asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total amount of money paid out by legal aid in defence of those charged with terrorist offences during the last three years; and what payments of legal aid are still outstanding for the same period.

It would not be possible to provide the information required without disproportionate effort, as the legal aid records do not distinguish between terrorist and non-terrorist offences.It is estimated that the amount at present due to solicitors and counsel in respect of claims received for criminal legal aid since 20th January 1975 is £214,000. All claims received before that date have been paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children and young persons are on the waiting list for places in residential homes in each of the area boards.

Following is the information:

Area Board	Number at 13th April 1976
Northern	Nil
Southern	Nil
Eastern	20
Western	2

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the number of residential places for children and young persons; and whether there are any places for increasing the provisions of residential houses in the Province.

While the provision of residential places is only one indicator of the size of the problem, the Province as a whole is reasonably well provided with residential accommodation for children and young persons for the purposes of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968. There are, however, shortages of accommodation in certain areas and this problem is particularly acute in parts of Belfast.The board's plans for the next five years provide for more than 200 additional residential places in children's homes. The need for the future, however, is to improve the quality and range of facilities as well as to provide new accommodation, and the number of new places could be offset by up to a half owing to a loss of places from closing or reorganising some existing establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time and part-time domestic staff are employed at Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry.

information is the information:

	Full-time	Part-time
Craigavon Area Hospital
Cooks	14	1
Catering assistants	40	35
Cleaning staff	58	106
Laundry staff	78	23
Porters	22	—
Total	212	165
Daisy Hill Hospital.
Newry
Cooks	8	—
Catering assistants	14	5
Cleaning staff	31	36
Laundry staff	—	—
Porters	19	—
Total	72	41

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what facilities are available at Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, for worship by the various religious denominations.

The spiritual care of patients in Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital is provided for by the appointment of part-time chaplains, representing the four main churches in Northern Ireland. At both hospitals a room is made available where religious services for staff may be held.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what major projects are at present under consideration by the Department of Law Reform in Northern Ireland; and when will the department publish its next report.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th April 1976; Vol. 910, c. 37], gave the following information:There is no Department of Law Reform. The former office of Law Reform has been absorbed into the Department of Finance. There is no arrangement for the publication of regular reports on law reform—departments concerned with particular proposals for law reform consider the extent and nature of consultation separately in the context of each proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of administrative staff in each of the seven administrative units in Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry; which of these units are attached to the district administration; and which to the area administration.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th April 1976; Vol. 910, c. 38], gave the following information:Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry, contains nine administrative units, all of which are attached to the district administration. The number of administrative—including clerical—staff in each of these units is as follows:

Nursing	1
Units Administration	4
Cash Office	3
Post Graduate Unit	1
X-Ray	6
Medical Records	53
Laboratory	1
Works	1
Pharmacy	3

Two units of the district administration are also housed in Altnagelvin Hospital. The number of staff in these units is as follows:

Medical administration	2
Purchasing	7

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made to date on securing fundamental changes in the CAP.

My right hon. Friend informed the House on 8th March 1976 of the progress that he had made in improving the operation of the CAP arrangements for beef, milk and cereals. We shall continue to seek improvements in those sectors and elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the spread of infectious pancreatic necrosis in fish; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

Infectious pancreatic necrosis is a virus disease which can cause heavy mortalities in young salmonidae. It has been confirmed on two fish farms in Norfolk. We suspect that the disease may also be present in several other farms elsewhere and the necessary tests to determine this are in hand.To restrict spread of the disease all movements of live fish, fish eggs and feeding stuffs for fish have been prohibited from sites where infection is suspected or confirmed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will freeze the payment of grant due to the Severn-Trent Water Authority for the proposed drainage scheme for the River Anker at Nuneaton until a report under Section 24(12) of the Water Act 1973 has been made into the circumstances of the purchase of land by the water authority from its chairman has been held.

The Nuneaton Flood Relief Scheme was approved for grant aid in May 1973 and under the standard conditions attached to that approval the cost of purchasing land needed for the scheme will be eligible for grant on the basis of the district valuer's valuation. In considering any application by the water authority my right hon. Friend will of course have regard to the report for which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Planning and Local Government has called.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will legislate to impose strict control on organisations purporting to be charities to ensure that their objects and the application and collection of funds are for bona fide charitable purposes.

The Charities Act 1960 the House to House Collections Act 1939 and Regulations for the control of street collections made by licensing authorities under Section 5 of the Police, Factories etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916, already provide for controls. We would prefer to await the report of the committee of inquiry set up by the National Council of Social Service before considering whether further legislation is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long C. Byrne, T. F. Byrne and R. J. Park have been held in custody at Brixton Prison; and when they will be committed for trial.

These men have been held in Brixton Prison since 5th March 1976. It is for the magistrates' court to decide whether they should be committed for trial, and the dates of the committal proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that both the present Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission are women, he will take steps to appoint a man to one of these positions.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest progress in negotiating the EEC Commission Fisheries policy.

My right hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) attended the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday 6th April, at which this matter was discussed. The discussions will be continued early in May at the next meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why payments to Scottish farmers of hill and upland compensatory allowances are behind those to farmers in England and Wales; and whether, in view of the fact that most of these payments by his Department will be about three months late, he will add interest accrued.

I fully appreciate the need to make payment as quickly as possible and my Department is working overtime for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will closely monitor trends in the market demand for lean meat with a view to the eventual alteration of the current general standards of beef certification to allow premium payments to be made on leaner types of cattle.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to his Question on 16th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 802.] I am satisfied that the current standards of certification for beef premium ensure the production of beef in the qualities demanded by consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average National Health Service prescription cost, including dispensing fees, in Scotland in 1966, 1970, 1974 and the latest available date.

The average cost of a National Health Service prescription dispensed by chemists and appliance suppliers in Scotland was 55·6p in the financial year 1966–67, 111·5p in 1974–75, and 147p in the 10-month period to January 1976—the latest month for which information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to implement the resolution of the Scottish Health Service Planning Council of 12th May 1975 that a systematic programme of fluoridation should be undertaken in Scotland.

The memorandum "The Health Service in Scotland—The Way Ahead", which was issued on 13th April and gave general guidance to health boards on future priorities, recommended that serious consideration be given to the fluoridation of water supplies. I intend to issue more detailed guidance soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cash sum spent on pharmaceutical services in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland; and what proportion of total hospital expenditure this represented in 1966, 1970, 1974 and at the latest available date.

The information available is shown below:

	£million	Percentage
1966–67	4·92	5·8
1970–71	7·68	5·8
1974–75	15·48	5·4

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cash sum spent on pharmaceutical services within the National Health Service in Scotland; and what proportion of National Health Service Scottish expenditure this represented in 1966, 1970, 1974 and at the latest available date.

Expenditure on the general pharmaceutical and hospital pharmaceutical services in Scotland, and the proportion this represents of total expenditure on the National Health Service in Scotland, is shown below:

	£million	Percentage
1966–67	20·7	16·4
1970–71	29·4	15·2
1974–75	51·3	12·1

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will report on current progress in formulating an agreed North-West European Regional Convention on civil liability for damage from oil pollution from offshore operations.

Since the first Session of this Conference ended last October, officials from all the States concerned have continued regularly to meet to discuss outstanding points of difference in preparation for the next session which has been provisionally arranged for London in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will publish his next report to Parliament on production and reserves of oil and gas in the United Kingdom.

My 1976 Report to Parliament entitled "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom" is being published this afternoon and copies are available in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office stores.The report shows 1975 to have been the busiest year so far on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf as well as the year of the first production of oil from the North Sea. Production should increase rapidly as more fields come on-stream and production in 1980 is forecast at 95 million-115 million tonnes—more than equal to estimated national consumption. As a result of companies taking longer over the appraisal of new finds, this is slightly lower than last year's estimate of 100 million-130 million tons. Our proven recoverable reserves of oil now stand at over 1,350 million tonnes, compared to a figure of 1,060 million tons in the 1975 Brown Book—an increase of 30 per cent. Total recoverable reserves in presently designated areas of our Continental Shelf are estimated at between 3,000 million and 4,500 million tonnes—the same as the 1975 estimate.Production of natural gas from the Continental Shelf last year totalled 37·2 billion cubic metres—equivalent to more than 30 million tonnes of oil—which represents 97 per cent. of total United Kingdom gas supplies and a saving of over £1,000 million, on the balance of payments. Reserves of gas in all dis- coveries in the United Kingdom sector made up to the end of 1975 are now estimated to be between 815 billion and 1,430 billion cubic metres and should support a production level of about 200 million cubic metres a day by the 1980s.During 1975, 24 new discoveries of oil and four new discoveries of gas/condensate were made, the total of oil discoveries being virtually as many as in the previous five years of exploration. Drilling activity over the last year has been at a higher level than ever before, particularly in the areas to the east of Shetlands and Scotland, with exceptionally high success rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give an assurance that it is not the Government's intention to abandon the policy of subsiding gas and electricity to domestic consumers.

It remains our policy, as announced in my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement of 12th November 1974, to phase out Government subsidies to the gas and electricity industries for price restraint as soon as possible. As my hon. Friend the previous Minister of State—the hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Mr. Smith)—indicated in reply to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) on 22nd March 1976—[Vol. 908, cols. 13–15]—we are not expecting losses for either industry for the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour and gas per therm: (a)for a domestic consumer and (b)to an industrial or commercial consumer.

National average electricty prices in England and Wales in respect of Bills sent out in April were 2·0p/kWh for domestic consumers and 1·5p/kWh for industrial consumers. These bills were not affected by the recently announced basic tariff increases which apply to consumption from the first meter reading on or after 1st April.Up-to-date average prices for gas are not readily available. The estimated average revenues from gas sales in the calendar year 1975 were 12·9p/therm for domestic consumers and 10·4p/therm for commercial consumers. The October 1975 tariff increases are only partially reflected in these figures. Sales to larger industrial and commercial consumers—of more than 100,000 therms a year—are made under special agreements the details of which are confidential. However, such contracts are currently being negotiated at prices comparable with the commercial rate above. Some contracts not yet renewed are at lower prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will supply a breakdown of the latest selected United

SELECTED FUEL PRICES
					Great Britain	Northern Ireland
Gas(1)
Domestic (pence/therm)	…	…	…	…	11·6	23·0
Other (pence/therm)	…	…	…	…	4·9	20·9
Oil
Domestic heating(2) (pence/gallon)	…	…	…	…	29	29
Premium motor spirit(3) (pence/gallon)	…	…	…	…	69–80	78–80
Electricity
Domestic(4) (pence/KWh)	…	…	…	…	1·12–1·35	1·34
Industrial(5) (pence/KWh)	…	…	…	…	1·37–1·59	2·02
Industrial(6) (pence/KWh)	…	…	…	…	1·18–1·45	1·80

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total cost to the Gas and Electricity Boards of disconnecting domestic consumers in the last year for which figures are available.

This informaton is not available; the gas and electricity industries seek to recover the costs from the consumers so disconnected.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in view of his request to fuel boards not to disconnect certain categories of retirement pensioners before June 1976, what procedures are to be followed after that date.

This will be for consideration in the light of the findings of the Kingdom fuel prices as between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It is difficult to make close comparisons of fuel prices between different parts of the United Kingdom because of differing consumption patterns and supply conditions—for example, natural gas is not available in Northern Ireland; also, wide variations can occur within different regions. The following table sets out some of the latest information which is available on a comparable basis, although it does not include some of the most recent price changes, and I regret that figures for coal are not readily available:review of the procedures for payment of bills by gas and electricity consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans his Department has for research and development into the utilisation of wave energy.

On the recommendation of my Advisory Council on Research and Development, a national research and development programme into wave energy is being initiated. The first stage, which will last two years and cost roughly £1 million, is aimed at establishing the feasibility of the large-scale extraction of power from sea waves, and generating information which will enable the cost of further development to be estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (1) the number of work permits for managerial posts held by non-EEC aliens currently in force, (2) the countries of origin of the holders of such permits and (3) the periods of years for which such permits have been held.

The information is not available in the form requested. A work permit is issued for a maximum of 12 months but an extension of stay may be granted by the Home Office for a further three years if the employer confirms that he still wishes to employ the work permit holder. After four years in approved employment the worker's conditions of stay may be revoked and

NOTIFICATION OF REDUNDANCIES IN SCOTLAND FOR THE PERIOD 8TH MARCH TO 16TH APRIL
	10–99 Proposed Dismissals		100 plus Proposed Dismissals
	Number of Establishments	Number of Employees	Number of Establishments	Number of Employees	Number of Acceptances Sent
Transitional Provisions	23	731	3	765	25
Full Provisions	102	1,999	14	4,717	39
Details of the period of notice and the Secretary of State's decision in each case can only be given at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the current level of employment in the North-West; and if he will make a statement on the prospects of those currently unemployed.

The Government are certainly not satisfied with the current he is then free to take any employmemt.The information from the analysis of work permits issued for managerial posts is available only from 1974 and is as follows:

	1974	1975
Greece	23	13
Israel	5	11
Japan	164	195
Norway	16	8
Portugal	8	10
South Africa	36	24
Spain	18	7
Sweden	33	21
Switzerland	42	15
United States	422	418
Others*	129	107
	896	829
*Not exceeding nine for any country

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the applications from Scotland for his approval of redundancy arrangements under Sections 101 and 107 of the Employment Protection Act, showing the number of jobs, the period of notice and his decision in each case.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to Section 100 of the Employment Protection Act, which requires employers to notify proposed redundancies involving 10 or more dismissals to the Secretary of State for Employment.The table below gives details of notifications made to my Department's office for Scotland:level of unemployment in the North-West. We recognise that there is still a long way to go towards solving the longer-term structural employment problems of the region. However, the prospects for those currently unemployed are likely to depend in very large measure on an upturn in the economy generally. In this context it is of some encouragement that the numbers of notified vacancies have risen for the third successive month both in the North-West Region and in the country as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is now able to publish the names of members of the committee to investigate the hazards associated with asbestos and its terms of reference; and whether the inquiry will be in public.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that invitations to prospective members of the committee have been sent and in accordance with the undertaking of my right hon. Friend, the then Secre-

			Unemployed
Occupational Group			Males	Females	Total
Managerial occupations (general management)	…	…	7	—	7
Professional and related occupations supporting management and administration	…	…	49	4	53
Professional and related occupations in education, welfare and health	…	…	15	31	46
Literary, artistic and sports occupations	…	…	36	9	45
Professional and related occupations in science, engineering, technology and similar fields	…	…	76	6	82
Managerial occupations (excluding general management)	…	…	131	18	149
Clerical and related occupations	…	…	467	379	846
Selling occupations	…	…	160	115	275
Security and protective service occupations	…	…	25	2	27
Catering, cleaning, hairdressing and other personal service occupations	…	…	84	119	203
Farming, fishing and related occupations	…	…	29	5	34
Materials processing occupations (excluding metal)	…	…	42	1	43
Making and repairing occupation (excluding metal and electrical)	…	…	157	22	179
Processing, making, repairing and related occupations (metal and electrical)	…	…	490	—	490
Painting, repetitive assembling, product inspecting, packaging and related occupations	…	…	113	51	164
Construction, mining and related occupations NEC	…	…	303	—	303
Transport operating, materials moving and storing and related occupations	…	…	518	10	528
Miscellaneous occupations	…	…	2,160	199	2,359
Total:all occupations	…	…	4,862	971	5,833

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the current level of employment on Merseyside; and what further steps he proposes to take to reduce the level of unemployment.

I am far from satisfied with the current level of unemployment on Merseyside. However, the area is already benefiting considerably from the various measures that we have taken to mitigate the worst effects of unemploy- tary of State for Employment, it is hoped a further statement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the incidence of unemployment by trades, and other classification, namely, men, women, youths, and girls, in the Stockport metropolitan area.

The following table shows an occupational analysis of the numbers of unemployed people registered at the Stockport, Hyde and Marple employment offices at March 1976. Those registered at careers offices are not analysed by occupation.ment. We shall continue to monitor the situation closely and shall certainly bear in mind the possibility of taking further steps to reduce unemployment as part of our overall economic strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment situation on Merseyside.

The level of unemployment on Merseyside is currently about twice the national average and the Government regard the present level as totally unacceptable. Although the recent measures to alleviate unemployment have been of some benefit to the area the Government accept that there is still a very long way to go towards solving the long-term employment problems of the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has plans to pay an official visit to Merseyside to study the unemployment situation.

I intend to make an official visit to Merseyside in June to study the unemployment situation there and the efficacy of the Government's measures to counter it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will draw to the attention of the factory inspectors the dangers to health arising from the dust problem in the battery hen egg-producing factories of Eastwoods in Fife; and what steps are being taken to eliminate this health hazard.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that dust in the atmosphere in building housing hens in battery cages may cause some discomfort to workers in the buildings, but there is no evidence that this dust gives rise to a health hazard.When an inspector of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland visited these premises in January this year it was observed that the company had provided the workers with overalls and dust masks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many adolescents under the age of 18 years are currently registered as being unemployed in the City of Birmingham.

The precise information is not available but on 8th April 1976, 5,948 persons under the age of 20 were registered as unemployed in the City of Birmingham. Of these, 1,195 were registered with the Careers Service and it is probable that these would include the bulk of the under-18s unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies were notified to his Department in the textile industry in 1974, 1975 and 1976 to the latest date available.

pursuant to the reply given by Mr. John Fraser—[Official Report, 8th April 1976; Vol. 909, c. 293], gave the following further information:During the period 8th March to 31st March 1976 inclusive, my Department was notified of proposed redundancies in the textile industry involving 3,522 employees, of which 712 were notified under the transitional provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the United States Government about the visit of American Customs officials to the United Kingdom to investigate the export of arms and money from the United States of America to the United Kingdom.

None. But my officials, in collaboration with those of the Northern Ireland Office, have worked closely with representatives of the United States Government in organising this visit, which was, I am glad to say, entirely successful. It represents a good example of the continuing co-operation we receive from the United States Government in tackling the problems of fund-raising and gun-running in the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to open up the countryside and the beaches of Hong Kong to the maximum number of its inhabitants.

About 100 square miles of scenic countryside have already been opened up to public use for pick-nicking, camping, and so on. Plans are in hand to make about another 100 square miles available for recreational use. Thirty-seven beaches are provided with public facilities which are continually being improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give figures to show the extent to which hospitals and clinic services in Hong Kong have increased over the last five years.

Two Government and three Government-assisted hospitals were completed, providing an additional 2,484 beds, thus increasing the ratio of all hospital beds to 4·3 per 1,000 population. Seven Government clinics were built during the same period, bringing the total to 51, and another clinic is nearing completion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to encourage British firms to invest in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Government welcomes all investment in Hong Kong by outside firms. I understand that they would particularly welcome more investment by British firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take following the discovery in a lane outside the Royal Ordnance factory at Burghfield of two Hungarian military officers equipped with cameras.

My right hon. Friend is considering the reports of this incident that he has received and, in the light of their contents, what action would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has that vessels conveying arms to Mozambique are calling at British ports en route; and what action he proposes to take.

None. In any event, although there are exceptions, cargoes that ships in transit retain on board are not ordinarily investigated, provided normal port rules are observed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many East German, Yugoslas, Rumanians, Hungarians, Czechoslovakians, Poles and Bulgarians, respectively, with diplomatic immunity are at present residing within (a)the Greater London area and (b)the London Borough of Camden as at 1st March 1976; and how many East Germans without diplomatic immunity are residing within (c)the Greater London Area and (d)the London Borough of Camden on 1st March 1976 or at the latest dates for which information is available.

Embassy staff with diplomatic immunity resident in the:

	Greater London Area	London Borough of Camden
East Germany	14 (17)	Nil (Nil)
Yugoslavia	12 (28)	Nil (Nil)
Romania	15 (31)	Nil (Nil)
Hungary	12 (24)	Nil (Nil)
Czechoslovakia	14 (45)*	4 (13)*
Poland	25 (27) (7)†	18 (13) (5)†
Bulgaria	14 (24)*	Nil (Nil)

The figures in brackets are members of the administrative and technical and service staff of the missions concerned, who, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, are entitled to immunity which is more limited than that accorded to full diplomats. The figures are accurate as at 20th April 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many citizens of each of the member States of the Warsaw Pact enjoy diplomatic privilege in Great Britain; and what ace the comparable figures for British citizens in each of the countries concerned.

Figures as at 26th April 1976 for Warsaw Pact citizens who enjoy some form of diplomatic privilege and/or immunity in the United Kingdom under the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 are as follows:

	Diplomatic Staff (full privileges and immunities)	Administrative and Technical and Service Staff (Restricted privileges and immunities)
Soviet Union	45	46(a)
East Germany	15	17
Poland	24	29(b)(c)
Hungary	12	24
Czechoslovakia	14	45(a)
Romania	16	31
Bulgaria	14	24(a)(b)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that appropriate action has been taken to ensure that exports of tropospheric scatter communications equipment do not run counter to Government policy on exports of defence equipment.

After careful consideration the Government have decided to bring tropospheric scatter communications equipment under general export licensing control. An Order to amend the Export of Goods (Control) Order is being made today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade. Applications for the export of this equip- ment will be dealt with in accordance with Her Majesty's Government policy in relation to particular destinations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the new four-wheel car being designed for the disabled will be a single-seated vehicle.

My right hon. Friend has not sponsored the design of such a vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what help was given to local projects in 1974 and 1975 by the Supplementary Benefit Commission under Schedule 4 to the Supplementary Benefit Act 1966.

Under paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 of the Supplementary Benefit Act, 1966, the Supplementary Benefits Commission made grants totalling £51,781 in 1974–75 and £73,008 in 1975–76, to 30 voluntary projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the numbers currently eligible for family income supplement and (b) the numbers who will be eligible for family income supplement after July 1976.

Estimates of the number of families eligible to receive family income supplement are based on limited information using the Family Expenditure Survey and are subject to wide margins of error. Using 1974 data—the latest available—it is estimated that about three-quarters of those eligible were in receipt of the supplement.Almost 59,000 families were receiving family income supplement in February 1976 and it is estimated that the number will rise to 85,000 immediately after July 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the number of claimants for the family income supplement passports scheme for free school meals, free dental and optical care, free prescriptions and free welfare foods and milk, respectively, for each years since the scheme was introduced.

The numbers of such claimants for exemption from dental and and optical charges were:

Year	Dental	Optical
1971	1,193	1,011 (from 24·3·71)
1972	6,512	4,024
1973	7,259	3,613
1974	6,449	2,917(to 31·10·74)

Following the introduction on 1st November 1974 of the new scheme for remission of these charges, separate figures for FIS recipients are not available.Numbers of beneficiaries receiving free welfare foods and milk under the FIS passport arrangements at the end of each year since 1971 were as follows:

(i) The following table shows the FIS prescribed income levels as a percentage of average gross earnings of male manual workers at the introduction of the scheme in 1971 and at each date the levels have increased:
						Prescribed income levels as percentage of gross earnings—Families with:
Date					Average Weekly gross earnings*	1 child	2 children	4 children
					£
August 1971	…	…	…	…	30·60	59	65	78
April 1972	…	…	…	…	32·89	61	67	79
April 1973	…	…	…	…	37·85	55	62	75
October 1973	…	…	…	…	40·92	53	59	71
July 1974	…	…	…	…	46·25	54	61	74
July 1975	…	…	…	…	57·77	54	60	73
*These estimates are based on information on the average weekly earnings of male manual workers aged 21 and over in all industries and services covered by the Department of Employment's regular annual October enquiry into earnings and hours of manual workers. Figures for months other than October have been obtained by interpolation using the Department of Employment's monthly index of average earnings.
(ii) In the table below the FIS prescribed income levels are shown as a percentage of the net incomes received by families with one, two and four children based on the assumptions that the families:
(a) have gross earnings as shown in the above table,
(b) are receiving basic tax allowances only,
(c) consist of man and wife with
1 child: aged under 11
2 children: both aged under 11
4 children: 2 aged under 11, 2 aged 11–15.
Family allowances are included in net income as they are taken into account in calculating tax: net income is taken as gross earnings plus family allowances less income tax and national insurance contributions.

		1-Child family		2-Child family		4-Child family
		(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)
Date		Average net weekly income	Prescribed income level as percentage of (2)	Average net weekly income	Prescribed income level as percentage of (4)	Average net weekly income	Prescribed income level as percentage of (6)
		£		£		£
August 1971	…	24·30	74	25·77	78	29·22	82
April 1972	…	26·66	75	28·13	78	31·59	82
April 1973	…	29·89	70	31·33	75	34·75	82
October 1973	…	31·86	67	33·30	72	36·72	79
July 1974	…	35·19	71	36·99	76	41·16	83
July 1975	…	42·41	74	44·66	78	49·61	85

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the value of the family income supplement eligibility levels for a family with one, two and four children expressed as a percentage of (i) average gross industrial earnings and (ii) average net industrial earnings for each years since the scheme came into operation.

The tables below give the information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the prescribed income levels for a family income supplement for one child, two child, and four child families, respectively,

		1-Child family		2-Child family		4-child family
Date		Prescribed amount	Tax threshold	Prescribed amount	Tax threshold	Prescribed amount	Tax threshold
		£	£	£	£	£	£
August 1971	…	18·00	15·33	20·00	18·12	24·00	24·94
April 1972	…	20·00	18·67	22·00	21·46	26·00	28·29
April 1973	…	21·00	18·75	23·50	21·44	28·50	28·17
October 1973	…	21·50	18·75	24·00	21·44	29·00	28·17
July 1974	…	25·00	21·25	28·00	24·87	34·00	33·44
July 1975	…	31·50	22·98	35·00	26·60	42·00	35·17

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Offiial Report the awards under the family income supplement scheme analysed by type of family and total income of family for 1973, 1974 and 1975 as set out in Table 32.36 of Social Trends 1973.

AWARDS CURRENT AT 28TH OCTOBER 1975, ANALYSED BY TYPE OF FAMILY AND TOTAL INCOME OF FAMILY AT DATE OF CLAIM
Type of family at date of claim					Type of family
£					All families	Two-parent families	Motherless families	Fatherless families
All ranges of income	…	…	…	…	62	29	1	32
Under 18·00	…	…	…	…	7	2	—	4
18·00–20·99	…	…	…	…	6	2	—	5
21·00–23·99	…	…	…	…	9	3	—	7
24·00–26·99	…	…	…	…	10	4	—	7
27·00–29·99	…	…	…	…	10	4	—	5
30·00–32·99	…	…	…	…	8	5	—	3
33·00–35·99	…	…	…	…	5	4	—	1
36·00–38·99	…	…	…	…	3	3	—	—
39·00–41·99	…	…	…	…	2	2	—	—
42·00–44·99	…	…	…	…	1	1	—	—
45·00 or more	…	…	…	…	1	1	—	—
Source: 10 per cent. sample.
Due to rounding, the sum of component parts may not equal the total.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are claiming the family income supplement of respectively lop to 99p, £1 to £1·99, £2 to £2·99, £3 to £3·99, £4

The table below gives the information requested:

The table referred to is published in Social Security Statistics and my hon. Friend will find the information for 1973 and 1974 in the editions for those years. The information for 1975 is given below:to £4·99, £5 to £5·99, and £6 plus; and, in each case, what is the total number of persons claiming and estimated to be eligible, respectively.

The following is the information requested as at December 1975:

Weekly Amount	Number of families
Less than £1	6,000
£1·00–£1·99	9,000
£2·00–£2·99	8,000
£3·00–£3·99	8,000
£4·00–£4·99	9,000
£5·00–£5·99	7,000
£6·00 or more	14,000
Total recipients	60,000*

Estimates of the number of families eligible to receive family income supplement are based on very small samples taken from the Family Expenditure Survey and are subject to wide margins of error. It is estimated that in 1974 the number receiving the supplement represented about three-quarters of the number eligible; no later or more detailed estimates are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the number eligible for the number claiming the family income supplement for each year since the scheme was introduced; and if he will distinguish between one- and two-parent families.

The number of families in receipt of family income supplement in December of each year was as follows:

	Two-parent families	One-parent families
1971	47,000	24,000
1972	48,000	34,000
1973	50,000	45,000
1974	32,000	38,000
1975	28,000	32,000

Estimates of the number of families who are entitled to family income supplement are based on limited information—using the Family Expenditure Survey—and are subject to wide margins of error. It is estimated that in 1972 about half of the families eligible were receiving the supplement. This proportion increased to about two-thirds in 1973 and to about three-quarerters in 1974. The data shows a slightly better percentage take-up for two-parent families than for one-parent families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the amounts paid out under the family income supplement scheme for each year since the scheme was introduced; and if he will divide this sum between one- and two-parent families for each year since 1971.

It is estimated that the amounts paid out for each calendar year since the start of the scheme are as follows:

Year	All	Two-parent families	£ millions one-parent families
1971	2·3	1·3	1·0
1972	9·2	5·1	4·1
1973	12·0	6·0	6·0
1974	12·2	5·4	6·8
1975	11·4	5·1	6·3

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make arrangements for patients in Ward One, Cornwall House, Broadmoor Hospital, who wish to study at the Open University to have these facilities.

Facilities are made available if clinical assessment indicates that a patient is able to benefit from such higher education.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has had about the use of the substance known as Eraldin in the treatment of angina;(2) what investigations are now being conducted by his Department into the use of the substance Eraldin in the treatment of angina; and if he will make a statement.

Eraldin is the trade name for practolol and has been available in the United Kingdom since 1970. It was used for the treatment of high blood pressure, angina and disorders of heart rhythm, and several representations about it have been received from hon. Members and individuals.In the course of routine monitoring of all drugs, the Committee on Safety of Medicines in 1974 received a number of reports of adverse effects, involving eye and skin disorders, deafness and, in rare cases, intestinal obstruction. In view of the serious nature of these reports, warning letters were circulated to doctors by the manufacturer and by the Committee informing them of these unpredicted hazards. The use of Eraldin has been restricted to patients in hospital, where it is only administered for the short-term treatment of disorders of heart rhythm and where clinical benefit cannot be obtained with alternative forms of treatment.This experience illustrates the great importance of doctors reporting to the Committee on Safety of Medicines suspected adverse drug reactions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the increase in the exceptional needs payment for fuel bills and by direct deduction on last year.

Information about the position as at December 1975 will be available later this year but information relating to previous years, for purposes of comparison, is not available and could not be obtained without undue cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average amount deducted from supplementary benefit for those whose gas and electricity bills are being paid through direct deduction.

As at December 1975, £2·25 per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently paying for gas and electricity through direct deduction from their supplementary benefits.

The most recent date for which information is available is December 1975 when the number was about 35,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount spent by means of exceptional needs payment to clear or partially clear outstanding fuel bills.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. Friend the former Under-Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 15th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 429.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost to the Supplementary Benefits Commission of action taken to reconnect disconnected gas and electricity to domestic consumers or to keep the supplies connected.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the £881 million increase in social security expenditure between 1974–75 and 1975–76, as set out in the Public Expenditure White Paper of February 1976, is due (a) to higher unemployment and (b) to increases in the number of retirement pensions; and how much of the increase in family allowances was reduced by way of income tax and clawback.

Benefits for the unemployed in 1975–76 compared with 1974–75 added about £430 million to social security expenditure, and the increase in the number of retirement pensioners about £160 million. It is estimated that the yield from tax and clawback on family allowances increased in 1975–76 by about £70 million over the 1974–75 figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of supplementary benefit and non-contributory benefits in 1974–75 was in respect of persons aged 65 years and over; and what proportion and amount was in respect of persons aged 75 years and over.

In 1974–75, 41 per cent. of supplementary benefit and non-contributory benefits was in respect of persons aged 65 years and over, and 20 per cent.—£260 million—in respect of persons aged 75 years and over.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will permit persons over the age of 40 years who have taken and passed a test for a class 3 heavy goods licence to undergo training and take a test for a class 1 heavy goods licence;(2) what was the failure rate, by number and percentage, of persons over the age of 40 years who took the test for a class 1 heavy goods licence; and what was the failure rate by number and percentage of persons above the age of 40 years who failed the same test, not having passed a test for a class 3 licence.