asked the Lord President of the Council if he will give figures to show the increase in the number of parliamentary Questions asked over the last 25 years; and the estimated average cost per Question incurred in providing answers.

In the parliamentary Sessions 1950–51 and 1975–76 15,720 and 42,320 Questions respectively were answered in the Official Report.As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department told my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) on Thursday 7th July, the estimated average cost of answering oral and written parliamentary Questions is £30 and £18 respectively. [Vol. 934, c.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether there is any proposal to move hon. Members' secretaries out from No. 3 Dean's Yard; and, if so, for what purpose.

The Services Committee resolved on 17th May:

"That as additional accommodation for Members' secretaries becomes available in the Norman Shaw Buildings, first priority be given to transferring Members' secretaries from 3 Dean's Yard and that the rooms so vacated be allocated to the Department of the Clerk of the House and the Administration Department."

In accordance with this Resolution Members whose secretaries work in 3 Dean's Yard have been asked by the Serjeant at Arms Department whether their secretaries would wish to transfer to new secretarial accommodation that has been provided in Norman Shaw (North). No secretaries are being required to move without their agreement and that of their Member.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all the visits abroad made in the last eight years by members of the Social Services and Employment Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee; which hon. Members went on each visit; and what was the total cost in each case.

The list is as follows:

1972:	Hon. Members for Islington Central (Mr. Grant); Manchester, Exchange (Mr. W. Griffiths); Totnes (Mr. Mawby); Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher); Portsmouth, South (Mr. Pink); Reading. South (Dr. Vaughan).
	Sweden	£1,063
1975:	Hon. Members for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley); Wolverhampton, N.E. (Mrs. Short); Chislehurst (Mr. Sims); Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton).
	Netherlands	£1,815
	Sweden
	Germany
	Denmark
1977:	Hon. Members for Northampton, North (Ms. Colquhoun); Burton (Mr. Lawrence); Wolverhampton, N.E. (Mrs. Short); Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton).
	United States of America	£6,400*
	Canada
*Estimated Cost

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will take action to encourage the dispersal of foreign tourists to the English, Scottish and Welsh Regions by means of a concerted policy including publicity, assistance in the provision of travel and accommodation and leisure facilities.

This has been Government policy since 1974. We provide selective assistance, through the English, Scottish and Welsh Tourist Boards, to all types of tourism projects in the development areas. I described what is being done to publicise the regions to foreign tourists in my answer of 17th May to the right hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir J. Eden).—[Vol. 932, c. 96–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many of the Forms R 1 630, inquiry into retail trading for 1976, have been sent out to retail distributors trading in a non-corporate capacity; and how many of such forms have been returned completed.

About 10,000 forms R1 630 have been sent to retail distributors within the scope of the retailing inquiry and about 4,500 had been returned completed by 24th June. Information relating to the number of forms going to retail distributors trading in a non-corporate capacity could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list all the Acts which require companies to disclose information, together with the requirements of each Act.

I do not have responsibility for all the Acts which require companies to disclose information. Under the Companies Acts 1948 to 1976 and the European Communities Act 1972 a company is required to file with the Registrar of Companies information about its activities. The information to be provided includes the company's memorandum and articles of association, together with particulars of the registered office, directors and secretary, directors' interests, mortgages, debentures or other charges on the company's assets, directors' report, annual accounts and notices relating to winding-up or the appointment of a receiver or manager.Under the Registration of Business Names Act 1916 as amended by the Companies Act 1947 a company must file particulars with the Registrar of Business Names of all names under which the company trades other than its own.The Statistics of Trade Act 1947 requires companies to provide information to my Department for the compilation of statistics, but information relating to individual companies is not disclosed publicly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made to the Government of Zaire about their failure to allocate foreign exchange for the remittance to the United Kingdom of revenue earnings by British Caledonian Airways.

My Department had a number of discussions with British Caledonian Airways as to whether they wished us to make representations to the Government of Zaire, but on no occasion did the airline feel the time was right. In May of this year, my Department did in fact initiate an approach by our Ambassador in Kinshasa to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zaire in an attempt to avert cessation of these services. British Caledonian Airways were, of course, informed. However, before any answer could be received the company decided to terminate the services to Kinshasa from 28th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (I) what is the volume of imports of tool and high-speed steel which he expects to enter the United Kingdom from Austria during 1977 and 1978; and what was the volume actually imported during 1976;(2) what is the volume of imports of stainless steel billets which he expects to enter the United Kingdom from Spain during 1977 and 1978; and what was the volume imported during 1976.Mr. Meacher,

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what is the volume of steel sections and flats which he expects to be imported into the United Kingdom from South Africa during 1977 and 1978; and what was the volume imported during 1976;(2) what is the volume of steel sections and flats imported from Spain during 1976; and what is his estimate of the volume which will be imported during 1977 and 1978.Mr. Meacher,

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is considering any legislative action to prevent a repetition of the consequences to contributors which followed the collapse of the Overseas Relatives Reunion Club, and similar organisations.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 28th June. I am still considering the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the operation of the regional development grant system in Scotland.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply of 30th November 1976 to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls), how many British companies have made informal representations to his Department since November 1976 seeking to enter into negotiations in order to conclude planning agreements.

We have had informal inquiries since November 1976 although, as I said in reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 30th November 1976, it is the Government who normally take the initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will outline his plans for increasing industrial investment on Merseyside.

On 27th June increases were announced in the assistance on offer to promote industrial investment on Merseyside and the other special development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has had any recent meetings with the Chairman of the British Aerospace Corporation.

My colleagues and I are in frequent contact with the Chairman of British Aerospace.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the latest assessment of the investment intentions of manufacturing industry.

The investment intentions survey carried out by my Department during April and the first half of May indicated that the volume of investment by manufacturing industry in 1977 would be between 6 per cent. and 10 per cent. greater than in 1976; in 1978 it could show an increase of 20 per cent. or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what funds have been committed by the National Enterprise Board to industrial enterprises concerned with sea bed engineering or subsea systems, excluding oil related enterprises.

The NEB has invested £50,000 in R. R. Chapman (Sub Sea Surveys) Ltd. I understand that the underwater craft operated by this company have been designed primarily for offshore oil industry applications but have other possible uses, such as underwater surveying and navigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give details on the level of investment in British steel as compared with other EEC countries in recent years; and what figures he has on future investment here and in the EEC countries.

Figures produced by the European Commission show investment expenditure by the United Kingdom iron and steel industry was the highest in Europe in 1975. This was also the case for estimated expenditure in 1976 and 1977 for projects in progress and approved at 1st January 1976; the amount for the United Kingdom for these two years together was £916 million compared with £618 million for the Federal German Republic, £555 million for Italy and £428 million for France. BSC's capital investment in 1976–77 was a record figure of approximately £580 million and is expected to be about £600 million in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for industry what further proposals he has to commit additional funds to the National Enterprise Board; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend on 13th June 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what plans he has to halt the losses of the British Steel Corporation recently announced by the chairman.

As with many of its competitors, the main reason why BSC is running at a loss is the low level of demand. The policies for growth which the Government are pursuing both at home and abroad are designed to correct this. The Corporation, in consultation with its work force, is taking action wherever possible to cut costs and improve competitiveness.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what study he has made of the damage to the coal and turbo-generator industry due to the delay in inviting tenders from British turbo generator firms for the coal-fired Drax B power station.

My right hon. Friend is well aware of the implications of the Drax B order for these industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether Sona Consultants Limited, of Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, submitted all outstanding information required to enable his Department to decide upon an application for financial support; what were the dates on which meetings have taken place between departmental officials and representatives of the company since it acquired Moderna in November, 1976; what were the dates of all letters sent by his Department to Sona Consultants since November 1976; and what were the dates of any letters sent by Sona Consultants to his Department, since that time.

No; Sona Consultants Ltd. has not submitted any of the outstanding information required.Meetings between officials of my Department and representatives of the company took place on 16th December 1976 and, in 1977, on 4th January, 1st February, 3rd March, 7th March and 13th March.Letters were sent by the Department to the company or its subsidiary, Moderna Ltd., in 1977, on 6th January, 7th February, 8th March, 4th April, 5th April, 13th April, 27th April, 12th May, 19th May, 29th June and 13th July.Letters received by the Department from the company or its subsidiary were dated 3rd January, 11th January, 11th February, 31st March, 12th April, 18th May, 20th May and 11th July—all 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when, in the absence of all required information, his Department will deem any application for financial assistance by Sona Consultants Limited, of Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, as being no longer before his Department for consideration; what further action has been taken in the past two months to secure outstanding information from the company; and if he will make a statement.

In the light of the latest letter from the company, dated 11th July, the company has been informed that its application will be treated as withdrawn unless its outstanding information is received by 10th August. The Department wrote to the company on 12th and 19th May and on 29th June, and attempts have also been made to contact the company by telephone at Mytholmroyd and by telephone and in person at their firm's headquarters address.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give details of the new product and process development scheme for manufacturing industry.

The product and process development scheme, which is now open for applications, consolidates and extends the support available under the Science and Technology Act 1965 for the development of new products and processes by manufacturing industry. £20 million is being made available for the scheme in the first instance. Assistance will be available to firms for development costs from the design stage up to the point of commercial production. The emphasis will be on bringing new products and processes to the market.Projects from any sector of manufacturing industry will be eligible for consideration, though the main thrust of the scheme will be towards mechanical and electrical engineering. Assistance will be given on a selective basis; applications will be considered in their industrial context and against the aims of the Government's industrial strategy. Assistance will normally take the form of a grant of up to 25 per cent. of qualifying costs or, as an alternative, a shared cost contract where the Government will provide up to 50 per cent. of qualifying costs in return for a levy on commercial sales. Pre-production order support will also be available under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate of the net salary, assuming the post to be held by a married man with no dependent children, in real terms, of the managing director and other members of the board of Cable and Wireless Limited in 1972 and 1977, taking 1972 as the base year; and how many places on the board are currently unfilled.Mr. Les Huckfield,

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the National Enterprise Board has sought his consent for the proposed new Assembly Hall programme at Leyland Truck and Bus Division.

Yes. I have given my consent to this programme, which should make an important contribution to the future success of Leyland Truck and Bus.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate of the net salary, assuming the post to be held by a married man with no dependent children, in real terms, of (a) the chairman, (b) the deputy chairman and (c) other board members of the British Steel Corporation in 1972 and 1977, taking 1972 as the base year; and how many places on the board are currently unfilled.Mr. Les Huckfield,

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is able to provide an estimate of the total tonnage of freight which might be expected to be transferred from road to rail as a result of the policy outlined in his recent White Paper.

No. It is not practicable to distinguish the effects of Government policies from the many and varied influences on the volume of freight traffic carried by the railways.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed in motor accidents in the last 10 years where the driver of one of the vehicles involved had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.

I regret that this information is not available, but it is estimated that in 1976 between 800 and 900 drivers killed in road accidents had more than the legal limit of alcohol in their blood at the time of their death.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate on an hour-by-hour basis the number of drivers involved in motor accidents who had positive breath tests or failed to produce specimens.

The information is as follows:

DRIVERS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS: BY HOUR OF DAY GREAT BRITAIN: 1976
Hour beginning				Drivers with positive(or failed to provide)breath tests
Midnight	…	…	…	1,224
0100	…	…	…	964
0200	…	…	…	717
0300	…	…	…	287
0400	…	…	…	144
0500	…	…	…	82
0600	…	…	…	41
0700	…>	…>	…	22
0800	…	…	…	56
0900	…	…	…	44
1000	…	…	…	50
1100	…	…	…	68
Midday	…	…	…	96
1300	…	…	…	122
1400	…	…	…	383
1500	…	…	…	615
1600	…	…	…	512
1700	…	…	…	452
1800	…	…	…	355
1900	…	…	…	382
2000	…	…	…	477
2100	…	…	…	587
2200	…	…	…	1,406
2300	…	…	…	3,035
All hours1	…	…	…	12,160
1 Includes drivers where hour of day not reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the first White Paper on roads will be published.

Probably towards the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will revoke the consent given under the British Transport Commission Act 1957 for the installation of automatic half barriers at the level crossing at Bramley, Hampshire, in the light of the contents of the letter dated 7th July from the hon. Member for Basingstoke.

No. I shall be replying to the hon. Member's letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the cost of adding a third lane to the existing Ml motorway between Berrygrove and Beechtrees; and what would be the cost of the Department's alternative proposal.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the Chairman of the National Coal Board the use of spoil heaps to provide hard core for roads, instead of using high-grade limestone for this purpose.

Arrangements already exist for discussions to take place with the appropriate authority at local level whenever it appears that waste material from a particular source could be used with advantage in road construction. These arrangements include not only colliery spoil but other industrial wastes.Provided the Department is satisfied from these discussions that the use of the waste is feasible, contractors are required to submit a tender based on using the waste in addition to tendering on the normal basis. In evaluating the tenders, the environmental and financial implications of accepting a tender based on using the waste are taken into account.Apart from these special arrangements designed to encourage the use of wastes, tenderers are not precluded from using wastes on trunk road works provided the material concerned meets the requirements of the specification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what stage has now been reached in planning procedures relating to the proposed construction of a fourth terminal at Heathrow.

My right hon. Friend is urgently considering whether it would be expedient for him to approve the direction made by the London borough of Hillingdon or make a direction himself. Such a direction would make the British Airports Authority's proposal the subject of normal planning control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any article and direction has yet been made or confirmed by him in relation to the proposed construction of a fourth terminal at Heathrow; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has as yet neither made nor confirmed a direction, but the direction made by the London borough of Hillingdon is being urgently considered. Such a direction would make the British Airports Authority's proposal the subject of normal planning control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes any legislation to give the same protection against unjustified rent increases to the private tenants of local authorities as other private tenants enjoy.

I am not convinced of the need for such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the cost of preparing the four outdoor leisure maps of the Lake District, 1:25,000; what is the recurring cost of printing each map; how many maps have been sold; and what profit the ordnance survey has made on these publications.(2) what was the cost of preparing the outdoor leisure map, The Dark Peak 1:25,000, for publication; what is the recurring cost of printing each map; how many maps have been sold; and what profit the Ordnance Survey has made on this publication so far.

I regret that this information is commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider implementing the Expenditure Committee's recommendation contained in paragraph 65 of the report that a local planning authority may be called upon to pay costs when he reverses a planning decision;(2) whether he will consider implementing the Expenditure Committee's recommendation contained in paragraph 64 of its report that a local planning authority may have costs awarded against it on appeal in the event of inefficiency being disclosed;(3) whether he will implement the Expenditure Committee's recommendation contained in paragraph 73 of its report that an inspector in cases transferred to him should issue this decision within a specified period of two weeks from the end of the inquiry or receipt of written recommendations;(4) whether he will consider implementing the Expenditure Committee's recommendation contained in paragraph 68 of its report that a time limit be imposed on the duration of consultations with statutory undertakers;(5) whether he proposes to implement the recommendations of the Eighth Report of the Expenditure Committee (Environment Sub-Committee relating to Planning Procedures).

My right hon. Friend has received Volume 1 of the Report. He is considering the recommendations and will present his response to the House in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in planning cases to be decided by him, what is the average time taken by inspectors to submit their report following the conclusion of inquiries; and whether he considers the imposition of six weeks would be reasonable;(2) in planning cases to be decided by him, what is the average time taken to reach his decision following receipt of the inspector's report; and whether he considers the imposition of three months would be reasonable.

In cases decided in May 1977 the median time between conclusion of the inquiry and submission of the inspector's report was seven weeks, and from submission to decision by my right hon. Friend was eight weeks. My right hon. Friend wishes the procedure to be as speedy as possible, consistent with thorough examination of the merits, and is examining the recommendations on this aspect in the Expenditure Committee Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the implementation to date of the late Mr. Anthony Crosland's decisions on the Matthew Skillington Report for (a) the PSA and (b) the central Department of the Environment.

In March 1975 my right hon. Friend the late Mr. Anthony Crosland, the then Secretary of State for the Environment, announced that in response to the Matthew-Skillington Report he had appointed Mr. W. D. Lacey to a new post of Director General of Design Services within the Property Services Agency and had set up an Environmental Board within the Department of the Environment.A new multi-professional Design Office which is, by example, assuming a leading role in establishing high standards of design, has been set up within the PSA Directorate of Design Services and has embarked on a programme of projects which are representative of PSA's work. By redeploying existing resources, staff have been appointed to the Design Office —in step with its workload and to date 63 individuals have joined its strength. The PSA Board has also set up a Design Panel whose function is to evaluate and monitor design matters at top management level. In addition, a forum has been arranged at which design leaders in PSA can consider matters of common interest. There are indications that projects are already benefiting from the increased attention to design matters that these arrangements provide.As regards the work of the Environmental Board, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 21st June 1977.—[Vol. 933, c. 435–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the current terms of reference of the South-East Planning Council; who are the present members and whom each member represents.

The terms of reference of the South-East Economic Planning Council are:

(i) To assist in the formulation of regional plans having regard to the best use of the region's resources;

(ii) to advise on the steps necessary for implementing regional plans on the basis of information and assessments provided by the Economic Planning Board;

(iii) to advise on the regional implications of national economic policies.

A list of the current membership was announced in the

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer the matter of the profit margin allowed by the Gas Board on cookers, gas fires and water heaters to the Price Commission.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to refer British Gas Corporation appliance sales profit margins to the Price Commission but would welcome further details of any complaint, if any.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his policy on the introduction of the Celsius scale of temperatures and the phasing out of the Fahrenheit scales.

On 7th July 1976 the House debated and accepted the then proposed EEC directive on units of measurement, subject to certain amendments outlined in the debate. The directive incorporating those amendments was finally adopted by the Council of Ministers on 27th July 1976. As part of our obligations under that directive regulations have already been made authorising the Celsius scale of temperature and further regulations will have to be made, before 31st December 1979, to cease to authorise the Fahrenheit scale. This will mean that where legislation at present refers to degrees Fahrenheit (F) it will be amended to refer to degrees Celsius (°C).

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what studies have been done to assess public understanding of Celsius scales as compared with the Fahrenheit scale.

I know of no studies which have been made to assess the present understanding of either the Fahrenheit or the Celsius (C) temperature scales. The Metrication Board has produced leaflets and displays to help people understand the Celsius scale for everyday purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what are the latest figures available for the amount of retail trade carried out by credit cards; how these figures compare with previous figures available; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that this information is not available. In reply to the latter part of the Question, I would mention that the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which prohibits the sending of unsolicited credit cards, applies to many credit card agreements. Moreover, certain aspects of the credit card companies' operations are being considered by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will take steps to prevent persons advertising second-hand cars for sale from referring in advertisements to the issue of MOT certificates, in view of the false impression of the mechanical condition of the vehicle that this can give.

No. The purchaser has an interest in whether a used vehicle offered for sale has a valid MOT certificate or not, but he should not take it as evidence of its current mechanical condition, as the certificate itself makes clear.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many individuals other than civil servants have been appointed by him to bodies other than departmental committees in the last 12 months; and if he will list in the Official Report the names of the individuals and the bodies to which they have been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many individuals other than civil servants have been appointed by him to bodies other than departmental committees since February 1974; and if he will list in the Official Report the names of the individuals and the bodies to which they have been appointed.Mr. Maclennan,

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the demand for electricity for each of the next five years.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) on 17th February 1977—[Vol. 926, c. 329.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates will be the United Kingdom requirements of uranium in 1980, 1985 and 1990.

Reactors now in operation and under construction are estimated to require about 2,000 tonnes uranium per annum in each year between 1980 and 1990. Beyond this, there will be a requirement for the fuelling of whatever further reactors may be ordered.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of (a) owner-occupied, (b) public sector and

PROFILE OF OWNERS BY TENURE
(thousands)
	Owner		Council		Private rented and other
		Per cent		Per cent		Per cent.
Houses with accessible lofts	8,596	100	4,137	100	1,230	100
Not insulated	3,102	36	2,720	66	916	74
Less than 3" insulation	2,961	34	853	21	163	13
3" or more insulation	1,846	21	260	6	87	7
Not stated	687	8	303	7	65	5
Note: Items may not add to total due to rounding.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to promote the use of spoil heaps in the provision of hard core for roads in the place of high grade limestone.

No. The National Coal Board's Minestone Executive already seeks the maximum outlets for colliery spoil for use as aggregate.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the number of different questionnaires sent out by his Department and agencies responsible to it to companies and self-employed business people; and how many of each sort were sent out for the most recent year for which information is available.

Current building regulations prescribe that new houses should have at least 2 in. of loft insulation or its equivalent; an overall value for the insulating properties of walls, including windows, is also set. These are minimum standards, and judged to be the economic level of insulation when a house is heated only to a modest standard. For higher standards of heating, for example, houses with central heating, higher insulation standards can be economically justified. The Department of Energy has recommended that 3 in. of roof insulation together with adequate draught proofing would be a sensible economic minimum.The breakdown of loft insulation for houses in Great Britain with accessible lofts, in December 1976, as reported by Audits of Great Britain Limited, was as follows:

I am advised that my Department sent out 20 different questionnaires, including statistical forms, to companies during 1976. None was sent to self-employed people. A total of approximately 1,750 questionnaires were sent out during that period. Information is not available within my Department in respect of questionnaires issued by the energy nationalised industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the numbers of disconnections of consumers of electricity and gas, respectively, in each quarter of the year to 31st March 1977 in the United Kingdom.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what limitations are imposed on the import of canned meat from Australia and on the import of meat from Australia for canning in the United Kingdom.

Canned meat from Australia may be imported into the United Kingdom free of quantity restriction, subject to ad valorem customs duties and to the normal controls applied to safeguard public health in relation to imported foods from whatever source. Fresh or frozen meat imported from Australia for processing is similarly subject to Customs duties and health controls. For beef there is also a variable levy. However, EEC arrangements for the beef sector include two special quotas

		Beef		Butter		Skimmed milk powder
		July 1976	July 1977	July 1976	July 1977	July 1976	July 1977
Belgium	…	8,200	600	6,918	4,137	122,053	49,970
Denmark	…	43,400	48,200	9,739	11,814	54,150	35,941
France	…	52,700	16,900	88,176	21,616	429,313	189,206
Germany	…	95,400	101,000	91,202	118,800	553,009	637,495
Ireland	…	25,000	46,500	—	—	73,754	—
Italy	…	19,200	58,800	—	—	—	—
Luxembourg	…	—	—	901	1,776	10,786	8,289
Netherlands	…	2,900	17,400	9,404	23,802	99,383	28,332
United Kingdom	…	13,900	6,100	4,296	6,220	34,821	21,232
Total	…	260,700	295,500	210,636	188,165	1,377,269	970,465
Source: EEC Commission.

Member States are reimbursed by the Commission for the cost of holding intervention stocks at standard rates. It is estimated that the amount the Community would pay for holding the present stocks for a year would be in the order of 67 million units of account or some £28 million converted at the Community budget rate of 2·4 ua = £1 sterling.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what evidence he has that sodium nitrate is a cancer agent.(2) what evidence he has that sodium nitrite is a cancer agent.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current quantities of beef, butter and skimmed milk, held in intervention within the EEC together with similar figures for a year ago, showing the amounts contributed by each member country of the EEC and the estimated annual cost of holding the stocks.

The table below shows the information requested regarding the quantities of beef, butter and skimmed milk powder held in public intervention stocks within the Community—in metric tonnes:I know of no evidence that sodium nitrate or sodium nitrate induces cancer; neither is classed as a cancer agent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount of beef imported from Botswana for processing in the United Kingdom; and what restrictions are imposed on the increase of these imports.

EEC arrangements introduced under the Lomé Convention provide for the Community to import 17,360 tonnes of beef from Botswana this year free of customs duties and at rates of levy reduced by 90 per cent. Most of this beef in practice comes to the United Kingdom. It is not subject to end use restrictions and no precise information is available about the proportion used for processing. The Lomé Convention provides for quantities of ACP beef exempt from Customs duties to increase by 7 per cent. each year. Botswana is free to send additional quantities of beef under various other EEC arrangements, including two special quotas for beef of manufacturing quality, which are subject to nil or reduced levies and within an annual objective are adjusted each quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average weekly rent paid for local authority houses in Scotland in the last five years.

Information on public sector rents is published in the annual Command Paper "Rents of Public Authority Houses and Rent Rebates and Allowances in Scotland".

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions during the years 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77 to the latest available date the Rent Officer or Rent Assessment Committee of the City of Aberdeen has raised the annual rent of a tenancy where the landlord and tenant have agreed to a lesser increase.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to augment the Scottish Tourist Board's voluntary code of booking practice with a compulsory scheme requiring all hotels to display the maximum and minimum prices of rooms available; and if he will make a statement on the discussions held up to the present date with local authority and trade interests to determine the best means of introducing such an arrangement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade announced on 6th April, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth)—[Vol. 929, c. 515–6]—that the Government were in discussion with local authority organisations and others concerned with a view to introducing in the present Parliament an order under Section 18 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 to provide for the display of maximum and minimum overnight charges in the reception areas of hotels. These consultations, which have included the Convention of Scottish Local Authority are still in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of different questionnaires sent out by his Department and agencies responsible to it to companies and self-employed business people; and how many of each sort were sent out for the most recent year for which information is available.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if applicants to teacher training colleges who are not Scottish are, on acceptance, being asked to give an assurance that they will not subsequently seek a teaching post in Scotland; and if an undertaking of this kind conforms with the Government policy.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of different questionnaires sent out by his Department and agencies responsible to it to companies and self-employed business people; and how many of each sort were sent out for the most recent year for which information is available.

The information is as set out below in respect of questionnaires initiated by the Department and its agencies to obtain commercial information. Four types of questionnaire were issued. The details and numbers sent out are as follows:

Tye of Questionnaire	No. sent out in year
New Manufacturing Establishments	30 in 1976
Export Performance Data	90 in 1976
Overseas Representation of Companies	90 in 1976
Welsh Development Agency Tenants	350 quarterly in 1976

The Wales Tourist Board approaches proprietors of holiday accommodation on a regular basis to invite them to provide information to be included in its publications.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his forecast of the construction industry output in Wales by the end of 1978 expressed as a percentage of the output in 1973.

I have been asked to reply.It is not the practice to publish official forecasts of construction industry output.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many foreign workers in hotel and catering were granted special work permits in each of the last three years to the most convenient date.

Work permits are generally available only for work requiring a professional qualification, skill or experience, but in the hotel and catering industry, permits may also be issued for work below skilled level.There is a special quota of permits for this industry, which is reviewed annually. There is no other sense in which special permits are issued for this industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether it is Government policy that members of trade unions not affiliated to the TUC are excluded from service on industrial tribunals.

Since the repeal of the Industrial Relations Act the Government have followed the policy that appertained before 1971 of appointing employee members of tribunals after consultation with the TUC.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the attitude of the Government to paragraphs 72 and 73 of the Council on Tribunals Report on 23rd March 1977; and whether it intended to implement the council's recommendations.

I have carefully considered the Council's recommendation about the appointment of employee members of industrial tribunals but I have decided to continue the practice that applied before 1971 of consulting the TUC about such appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, of the total number of people serving on industrial tribunals, if he will give the number (a) from unions affiliated to the TUC and (b) from unions unaffiliated; and if he will give comparative figures for each of the past seven years.

All 1,106 current employee members have been appointed following consultation with the TUC. In November 1976 all 1,095 employee members, and in December 1975 all 749 employee members, were similarly appointed following consultation with the TUC. Information for earlier years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the meeting of EEC Ministers concerning the Social Fund on 28th June 1977.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Kelvingrove (Mr. Carmichael) on 5th July 1977.—[Vol. 934, c. 518–20.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the retail price index would be increased as a result of the higher net cost of mortgage interest if the basic rate of income tax were cut to (a) 30 per cent. and (b) 25 per cent.

It is estimated that changes in the basic rate of income tax of the specified magnitudes would increase the present level of the retail prices index by about a quarter of 1 per cent. and a half of 1 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study he has made of the use of credit cards in order to buy personal needs at company expense, thus avoiding the limitations of incomes policy; how many cases of this type have been drawn to his attention; if he will list them in the Offical Report; what steps he is taking to prevent this avoidance of incomes policy; and if he will make a statement.

The use of credit cards to buy personal goods at company expense, like other methods of remuneration, is subject to the pay limit. I have had no instances brought to my attention of this practice being used to avoid the pay policy, and have made no special study.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out in tabular form the full range of training courses now provided for young people from 16 years old upwards; and if he will give the numbers of those now doing such courses that are (a) funded exclusively by industry, (b) funded exclusively by Government and (c) jointly funded by industry and Government, as well as the total sums of money involved in providing them.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what contact, formal or informal, J. Donne Holdings, or its subsidiaries, of 10 Golden Square, London, has had with Miinsters or officials in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

J. Donne Holdings has from time to time been in contact with the Ministry of Defence in connection with the promotion and sale of its equipment. In 1975 the firm made inquiries about becoming a defence contractor, but these came to nothing. I am not aware of any other contacts between this Department and the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure no departmental property or equipment is supplied to J. Donne Holdings, or its subsidiaries, of 10 Golden Square, London, or similar private companies, for demonstration or other purposes.

We have no plans to supply J. Donne Holdings or any of its subsidiary companies with departmental property or equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of pay in 1976 of Army officers of the rank of lieutenant-colonel and above on leave awaiting -appointment.

In the year 1976 there were approximately 1,100 officers in the rank of lieutenant-colonel and above who changed appointments. All officers had leave between appointments, including their normal entitlements to privilege leave, embarkation and disembarkation leave. They also undertook temporary duties when required on boards of inquiry, promotion boards, or language training. An assessment of any remaining period of leave, and of its cost, while these officers were awaiting appointment cannot be calculated without a disproportionate staff effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and soldiers, respectively, serving in the British Army of the Rhine and Berlin have reached each of the standards of colloquial, linguist and interpreters II or I in Flemish/Dutch; and what plans he has to increase those numbers, in view of the roles of the Belgian and Netherlands Armies in Northern Army Group.

One officer and five soldiers have attained colloquial standard, one soldier has attained Interpreter Class II standard and one officer has attained Interpreter Class I standard. A study is well in hand of the ways in which foreign language training for officers could be further improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what numbers of officers and of soldiers, respectively, have reached each of the four standards of language proficiency and are now serving in BAOR.

The numbers of BAOR officers and soldiers who have reached a recognised level of language proficiency are as set out below:

NATO LANGUAGES
(a) Officers
Interpreter Class I	…	…	…	12
Interpreter Class II	…	…	…	49
Linguist	…	…	…	68
Colloquial	…	…	…	455
(b) Soldiers
Interpreter Class I	…	…	…	3
Interpreter Class II	…	…	…	15
Linguist	…	…	…	28
Colloquial	…	…	…	648
WARSAW PACT LANGUAGES
(a) Officers
Interpreter Class I	…	…	…	0
Interpreter Class II	…	…	…	26
Linguist	…	…	…	13
Colloquial	…	…	…	8
(b) Soldiers
Interpreter Class I	…	…	…	2
Interpreter Class II	…	…	…	22
Linguist	…	…	…	19
Colloquial	…	…	…	68

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when a study was last undertaken of the desirability of introducing into the other two Services of the practice operating in the Royal Navy whereby chaplains do not wear badges of rank; and if he will make a statement.

While the question of rank was looked at as part of a wider-ranging review of the Army Chaplaincy Service in 1960, I know of no study of this specific aspect of the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Services having been undertaken. Each of the Services considers that its own arrangements are best suited to its own needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are observed in determining whether or not arms sales are to be made to Argentina.

Any proposals for the supply of defence equipment to Argentina would be considered according to our normal criteria, which include all the relevant political, security and financial considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Government has yet come to a decision on the implementation of the Report of the Merrison Committee on the Regulation of the Medical Profession; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government have consulted widely on the Report's recommendations, and although many points, including some of major importance, require further consideration, it accepts the clear consensus of opinion within the profession that the Morrison recommendations should generally be accepted.The Government accept in principle that the General Medical Council should be given responsibility for co-ordinating all stages of medical education, and should maintain an indicative specialist register. It is clear, however, that the specific Merrison suggestions on graduate clinical training have not commanded universal support and that more time is needed to study their full implications. In any case, in the current economic circumstances no commitment could be given to making available the additional resources needed to implement these particular suggestions.The Government accept in principle the Merrison proposals on altering the legislative arrangements which govern the registration in this country of doctors with overseas qualifications.The Government accept that the General Medical Council should be given power to control the registration of doctors whose mental or physical health is such as to endanger their patients.The Government accept in principle the Merrison proposals on the reconstitution of the General Medical Council and in particular that there should be an overall majority of elected members. In the Government's view, however, the chief medical officers or their deputies of the four Health Departments should have seats on the General Medical Council, as, in the case of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, they have at present, and not observer or assessor status as recommended by Merrison. This would be in addition to the 10 lay Crown nominees recommended by Merrison. This would mean an overall majority for the elected members of six rather than the 10 recommended by Merrison.A major Bill will be necessary if the Merrison proposals are to be implemented as a whole. Before any such Bill can be introduced, considerable further discussions with the bodies concerned will be needed. As the next step, the Government intend to work out provisional proposals for possible legislation, taking into account the views which have been expressed by the bodies we have consulted, and to initiate further consultations on the basis of those proposals. In further discussions on what changes are desirable in the General Medical Council's responsibilities in the field of medical education, regard will have to be had to the doubts which have been expressed about graduate clinical training and to the resource constraints to which I have referred.The Government can give no undertaking at this stage when a comprehensive Bill might be introduced; this will clearly depend, amongst other things, on the progress and outcome of consultation. The Government recognise, however, that although the Merrison recommendations on composition of the General Medical Council flow logically from those on functions, and that arguments on that basis can be levelled against piecemeal legislation, there is a strong desire on the part of the medical profession as a whole that legislation providing for the reconstitution of the General Medical Council on the lines suggested by Merrison should be introduced as soon as possible. Moreover, in the Government's view it would be desirable for the General Medical Council to be given as soon as possible, the powers which Merrison recommends to deal with the doctor who is unfit to practise for reasons of physical or mental ill-health, and in its view it would not be right for such powers to be given to the General Medical Council unless its constitution were revised so as to give a greater representation to doctors elected by the profession as a whole. The Government have also had regard to the fact that the General Medical Council has recently been given new functions in the field of recognition of specialist qualifications as a result of the EEC medical directives and that a greater representation on the General Medical Council of bodies responsible for postgraduate medical education is therefore appropriate.If, therefore, parliamentary time can be found before it is possible to proceed with comprehensive legislation, the Government will introduce a Bill providing for the reconstitution of the General Medical Council along the Merrison lines, with a requirement that there should be a majority of elected members. The reconstituted Council would be required to establish an Education Committee with a majority of appointed members which would assume the Council's existing statutory functions relating to medical education. The Bill would also give the Council powers to control the registration of doctors unfit to practise on health grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of running a ward of 14 staffed beds in a metropolitan area; and what saving would be effected by closure.

The average annual cost of servicing 14 staffed beds in large acute hospitals in the four Thames regions during the financial year ended 31st March 1976, the latest for which figures are available, was approximately £140,000; the cost at individual hospitals in the Metropolitan area ranged from around £100,000 to around £220,000. Essential maintenance to the fabric of the buildings would probably amount to some 10 per cent. of the total cost; the extent to which other elements of cost could be saved by closure would depend upon local circumstances, including the capacity to redeploy resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in view of the advice on diet and coronary heart disease contained in the Report of the Joint Working Party of the Royal College of Physicians and British Cardiac Society, his Department recently advised Bromley Area Health Authority to discontinue its leaflet drawing attention to the risk factors in coronary heart disease, referred to in that report, such as the excessive consumption of animal fats.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 21st June—[Vol. 933, c. 407–9]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of (a) two-parent families and (b) single parent families who were in full time work and earning less than the supplementary benefit level for each year since 1972.

The table below gives the numbers of two-parent families and one-parent families where the head was a full-time employee or was self-employed and where the family income was below supplementary benefit level at the end of each year from 1972 to 1975:

GREAT BRITAIN
No. of two-parent families
1972	…	…	…	…	[40,000]
1973	…	…	…	…	[40,000]
1974	…	…	…	…	60,000
1975	…	…	…	…	100,000
No. of one-parent families
1972	…	…	…	…	[10,000]
1973	…	…	…	…	[10,000]
1974	…	…	…	…	[10,000]
1975	…	…	…	…	[10,000]

1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.2. The estimates are based on a Department of Health and Social Security analysis of incomes and other information recorded by respondents to the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) for 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975. The estimates are subject to sampling error—particularly those in square brackets.3. Both full-time employees and those who are self-employed are included. However, due to a difference in the analysis of incomes of the self-employed, figures for 1974 and 1975 are not directly comparable with those for 1972 and 1973. In earlier years it was assumed that the income distribution of the self-employed was the same as for employees. Self-employed sample records were included in the analysis in 1974 for the first time, and this has been repeated in 1975, the effect being to increase the numbers of families with incomes below supplementary benefit level. The figures on the self-employed are especially liable to error because their incomes recorded in the Family Expenditure Survey tend to be particularly low in relation to their recorded expenditure. This discrepancy is partly due to the incomes of the self-employed being recorded in many cases for a much earlier period than that to which their expenditure relates, and the data for 1975 have been adjusted to take account of this.4. The estimates relate only to the population living in private households, since families and persons in institutions are not included in the FES sample.5. The supplementary benefit level is taken as being the supplementary benefit scale rate appropriate to the family. Income refers to net income less net housing costs and work expenses where appropriate.6. The comparison is based on the family's normal income in the normal employment situation of the family head. For example, where the head of the family had been off work due to sickness or unemployment for less than three months at the time of the survey, the family's normal income when the head was at work was used in determining the level of income.7. The increase in the estimated number of families with income below the supplementary benefit level between 1974 and 1975 is attributable partly to the fact that the relationship of supplementary benefit rates to net earnings deteriorated during 1974 but was largely restored by the end of 1975 as result of the two upratings in that year, whereas there had been only one uprating in 1974, and that in July. As a consequence end of year comparisons of net income against supplementary benefit levels are at relatively different levels in the two years, the 1974 scale rates having eroded over five months while those for 1975 had eroded only over one month.

			Marginal tax rate:
Family type		100 per cent.or more	75-99per cent	50-74per cent	Under 50per cent.
1974—
Families with children	…	(20,000)	(30,000)	250,000	5,640,000
Families without children	…	—	(10,000)	120,000	9,390,000
All families	…	(20,000)	(40,000)	370,000	15,030,000
1975—
Families with children	…	50,000	(40,000)	200,000	4,950,000
Families without children	…	—	—	90,000	8,640,000
All families	…	50,000	(40,000)	290,000	13,590,000
Notes:
1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
2. The estimates are derived from a Department of Health and Social Security analysis of the incomes and other information recorded by respondents to the Family Expenditure Survey; all estimates are subject to sampling error; the figures in parentheses in particular are subject to considerable sampling error.
3. Higher rate taxpayers have been excluded from the tables.
4. Marginal tax rate may be defined as the percentage of a £1 increase in income which is lost through any combination of deductions for tax, national insurance contributions, family income supplement, housing rebates, etc., ensuing from the increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of poor families who have a marginal tax rate in excess of 50 per cent. for each year since 1970; and if he will break this number down according to the

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of low-income families who are subject to a marginal tax rate of (a) 100 per cent., (b) 75–-99 per cent., (c) 50–74 per cent. and (d) under 50 per cent. on each £1 increase in earnings; and if he will list this information for each year since 1970.

The tables below show the numbers of families in Great Britain at the end of 1974 and 1975, where the family head was under pension age and was in full-time work, or was self-employed, and the family income would theoretically be liable to the various rates of marginal taxation on a £1 rise in earnings which the hon. Member has quoted. In practice, the numbers liable to suffer high marginal tax rates would be much smaller, since the estimates assume that all benefits are reassessed immediately on receipt of a pay rise; this would not happen in practice, since benefits such as family income supplement are awarded for 52 weeks, irrespective of subsequent changes of circumstances. I regret that reliable information in the same form is not available for earlier years.gross weekly earnings of the families concerned.

The estimates in the tables below show the numbers of families in Great Britain at the end of 1974 and 1975, where the family head was under pension age and was a full-time employee or was self-employed, and where the family income was theoretically liable to a marginal tax rate in excess of 50 per cent. following a £1 rise in earnings. The estimates assume that all benefits would be reassessed immediately, but this would

FAMILIES THEORETICALLY LIABLE TO MARGINAL TAX RATE OF OVER 50 PER CENT.
Gross earnings of family head				Families with children	Families without children	All families
1974—
Less than £20	…	…	…	(20,000)	(30,000)	50,000
£20–29·99	…	…	…	70,000	50,000	120,000
£30–39·99	…	…	…	140,000	(30,000)	170,000
£40–49·99	…	…	…	70,000	(10,000)	80,000
£50 and over	…	…	…	—	(10,000)	(10,000)
All	…	…	…	300,000	130,000	430,000
1975—
Less than £30	…	…	…	(30,000)	(30,000)	60,000
£30–39·99	…	…	…	80,000	50,000	130,000
£40–49·99	…	…	…	120,000	(10,000)	130,000
£50–59·99	…	…	…	40,000	(10,000)	50,000
£60 and over	…	…	…	(10,000)	—	(10,000)
All	…	…	…	290,000	90,000	380,000
Notes:
1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000; the sums of component parts may not equal the totals.
2. The estimates are derived from a Department of Health and Social Security analysis of the incomes and other information recorded by respondents to the Family Expenditure Survey. All the estimates are subject to sampling error; the figures in parentheses in particular are subject to considerable sampling error.
3. Higher rate taxpayers have been excluded from the table.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the 300,000 families subject to the poverty trap to the extent that extra pay of El may lead to a loss of over 50 per cent. of it are (a) one-parent families and (b) two-parent families.

It is estimated that at the end of 1975 there were in Great Britain about 280,000 families with children, where the family head was a full-time employee or was self-employed, and where family income was theoretically subject to a marginal tax rate in excess of 50 per cent. following a £1 rise in earnings. About 60,000 of these were one-parent families and 220,000 two-parent families.The estimates assume that all benefits are adjusted immediately on receipt of a pay rise, but this would not happen in practice, since benefits such as family income supplement, free school meals and free milk and vitamins are awarded for 52 weeks, regardless of any subsequent changes of circumstances. The numbers actually facing marginal tax not happen in practice because benefits such as family income supplement are awarded for 52 weeks, irrespective of subsequent changes of circumstances. In practice therefore, the numbers would be much smaller. I regret that similar information is not available for earlier years.rates in excess of 50 per cent. would therefore be much smaller in practice than those given above.The estimates, which are based on a Department of Health and Social Security analysis of Family Expenditure Survey data for 1975, are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and subject to sampling error.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research has been carried out to ascertain what proportion of social securty benefits goes to, respectively, immigrants to the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland, and any other country.

None in my Department, nor, as far as I am aware, by anyone else.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average number of courses of treatment completed per full-time dental officer in the School Dental Service in 1976; and what was the comparable figure for the Leek parliamentary constituency.

The average number of courses of treatment completed per full-time dental officers in the School Dental Service in England in 1976 was 928; information is not available in respect of parliamentary constituencies, but the comparable figure for the area of the Stafford shire Area Health Authority was 827.The dental officers concerned spent a small part of their time treating patients other than in the School Dental Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Service what action a family may take to be certain that they receive medical attention if they are unable to change their general practitioner within the period of one month specified by the Family Practitioner Committee when supplying forms EC4B.

Until accepted by another doctor, a family seeking to change their general practitioner remain on the list of their existing doctor, who continues to be responsible for their treatment. If they have difficulty in securing acceptance by another doctor of their choice, they should seek the help of their family practitioner committee, who can if necessary assign them to a doctor in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will institute discussions with representatives of the medical profession to ensure that family practitioner committees protect the rights of consumers in the National Health Service to change their doctors and to ensure that they are not unreasonably refused admission to the list of another practice if they have good and genuine reasons for wishing to do so.

No. The right of a patient to seek to change his or her family doctor is already protected by regulations which, as required by the National Health Service Acts, also give a doctor a right to choose whether to accept a particular patient.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many juveniles, by sex, are in each of the special hospitals;(2) how many juveniles, by age and sex, share wards with adults in the special hospitals.