asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the claim in the advertisement, sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, South, that Imperial's range of cigarettes with tobacco substitute produces tar which is less biologically active, conforms with the findings of the Hunter Committee; and if he will make a statement.

The document which my hon. Friend sent to me appears to be a newspaper article and not an advertisement. It cannot, therefore, be taken as a claim by an advertiser.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek the advice of the Hunter Committee and subsequently publish information about the yield of carbon monoxide and other toxic ingredients produced by cigarettes containing tobacco substitute material.

The tar and nicotine yields of cigarette brands containing tobacco substitutes will be published in the Government's tables in due course. The possibility of publishing routinely, also, the yields of carbon monoxide from cigarette brands is being considered by the Hunter Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider seeking to amend the Child Benefit Act in such a way as to put child benefit on the same basis as child additions to national insurance and supplementary benefit, for the purpose of annual rerating.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8th November 1976.—[Vol. 919, c. 53.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table comparing the total values in November 1977, for a family with three children aged 16, 14 and 12 years, of (a) child benefit, (b) short-term national insurance child additions and (c) children's supplementary benefit rates for the ages stated.

The amounts included in the calculation of entitlement to benefit at the end of November for children of the ages specified will be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the total gross cost of paying child benefit at £15 for all children aged 14 years and over and in full-time education, up to 19 years of age, £10 for all children aged 5–13 years and £5 for children aged under 5 years.

It is estimated that the cost in Great Britain would be about £7 billion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff are currently employed on Supplementary Benefits Commission reception and re-establishment centres work in (a) the centres themselves, and (b) in administration outside the centres.

The information is as follows: (a) 614; (b) 18 at headquarters employed wholly or mainly on policy administration. Other staff in headquarters and regional Offices are marginally involved to an extent not separately calculable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the reception and re-establishment centres of the Supplementary Benefits Commission by region; how many places are provided in each; and what is the average length of stay in a Supplementary Benefits Commission reception or re-establishment centre.

Information about location of centres and numbers of places is given in the table below.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many: (a) reception and (b) re-establishment centres

The number of centres of each kind at present and at the end

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost in each of the last four years of (a) orthodontic appliances, (b) dental care, and (c) spectacles issued free to supplementary benefit and family income supplement passport recipients.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. The total cost in England of dental treatment for patients automatically entitled to free treatment on grounds of low income—i.e., all "passport recipients"— was £5 million in 1975 and £7·3 million in 1976.There is no comparable information about free ophthalmic treatment; however, the total cost of charges forgone in the last four years in respect of all spectacles supplied under the general ophthalmic services free or at reduced cost to adult patients on grounds of low income was, for England:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to remedy the shortage of radiologists

I understand from the Cambridgeshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) that the present situation is due to the recent and unforeseen resignation of a locum consultant radiologist, at a time when other consultant radiological staff are on annual leave. The vacant post is currently being readvertised with a view to the restoration of normal service at Peterborough as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many hospital beds will be withdrawn in the North-West Thames area as a result of the reduction in proposed expenditure in the health services contained in the 1976 and 1977 Public Expenditure White Papers;(2) what is the number of hospital beds which will be withdrawn in the North-East Thames area, as a result of the reduction in proposed expenditure on health services contained in the 1976 and 1977 Public Expenditure White Papers.

The Public Expenditure White Papers to which my hon. Friend refers allow increases not reductions in actual current expenditure compared with preceding years. The North-West and North-East Thames Regions have received modest increases in their revenue allocations in the current financial year. Any closures or changes of use of beds which they may propose flow either from the replacement of existing beds by new provision or from the need to redeploy resources within the regions concerned both to improve the scale of provision for neglected services—e.g., the elderly, mentally ill, mentally handicapped—and progressively to reduce inequalities in the services provided in different localities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to increase the use of private prescriptions as a means of reducing the NHS drugs bill.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the workings of the Family Practitioner Committee in Stockport.

No criticisms of the workings of the committee have come to my notice. I am sorry to learn that, through a misunderstanding, the committee did not acknowledge the hon. Member's recent complaint on behalf of a constituent which had been referred to it by the regional health authority; but I understand that the committee meanwhile took action on the complaint and has now sent him a progress report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the disparity in the funding for the Lincolnshire Area Health Authority of the Trent Region's strategic plan for 1977–86; and if he will make a statement.

Some 90,000 supplementary benefit recipients were transferred to housing benefits during the special exercise which ran from October 1974 to September 1976. Since then some recipients may have decided to transfer, and others claiming supplementary benefit will have been advised that they might be better off with rebates. No statistics have been collected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what resources he has allocated for the construction of new health centres in Leicestershire in 1977–78; what was the allocation for 1976–77; and what are the specific projects involved.

Trent Regional Health Authority was required to spend from its regional capital allocations a minimum of £2 million and £2·2 million on health centre developments in 1976–77 and 1977– 78 respectively. Details of schemes started or expected to start in Leicestershire, their estimated total cost, and expenditure actual or expected on these and earlier schemes in the years in question, are as follows:

The Government are committed to achieving a fairer distribution of resources between health regions and areas in England and will seek to redistribute funds in favour of deprived regions such as Trent Region as quickly as is consistent with the preservation of important services in other regions. The allocation of resources to Lincolnshire Area Health Authority is a matter for Trent Regional Health Authority, which accepts that Lincolnshire Area Health Authority is under-funded and which is also committed to achieving a fairer distribution of resources between its eight areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increases in family income supplement would be required to enable a married man earning, respectively, £40, £50, £55, £60, £65 and £70 per week, with, respectively, one, two, three and four dependent children to have a take-home pay including family benefit, respectively, 10 per cent., 20 per cent. and 30 per cent. higher than his income if he were unemployed; and what would be the cost to the Exchequer in a full year.

In view of the disproportionate time and expense involved, I regret that I am unable to provide the information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for district nursing sisters and for establishing a statutory qualification to bring them into line with their health visiting and midwifery colleagues in the primary care team.

The Panel of Assessors for District Nurse Training has recently circulated for comment a report proposing major improvements in the training of district nursing sisters. The Government will look at these carefully in the light of any further comments the panel may wish to make. There are no plans at present to introduce a statutory qualification for district nurses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for reflecting the effect on health service needs of areas of inner city decay.

Environmental influences on health are reflected in the standardised mortality ratios recommended by the Resource Allocation Working Party as the best available indicator of this aspect of relative health care need. I accept that deprivation in its wider social sense may have an impact for which an additional allowance needs to be made subjectively, but I agree with the working party's view that it is not quantifiable at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will instruct regional health authorities not to reallocate funds between areas until there has been an appropriate assessment of the implications of such proposals on patient services and teaching needs.

My Department's advice to health authorities in England on allocations within regions for 1977–78 recognised that, while some limited movement would generally be possible, short-term resource allocation should not seek to pre-empt longer-term planning decisions.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will set up a further committee of inquiry into the refreshment facilities within the Palace of Westminster to put forward comprehensive proposals for the longer term physical rearrangement of accommodation for improved catering services.

I consider the first priority must be to put the finances of the Refreshment Department on a more satisfactory long-term basis, and to introduce a system of budgetary control, as recommended by the Committee of Inquiry chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo). I hope that we shall soon be in a position to achieve this.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many chairs and how many armchairs, respectively, will be available in each of the new interview rooms off Westminster Hall.

Room number 1 will have 12 chairs, rooms number 2, 3, 4 and 7, 10 chairs each and room number 6, six chairs. All the chairs will be of the same type, namely the DOE linking/ stacking chair with arms identical to those used in the Conference Room in Norman Shaw (North).

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to appoint a Select Committee on Welsh Affairs.

If there were a sufficient degree of support for this proposal, arrangements could be made for it to be considered through the usual channels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade in what circumstances a liquidator of a company may call a general meeting of creditors without individually notifying each of those creditors, or taking reasonable steps to ensure that such creditors know of the meeting; and if he is satisfied with the existing provisions of legislation on this matter.

Subject to any direction by the court in a compulsory winding-up, and in a creditor's voluntary winding-up, a liquidator is required to summon general meetings of creditors by notice in the London Gazette and a local paper and to send notice by post to every person appearing by the company's books to be a creditor. Notice of a final meeting of creditors in a voluntary winding-up is required to be given only in the London Gazette.The relevant provisions of present legislation appear to operate satisfactorily but perhaps the hon. Member will let me know of any particular difficulty he has in mind.The Insolvency Law Review Committee, set up by the Secretary of State, is carrying out a wide-ranging review of all aspects of insolvency law.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he intends to publish the Government's views on the Civil Aviation Authority report.

I understand that the hon. Member is referring to the proposed Government statement on airports policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by what means the waiver of noise controls for Concorde was effected.

Under the Notice to Airmen—United Kingdom No. 45/1976 Concorde was exempted from the noise limits applying to jet aircraft at Heathrow which are prescribed by the Secretary of State under the powers conferred on him by Section 29(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made in respect of proposals from the Association of Distillers of Australian Whisky to the Temporary Assistance Authority, Canberra, that imports of Scotch whisky should be restricted to 70 or 80 per cent. of 1975–76 imports, with imports over this quota paying a $6 per litre surcharge.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the best present estimate of the cost of the Companies Acts inquiry into the affairs of Kina Holdings Ltd. of Hadleigh, Suffolk, and subsidiary and associated companies; and how this compares with the subscribed capital of that company or companies.

£116,799 has been paid to date to the two inspectors. It is not possible to say what further costs will be incurred in completing the inquiry. The issued and paid-up capital of the company is £192,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he anticipates that the Company Acts inquiry into Kina Holdings Ltd. of Hadleigh, Suffolk, and subsidiary and associated companies will be published; and if he will ensure that this encompasses bankers, brokers, accountants, auditors and solicitors.

The inspectors are reaching the concluding stages of their inquiry and I hope to receive their report before the end of this year. After the report is received, consideration will be given to publication. The inspectors will deal with such matters as are appropriate and relevant in their report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many companies are two years late in filing their company returns; and against how many of them legal proceedings have been instituted.

Complete information in the precise form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Nevertheless, in mid-March of this year over 71,000 returns relating to 1975–14 per cent. of the total—had not been lodged; for 1976 the corresponding figures were about 156,000 and 31 per cent., respectively. All cases in which companies are in default on the filing of annual returns are considered for possible prosecution; some 2,500 prosecutions were initiated in 1975 and 4,500 in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received from member States or other organisations in the EEC suggesting that any of the regional development schemes operating in the United Kingdom are sources of unfair competition.

State aids which may distort competition are the subject of provisions in the Treaty of Rome. I have had no representations to the effect that our regional aids are unfair. All our systems of regional aid have been notified to the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will raise, from 20 to 30, the number of employees in a firm below which exemption is granted from completing form PA 922 under the provisions of Section 2 of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947.

It is necessary to continue to collect information in the annual census of production from firms employing 20 or more persons to meet obligatory statistical requirements of the European Economic Communities.I have myself visited the Statistical Office of the European Communities to discuss the extent of these statistical requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he proposes to reduce the limit of £20 million set on the machine tool industry scheme in August 1975 in view of the fact that only £6 million of assistance has so far been taken up in spite of attempts to attract applicants and improve the terms of the scheme.

No. Assistance of £8 million has now been approved under the Machine Tool Industry Scheme and applications are under consideration which involve potential assistance of a further £15 million. New applications are still being received; the closing date for application is 31st December 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the industrial relations policy of the British Steel Corporation, in the light of evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Coventry, South-West.

My right hon. Friend can find no record of having received the evidence to which my hon. Friend refers. When he receives the evidence he will of course consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has received any representations from the British Steel Corporation objecting to TUC influence on the Government.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why the British Steel Corporation is closing a factory at Greenwich which was opened only three years ago; and if he will make a statement.

The British Steel Corporation tells me that the closure is entirely due to a very large reduction in demand for reinforcing steel in the area which the plant at East Greenwich was specifically designed to service.

asked the Secretary of State for industry how many plants are being closed by the British Steel Corporation; and which they are.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has any plans for replacing the jobs being lost by the intended closure of the British Steel Corporation plant at Greenwich.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many British Steel Corporation plants are at present occupied by their workers; and which they are.

One, namely, the Greenwich Centre of Reinforcement Steel Services, a division of the British Steel Service Centres Group.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he is going to set up an inquiry into the engineering profession; and if he will make a statement.

I have decided to appoint a committee of inquiry with the following terms of reference:

"To review for manufacturing industry, and in the light of national economic needs—

i. the requirements of British industry for professional and technician engineers, the extent to which these needs are being met, and the use made of engineers by industry;

ii. the rôle of the engineering institutions in relation to the education and qualification of engineers at professional and technician level;

iii. the advantages and disadvantages of statutory registration and licensing of engineers in the United Kingdom;

iv. the arrangements in other major industrial countries, particularly in the EEC, for handling these problems, having regard to relevant comparative studies,

and to make recommendations."

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when the report of the Price Commission on Call-out Charges will be published.

This report is being published today. I am placing copies in the Library of each House.I am proposing to discuss the Commission's findings with the interests concerned. I shall make a statement when these discussions are completed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his engagements for Tuesday 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 5th July 1977.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 5th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 5th July 1977.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 5th July.

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind).

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th June concerning the mixed economy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the Chancellor of the Exchequer's speech to the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th June 1977 concerning economic policy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th June 1977, which concerned the mixed economy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer to the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th June 1977 concerning the mixed economy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th June 1977 concerning the mixed economy represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) on 3rd February.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 3rd February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement following the great debate on education.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have now concluded the consultations and discussions which they set in hand last October after my speech at Ruskin College. Following these discussions, in which I have taken a close interest, a Green Paper will be published shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with progress towards the establishment of a Scottish Assembly, in the light of the present consultations on the subject.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wigglesworth) on 17th February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay a visit to Brent, East.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he last paid an official visit to the City of London.

On 7th June.

asked the Prime Minister why he will not issue an instruction to Government Ministers requesting them not to take part in picketing during industrial disputes.

Because it is not necessary to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit Ladywood.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister, if he will consider visiting the London Borough of Ealing.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Ponterwyd, Ceredigion, during the summer.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of the 1977 United Kingdom potato crop he estimates will be marketed in the period January to April 1978 when there is no control of imports from the EEC; and what steps he is considering for the eventuality that potato prices could fall below the review price leaving the Government with up to 1 million tonnes on farms to be supported.

Normally one-third of the total marking takes place between January and April. No firm estimate can yet be made for the 1977 main crop which is still growing, but, as my right hon. Friend said on 6th May in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson), the Government will ensure that the price guarantee will be fulfilled for the 1977 crop as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the margin of over-production in tonnes built into the planned acreage of potato planting for the coming season; and what are his estimates of the output attributable to the speculative growers.

The target area determined last summer for the 1977–78 crop was based on estimates of requirements for human consumption, seed for planting, etc., and included the customary contingency allowance of 300,000 tonnes to guard against the risk of shortfall. I do not understand the reference to speculative growers; all producers who plant 0·4 hectare or more have to register with the Potato Marketing Board, which issues area quotas. Growers who choose to exceed their quota have to pay an excess area levy to the Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his present estimates of the yield per acre and total output of major cereal crops and sugar beet in East Anglia for this season compared with the 1976 outturn; and whether there are any incipient indications of any major diseases.

Prospects for cereals and sugar beet in East Anglia are reasonably good, and the harvest should be much better than 1976. The actual outturn will depend on weather conditions between now and the end of harvest and it would be premature at this stage to make estimates of yields. Both crops are comparatively free of disease.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation with provisions similar to those in the Development of Rural Wales Act 1976 applying to the rest of the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend has no present intentions of doing so, but this is a matter which may need consideration in the context of the response to the Consultative Document "Devolution: The English Dimension".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what regions of England have in operation a regional economic plan for developing employment in that region; and in what year it was first published.

Employment issues are covered by regional planning strategies which deal with the economic, social and environmental problems of regions. The dates on which strategies were approved for the economic planning regions in England are as follows:

• Yorkshire and Humberside Region—July 1971
• South Eastern Region—October 1971
• West Midlands Region—January 1974
• North West Region—December 1975
• East Anglia Region—February 1976

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current estimated cost for the proposed acquisition of the 7·25 hectares site at Teesside for the Property Services Agency compared with the original cost of approximately £1,341,000.

Site acquisition is not expected before 1979. A purchase price will then be negotiated with the local authority based upon its valuation at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the insistence by local authorities of a more, rather than a less, mechanised form of sewage treatment for individual houses in rural areas.

I am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind, but district councils are, of course, responsible under public health legislation for ensuring that houses are adequately drained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the fact that the Minister for Housing and Construction has been unable to state on 30th November 1976, 3rd February, 19th April and 15th June 1977 whether he will set up a full type-approval system in his Department, as recommended by the Agrément Board, he will now (a) outline the reasons for the delay in reaching a decision on this matter and (b) give any assurance that a full statement will be made before the Summer Recess.

A fully comprehensive system would make heavy demands on scarce resources of finance and skilled manpower. Any more economical system that could be built-up progressively would have to be carefully designed and would in any event require amending legisla tion. We are considering these and other problems. I will make a statement as soon as possible, I hope before the recess

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his practice to specify the width of a footpath in diversion orders.

The width of a footpath is specified in a diversion order by the local authority if it appears necessary. The Secretary of State considers that

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for approval have been made under Section 120 of the Housing Act 1974 in (a) 1975 and (b) 1976 by self-build groups; how many dwellings were involved; how many have actually been built; and what was the total level of financial resources involved in each year.

There were no applications in 1975 and 54 in 1976, of which 47 were approved. Some applicants failed to provide details of the number of dwellings to be built or converted, as requested in DOE Circular 118/75, but the average number of dwellings per scheme was about 13.Figures of local authority loans to self-build societies are not available, but the Housing Corporation made loans of £171,000 to self-build societies in 1975, and £731,000 in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the membership of when not specified, the width of the new path should not be less than the width of the path which it replaces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set out in tabular form the results of his Department's sample inquiry of builders' expectations of private Housing starts since March 1975; and what was the actual outturn of private starts for the years in question.

The information is as follows:the North-West Economic Planning Council.

I have recently completed a review of the membership of the North West Economic Planning Council. Below is a list of the current members of the council. I am glad to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the valuable work done by those who give up their time to serve on these councils.NORTH WEST ECONOMIC PLANNING COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the safety barriers on the Dover eastern bypass, in the light of the accident involving a TIR lorry which occurred on Sunday 26th June.

I have been asked to reply.Yes, but additional safety measures will be provided on the downhill approach to the viaduct.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will take the necessary steps to make compulsory the present voluntary recommendations of "Hazchem", as laid down by the London Fire Brigade, on the marking of all vehicles carrying dangerous substances; and if he will make a statement.

The Health and Safety Commission has published a consultative document containing draft proposals for regulations dealing with the mandatory display of hazard information on road tankers carrying certain dangerous substances. The Commission will consider the comments on this document before submitting to my right hon. Friend its formal proposals for regulations under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of his reply to the hon. Member for Harro-gate on 10th May, he will make an announcement forthwith on his choice of route for the proposed Kirkhamgate-Dishforth motorway.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations or conventions there are for use of fluted bottles for toxic materials; and what changes are envisaged in such regulations or practices.

Rule 26(1)(6) of the Poisons Rules 1972 at present makes it an offence to sell or supply certain liquid poisons in a bottle of a capacity of not more than 40 fluid ounces (1·14 litres) unless the outer surface of that bottle is fluted.The Poisons Board is currently considering the need to retain this requirement in revised Poisons Rules which will shortly be needed for the purpose of bringing into operation the Poisons Act 1972. In that consideration the Board is taking account of the provisions of the EEC directive on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances which apply to certain substances in the Poisons List and under which a fluting requirement may no longer be permitted.I understand that the Department of Health and Social Security, which will shortly assume responsibility for the sales control of medicinal poisons when Part III of the Medicines Act 1968 is implemented, is considering the nature of the requirement to be made under that Act in respect of certain medicinal poisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will request the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to take action to ensure that when a person or persons have been charged and are awaiting trial and while the case is sub judice the police should not discuss the case, or matters related thereto, with the Press, private persons, public persons, or others who have no connection with the case, until the case has been tried and resolved.

No. The police are aware of the need to avoid prejudicial comment on outstanding cases. Any allegation that they have acted improperly in a particular case can be pursued in court when the case is heard, or through the procedures for recording and investigating complaints against the police under Section 49 of the Police Act 1964, into which a further independent element has now been introduced by the Police Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a uniform for the use of governors of Her Majesty's borstals on ceremonial and special occasions.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long the present £60 a year taxable clothing allowance for officers in Her Majesty's borstals for wearing their own clothing whilst on duty throughout the year has been at this level; and what account has been taken of the recent substantial increase in the costs of all forms of wearing apparel.

The rate of allowance was increased from £60 to £77 a year from 1st January 1975, to £89 from 1st January 1976 and to £102 from 1st January 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that existing statutory provision would prevent the sponsoring of experiments on pigs such as those carried out in Denmark and sponsored by Amnesty International.

Under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 an experiment to be performed under anaesthetics from which the animal is then to be allowed to recover requires a special certificate. Moreover, it is a requirement of the Act that every experiment authorised under it must be performed with a view to the advancement by new discovery of physiological knowledge or of knowledge which will be useful for saving or prolonging life or alleviating suffering. Whether experiments of the type, and for the purpose described, in recent newspaper reports could satisfy that requirement and whether we would be justified in allowing such a certificate would depend on the particular proposals. If such a proposal were to be made in this country we would not reach a decision without first referring the matter to the Advisory Committee on the administration of this Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners currently held in British prisons are awaiting trial; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table comparing June figures with those of 1976 and 1975.

On 15th June 1977 there were 3,552 persons in custody in prisons and remand centres in England and Wales awaiting trial. The corresponding numbers in 1976 and 1975 were 3,296 and 3,581 respectively. Responsibility for offenders in Scotland rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with the regular availability of legal advice to prisoners; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he is satisfied with the availability of legal advice on matters relating to a person's treatment in prison; and if he will make a statement.

The Prison Rules 1964, as amended, make provision for a prisoner to be able to communicate with, and obtain legal advice from, a legal adviser. Where the advice is sought with a view to taking civil legal proceedings concerning his treatment in prison the complaint must first be ventilated through the normal internal channels. I am satisfied with the present arrangements for enabling prisoners to obtain legal advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the regular availability of advice on personal and financial matters to prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Prison staff generally, and such specialist staff as medical officers, education officer, chaplains and seconded probation officers, are regularly available to provide advice and help of various kinds. They in turn have access to outside agencies in such fields as employment, accommodation, further education, health and the social services, including voluntary bodies catering for the welfare of prisoners and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give instructions to the police on duty at Messrs Grunwick Ltd. that they must not enter the works premises for their tea break.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that appropriate catering arrangements have been made from Metropolitan Police resources for the police officers on duty at Grunwick's.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the most recent figures for (a) the police and (b) pickets or demonstrators injured in the disturbances outside the Grunwick factories; and how many arrests have been made.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that between 13th June and 1st July inclusive 120 police officers were injured and that he is aware of injuries to 22 pickets/ demonstrators. In the same period 312 people have been arrested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the consultative document for new codes of control for hackney carriages and private hire cars.

My right hon. Friend hopes to issue a document in due course. Its contents will be affected by the provisions of Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, which many district councils are in process of adopting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies he has distributed or intends to distribute of the Government leaflet explaining the new procedures for complaints against the police; what is the total cost to date; and, if, in view of the high level of calls on police manpower and pressures on police budgets, he considers it necessary to add this new requirement at this time.

68,000 copies of the leaflet "Police and Public" have been issued to police forces and 1,400 to the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux. Further copies from the total initial print of 150,000 are being supplied on request. The cost of design, printing and initial distribution was £1,400.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the cost of preparing and the numbers he expects to distribute of his new leaflet on complaints against the police in the following languages: Urdu, Punjabi, Gujerati, Bengali, Hindi and Welsh.

As these translations have not yet been produced, it is not possible to state the cost. I am consulting chief officers about how many copies of leaflets in these languages will be required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in the case of Mr. Tarlock Singh Mittu, the three detectives who were tried and found not guilty of blackmail were later compelled to resign; and on what grounds they were compelled to do so.

The three police officers resigned voluntarily on 8th February 1971, and in these circumstances disciplinary charges which had been preferred against them were not proceeded with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish Superintendent John Mellor's report into the Tarlock Singh Mittu case, or place a copy in the Library.

It was not Superintendent Mellor who reported on the thorough investigation carried out into Mr. Mittu's allegations. In accordance with an accepted principle of long standing the Commissioner does not propose to publish the report completed by the senior officer of the Metropolitan Police who carried out the investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the happenings since the investigation and report by Superintendent John Mellor into the Tarlock Singh Mittu case, including the payment of £5,500 to Mr. Tarlock Singh Mittu, he will now cause a further investigation to be made into all aspects of this case.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department from what fund the £5,500 paid by Scotland Yard to Mr. Tarlock Singh Mittu was drawn.