develop these as fast as resources permit. Hospitals will continue to provide for numbers of mentally handicapped people requiring care primarily on social grounds until in each area suitable local authority provision is made for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now consider seeking powers to relieve mentally handicapped persons who are incapable of working from the requirement to pay a weekly social security stamp.

Non-employed persons whose income does not exceed £468 a year—it is proposed to raise this to £520 from next October—can be excepted from payment of contributions. Under the Social Security Bill at present before Parliament payment of contributions by all non-employed persons will become voluntary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what rules govern the use of aborted human foetuses for medical or scientific experiments.

The report of the Peel Advisory Group published last year discussed the present legal and ethical position. There have been wide-ranging consultations on its recommendations and I am now considering what further action to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are being housed in hotels by the Supplementary Benefits Commission; what is the price per head per night; and what he estimates is the annual cost to Exchequer funds.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission has no power to provide housing and does not house people in hotels. When a family is homeless and alternative temporary accommodation is not immediately available, local authorities sometimes arrange for them to be housed temporarily in bed-and-breakfast accommodation to avoid taking the children into care. The cost of these arrangements is borne mainly by local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that the procedures laid down in hospitals for informing next of kin when serious cases are admitted to hospital are adequate and properly observed.

In general, yes. If my hon. Friend would let me know of any instances where these procedures or their observance seem to have been inadequate I shall be happy to have them investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the revised fees to be imposed by the General Nursing Council showing the percentage increase in each case; and if he consulted the Prices Commission before giving his approval.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) on 15th June. The increases fall within the provision of paragraph 98 of the Prices and Pay Code and no reference to the Prices Commission was therefore necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many road accidents involving injuries and admissions to hospital in the Hartlepool and Peterlee area there were during the past six months; and if he will list them for each area separately and indicate in what cases no police action was considered necessary.

During the past six months Hartlepool hospitals admitted 66 people as a result of 57 road accidents in the Hartlepool area, and 28 people as a result of 28 road accidents in the Peterlee area. Information is not available to show in which of the above accidents action was taken by the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will visit the National Association of Pension Funds' headquarters.

I have had no invitation to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give consideration to developing a new motor vehicle for the disabled, in view of public concern about those vehicles currently provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

I expect to receive later in the year Lady Sharp's report in the light of which the further development of invalid vehicles will, along with other matters, need to be considered. In the meantime in spite of the reports in the Press there is no doubt about the safety of the existing vehicles which are currently providing thousands of severely disabled people with a degree of independent mobility they would not otherwise enjoy and which, my correspondence shows, they greatly appreciate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent in Rugby on hospital developments during the past five years.

The latest available information is as follows:

Hospital capital expenditure in Rugby
	£
1967–68	15,800
1968–69	3,500
1969–70	1,700
1970–71	37,900
1971–72	23,000
Total	81,900

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what hospital building is programmed for Rugby during the short and long term; and at what cost.

The following schemes are expected to start in the current year at a total cost of £225,000: mental health day centre; upgrading of engineering services; dispensary and drug store; additional boilers; ward sluices.In the longer term the development of district general hospital services is planned

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what hospital building is programmed for Coventry during the short and long term; and at what cost.

The following schemes are expected to start in the current year at a total cost of £1,727,000:Coventry and Warwick, X-ray department; upgrading boiler plant; outpatients department; staff residences; intensive therapy unit; laboratory; orthoptic facilities.Walsgrave, 196 geriatric beds and day hospital; EEG department; nurse training accommodation.Whitley: telephone installation.In the longer term there are five schemes at present approved for planning at a total estimated cost of £135,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the level of capital expenditure planned for the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board in the late 1970s.

The provisional capital planning figures for the late 1970s issued to regional hospital boards in October 1972 were the maximum which could be allocated from the resources available for the years subsequent to the period covered by the Government's current five-year survey of public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the waiting list of surgical cases at the City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent.

1,309 at 31st May 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether payments were or will be made to consultants at the City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, in respect of theatre sessions cancelled in March due to lack of nursing staff.

The contracts of National Health Service consultants usually require them to provide a range of services for their employing boards, and their normal salaries are not reduced if, for reasons beyond their control, it is not possible for them to perform a particular type of work in accordance with their normal schedules.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information is available to the public on the question of the vaccination of humans against brucellosis in view of the apparent in crease of this disease; and whether he has any plans to publicise the matter more widely.

Vaccination is not available for this disease which is not normally transmitted from man to man. Cases are few and largely in occupations connected with cattle and there has been no marked increased in recent years. The hazard is well known among those most at risk and I have no plans to increase publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he can announce the result of his consideration of the provision of behind-the-ear hearing aids on the National Health Service, or for a contribution therefrom to those who provide such aids for themselves.

I am not in a position to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 23rd May.—[Vol. 857, c. 102.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many boys and girls domiciled in Liverpool who have committed no offence are in approved schools.

Under provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969, implemented earlier this year, the majority of the former approved schools now form part of a system of community homes in accordance with regional plans prepared by local authorities. Central statistics of the population of those community homes which correspond to former approved schools, and of the approved schools still temporarily administered as such, do not distinguish children and young persons who have been found guilty of an offence from others, or group them according to their area of residence. The arrangements made by a particular local authority for the children and young persons in their care are a matter for that authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now announce the Government's decision on the recommendations contained in the Foster Report on Scientology.

I am not yet in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of dentists who are on executive council lists allocate less than 10 per cent. of their working time to National Health Service patients.

Information in the form requested is not available. A very rough guide to the extent of dentists' participation in the general dental services is that about 2 per cent. of "single-handed" dentists under age 65 had gross earnings from executive councils in 1972 of less than £1,000—i.e. 9 per cent. of the "target" average gross income in that year. Some of these dentists, however, may also be engaged in National Health Service work in hospitals or local authority priority services or work in the school dental services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in calculating the dentist/patient ratio in an area, any allowance is made for the number of dentists who allocate a very small percentage of their practice to National Health Service work.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the unfilled demand for dental hygienists which was confirmed in a recent report from the British Dental Association, what steps he is taking to provide more facilities for training hygienists; and if he will make a statement.

A new training school for dental hygienists was opened in Bristol at the beginning of the current academic year and I understand that Guy's Hospital proposes to treble the size of its present intake of trainees as soon as the new buildings there are completed. Meanwhile all dental teaching hospitals are being asked about their plans for expanding existing facilities or establishing new schools. I understand that the Working Party on Dental Services is also considering the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Water Act has become operative, if he will list the rights individual local authorities will have to decide on supplementing the water supply with fluoride; what special arrangements can be made when local authorities served by one source reach different conclusions; and if he will make a statement.

The Water Act will not change the position on fluoridation so far as the rôles of water undertakings and health authorities are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria the Joint Working Party on the Dental Services is using to judge whether an area has insufficient dentists.

This is a complex matter which the working party is considering.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now prohibit the prescription on EC10 forms of all drugs containing phenacetin in combination with salicylates including all sails and derivatives of salicylic acid in view of the danger to human kidneys.

On the information at present available to me I do not consider it would be appropriate to prohibit the use of such products; doctors and pharmacists have been adequately warned about the possible adverse effects of phenacetin. The Committee on Safety of Medicines will keep this matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in his assessment of promotional costs of analgesics under the voluntary price regulation scheme, he includes visits by doctors and their wives to Jersey; and if he will investigate the information sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West.

The conference was for the purpose of briefing and debriefing in general practitioners conducting clinical trials on psychiatric and rheumatic conditions. It was held in Jersey during the winter because in the off season it is just as cheap as in a major centre in England. The purpose of the conference was perfectly proper, and the company assures me that the wives' expenses will not be charged against the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce regulations to require notification to the relevant local medical committee of all dinners provided for groups of general practitioners by the manufacturers of

Product			Presentation				Quantity	Price to Chemist
Intal	…	…	Spincaps	…	…	…	50	£2·77
Septrin	…	…	Tablets	…	…	…	500	£20·00
Bactrim	…	…	Tablets	…	…	…	500	£20·00
Aldomet	…	…	250 mg tablets	…	…	…	500	£9·33
Cidomycin (Gentamycin)		…	Cream	…	…	…	30 gm	£0·99
Centicin (Gentamycin)	…	…	Cream	…	…	…	100 gm	£2·30
Penbritin	…	…	250 mg capsules	…	…	…	500	£15·00
Magnapen	…	…	500 mg capsules	…	…	…	100	£11·80
Moditen	…	…	5 mg tablets	…	…	…	500	£10·20

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the comparative costs to the National Health Service of the new urinary antibacterial called hippurex and the previously used hexamine antiseptics of which it is a variation; and if he will include these figures in the next comparative costs information sent out to doctors.

The cost to the National Health Service of thirty tablets of hiprex (not hippurex) and hexamine, when dispensed by a retail chemist is 75p and 14p respectively.Information is sent to doctors about the cost of the most widely prescribed drugs and this is kept under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evaluation has been made by his Department of the efficacy of altacite compared with the other antacids used by the National Health Service; and if he will publish comparative costings in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

My Department does not evaluate the comparative efficacy of drugs pharmaceutical products as part of their sales promotions.

I do not consider that it would be appropriate to involve local medical committees in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the current prices agreed under the voluntary price regulation scheme for Intal, Septrim, Bactrim, Aldomet, Gentamycin, Penbritin, Magnapen and Moditen.

Following are the prices of the main presentations. In relation to Bactrim, we have not yet completed our discussion on prices with Roche.and the Committee on Safety of Medicines is concerned with comparative efficacy only where questions of safety arise on applications for licences. The publication of costings involves complex assessments of usage and presentation of drugs and I regret that I am unable to give the information requested comparing altacite with the other antacids of which there are over 100 used by the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what price is being paid by the National Health Service for methaquatone; and when agreement with the producers was reached under the voluntary price regulation scheme.

The price to chemists of the only product with significant sales containing methaquatone is 38p for 30 tablets or capsules. This price was accepted under the voluntary price regulation scheme in March 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital geriatric beds are available in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area; and how many persons are awaiting geriatric beds in the area.

5,481 hospital geriatric beds are provided in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area to which 452 people were awaiting admission on 31st December 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of women in receipt of war widows' pensions on 1st January 1973; and, of these, how many were also in receipt of National Insurance retirement pensions.

98,863 widows were receiving war widows' pensions from my Department on 1st January 1973, of whom it is estimated that 22,000 were also receiving National Insurance retirement pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to enforce the requirements that all advertisements for cigarettes and tobacco products should carry appropriate health warnings; what additional steps he proposes to take in respect of disregard of these requirements, as in the case of which a sample has been sent to him; and whether he will make a statement concerning the statutory enforcement of all health warnings.

The observance of the code of practice for health warnings on cigarette packets and advertisements is monitored by my Department and the evidence I have indicates that the voluntary agreement is being satisfactorily complied with. The case in point is not a breach of the agreement as the code does not require that sort of material to carry the warning reference; I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-West (Sir D. Kaberry) on 24th June 1971. I do not consider that statutory enforcement of this code is necessary or desirable.—[Vol. 819, c. 340–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds there will be, and what specialties will be covered, in the new hospital at Skelmersdale.

The Liverpool Regional Hospital Board and the Manchester Regional Hospital Board, to whose successor authority responsibility for hospital services for Skelmersdale will be transferred on 1st April, 1974, are conferring on the proposed provision. It is not yet possible to provide the information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet received a further report by the Joint Superannuation Consultative Committee; and if he will make a statement.

I have now received a supplementary report by the Joint Superannuation Consultative Committee covering two main items: the extent to which improvements to the main National Health Service scheme previously announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Buck) on 25th April 1972—[Vol. 835, c. 239–41]—can be extended to optants, namely, those employees who, on transfer to the National Health Service, opted to retain the provisions of the superannuation scheme to which they were previously subject; and a new scheme of injury allowances for persons engaged in the provision of health services. A copy of the report has been sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and a copy has also been placed in the Library.For optants, other than those subject to schemes based on insurance policies, the committee recommends that pensions should be dynamised before being put into payment to counter the effect of inflation on a long averaging period; that service should be reckoned in years and days; and that similar provisions in regard to preservation of accrued benefits transferability and abatement on reemployment should be made as under the main scheme.The new injury allowance scheme will apply to all persons engaged in the National Health Service, whether superannuable or not, who die or who cease employment on permanent incapacity as

a result of injury sustained or disease contracted in the coure of employment. The main feature is a scale of benefits designed to bring the total of all benefits, including certain social security benefits, to a proportion of average remuneration related to the degree of impairment as follows:—

Service	0–5 years	5–15 years	15–25 years	Over 25 years
	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent	Per cent.
Slight impairment	15	30	45	60
Impairment	40	50	60	70
Material impairment	65	70	75	80
Total impairment	85	85	85	85

Additionally, there will be lump sum payments and there are provisions for widows and dependent children. The purchasing power of continuing allowances awarded under the scheme will be maintained by increases under the Pensions (Increase) Act.The Committee's proposals will be implemented as quickly as possible.Discussions with the British Medical Association and British Dental Association regarding their claim for special injury allowances for junior hospital doctors and dentists are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being conducted into the toxicity of freons now widely used as the dispersant gas in aerosol sprays and into halothane, in view of the deaths that have resulted from use of these chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Studies on the toxicity of freons have been carried out by the Medical Research Council Group in Clinical Pharmacology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, and in university centres and industry both in this country and abroad. Investigations into the possible toxic effects of halothane are being carried out in university centres and teaching hospitals. The Medical Research Council is supporting a study of post-operative hepatitis with particular reference to halothane hypersensitivity at the London Hospital Medical College; and it has recently awarded a grant for a study on halo-thane pollution in operating theatres in Birmingham. Similar studies are also being carried out in the division of anaesthesia at the council's clinical research centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will restore the educational priority area allowance to those teachers formerly teaching at Broad Heath Secondary School, Coventry, since these allowances have been withdrawn following the amalgamation in large measure of the Broad Heath School, with another school, into the Sidney Stringer Comprehensive School, Coventry.

The Burnham Committee has decided that the EPA school allowance should cease if the school is reorganised. I have no power to change this. Under the latest Burnham settlement however the Coventry authority now has discretion, if it considers that the Sidney Stringer School should be regarded as one of exceptional difficulty, to provide in it a limited number of special higher posts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to lower the age limit for qualification as a school governor.

No. The incapacity of a minor to act as a school governor is part of the incapacity of a minor to hold public office or act as trustee, and it would not be appropriate to make an exception in this very limited field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will ensure that a sufficient number grants are available to enable all students who have qualified for, and been accepted for, higher degree courses to receive them.

No. The public funds which can be made available for grants for postgraduate study are limited, and other sources of financial support are open to postgraduate students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the implications arising out of the collapse of the roof of a part of the Camden School for Girls, she will initiate a thorough and public inquiry into the causes of this disaster, and its possible repercussions on many similar structures, and if she will make a statement.

My overriding concern at this stage has been to take all steps necessary to ensure the safety of schoolchildren and others using educational premises. Following discussions between my officers and the consulting engineers I have advised the local education authorities concerned to make an immediate check on a small number of other educational buildings in a similar form of construction which might be at risk. I propose to give all local education authorities the information at present available to me to enable them to carry out more extensive inspections of buildings if they consider it desirable. I shall also arrange for a detailed technical study and I am now considering what form this might best take.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of Her Majesty's Inspectors; and how many of them have experience as careers teachers in secondary schools.

445 in England. Details of those with experience as careers teachers could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but most Her Majesty's inspectors working in the secondary field have been involved both as teachers and as Her Majesty's inspectors with aspects of careers guidance.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate she has made of the effects of her proposed reduction of places in colleges of education in the Greater London area on the number of "first appointment" teachers available to education authorities in Greater London.

None, The supply of newly trained teachers is planned on a national basis. There is no policy that regions or sub-regions should be self-supporting.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what form of gas and rubber bullets are currently being used in Northern Ireland.

In Northern Ireland, the security forces have used CS smoke, dispersed from both hand-thrown grenades and projected cartridges. They also use a solid rubber projectile, bullet shaped and measuring about six inches by about one and a half inches in diameter.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he has now received the report of the Defence Lands Committee.

As the House was informed on 10th May 1973 the report has been received by my right hon. and noble Friend.—[Vol. 856, c. 767.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of this year's ceremony of Trooping the Colour.

Most of the costs resulting from the ceremony are recovered through the sale of tickets. Some £660 was spent on hiring transport.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what has been the cost to the Royal Navy of its co-operation with the BBC in the making of the television series "Warship".

The BBC is being charged under the normal financial rules for all extra costs incurred in using Royal Navy facilities for this series. Filming is still in progress, and it is not yet possible to say what these costs will be.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of producing the recruitment book "All the Queen's Men" subsequently retitled "Strictly Personal" what revenue was received from sales of "All the Queen's Men"; how many copies of each version of the book have been printed; and how many sold or distributed free.

This book was first published commercially under its original title. The Ministry of Defence has no information concerning sales of the commercial edition. Following a decision in 1969, the copyright was purchased by the Central Office of Information in 1971. 12,000 copies of an updated edition under the new title have been printed, and distributed free by the Ministry of Defence at a total cost to public funds, including copyright, of £4,750. No copies of this edition have been sold.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of recruitment, advertising and promotion for Her Majesty's Services in the last three years for which figures are available.

The cost to public funds for recruiting advertising and promotion for Her Majesty's Forces for the last three financial years was as follows:

1970–71	About £4·74 million
1971–72	About £4·96 million
1972–73	About £5·16 million

Recruiting is very closely bound up with many other activities of the Armed Forces, and it is not therefore possible to give figures for the total cost of recruitment as such.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to have the final report of the Commission on Industrial Relations on negotiating rights of the staff of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Limited.

The timing of the report is within the discretion of the commission. I understand that discussions are still going on with the parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total size of the Factory Inspectorate at the latest available date; and what were the comparable figures for each of the past six years.

The total size of the Factory Inspectorate at 1st June 1973 was 665. This is the latest date for which figures are available. The comparable figures for the past six years were:

1st June 1972	693
1st June 1971	684
1st June 1970	633
1st June 1969	549
1st June 1968	526
1st June 1967	479

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of net employment prospects in Hartlepool taking into account the known new job opportunities up to 1975 and any closure of the Hartlepool Steelworks in that year.

The hon. Member will be aware that the report of the task force appointed to examine the effect of the closure is being studied by Departments.It is much too early for me to estimate how successful our efforts to bring comprehensive economic and social assistance to the Hartlepools area will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the ratio of unemployment to registered vacancies in Hartlepool for men and boys; and how this compares with the Northern Region figures and national figures.

In May 1973 the ratio of males unemployed to unfilled vacancies for males in the area covered by the Hartlepool and Hartlepool Headland employment exchanges was 23·5 to 1. The ratio for the North Region was 5·2 to 1 and for Great Britain 2·2 to 1. Vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been wholly unemployed in the Hartlepool exchange area for six months and one year or more, respectively.

On 9th April, the latest date for which the information is available, 430 people in the area covered by the Hartlepool and Hartlepool Headland employment exchanges had been unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks and 926 for over 52 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the dispute between APEX and Salford Electrical Instruments Ltd. of Eccles and Heywood—part of the GEC Group—arising from the refusal of the firm to make any offer of a move towards equal pay for its clerical staff under the Equal Pay Act 1970 and the provision within phase 2 of the Government's counter-inflation policy for such a move to take place outside the pay limit; and if he will take steps designed to resolve this dispute.

I understand that discussions between the company and the union are continuing. The

			Mexborough			Wombwell
			Men	Women	Young people	Men	Women	Young people
May 1970	…	…	919	144	79	484	50	19
May 1973	…	…	975	190	42	363	48	12

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that the Central Youth Employment Exective is recruiting qualified local education authority careers officers as inspectors; and when he expects the inspectorate to be comprised entirely of former careers officers.

The Central Youth Employment Executive already appoints local education authority careers officers as inspectors when suitable opportunities occur, and I expect

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average total weekly expenditure of a family with two children under 11 in June 1970 and March 1973, respectively, where (a) the husband was earning the national average wage and living in a council house at average rent, and (b) the husband was earning the national average wage and living in a house purchased on a 1970 mortgage; and what percentage of the net disposable income of the family these figures represent in each case, in June 1970 and March 1973.

I regret that the information requested by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men, women and young people were unemployed in each of the Wombwell and Mexborough employment exchange areas in May 1970; and what are the comparable numbers for May 1973.

Following is the information:this practice to continue. No decisions have yet been taken on the future composition of the Inspectorate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans he has in relation to retaining sheep and pigs in the fatstock guarantee scheme;(2) how long the fatstock guarantee scheme is likely to continue.

The United Kingdom has undertaken to end the guaranteed price arrangements for fat pigs by 1st January 1978 or earlier if possible. The precise timing of this will have to be judged in the light of developments. While there is no common regime for sheepmeat in the EEC, the United Kingdom can retain the guaranteed price arrangements for fat sheep. These matters are considered at annual reviews and my right hon. Friend has no plans at present to end either guarantee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of butter held by the United Kingdom Intervention Board on 14th June; and what was the figure for 13th May.

The Intervention Board had 70 tons of butter in store on 13th May. The amount in store and accepted by the board on 14th June was 14,160 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will draw up plans before the hot weather begins to alleviate the obnoxious smell from the chemical waste at the tip at Sutton Walls, near Hereford.

I understand that following discussions with the Hereford Rural District Council the owners of the Sutton Walls tip are already undertaking a programme of improvements including more screening of the site, and spraying the tip surface to reduce any smells. It is for the local authorities to consider whether any further action is necessary in respect of any nuisance that may be caused by the use of the site for waste disposal purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department will be inspecting and reporting on the tip at Sutton Walls, near Hereford, for leaking poisons and industrial waste.

All the tip sites in the country are currently being reviewed in a joint exercise between the local authorities, river authorities and the Institute of Geological Sciences to assess any pollution problems which they may cause. It will be for the local authorities to decide what further action may be necessary in any particular case in the

£m. at 1972 prices
			1973–74		1974–75
			United Kingdom	Wales	United Kingdom	Wales
Road construction	…	…	623·1	39·3	649·7	41·3
Road maintenance	…	…	285·9	19·3	236·0	18·4

Grant aid for railway services in 1973 for Wales and the United Kingdom is expected to be £5·1 million and £67·2 million respectively. The estimates of grant expected to be paid in 1974 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will carry out a survey into the atmospheric and river pollution caused by industry in Sheffield.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total annual expenditure in Wales and the United Kingdom, respectively, in 1973 and planned for 1974 on (1) grant aid for railway services, (2) road construction and (3) road maintenance.

I have been asked to reply.The latest estimates of expenditure on road construction and road maintenance are as follows:

As regards emissions to atmosphere from industrial premises in its area which are not registered under the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act 1906, the Sheffield City Council is itself the supervisory authority under the Public Health and Clean Air Acts and is, therefore, free to carry out a survey if it wishes. By an order made under Section 17(2) of the Clean Air Act 1956 the council also exercises control over particulate emissions from several registered works, including all are furnaces of less than 30 tons capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will amend the Motor Cycles (Wearing of Helmets) Regulations 1973 to make special provision for those drivers or riders whom he is satisfied on medical grounds are unable to wear protective headgear without suffering from migraine or other similar conditions.

No, I am advised that this is not necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make an order under Section 254 of the Local Government Act 1972 to ensure the preservation within the borough of Prestwich of the civic plate which has accumulated during the life of the borough; and whether he will have regard to expressions of public feeling in taking similar action wherever it arises.

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware of the provisions of Section 254(7) of the Local Government Act 1972. I am confident that local authorities will act sensibly in matters of this kind without any intervention by me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the average increases in gross rateable value of domestic properties in the South-West Region and in the parliamentary constituency of Gloucestershire, West following the revaluation.

In the valuation lists as deposited last December the rateable values of domestic properties in the South-West Region showed an average increase of 154 per cent. over those in the previous list. In the four districts wholly comprised within the parliamentary constituency of Gloucestershire, West the average increase was 215 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much grant is being given in the current financial year to British Rail to support uneconomic railway services in terms of the Transport Act 1968; whether it is his policy to continue these grants in future years; and if he will make a full statement on the effect on such grants of EEC obligations which Great Britain has accepted.

The Government intend to continue support for loss-making passenger services which are estimated to cost £71 million in 1973–74. EEC regulations allow such services to be retained and supported although certain procedural changes will be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to receive the Land Use Transportation Study for Ipswich.

The consultant's report is now being printed and will be presented to the Ipswich Borough Council in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British dependencies have requested permission to extend their fisheries jurisdiction beyond the 12-mile limit, in the past two years; by how much; and on what grounds they were refused.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if in view of the resolutions passed by the conference of the National Association of Head Teachers at Folkestone on 29th May, he will now fully review the working of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.

My right hon. Friends the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Social Services and the Secretary of State for Wales keep the working of the Act under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the distribution of all firearms used in known crimes in England and Wales during the years 1960 to 1972 respectively as between firearms stolen from legal owners, firearms with legitimate licences, firearms stolen or otherwise from the police or the Armed Forces and firearms from unidentified sources; and what were the total number of firearms in legitimate private ownership during the same years.

The available information about firearms used in crime in Great Britain is contained in the Green Paper "The Control of Firearms in Great Britain" (Cmnd. 5297). Paragraph 19 of the Paper explains the difficulty of ascertaining the source of firearms used in crime; paragraphs 20 and 21 give details of a number of cases involving firearms which had been legitimately held and were subsequently used in crime; and paragraph 26 gives the number of certificates in force at the end of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider making arrangements to permit London Transport buses and Green Line coaches to continue to use those London thoroughfares, which are closed to traffic when used for ceremonial purposes, for as long a period as possible prior to the commencement of official processions.

My right hon. Friend is in touch with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the effect of ceremonial occasions on the movement of traffic generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many attempted suicides have taken place at the Risley remand centre in each of the past five years;(2) how many attempted suicides at Risley involved persons under 18 years of age.

The available information is given in the following table:

	Males	Females
1968	Not available	Not available
1969	38	2
1970	20	—
1971	20	1
1972	5	—

Information to show the ages of the persons concerned is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many deaths have occurred at Risley concerning persons on remand in each of the past five years;(2) how many persons on remand committed suicide in each of the past five years at Risley;(3) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the causes of death to persons on remand at Risley in each of the past five years.

There were four deaths at Risley in 1968, three the result of suicide by hanging and one the result of an abnormal reaction to a paraldehyde injection. There were two deaths as a result of suicide by hanging in 1969. There was none in the years 1970, 1971 or 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with the medical facilities at Risley; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many medical staff are employed at Risley at the latest convenient date.

There are separate hospitals for men and boys and for women and girls, and the medical staff comprises a senior medical officer, four full-time medical officers, two part-time medical officers, a chief pharmacist, a principal nursing sister, two senior nursing sisters, 10 nursing sisters, 20 hospital officers, and two women nursing auxilliaries. There is a visiting dentist, venereologist and optician. The men's hospital comprises three open wards and 24 single rooms; six additional rooms which are specially designed for patients who are seriously disturbed; the necessary rooms for interviews and examination, including X-ray and EEG facilities; and a fully equipped pharmacy and dental surgery. The women's hospital has 12 rooms including five single rooms; there are four rooms for women who are seriously disturbed, and one for epileptics. Patients who are in need of treatment which cannot be provided in the remand centre are transferred to National Health Service hospitals or to the surgical unit at Liverpool prison hospital. I am satisfied that these arrangements are adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints he has received concerning inadequate medical facilities at Risley;(2) how many complaints he has received concerning ill treatment of prisoners at Risley in each of the past five years.

Records are not kept in a way which would enable these Questions to be answered without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attacks took place on prison officers at Risley in each of the past five years.

My noble Friend the Minister of State is obtaining such information as is available and will write to the hon. Member.