asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he method has not been considered appro-will consider introducing legislation whereby an applicant for supplementary benefits will be required to state the amount not only of his financial assets but also the amount of his other capital assets, including major items of consumer durable goods, and that this figure should be taken as the basis for assessing his entitlement to supplementary benefits.

The Ministry of Social Security Act already empowers the Supplementary Benefits Commission to take into account any asset of a capital nature, except an owner-occupied house; but it normally ignores personal possessions, including consumer durables, and I think it is right to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he wlil encourage women in their twenties to have cervical smears carried out.

Many younger women are already coming forward for screening. We have no plans to give them special priority unless they are within the priority group which was extended earlier this year to include all women who have had three or more pregnancies. My Department's expert Committee on Gynaecological Cytology has the situation under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what examination his Department has made of the feasibility of providing hydraulic chairs, either direct or through the local authority social service departments, to severely disabled registered persons where the medical evidence indicates that such equipment is necessary.

Provision by local authorities of chairs with tilting or elevating seats is a matter for their discretion. The Department does not at present supply wheelchairs which incorporate these features but the position is reviewed from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute a full public inquiry into the victimisation of nurses, junior doctors and other hospital staff with a view to changing the ways in which promotion may be barred, in the light of the information sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West.

No. I do not think this would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the extensive range of price increases approved by the Price Commission on Monday 2nd July, he will implement immediately the proposed increase in retirement pensions.

No. In arriving at the substantial increase proposed for the beginning of October allowance was made for price increases in the intervening period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will meet representatives from pensioner associations to discuss their immediate demand for a £10 and £16 pension.

Arrangements are already in hand for a meeting with representatives of the National Federation of Old-Age Pensions Associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recent representations he has received asking him to increase the present disregard of £2 earnings for retirement pensioners receiving supplementary benefit to a figure more closely related to the fall in the purchasing power of the pound sterling.

A precise count has not been kept but a number of such representations have been received. I explained our policy in this matter to the House during the Second Reading debate on the National Insurance and Supplementary Benefit Bill.—[Vol. 855, c. 858.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will preserve the existing working arrangements between St. John's Hospital, Twickenham, and the West Middlesex Hospital.

Whether these two hospitals will remain under a single administration after National Health Service reorganisation next year will depend on whether or not they fall within the same new health district. This will not be decided until the new health authorities come into existence in shadow form later this year. But I have no doubt that the new authorities will ensure that necessary working links are sustained.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of abolishing the wage stop.

For the numbers wage-stopped in May 1973 it would be of the order of £1 million in a full year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that social security benefits are not suspended until after allegations made in anonymous communications have been investigated and found to have substance.

This is the Department's practice. In the case the hon. Member has in mind there was an error of judgment, and he will know that benefit was restored and a full apology made to his constituent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the financial arrangements to cover loss of working time, payment of locums and other expenses for general practitioners, to enable them to serve on the relevant management committees in the reorganised National Health Service.

All members of the new health authorities will be eligible to receive compensation for loss of remunerative time and the travelling and other allowances referred to in paragraph 9 (4) of Schedule 1 to the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current number of general medical practioners; and what percentage increase this represents since 1970.

At 1st April 1973 the number of general medical practitioners in England was 19, 901. This was 4–6 per cent. more than on 1st April 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current number of general dental practitioners; and what percentage increase this represents since 1970.

The number of dentists practising in the general dental services in England at 31st March 1973, including assistants, was 10, 891, an increase of 5 per cent., since 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current number of home nurses; and what percentage increase this represents since 1970.

9,535 home nurses (whole-time equivalent) were employed by local health authorities in England at 30th September 1972. This represents an increase of about 11 per cent. over the number at 30th September 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many schoolchildren are awaiting dentures at the present time; and if he will make a statement on the condition of children's teeth.

I regret that the information is not available. In England in 1972, 17,017 courses of treatment involving the supply of dentures were provided by general dental practitioners for children of school age, and 5,972 children were supplied with dentures for the first time under the school dental service. The majority were partial dentures. My right hon. Friend is awaiting the results of a national survey of the dental health of children of school age, the fieldwork for which was undertaken earlier this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the next review of retirement and supplementary pensions, he will include a sum designed to cover the expense of the annual television licence.

No. Retirement and supplementary pensions are not made up of sums earmarked for particular purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to receive the Sharp report on vehicles for the disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to receive the Baroness Sharp report to be presented to the House.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 19th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the dangers of three-wheeled invalid cars which are manufactured in accordance with Government specifications consequent upon the dossier compiled by the Disabled Drivers' Action Group, a copy of which has been supplied to him.

I have not yet received the dossier but can give an assurance that the accident record of these vehicles, over many years, has been good and, provided they are driven reasonably, within the performance limits that can be expected from a vehicle of this type, and with due regard to the prevailing traffic and weather conditions, they are safe.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations have been made to him about the new invalid tricycle; and whether he will make a statement.

We have received expressions of gratitude and adverse criticisms, the latter frequently associated with a declared preference for a family car.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action to withdraw from use on the roads Government-issued three-wheeled vehicles for disabled drivers in the light of hazards inherent in these vehicles as revealed in recent tests.

No. There are hazards associated with all road vehicles, and the fact is that the accident record of these vehicles does not support the allegation that the three-wheelers issued to disabled people are more hazardous than others.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange for invalid vehicles to undergo the standard Ministry of Transport test annually instead of being tested by his own Department.

No. There would be no advantage in the proposed change. These vehicles, which are maintained entirely at State expense, are already subject to an adequate programme of preventive maintenance. They are serviced, repaired and road tested several times a year by specialist repairers and are inspected regularly by the Department's own technical staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the increasing computerisation of patients' medical records for research purposes, he will introduce statutory safeguards to prevent confidential information getting into non-medical hands.

I have no present intention to introduce such legislation. The need for any further safeguards to protect the privacy of personal information held on computers in the public sector generally is one of the matters on which the Government hope to publish a White Paper later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set up a committee to consider the special problems of doctors who are requested to pass on confidential information to the police or courts of law; and whether he will publish a code of practice which may assist general practitioners and police officers and which the courts may take into account in exercising their discretion.

No, this is essentially a matter for the medical profession, subject only to overriding statutory requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current number of home helps; and what percentage increase this represents since 1970.

The number of home helps—whole-time equivalents—employed by local authorities in England at 30th September 1972 was 35, 185. This represents approximately a 19 per cent. increase since 30th September 1970, or an average annual increase of nearly 10 per cent.—whole-time equivalent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the response to his circular to local authorities on the appointment of wardens for elderly persons living in their own homes.

There has been and continues to be a wide development of good neighbour or street warden schemes organised by local authorities or voluntary bodies, and I am satisfied that this is proceeding as rapidly as manpower and other limitations permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange for disposable needles and syringes to be available without charge to the parents or guardians of diabetic children.

No, for the reasons which I gave to my hon. Friend during the debate on the Adjournment on 4th July last.- [Vol. 859, c. 683–94.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange for social workers employed in the National Health Service to have a course to equip them to give advice to parents of diabetic children.

Responsibility for the promotion of training in all fields of social work lies with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. The council has set up a working party to consider the special problems involved in social work with the handicapped and the training needs of those who will be working for them. This working party may be expected to take account of the needs for personal and social support both of diabetic children and their parents, and of all other handicapped individuals and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is now taking to help single women who have to look after dependent relatives.

Attendance allowance, which is already being paid at the higher rate to 94,000 beneficiaries, 45,000 of whom are over the age of 65, gives help to many households in these circumstances; and the lower rate is now being introduced. The single woman who is caring for a relative may qualify for supplementary benefit for herself. Services provided for the disabled are being strengthened, so helping to reduce the burden on those who devote themselves to caring for members of their families. As my hon. Friend will be aware, the Government's current review of cash provision for the disabled extends to the families with whom they live.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage size of the increase in short- term benefits for the sick and unemployed under the National Insurance Act 1972.

The standard rate of short-term benefit for a single person is increased by 8–9 per cent. and for a married couple by 9–2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to extending the welfare butter arrangements to cover other staple foodstuffs.

None. The EEC regulation under which the social butter subsidy is paid relates only to butter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he wil make a statement on the capital building programme of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board.

There is nothing I can usefully add to what I said during the debate on the Adjournment on 9th July last.—[Vol. 859, c. 1224–30.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now increase the National Health Insurance death grant.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs (Mr. Ewing) on 8th May.—[Vol. 856, c. 49.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that regional hospital boards are aware of the changing balance of population within their board areas, so that their plans for hospital development reflect future rather than past needs.

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys issues population projections, adjusted for migration, for hospital regions. On the basis of these and of forecasts made by local authorities, boards make future estimates of population for sub-divisions of their regions. The Office of Population Census and Surveys plans to pro- duce population projections for the new health regions and areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why invalidity pensioners, who are by definition chronically sick, are not automatically entitled to free prescriptions.

They do not necessarily require prescriptions and their pensions are payable regardless of financial need. Anyone whose income is, by supplementary benefit standards, insufficient to enable him to afford prescription charges is entitled to exemption or help.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends, in view of the raising of the school leaving age, to modify the regulation regarding prescription charges as they affect school children over the age of 15 years.

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 how many deaths were caused by cancer in each of the last five years and up to the latest date for which this information is available; which areas or towns have the highest death rate from this disease in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Deaths in the United Kingdom from all forms of malignant cancer were as follows: 1968, 127, 726; 1969, 130, 097; 1970, 131, 160; 1971, 132, 527; 1972, 134, 582.A comparison between regions and conurbations of age-adjusted death rates in 1971 shows that Glasgow, Merseyside and Tyneside had the highest while those for the remainder of Scotland, Greater London, and the South-East Lancashire, West Midland and West Yorkshire conurbations were above average. Although the number of deaths from this disease increased by about 5 per cent. between 1968 and 1972 some part of that increase, about half of that for men and a little less for women, could be attributed to the ageing of the population in the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions since the consultative document on the reorganisation of the National Health Service was issued in May 1971, and for what reasons, he has refused to provide a spokesman for television programmes on the subject of the reorganisation of the National Health Service.

I do not keep records from year to year of programmes on which either I or my colleagues are unable to appear. I appeared as recently as 6th July on a television programme devoted solely to the NHS and its reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that the services provided to patients in private wards in St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth, are not affected by industrial action.

Some ancillary staff at St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth, are taking industrial action, but essential services to private patients have been maintained by using ancillary staff not involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many members of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council are nominated by the trade unions; and if he will name them.

Four members are nominated by the Trades Union Congress. They are: Mr. W. C. Anderson, CBE; Mr. P. Jacques; Mr. G. H. Lowthian, CBE; Mrs. C. M. Patterson.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the availability of hospital casualty officers generally in the Manchester area; and what number needs to be recruited.

In three of the hospital groups serving the Greater Manchester area accident and emergency departments are staffed by doctors on rotation from surgical departments. In these the regional hospital board states that there is no staffing difficulty. In the other three groups, there are 22 doctors in post; two have been appointed but are not yet in post; and there are three vacancies. In addition, general practitioners provide 16 sessions on a part-time basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost to central Government funds at the latest date for which figures are available of benefits for the chronically sick and disabled arising from legislative proposals first introduced in the present Parliament and excluding expenditure on the attendance allowance and other benefits first proposed in the last Parliament; and if he will itemise the expenditure under appropriate headings.

The improvements in cash benefits, primarily for sick and disabled people of working age, provided through invalidity pension, including the invalidity allowance, the higher rates for dependent children and the improved wife's earnings rule, are estimated to have increased expenditure from the National Insurance Fund by £12 million in 1971–72 and £24 million in 1972–73. Expenditure on attendance allowance, which although proposed in the last Parliament is being financed and paid for in this, is now running at £28 million a year, and the extension of the allowance at the lower rate introduced last month, which was not proposed by the last Government, will increase the cost from now on. Annual upratings of social security benefits, introduced by this Government, have been of material assistance to all beneficiaries including the chronic sick and disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current output of qualified chiropodists; what is the comparable figure for one year previously; and what action he is taking to expand numbers, in view of shortages being experienced by some local authorities.

In 1972, 141 chiropodists successfully qualified from approved training courses in Great Britain, as compared with 143 in 1971 and 111 in 1970. Future numbers should reflect the recent substantial increase in the annual intake of students from 162 in 1967 to 250 in 1972 but I am keeping the situation under review in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are employed by his Department in England and Wales; and what was the figure for three years ago.

The number of staff (industrial and non-industrial) employed by my Department in England and Wales on 1st April 1973 was as follows:

Total	Central Administration	Public Services
72, 341	6, 760	65, 581

The equivalent total figure at 1st April 1970 was 64,699 but the breakdown of this earlier figure between central administration and public services is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received a letter from Mrs. E. Hopkinson, honorary secretary of the Huddersfield Society for Mentally Handicapped Children, concerning the decision to delay the building of a 25-bedded purpose-built residential hostel in Huddersfied; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I have asked Mrs. Hopkinson to let me have a copy of her letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to the proposal of the Sixth Report from the Expenditure Committee on the Employment of Women that with regard to women undertaking home-work and receiving supplementary benefit consideration should be given to the possibility of increasing the disregard of £2 or to basing the disregard on the number of dependants; and what action he intends to take.

I am still considering this recommendation of the Sixth Report of the Expenditure Committee. The Government's views on the report will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service nurses were recruited through private employment agencies in each of the years 1970, 1971 and 1972.

Information is not available in the form requested, but on 30th September 1970, 1971 and 1972 there were, in whole-time equivalent terms, respectively 2,705, 2,992 and 3,265 agency nurses and midwives employed in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the difficulties of hospital recruitment of permanent nursing staff in view of the competition from more highly-paid temporary agency staff; how much he estimates to be the expense to the National Health Service of the employment of temporary agency nursing staff: and what action he proposes to take.

It is the view of some hospital authorities, particularly in the London area, that the existence of nurses agencies and the alternative terms of service that they offer to nurses make recruitment of permanent nursing staff more difficult. About £6 million was paid by hospital authorities in England and Wales for agency nurses in the year ended 31st March 1973. An overall comparison of the cost to the National Health Service as between agency and directly employed nurses of similar grade is not possible as agencies' charges for the former vary and the latter are paid on a scale and not on a flat rate. But in many cases there is little difference when account is taken of the paid sick leave, holiday and superannuation provisions for directly employed nurses. I expect hospital authorities to keep their use of agency nurses to the minimum necessary to avoid serious adverse effects on services to patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the take-up of butter tokens in the Northern Region; and what percentage this figure is of all those on retirement pension, widows drawing widow's pensions, and those wholly unemployed and not drawing social security supplementary allowances.

I regret that it is not known how many people eligible for butter tokens have taken them up.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the subsistence allowances and mileage allowance payable to insured persons and witnesses who attend hearings before the National Insurance Commissioner.

The subsistence allowances and mileage allowance payable to persons appearing before medical boards and tribunals—including hearings before the National Insurance Commissioner—are at present under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to receive the report of the Industrial Insurance Advisory Committee dealing with Byssinosis.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 9th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, for the most recent year, was the amount of money paid out by his Department in respect of the non-payment of maintenance orders and the amount retrieved from those liable; and what percentage of all orders the amount and number involved represent.

I cannot usefully add to my reply to the hon. Member for Waltham-stow, West (Mr. Deakins) on 3rd July.—[Vol 859, c. 64–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures showing the amount spent by regional hospital boards during the last three years on the purchase of medical machines from British manufacturers and foreign suppliers, respectively.

This information is not available centrally and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the South Ockendon Hospital Inquiry; and how soon it will be published.

I have received and am at present considering the committee's report and the question of its publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the Committee on Hospital Complaints Procedure; and how soon it will be published.

I understand that the committee expects to submit its report before the end of October. I shall be consulting with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales about publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take on the Zuckerman Report on Cancer Research.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave today to the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Dormand).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what commitment of National Health Service funds he proposes to make in each of the next three years to provide the mass screening facilities recommended by the Zuckerman Report on Cancer Research.

No such recommendation is made in Lord Zuckerman's report. Screening is, however, available for cervical cancer, women whose pregnancy was complicated by a mole are screened; and screening will shortly be introduced for a limited group of workers who have incurred a special risk of bladder cancer. These screening services are not separately costed. Other forms of cancer are kept under review by a sub-committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for establishing new oncological centres; and how many new posts he expects to create in the next three years.

I have approved in principle the establishment of four regional centres to serve the areas covered by the Leeds, Manchester, South-West Metropolitan and Wessex Regional Hospital Boards. My Department has not yet

Hospital			Scheme
Capital development works
Hartlepool General	…	…	Scheme II of major development.
			Temporary psychiatric out-patient Department (enabling measure for Scheme II).
Improvement Schemes
Hartlepool General	…	…	Reprovision and improvement of Garages.
			Out-patient Clinic and Laboratory improvements.
Brierton Hospital	…	…	Geriatric Ward upgrading.
Minor Schemes
Allocated to group hospitals			Fire precautions.
			Medical and surgical equipment vehicles.
			Furniture and equipment for staff residential accommodation.
			Furniture and equipment for geriatric wards.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total nursing recruiting figures for the National Health Service, giving the numbers coming from private nursing agencies and other services, in 1971 and 1972.

Information is not available in the form requested but the number (in whole-time equivalent terms) of nurses and midwives in post—qualified and in completed discussions on detailed proposals for these centres with the relevant authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will negotiate with the Royal Colleges with a view to establishing oncology as a specialty in its own right, together with a career structure within the National Health Service.

The establishment of new specialties is a matter for the medical profession. A small number of doctors in the National Health Service specialise solely in cancer but up to the present none of the Royal Colleges has approved a training programme for oncology as a specialty so the establishment of training posts to provide a career structure has not arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the capital development works, improvement schemes and minor projects schemes for the Hartlepool group of hospitals.

The following table lists the schemes on which expenditure is programmed to start in 1973–74.training—in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales at 30th September was:

	1971	1972
Directly employed—
qualified	128, 640	134, 647
in training	75, 821	80, 371
Agency	2, 992	3, 265

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the shortage of doctors and dentists in the West Bromwich area, what steps he is taking to remedy the situation.

Special allowances for general medical practitioners apply in West Bromwich as in other designated areas, and the average number of patients to each doctor has fallen over the past two years. All hospital medical posts are filled. The executive council has had no complaints that the number of dentists is insufficient to meet demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to receive the Finer Committee's Report on the One-Parent Family; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg) on 25th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to complete his consideration of the letter from the Urban District Council of Corby, CEC/WMC/H20.01, dated 20th June 1973, regarding the proposal to postpone the date for beginning the building of the health centre and community hospital in Corby.

Within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions he has sent to local authorities regarding the identification of agoraphobics living in their areas for the purposes of implementing the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and what criteria he has issued as guidlines for their identification.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 29th June 1973], gave the following information:Advice issued by my Department in August 1970 confirmed that persons whose handicap was a mental one were within the scope of Section 1 of the Act. It would not be appropriate for me to suggest criteria for the identification of persons suffering from particular mental disorders and no guidance on identification of such persons has been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if agoraphobia is within the definition of disablement for the purposes of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, especially regarding the provision of telephones.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 29th June 1973], gave the following information:Yes: but, although the local authority associations have recommended to their members criteria for provision of telephones for handicapped people generally, I should point out that it is for each local authority to determine what particular forms of help to provide in any particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the Government Actuary's Report, she will now make provision for a reduction of employees' contributions to the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme.

At a meeting of the working party on teachers' superannuation on 3rd July the official side undertook to consider a request by the teachers' side for a reduction in the employee's contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has now reached a decision, promised in June, on capital expenditure relating to Suffolks Primary School, Enfield.

My right hon. Friend has given no undertaking to reach a decision on the local education authority's proposal to cease to maintain this school by a specific date but hopes to announce her decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to receive the report of the joint DES/Local Authority Associations' Working Party; and whether she will take it into urgent consideration, on receipt, with a view to assisting with problems of school transport in rural areas,

I understand that it will be some time before a report is ready. When it is my right hon. Friend will consider its findings very carefully, including those that bear on school transport in rural areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many appeals she has received from parents against the decision of the education department in Sheffield not to allocate places in Rowlinson School to younger members of the same family already attending the school.

My right hon. Friend has received 10 such appeals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many appeals she has received from parents against the decision of the education department in Sheffield not to allocate places in King Egbert School to younger members of the same family already attending the school.

My right hon. Friend has received 10 such appeals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the last full mineral survey was undertaken in Scotland.

Mineral surveys are not undertaken on a regional basis as implied by the Question. An assessment of mineral resources in selected areas of the United Kingdom is being carried out by the Institute of Geological Sciences under a contract with the Department of Trade and Industry. The programme includes at least two areas in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will specify the allocations to public institutions of the individual works of art pre-eminent for aesthetic merit which have been accepted by the Treasury in satisfaction of estate duty under Section 34 of the Finance Act 1956 during the period between 20th June 1972 and 12th July 1973, together with information, where applicable, as to wishes expressed in the matter of allocation by testators and executors.

The painting "Tivoli; Temple of the Sibyl and the Campagna" by Richard Wilson was allocated to the Tate Gallery in accordance with the wishes of the executors.The painting "St. Anthony of Padua" by Murillo has been allocated to the Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery. No wishes as to destination were expressed by the testator or executors, but the allocation is understood to be in accordance with the wishes of the testator's daughter.The paintings "Chillingham Wild Cattle" and "Scottish Red Deer" by Landseer have been allocated to the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-on-Tyne. No wishes as to a named destination were expressed by the testator or executors, but allocation to a local rather than a national institution is in accordance with the wishes of the testator's widow.No decision has yet been taken on the allocation of the Chinese Chippendale cabinet and the paintings by Monet and Renoir which have recently been accepted in satisfaction of estate duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give additional funds for cancer research to enable the Zuckerman Report to be fully implemented.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a Question by the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Dormand).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the percentage of oversize primary school classes for each local education authority on the latest available date.

The Schools Regulations no longer prescribe the maximum size of classes in maintained schools, but the following table shows by local authority areas the percentage in January 1972 of primary school classes as registered with over 40 pupils. The concept of "classes as registered" is, of course, purely a statistical one. Many of the largest classes as so defined are for much of the time sub-divided for teaching purposes.

PERCENTAGE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CLASSES AS REGISTERED * WITH OVER 40 PUPILS JANUARY 1972.
England: Counties
Bedfordshire	1·8
Berkshire	3·1
Buckinghamshire	2·7
Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely	0·9
Cheshire	6·0
Cornwall	5·7
Cumberland	4·8
Derbyshire	2·5
Devon	1·5
Dorset	5·2
Durham	1·0
Essex	1·4
Gloucestershire	1·5
Hampshire	1·1
Herefordshire	0·8
Hertfordshire	1·9
Huntingdon and Peterborough	0·7
Isle of Wight	—
Isles of Scilly	—
Kent	1·3
Lancashire	5·2
Leicestershire	3·3
Lincs—Holland	2·2
Lincs—Kesteven	3·3
Lincs—Lindsey	4·7
Norfolk	1·5
Northamptonshire	4·8
Northumberland	1·6
Nottinghamshire	3·3
Oxfordshire	1·5
Rutland	1·8
Shropshire (Salop)	1·6
Somerset	3·6
Staffordshire	3·1
Suffolk, East	3·2
Suffolk, West	2·0
Surrey	3·7
Sussex, East	2·4
Sussex, West	2·5
Warwickshire	2·2
Westmorland	6·5
Wiltshire	0·9
Worcestershire	1·5
Yorks, East Riding	1·7
Yorks, North Riding	4·1
Yorks, West Riding	1·3

(*) Excluding classes in middle schools deemed primary, for which information about classes as registered was not obtained.

England: County Boroughs
Barnsley	—
Barrow-in-Furness	—
Bath	1·7
Birkenhead	5·8
Birmingham	3·7

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement about Government assistance to the National Portrait Gallery towards the purchase of a sixteenth century portrait of John Bourchier, Second Baron Berners.

The Government have agreed that Parliament shall be asked to approve a special purchase grant of £10,000 to the National Portrait Gallery towards the purchase of this picture. A Supplementary Estimate will be laid before Parliament in due course but, meanwhile, the money will be advanced from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he is aware that aircraft noise over Wadborough, Worcestershire, caused by low-flying training planes resulting in two recent civilian casualties is causing concern to residents; what steps he is taking to abate this inconvenience; and whether he will make a statement.

Service aircraft do not normally train in the Wadborough area at low level, nor am I aware of any civilian casualties caused by aircraft in that area. If my hon. Friend has any particular instance of low flying in mind I will be glad to investigate it.

asked the Minister of State for Defence on what date he expects to complete his consideration of the project definition study of the maritime Harrier aircraft; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on 3rd July.—[Vol. 859, c. 243–4.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence in what circumstances consent is given to the diversion of aircraft to Manston Aerodrome; and what arrangements are made to ensure the availability of adequate casualty services.

Service and civil aircraft may use RAF Manston in an emergency, or when their intended destination airfield is closed down owing to adverse conditions. The crash/rescue services and the station sick quarters are manned continuously. For casualties beyond its own resources, the station has an immediate call on a number of hospitals in the area and plans for dealing with a major accident have been drawn up in conjunction with the civil police, hospitals and county fire services.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he intends to have any further nuclear explosion tests; if any provisional timetable has been arranged; and if any testing proposals are being considered with any consultation or co-operation with France.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 16th July. We are not considering any joint tests with France.—[Vol. 860, c. 28.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that all workers recruited to EEC countries from Great Britain are recruited through his employment service; and, in view of the fact that workers in certain cases have signed contracts which have been cancelled at the last moment, if he will make representations to the EEC Commission on this matter.

All workers in the European Economic Community, including British workers, have the right to move freely within the Community and to make their own arrangements for employment. I have no information which might justify seeking to restrict this right in the way the hon. Member suggests.If, however, he can supply my Department with any evidence of the last-minute cancellation of contracts I shall certainly consider what action can be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a separate code of the regulations to cover the storage and use of liquefied petroleum gases.

The industrial storage of liquefied petroleum gases is covered by the Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972 which came into force on 21st June 1973. The need for separate regulations concerning the industrial use of liquefied petroleum gases will be kept under review in the light of experience gained from the 1972 Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he proposes to make to ensure that industry is made aware of the fact that the Certificate of Approval No. 1 for Fire Resisting Structures issued by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories under the Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Regulations differs materially from the standard indicated in the first edition of the guide to the regulations.

The first edition of the guide to the regulations gave only an early indication of the standards which might be approved, and stated that its contents should be read in conjunction with the regulations. The reprinted edition of the guide makes an amendment to paragraph 3 and includes a revised paragraph 6. It leaves unamended paragraphs 4, 5 and 7, which also deal with fire-resisting structures. As soon as the details of the certificate of approval were prepared copies were printed and the guide amended and reprinted. Both are on sale from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. In addition various industrial organisations including the CBI, TUC and Chemical Industries Association were sent copies of the certificate for the information of their members.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men are known to have been unemployed for a continuous period of five years or more; and where the largest percentage of these are to be found.

I regret that the information is not available. My Department's analysis of the unemployment register identifies those who have been unemployed for over one year but not those who have been unemployed for five years or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the amount of recorded vacancies in the Hull employment exchange area; and how this compares with each period for each year since 1970.

Following is the information:

UNFILLED VACANCIES IN THE HULL EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREA
1970—
January	1, 279
February	1, 093
March	1, 269
April	1, 068
May	1, 105
June	1, 520
July	2, 001
August	1, 658
September	1, 279
October	1, 032
November	946
December	816
1971—
January	782
February	787
March	981
April	1, 066
May	848
June	814
July	1, 464
August	1, 364
September	978
October	858
November	939
December	713
1972—
January	870
February	744
March	887
April	715
May	678
June	733
July	1, 009
August	1, 088
September	1, 097
October	858
November	916
December	1, 029
1973—
January	1, 217
February	1, 274
March	1, 428
April	1, 751
May	1, 978
June	1, 966

The statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.