asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on depletion rates of North Sea oil reserves.

The Government's policy is that production should be built up rapidly so that we achieve net self-sufficiency in oil by 1980. If production in later years has to be limited in the national interest the guidelines announced to the House by the previous Secretary of State on 6th December 1974 will apply.—[Official Report, c. 648–50.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the annual amount of oil in 1980, expressed as a percentage of the total landing of North Sea oil in that year, that will come ashore, respectively, in the Shetlands, in the Orkneys, on the Scottish mainland, and in England.

In the broadest terms, I estimate that 50 per cent. of North Sea oil will be landed in the Shetlands, 15 per cent. in the Orkneys and 25 per cent. in the mainland of Scotland, while some 10 per cent. will be loaded into tankers at sea and landed at different ports.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to ensure that the flow of gas from northern off-shore areas will be controlled to avoid non-premium consumption and the creation of severe imbalance in other fields of energy production.

We review possible profiles of the future flow of gas, including that from the Northern Basin, regularly in the context of our annual consideration of the British Gas corporate plan. Limitation of non-premium use of gas and the effects on other fuels are major factors in these reviews. Gas production will continue to rise in line with British Gas contracts with the pro ducers displacing imported oil, until about 1980. Thereafter, production is expected to be related broadly to premium demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a further statement on refining policy.

This important matter is kept under constant review and further statements will be made as and when necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has studied the recent CPRS Report "The Future of the United Kingdom Power Plant Manufacturing Industry"; and what conclusions he has reached in the light of the report.

The report, which my right hon. Friend and I have of course studied, is under active consideration by Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made any tentative forecasts as to the percentages of energy from oil, coal, nuclear sources hydro-generation and renewable sources which will make up Great Britain's total use of energy in 1982.

I estimate that coal will account for some 35–40 per cent. of United Kingdom total primary energy use in 1982; gas 20–25 per cent.; oil 30–40 per cent.; nuclear 7–8 per cent.; and hydro-generation less than 1 per cent. Renewable sources other than hydro-generation are not expected to contribute significantly by that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of recent gas explosions, he will give a general direction to the Gas Corporation to take urgent action to reduce the quantities of gas leaking from distribution networks into the ground and hence through ducts and other open channels into buildings of all kinds.

I am assured that British Gas is taking all reasonable steps to minimise gas leakage from its distribution network, subject to any new measures which might be suggested by the three-man inquiry which, as my hon. Friend will know, I have set up jointly with the chairman of the corporation. In these circumstances I do not think that a general direction would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent the British National Oil Corporation has acquired a stake in oil production, drilling, and exploration enterprises within United Kingdom waters; and, of the total investment how much is now held by BNOC, how much by British-based public and private enterprises, how much by similar enterprises within the EEC, and how much from further afield.

The British National Oil Corporation has acquired BNOC (Exploration) Limited—formerly NCB (Exploration) Limited—from the National Coal Board and BNOC (Ninian) Limited—formerly Burmah Oil North Sea Limited—and BNOC (Thistle) Limited—formerly Burmah Oil Company (Pipe Lines) Limited—from the Burmah Oil Company. BNOC interests amount to approximately 8 per cent. of the total investment so far in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. The equivalent figure for BGC is around 2 per cent. The additional analysis sought in the last part of the hon. Member's question could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with present progress of research on the commercial viability of nuclear power; and if he will make a statement.

I recognise that commercial viability is an important factor which we must continue to pursue in our future nuclear programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes to give permission for Drax B coal fired power station to be constructed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is now in a position to announce the decision to commence the building of the proposed Drax B power station.

Power station ordering is currently under discussion by Ministers in the context of the CPRS report on the power plant industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in the light of his statement that the likely increase in electricity prices as a result of advancing the order for the completion of the Drax B power station, as recommended by CPRS, would range from negligible to about 4 per cent., Official Report, 10th January, c. 349, he will publish the rates of growth in electricity peak demand and variations in other factors that would be necessary to arrive at figures of 25 per cent. and 40 per cent., respectively.

The figure of 25 per cent. to 40 per cent. was an estimate by the CEGB, not the Government. It was on a different basis from that given in my previous reply because it related to an ordering programme of 2GW a year, not just to bringing forward an order for Drax B. I understand that the CEGB's estimate assumes among other things a rate of growth of peak electricity demand of 1·3 per cent. a year.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what is the latest estimate of the percentage of GNP which will be spent on overseas aid in 1977–78 and 1978–79.

It has never been our practice to give such estimates, which would have limited value in view of variations in both GNP and total official aid flows.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what effect the operation of cash limits: (a) has had in the current year and (b) will have had to the end of the current financial year upon the number and location of staff in his Department.

During the current financial year there will have been a reduction in the moderate rate of increase in ODM staff numbers which had previously been planned. This, however, is not attributable solely to the introduction of the cash limits system. Location is not affected.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the progress of the work of the British team engaged in the excavations of Carthage, giving particular details of the total number of personnel involved, the number of archaeologists stricto sensu, the total financial support to date given by his Department, and when this project is due for completion.

A summary account of the British team's work appeared in the most recent Annual Report of the British Academy, that for 1974–75. A copy of this report has been placed in the Library of the House. Further details are expected to be given in the 1975–76 report, to be published next month. A first interim report was published in the Antiquaries Journal, Volume LV(1975), also available in the Library. The second interim report of the team's work is due to appear in the 1976 issue of the Antiquaries Journal due for publication in February. The field director's report on work during the 1976 season is to be delivered as a lecture in Burlington House later in January. The British Academy expect to produce a monograph on the work during the summer of 1977.The "Save Carthage" campaign was promoted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation—UNESCO—at the request of the Tunisian Government. In addition to the work sponsored by my Ministry the Leverhulme Trust has awarded the British Academy a grant of £20,000 over two years. Archaeological missions from the United States of America, the Federal Republic of Germany, France and Italy are also participating in this international venture. Their work is co-ordinated by the Carthage International Committee which was established in September 1975 on the initiative of the Tunisian Government. When completed, this large scale programme will contribute substantially to knowledge about this ancient civilisation and will benefit Tunisia's growing tourist industry.Fourteen people are involved in the British programme at Carthage, of whom eight are qualified archaeologists. With the exception of the field director, all team members are part-time and work mainly in the archaeological season which runs from March to early July.The financial support to date given by my Ministry to the British Academy in support of this campaign is £66,000. This support was given in the following financial years:—

1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77
£10,000	£15,000	£20,000	£21,000

Further—but final—contributions for the financial years 1977–78—£24,000—and 1978–79—£28,000—have been agreed, bringing our total financial commitment to £118,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department intends to apply comparable criteria in determining the contributions of different modes of transport towards social and economic needs.

Yes, so far as that is relevant and practicable. The issues, which are complex, are discussed in paragraphs 5.29 to 5.43 of volume 1 of the Consultation Document on Transport Policy and in paper 5 of volume 2. I announced on 10th December last that I have set up an independent committee under Sir George Leitch to comment on my Department's methods of appraising trunk road schemes taking account of the extent to which they give a satisfactory basis for comparison with investment in other forms of transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to extend the overhead lighting on the M1 motorway from near the Newport Pagnell Service Station to the Watford Gap area.

I have no plans at present for extending this lighting.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take action to improve the maintenance of the M5 and M6 motorways within the area of the West Midlands County.

Present maintenance arrangements will continue. Efforts will be kept up to deal with some specific and persistent problems.

		1973–74 (actual)	1974–75 (actual)	1975–76 (actual)	1976–77 (estimate)
Driving licences issued	…	8·8m.	9·7m.	10·6m.	11·3m.
Vehicle licences issued	…	27·3m.	27·3m.	26·9m.	27·8m.
Staff employed	…	8,100	9,400	10,800	9,200
Annual costs	…	£26m.	£39m.	£57m.	£61m.

The number of staff employed and the annual costs cover a certain amount of double handling during the transition from local to centralised licensing.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest total capital cost of buildings, plant and equipment for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea.

£17 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what access is given to other Departments of State and Government agencies to the computerised records of names and addresses of licence holders held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea.

I would refer the hon. Member to Command 6354, "Computers; Safeguards for Privacy", Table 2, which sets out in general terms what information may be given to whom by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in view of the statement by the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection in the Official Report, 15th November 1976, column 920, that Government fees and charges are set at a level to do more than cover costs, he will reconsider his intention to charge £50 for the transfer of cherished number plates and substitute £15 which is the cost of the transfer.

No. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to sub-sections (3) and (4) of Section 12 of the Finance Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving licences and motor vehicle licences were issued in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976; what was the average number of staff employed in issuing the licences in each year; and what was the total annual cost.

The information is as follows, by financial years:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to reopen the right of way into Occupation Road, Kew, which has been blocked off by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

My Department will restore pedestrian access as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the financial implications to date of the acquisition and making ready of six leaseholds in several parts of the country and constructing a new Crown building in Plymouth intended for the administration of the wealth tax.

The annual rent of the accommodation which has been leased for the administration of capital taxes is about £800,000. Capital costs on the leased accommodation are about £400,000. The estimated cost of the Crown building under construction in Plymouth is £2·1 million.For the proportion of these costs attributable to the proposed wealth tax I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 16th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Rodgers) by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Treasury.—[Vol. 922, c. 848.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend the operational criteria of the Property Services Agency so as to avoid its acquisition and construction of official accommodation, as in the case of the conjectured wealth tax, prior to any relevant legislation being laid before the House, or until it is debated and approved.

No. A Government may, very exceptionally, need to authorise the PSA to enter into commitments before legislation is laid or debated so that the necessary accommodation can be provided in time. The House is always informed. In the case of the wealth tax my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave a Written Answer on 13th March 1975 and a Supplementary Estimate was subsequently approved.—[Vol. 888, c. 214–15.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the locations of the six leaseholds required by the Property Services Agency in anticipation of the introduction of the wealth tax; and if he will instruct the Agency to dispose of these to the private sector together with the new Crown building in Plymouth, all intended for administration of a tax which is not to be introduced during the present Parliament.

Accommodation for the administration of capital taxes including the proposed wealth tax, has been leased in Stockton-on-Tees—two buildings—Stockport, Derby, Solihull and Edinburgh. A building to be leased by the Property Services Agency is being constructed by a private developer in Wrexham. Alternative uses for this accommodation and for the Crown building being built in Plymouth are under urgent consideration. I do not at present envisage that it will be necessary to dispose of them to the private sector but I certainly do not rule this out in any case where the building cannot be put to good use and where acceptable terms can be negotiated for an assignment of the lease.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of the rate support grant due to be paid to Hampshire County Council for the financial year 1977–78; and how this compares with the previous three years.

Hampshire's entitlement to needs element grant for 1977–78 under the main Rate Support Grant Order is currently estimated to be £93·36 million. Some of the data on which this estimate has been made are still provisional. The corresponding figures for earlier years are as follows:

					£ million
1974–75	…	…	…	…	50·22
1975–76	…	…	…	…	70·03
1976–77	…	…	…	…	85–90

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage reduction in the Surrey Rate Support Grant in 1977–78 as compared with 1976–77; and what is the equivalent figure for the metropolitan districts and the Greater London Council.

Payments of the needs element of the rate support grant under the main RSG Order for 1977–78 are expected to show the following variations from the corresponding payments for 1976–77:

		percentage
Surrey County Council	…	-12·0
Shire Counties generally	…	+0·8
Metropolitan Districts	…	+8·9
London	…	+7·1

Some of the data included in the calculation for 1977–78 are still provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total number of employees during each of the last 12 months of the Yorkshire and North Western Water Authorities, respectively.

According to the latest annual report of the National Water Council, the number of employees of the Yorkshire and North-West Water Authorities at 31st March 1976 was: Yorkshire, 2,338; North-West, 3,730. More detailed information is not available in my Department but the hon. Member may wish to approach the chairman of these water authorities direct.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department will take to encourage paper saving, in view of public concern about its effects on the environment and import bill.

I hope that the assistance which the Government are making available to the paper and board industry under the Industry Act, by increasing the demand for waste paper, will itself encourage saving. In addition we have issued practical advice to local authorities who salvage waste paper or are considering doing so. We shall also be publishing a more wide-ranging booklet for voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new dwellings were completed by Sheffield District Council in 1974, 1975 and 1976, and how these figures compare with Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.

The following is the available information:

LOCAL AUTHORITY DWELLINGS COMPLETED
			1974	1975	1976*
Sheffield	…	…	1,849	2,078	1,822
Leeds	…	…	1,722	1,776	1,178
Manchester	…	…	2,504	2,612	1,584
Birmingham	…	…	2,397	2,872	3,241
* First 11 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now publish the report of consultants on the fresh water installations constructed in connection with the proposed Wash Barrage.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State announced to the House on 28th October 1976, the Central Water Planning Unit has published its report on its feasibility study on storing water in the Wash.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the proposal by Laporte Chemical Industries to dump 6,000 tons of radioactive waste on a privately owned site at Rainham, Esesx, he has any plans to seek to amend the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 to give greater protection to nearby residents in the vicinity of such sites; and whether he will make a statement.

I am fully satisfied that the disposal of radioactive waste in accordance with the present controls does not cause any hazard to the public or the environment. Low level waste has been safely disposed of to local landfill sites for a considerable number of years. Each disposal is authorised after consultations with the local authority and the water authority and after inspection by my radiochemical inspectors. I have no plans to amend the Radioactive Substances Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the five areas which have experienced the highest percentage increases in water rate since reorganisation of water services and for each show a breakdown of the increased costs, including the loss of rate support grant and capital expenditure out of revenue.

The following table shows for each water authority the percentage increase in the average water rate for the current year compared with the average rate charges by their predecessor water undertakings in 1973–74.

Water Authority				Per cent.
North-West	…	…	…	147
Northumbrian	…	…	…	143
Severn-Trent	…	…	…	158
Yorkshire	…	…	…	148
Anglian	…	…	…	134
Thames	…	…	…	104
Southern	…	…	…	154
Wessex	…	…	…	153
South-West	…	…	…	178
Welsh NWDA	…	…	…	273

I regret that detailed information is not available to show the breakdown of the increased cost, but no water authority finances capital expenditure out of revenue. Even before reorganisation the water rate did not directly attract rate

support grant but a number of local authorities, particularly in Wales, were accustomed to subsidise the water rate out of the general rate and thus indirectly to apply rate support grant to the reduction of water rates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has in mind to ensure that empty houses in the ownership of local authorities and statutory bodies which are capable of being made fit for human habitation are not demolished or left unoccupied for more than a few weeks.

I intend shortly to issue further guidance on the measures available to ensure the better use of the housing stock in all sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of operating Millbank Technical Service Ordnance; how many staff are employed by the company; and, of these, how many have had experience outside the Armed Forces or Civil Service.

As the parent company, Millbank Technical Services, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Crown Agents, I have been asked to reply.Millbank Technical Services (Ordnance) Limited was formed in partnership with Wimpey and Laing to undertake a specific contract, the cost of which is fully reimbursable as the work proceeds. The company's operations have not therefore given rise to any charge on public funds. I am informed that the company at present employs 57 staff, of whom 50 have experience other than that of the Armed Forces or Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the effect of pay restraint on pension scheme improvements in view of firms' uncertainty at the present time.

I have been asked to reply.It is part of the current understanding between the Government and the TUC that improvements in occupational schemes, or the introduction of new schemes, must count against the pay limit unless they are restricted to the minimum level necessary to contract out of the new State scheme to be introduced from April 1978. I have received representations from pensions interests requesting that a date be named for the relaxation of this restriction. I have replied that this will be discussed with the TUC in the course of the negotiations for the third round of pay policy. These talks will be starting shortly and the Government will report to the House as soon as there is anything further to announce on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimate of the number of lives which would be saved and the number of people who would avoid disablement if smoking were made illegal.

It is estimated that over 50,000 premature deaths a year in the United Kingdom are attributed to smoking. The amount of suffering and ill-health which would be avoided by people ceasing to smoke is difficult to quantify in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimate of the number of lives which would be saved and the number of people who would avoid disablement if drinking of alcoholic liquor were made illegal.

No reliable estimate is possible, particularly in view of the risk that some people would drink illicitly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to provide up-to-date information about the private and voluntary homes, in which London boroughs place children in care, following the recent survey published by Wandsworth Council; and if he will make a statement.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing attention to this survey, which my Department is studying. Local authorities are of course responsible for placing children who are in their care and they are free to place them in voluntary or private children's homes, among other places. One of the conclusions of the survey was that London directors of social services felt that the responsibility for finding places in such homes should remain with the local authority, though many saw some rôle for other bodies. I understand that the London boroughs have now agreed to coordinate the collection of information about these homes. I shall be glad to help in any way I can. Children's homes run by voluntary organisations are registered with my Department, and our social work service has powers to inspect all private children's homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why hospitals about which complaints are investigated by the Health Service Commissioner are not named in his report to Parliament.

The Commissioner has a statutory duty to make a report annually to the Secretary of State on the performance of his functions and the Secretary of State has a similar duty to lay a copy of the report before each House of Parliament. Section 37 of the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973 prescribes the parties to whom the Commissioner has a duty to send reports of his investigations and provides that for the purpose of the Law of Defamation the publication of a report as prescribed is absolutely privileged. I understand that the Health Service Commissioner, following the practice adopted by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and with the approval of the Select Committee, wishes to preserve the confidentiality of the reports of his investigations and does not think it right to include in his report to the Secretary of State details of all individual cases which would be likely to reveal the identity of the persons concerned; this is for the Commissioner himself to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will review the forms of contract between the National Health Service and opticians to require that where spectacle frames are available under the NHS they are displayed in a proper manner affording a real choice to users of the service.

As I stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Loyden) on 14th December last, my Department has asked opticians, through their professional organisations, to display and stock examples of the full range of NHS spectacle frames. Following the Price Commission's recommendations in its report on the Prices of Private Spectacles and Contact Lenses, I am considering what further might be done in this matter.—[Vol. 922, c. 633–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons drew sickness benefit for any period of time in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what was the total cost of this in public funds.

The number of people drawing sickness benefit in the 12 months period ending 31st May 1975 was over 5¼ million. The estimated cost of sickness benefit for those beneficiaries during that period is about £350 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital-based otologists there are; how many of these are students; if they are evenly spread geographically; how many patients they service on average; and if there is a defined upper limit of patients.

Separate figures are not available for otologists, but on 30th September 1975 the whole-time equivalent of medical staff holding appointments in the ear, nose and throat specialty in England was 730. 300 of these were consultants and most of the others were in the post-registration training grades. Medical students are not classified according to specialty. The numbers of ear, nose and throat medical staff per 100,000 of the population in the different regions ranged from 1·05 in Trent to 1·77 in South-East Thames, with a national average of 1·57. Excluding tonsils and adenoids cases, there were during 1975, 137,400 in-patient discharges and deaths—about 188 per annum per whole-time equivalent doctor—and 15,000 day cases—about 20 per annum per doctor—in the ear, nose and throat departments in England. Including tonsils and adenoids there were 492,000 new out-patients cases—about 674 per annum per doctor. There is no laid down maximum number of patients per doctor.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the fire at Wensley Lodge, Hessle, was typical of a fire involving polyurethane foam; and if he will list in the Official Report: (a) the number of beds in the 13 bedrooms, having foam mattresses, (b) what other furniture had polyurethane foam material associated with it and (c) the amount of polystyrene or other polymeric material used on walls, ceilings and floors in the building as a whole.

I am informed that the evidence so far available does not suggest that the fire was typical of cases involving polyurethane foam, though this is a matter which can be considered by the Inquiry. My information is that:

(a) the mattresses appeared to be latex rubber with zip fastened rubberised covers;

(b) some furniture on the ground floor may have contained polyurethane infiill with polystyrene covers;

(c) as far as is known, polystyrene or other polymeric materials were not used on walls or ceilings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, recognising that first reports from the fire at Wensley Lodge, Hessle, suggested the cause to be due to: (a) a resident smoking in bed, subsequently denied because the resident was a non-smoker, and (b) to an electrical fault in a plug, subsequently denied because the room was not wired for electric plugs, and acknowledging that the cause is not yet known, if he will accept as a possibility the ignition of polyurethane foam or other polymeric material as a cause.

The cause of the fire is being investigated and I do not think that I should speculate on the possible findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he proposes to have with the World Health Organisation and the United States Government regarding swine influenza; and what are the latest figures for the vaccine in stockpile.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my previous reply on 13th December and confirm that officers of my Department maintain close contacts with the United States Government and WHO.—[Vol. 922, c. 496–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any further fees have been paid to design consultants in respect of the following abandoned hospital projects in Birmingham: (a) Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, (b) Dudley Road Development, Phase II and (c) Good Hope Second Ward Block, since March 1976; and, if so, how much has been paid and to which firms.

No fees have been paid to design consultants since March 1976 in respect of the Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre or the Good Hope Hospital. Design work on these schemes has stopped. £22,701 has been paid to consultants in respect of the Dudley Road Development. I will write to my hon. Friend with details.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any fees have yet been paid to design consultants in respect of the abandoned accident unit at East Birmingham Hospital; and, if so, how much has been paid and to which firms.

£675 has been paid to design consultants in respect of the accident unit at East Birmingham hospital design work upon which has stopped. I will write to my hon. Friend with details.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total amount paid since April 1974 by the West Midlands Regional Health Authority to design consultants in respect of abandoned hospital building projects; and what is the total of outstanding claims.

The total amount paid to design consultants by the West Midlands Regional Health Authority since April 1974 for work done on schemes where design work has been stopped is £820,519. Further payments are still being negotiated in some cases and it is not possible to give a figure for the amounts outstanding.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if there will be an interim report from the committee looking into the workings of health services.

The terms of reference of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service do not require an interim report, and it would normally be for the Royal Commission itself to decide whether to make one.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the per capita cost and the total annual cost, respectively, of a programme of vaccination against polio for all children in infancy, upon entering school, and upon leaving school;(2) what is his estimate of the percentage population immunised against polio in the following age bands: under five years, five years to 15 years, and 15 to 25 years;(3) how many residents in the United Kingdom have contracted polio in the past year; where in each case the disease was contracted; and how many of these had received vaccination;(4) what evidence he has of regional and area variations in vaccination against polio; and if he will take urgent action in the worst areas;(5) what is his estimate of the percentage of the population receiving vaccination against polio: (a) in infancy, (b) on entering school, and (c) on leaving school; and what action he is taking to increase immunisation to a safe level;

Polio vaccination commences in the first year of life with booster doses on entering and leaving school. The percentage of the population immunised at 31st December 1975 —the latest date for which figures are available—is estimated as follows:

• Born in years 1971 to 1975 (inclusive)—60 per cent.
• Born in years 1961 to 1970 (inclusive)—80 per cent.

Data on the 15 to 25 years old are not available.During 1976, of 12 persons resident in England who contracted paralytic poliomyelitis, 10 contracted it in England and 2 abroad; 5 had previously received immunisation. Where a case of paralytic polio occurs, special efforts are usually made locally to increase the uptake of polio vaccine, especially among the child population.There is a very small risk of paralytic poliomyelitis arising as a result of vaccination but on the whole polio vaccine is an exceptionally safe vaccine.Data on regional and area variations during 1976 is not yet available. It is not possible to distinguish the total cost of poliomyelitis vaccination from other costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what conclusions he has come to concerning the sterilisation of children under the age of 16 years, in the light of the response to his invitation for an expression of views on this issue; how many persons or bodies submitted views; and what action he is now proposing to take.

Widely varying views were expressed on the discussion document sent out by my Department by the 309 individuals and bodies who commented on it.The subject is one on which people feel deeply and it requires and is receiving a searching examination to ensure that the best course is followed. No conclusions have yet been reached. The publicity arising from the debate introduced by my hon. Friend in the House on 25th June 1975 has increased the public awareness of the issues.—[Vol. 894, c. 629–38.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate has been made, on the basis of applications so far, of the percentage take up of the new child benefit in April 1977.

Over 7 million families will be entitled to child benefit. There is no problem of take-up with the over 4 million families who now get family allowances. Of the families with one child who need to claim, about 1 million have still to do so. I cannot now forecast the overall rate of take up by April 1977, but even with the existing level of claims from one child families it would be almost 85 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the current total annual cost of community health councils in England.

The estimated cost for England in the current financial year is about £3·0 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that private sector pension funds will be able to meet the inflation-proofing provisions of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975.

I have not received any representations on this matter from those concerned with occupational pensions schemes and, in view of the substantial concessions made in 1975 during the passage of the pensions legislation, I have no reason to believe that private sector employers with contracted-out schemes will not be able to meet their inflation-proofing liabilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will visit the Honeylands project for handicapped children.

My Department is well aware of this project and is helping to finance associated research. The unit has been visited by officials on a number of occasions and many of them have seen the film "Before the bough breaks …" which describes its work. I have no plans to make a personal visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consideration he has given to the estimate that a project such as the Honeylands project for handicapped children can reduce the number of children needing permanent hospital care to one-sixth, at a cost per chilld of 16 per cent. of that of hospital care; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will advise the chairman of each area health authority in England of the advantages and savings to be derived from projects such as Honeylands in connection with the care of handicapped children.

My Department, together with the Mental Health Foundation and Action Research for Crippled Children, is jointly financing research aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the service provided by the Honeylands unit. The results are expected in 1978 and I will then consider whether the Honeylands methods can be recommended as a model for future developments of services for handicapped children and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied with the support provided for parents who wish to continue to care for their severely physically and/or mentally handicapped children; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will list those area health authorities in England which in all or some of their districts provide adequate day and short stay emergency support for parents of severely mentally and/or physically handicapped children who wish to continue to care for them at home; what action he is taking to increase such provision; and if he will make a statement.

It is the Government's policy that whenever possible severely physically and/or mentally handicapped children should live at home with their parents. Although much remains to be done, all health authorities, local authority social services departments and voluntary agencies are doing what they can, within the limits of current economic restraints, to help these children and their families in ways which will prevent long term admission to hospitals or local authority homes. These include the provision of day and short stay residential places; social work support; day fostering; day nurseries; and baby sitting services. In addition, attendance allowance, mobility allowance and invalid care allowance may be available. We are also sponsoring research to help answer some of the questions about the needs of these children and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a detailed analysis of the re-evaluation of the assets held by the National Insurance Fund which resulted in the reduction of their value by £600 million between 31st March and 1st April 1975.

The assets revalued were those securities held in the National Reserve Fund and the Industrial Injuries Fund at 31st March 1975, details of which, together with their cost prices and market values at that date, are to be found in the National Insurance Funds' Accounts 1974–75 (HC 245, 1975–76).The market value of the securities shown in the Accounts 1974–75 included accrued interest amounting to £18 million which was brought into the 1975–76 Accounts as receipts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost of social security abuses during 1976.

It is not possible to determine such a figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioners and surgeons working within the NHS emigrated during 1976.

I regret this information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many administrative staff were employed in the hospital service immediately before reorganisation; and how many are employed now.

The table below shows the total whole-time equivalent number of staff in the administrative and clerical group employed in the hospital service in England before and after reorganisation. For 30th September 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, it is not possible to show figures for the hospital service alone, and therefore the total whole-time equivalent number of staff in this group employed in the NHS is shown, with responsibilities covering all aspects of the formerly tripartite service. For purposes of comparison, an equivalent figure for 1974 is also given.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLERICAL STAFF, ENGLAND
Whole-time equivalent
	30th September
	1973	1974	1975
Hospital service	51,632	56,447	—
Total NHS	—	82,758	91,865

The majority of these staff are concerned with clerical, secretarial and other duties giving direct support to the delivery of patient care.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many non-administrative staff, other than ancillaries, were employed in the hospital service immediately before reorganization: and how many are employed now.

Excluding staff in the administrative and clerical group and the ancillaries group, the total whole-time equivalent number of staff employed in the hospital service at 30th September 1973 was 347,478. The equivalent figure for 30th September 1974 was 355,749. For 30th September 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, it is not possible to provide figures for the hospital service alone, but the total whole-time equivalent number of staff in the NHS at that date, covering all branches of the formerly tripartite service but excluding staff in the administrative and clerical group and the ancillaries group, was 454,048. The comparable all-NHS figure for September 1974 was 422,985.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what developments there have been following the United Kingdom-USSR Agreement signed in February 1975 on co-operation in the field of medicine and public health; and if he will make a statement.

The arrangements whereby persons from one country visiting the other can obtain emergency medical treatment are working well. One Soviet patient, a baby requiring heart surgery, has been brought to the United Kingdom under the terms of the agreement for the express purpose of obtaining medical treatment, which has been successful.The Joint Medical Committee, consisting of representatives of the two countries, held its second annual meeting in Moscow in October last to review progress and plan further co-operation. Useful exchanges of information and visits of scientists have taken place during the first year which should lead to fruitful co-operation between the participating specialists and institutions of the two countries and between the two Health Ministries. The three fields initially chosen for joint study are those of eye disease, communicable diseases—especially influenza—and emergency medical services and traumatology. These cover subjects in which both countries have a considerable interest in common and can usefully collaborate by sharing experience.Further fields of study may be added in due course. I am arranging for copies of the protocols of the first two meetings of the Joint Committee to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, pending the outcome of the representations which are being made to his Department while the processes of consultation and deliberation on the White Paper on Occupational Pension Schemes continues, he has stated that members' representatives nominated by recognised independent trade unions to a board of trustees or board of management will be appointed to such bodies.

The consultations on the White Paper—Cmnd. 6514—are continuing and they will assist with the detail of the legislation which the Government will introduce; but central to the Government's policy is the principle that member participation in occupational pension schemes shall be through the agency of recognised independent trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has been given by the Medicines Commission or any other body that the introduction of child-resistant containers for medicines in England and Wales will prove to be safe and effective.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th January 1977; Vol. 923, c. 455], circulated the following reply:A Medicines Commission Working Group report on "The Presentation of Medicines in relation to Child Safety" endorsed by the Medicines Commission was published in May 1974.The working group recommended the use of unit-packaging after receiving evidence that unit packs have properties which can contribute to the prevention of accidental poisoning of children. These properties include the benefit that the total contents of the package are not immediately available to the child who is likely to gain access to only a few tablets before losing interest or being detected. The working group noted the requirements in the United States for child resistant packaging for certain medicines and, as my right hon. Friend said in reply to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Smith) on 5th May 1976, there is evidence of a substantial reduction in the number of cases of aspirin poisoning of children since the introduction of child-resistant packaging in North America.Regulations made under the Medicines Act 1968 are in operation requiring the use of child-resistant containers, including unit-packaging, for pre-packed solid dose forms of aspirin and paracetamol for retail sale. Child-resistant containers have been in use only a short time and experience of their effect on accidental poisoning is limited. A survey reported in the British Medical Journal on 31st

July 1976 indicated that the number of children admitted to hospitals in Newcastle and South Glamorgan with accidental salicylate poisoning was halved in the first six months since the introduction of child-resistant packaging for children's aspirin and paracetamol.—[Vol. 910, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will hold an inquiry into allegations that faulty motorcar tyres are on widespread sale; and if he will make a statement.

I share my hon. Friend's concern about these allegations, and any evidence of a breach of the Trade Descriptions Act should be reported immediately to the appropriate local authority trading standards officer. Any proposal for an inquiry into the sale of unsafe vehicle parts, including unsuitable tyres, would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what steps he is currently taking to deal with the increased cost of food, arising from the United Kingdom's membership of the Common Market.

Our membership of the EEC is only one of a large number of factors affecting the price of food, including the general rate of inflation and movements in world supplies and prices. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made clear on a number of occasions the Government's determination in negotiations in the Council of Ministers to restrain common support prices for products in structural surplus.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give a list of 12 stated foodstuffs which have risen in price by the largest amounts between October 1974 and December 1976 and the prices of these commodities at these two stated dates.

Of the 80 items of foods for which average retail prices are published each month in the Department of Employment Gazette, the 12 items listed below are those for which prices have risen most in percentage terms between October 1974 and October 1976. October 1976 is the latest month for which this price information is available.

p per lb.
		15th October 1974	12th October 1976
Potatoes, old, loose:
White	…	3·1	11·5
Red	…	3·6	12·0
Milk, ordinary per pint	…	4·5	9·5
Butter:
Home-produced	…	24·6	49·5
New Zealand	…	23·0	46·0
Danish	…	26·7	51·1
Onions	…	7·0	14·0
Cabbage	…	5·7	9·6
Lamb, home-killed:
Breast	…	17·4	29·7
Shoulder with bone	…	38·3	64·0
Beef, home-killed:
Sirloin	…	79·2	133·4
Silverside, without bone	…	68·8	113·8

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) how many independent hearing aid dispensers are at present registered; how many there were each year from 1970 to date; and if they are evenly spread geographically;(2) how many private registered hearing aid employees there are; and how many there were each year from 1970 to date.

The numbers of hearing aid dispensers registered are as follows. About two-thirds are self-employed and about one-third are employees. They appear to be evenly spread throughout Great Britain.

1970	…	…	…	…	746
1971	…	…	…	…	757
1972	…	…	…	…	744
1973	…	…	…	…	736
1974	…	…	…	…	734
1975	…	…	…	…	733
1976	…	…	…	…	766

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many complaints are received annually by the Hearing Aid Council about independent hearing aid dispensers; and what are the main types of complaint.

Since January 1970, 708 complaints have been received, ie about 100 annually. The main type of complaint is that made by elderly people who have changed their minds about a hearing aid they have bought, mainly because they cannot afford to pay for the aid, have since qualified for a NHS aid, or have been unable to adjust to wearing one.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how standards for qualification of independent hearing aid dispensers differ from those of hospital-based otologists.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the standards of competence for dispensers registered under the Hearing Aid Council Act 1968. Information about qualifications for NHS otologists are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will consider introducing or amending present legislation concerning the obligation of manufacturers towards compensation to customers who are in receipt of faulty goods.

When the Law Commission reports on its current reference on "Liability for Defective Products" we shall have the opportunity to consider this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will introduce legislation under the Sale of Goods Act to protect persons purchasing motor cars from either dealers or private individuals who sell cars which are not roadworthy.

The Sale of Goods Act confers on me no power to legislate by order. Such legislation appears, in any case, to be unnecessary since the Road Traffic Act 1972 already makes it unlawful to sell an unroadworthy vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection who represented the United Kingdom at the EEC Symposium of Consumer Organisations in Brussels on 2nd and 3rd December 1976; and on what basis the delegates were selected.

The Symposium of Consumer Organisations in Brussels on 2nd and 3rd December 1976 was convened by the EEC Commission, who issued the invitations. I understand that some 10 consumer-oriented organisations were represented by participants who attended from the United Kingdom, and in addition officials from my Department and from the Office of Fair Trading were present as observers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that no action is taken to reorganise the Milk Marketing Board under the EEC regulations which would prevent the Board's continuing to give its present level of support to the dairy industry.

We have always recognised that membership of the EEC would entail some changes in our marketing arrangements for a number of commodities. In the case of the milk marketing boards, we shall seek to maintain those functions of the boards which are essential to the orderly marketing of milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's policy regarding the recommendations of the Layfield Committee to introduce agricultural rating.

The Government will announce its conclusions on this recommendation of the Layfield Committee as soon as it is practicable to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will strengthen the inspection for white rust of materials, animals and plants entering the United Kingdom.

There is no need to inspect anything other than chrysanthemums, the precautions for which were explained in the replies given on 7th and 20th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe (Mrs. Dunwoody).—[Vol. 922, c. 187–8; Vol. 923, c. 75–61.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list details of subsidies given by EEC countries to the horticultural industry, particularly towards the cost of fuel.

It would be impracticable to set out in detail all the forms of assistance available to the horticultural industry in the EEC. However, all such assistance must be within limits approved by the Council of Ministers or the EEC Commission.The EEC Commission, after discussions with member States, set guidelines for fuel aids in June 1974 and these were extended in April 1975. All fuel subsidies had to end by 30th June 1976.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food if he will change the method of calculating monetary compensation amounts for the pig industry to bring it into line with that used for poultry meat.

Such a change was put to the EEC Council in September 1976. This proposal lies on the table and I will continue to work for its acceptance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which two-year period between 1947 and 1976, including years for which only forecast figures are available, has shown the greatest fall in the labour productivity of the agricultural industry.

I regret that information on labour productivity in the United Kingdom is not available before 1964–65.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which two-year period between 1947 and 1976, including years for which only forecast figures are available, has shown the greatest fall in the net product at constant prices of agricultural production.

Figures for net product at constant prices are given in table 19 of the White Paper on the Annual Review of Agriculture 1977—Cmnd. 6703.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will take action himself or refer to the Boyle Committee for consideration that Members of Parliament should have the voluntary right of retiring on pension at 60 years of age in the same manner as all other public servants.

The Review Body on Top Salaries has already considered the question of early retirement for a Member of Parliament. Paragraphs 56 and 57 of their Report No. 8 refer. As I said in my statement on 12th July 1976, the Government do not propose to take further action on this report until incomes policy permits comprehensive proposals to be put before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to local fire officers concerning the installation of fire precaution devices in residential homes for old people and children; and if he will make a statement.

Advice issued to chief fire officers last year stated that fire detection systems in such premises must be adequate to ensure that a warning will be received before heat and smoke and fire have had time to spread and affect escape routes. Where the provision of smoke detectors in corridors, circulation spaces and communal rooms does not adequately meet this objective, it is necessary to consider providing, additionally, smoke detectors in individual rooms of certain types of construction or location. Further research on the most effective siting of detectors is being conducted at the Fire Research Station.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the latest and most convenient stated date the total amount of fines outstanding; to what extent this total includes amounts where the period allowed for payment has expired; what proposals he has to recoup these fines; and whether he will make a statement.

The total amount of fines outstanding on 30th September 1976, excluding inner London, was £20,677,681. A separate figure is not available for amounts where the period allowed for payment has expired.The enforcement of fines is a matter for the courts which have several methods, including imprisonment, attachment of earnings and distress upon goods, available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers' quarters are at present empty in the London area.

Eighty-two out of a total of 1,733. Of these, 11 are below the standards agreed with the staff association and their future is under consideration. The remainder are waiting to be occupied by existing staff and new recruits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters from the general public and organisations, or letters forwarded to him or his Department from Members of Parliament, have been received by the Home Office on the subject of experiments on animals for the years 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976, respectively.

The nearest estimate, without incurring excessive cost in counting specially, is some

1972	…	…	…	230
1973	…	…	…	200
1974	…	…	…	90
1975	…	…	…	2,580
1976	…	…	…	520

for the five years respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and with whom he is intending to carry out consultation on assistance to inmates facing adjudication by boards of visitors; and what form the proposed experiment is to take.

Outline proposals for the experiment are now being worked out. As soon as they are ready, it will be necessary to consult representatives of those who will provide the assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) those recommendations of the Jellicoe Committee that he intends to commend to boards of visitors and (b) those which he does not intend to commend; and what are the reasons for the latter.

Of the 37 principal recommendations of the Jellicoe Committee, 11 are in terms which call directly for action by boards of visitors. With suitable qualifications in one or two cases I intend to commend all of these to their attention. They are numbers 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 22 and 29.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he is issuing to boards of visitors and prison governors as a result of his consideration of the Jellicoe Committee's Report and that of the Working Party on Adjudication Procedure in Prison.

This advice is being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department with whom he consulted on the Jellicoe Committee's recommendation that boards of visitors should be independent; and what led him to the view that they should not be independent.

Boards of visitors and governors were formally consulted about the Jellicoe Committee's recommendations and, before reaching my own conclusions, I took into account the opinions of others who had made their views known. There is no disagreement between the Jellicoe Committee and myself on the need for boards of visitors to maintain their independence at all times.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 14–year-old girls have been remanded to prisons or remand centres since 31st

						Capital £	Recurrent non-capital £	Non-recurrent non-capital £
1973—
Sheffield	…	…	…	…	…	76,110	10,643	1,100
Leeds	…	…	…	…	…	71,747	2,753	800
Manchester		…	…	…	…	27,600	8,594	3,622
Liverpool	…	…	…	…	…	165,470	28,415	26,820
Newcastle	…	…	…	…	…	33,125	12,230	1,334
1974*—
Sheffield	…	…	…	…	…	Nil	Nil	2,023
Leeds	…	…	…	…	…	Nil	Nil	1,608
Manchester		…	…	…	…	Nil	Nil	4,096
Liverpool	…	…	…	…	…	Nil	Nil	6,000
Newcastle	…	…	…	…	…	Nil	Nil	2,534
1975—
Sheffield	…	…	…	…	…	91,340	3,550	1,886
Leeds	…	…	…	…	…	140,747	18,015	1,190
Manchester		…	…	…	…	123,637	31,060	6,330
Liverpool	…	…	…	…	…	226,543	66,554	8,000
Newcastle	…	…	…	…	…	30,000	25,399	3,652
1976—
Sheffield	…	…	…	…	…	Nil	2,445	1,875
Leeds	…	…	…	…	…	101,275	Nil	4,748
Manchester		…	…	…	…	42,600	48,590	4,437
Liverpool	…	…	…	…	…	159,200	Nil	10,000
Newcastle	…	…	…	…	…	23,500	23,336	5,714
* Approvals were given in 1974 only in respect of non-recurrent holiday projects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Offical Report the projects approved for Sheffield under the urban programme in 1976–77 and 1977–78.

:The projects approved for Sheffield to start in 1976–77 are as follows:

CIRCULAR 14
Non-capital project	Approved cost £ per annum
Family Service Unit: work with children at risk	2,445

According to our records during the period from 1st to 9th January 1977, no 14–year-old girls have been received on remand in Prison Department establishments, and there were no such girls on remand on 9th January

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what allocations have been made to Sheffield under the urban programme in each of the years 1973 to 1976; and how these compare with the sums made available to Leeds. Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Following is the information:

CIRCULAR 15
Non-recurrent non-capital project	Approved cost
	£
Gypsy education and play project	705

Urban Programme Circular 16 invited applications for projects to start in 1977–78 by 18th February 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reached a decision on what services should be provided for information for homeless young people; and what alternatives he is considering to the suggested information booths at Euston and Victoria Coach Stations.

We have agreed to increase the grants already made by the Voluntary Services Unit to agencies caring for young people in the West End so that existing information services can be improved. Ways of improving the situation other than by the provision of information booths are being discussed with the voluntary agencies concerned, but no decisions have yet been reached. Possible alternatives include the provision of information leaflets at mainline stations, an additional telephone information service, or increased coverage of mainline stations by youth workers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any further information on the case of Mr. Earl Spencer, referred to him by the right hon. Member.

Mr. Earlston Spencer, a citizen of Jamaica, came to this country on 13th April 1975 and applied successfully for a work permit as a social worker from the Department of Employment. He embarked on 22nd April 1976, and returned on 25th November 1976 while his work permit was still current, for the stated purpose of resuming his former employment and applying for a renewal of this work permit which expired on 30th November 1976. He was given leave to enter the United Kingdom for two months, and that leave is still current.His stay thereafter would depend upon his making a successful application under the Immigration Rules for an extension of his leave.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is currently being taken or is proposed for conducting experiments in tape-recording interviews between interrogating police and suspects.

Comments have been invited on the report—published in October—of the committee appointed to consider the feasibility of an experiment in the tape-recording of police interrogations. Before deciding whether to set up an experiment the Government will take into consideration the comments it receives, as well as the financial and manpower implications in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Police Advisory Board's Working Group on the Confidentiality of Personal Records of Police Officers has considered the risks involved in these files being opened in whole or in part to the Police Complaints Board; and, whether, in the event of a chief officer's mitigating the penalties on a police officer adjudged guilty of a disciplinary offence because of confidential information contained in his personal file, the board or any tribunal it decides to establish for the purpose of reviewing, and, if it thinks fit, overruling that chief officer's decision, will have unrestricted access to those records, regardless of security considerations or the police services' operational requirements.