asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to implement in full the recommendations of the Resource Allocation Working Party with regard to the allocation of revenue to regional health authorities in the year 1977–78.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take to increase capital and current expenditure on health services per capita in the Trent Region, following representations from the Trent Regional Health Authority; and whether or not there can be a greater relief from the proposed cuts within the Sheffield Area Health Authority at the expense of other authorities in the county.

Since the Resource Allocation Working Party reported to me in September on how to share out health service funds across the country, there has been some misunderstanding about what was proposed; in particular there have been rumours about a threat to our major London hospitals—particularly the teaching hospitals. There is no truth in these rumours.It is nonsense to imagine that any of our famous teaching hospitals is in danger. These hospitals are doing the vital job of training the doctors and consultants of the future. They are national institutions which treat patients from outside as well as inside their regions.Now that the Cabinet has settled the level of public spending, I want to put an end to the anxieties and explain the principles I shall follow in determining the distribution of resources to health authorities in England for next year. The planned increase in expenditure on services to patients of about 1½ per cent, in real terms nationally has been left intact despite the recent cuts in public expenditure as a whole but the capital programme is to face a cut.There must be no doubt about the Government's long term commitment to a fairer allocation of money between the different regions of the country. And not only between regions: some of the biggest inequalities, the worst injustices, are within regions, with large gaps between rich and poor areas or districts. Some of the inner city areas for example are recognised as relatively deprived areas by the criteria used by the Working Party.We must gradually close the gap. But how quickly we move towards the Working Party's targets depends on how much money we have. If the NHS budget was growing fast it would be easy: we could give rapid growth to the poorer areas and still give considerable growth to the richer ones to take full advantage of all improvements in medical technology. The present constraints on resources make things harder.Some have argued that I should give all the extra money available to the poorer regions and give no extra money at all to the richer regions which include the four London-based Thames regions. But the London regions, like other regions, are having to meet the needs of an ageing population. They too have had to absorb some extra costs this year which were not known when the allocations were made. Next year they like other regions will have to meet the extra costs caused by the Jubilee holiday and will be taking over the lion's share of the first 1,000 private beds which the National Health Service will be free to use for NHS patients. On top of this, they are beginning to get to grips with the major redeployment of hospital resources which will over a period include the closure of small hospitals which are no longer viable so as to provide a more efficient service for London's population—which has fallen by about a tenth in the last 10 years. Some new hospital projects will also be opening in London during the coming year.I have therefore decided that the best-provided region will get a ¼ per cent. increase next year in real terms in its revenue allocation. The other three Thames regions will get somewhat higher increases. And at the other extreme the most deprived regions will get about 3 per cent. increase in real terms. I shall be announcing precise allocations to regions early next year. I recognise however that an increase of a fraction of a per cent. really represents a cut in a region's ability to meet the growing demand arising from demographic change, and in some places actual reductions in some services are likely to be unavoidable.As regards capital, major schemes or phases of schemes which have already started will not be stopped but the start of a substantial number of schemes will need to be deferred. I am still considering the effect on distribution of capital in 1977–78.I hope that this statement will put an end to the misunderstandings which have arisen about the redistribution of resources for the hospital and community health services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the visiting work at present carried out by the Department of Health and Social Security will be transferred to the Social Services Department.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many un-employed retired people on occupational pensions are unable to find jobs.

As at 8th July, the latest date for which figures are available, 63,000 occupational pensioners aged between 55 and 64 were estimated to be registering as unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, for a married man with no children, is now the average net wage after payment of tax and national insurance contribution; and what is the same man's net income if unemployed and still drawing the supplement.

The information is as follows:

Assuming his gross weekly earnings to be £66·60(1) a married man with no children would currently pay tax of £16·01(2) and national insurance contribution of £3·83, giving a net wage of £46·76.

Income during unemployment depends on personal circumstances. In particular, any entitlement to flat-rate unemployment benefit and earnings-related supplement would depend on a person's previous work record and level of earnings, and the duration of any interruptions of employment due to previous unemployment or sickness. Assuming that he had been in continuous employment and receiving average wages, a married man with a dependent wife and no children would be likely to receive £20·90 in flat-rate unemployment benefit and £10·27 in earnings-related supplement, at current benefit rates.

Additional income in the form, for example, of rent and/or rate rebates might be available to such a man either when he was unemployed or when he was working, depending on his individual circumstances.

NOTES:(1) Average gross earnings (provisional) of male manual workers at August 1976.(2) On the basis of a personal tax allowance of £1,085 per annum. Less tax would be paid if there were other allowances, e.g. for mortgage interest or life assurance premiums.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of persons who are or would be better off out of work than working.

Reliable estimates of this kind are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the arbitration of the dispute between the Essex Area Health Authority and its ambulance-men.

I am pleased to say that this dispute has been resolved by agreement between the area health authority and the unions and normal working has been resumed. Arbitration was not necessary. Under the settlement, the question of meal allowances was referred to the Joint Secretaries of the Whitley Council for further consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total cost in a full year of meeting the demands of protected Essex ambulance staff on meal allowances which led to the recent dispute.

Estimated cost in Essex is £9,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give details of the type of future approval regulations which are likely to affect the manufacture of the Model 70 invalid tricycle;(2) if he will give details of the type of approval regulations which prevent him from continuing the manufacture of the Model 70 invalid tricycle after March 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the specific International Safety Standards tricycles cannot be modified to meet; when they will become mandatory in the United Kingdom; and how much time manufacturers will be allowed to change designs between their introduction and enforcement.

The Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) (Great Britain) Regulations 1976, which impose requirements for interior fittings and external projections, take effect from 1st October 1978. The present tricycle does not meet these requirements. I understand also that a requirement relating to dual circuit braking, which is already included in a European Economic Community directive, may be incorporated in future type approval regulations to take effect in 1978. While it would not be impossible to modify the tricycle to meet these specific requirements, international standards of vehicle design are continuing to develop and the tricycle is nearing the end of its capability for further development. For example, it is not and cannot be modified to become as stable as a four-wheeled car.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total expenditure on sales promotion by the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry for the years 1974 and 1975, respectively; and what was the total value of exports of United Kingdom pharmaceutical products in 1974 and 1975, respectively.

The total expenditure in 1974 on sales promotion in the United Kingdom by companies with over £1 million sales of NHS pharmaceutical products was £38·4 million. The figure for 1975 is not yet available.The total value of exports of pharmaceutical chemicals and preparations was: 1974—£282 million; 1975—£346 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the growth rate for pharmaceutical chemicals and preparations by the British pharmaceutical industry for each of the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

On the basis of statistics of sales by United Kingdom manufacturers published in Business Monitor (PQ 272) the growth rates of pharmaceutical preparations and chemicals were:

					per cent.
1972	…	…	…	…	10
1973	…	…	…	…	21
1974	…	…	…	…	21
1975	…	…	…	…	23

The statistics are based on the prices prevailing in each of the years concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the amount of sales of pharmaceuticals to the National Health Service for the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.

The information is as follows:

Year				Cost*£ million (England)
1972	…	…	…	192
1973	…	…	…	215
1974	…	…	…	257
1975	…	…	…	333†
* Hospital drug costs together with the cost of drugs, dressings and appliances supplied under the Pharmaceutical Services by pharmacists and dispensing doctors (exclusive of fees and allowances paid to them).
† Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pharmacies under contract to dispense National Health prescriptions closed, or ceased National Health dispensing in 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.

The net reductions in 1973, 1974 and 1975 in the numbers of pharmacies on National Health Service pharmaceutical lists in England were 240, 192 and 199 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department has discussed with the British pharmaceutical industry future prospects for ensuring that home needs are met and increasing exports are achieved.

The general economic performance and prospects of the pharmaceutical industry are being examined by the NEDO Sector Working Party for pharmaceuticals, of which two officers from my Department are members. We maintain close links with the industry on these issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of pharmacies on the lists of executive councils in the Northern Region Health Authority.

The numbers of pharmacies at the end of 1975 on the pharmaceutical lists of Family Practioner Committees (FPCs) within the area of the Northern Regional Health Authority were as follows:

FPC			Number of Pharmacies
Cleveland	…	…	89
Cumbria	…	…	106
Durham	…	…	118
Gateshead	…	…	45
Newcastle	…	…	71
Northumberland	…	…	62
North Tyneside	…	…	50
South Tyneside	…	…	35
Sunderland	…	…	58
	Total	…	634

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the liaison between local offices of his Department and local authorities concerning single homeless people.

Yes, but the Chairman of the Supplementary Benefits Commission will be writing to my hon. Friend about the position in his constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the policy of his Department concerning the granting of extra needs payments to single homeless people allocated local authority accommodation;(2) if he will make a statement on the granting of extra needs payments to single homeless people in Liverpool who have been allocated council accommodation, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange.(3) if he has received representations from welfare rights workers concerning his Department's granting of extra needs payments to single homeless people.

Exceptional needs payments are made at the discretion of the Supplementary Benefits Commission. The Commission's Chairman, David Donnison, will be writing to my hon. Friend about the situation in his constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the net savings to the National Insurance Fund in a full year of the changes in benefits proposed in Clause 7(3) of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill;(2) what would be the net savings to the National Insurance Fund in a full year of the changes in benefits proposed in Clause 7(2) of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill;(3) what would be the net savings to the National Insurance Fund in a full year of the changes in benefits proposed in Clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in respect of those in receipt of Category A or Category B retirement pension;(4) what would be the net savings to the National Insurance Fund in a full year of the changes in benefits proposed in Clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in respect of those in receipt of a widowed mother's allowance.

Clause 7 of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill restores the existing position that various benefits payable to persons over pensionable age are increased for dependants only where a basic personal pension is payable. Since it was never the intention that increases for dependants should be payable where only the additional component of pension was in payment, and since the pensions scheme was costed on this assumption, no savings will result. It is not possible to estimate the cost that would arise if Clause 7(1) and Clause 7(2) of the Bill were not implemented; the cost attributable to not implementing Clause 7(3) would be of the order of £100,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what rates of dependency benefits are payable after retirement age to those who have previously established entitlement to non-contributory invalidity pension.

Persons over retirement age with title to non-contributory invalidity pension receive dependency benefit at a flat rate of £5·60 for a wife or other adult dependant, £7·45 for a first child and £5·95 for any other child.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of women in receipt of a widowed mother's allowance who have dependent children; what is his estimate of the number of children concerned; and what is his estimate of the number of such mothers who failed fully to satisfy the contribution conditions for the allowance;(2) what is his estimate of the number of persons in receipt of either Category A or Category B retirement pension who have dependent children; what is his estimate of the number of children concerned; and what is his estimate of the number of such parents who failed fully to satisfy the contribution condition for the pension;(3) what is his estimate of the number of persons over retirement age in receipt of unemployment benefit who have dependent children; what is his estimate of the number of children concerned; and what is his estimate of the number of such persons who failed fully to satisfy the contribution condition for the retirement pension;

The information is as follows:

(i) Women receiving widowed mothers allowance with increases for children (10 per cent. sample count at November 1975)	98,000
Number of children concerned	158,000
Allowances paid at reduced rates included in above	20,000
(ii) Persons receiving Category A or Category B retirement pension with increases for children (10 per cent. sample count at November 1975)	25,000
Number of children concerned	33,000
Pensions paid at reduced rates included in above	1,250
(iii) Persons over pensionable age receiving unemployment benefit with increases for children (4 per cent. sample count at 3rd May 1976)	Nil
(iv) Persons over pensionable age receiving sickness benefit with increases for children (2·5 per cent. sample count at 31st May 1975)	40
Number of children concerned	160
Benefit paid at reduced rates included in above	2
(v) Persons over pensionable age receiving invalidity pension with increases for children (2.5 per cent. sample count at 31st May 1975)	920
Number of children concerned	1,200
Pensions paid at reduced rates included in above	46

The number of widowed mothers who do not satisfy the contribution conditions fully is based on a sample count. The corresponding figures for other groups are based on an estimate that about five per cent. of such beneficiaries have pensions or benefits at a reduced rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend the mobility allowance to deaf/blind people.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, eligibility for the mobility allowance is not linked to membership of particular diagnostic or disability groups, but to being unable or virtually unable to walk. The disabled person's ability to move his or her legs is not, however, the only factor taken into account. Other factors include balance, tolerance of the exertion necessary to walk and existence of pain or other adverse effects. Thus the dual hardship my hon. Friend refers to may be a factor in the award of mobility allowance. As my hon. Friend knows, if a person has no useful hearing and no guiding vision he may well be able to establish entitlement to attendance allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will ensure that hostels for the handicapped are wining to accept deaf/blind children for short periods to give their parents a break;(2) the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will hold consultations with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and the Royal National Institute for the Blind to discuss the special problems of deaf /blind people;(3) how many deaf /blind children there are in Great Britain;(4) how many children are born deaf/ blind or become deaf/blind each year on average;(5) what steps he is taking to reduce the likelihood of children being born deaf/blind;(6) what provision is made to assist the parents of deaf /blind children and provide them with effective guidance;(7) if he will take steps to improve the liaison between doctors concerned with the birth of deaf/blind children and specialist advisers;(8) if he will ensure the involvement of parents in planning for the management and care of deaf/blind children from the time of their birth;(9) if he is satisfied with the home-help service available to deaf/blind children and their families during the pre-school period.

I am in close contact with the three voluntary bodies concerned, namely, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and the National Association for Deaf/Blind and Rubella Handicapped, about issues affecting deaf/blind young people and children alike. I am not able to quantify the extent of service or benefit provision for the group, including the giving of advice to parents and the provision of home help, as statistical returns do not provide the necessary information. I will be glad to consider, however, whether additional information can be collected.Local authorities in England have reported approximately 300 children below the age of 16 who are registered as blind with either a serious degree of hearing impairment or with multiple handicaps including a sensory or speech handicap. There will also be a number of partially sighted children handicapped in similar respects. Moreover, a number of multiple handicapped children will be permanently in hospital or for other reasons will not be registered. I am inquiring about numbers in Scotland and Wales and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the information is to hand.I understand that the annual returns collected by the Department of Education and Science show that there are of the order of 70 children under the age of five and 470 children of school age in England and Wales with defects of both sight and hearing. The National Association for Deaf/Blind and Rubella Handicapped has reported that 106 children were in educational units for the deaf/blind in Great Britain in September 1976, but this did not represent the total as other children with varying degrees of the dual handicap were being taught in other types of school. A survey carried out by the association in 1972 found 95 children and young people under age 20 who were deaf/blind and 65 who were blind or deaf with an additional handicap in subnormality hospitals in England and Wales. The difficulty of defining the nature and severity of disability is reflected in the variations in the figures quoted and make it impossible to estimate how many children are born deaf/blind or become deaf/blind each year.As regards prevention, my hon. Friend will be aware of the current programmes for making available rubella vaccination to girls aged 11 to 14 and to women of child-bearing age.Social services departments are well aware of the need to liaise with the doctor concerned where a child is born handicapped and, in all cases, my Department has advocated the multi-discipilinary assessment of each child's physical and mental progress and future educational and social needs. The Department has also urged the involvement of parents in the planning process.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research is being conducted into the early behaviour patterns of deaf/blind children to facilitate early recognition and prevent the overlay of additional problems.

My Department is currently supporting a research project at the Institute of Mental Subnormality at Lea Castle Hospital, which is concerned with the assessment and management of multi-handicapped deaf /blind children and their behaviour. The institute plans to publish in April 1977 a manual for teachers and parents of deaf/blind children entitled "First Steps on the Ladder".The Gardeners Trust for the Blind is currently supporting a study on short-term memory tests at the Pathway Unit, Condover Hall School, Shrewsbury.Reading University, in conjunction with the Mary Sheridan Children's Unit at Borocourt Hospital, is conducting a small pilot study which involves some aspects of the behaviour patterns of deaf/blind children. Although there is not a great deal of research specifically related to the early behaviour patterns of deaf/blind children, the projects in progress have regard both to their behaviour patterns and emotional problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of empty houses owned by each area health authority covering the Greater London Area, the Greater Manchester Area, East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and Avon; how many of these houses have been empty for more than six months, one year and two years; and how many are surplus to the requirements of each area health authority.

I regret this information is not held centrally and to obtain it from the authorities concerned would entail disproportionate costs, but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are at present in mental hospitals who could be living in the community if adequate facilities and accommodation were available; what is the current rate of discharge of such persons; how many persons are at present in hospitals for the mentally handicapped who could be living in the community if adequate facilities and accommodation were available; and what is the current rate of discharge of such persons.

No reliable estimates are available of the number of persons who could be discharged from mental illness and mental handicap hospitals if adequate facilities and accommodation in the community were available. But there is little doubt that there are many thousands in both types of hospital. Nor are discharges recorded in such terms. The numbers are dependent on professional opinion, which varies a good deal, even among the experts.Discharge statistics, in terms of length of stay, sex, age, and so on, are published in the Department of Health and Social Security Statistical and Report Series.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled people have been deprived of independent mobility since the introduction of the mobility allowance; and what is his estimate of the projected likely costs to local authority social services departments as a result of this lack of mobility.

At the latest date for which figures are available, there were about 34,000 beneficiaries of the mobility allowance. There has thus been a substantial increase in the number of handicapped people enjoying enhanced mobility since the introduction of this new allowance.As the lion. Gentleman will know, the mobility allowance extends outdoor mobility help, for the first time ever, to many of the most severly handicapped people in the country. Help is now based on mobility handicap and not, as it was illogically in the past, on the ability and wish to drive. We expect that up to 100,000 extra handicapped people will benefit from the new allowance. Moreover, no one who was receiving a benefit has lost that benefit as a consequence of the introduction of mobility allowance. Given the greater number we are able to help, we do not envisage any extra cost falling on local authority social services departments. On the contrary, it can be very strongly argued that the trebling of public expenditure on mobility for the disabled should ease some of the problems of local authorities in this important field.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for which means tested benefits tax refunds are treated as income in assessing eligibility.

I will publish the information in the Official Report shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled mothers have successfully applied for a four-wheeled vehicle since 1st January 1976; under what conditions they may apply for a four-wheeled vehicle after 1st January 1976; and whether he has decided what the final date for such applications will be.

Mobility provision for severely disabled people other than war pensioners changed on 31st December 1975 from vehicles to cash. Subsequent applications for cars were entertained only where there was a specific or implied commitment. No special record was kept of the few cases concerned. The hon. Gentleman will know that, under the new arrangements, help is available to more disabled mothers since it is no longer restricted to those who are able to drive.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what account, if any, is taken of a husband's income when a wife applies for unemployment benefit.

No account is taken of a husband's income in establishing a wife's right to personal unemployment benefit where she has been contributing herself. An increase of unemployment benefit for dependants is, however, only payable if the husband is incapable of supporting himself by reason of physical or mental infirmity and is likely to remain so incapable for a prolonged period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what staffing standards he recommends in respect of elderly persons' homes.

Staffing standards of old people's homes are for individual social services departments to determine in the light of local circumstances. General advice issued by my Department in 1973 included the view that at least two responsible people needed to be available at night in each home.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the results of the October census of schools milk are now available.

In October 1,924,000 pupils in special schools in England and Wales and pupils in other maintained schools entitled to it on grounds of age were receiving free school milk. In addition 42,000 primary school children over the age of seven were receiving free school milk on health grounds. These figures represent 93·9 per cent. and 1·6 per cent. of the respective age-groups present on the day of the census. On that day 38 local education authorities were selling milk to pupils in 1,165 primary and 27 secondary schools.This statement, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, includes returns from Welsh authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the results of the October census of school meals are now available; and how they compare with those of the census carried out in 1975.

In October 5,836,000 pupils at maintained schools in England and Wales took the school dinner compared with 5,893,000 in October 1975. The proportion of pupils present taking the meal, 69·1 per cent., was slightly lower than the previous year when it was 70·1 per cent. Those in receipt of free dinners numbered 839,000 which was 14·4 per cent. of dinners served and 9·9 per cent. of total pupils present, compared with 784,000, 13·3 per cent. and 9·3 per cent. last year. A detailed statement of the returns from local education authorities on which these figures are based will be placed in the Library.This statement, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, includes returns from Welsh authorities.The census also collected information about pupils purchasing snack meals in school and bringing their own food to eat at midday. The numbers were 48,000 and 655,000 compared with 26,000 and 517,000 last year.On the day of the census, school dinners were taken by 76·9 per cent. of all pupils present in primary schools (77·1 per cent. last year) and by 58·8 per cent. in secondary schools (60·3 per cent. last year). Three out of four snack meals were purchased in secondary schools and 11·5 per cent. of secondary pupils brought sandwiches compared with 5 per cent. of primary pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers who successfully completed training last summer were recorded, at the latest available date, as seeking teaching posts in the current school year.

Preliminary indications, from surveys of the employment of newly qualified teachers being carried out on behalf of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education and by the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers, suggest that between 8,000 and 9,000 were seeking teaching jobs in England and Wales in October. About 260 of the 5,000 qualifying from University Departments of Education were in this category.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the ratio of educational spending as between the following four age groups for 1960–61, 1965–66, 1970–71 and 1975–76; under five years, five to 11 years, 11 to 18 years and over 18 years.

Statistics of educational expenditure are not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is issuing guidance to schools within the State system as to whether or not prizes should be presented as a mark of attainment and if annual ceremonies should be arranged for such presentations.

Such matters are best left to the managers and governors of schools acting in consultation with their local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the Chancellor's statement on 15th December, she will announce her priorities for school building.

The 1976–77 and 1977–78 programmes for basic need school building were exempted from the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Projects under the SPAR programme to assist reorganisation may directly or indirectly help to meet basic need and may continue together with some nursery education projects. I regret that resources for primary and secondary improvements for the remainder of 1976–77 and for 1977–78 will be withdrawn and there will be no special education major programme in 1977–78.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will take the necessary steps to ensure that no experiments are carried out on live animals in any school in England and Wales.

Decisions on the methods used in teaching particular subjects in schools are the responsibility of local education authorities but HM Inspectors have been alerted to the need to keep a careful watch on matters of this kind; and Ministers have made it clear that they would deplore any "experiments" in schools likely to cause suffering to animals. The RSPCA runs many courses for teachers, in co-operation with LEAs, on the care and treatment of animals.Guidance on animal care is offered in the following publications:KEEPING ANIMALS IN SCHOOL, DES.SAFETY IN SCIENCE LABORATORIES, DES.THE USE OF LIVING ORGANISMS, Schools Council.VIVISECTION IN SCHOOLS, Institute of Biology.BIOLOGY TEACHING IN SCHOOLS, Association for Science Education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special steps she is taking to provide for the educational needs of deaf /blind children; how many specially qualified teachers there are who are able to meet the needs of deaf/blind children; and how many special communication classes there are for deaf/blind children.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of my Department's Circular 12/70, which gives guidance on the education of children with impaired sight and hearing. Since the circular was issued the number of special units for these children, then five, has more than doubled. Other blind/deaf children are educated with children hav- ing other forms of handicap. Teachers of children who are blind as well as deaf or partially hearing must have, or obtain within three years, an approved specialist qualification, following a year's full-time study or its equivalent. Some 1,700 teachers now in post have this further qualification. Additionally, short courses are provided for specialist teachers of blind and deaf children, and the Royal National Institute for the Blind also offers specialist training.A number of different forms of educational provision for deaf/blind children is made by LEAs and national bodies. These arrangements are not normally known as special communication classes, but the development of communication is central to their work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will consider a diploma level university based course for teachers of the deaf/blind.

One year diploma level courses in the teaching of the deaf and partially hearing are offered at three universities and four further education institutions in England. Two universities provide diploma courses for more experienced teachers of the deaf. A diploma course in the teaching of the visually handicapped is provided at Birmingham University.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report the various criteria her Department use in determining those colleges and departments of education which will be required to cease initial teacher training.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a paper prepared for the Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers and am having copies placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish an estimate of the cost in the current financial year, in salaries and expenses, of the personnel engaged in examining applications for 714 certificates, in issuing them, and in hearing appeals against refusal.

About £500,000 for the examination of applications and the issue of certificates. I regret that the cost of attending appeals could not be obtained without disproportionate effort and expense.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current real value of the sixpence as compared with the beginning of decimalisation.

Between February 1971 and November 1976, the internal purchasing power of the pound fell by approximately 53½ per cent. Therefore, in November 1976 the sixpence—2½p—had purchasing power approximately equivalent to 1·2p on decimalisation day.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the current estimated cost of minting and issuing 1 million and 10 million of the old sixpenny coin, now 2½p;(2) what is the cost of minting and issue of 1 million and 10 million of the current ½p piece.

It would be undesirable for commercial reasons to publish the costs of production.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his future plans for the continued issue and use of the old sixpenny coin, now 2½p; and how many are estimated to be currently in circulation.

No early decision on the future of the 2½p coin is likely. The position is being kept under review. The number in active circulation is not known, but there are estimated to be about 180 million outside the Mint.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many half new-pence coins are now estimated to be in circulation; and what are the plans for the future issue and circulation of this coin.

The estimated circulation is approximately 2,000 million. There are no plans for changing existing issue arrangements. This denomination is in continuous demand from the Royal Mint and plays an important part in price shading.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value as at the latest available date of the half new-pence piece in terms of the old penny coinage, compared with its value when first introduced on decimalisation.

Between February 1971 and November 1976, the internal purchasing power of the pound fell by approximately 53½ per cent. Therefore, in November 1976 the new half-penny—1·2 old pence—had internal purchasing power equivalent to 0·6 old pence on decimalisation day.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any proposals in mind to withdraw the ½p and 2½p coin from circulation.

There are no plans to withdraw either coin but the position of the 2½p is being kept under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) of 15th November, [Vol. 919, c. 375] whether, when he publishes his macro-economic forecasts in accordance with the Industry Act 1975, he will do so by Press release, White Paper, or some other form of publication.

Forecasts in accordance with the Industry Act 1975 were published by Press notice on 15th December. Copies were placed in the Vote Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest forecast of imports and exports of (a) manufactures, excluding precious stones, and (b) fuel.

I am not prepared to publish forecasts in greater detail than those contained in the Press notice of 15th December, "Economic Prospects to end 1977".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the £ sterling has been undervalued since April, why the latest forecast of exports for the first half of 1977 is only 0·6 per cent. greater than the figure forecast last April.

Export performance reflects the influence of a number of factors, of which the most important in the short term is the level of world demand. There is a considerable lag between changes in competitiveness and effects on export volumes. Each forecast reflects a judgment at the time on the influence of all the factors influencing exports as well as information on future trends contained in surveys.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish details of the amount of public expenditure incurred by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and its subsidiary agencies in the next public expenditure White Paper.

Net expenditure by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority together with any Government loans or grants to the Authority's wholly-owned companies, British Nuclear Fuels Limited and the Radiochemical Centre Limited, will be included, as before, in programme 4.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report: (a) the numbers claiming tax refunds while unemployed and (b) the average length of time for which rebates are payable.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the numbers of unemployed eligible for a tax rebate: (a) lasting one month or less, (b) lasting three months or less, (c) lasting six months or less, (d) lasting nine months or less and (e) lasting more than nine months.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the loan facility of $500 million to which he referred in his statement to the House on 15th December, or some part of that facility, from the United States Treasury and the Federal Reserve is part of the existing $3,000 million swap facility granted by the United States of America;(2) whether the loan facility of $350 million from the Bundesbank, or some part of that facility, to which he referred in his statement to the House on 15th December was partly or wholly available in any facility already negotiated with the Bundesbank.

Of the $500 million from the United States, $250 million forms part of the existing $3 billion swap facility with the Federal Reserve: the other $250 million is a new facility with the United States Treasury. The $350 million standby arrangement with the Bundesbank similarly represents a wholly new facility.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a review has been undertaken of the authorised depositary system; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir, as part of a continuous review of our exchange control machinery. As a result, the following arrangements are being introduced:

i. Returns to the Bank of England, for monitoring purposes, of sales of investment currency and foreign currency securities for sterling effected for account of those authorised depositaries who as a class are not normally involved in day-to-day transactions in the market. The reports will flow to the Bank of England from those authorised depositaries through whom the transactions pass—mainly Stock Exchange members and authorised banks.

ii. Examination by the Bank of England of the records of dealers in investment currency with the intention of sampling sales by authorised depositaries to check the origin of the dealing instructions and the "premium-worthiness" of the underlying securities.

iii. Exclusion from 31st March 1977 from automatic appointment as authorised depositaries of holders of a principal's licence for the purposes of the Prevention of Fraud (Investment Acts and members of the Association of Stock and Share Dealers, certain of whom may be eligible for reappointment as authorised depositaries by name, while those not reappointed would be able to apply for permission to deal in sterling securities only.

iv. In addition, the Bank of England is issuing to all authorised depositaries a memorandum describing the new arrangements and including reminders of points which they need specially to bear in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total additional investment of the 100 most important companies which he expects to result from his new budget measures; and what percentage of such investment he expects to benefit the export trade.

It is not feasible to predict how individual companies will react to the investment incentives and selective assistance offered by the Government. But I hope that, as well as taking account of the prospective fall in interest rates, our 100 largest companies will be amongst those making use of the Government's new Selective Investment Scheme, for which £100 million has been allocated. The amount of investment to be generated and the export potential are among the criteria on which projects are appraised for selective financial assistance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to submit official draft proposals to the Geneva Conference on Rhodesia dealing with the incorporation of a settlement for existing Rhodesian Government public debt in any general package of economic and financial assistance after legal independence.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th December 1976], gave the following information:I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member on 9th December. As he will be aware, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced on 14th December the adjournment of the Geneva Conference until 17th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the National Debt on 28th February 1974 and at the latest available date.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th December 1976], gave the following details:

The information asked for to the nearest available dates is as follows:
31 March 1974	…	£40,124,527,285
31 March 1976	…	£56,571,585,311.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual rate of domestic credit expansion in: (a) the second half of the financial year 1975–76 and (b) the first half of the financial year 1976–77; and what is his best estimate of the comparable figure for the second half of 1976–77.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th December 1976] circulated the following answer:Domestic credit expansion on the new definition was £4 billion at an annual rate in the second half of the financial year 1975–76 and £10·8 billion at an annual rate in the first half of the financial year 1976–77. On the basis of periods ending on bank "make-up" days, the corresponding figures are £4·8 billion at an annual rate for the second half of 1975–76 and £9·6 billion at an annual rate for the first half of 1976–77. In my right hon. Friend's statement of 15th December, he said that DCE would be kept to £9 billion in the year ending 20th April 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the need to continue the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act 1971.

The present level of public debt in respect of rent, rates, electricity and gas arrears in Northern Ireland is now approximately £20 million.While the creditor bodies are continuing to use all the normal legal procedures open to them to recover arrears, I consider it is still essential to continue using the provisions of the Payment for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971, to supplement the normal procedures of recovery of rent and rates debts. This will help to ensure that the great majority of the Northern Ireland public, who pay their debts, do not suffer through the irresponsible actions of those who do not pay.Any debtor has the opportunity to enter into a voluntary arrangement with a public creditor body to pay off his debts and by doing so would avoid coming within the reduction of benefit procedures under the Act. He also would benefit by being then entitled to claim any material benefits such as rent rebates, and to avoid the statutory collection charge. I would hope that all those who are in debt for rent, rates, electricity or gas would recognise the advantages to them of making such voluntary agreements to meet their arrears.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in connection with the continued operation of the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act 1971: (a) how many households are currently having deductions made at source to pay debts to public authorities, (b) how many of these households are headed by elderly, sick, disabled or unemployed persons with social security incomes, (c) how many households having deductions made contain five or more children, (d) how many deductions are less than £1·00 and, in bands of £1, up to £8·00 per week, (e) what is the distribution by household sizes of the amounts of these deductions, (f) what percentage of deductions under the Act are made from family allowances, family income supplement and supplementary benefit, and (g) whether figures are available for the total of debt to public authorities in Northern Ireland as compared with the total of such debt in England and Wales, and in Scotland.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he gave Her Majesty the Queen concerning the term of office of the Governor of Queensland; and what is the locus standi of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in tendering such advice.

It would be improper to reveal details of advice about the appointment of Australian State Governors given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to Her Majesty the Queen.United Kingdom Ministers are at present responsible for advising Her Majesty the Queen on certain matters affecting the Australian States, including the appointment of State Governors. In discharging this duty, no United Kingdom Minister of any party is in any way influenced by party considerations or pressures. This responsibility is a direct consequence of the established Australian constitutional position. Its continued existence does not mean that United Kingdom Ministers wish to retain any responsibilities which are regarded as anachronistic by those concerned. The United Kingdom Government's general position in relation to Australian constitutional problems, namely that they regard them as essentially matters for resolution by Australians in Australia, has been publicly made clear on many occasions.The United Kingdom Government have noted the statement in the Australian Parliament on 7th December by Mr. Fraser, the Australian Prime Minister, about this question. Mr. Fraser said that in the view of his Government the appropriate means of communication with the Queen is the Commonwealth Government, and that if the State Governments wish to change the present arrangements to give effect to this the Commonwealth Government would be willing to assist them.The United Kingdom Government for their part would not stand in the way of any changes that command the agreement of all concerned in Australia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the full text of the Geneva Conference on Rhodesia.

When the conference has concluded, my right hon. Friend intends to follow the normal practice of issuing a Command Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to secure a reduction in the escalating level of terrorist violence against Rhodesia while the Geneva talks are in progress or only temporarily adjourned; and what representations have been made to the Russian Government in regard to the financing, arming and training of these forces.

The Government believe that the best hope of averting further bloodshed in Rhodesia lies in pressing ahead with the search for a negotiated settlement to the underlying political problem of that country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of the remaining British overseas dependencies, indicating which he expects ultimately to achieve independence, which may satisfactorily seek associations with neighbouring States, and which he sees as being permanently dependent on Great Britain.

The remaining British overseas dependencies are: Belize, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands and Dependencies, Gibraltar, Gilbert Islands, Hong Kong, Montserrat, New Hebrides (Anglo-French Condominium), Pitcairn Islands Group, St. Helena and Dependencies, Solomon Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Tuvalu.It has been the policy of successive British Governments to promote self government and independence in the dependent territories in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants and the provisions of the United Nations Charter. The Seychelles achieved independence earlier this year and an independence conference for the Solomon Islands is planned for next year. The Gilberts and Tuvalu are expected to achieve independence before the end of this decade. With the possible exception of one or two territories which have special problems or an exiguous or transient population, none are expected to remain permanently dependent. It is of course open to individual territories to seek association with neighbouring States or to form regional groupings if that be the wish of their peoples.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give his estimate of the cost of extracting, treating and transporting to shore terminals the United Kingdom oil and natural gas reserves which he evaluates as worth £300 billion at current energy prices.

I am not able to estimate the cost of extracting, treating and transporting the quantities of oil and natural gas associated with this evaluation because it involves the development of fields in the late 1980s and early 1990s that are subject to considerable uncertainty in respect of the nature of the finds and their technological requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will express in money terms the calculation that by 1980 output of North Sea oil will improve the balance of payments by over 3 per cent. of the GNP and between 5 per cent. and 5·5 per cent. in 1985.

The calculations to which the hon. Member refers are based on the results of an exercise published in the Treasury's Economic Progress Report for July 1976, where they were also expressed in money terms. However, any projections made in money terms are dependent upon the assumptions adopted about prospective United Kingdom and world rates of inflation and for this reason it is preferable to express them as percentages of GNP.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the calculation that the value of gas and oil reserves in the North Sea amounting to £300 billion at current energy prices referred to oil and gas in place or that proportion of it which was likely to be recoverable by primary and secondary methods of production.

The estimated value of North Sea oil and gas reserves of about £300 billion at today's prices relates to total recoverable reserves.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the total estimated cost of the JET project: and what is his estimate of the United Kingdom's share of that cost;(2) if he is satisfied with the EEC budget allocation in relation to the JET project.

The cost of the first five years of JET (construction and initial operation) was estimated by the JET design team at March 1975 prices and expressed in Belgian francs, using free market exchange rates to convert estimates or quotations received in other currencies. The figure arrived at by the design team was 6,750 million Belgian francs, which is equivalent at the official fixed rates of exchange to 135 mua or £56·25 million.This estimate was reviewed and confirmed by the Commission earlier this year; its report to the Council COM (76)271 Final of 2nd June, under cover of R/1470/76 (ATO 75) of 16th June has been deposited in the House.COM(76)271 Final, also notes that the subsequent installation of auxiliary heat- ing power to extend the performance of JET is estimated to cost 40 mua.So far as operating costs after the first five years are concerned, the Commission observes that in experiments of comparable size the annual operating cost is usually similar to the average annual construction cost. We estimate our share of the cost at about 15 per cent. if JET is sited on the Continent or about 25 per cent. if JET is at Culham. It has been agreed that the host country will pay a 10 per cent. premium. In addition it has been agreed that the host country will provide the site with certain specified buildings and services. If JET is at Culham we would expect to spend a total of about £10 million on this and on housing and any special schooling for the children of overseas members of the JET team.Pending agreement by the Council of Ministers that the JET project should proceed, no EEC budget allocation has been made for the construction or operating phase.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy under what circumstances payments are made to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. and other agencies in respect of costs of compliance with security directives.

Discretionary payments are being made to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. and Urenco Ltd. in respect of the cost of complying with directions given to those companies under the provisions of paragraph 5 of schedule 1 to the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended by the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971). These directions require the Companies to adopt the security procedures prescribed by the Atomic Energy Authority on behalf of the Government for the purpose of safeguarding information and material in the interests of national security.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the reduction in capital expenditure by the Atomic Energy Authority; and how it will be distributed over projected programmes which will result from the economic package to reduce the public sector borrowing requirement.

My right hon. Friend is pursuing with the Atomic Energy Authority the question of possible adjustments to its programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report the number of houses at present empty which are owned by each of the gas, electricity and statutory water boards in Greater London, Greater Manchester, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Essex and Avon.

This information is not readily available but I am asking the Chairman of the British Gas Corporation and the Chairman of the Electricity Council to write to the hon. Member.Regional water authorities are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has reached any further participation agreement.

In implementation of Her Majesty's Government's policy of securing majority state participation, Her Majesty's Government and the British National Oil Corporation, BNOC, concluded on 17th December a memorandum of understanding with Chevron on the principles governing majority State participation in Chevron's interest in the Ninian Field and related facilities in the North Sea. All parties intend to conclude a definitive legal agreement embodying these principles as soon as possible.The agreement provides for BNOC to have access after a build-up period to up to 51 per cent. of Chevron's oil from the Ninian Field at market price with Chevron having certain repurchase rights. There will be full consultations between Her Majesty's Government, advised by BNOC under Section 3(3) of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act 1975, and Chevron on matters of common interest. Through these participation arrangements, BNOC will gain an effective voice and vote in the committees managing field operations.The Government and BNOC have also today signed heads of agreement on participation by BNOC with Santa Fe (UK) Limited and Santa Fe Minerals (UK) Inc in respect of the Santa Fe interest in the licence covering Block 211/18 in which the greater part of the Thistle Field is situated. It is intended that a definitive agreement should be signed by 31st May 1977. Santa Fe has a 22·5 per cent. interest in the licence and a 21·7 per cent. interest in the Thistle Field.Under the agreement BNOC will after a build-up period have the right to take, at market price, up to 51 per cent. of Santa Fe's share of petroleum won and saved from all commercial development in Block 211 /18. The agreement also provides for BNOC to have additional voting rights under the pertinent operating agreements.The implementation of the agreement will fully satisfy the Government's policy of achieving majority State participation in Santa Fe's interest whilst leaving Santa Fe financially neither better nor worse off.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for supporting United Kingdom participation in the International Energy Agency's Solar Energy Programme.

The University College, Cardiff has been designated by the Government to be a participant in an IEA collaborative programme to develop and test solar heating and cooling systems. The United Kingdom work will be undertaken by the Solar Energy Unit of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Studies at the University College and it will develop standard test procedures to determine the performance of a broad class of collectors for use in solar heating and cooling systems. Other participants to the implementing agreement will be carrying out similar work in their own countries and the results will form a comprehensive body of data on solar collector test procedures and designs which will be available to all participants. The Department intends to provide financial support for this work at the University College as part of its programme in the field of solar energy. The funds to be made available total £37,800 over three years.The United Kingdom hopes to participate in other aspects of this work in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he proposes to take in order to ensure employment for the workers who will be made redundant by the closure of Preston Dock.

We will continue to promote industrial development by bringing to the attention of industrialists the financial incentives available as well as the vacant sites in the docks.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish a detailed forecast of the foreign currency requirements of each nationalised industry for which he has departmental responsibility, for the years 1977 and 1978, specifying the exact purpose for which any amount in excess of £1 million sterling equivalent is required and indicating what proportion of these funds is to be financed out of current income and loans raised overseas, respectively.

These requirements are commercial matters within the responsibility of the corporations concerned. The foreign exchange transactions of the corporations are subject to exchange control regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of the public funds to be provided for the introduction of a new Mini by British Leyland will be borrowed abroad.

Public funds are made available to British Leyland for general capital purposes and not in respect of particular capital investment programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what rate or rates of interest are being used in the discounted cash flow calculations applied to the capital investment programme for the new Mini by British Leyland and the Treasury, respectively.

British Leyland uses interest rates compatible with the requirement laid on the NEB under its draft guidelines. Rates used by the Treasury would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry at what point in the production programme for the new Mini a positive cash flow is expected.

This is a matter for the NEB. The hon. Member will appreciate that it would not be right to disclose commercially confidential information of this nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he will be in a position to make an announcement on the British Steel Corporation investment programme at Port Talbot.

The corporation is currently carrying out the review of which I informed the House on 19th July When I have received its recommendations, I shall consider them as quickly as possible and then inform the House of the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the resources of the NEB and the Scottish and Welsh Development Agencies will be increased; by how much; and how he expects these extra resources will create new jobs or additional investment.

In both 1977–78 and 1978–79 the public expenditure provisions for the NEB will be increased by £50 million to £275 million. These funds will be used by the NEB for industrial investment and reorganisation.Questions on the Scottish and Welsh Development Agencies are for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what courses of instruction were followed by the four officers who were seconded for specialist training at Fort Bragg, United States.