asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to announce new measures to cut down on wasteful and unproductive use of energy, as an aid to the balance of payments.

Government policy on cutting down wasteful and unproductive use of energy was set out in the White Paper on Energy Conservation (Cmnd. 6575) published in July 1976. That policy includes a number of new Government measures, which we shall pursue vigorously. The Government recognise that the place of energy in the balance of payments is a prime factor in making energy conservation important for the United Kingdom. I hope that energy consumers, in whose hands responsibility for cutting out wasteful use primarily lies, will also recognise its importance and act on it.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many gas explosions causing injury or damage were reported in 1975; and how this compares with the previous two years.

British Gas has informed me that there were 75 explosions in 1975 causing fatalities, serious injuries or damage of £100 or more. Comparable figures for 1973 and 1974 were 69 and 61 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in participation negotiations with the Occidental Group.

On 14th October 1976 the Government and the British National Oil Corporation concluded an agreement on the basic terms for participation by BNOC with members of the Occidental North Sea Group in respect of their interest in the licences covering the Piper and Claymore Fields.The Occidental North Sea Group consists of Occidental Petroleum Corporation—36·5 per cent.; Getty Oil—23·5 per cent.; Allied Chemical Company—20 per cent.; and Thomson North Sea Limited—20 per cent.Under the agreement, BNOC will have an option to purchase, at prices in line with those prevailing in the international market, up to 51 per cent. of crude oil and natural gas liquids production available from the Piper and Claymore fields. BNOC's purchase option becomes effective as of 1st April 1977, and under one year notice provisions escalates up to 51 per cent. on 1st April 1980.The Agreement also provides for BNOC to become a party to the Piper and Claymore licences, and associated operating agreements and to have an effective voice in their operations.The terms of the arrangement fully satisfy the Government policy to achieve majority State participation in the Piper and Claymore fields, leaving the companies financially neither better nor worse off.

asked the Prime Minister when he last chaired a meeting of NEDC.

On 7th July.

asked the Prime Minister how many times he has chaired meetings of the NEDC during the Summer Recess.

asked the Prime Minister how many times he has chaired meetings of the NEDC during the Summer Recess.

asked the Prime Minister how many times he has chaired meetings of NEDC during the Summer Recess.

There were no meetings of the National Economic Development Council during the Summer Recess.

asked the Prime Minister what are his public engagements for 19th October.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 19th October.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 19th October.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 19th October.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 19th October.

In addition to meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, I shall be meeting a group of senior Japanese industrialists.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish a list of his official engagements during the Summer Recess.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official visits made during the Summer Recess.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay an official visit to Helsinki.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will visit Coventry.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the effectiveness of his Government's industrial policies.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the effectiveness of his Government's industrial policies.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the effectiveness of his Government's industrial policies.

They have been, and are likely to be, far more effective than those advocated by Her Majesty's Opposition.

asked the Prime Minister if he has yet fixed a date to visit Moscow.

No.

asked the Prime Minister how many times he has met the CBI during the Summer Recess.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Conway (Mr. Roberts) on 12th October.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the City of London.

I shall be speaking at the Lord Mayor's Banquet at Guildhall on 15th November.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to make a tour of Commonwealth countries in 1976.

I visited Canada in September, but I have no plans at present to visit other Commonwealth, countries in 1976.

asked the Prime Minister, if he will dismiss the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The House may assume that I do not intend to make any further ministerial changes unless and until I make a statement to the contrary.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit Derby.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he last made a ministerial broadcast.

On 5th April.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Scottish Office, the Department of Trade and the Departments of Energy and Industry in respect of Scottish devolution.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Tayside.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the membership of the Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland.

Yes. The Queen has approved that Alexander Stewart Weatherhead, Esquire, TD, MA, LLB, be appointed a member of the Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland.The other members of the Royal Commission, whose appointments were announced in September, are:

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he has had any recent discussions with the Morning Star regarding Government advertising.

There have been discussions and correspondence over many months with the Morning Star. As a result of these discussions, independently audited circulation figures of total sales have now been supplied from which some assessment can be formed of the value and efficacy of advertising in the Morning Star. However, it was not until 21st September 1976 that the Morning Star was able to supply separate figures for home sales and overseas sales. These figures are now being studied by the Central Office of Information, which will be able to take them into account when making plans for future Government advertising.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the cost of the digital clocks in the Chamber of the House; and what the necessity for them.

The cost of installing the clocks was £850. They are synchronised with the Clerk's clock on the Table of the House and were installed to show hon. Members the same time as the clock by which the Chair is guided.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will publish in the Official Report a list of bodies, both official and nonofficial, to which he has the right to make unpaid appointments and indicate for each body the number of such appointments.

The only body to which I make unpaid appointments is the Scottish Committee of the Council on Tribunals. There are four such appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is prepared to recommend additional steps to deal with the advance of vandalism in the United Kingdom; and whether he is satisfied that current law is adequate.

A report entitled "Protection Against Vandalism" published last November by a Working Party of the Home Office Standing Committee on Crime Prevention recommended certain measures to prevent vandalism. We are always prepared to consider new measures as they are suggested. The relevant law was reviewed and codified in 1971 and we have no reason to think that it is inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review his policy regarding establishment of a VHF citizens' radio band; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of mugging have been reported to the Metropolitan Police in the last three years; and how many prosecutions and convictions have followed.

There is no specific offence of "mugging", a term which has no legal definition.The following tables give details of the number of offences of robbery, since it is into this category that incidents described as "muggings" will fall.

Offences of Robbery recorded as known to the Metropolitan Police
1973	…	…	…	2,680
1974	…	…	…	3,151
1975	…	…	…	4,452

Persons proceeded against for offences of robbery and those found guilty—Metropolitan Police District
		No. of persons
		1974	1975
Proceeded against	…	1,007	1,376
Found guilty	…	649	761
Figures for 1973 are not readily available.

The Metropolitan Police keep a separate record of offences which approximate to what is commonly understood by the term "mugging": that is, offences of robbery of personal property which follow a sudden attack in the open where there is no previous association between the victim and the assailant. The figures for such offences recorded as known to the Metropolitan Police are: 1,224, 1,454 and 1,977 for 1973, 1974 and 1975 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new imprisonable offences have been created since the Government took office in February 1974; what are the respective maximum sentences; and how many prison sentences have been imposed as a result.

The information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for crimes of violence against the person in the metropolitan area of London in 1966; and how many there were in 1975.

In 1975, 4,482 persons were convicted of offences of violence against the person in the Metropolitan Police District.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies have been undertaken by his Department into the increasing crime rate in the outer London boroughs; and if he will make a statement.

The increase in the rate of crime in the outer London boroughs and elsewhere is a matter of serious concern to us. While much of the current research into crime is of some relevance to the problem, none of the studies currently being undertaken relates specifically to the crime rate in the outer London boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals have been received by Her Majesty's Government for any treaty giving protection to the financial interests of the European Communities and its officials from the criminal law.

The Commission of the European Communities sent to the Council of the European Communities on 18th August two draft treaties. The first is to permit the adoption of common rules on the protection under criminal law of the financial interests of the Communities and the prosecution of infringements of the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities. The second is to permit the adoption of common rules on the liability under criminal law of officials and other servants of the European Communities and their protection by means of criminal law from the commission of certain offences against them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why butter being supplied to Her Majesty's prisons is being purchased from Ireland instead of the United Kingdom.

Butter is not purchased centrally, as it is not a normal component of the prison diet in England and Wales. Small quantities may be purchased for particular local needs, when staff are expected to obtain the best value for money.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the amendment of the Official Secrets Act 1911; and if such proposals extend beyond amendment of Section 2 of the Act.

The content and scope of the Government's proposals for legislation in this field are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the dispute which exists within the police service, concerning the annual review of police pay due on 1st September 1976; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from hon. Members, the Police Federation, the Superintendents' Association, some individual police officers, and some members of the public. On the issues involved I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 11th October and by the hon. Member for Ravensbourne (Mr. Hunt) on 14th October.—[Vol. 917, cc. 41–42; Vol. 917, c. 153.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from chief officers of police on the number of police present at each of the football grounds in the four divisions of the Football League for (a) Saturday matches and (b) mid-week matches.

No, not unless I had a good reason for doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average weekly cost of keeping (a) a man and (b) a woman in prison in the financial years 1974–75 and 1975–76, respectively.

During the financial year 1974–75 the average weekly cost of keeping a man in prison was £58. Comparable information about the cost of maintaining women prisoners is not available, but the average weekly cost in all penal establishments for women and girls was £74.Cost information for the financial year 1975–76 is not yet available by categories of prison, but the overall average weekly cost of keeping an inmate in a penal establishment is estimated at approximately £78.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in the last year for which figures are available have been segregated under Rule 43 (a) for breaches of discipline, (b) for protection of the prisoner, (c) at the prisoner's request and (d) under Rule 43(2).

In the year ending 31st August 1976, 586 men were segregated for the maintenance of good order and discipline. Prisoners are not segregated under Rule 43 for specific breaches of discipline. One thousand, one hundred and seventy-eight were segregated for their own protection and at their own request.Rule 43(2) is concerned with the authority necessary to keep a prisoner under the rule for longer than 24 hours; it applies to both the numbers given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how frequently prisoners subject to Rule 43 receive visits from (a) the prison medical officer and (b) a psychiatrist.

(a) A prisoner excluded from association under Rule 43 is visited by the prison medical officer as often as the latter considers it necessary.(

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it takes for internal prison inquiries into alleged assaults on a prisoner to be determined; and what duty there is (a) to advise the prisoner of any civil or criminal remedy he may have, (b) to enable a prisoner to seek independent legal advice on his rights and (c) to retain and make available to the prisoner the evidence and statements obtained in the course of such an inquiry.

The time taken for an internal prison inquiry into an allegation of assault on a prisoner may be very short indeed, for example, in a serious case in which the decision to ask the police to investigate is made almost at once. On the other hand, in a complicated case detailed inquiries may be required before it can be decided what action is appropriate. In such a situation, the investigation may take several weeks. There is no specific duty to advise a prisoner who claims to have been assaulted about his facilities for seeking legal advice. If, however, such a prisoner requests facilities to consult a solicitor with a view to instituting civil proceedings, he will be told that these will be granted but only after the prison authorities have had an opportunity to investigate the complaint. There is no duty to make available to a prisoner the records of evidence or statements taken in an internal prison inquiry, although such matters may be ventilated in the ordinary way during any court proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department with what frequency cases of prisoners subject to Rule 43 for their own protection or for the maintenance of internal discipline are received.

About 90 to 100 cases a month for their own protection, and 40 to 50 cases per month for the maintenance of good order and discipline.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent recent cut-backs in expenditure have affected the provision of educational facilities for prisoners.

Cuts in expenditure have reduced the availability of prison officers in some establishments to escort prisoners to and from education classes and to supervise them there. Some classes have been cancelled, but difficulty is now largely confined to six establishments where classes are available on a reduced scale.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the average amount spent per mile on roads of all grades in England in 1975–76.

About £7,700—provisional estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government propose to discontinue the activities of National Carriers Ltd., whose loss last year was £18·4 million, including interest and pensions charges.

The financial position and prospects of National Carriers Ltd. was included in the recent review of the National Freight Corporation by the consultants, Coopers and Lybrand Associates. I am considering their report.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how the vehicles, trailers and other movable assets of Scottish Parcel Carriers Ltd. and Tartan Arrow Services Ltd. were disposed of; to whom; and how much they realised.

Some of these assets were absorbed by other subsidiaries of the National Freight Corporation. The rest are being sold on commercial terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current levels of subsidy to Welsh railway lines and the annual rate of increase since 1970.

Since January 1975 the Government have compensated the Railways Board for the net cost of operating the whole rail passenger system and have also met the estimated net deficit on freight operations. The current level of support for Welsh railway lines cannot therefore be separately identified. As for the period 1970–74, I regret that only partial information is available which gives an incomplete picture of the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress made on the study of the future long-term demand for the provision of public passenger transport for inter-urban journeys as proposed in Volume I/5·47 of the recent Transport Policy Consultation Document.

Although some preparatory work is in hand, I shall be consulting the transport operators and others principally concerned about the scope and objectives of the proposed study before I make a final decision about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current levels of subsidy by county to omnibus services in Wales and the annual rate of growth since 1970.

I have been asked to reply. Revenue support of bus services is a matter for the local authorities concerned. Prior to 31st March 1974 county and district councils were empowered to give grant assistance to rural services under Section 34 of the Transport Act 1968. Since then, the new county councils have been able to support any services provided in pursuance of county transport policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is to have with representatives of black Rhodesian groups prior to the forthcoming Constitutional Conference.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his statement of 12th October, he has sent his Special Adviser on African Affairs, Mr. Dennis Grennan, to Southern Africa to assist in the process of liaison during the run-up to the conference. In addition, Mr. Ivor Richard will be available for consultations in Geneva from 21st October in advance of the official opening of the conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment under what statutes are water authorities required to be economical in their purchases.

There is no such statutory requirement, but the authorities' accounts are subject to audit in the same way as those of local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he now intends to given loan sanction to Wirral Borough Council to demolish Oak and Eldon Gardens, Birkenhead.

I expect to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he is sending to representations asking him to hold a public inquiry into the grant of planning permission by the Oxfordshire County Council for the extraction of gravel from Watkins Farm, Northmore, Oxon.

A number of representations have been received by the Department about the proposed development. The replies sent stress the responsibility placed by Parliament on local planning authorities for determining planning applications and indicate that only in the most exceptional circumstances would my right hon. Friend consider intervention. Since these replies were drafted, the planning application has been referred to the Department by the county council for my right hon. Friend's consideration of the question of departure from the provisions of the county development plan. I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's decision in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will, wherever possible, allow design and preparation work on council housing schemes whose starts have been delayed by the public expenditure cuts to continue so that the schemes can be resumed as soon as economic circumstances permit.

As part of the system of control introduced by Circular 80–76, the Department's regional offices will be meeting local authorities to discuss their future housing programmes. In the light of these discussions, the authorities concerned will be able to decide on the preparatory work to be done on new house-building projects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report details of the number of appointments he makes to those bodies listed in his reply to the hon. Member for Leek on 6th August 1976, Official Report, column 1182.

After excluding the bodies which are now the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and the Advisory Committee on Aggregates which was wound up on 13th August last, the number of appointments made by me is as follows:

Name of Body	No of appointments
Action Group on London Housing	15
Advisory Committee on Forestry in Royal Parks	5
Advisory Committee on Rent Rebates and Rent Allowances	12
Advisory Committee on Housing Cooperatives	13
Advisory Committee on Works of Art	5
Advisory Group on Commercial Property Development	11
Advisory Panel on Institutional Finance for New Towns	6
Agrement Board	7
Ancient Monuments Board for England	17
Anglian Regional Water Authority	12
Avon Area Archaeological Advisory Committee	11
Building Regulations Advisory Committee	17
Cambs/Essex/Herts Area Archaeological Advisory Committee	15
Centre for Environmental Studies	3
Clean Air Council	25
Construction and Housing Research Advisory Council	15

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the funds available to the Development Commission for work in England will be sufficient to allow the same degree of support for rural development in England as will be available for comparable communities in Scotland when the Scottish Development Agency takes over the Development Commission's responsibilities in Scotland.

The problems and needs of rural communities and the urgency and means of their resolution vary substantially throughout both England and Scotland and I doubt whether meaningful comparisons can be made. I am sure that, whilst good use could be made of extra funds, the Development Commission is at present able to make an important contribution to rural development in England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what savings in public expenditure for 1975–76 and 1976–77 he estimates will result from the reductions in starts in house building in the public sector from the numbers planned at the time of publication of the White Paper on Public Expenditure.

Control of housebuilding programmes in the public sector was not re-imposed to make savings on the relevant estimates of expenditure contained in the White Paper on Public Expenditure—Cmnd. 6393—but to forestall prospective overspending on new housebuilding in 1977–78 of the order of £100 million. The expenditure for 1975–76 will be unaffected by these decisions. As regards the estimates for 1976–77, any changes will be published in the next White Paper on Public Expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not yet published the report "London's New Housebuilding Programme" by Alex Henney; if he will make a statement on the contents of the report; and if he will now publish it.

This is one of a number of internal working papers produced for the housing policy review, the results of which we hope to publish within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to announce the conclusions of his Department's study into rating relief for disabled people following the House of Lords ruling, in the case of Vandyk v Oliver.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to introduce his promised legislation to allow a reduced rating assessment on housing which has been adapted for wheelchairs and other requirements of the severely disabled.

The Government will consider, in the light of the legal advice which they are obtaining urgently, what changes are needed to meet judicial criticisms of the legislation governing rating relief for disabled persons both North and South of the border. We shall consider what can be done to simplify the operation of the provisions while at the same time ensuring sympathetic treatment for the disabled, and any necessary legislation will be introduced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what works were carried out in the Palace of Westminster and the offices of Members of Parliament during the Summer Recess; and what was the cost of them, item by item.

This information is not yet available. I will write to the hon. and learned Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of providing new office accommodation for the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons.

About £900.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment under what legislative authority television cameras are sited externally on public buildings.

In so far as my Department's properties are concerned, the legislative authority is the same as that which applies to all owners of property whose legal interest permits them to grant subordinate interests by way of lease or licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities advising them that listed buildings, where demolished or partially demolished by the local authority as a consequence of the posting of a dangerous structure notice, should be made good by the local authority whether or not it is the owner of the building and that where the local authority is not the owner, the cost of rebuilding should be subsequently recovered from the owner.

No. This is a difficult problem and I am considering other ways in which I might advise local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to introduce legislation to enable certain roads to have different day-time and night-time speed limits.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the medical rehabilitation demonstration centres in Northern Ireland; what plans he has to increase the number; and if he will make a statement.

There are no medical rehabilitation demonstration centres in Northern Ireland and no plans for any at present. Consideration is being given, however, to a review of the operation of the rehabilitation services in Northern Ireland with the aim of improving their co-ordination.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will require those who are awarded damages in respect of interrogation in Northern Ireland, but who have removed themselves to the Republic of Ireland, to return to Northern Ireland before paying the damages; and if he will make a statement.

No. Where damages have been awerded by a court or a settlement is reached out of court, the plaintiff may receive the money whether or not he is in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the review of Northern Ireland's criminal injury compensation law is to be completed.

The reviews of the present legislation both on persons and property compensation have been completed. My right hon. Friend is now considering what changes need to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the opposition of local residents to the proposed closure of Oak Lane Ambulance Station, West Bromwich, he will advise the regional health authority not to proceed with the proposed closure.

No, but I have asked the West Midlands Regional Health Authority for clarification of its proposal and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there has recently been any change in Government policy relative to the granting of attendance allowance and constant attendance allowance.

Our general policy remains unchanged, but if the hon. Member has any particular point in mind perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures are being taken to monitor the effect of fluoride added to the water supply, especially in the Nottingham area, in order particularly to assess the cumulative effect over a period of years.

The water supply in the fluoridated areas of Nottinghamshire is monitored to ensure that the concentration of fluoride is maintained at the required level within narrow limits of tolerance. For two years the teeth of children in these areas have been examined for dental decay by comparison with the teeth of children of the same ages in similar control areas. It is too soon for this comparison to have produced results on the protective effect of fluoride.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the interest of public health, he is supplied with information about the raw material or manufacturing derivation of the hydrofluosilicic acid being supplied to Yorkshire Water Authority and to the North West Water Authority for fluoridation of the water supply; and if he will make a statement.

In the interest of public health my concern is with the quality of the material used for fluoridation of water supplies and the method by which it is used to produce one part of fluoride per million parts of water. I am satisfied on both counts in respect of fluoridation schemes in the areas of the Yorkshire, North West and other water authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the fact that pharmacies are closing at the rate of 250 a year, what plans he has for alleviating inconvenience and hardship to the sick, especially in rural areas; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any widespread difficulties for people needing prescriptions dispensed, but if the hon. and gallant Member has any particular locality in mind perhaps he would send me the details. My Department is examining ways of identifying any exceptional situations in which special arrangements might be justified, and is considering carefully the proposals put forward by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee designed to give additional help to those small pharmacies which provide an essential service under the NHS.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made a decision on the research proposal for an outdoor electric wheelchair, submitted to him in July last; and if he will announce the decision and his reasons for it.

This application is still under consideration. I shall be in touch with the hon. Member about the outcome as soon as possible. As she will know, although the Department does not itself supply powered outdoor occupant controlled wheelchairs, there are already a number of such models available commercially.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men were convicted of using reception centres persistently when capable of maintaining themselves for the years 1965 to 1973.

The information is as follows:

1965	…	…	…	…	22
1966	…	…	…	…	4
1967	…	…	…	…	Nil
1968	…	…	…	…	1
1969	…	…	…	…	Nil
1970	…	…	…	…	Nil
1971	…	…	…	…	1
1972	…	…	…	…	Nil
1973	…	…	…	…	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men, during the years 1965 to 1973, were prosecuted for a breach of reception centre regulations.

The information is as follows:

1965	…	67
1966	…	Information not available
1967	…	56
1968	…	86
1969	…	80
1970	…	69
1971	…	35
1972	…	22
1973	…	31

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that all backdated wages for NHS hospital ancillary staff agreed on by the Whitley Council early last year are paid without further delay.

I am not aware of any failure to implement last year's agree- ments and I have had no complaint from the trade unions, but if details are sent to me I will look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost of the operation by some hospital technicians of the system of overtime payments.

The organisation of emergency work by medical laboratory technicians forms part of the management responsibilities of health authorities. Auditors' reports have drawn attention to arrangements in some areas which result in considerable expenditure, and all authorities have been asked to examine the scope for economy and to report to the Department by the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of families now receiving family income supplement; and what is the average amount of benefit received.

At the end of June 1976, the latest date for which firm information is available, 59,000 families in Great Britain were receiving family income supplement. The average weekly payment was £3·33.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the 25,000 families expected to qualify for family income supplement for the first time after the raising of the prescribed income limits in July 1976 have applied for and taken up the benefit.

It is regretted that the information requested will not be available until early 1977 as such claims are still being received.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when it is intended to assimilate health education workers into the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

The intention is to provide former local authority health education technicians with an opportunity of assimilation to National Health Service terms and conditions of service as soon as these can be negotiated by the National Health Service Whitley Council. Meanwhile they retain protected salaries with improvements negotiated for local authority staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local offices deal with claims for supplementary benefit only; how many local offices deal with national insurance benefits only; and how many local offices deal with both types of benefit.

67, 132, 360.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what investigations have been undertaken by his Department into the swine flu epidemics in the United States of America; and if these have been undertaken, what conclusions have been reached;(2) when the last known case of swine flu was recorded in the United Kingdom.

I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement made by my right hon. Friend on 25th May.—[Vol. 912, c. 109–10.]No case of "swine influenza" in man has ever been identified in this country, but serological evidence shows that a swine-like influenza virus was circulating in the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1929.

1973–74, 1974–75 AND 1975–76
£000
				Estimated Capital
Regional Health Authority			Total NHS estimated Capital Expenditure for 3 years	Expenditure on Mentally handicapped	Services for Mentally ill	(b) as percentage of (a)	(c) as percentage of (a)
			(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)
1. Northern	…	…	47,572	831	1,670	1·7	3·5
2. Yorkshire	…	…	56,193	1,071	2,080	1·9	3·7
3. Trent	…	…	92,209	5,395	3,046	5·9	3·3
4. East Anglian	…	…	35,225	2,091	1,342	5·9	3·8
5. North-West Thames	…	…	57,472	1,915	5,929	3·3	10·3
6. North-East Thames	…	…	61,733	3,171	5,722	5·1	9·3
7. South-East Thames	…	…	58,889	2,125	2,249	3·6	3·8
8. South-West Thames	…	…	51,772	2,811	3,597	5·4	6·9
9. Wessex	…	…	39,959	1,464	2,311	3·7	5·8
10. Oxford	…	…	46,173	1,380	933	3·0	2·0
11. South-Western	…	…	49,044	1,788	1,885	3·6	3·8
12. West Midlands	…	…	75,267	3,549	6,672	4·7	8·9
13. Mersey	…	…	47,047	323	2,877	0·7	6·1
14. North-Western	…	…	60,677	2,237	2,450	3·7	4·0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he can now announce the date upon which non-contributory invalidity pension will be extended to disabled housewives.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22nd July 1976.—[Vol. 915, c. 2016.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each of the regional health authorities the percentage of overall capital and revenue expenditure for the past three years allocated (a) to services for the mentally ill and (b) to services for the mentally handicapped.

Services for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped are provided not only in special purpose hospitals but frequently in general hospitals and also as part of the community health services. I regret that an allocation of overall revenue expenditure to these specific areas of health care is not available.These figures for capital expenditure are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the full accident statistics relating to invalid tricycles with manual gearbox, automatic transmission, electrically-propelled models and four-wheeled vehicles, respectively, in England for the years ended 30th September 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively, listing the information, under the categories as supplied by his Department for publication in Motor magazine on 14th August 1974;(2) if he will publish in the

The information relating to the years ended 30th September 1973, 1974 and 1975 is set out in my reply to my hon. Friend on 29th

DRIVER INJURY ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DEPARTMENT THREE-WHEELERS AND CARS REPORTED DURING THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER
		Per 1,000 drivers*			Per million miles†			Per 100 million miles†
		1973	1974	1975	1973	1974	1975	1973	1974	1975
Three-wheelers:
Manual	…	20	21	23	5·79	5·79	6·0	579	579	600
Automatic	…	25	31	35	8·58	10·49	11·43	585	1,049	1,143
Electric	…	5	4	7	4·12	3·12	5·71	412	312	571
Cars	…	8	10	11	1·40	1·61	1·81	140	161	181
Information about non-driver injuries is not recorded.
* Net figures relating to the number of drivers at risk at the end of the period which is smaller than the total number of drivers at risk during the period. The figure for car drivers does not include additional drivers who may share the driving with either the disabled person to whom the car is issued or the person nominated to drive for him. The numbers of such drivers are not known.
† Including reserve vehicles. Vehicle mileage covered has been estimated and it is assumed that manual and automatic petrol three-wheelers cover the same mileage.