asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with present returns to pig producers; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current situation in the pig sector of the farming industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the state of the United Kingdom pig industry.

I recognise that pig producers' returns have not kept pace with rising costs, particularly of feed, in the last year. I have taken action to help the industry by introducing a temporary subsidy and by securing reductions in the monetary compensatory amounts applied to pigmeat imports. I propose to continue my efforts in the Council of Ministers to negotiate a different basis of calculation of these amounts which will reduce them further, and improve the competitive position of our producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current level of the pig breeding herd.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further plans he has to arrest the decline of the pig sector of the agriculture industry.

According to the latest sample survey conducted in March, the total breeding herd of sows and gilts in pig in England and Wales was 819,000 head, 5 per cent. below the level of December 1976 but 0·4 per cent. above the level of March 1976. I remain of the view that the best way to help the industry is to secure a further reduction in the monetary compensatory amounts paid on our imports of pigmeat, and, as I have said, I intend to continue to press for this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the pig industry.

I have had representations from all sectors of the industry drawing attention to its difficulties and urging further Government action to assist the industry. I have made clear my intention to continue to press for a reduction in the level of monetary compensatory amounts applied to pigmeat imports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will adopt it as his policy, and so inform the EEC Agricultural Ministers, that unless the common agricultural policy is scrapped within 12 months, he will unilaterally seek to institute the system of deficiency payments in the United Kingdom which formerly obtained.

My policy is to seek such amendments and improvements in the common agricultural policy as will ensure that it is better suited to our interests and those of the enlarged Community as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress in the review of the CAP system.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in the fundamental reform of the common agricultural policy since he assumed office as Minister.

During the debate on 11th May I explained in some detail my policy on improving the CAP and what we have achieved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the President of the National Farmers' Union.

My right hon. Friend last met the President of the National Farmers' Union on 6th May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the uptake of A and B quotas for this year's sugar beet crop.

I cannot at present add anything to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 21st April, when I said that the British Sugar Corporation's estimate of production in 1977 is around a million metric tons of white sugar, which is the United Kingdom's basic, or A, quota.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present state of negotiations between the EEC and the Icelandic Government concerning reciprocal fishing rights.

A joint Presidency Commission delegation will visit Reykjavik early in June, when the Community representatives will impress upon the Icelandic Government the importance they attach to a satisfactory fisheries agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to press for a time limit to negotiations for an equitable internal fisheries regime within the exclusive economic zone.

As I have made clear to the House in the past, the Government regard a satisfactory solution of the fisheries problems as very urgent, and Community Ministers have already agreed to try and reach agreement on the main points by 30th June. This will not be easy, but, as I told the House yesterday, Agriculture Ministers have decided to hold a special Fisheries Council on 27th June.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next hopes to make a statement on the negotiations covering a common EEC fisheries policy.

I shall continue to keep the House informed on developments in fisheries negotiations. I hope that from now on progress will be quicker.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the full-time establishment of the State Veterinary Service; and how many vacancies there are at the present time.

On 1st May 1977 the complement of the State Veterinary Service was 1,834. There were 112 posts unfilled.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to meet the chairman of the horticulture committee of the National Farmers' Union.

When my right hon. Friend met the council of the National Farmers' Union recently he arranged to have a further meeting with the chairman and other members of the Union's central horticultural committee as is mutually convenient.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the returns achieved by beef producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the current position of beef producers.

The profitability achieved by individual beef producers depends among other things on the system they use and the prices they have paid for stores and calves. But returns to producers who market their animals this year will be underpinned by intervention and a target price for premiums on average almost 14 per cent. higher than last year. This should be adequate to support efficient beef production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what potential he assigns to krill as a source of food supply for the United Kingdom.

I see little prospect that krill could in the near future represent a significant source of food supply for the United Kingdom. Apart from practical difficulties arising from the distant location of the stocks, there are technical problems relating to processing and utilisation of the product in this country. Moreover, there are unresolved questions, some of which are to be studied by the International Whaling Commission, concerning the ecological effects of any substantial increase in the taking of krill by man. My Department is keeping in close touch with the study of these problems.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many council smallholdings have been sold to tenants in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

I regret that my Department does not collect this information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any further measures to propose to assist farmers' returns.

The guaranteed prices which my right hon. Friend announced on 6th May completed the determination of United "Kingdom farm support prices for the coming year. The package as a whole represents a good outcome for our farmers, who have every reason to look forward with confidence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether exports of subsidised butter from the EEC to the USSR have been resumed; and what was the EEC intervention price and the price paid by the USSR, respectively.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 9th May. The EEC intervention price, which is set in units of account, is roughly £1,960 in Germany and £1,563 in France at the moment, compared with £1,170 in this country. The effect of current export subsidies and associated monetary adjustments is to reduce the export price of butter bought from the intervention agencies to about £567 per tonne. But handling costs and the trader's margin would have to be added to this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had about his policy with regard to the value of the green pound.

I keep in close contact with organisations concerned with agriculture, food and employment, and am ready to discuss matters affecting the green pound whenever this is useful.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report details of the different policies within the EEC towards the green pound.

The European Commission, with wide support from member States within the Community, considers that the representative rates (green currencies) should be kept as nearly as possible in line with the market rates used for the calculation of monetary compensatory amounts. There are, however, differing views within the Community on the speed of adjustment and on the question whether a timetable for adjustment should be set in advance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to come to a decision on the application made by the Yorkshire Water Authority to extend designated rivers within Yorkshire.

The Yorkshire Water Authority is having discussions with a number of organisations which have lodged objections against the proposed extension of main rivers. Some objections have already been withdrawn and it is hoped that the remainder will be resolved by discussion. If it proves impossible for the parties concerned to reach agreement my right hon. Friend will have to consider the outstanding objections in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the Land Drainage Act 1976.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will use his powers under Part I of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 to make a mandatory regulation prohibiting the muzzling of farm livestock other than for veterinary purposes.

Veterinary evidence suggests that this practice does not necessarily cause discomfort or distress to the animals and could in some circumstances have animal health advantages. I consider, therefore, that its prohibition by regulation would not be justified, but shall ensure that it continues to be kept under close review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the working population works on the land in England and Wales, respectively; and for what proportion of the gross national product they are responsible.

Of those in civilian employment in June 1976 the estimated proportion engaged in agriculture was 2½ per cent. in England and 5 per cent. in Wales. Information on the hon. Member's second question is not available in the form requested, but in 1974 agriculture, forestry and fishing were estimated to be contributing 2½ per cent. and 5 per cent. to the gross domestic products of the two countries, respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list in the Official Report the principal legislation from which he has powers regulating the export of live animals from British ports in (a) British vessels and (b) foreign vessels; and at what point in the voyage his responsibility ceases;(2) if he is satisfied with the present arrangement concerning the regulation of the export of live animals from British ports; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he is satisfied with the working of the present arrangements concerning the conditions in which live animals are to be kept during export from British ports on British vessels; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Members for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) and Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) on 17th March and 21st April, respectively—[Vol. 928, c. 300; Vol. 930, c. 122–3.] These regulations are designed to protect the animals throughout the voyage and I am satisfied that they are effective in preventing unnecessary suffering.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of consumer spending power is represented by the increase in farmers' costs for the last 12 months for which figures are available.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to United Kingdom farmers.The "Annual Review of Agriculture 1977"—Cmnd. 6703—assessed aggregate cost increases for United Kingdom farmers since the previous review at £895 million. This represents about 1 per cent. of total consumer expenditure in 1976 of £73 billion, or about 6 per cent. of total expenditure on food by households and caterers of £16 billion. I should point out, however, that there could be problems in linking the cost and expenditure figures. It is not possible to say what proportion of United Kingdom farmers' cost increases were or will be passed through to consumers and, of course, a substantial proportion of our food is imported.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list all the public appointments for which he is responsible, the names of the present holders of these appointments and their salaries and allowances.

The information requested is being assembled and I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate his Department has made of the amount of marginal land in the United Kingdom that satisfies the various criteria to qualify for financial assistance under the terms of the EEC less favoured areas directive, that at present is not included in this scheme.

There is a large area of poor land outside the less favoured areas in the United Kingdom. However, to qualify for assistance under the less favoured areas directive such land must normally form part of a homogeneous farming area with poor economic results and a low or dwindling population, of which a significant proportion are dependent on agriculture. No estimate exists of the amount of land outside the less favoured areas in the United Kingdom which satisfies these criteria, but the matter is being studied further following discussions with representatives of farmers' and landowners' organisations.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will list all the public appointments for which he is responsible, the names of the present holders of those appointments and their salaries and allowances.

The Minister for the Civil Service makes no paid public appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) if he will investigate the alleged refusal of leading furniture manufacturers to supply furniture discount chains;(2) if he will estimate the effect on furniture prices of the policies towards furniture discount chains of leading furniture manufacturers.

The Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for examining allegations of this kind, and if my hon. Friend will send him details he will look into them. Without knowing more about the policies to which my hon. Friend refers I cannot estimate their precise effect on prices, but any restriction on competition is liable to maintain prices at a higher level than they would otherwise be.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether, in view of the decision to give increased scope to the work of the Price Commission, he will make arrangements to ensure that henceforward the Performing Rights Tribunal is advised to have regard to the principles adopted by the Price Commission with regard to charges for services when dealing with disputes which involve increased charges for the public use of copyright music.

I have no reason to believe that the Performing Rights Tribunal does not take account of current policy on prices and charges in considering any dispute referred to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what proportion of the average industrial wage is now spent on food.

The proportion of income the average industrial wage earner spends on food varies according to his circumstances, including any other forms of income he and other members of his household may have. Information on how households spend their income is given in the Family Expenditure Survey. The latest available data, which cover the year up to June 1976, show that households whose expenditure patterns form the basis of the General Index of Retail Prices spent on average, 25 per cent. on food—including 3·3 per cent on meals out—out of an average total weekly expenditure of £60·42. Full details of the Family Expenditure Survey for the year to June 1976 are given in Vol. 85, No. 3—March 1977—of the Department of Employment Gazette.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will list all the public appointments for which he is responsible, the names of the present holders of these appointments and their salaries and allowances.

I am arranging for the information about salaried appointments to be provided as soon as possible. A list including unpaid appointments could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the countries which have nuclear reprocessing facilities; if he will give capacities in each case; and in respect of the USA whether there are any commercial facilities in the private sector.

I am advised that reprocessing facilities in the United Kingdom can deal with 2,250 tonnes/year. As regards countries overseas, the following capacities have been reported:

Country (excluding those with centrally planned economies)	Expected capacity Tonnes/Year 1977
France	1,100
Germany	40
Japan	20
India	60

In addition, France and the United Kingdom will each have about 5 tonnes/year reprocessing capacity for fast reactor fuels. The American plant at Barnwell—Allied Gulf Nuclear Services—with a planned capacity of 300 tonnes is a commercial facility in the private sector, but its future is dependent on United States Government policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of people employed in BNOC in Glasgow; and when he expects the full complement to be reached.

This is a matter for the Corporation. I have asked the chairman to let the hon. Member know the up-to-date position.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list all the public appointments for which he is responsible, the names of the present holders of those appointments and their salaries and allowances.

The information is contained in the White Paper "List of Members of Public Boards of a Commercial Character as at 1st April 1977" (Cmnd. 6803) which was published earlier this month. Since the White Paper was printed there have been a few changes in the membership of electricity boards, about which I will write separately to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the value, in real terms, by which retirement pension has been reduced since it was last raised.

Regional Health Authority	Number of Authorised Pay Beds		Number of Hospitals with Authorised Pay Beds
	Before 20th May 1977	After 20th May 1977	Before 20th May 1977	After 20th May 1977
Northern	169	117	49	44
Yorkshire	302	239	49	46
Trent	247	204	51	43
East Anglia	156	126	26	24
North West Thames	461	353	55	50
North East Thames	410	299	52	48
South East Thames	433	319	68	61
South West Thames	247	178	57	53
Wessex	187	146	44	44
Oxford	215	184	33	25
South Western	202	152	62	55
West Midlands	394	304	79	73
Mersey	164	126	38	34
North Western	336	272	51	51
London Postgraduate Boardsof Governors	227	194	11	11
England—Total	4,150	3,213	725	662
Scotland	234	184	51	46
Wales	60	47	23	23
Great Britain—Total	4,444	3,444	799	731

In 161 instances at the request of the authority concerned authorisation has been given on a group rather than on an individual hospital basis. It is a condition

On the basis of the movement of the General Index of Retail Prices, the retirement pension rates introduced in November 1976 had lost 5·7 per cent. of their real value by March 1977—the latest date for which a figure is available. This represents a decrease in real value of 87p a week in the standard rate payable to a single person and of £1·39 in the married couple's rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to implement Section 3 of and Schedule 2 to the Health Services Act 1976, relating to the phasing out of pay beds; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and I have issud revised authorisations under Section 1(1) of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 giving effect to the 1,000 reductions in pay bed authorisations prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Health Services Act 1976. The effect on the present distribution of pay bed authorisations, summarised regionally, will be as follows:of all such group authorisations that the daily occupancy of authorised pay beds by paying patients shall not exceed at any one time the authorised number of pay beds for the group as a whole; subject to this overriding condition a hospital covered by a group authorisation may admit paying patients at any one time up to the limit authorised for the hospital concerned. In most instances the limit for an individual hospital is identical to the number of pay beds it was authorised to provide when the Health Services Bill received Royal Assent. In eight instances we have approved modifications proposed by health authorities where these reflect more fairly than the former authorisations the present distribution of acute facilities. We are satisfied that these group authorisations will make it easier for the Health Srvices Board to recommend the progressive withdrawal of remaining pay bed authorisations. A list of the revised authorisations as they affect individual hospitals has been placed in the Library.Admissions of paying patients are generally low in relation to the number of authorisations, so that the present reduction in authorisations is not likely to have any immediate widespread effect. Where, however, the reductions lead to an actual decrease in the number of private patients admitted to National Health Service hospitals resources will be released for general National Health Service use. It will be for health authorities, whose allocations have been compensated for the estimated loss of income, to consider the use to which such resources are put according to local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients underwent psycho-surgery last year; and if he will make a statement about his Department's policy on psycho-surgery.

Information on the number of patients who underwent psycho-surgery last year is not available, but I would refer the hon. Member to the information in the reply of my right hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dr. Owen)—then Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security—to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 21st of January 1976—[Vol. 903, c. 512]. Arrangements are currently being made to obtain more detailed information on psychosurgical operations in respect of 1977 and subsequent years.In general, my Department does not have policies on medical treatments; it is normally for doctors to consider what lines of treatment they should offer to their patients, in the light of present knowledge of their advantages and disadvantages, the alternatives available, and the condition of the individual patient. On current evidence I have found no reason to treat psychosurgery as a special case, or to seek to influence doctors who may advise a patient that they think psychosurgical treatment would be in his best interests. Though this is today more rarely used, I have seen recent published studies which suggest that it is still of significant value in treating a limited number of intractable psychiatric conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many drug companies still supply amphetamines for use in the National Health Service; if general practitioners' prescription of these drugs is monitored; if further discussions with the General Medical Services Committee have sought a voluntary restriction on prescribing; and if he will make a statement.

Four drug companies market amphetamines, but whether these drugs are used in the National Health Service depends upon individual doctors' decisions as to what drugs their patients need. All prescribing by general practitioners in the National Health Service is subject to monitoring. I understand that in 1970 the Annual Representative Meeting of the British Medical Association adopted a resolution that doctors should avoid prescribing amphetamines.The production and supply of amphetamines and the issue of prescriptions for them is controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1973 (S.I., 1973, No. 797).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report in respect of each report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration first (a) the date on which it was received by the Prime Minister and (b) the date on which it was published.

Report					Date sent to the Prime Minister	Date Published
1st Report	…	…	…	…	29th October 1971	1st December 1971
2nd Report	…	…	…	…	6th June 1972	23rd June 1972
3rd Report	…	…	…	…	6th June 1973	5th July 1973
Supplement to 3rd Report	…	…	…	…	29th June 1973	18th July 1973
2nd Supplement to 3rd Report	…	…	…	…	7th December 1973	19th December 1973
4th Report	…	…	…	…	17th May 1974	18th June 1974
Supplement to 4th Report	…	…	…	…	19th December 1974	2nd January 1975
5th Report	…	…	…	…	1st April 1975	18th April 1975
Supplement to 5th Report	…	…	…	…	5th September 1975	18th September 1975
2nd Supplement to 5th Report	…	…	…	…	22nd December 1975	15th January 1976
3rd Supplement to 5th Report	…	…	…	…	5th February 1976	11th February 1976
6th Report	…	…	…	…	15th April 1976	11th May 1976

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what decisions has been reached about the future location of the regional specialist units now at the Brook Hospital, Woolwich; and for what reasons.

None. It is for the South-East Thames Regional Health Authority to consider the matter in the light of the intended future pattern of services in the Greenwich and Bexley area, on which it awaits proposals from the area health authority. However, I have told the regional health authority of my preliminary view that it would not be desirable to move further work of this kind into Central London, particularly when this would mean so heavy a concentration of neurological and neurosurgical services at one end of the region.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what developments there have recently been in the availability of vehicles for disabled people.

I congratulate the motor manufacturing industry on its responsible and far-sighted attitude to the problems of disabled people and, in particular, for having successfully developed many modifications to production cars for the benefit of disabled drivers. The modifications to the Ford Escort now make it suitable for many severely disabled people. This car offers an additional valuable new facility for private purchasers who are disabled, including many recipients of the private car allowance. I have decided that a modified Ford car

The information requested is given below:should also be included in the range of motor cars on issue by my Department, so that in future disabled people who are eligible for motor cars may be offered a basic Ford Popular, with modifications to the controls if necessary, when the Department's doctors find a Mini medically unsuitable. I must emphasise that it is not possible to stretch resources to permit the issue of a more expensive car in the Escort range than the basic Popular saloon. The private car allowance will, of course, continue to be available to those who find this the most acceptable option open to them. Mobility allowance, to be increased to £7 a week in the autumn, will also remain as an alternative for disabled people who qualify for it under existing or impending legislation. I am writing to the principal voluntary associations giving them details of this extension to the range of motor vehicles on issue by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now in a position to make a statement about the civilian use of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich.

Last autumn I asked the Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority to construct a plan for future services in its area on the basis that 140–150 beds in the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital should be used for National Health Service patients. I have now withdrawn this request following representations from the area health authority about the effect this would have on local plans for rationalisation of services. I am consulting my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence about the extent to which facilities at the military hospital might realistically be used by National Health Service patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the Annual Report of the Health Services Commissioner for 1976–77.

The Health Service Commissioner has, as in earlier years, made a single annual report on the performance of his functions in England, Scotland and Wales. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I presented the report to the House on Tuesday 17th May. It has

Body	Post		Number in Post	Remuneration
Adjudicator (Non-Participating Employments).	Adjudicator	…	1	£40 fee per day
Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards.	Chairman	…	1	£6,700 p.a.
	Vice Chairman	…	1	£1,200 p.a.
Area Health Authorities	Chairmen	…	90	Honorarium £2,000 p.a.
Attendance Allowance Board	Chairman	…	1	£50 fee per day
	Medical members	…	5	£34·80 fee per day
	Lay members	…	2	£20 fee per day
British Pharmacopoeia	Chairman	…	1	£32 fee per day
	Members	…	16	£27 fee per day
Chief Scientist's Research Committee	Members	…	16	£15·75 fee per day
Committee on Dental and Surgical Materials.	Chairman	…	1	£32 fee per meeting
	Members	…	15	£27 fee per meeting
Committee on Safety of Medicines	Chairman	…	1	£32 fee per meeting
	Members	…	19	£27 fee per meeting
Committee on the Review of Medicines	Chairman	…	1	£32 fee per meeting
	Members	…	20	£27 fee per meeting
Dental Estimates Board	Chairman	…	1	£11,000 p.a.
	Vice Chairman	…	1	£24 fee per day
	Members	…	7	£24 fee per day
Dental Rates Study Group	Chairman	…	1	£25 fee per day
General Practice Finance Corporation	Chairman	…	1	£28 fee per day
	Deputy Chairman	…	1	£26 fee per day
	Members	…	5	£23 fee per day
Health Services Board	Chairman	…	1	£50 fee per meeting
	Members	…	5	£35 fee per meeting
Industrial Injuries Advisory Council	Chairman	…	1	£26 fee per day
	Members	…	16	£22 fee per day
Medical Appeal Tribunals	Members	…	318	£34·80 fee per day
Medical Boards	Members	…	1,400	£11·37 fee per session
		…		£14·36 when acting as chairman.
Medical Practices Committee	Chairman	…	1	£8,580 p.a.
	Members	…	8	£30–£32·50fee per day
Medicines Commission	Chairman	…	1	£32 fee per meeting
	Members	…	18	£27 fee per meeting
National Development Group for the Mentally Handicapped.	Chairman	…	1	£25 fee per day
	Members		2	£21 fee per day
			3	Secondment arrangements (Department re-imburses employing authority)
		…
National Insurance Advisory Committee	Chairman	…	1	£26 fee per day
	Members	…	7	£22 fee per day
Occupational Pensions Board	Chairman	…	1	£5,289·84 p.a.
	Deputy Chairman	…	1	£4,039·84 p.a.
	Members	…	12	£21 fee per day

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list all the public appointments for which he is responsible, the names of the present holders of these appointments and their salaries and allowances.

My right hon. Friend makes paid appointments to the bodies listed in the table below.Some of the other details required—which apply also to some 8,700 unpaid appointments for which my right hon. Friend is responsible—are not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost to public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now estimate the savings to the National Health Service as a whole, and not only to the City and Hackney District, resulting from the closing of one ward at St. Mark's Hospital.

No. The purpose of the closure was to reduce the rate of spending in one district of the Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cheques for social security benefit have been reported lost by the rightful beneficiaries during each of the past two years; and how many have subsequently been encashed by persons not entitled to the benefit.

The information is as follows:

	1975	1976*
Girocheques reported lost, stolen or not received	150,000	184,000
Replacements issued	80,000	98,000
Fraudulent encashments†	60,000	77,000
The number of fraudulently encashed girocheques in both years represents 0·07 per cent. of issues in respect of all benefits.
*Provisional figures.
†Includes encashments by the original payee after the issue of a replacement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make arrangements that in future all election results shall be announced in order of precedence rather than alphabetically.

This is primarily a matter for the returning officer to decide. I doubt whether legislation would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the delay in announcing the results of the public local inquiry held in January in respect of the new bye-laws proposed by the London borough of Bromley with regard to the flying of power-driven model aircraft in Norman Park, and other matters; and when he now expects the result of this inquiry to be known.

The barrister who conducted the inquiry has not yet completed his report, but hopes to let us have it fairly soon. My right hon. Friend will then consider it, and announce his decision as soon as he can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants have been made available to the Howard League for Penal Reform from public funds.

No grants have been made available to the Howard League for Penal Reform from public funds under the control of the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the codes of practice for employers and advertisers to be published by the Equal Opportunities Commission; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Commission hopes to publish guidance on employment advertising practice in the near future and that an employment code of practice will follow in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to make the commissioners appointed to the Equal Opportunities Commission full-time.

No, but both the Chairman and Deputy Chairman are full-time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the criteria used to appoint commissioners to the Equal Opportunities Commission.

My right hon. Friend has had in mind the relevance to the responsibilities of the Commission under the Sex Discrimination Act of the knowledge and experience of those appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will fill the remaining vacancy on the Equal Opportunities Commission with someone committed to women's liberation; and when the vacancy will be filled.

In filling the vacancy my right hon. Friend will have in mind the relevance of the contribution which the person concerned can make to the work of the Commission in discharging its responsibilities under the Sex Discrimination Act. He hopes to make the appointment shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what statutory authority he has decided that when the Police Complaints Board overrules a chief officer's decision not to bring disciplinary charges against an accused police officer, and at the ensuing disciplinary tribunal a finding of guilty is made by a majority of two to one, and that minority consists of the chief officer or his deputy sitting as chairman on that tribunal, this fact shall be withheld from the accused and the public.

Section 6(1)(e) of the Police Act 1976 empowers me to make regulations as to the procedure to be followed by disciplinary tribunals under Section 4. Regulation 16(8) of the Police (Discipline) Regulations 1977, which are made under Section 6 of the Police Act 1976 and Section 33 of the Police Act 1964, prescribes that, where a disciplinary tribunal set up under Section 4 of the Police Act 1976 reaches its decision by a majority, this fact shall not be made known in announcing the decision. I made these regulations after consultation with the Police Advisory Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been for attempts to commit murder and of conspiracy to murder in each of the years since 1965.

The available information is as follows:Number of persons found guilty of:

	Attempted Murder	Threat or conspiracy to murder*
1965	29	29
1966	50	24
1967	38	31
1968	46	35
1969	46	58
1970	46	30
1971	52	26
1972	29	61
1973	46	53
1974	52	36
1975	46	42
* Includes the offence of assisting offender by impeding apprehension or prosecution in a case.