asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether pre-retirement courses are available to employees of his Department.

Yes.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he intends to take any further steps in connection with security arrangements in the Palace of Westminster, particularly having regard to the disturbances created by women in a Committee Room on Tuesday 12th July.

While the disturbance was regrettable, it was dealt with successfully. Incidents of this kind are rare. The security arrangements in the Palace of Westminster are at present being reviewed as a result of the Starritt Report and an announcement will be made in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters his Department received in 1976 which related to applications for entry into the United Kingdom; and to how many individuals these letters referred.

I regret that the figures asked for are not available, but only a small proportion of the 1¼ million items of correspondence received by the Immigration and Nationality Department of the Home Office last year related to applications for entry into the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the public admission by the former Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that there were and are very many more police in the force who have committed illegalities and that he refrained from initiating proceedings, whether he will have an independent investigation into all aspects of the wrongdoings as publicly admitted by Sir Robert Mark.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following action taken by Sir Robert Mark while Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, he is satisfied that every effort has been made to ensure that there are no officers serving in the force who have committed criminal offences in the past.

I am satisfied that every effort has been and continues to be made to ensure that high standards of conduct are maintained in the Metropolitan Police.As regards criminal offences, it is the Commissioner's policy to cause a report to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions on every occasion that there is any evidence, however slight, to suggest that a serving police officer has committed any criminal offence. Thereafter action is taken according to the advice of the Director. In all the circumstances, therefore, I do not feel any additional investigation would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will review the case of Mrs. Narmada Pragji Bharadia (B 281392), in view of the statement in a Home Office letter dated 21st June 1977 that only in January 1977 had the Home Office become aware of Mrs. Bharadia's new address, when a letter dated 15th October 1976 had been sent to that address from Lunar House, Croydon;(2) whether he will revise the wording of Form APP 101 (Immigration Act 1971) —Refusal to revoke or vary leave to enter) to give the address of the appellate authorities in view of the case of Mrs. Narmada Pragji Bharadia (B 281392), whose relatives notified a change of address to the Home Office, but owing to a postal or other failure the notification was not recorded, and Mrs. Bharadia had no knowledge of appeal proceedings and was subsequently taken to court;(3) whether he will consider recommending a free pardon to Mrs. Narmada Bharadia (B 281392), who was deprived of her right to representation at an adjudication hearing and subjected to court proceedings, owing to the non-receipt at the Home Office of a change of address notice sent by her nephew, and in view of the procedural weaknesses revealed by this case.

The new address of which the Home Office became aware in January 1977 was not the one to which the letter dated 15th October 1976 was sent. I shall write shortly to my hon. Friend about this case, but I am not aware of any grounds on which it would be right for my right hon. Friend to recommend a free pardon for Mrs. Bharadia; nor am I persuaded that there is a need to revise Form APP 101.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total cost of additional police outside First Division football clubs during the past football season; and what proportion was paid by the clubs;(2) how many instances of disabling injury were sustained by police officers in the course of their duties inside First Division football grounds during the past football season; and what were the degree of disability sustained, the amount of compensation received and the source of that compensation;(3) how many instances of disabling injury were sustained by police officers in the course of their duties outside First Division football grounds during the past football season; and what were the degree of disability sustained, the amount of compensation received and the source of that compensation;(4) what was the total cost of police inside First Division football clubs during the past football season; and what proportion was paid by the clubs.

The information is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the policy of his Department to allow the Special Branch to divulge personal details about individual employees to their employer.

The general police practice—which applies to special branches—is not to disclose private information about individuals to third parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the approximate cost to date to the hotel industry in the United Kingdom of carrying out the requirements of the Fire Precautions Act 1971.

We do not have information on which a reliable estimate could be made of the expenditure incurred by the hotel industry as a result of the Fire Precautions Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hotels have applied for fire certificates since the Fire Precautions Act was passed; and how many certificates have been issued.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 30th March.—[Vol. 929, c. 151–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount of fee has been paid so far to the barrister who conducted the public local inquiry in respect of the new bye-laws proposed by the London borough of Bromley with regard to the flying of power-driven model aircraft in Norman Park and other matters; and what is the estimated total of fees to be paid to the barrister in respect of this inquiry.

The fee payable cannot be calculated until the report has been submitted and an account is received. No payment is made until then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet received the report of the public local inquiry held in Bromley in January in respectof the new byelaws proposed by the London borough of Bromley with regard to the flying of power-driven model aircraft in Norman Park and other matters, and when he now expects to give his decision on this report.

My right hon. Friend has not yet received the report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what drugs are made available to prisoners without a medical authorisation.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether pre-retirement courses are available to employees of his Department.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the inquiry into the crash near Huntingdon on 3rd May of the Canberra aircraft when returning to RAF Wigton.

I regret that I am unable to add significantly at this time to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 4th May last except to say that the board of inquiry has submitted its findings and these are now being studied. Until this further examination has been completed, I shall not be in a position to say anything more.It is most unlikely that the processing of this report will be completed before the House rises for the Summer Recess, but I shall write to the right hon. and learned Member as soon as there is anything further I can tell him.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the percentage increase in the rent element of married quarter accommodation charges in each year since 1st April

Increase effective for the year commencing				Type of married quarter
				A	B	C	D/WO	v*	IV*	III*
1st April 1975	…	…	…	69·29	48·16	41·50	37·36	64·76	60·26	59·18
				(£2·37)	(£3·63)	(£4·16)	(£5·00)	(£5·19)	(£6·17)	(£7·02)
1st April 1976	…	…	…	21·10	13·77	13·46	-0·00	12·72	12·80	12·82
				(£2·87)	(£4·13)	(£4·72)	(£4·99)	(£5·85)	(£6·96)	(£7·92)
1st April 1977	…	…	…	27·53	14·04	13·56	24·85	14·19	14·22	14·14
				(£3·66)	(£4·71)	(£5·36)	(£6·23)	(£6·68)	(£7·95)	(£9·04)
* There are no local authority houses directly comparable to these married quarters. The rental element of the charges for these quarters is established by multiplying the rental element of the Type C married quarter charge by the ratio of the appropriate total floor area to that of the Type C quarter.

The average of local authority rents for houses of similar standard, age and location on which the rental element of

	Local authority houses equivalent to Service married quarter type
			A	B	C	D/WO
			£	£	£	£
1st April 1975	…	…	2·69	3·64	4·17	5·02
(Local authority rents at April 1974)	…	…	(9·80%)	(13·40%)	(11·80%)	(12·30%)
1st April 1976	…	…	3·22	4·13	4·72	4·99
(Local authority rents at April 1975)	…	…	(19·70%)	(13·46%)	(13·19%)	(-0·60%)
1st April 1977	…	…	3·94	4·71	5·36	6·23
(Local authority rents at April 1976)	…	…	(22·36%)	(14·04%)	(13·56%)	(24·85%)
Notes:
(1) The use of local authority rents as a basis for determining the rental element of married quarter charges was recommended by the NBPI in 1969, but, in order to avoid excessive increases in married quarter charges in the early years, the principle was not fully implemented until 1st April 1975 and even then the increase for Type A was moderated. For this reason and because the rental of married quarters derived from Local Authority rents showed substantial increases (the Review Body of Armed Forces Pay applied a standstill to the rental element of these charges in line with the provisions of Statutory Instruments Nos. 380 and 381), the percentage increases in the married quarter rental elements from 1st April 1975 are a great deal higher than the percentage increases in the corresponding local authority rents. The increase in the rental element of married quarter charges at 1st April 1975 therefore embodied increases in local authority rents over the two years to April 1974.
(2) Except for the relatively few Type A Service married quarters, since 1975 the figures derived from local authority rents have been reflected directly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether pre-retirement courses are available to employees of his Department.

Civilian employees and members of the Armed Forces are both

pursuant to his answer [Official Report, 11th July 1977; Vol. 935, c. 50–51], supplied the following information:The percentage increases in the rental element of married quarter charges for the period requested were as follows. The rental element of the weekly charges, from which they are derived are shown in brackets.the Services married quarter charge is based were as follows. Percentage increases are shown in brackets.eligible for and encouraged to take pre-retirement courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about any measures she is taking to mitigate the effects of higher university fees upon mature students, in the light of those cases brought to her attention in recent correspondence from Bradford University.

I understand that the students in question have attended previous courses with mandatory awards, so that a further award would be at the discretion of their local authorities. Provision was made in the universities' recurrent grant settlement for 1977–78 to help students affected by higher tuition fees, including mature students, but it is left to universities to decide for themselves whom to support and how much help to give.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the educational establishments and organisations which received grants

		1975–76		1976–77
		November 1974 Pay and Price levels		November 1975 Pay and Price levels
Local Education Authority		Primary	Secondary	Primary	Secondary
		£	£	£	£
Leicestershire	…	210	332	254	390
Nottinghamshire	…	206	327	270	405
Derbyshire	…	199	326	262	411
ILEA	…	311	443	385	545
These costs include:—
(a) London weighting allowances for teaching and other staff in the case of ILEA;
(b) for 1975–76 only, revenue contributions to capital outlay and loan charges; and
(c) for 1976–77 only, the cost of transport between home and school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many children within the Humberside area have been diagnosed as autistic and in need of special educational provision;(2) what provisions exist within the county of Humberside for the education of autistic children; and what further provisions are planned;(3) how many autistic children from Grimsby are currently being educated in other educational authority areas.

The latest information provided by the authority is that three autistic children from Humberside, including one from Grimsby, attend independent boarding schools out- approved by Parliament in 1976; and what was the amount of grant for each organisation.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give figures for the overall spending per pupil for school education for Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Inner London Education Authority in the years 1975–76 and 1976–77.

The following figures for recurrent institutional costs per pupil are derived from "Education Estimates Statistics", published jointly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Society of County Treasurers, copies of which are in the Library:side the county: in addition one is in hospital. There are no autistic children awaiting places. The authority does not itself make separate provision for the education of autistic children and does not at present plan to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average class size in secondary schools in the Leek parliamentary constituency; and how this figure compares with the figure for England and Wales.

Statistics are are not compiled for individual parliamentary constituencies by my Department. In January 1976, the latest date for which information is available, the average size of a secondary class—as taught—in the county of Stafford as a whole was 23·1 pupils. The corresponding figure for England and Wales was 22·5 pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give approximate average figures indicating the number of pupils per teacher in primary and secondary schools in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derby-

		Primary schools (including immigrant centres and middle-schools-deemed-primary)	Secondary schools (including middle-schools-deemed-secondary)
Leicestershire	…	24·4	17·1
Nottinghamshire	…	24·9	16·8
Derbyshire	…	24·5	17·6
Inner London Education Authority.	…	19·9	15·6

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether pre-retirement courses are available to employees of her Department.

Yes. Four two-day pre-retirement seminars are held each year for staff within two years of retirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will state, following her Written Answer to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mrs. Miller) relating to the purchase of a painting from Mentmore Towers by the National Gallery of Scotland, Official Report, 9th May 1977, column 402, what the cost to the National Gallery, London, was of the purchase of the portrait of Madame de Pompadour by Drouais from the same collection, after allowing for relief from estate duty and capital gains tax.

The price was negotiated privately between the National Gallery and the late Earl of Rosebery's estate, and it is felt to be to the advantage of the national collections that details of such private negotiations should not be disclosed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures she is taking to encourage shire and the Inner London Education Authority in the years 1975–76 and 1976–77.

Statistics of pupils and teachers in schools in England and Wales are collected as at January of each year. The figures for 1977 are not yet available. Pupil-teacher ratios for each local authority for January 1976 are available in the Library: the ratios for the areas specified were:the simplification and standardisation of school uniforms.

My right hon. Friend's views on this subject were set out in a letter sent to all chief education officers on 26th May, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what measures she is taking to standardise local education authorities' policy on school uniform grants;(2) what actions she intends to take to prevent local education authorities from issuing vouchers for school clothing grants.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to similar Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 19th July.—[Vol. 935, c. 530–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any response has been made by the Indonesian Government to the concern expressed on behalf of Her Majesty's Government at the 1977 meeting of the Inter-governmental Group on Indonesia that the release of political prisoners should be speeded up.

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer on 20th July to the hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Knox).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise through the Intergovernmental Group on Indonesia the question of atrocities committed by the armed forces of Indonesia in East Timor.

The next meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia is not due until 1978. Following the undertaking I gave on 17th March, we have been in touch with the Indonesian Government about allegations of atrocities, which they have denied.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of his staff are currently working in the European integration section; and what is the annual cost of their salaries.

54 people, including clerical and secretarial support staff, are employed in the European Integration

ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE
	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
GCMG: awarded to some senior Ambassadors and senior High Commissioners.	3	2	3	3	3 Grade 1
KCMG: awarded to some Ambassadors and High Commissioners.	6	6	8	8	9 Grade 2
CMG: awarded to some (diplomatic rank) Ministers, Deputy High Commissioners or Counsellors.	16	16	24	25	26 Grades 3–4

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
GBE: awarded rarely and exceptionally	—	—	—	1	—Grade 1
KBE: awarded to some ambassadors	—	—	1	1	1 Grades 2–3
CBE: awarded to some Counsellors	—	2	5	4	7 Grade 4
OBE: awarded to some First Secretaries and equivalent).	24	19	23	23	22 Grades 5–6
MBE: awarded to some Second/Third Secretaries, executive, clerical and secretarial officers and locally engaged officers grades 1–111.	51	46	44	45	45 Grades 7–10 Secretarial Grades & LE Grades 1–111.
ISO: awarded to some grade 5 officers	1	1	2	1	2

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Dutch Government concerning Her Majesty's Government's views on copyright, in view of the actions of a Dutch cable television company in retransmitting programmes from Anglia Departments of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the supervision of an Assistant Under-Secretary. The annual cost of their salaries is £276,354.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether pre-retirement courses are available to employees of his Department.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing how many members of his Department have received honours for public service in each of the last five years, indicating in each case the honour received and the grade of civil servant who received it.

The following is a table showing awards to Foreign and Commonwealth Office Staff and members of the Diplomatic Service on the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List and the Prime Minister's List over the five years 1973–77:Television Company to Amsterdam householders.

No. The subject of wire diffusion of foreign television broadcasts in Europe is a complex matter involving various international copyright agreements as well as our domestic copyright and performers protection laws and requires further discussion on an international basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what most recent information he has about the hanging of prisoners in Zimbabwe by the illegal Smith regime; and whether this matter was raised by the Anglo-American mission to Salisbury.

The illegal regime have themselves admitted that executions are continuing in Rhodesia. They have repeatedly been made aware of the Government's abhorrence that this should be so. The question was not raised at the most recent meeting by the Anglo-US Consultative Group, but my right hon. Friend stressed the issue himself with Mr. Smith in April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will invite the International Red Cross to investigate conditions at the Khami maximum security prison in Rhodesia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 9th March.—[Vol. 927, c. 565.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many cases of bankruptcy have been dealt with by the Insolvency Service in each of the years 1966 to 1976.

The figures for 1967 to 1976 are given in Table 1(a) of the Bankruptcy General Annual Report for 1976, a copy of which is in the library. The figure for 1966 was 3,706.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement concerning the operating arrangements for the appointment of actuaries to life offices under Section 15 of the Insurance Companies Act 1974, with responsibilities for reporting on the financial condition of the life assurance business.

I welcome the issue by the Institute of Actuaries and Faculty of Actuaries of a "Guide for Appointed Actuaries" in May 1975 setting out in some detail the nature of their responsibilities. I commend its contents to all managing directors, directors and chief executives of life offices because I regard it as being of the greatest importance that all concerned in life offices should have a clear understanding of the vital role in the conduct of their affairs which the actuary appointed under Section 15 of the 1974 Act should play, and of the need to afford him the necessary access at all times to the information he needs to perform his task.Although the statutory duty of the appointed actuary is confined to making periodic investigations into the financial condition of the company's long-term business, in practice, if he is to make a full contribution to the affairs of the life office, he needs to be given enough information on a continuing basis to satisfy himself that such an investigation, if carried out at any time, would demonstrate a satisfactory financial position. In this context, I agree with the importance attributed by the guide to

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what controls apply to the spraying of agricultural chemicals from aircraft; and if he will review their adequacy in view of recent incidents of drift, resulting in damages to third parties.

This is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current total of export orders underwritten by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of each of the OPEC countries.

It is not desirable to make public statements on the availability of the facilities of the Export Credits Guarantee Department for individual markets. However, at the present time ECGD is at risk for the 13 markets comprising OPEC in respect of export contracts totalling approximately £3,600 million. In addition, the Department carries risks amounting to approximately £105 million in respect of various types of performance bonds in these markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to make regulations providing for a new scheme of certificates of competency for deck officers in the United Kingdom Merchant Navy; and what these regulations will provide.

The Merchant Shipping (Certification of Deck Officers) Regulations 1977, made under section 43 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970, were laid before Parliament today and will come into operation on 1st September 1981. The transitional period of four years is due to the far-reaching nature of the new requirements and is necessary in order to give all organisations affected sufficient time to adapt to them.Features of the new regulations are that they:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made to the United States Government following the rises in air freight charges from Prestwick to the United States of America from 27p to 55p per kilo for textile exports; and if he will make a statement.

The increase in the air freight charges results from the rejection of British Airways' contract cargo rates and specific commodity rates by the United States Civil Aeronautics Board, which has obtained court orders requiring British Airways to withdraw these rates. Strong representations have been made to the United States Government that the appropriate rates to be charged should be resolved by intergovernmental agreement. We intend to pursue this matter in accordance with the provisions of the tariffs article in the new air services agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether pre-retirement courses are available to employees of his Department.

Yes, such courses are available during the last two years of an employee's service.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will make a statement on the current adverse balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Japan;(2) what recent representations have been made by British manufacturing companies about Japanese non-tariff barriers;(3) if he will instance those non-tariff barriers, identified by his Department in United Kingdom/Japanese trade, which have been removed in the past five years; and if he will make a statement;(4) what progress has been secured with the Japanese authorities in the removal of non-tariff barriers to British goods entering Japan; and how many such barriers have been identified by his Department as being operated by the Japanese authorities.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish the annual figures for the balance of trade, by value, in cars and textiles, between the United Kingdom and Japan.

Annual figures of the United Kingdom's crude trade balance—that is, the difference between exports valued fob and imports valued cif—with Japan in cars and textiles can be derived from published information on overseas trade statistics. For cars (SITC Code 732.1), for the years just prior to 1974, the information is given in Table 2 of Volume IV of the "Annual Statements of Overseas Trade of the United Kingdom", and for 1975 and 1976 in Tables III and VI of, respectively, the December 1975 issue of "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom" and "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom 1976". For textiles (SITC Division 65), for the years just prior to 1974, the information is given in Table 1 of Volume IV of the Annual Statements, and for 1975 and 1976 in Tables II and V of the "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, 1976". Copies of all these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will add to his statement of 4th May on a code of practice for the insurance industry.

I hope to make a statement before the end of next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all vessels and personnel for which he is responsible that are engaged on fishery protection, full-time or part-time, at the latest available date.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland operates seven fishery protection vessels—three full-time offshore vessels, three full-time inshore vessels and one part-time coastal motor launch. Ships' personnel on 15th July comprised 32 deck officers, 30 engineer officers and 109 ratings, all employed full-time.Various other DAFS personnel have responsibilites for fishery protection and enforcement matters. These include the Sea Fisheries Inspectorate, the marine and engineering superintendents and two administrative branches of the Fisheries Division of the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the action proceeding in Scotland on the matters covered in the Green Paper "Education in Schools—a Consultative Document".

The topics covered by the Green Paper published today by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales—the curriculum, assessment and standards, the education and training of teachers and the creation of contact and understanding between schools and the world of work—are naturally of great importance to school education in Scotland as well as in England and Wales. Because of the differences in the education system, these questions are being approached in Scotland in a different way and in the context of the work of the Munn, Dunning and Pack Committees. The Pack Committee was set up in July 1974 to look into truancy and indiscipline among primary and secondary schoolchildren and to consider how the schools themselves and other services might best tackle these problems. The Dunning Committee was set up in November 1974 to review the assessment of pupils in the fourth year of secondary education, looking in particular at what might be the most suitable form or forms of examination or other measures of attainment to meet the needs of pupils of varying academic ability. The Munn Committee was set up in January 1975 to consider the curriculum in the third and fourth years of secondary education with a view to ensuring that all pupils receive a balanced education suitable to their needs and abilities.I have recently received the reports of the Pack and Munn committees, and I expect shortly to receive the report of the Dunning Committee; all three reports will be published as soon as possible. I am very grateful to these committees for the time and effort which they have put into their work, and I hope that the publication of their reports will be followed by wide-ranging public discussion which will provide the framework within which decisions can be taken.So far as the primary schools are concerned, a detailed survey of primary education is being conducted this session and next by Her Majesty's Inspectorate to produce a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of our primary schools.As regards teacher training, many aspects of importance emerged from recent discussions in Scotland about the colleges of education on which I intend to make a further statement before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 732 paid public appointments for which he is responsible have actually been made within the past 12 months.

In the 12 months from 1st July 1976, I have made 97 paid public appointments or reappointments. As the hon. Member has tabled a similar Question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I have excluded those appointments made jointly with him.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North referred to in the Official Report, 18th July 1977, c. 340.

The reply was published on 19th July 1977.—[Vol. 935, c. 491–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement outlining the Government's present negotiation position on fishing limits, in the light of the further EEC discussions on 18th July.

The Government's position in regard to the negotiations on the common fisheries policy was set out in the statement which I made to the House on 29th June—[Vol. 934, c. 445–54]—on the meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Luxembourg on 27th June. This position has not been changed by the discussions which took place in the Council this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if, in view of the fact that two publishing firms are to publish a book written by a prisoner currently serving a sentence in a top security prison, which is described by the publishers as an exposé of the prison system, he will take steps to inquire about the circumstances in which the book was written, and in which the text was communicated to the publishers;(2) what is his policy on the disposal of earnings made by prisoners writing books for publication;(3) if he will make a statement on the facilities provided to prisoners to write and publish books.

In certain circumstances a prisoner may be given authority to undertake literary work while serving a prison sentence. In the case of James Boyle, at present prisoner in the special unit at Her Majesty's Prison Barlinnie, I understand that permission was given to write autobiographical material during 1973 or early 1974. Since this was during the period of the previous Administration, I am not aware of the exact circumstances in which permission was given. I understand, however, that it was made clear to Mr. Boyle that there could be no question of publication and that the written material should not be taken out of the unit.In September 1976 Boyle petitioned for permission to publish his work. Permission was refused and he was so informed in October 1976.I am inquiring into the circumstances in which the written material was apparently passed over to a publishing firm. I have no authority to prevent publication of a book written in this way and would not think it appropriate that I should have. Finally, since it is not the practice to allow material written in prison to be published while the prisoner concerned is still serving his sentence, it is not necessary for me to have any policy regarding the earnings from any such publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the public local inquiry into the escape from the State Hospital, Carstairs in November 1976 and the arrangements for security at that hospital.

I received an interim report on Monday 18th July from Sheriff-Principal Reid, who was appointed to conduct the inquiry. Sheriff-Principal Reid recommends in his interim report the reintroduction of ground parole in the State Hospital, coupled with the use of photographic passes for patients granted parole within the hospital. He also makes recommendations about resumed use of the hospital's educational facilities, and commends for consideration the possibility of reinstating the privilege previously granted to patients in parole wards to sit up late to watch certain television programmes.On my authority, the management committee of the State Hospital discussed the report at its meeting on 19th July and discussions between the management committee and staff representatives will take place to consider the possibility of imple-meeting these interim recommendations at an early date.These matters will be covered in full in the final report which I expect to receive about September, but I have in the meantime arranged for copies of the interim report to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the report of the Dunpark Committee on reparation by the offender to the victim, in Scotland, will be published; and what action he and the Lord Advocate intend to take on it.

The Report has been published today and copies are available in the Vote Office. My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and I are grateful to Lord Dunpark and the other members of the committee for their considerable efforts. We are now studying their recommendations, and consultations on those recommendations will be initiated very shortly with interested Scottish bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the manual of guidance for local authorities on the assessment of housing needs is to be published.

The manual is being published today by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as part 1 of the Scottish Housing Handbook under the title "Assessing Housing Needs—A Manual of Guidance". Copies are being placed in the Library. In a circular which is also being issued today, the attention of district and regional authorities is being drawn to its importance for the preparation of local housing plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the

Subject		Number of questionnaires	Number of business/farmer recipients
June agriculture census	…	1	32,507
December agriculture census	…	1	32,318
May Statistically Insignificant Holdings Census (triennial)	…	1	17,604
April pig Holdings census	…	1	983
August pig Holdings census	…	1	983
Census follow-ups—	…
vegetables	…	1	200
orchards	…	1	50
nursery stock	…	1	100
Cereal stocks	…	10	594
Early potatoes	…	1	61
Poultry packers, monthly	…	12	10
Hatcheries, monthly	…	12	31
Corn Returns, weekly	…	52	90
Pesticide usage—glasshouses, nurseries	…	1	300
Wheat germination	…	1	1,000
Profit and loss statement Fisheries vessel	…	1	1,250

The circulation of questionnaires to companies and self-employed business people by agencies for which I am responsible is a matter for the agencies themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend the provisions of the dependent relative allowance to those persons who have now suffered the bereavement of a dependent 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.

, pursuant to his reply[Official Report, 18th July 1977; Vol. 935, c. 340], gave the following information:In the past 12 months, six questionnaires have gone out from the Scottish Economic Planning Department itemised as follows:

	Subject	Number of recipients
1.	Oil-related work in Scotland	700
2.	Survey of openings of new manufacturing establishments.	130
3	Quarterly output survey	4x20
4
5
6

In 1976 the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland issued questionnaires as follows:relative and who are over retiring age, and in consequence of their service in looking after the dependent relative cannot now obtain a full State pension.

I understand that the hon. Member has in mind the invalid care allowance. An important advantage of the receipt of this allowance below pensionable age—65 for a man, 60 for a woman—is that is carries with it the right to class 1 national insurance credits, which safeguard the beneficiary's future rights to contributory benefits, including retirement pension. The allowance continues over pensionable age if there is no title to retirement pension at a higher rate than the invalid care allowance and provided that the qualifying conditions continue to be satisfied. Invalid care allowance will be continued beyond "retiring age"—70 for a man, 65 for a woman—even if for any reason the beneficiary's caring role ceases, provided that there was entitlement to the allowance immediately before "retiring age".We have no proposals to extend these provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether child benefit is payable in the case of a woman and her lover, and one child, the man not being the father of the child, all living together on the Costa Brava, Spain, for up to six months, for that six-monthly period, if they all then return to the United Kingdom.

					Total numbers on all registers		Total additions to all registers
Year ended 31st March					Manchester	Devon	Manchester	Devon
1970	…	…	…	…	4,971	8,292	644	943
1972	…	…	…	…	5,326	6,581	1,917	836
1973	…	…	…	…	12,763	8,953	5,185	1,949
1974	…	…	…	…	16,181	11,428	4,255	2,520
1975	…	…	…	…	21,164	12,610	5,830	1,715
1976	…	…	…	…	24,958	13,662	5,037	2,157

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide comparative figures per thousand of the population of help given to severely disabled people by the county of Devon and city of Manchester under the terms of Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if he

		Manchester		Devon
Service		Households assisted per 1,000 population	Expenditure £ per 1,000 population	Households assisted per 1,000 population	Expenditure £ per 1,000 population
Aids	…	12·2	763	6·8	76
Adaptations	…
Telephones	…

			Persons assisted per 1,000 population		Persons assisted per 1,000 population
Holidays	…	…	1·2	31	0·5	7
(1) Information is not separately available for other services provided under section 2 and does not distinguish between degree of disability.
(2) Figures of expenditure are those published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will analyse his estimate that the cost of providing benefits on the model of the industrial injuries scheme for all disabled people

Provided that the absence of a family from this country was intended throughout to be temporary, child benefit would be payable to the mother for the first 26 weeks of such absence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of identifying and registering severely disabled people in the county of Devon and the city of Manchester, respectively, since Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act was given operative effect on 1st October 1971; and if he will indicate the numbers of such people registered by each of the two local authorities in 1970 and at the latest date for which figures are available.

The information required is as follows:will include in his reply a comparison of expenditure for the purposes of the section by the same two local authorities.

Figures for the year ending 31st March 1976, the most recent ones available, for the services specified below are as follows:would be of the order of £2,000 million by estimating the numbers, by age group, who would fall into each band of that scheme; and if he will make a further statement.

The figure of £2,000 million in the paper to which my hon. Friend refers is a broad estimate of the cost of extending the existing industrial injuries scheme to cover all compensatable impairments. Estimates of the impaired population can be derived from the 1968–69 Government survey, from information about people in residential care and from studies of the incidence of "disablement" among children; but none of this information is concerned with "impairment" as defined for industrial injuries purposes. There is no totally reliable means of estimating the distribution of the general population by age according to the impairment bands into which they would fall under an industrial injuries system of assessment. Thus, while it is possible to say that the cost of a universal scheme, providing compensation for all impairments, on industrial injuries lines, could hardly be less than £2,000 million, further refinement of that particular estimate would, I think, neither be of much value nor help to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to make a statement about the outcome of the meeting on 17th May between officials of his Department and local authority associations, the Housing Corporation and representatives of other Government Departments concerning homelessness.

The Working Group on Homeless Young People was set up by my Department following public concern about the problems illustrated by the television programme "Johnny Go Home". When its report was published on 3rd August 1976, I made a statement in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt)— [Vol. 916, c. 698–9]—explaining that the Government considered it desirable that the working group's recommendations should be fully discussed to explore what could be done to help homeless young people in the light of severe constraints on local authority expenditure. On 17th May 1977, representatives of the Greater London Council (GLC), the London Boroughs Associations (LBA), the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the Association of County Councils and the Association of District Councils met officials from the Departments of Health and Social Security, Environment, Education and Science, the Home Office, the Welsh Office and the Housing Corporation.Those consultations were set, inescapably, in the context of the severe limitations on local authority spending, and, as I made clear in mly statement on 3rd August, there was little prospect of early implementation of those proposals which would require additional expenditure. However, the local authority associations acknowledged the keen public and parliamentary interest in the problems of homelessness in general and the young single homeless in particular, as evidenced by the high level of debate which has taken place in both Houses in recent months.From the discussion it became clear that, even in a time of acute financial pressure, much of what was recommended by the working group was already being done to varying extents by a large number of authorities. Leeds was cited as an example of a large city with a variety of housing problems in which the authority and the voluntary sector had come together to pool their resources in an attempt to formulate a well-co-ordinated basic network of services covering the different needs of homeless people. Such initiatives were operating in a number of authorities across the country and it was considered likely that this would become a national pattern. The report of the LBA/GLC Working Party on the Provision of Accommodation for Single People had not at that stage been accepted by the LBA but I understand that this was done at its meeting on 26th May, when it agreed that provision for the homeless young should be a high priority for expenditure as reallocation of funds became possible. In particular, I understand that the LBA is following up proposals for two additional centres for overnight accommodation for young people and for information and advisory services for young people arriving in London. The Department of the Environment is producing a circular "Better Use of Vacant and Under-Occupied Property" following consultations with the local authority associations. This, too, should provide some impetus for action which would not entail significant expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pay beds have been phased out since the Health Services Bill became law and have not been made available for treatment of National Health Service patients.

Health authorities are aware of the requirement of the Health Services Act that beds released by the reduction of the 1,000 pay bed authorisations should so far as practicable be made available for the use of National Health Service patients and are doing their best to comply with it. Although precise figures are not available, we know that beds in side wards have become available and are being used for National Health Service patients, and that National Health Service patients are also now being treated in some private wings.

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

The average number of teeth extracted per full-time dental officer in the School Dental Service in England in 1976 was 723. Information is not available in respect of parliamentary constituencies, but the comparable figure for the area of the Staffordshire Area Health Authority was 1,093.

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

On average, 1,980 teeth were filled per full-time dental officer in the School Dental Service in England in 1976. Information is not available in respect of parliamentary constituencies, but the comparable figure for the area of the Staffordshire Area Health Authority was 1,826.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children within the Grimsby parliamentary constituency are in the care of the local authority; and how this figure compares with the position at the same date for each of the last five years.

Children-in-care statistics are collected centrally only in respect of local authority areas. However, I am informed by the Humberside County Council that the estimated number of children in its care whose address before coming into care was in the Grimsby parliamentary constituency was 230 in March 1976 compared with 251 in March 1975, 285 in March 1974, 300 in March 1973 and 271 in March 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many elderly people in Grimsby are currently in Part III accommodation; and how many people are known to be awaiting such accommodation;(2) how many Part III beds are currently available in the Grimsby authority area; and how many more are planned.

There are 484 Part III places available to the Grimsby division of Humberside County Council's social services department, of which about 450 are taken up by people aged 65 and over. Some 165 people are understood to be awaiting admission. No old people's home is planned for the Grimsby division in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many elderly mentally infirm are in the care of the local authority in Grimsby; and what expansion of services to this group is currently being planned.

Most old people's homes accommodate a proportion of elderly mentally infirm persons, and, except for homes provided especially for them, returns made by local authorities do not discriminate between mentally infirm and other residents. Humberside County Council provides two special homes with 75 places in all, but neither is in the Grimsby division of the authority and there are no plans to build such homes there.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many terminations of pregnancy operations have been carried out in the Thanet area for each of the years since the Abortion Act came into force in 1967; and if he will give the average week of pregnancy in which the terminations were carried out.

The estimated numbers of legal abortions performed on women normally resident in the area now comprising Thanet county district are as follows:

1968*		…	…	40
1969	…	…	…	124
1970	…	…	…	175
1971	…	…	…	201
1972	…	…	…	276
1973	…	…	…	256
1974	…	…	…	280
1975	…	…	…	N/A
* 27th April to 31st December only. N/A Not Available.

Figures for the Canterbury and Thanet district were 520 in 1975 and 504 in 1974. The other information requested for the Thanet area is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what National Health Service facilities exist in the Thanet area for counselling about terminations of pregnancy; and if he will make a statement.

In Thanet, counselling for women seeking termination of pregnancy is provided in the NHS by general practitioners and consultant gynaecologists, involving, where appropriate, a consultant psychiatrist. My Department will issue soon a circular to health authorities giving general guidance on the arrangements for such counselling and requesting authorities to review arrangements in consultation with local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the current year's current allocation of funds to the Northern Regional Health Authority has been allocated to the Cumbrian Health Authority, and what is this figure per person living in Cumbria.

Cumbria Area Health Authority's revenue cash allocation for 1977–78 is £31,091,800, which amounts to £65·46 per person living in Cumbria.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many periods of two weeks duration an unemployed person is allowed to take as a holiday and receive unemployment benefit while on holiday, each year.

As my reply to the hon. Member on 14th July—[Vol. 935, c. 217–18]—made clear, an unemployed person may receive unemployment benefit in respect of a period of temporary absence from home while on holiday in Great Britain or Northern Ireland only if he can prove that he was available for work throughout the period concerned, whatever its duration. Although there are no hard and fast rules about the number of holidays for which unemployment benefit may be paid in any year, the frequency and duration of such absences would be included amongst those factors which the independent adjudicating authorities would take into account in deciding whether or not the claimant was available for work at such times.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances the girl friend of a man in prison can claim her fare paid by his Department to visit the man in prison.

If she has a valid visiting order and is receiving supplementary benefit or is not in full time employment and has an income not much above the supplementary benefit level.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, although Dithranol paste is allowed on National Health Service prescriptions for the treatment of psoriasis, the tubular bandages required both clinically and for clothing protection are not so available, thus limiting self-medication and necessitating hospital visits at times when the malady is not at its worst.

I am advised that there is already an adequate range of tubular bandages and dressings available for this purpose on the prescription of a general practitioner. If the hon. Member has a particular bandage in mind, perhaps he will let me have details.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department pays benefit in respect of rent or rates for caravans and vans used as accommodation, to jobless persons spending the summer months in climatically pleasant resorts.

Where a person is entitled to supplementary benefit, the calculation of his requirements takes account of any rent or rates he has to pay, provided they are reasonable. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 8th July.—[Vol. 935, c. 37–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys' estimate of the growth in population in the period up to 1991 in Northamptonshire; and how many other counties are in the same category.

The latest population projections for counties were produced some 18 months ago and took mid-1974 as their starting point. The population of Northamptonshire was projected to increase from 496,000 in 1974 to 653,000 by 1991—a gain of 157,000, or 32 per cent. Over the period. Of the other counties only Buckinghamshire (45 per cent.) and Cambridgeshire (35 per cent.) had projected increases of over 25 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from MIND in relation to Broadmoor Hospital.

The only representations we have received from MIND recently have been in connection with matters arising from its representation of two Broadmoor patients before the European Commission on Human Rights.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for the rebuilding of Broadmoor Hospital.

A feasibility study for the redevelopment of Broadmoor Hospital on its existing site is nearly complete but it is not expected that major reconstruction can begin until the new Park Lane Special Hospital, being built near Liverpool to relieve the male overcrowding at Broad-moor, is completed. Completion of Park Lane is scheduled for 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new Members have been appointed to the Committee, including the six sub-committees, on Safety of Medicines in the last 12 months.

Two.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many chairmen of regional health authorities have been appointed in the past 12 months.

None. The term of office of all 14 regional health authority chairmen will expire on 31st July 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria are used for selecting persons for courses at the Supplementary Benefits Commission's reestablishment centres; and if he will make a statement.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission provides re-establishment centres on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. I understand that the first consideration in deciding to invite a man to attend a re-establishment centre is that he appears to be suffering from the ill effects of a long period of unemployment or irregular employment, and would be likely to benefit from a course designed to restore the habit of working. The only other relevant consideration is whether his record suggests that he is

						1973	1974	1975
1.	(a) Numbers leaving centres	…	…	…	…	2,035	1,962	2,001
	(b) Completed courses	…	…	…	…	1,390	1,195	1,060
	(c) Did not complete courses	…	…	…	…	645	767	941
	(d) Discharged to employment	…	…	…	…	964	793	518
	(e) Discharged to await placing action by Employment Service Agency's local Offices.					426	402	542
						Percentage	Percentage	Percentage
2.	Proportion in employment six months after discharge—
	(a)Of those at 1(b)	…	…	…	…	53	40	26
	(b) Of those at l(d)	…	…	…	…	60	49	46
	(c) Of those at l(e)	…	…	…	…	37	23	8

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many re-establishment centres are run by the Supplementary Benefits Commission; how many places are available at them; what is the average length of attendance; and how many persons attended in each of the last five years.

There are 17 re-establishment centres with a total of 516 places and the average length of stay is about six to eight weeks. The following numbers of persons passed through the centres during each of the last five years:

1972	…	…	…	…	2,301
1973	…	…	…	…	2,030
1974	…	…	…	…	1,962
1975	…	…	…	…	2,001
1976	…	…	…	…	2,483

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of persons attending the Supplementary Benefits Commission's re-establishment centres in each of the past five years: (a) obtained employment within one month of leaving the centre, (b) obtained employment within three months of leaving the centre and (c) was in employment six months after leaving the centre.

Information is not available about the proportion of persons attending the Supplementary Benefits Commission's re-establishment centres who obtained employment within particular periods of leaving the centres. The position at the date of discharge and the position after six months in respect of the only categories for which a follow-up is undertaken were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new members have been appointed to the Occupational Pensions Board in the last 12 months.

Three.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new members have been appointed to the British Pharmacopoeia in the last 12 months.

No new members have been appointed to the British Pharmacopoeia Commission in the last 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new members have been appointed to the National Insurance Advisory Committee in the last 12 months.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new members have been appointed to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council in the last 12 months.

Five.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action an individual National Health Service dental patient may take where his panel dentist refuses to carry out necessary dental repairs such as tooth capping because of inadequate fees allowed by the Government for the same.

No patient is on a dentist's "panel"; a dentist's obligation to a patient is discharged at the end of each course of treatment. A patient who is refused NHS treatment of any kind by a dentist should seek another dentist on the family practitioner committee's list who may be willing to provide it.So far as fees are concerned, these are reviewed regularly and are designed to reimburse dentists for the average case, the intention being that simple and straightforward cases compensate for the more time-consuming and complex ones. Fees currently paid for items of treatment do not fully reflect what dentists are paid overall. In addition to remuneration through fees, a dentist's gross fee earnings are augmented by a further 3 per cent. to cover increased expenses. Furthermore, most dentists are entitled to the cash supplement awards of £312 and £208 per annum as recommended by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice his Department has given to local authorities where a parent is contributing to his Children's upkeep in the care of the local authority, but unable to claim child benefit.

The assessment of parental contributions in respect of a child in care is a matter for local authorities. My Department wrote to all local authorities in October 1976 describing in detail the special child benefit rules relating to children in care, making it plain that child benefit generally ceases to be payable after a child has been in care for eight weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether pre-retirement courses are available to employees of his Department.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown showing how the extra £300 million which he proposes to spend on family income support in 1978–79 will be allocated.

This sum will be needed to increase the rate of child benefit to £2·30 a week for all children, with a £1 premium for the first child of a one-parent family.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had during the last six months with the Countryside Commission and the national parks about the problem of litter.

On 23rd June, in discussion with representatives of the Countryside Commission and other Government agencies concerned with sport and recreation, I drew attention to the anti-waste campaign which I launched the day before jointly with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry. I propose to bring this to the attention of the national parks in particular when I address their annual conference in September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of the complete redecoration of the Commons Court block; what consideration he has given to a spring clean; and, if so, what economies could result.

The estimated cost of redecoration of the Members' Rooms, 49 of various sizes and two lavatories, is £2,250. The rooms were decorated in non-washable emulsion paint and the walls are badly soiled. Washing down without repainting would not be satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which organisations he intends to consult regarding applications for aid, in 1978, from the European Regional Development Fund; and when the consultations will start.