asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what encouragement is given by his Department to local authorities to provide special books for partially sighted children in different age groups.

As part of their normal duties Her Majesty's inspectors give guidance on the provision of suitable books for partially sighted children with all degrees of visual handicap. Sometimes specially produced books with large print are required, but usually these children can read books designed for those with normal sight provided the print is clear or the pages can be enlarged.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if there is any evidence of increased truancy from schools in the Birmingham metropolitan area since the raising of the school leaving age of 16 years.

This information is not available, but the Department's present investigations into truancy include a statistical return from authorities relating to absence and unjustified absence

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans there are for purpose-built comprehensive schools in the Birmingham metropolitan area.

The Birmingham local education authority has submitted plans for two new purpose-built comprehensive schools, each for about 954 pupils, to serve the Bordesley and Handsworth areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in the proposals put to him for the reorganization of secondary education in the Birmingham metropolitan district, whether there is a maximum number of pupils for each school laid down; and what is the average number.

Of the proposals at present under consideration 31 seek to change admission arrangements and do not affect the size of the schools concerned. The remainder envisage the closure of four schools and the establishment in the premises so vacated of two new schools each for about 1,650 pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of applications to enter initial courses of teacher training in September 1974, at the latest date for which figures are available; and what were the corresponding figures in each of the last five years.

The figures provided by the Central Register and Clearing House are:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students resident in the Macclesfield area are enrolled at the Open University.

I am informed by the Open University that there are 69.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the report carried out for his Department by Dr. Geoffrey Taylor on site examinations of construction workers' vulnerability to the cold.

Dr. Taylor's survey formed part of an inquiry by a committee of the National Consultative Council of the Building and Civil Engineering Industries, and his research was made available to the construction industry in the committee's report to the NCC in 1971. I do not consider that there is any need for the Department to publish the report, but if Dr. Taylor wishes to publish it himself it is open to him to do so.

asked the Chairman of the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) if he is satisfied with the performance of the new kitchen equipment in the House of Commons kitchens, particularly in view of the difficulties being experienced in the preparation of meals.

I have been asked to reply.No, I am not satisfied. I have been made aware of this situation. Every effort to remedy the situation has so far failed. I have requested the assistance of the Secretary of State for the Environment to expedite the necessary remedial work as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry by what approxi- mate proportion he estimates domestic steel production will increase or decrease in the third and fourth quarters of this year.

I expects domestic steel production in the second half of this year to be significantly higher than in the first half.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, while the family income supplement procedure continues, she will take steps to make the allowances to the wife should she be the wage earner because of the husband's incapacity to work through disability.

No. Supplementary benefit is available to a low-income family if the husband is unable to work because of illness or disability.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the total qualified nursing staff in Bournemouth hospitals is agency nurses.

Of the 160 qualified nurses in post 27 are agency nurses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will review the pay and conditions of National Health Service speech therapists.

National Health Service speech therapists are one of the professions whose pay is closely linked with that of nurses and, as my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 23rd May—[Vol. 874, c. 868–97]—we intend that these professions should benefit from the results of the inquiry into nurses' pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the shortest possible time in which family allowances could be introduced for the first child.

To introduce allowances for first children in families which are at present receiving family allowances would take four months. To extend payment to the 3 million children in one-child families not included in the present scheme would take 21 months. These estimates assume the existence of the necessary legislation and ready availability of staff and the accommodation for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals in Birmingham have accepted the recommendations on flexible visiting made by the Stacey Committee; and on how many no action has been taken.

The Stacey Committee's recommendations related to hospitals in Wales. The principle of unrestricted visiting by parents of children in hospital recommended by the Platt Committee has been accepted by Birmingham hospitals, although there is necessarily some limitation on weekday visiting for children at school at the Royal Orthopedic Hospital. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of Hospital Memorandum (71)22 which reiterates this recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many hospitals in Birmingham open visiting of children's wards is permitted.

Eight.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans she has for the improvement of hospital facilities covering the Birmingham area health authority.

Major improvements in hospital facilities are already under construction at High croft, East Birmingham, Moseley Hall, Selly Oak, Monyhull, Rubbery Hill, Dudley Road, Summerfield, General and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals. Planning for further improvement of services in the Birmingham area is the responsibility of the Birmingham Area Health Authority (Teaching).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the waiting periods for operations in each of the hospitals in the Birmingham Area Health Authority.

Information is not available in the form requested, but following is the average time waited by patients admitted from waiting lists for all surgical specialties during 1972, the latest period for which figures are available:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which abortion clinics within the constituency of the hon. Member for Macclesfield have been included in her Department's programme of inspection of approved nursing homes.

All nursing homes approved by my right hon. Friend under the Abortion Act are subject to inspection without notice. There are no such places in the hon. Member's constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the size and capacity of the portable oxygen appliances provided through the hospital service to permit individual mobility.

The following seven different sizes are available to the hospital service:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many persons at the present time have received portable oxygen appliances through the hospital service; and what is her estimate of future use;(2) how many portable oxygen appliances have been provided by the hospital service for individuals suffering from lung disability or disease in order that a measure of personal mobility can be achieved.

I regret that this information is not available centrally nor is it possible to estimate future usage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to publish further information about British Airways' estimates of the effect on their profitability of operating Concorde.

In accordance with the Government's policy of encouraging informed public discussion of the future of the Concorde project, British Airways have, at my request, prepared an appraisal which provides a full explanation of the basis for their estimates. I decided to make copies of this British Airways' appraisal available to Parliament as soon as possible, without waiting for the end of the recess. Copies were accordingly placed in the Library and the Vote Office on Friday 31st May and were made available to the Press on the same day.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he proposes to pay compensation to the British companies subjected to the bans by Her Majesty's Government on the export of defence goods and services; and what is his estimate of the cost of any such compensation.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the revocation of the export licence granted to Westland in respect of Wasp helicopters for export to South Africa announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21st May 1974. I do not propose to pay compensation in respect of the revocation of this export licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries of the world where members of the diplomatic service will be forbidden to entertain visiting British sportsmen and athletes.

No. Such cases, which I would expect to be very rare, will be considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations were held with the relevant trade unions before the bans were announced on defence equipment sales to Chile and South Africa.

There were no formal consultations.

pursuant to his supplementary reply to MR. MADDEN [OFFICIAL REPORT, 22nd May 1974; Vol. 874, c. 353], gave the following information:I understand that members of the European Assembly receive the following subsistence and travelling expenses for attendances at meetings of the Assembly and of its Committees: