asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any members or ex-members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces have been seconded to advise the Government of Thailand in counterinsurgency techniques; and if any part of any costs incurred are met by Her Majesty's Government.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries with serving members of their armed forces currently undergoing training in the United Kingdom; and if he will list the numbers in each case.

Serving members of the armed forces of the following countries are currently undergoing training in the United Kingdom:

• Afghanistan
• Argentine
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Bahrein
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Burma
• Canada
• Chile
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• Eire
• France
• Gambia
• W. Germany
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Kuwait
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Swaziland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America
• Upper Volta
• Venezuela
• Yugoslavia
• Zaire
• Zambia

The number involved in such training is about 2,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many applicants have still not received their World War II medals; what is the longest wait any of them have so far experienced; what is the reason for the delay; and whether steps can now be taken to speed up the issue of such medals.

Some 12,000 applicants are still awaiting their medals. The wait-ting time is about two years in the case of the Army, which receives the bulk of the applications, and substantially less in the case of the other Services. Many who were eligible for medals neglected to apply in the immediate post-war years, but more recently there has been an upsurge of interest. Priority is given to the issue of medals to personnel who are currently serving and to the processing of applications for World War I medals. Financial constraints rule out any possibility of taking on extra staff at the Army Medal Office, but I hope that there may be some improvement in the situation following a recent reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service examinations into cases of trade union recognition have concluded that the business should recognise the union.

In 75 instances a recommendation for recognition has been made in a written report issued by ACAS under the provisions of Section 12 of the Employment Protection Act 1975. That figure excludes one instance in which a report was declared void and another in which ACAS agreed to set aside a report.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of references to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service under Section 11 of the Employment Protection Act of recognition issues by trade unions in 1977; and how many such references were made by each trade union.

The total number of recognition issues referred to ACAS in 1977 was 577. The number of references made by individual trade unions was as follows:

Transport and General Workers' Union	118
Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs	84
Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers—TASS	45
Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers—Engineering Section	43
Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff	42
Transport and General Workers' Union—ACTS	29
General and Municipal Workers' Union	24
General and Municipal Workers' Union—MATSA	18
Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers	14
Engineers and Managers' Association	13
Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunication and Plumbing Union	12
National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers	12
National Union of Bank Employees	11
United Kingdom Association of Professional Engineers	11
National Union of Public Employees	9
Society of Graphical and Allied Trades	9
EETPU—Electrical Engineering Staffs' Association	8
Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers	7
National Graphical Association	5
Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union	5
Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians—Supervisory, Technical, Administrative, Managerial and Professional Section	5
Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians	4
National Union of Journalists	4
National Owner Drivers' Association	4
Scottish Further Education Association	4
Association of Professional Scientists and Technologists	4
Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union	4
National Society of Operative Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel	3
National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers	3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total cost of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service in each of the past three years.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service was set up with effect from 2nd September 1974. The total cost during the past three financial years was:

	£
2nd September 1974-March 1975	999,246
1975–76	3,260,683
1976–77	6,598,059

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service examinations into cases of trade union recognition have concerned businesses employing less than 50 people; and what is the current total number of such examinations.

I understand from ACAS that this information is not readily available and cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in what percentage of cases in the last 12 months industrial tribunals have been unable to hear a case on the day scheduled for it to be heard, but have had to send the parties home, thus involving them in abortive expenditure; and what action is taken to minimise such incidents.

Information is not available for the last 12 months. During a sample period of six weeks from 3rd October to 11th November 1977, 3·2 per cent. of cases could not be heard on the day scheduled. The presidents of the industrial tribunals assure me that every effort is made to keep such cases to a minimum, but in view of the number of cases which are settled or withdrawn, some as late as the day of the hearing itself, it is not possible to prevent them entirely.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment under what general criteria industrial tribunals are prepared to agree to a formal request, in advance of the scheduled date for the hearing, from one of the parties to the action that it should be postponed; and what guidance his Department gives to the Central Office of the Industrial Tribunals in this regard.

The question whether a hearing should be postponed is a judicial matter to be decided by the tribunal concerned. The presidents of the industrial tribunals advise me that actions are postponed when such a course is in the interests of justice. The facts of the individual case and the interests of the parties are taken into account. Since the decision to grant a postponement is a judicial matter, it would not be proper for my Department to give guidance to the presidents of the industrial tribunals about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he is giving to compensating persons whose hearing before an industrial tribunal does not take place on the day scheduled for it, because it is not reached in time; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not considering such compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the premises of Swift (Chemicals) of Chatteris were last visited by the Health and Safety Inspectorate; and how often they have been visited by inspectors since 1975.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 728], gave the following information:The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the premises of Swift (Chemicals) of Chatteris were visited by an inspector of health and safety on 13th February 1975, 25th September 1975, 28th October 1975, 1st April 1976, 9th October 1977 and 24th January 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will seek powers to ensure that inspection of industrial premises is effected before production recommences after a major fire;(2) whether it is the practice of the Health and Safety Inspectorate to re-examine industrial premises after a major conflagration such as occurred at Swift (Chemicals) of Chatteris, in October 1977.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 728], gave the following information:The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informed me that the Factory Inspectorate do not necessarily re-examine industrial premises after a major fire. Its normal practice is to investigate the causes of various fires and, depending on the result of the investigations, take such action as may be appropriate in the particular case. If matters of substance have been found to require attention to limit the chance of further fires the premises will be revisited to ensure that the required action will be taken.In the case of the fire at Swift (Chemicals) Chatteris in October 1977 an investigation of the circumstances was carried out, but the precise cause of the fire could not be determined. The firm has been advised to discuss any plans it might have for the rebuilding of the plant which had been destroyed with the Factory Inspectorate.I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 are sufficient for control of industrial process hazards. Health and safety inspectors are empowered to ensure that adequate controls are provided for the safety of the work force and for other persons who may be affected by the work activity.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied that the two fires within three months at Swift (Chemicals) Chatteris were not occasioned by industrial negligence.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 728], gave the following information:The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission has informed me that in spite of investigation by an inspector of health and safety and by an expert on behalf of the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, the cause of the fire on 9th October 1977 could not be determined. Investigation of the fire on 22nd January 1978 has begun, and further inquiries concerning the piece of plant involved in the fire are being made. Until these investigations are complete no conclusions can be reached on the question of industrial negligence.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the monitoring carried out by the Health and Safety Inspectorate, in view of the two fires at Swift (Chemicals) Limited, Chatteris; and if he will seek to amend the Health and Safety at Work Act so as to provide for more frequent inspections at plants using highly inflammable raw materials.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 728], gave the following information:The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that, within the limits of its current resources, he is satisfied with the amount of monitoring carried out by the Factory Inspectorate at Swift (Chemicals) of Chatteris. There is no need to amend the Health and Safety at Work Act to carry out more frequent inspections of plants where highly flammable raw materials are used. The frequency of inspection of all premises is determined by the Factory Inspectorate, using a system which reflects the degree of risk in the premises and the management's effectiveness in dealing with health and safety matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average take-home wage of a civilian male searcher and a female searcher in Belfast city centre.

The average weekly take-home pay of members of the Civilian Search Unit employed in Belfast city centre is £68. Separate information for male and female members is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of maintenance of civilian searchers' quarters in Belfast city centre including light and heat.

Between 4th April 1977 and 31st December 1977, the most recent period for which figures are available, the cost of maintaining the premises used by the Civilian Search Unit in Belfast city centre was £9,877.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost during 1976–77 of uniforms supplied to civilian searchers in Belfast city centre.

During the financial year 1976–77 the cost of supplying uniforms to members of the Civilian Search Unit employed throughout Northern Ireland was £38,000. It is not possible to apportion this sum between Belfast and other locations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of salaries for civilian searchers in Belfast city centre during the year 1977.

During 1977 the total cost of the salaries, including overtime, of members of the Civilian Search Unit employed in Belfast city centre was £1,735,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the strength of the Police Traffic Branch from 1st January 1977 to 30th June 1977 and from 1st July 1977 to 31st December 1977.

Between 1st January 1977 and 30th June 1977 the strength of the RUC Traffic Division rose from 207 to 225; and between 1st July 1977 and 31st December 1977 from 225 to 249.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hours overtime per month a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Traffic Branch is permitted to work in comparison with other branches within the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

I am informed that the members of the RUC Traffic Division, in common with the rest of the force, work overtime at the direction of their Divisional Commander. On average, members of the division work 80 hours overtime per month, corresponding to the average for the force as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest estimated annual rate of spending by his Department on entertainment and hospitality outside the United Kingdom.

Estimated expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on official entertainment overseas during the current financial year is £2·37 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the number of free travel warrants available to members of the Foreign Service and their families.

Single Diplomatic Service officers under the age of 21, living in lodgings or in a hostel, are entitled to three free travel warrants a year to visit their family home. Similar arrangements apply to single home civil servants. In the course of 1977, 297 such travel warrants were issued to Diplomatic Service officers serving in this country, and in about 40 cases expenses were refunded in lieu of travel warrants.Diplomatic Service staff and their families serving overseas are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses for leave journeys back to this country, within certain limits and at intervals that vary between one year and 2 and a half years, according to the nature of the post and the grade of the officer in question. In addition, their children at school in the United Kingdom are entitled to visit them overseas at public expense during the main school holidays, subject to certain conditions and to a contribution from the parent in some cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long wives and children of persons already settled in the United Kingdom have to wait for an interview at the High Commission in Dacca, New Delhi, and Islamabad in order to join their husbands in the United Kingdom.

Wives and children interviewed on 30th November 1977, the latest date for which information is available, had waited 18 months in Dacca, five and three-quarters months in Delhi, and sixteen and a half months in Islamabad for their interviews.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to shorten the waiting time for people on the Indian Sub-Continent who wish to join their relatives in the United Kingdom.

Waiting times were considerably reduced in the Indian Sub-Continent following staff increases in 1975 and 1976. Manpower constraints prevent us from making further increases, but staff have recently been redeployed to help posts where the workload is greatest. Further transfers are under consideration. The continuing high level of applications at certain posts rules out any dramatic overall reduction in waiting times.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current length of time for Maltese citizens wishing to emigrate to the United Kingdom: (a) having to wait for an interview with the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Malta and (b) having to wait for a decision on the application.

All applicants for entry clearance, for visit or for settlement, are seen without delay, or by appointment to meet their convenience, at the office of the United Kingdom High Commission in Malta. Except in a small minority of cases where decisions have to be referred for further inquiries, the decision on the application is given immediately within a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he is making about the promotion in the United Kingdom of holidays in three Cyprus hotels forcibly expropriated during the Turkish invasion in 1974 from owners whose consent has not been sought and to whom no compensation has yet been paid.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend) on 25th January.—[Vol. 942, c. 1364] As to the promotion in the United Kingdom of holidays in these hotels, I am not aware of any advertisements which the British Government have the legal power to prevent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost to Her Majesty's Government in the latest 12 months for which figures are available of dealing with individual applications against the United Kingdom lodged with the European Commission on Human Rights.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 449], gave the following information.The latest 12 months for which figures are available are the financial year April 1975 to March 1976. During this period hearings were held before the European Commission of Human Rights of two individual applications against the United Kingdom. The cost of these hearings to Her Majesty's Government was £9,021·02.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider lending money at lower interest rates than those at present available to farmers so that more young farmers have the opportunity to buy their own farms.

Young farmers wishing to purchase their own farms have access to the facilities of the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation and the major clearing banks in the usual way. The recent substantial lowering of commercial interest rates will be of significant benefit to those seeking loans for this purpose. I have at present no plans to provide special assistance for land purchase.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what legislative authority his Department acted in the past when providing financial assistance to farmers who had suffered losses from flooding; and if he will list the powers he now has in this respect.

The assistance to farmers following the 1953 flood was given under Section 13 of the Coastal Flooding (Emer gency Provisions) Act 1953. This section gave the Minister power to make acreage payments in respect of the rehabilitation of arable or pasture land damaged by salt water. In accordance with the provisions of the Act that power lapsed in 1957. My right hon. Friend the Minister now has no specific authority to provide financial assistance to farmers who suffer losses or damage from flooding. Grants towards the cost of improvement or replacement of farm or horticultural buildings or the improvement of drainage systems are, however, available to all farmers and growers, subject to the conditions of the respective schemes, under the farm capital grant scheme, the horticulture capital grant scheme and the farm and horticulture development scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can now give a preliminary estimate of the losses sustained by farmers and growers in the flooding of 11th and 12th January in the Faversham constituency.

Some 3,750 acres were affected by flooding in the Faversham constituency. Preliminary estimates of losses to farmers and growers are about 40 tons of hay, nine tons of fertiliser, 100 tons of potatoes, 1¾ miles of fencing and over 700 sheep. In addition, there has been some damage to buildings and drainage systems. It is not yet possible to give an estimate of damage to growing crops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now give a preliminary estimate of the total losses suffered by agricultural and horticultural interests in the flooding on 11th and 12th January, giving the total acreage affected and the total of livestock lost; and if he will now make a statement about government assistance to those farmers and growers affected.

Reports from my Department's regional offices indicate that about 9,000 acres of agricultural land were flooded on 11 th–12th January including about 1,800 acres of cereals and horticultural crops. About 1,200 sheep were reported drowned. It is not yet possible to assess the total damage to the land or the growing crops

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on how he intends to implement the decision of the House to devalue the green pound.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend made to the House yesterday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the effect on the retail price index and on the food index of increasing the devaluation of the green pound from 5 per cent, to 7½ per cent.

My right hon. Friend estimates that the effect of a 7½ per cent, devaluation of the green pound in a full year is to raise the food price index by about 1½ per cent, and the retail price index by about one-third of 1 per cent. The corresponding figures for a devaluation of 5 per cent, are about 1 per cent, and about a quarter of 1 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is planning to bring the Franco-Irish Sheep Agreement before the European Court.

I have no plans to do so at present and refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 10th January 1978.—[Vol. 941, c. 724.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet been able to form an assessment of the costs of repairing and improving sea defences to prevent a recurrence of the type of flooding that occurred on 11th and 12th January; and what central Government grants are available for this purpose.

The two authorities mainly responsible for the sea defences on the East and Kent coasts—that is, the Anglian and Southern Water Authorities—have estimated that the cost of repairing the defences damaged on 11th-12th January will amount to nearly £2 million. No estimates can be made of the cost of improvements until a more detailed study has been made.There are no statutory powers to grant aid repairs as such, but where the work can be regarded as a necessary part of an improvement scheme it may be eligible for grant aid of up to 85 per cent, under the Land Drainage Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers have resigned in each of the last two years; and, of these, how many were uniformed and how many plain clothes.

In the years 1976 and 1977 the total numbers of officers who resigned from the police service in Scotland were 446 and 661 respectively. The information available centrally does not distinguish between uniformed and plain clothes officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the fees payable for an examination for historical or genealogical purposes of the official records of births, marriages and deaths since 1855; whether an examination is possible without purchase of the certificates; and if an examination can be carried out by payment of a fee per day.

With effect from 1st January 1978, the fee for a general search in the indexes to the statutory registers of births, marriages and deaths held in the General Register Office for Scotland is £3 per day. Alternatively, inclusive fees of £3·50 per day, £8 per week, £23 per month and £45 per quarter may be paid, covering also searches in the old parish registers and in those census records which are open to the public.So far as the post-1855 statutory registers are concerned, these fees confer an entitlement to search the indexes only, but it is the practice to allow searchers to consult particular entries in the registers also, under supervision and without being required to purchase extracts of the entries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what would be the cost to public funds of implementing the proposal of the Education Institute of Scotland that children at school after the age of 16 years shall be paid a wage of £10 a week.

About £17 million a year, assuming no change in the number of pupils staying on at school; but the number could be expected to increase if such a payment were made, and the cost would then be greater.

asked the Lord Advocate how many persons under the age of 17 years were arrested following crowd incidents at the Premier League football match in Paisley on Saturday 14th January.

There were 22 persons under the age of 17 arrested at the Premier League football match in Paisley on Saturday 14th January 1978.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Procurator Fiscal was approached by the police in connection with bail for a number of persons arrested at a Premier League football match in Paisley on Saturday 14th January; what reply the Fiscal gave; and how many of these persons were held in custody for a period of 24 hours or more.

No approach was made by the police to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with the liberation by them on bail of any person arrested at the Premier League football match at Paisley on Saturday, 14th January 1978. Of the 52 persons arrested in connection with the match, 47 were detained in police custody until Monday, 16th January 1978.

asked the Attorney-General what progress has now been made in respect to installing a simultaneous translation unit in the Crown Court room at Caernarfon.

At the request of my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, the Property Services Agency of the Department of the Environment is re-examining the possibility of installing simultaneous translation equipment in the Crown Court room at Caernarvon. My noble Friend will write to the hon. Member again as soon as he receives the Property Services Agency's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the level of deficiency contributions to the Post Office pension fund in each of the last five years; and whether the Government intend to make a direct contribution to any future deficiencies.

In accordance with the Government's decision in Cmnd. 6629 that the Post Office should remain responsible for the deficiency, it is for the Post Office, with appropriate professional advice, to determine the annual rate of contribution. The Post Office Review Committee made certain recommendations relating to other aspects of funding of Post Office pensions which my right hon. Friend is studying in the light of representations on the Committee's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many firms are barred at present from tendering to his Department for Her Majesty's Government contracts because they have not complied with Government pay guidelines.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasry gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 12th January 1978—[Vol. 941, c. 790].

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether gurantees given by the National Enterprise Board for loans raised by companies involve in any way or are themselves based on any guarantees given by the Government.

I have nothing to add to the note submitted by my Department to the Public Accounts Committee which was published in Appendix III of the Committee's Eighth Report—House of Commons Paper 531.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make it a condition of the supply of public funds to British Leyland that African trade unions within their factories in South Africa are given full recognition and bargaining rights.

pursuant to his answer—[Official Report, 26th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 725] gave the following information:The financing of British Leyland is determined in the light of the company's overall strategy. My right hon. Friend is expecting to receive the NEB's recommendations in March.I shall write to my hon. Friend on trade union recognition at British Leylad's operations in South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry by how many persons he has reduced the staff of his Department consequent upon the nationalisation of the aerospace and shipbuilding industries.

pursuant to his answer—[Official Report, 26th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 726] gave the following information:In the two divisions concerned with sponsoring the aerospace and shipbuilding industries the number of staff now in post totals 93 compared with a peak of 110 before nationalisation. A further six staff are at present engaged on work in connection with the compensation of stockholders.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects the introduction of codes of practice for the vehicle, tyre and furniture industries.

A code of practice for the motor industry came into force on 1st February 1976. I understand that proposals for a code of practice for the tyre trade are under discussion between the Office of Fair Trading and the trade associations concerned. I also understand that the Director General of Fair Trading has reached agreement with trade associations in the furniture industry on a code of practice and that it is expected that the code can be introduced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will introduce a general code of practice for guarantees as suggested by Mr. Gordon Borrie, the Director General of Fair Trading, in a consultative paper based on experience of the inadequacy and unfairness of present practices.

No. This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading, who has a duty to encourage codes of practice under Section 124 of the Fair Trading Act 1973. The Director General will clearly wish to examine the comments he receives on his consultative paper before deciding on further action.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action he contemplates taking to ensure the accuracy of air gauges at garages, following the findings of the Association of the Metropolitan Authorities that only about half of those at present in use are accurate to within 2 lb a square inch, and that a fifth showed errors of more than 4 lb. a square inch.

In May 1977 my Department established a working party, comprising representatives of local authorities, motoring organisations, the police and trade associations, to explore the feasibility of introducing a national tyre pressure gauge testing scheme, which would give confidence in the accuracy of tyre pressure gauges. The survey undertaken by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities was inspired by that working party.Draft proposals for a voluntary scheme have since been drawn up and are being circulated to all interested parties for comment and support. The proposals seek to take advantage of the tyre gauge testing service already offered by most local weights and measures authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what measures have been undertaken by his Department to encourage the development of trade between the United Kingdom and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.

This is a small but expanding market for British exporters and the full range of Government export services is available to support this trade. The value of such exports rose from £12·3 million in 1976 to £22·6 million in 1977, an increase of 84 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will state the present position of the discussions on air services between the United Kingdom and Denmark.

Since the talks in Oslo in November, all three Scandinavian Governments have served notice of terminating their air services agreements with effect from 31st December 1978. I regret that so far-reaching a step was taken after a single meeting, and as a result of a difference of opinion over a matter which we would have expected to resolve by discussion between friendly countries.The provisions of the existing agreements will, of course, continue to apply during the period of notice, and the implementation of those agreements will form the main topic for discussion at a further meeting between the United Kingdom and the Governments of Denmark, Norway and Sweden in London on 30th and 31st January. It is expected that negotiations for new agreements will open in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to publish the White Paper on Airports Policy.

The White Paper will be published on 1st February.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will request British companies with subsidiaries in South Africa to supply him with details of all sales to the South African Government, South African defence forces and South African police for the years 1975, 1976 and 1977; and if he will publish the information in the Official Report.

pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 25th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 642–3.]—gave the following information:Companies in the United Kingdom are under no obligation to publish information of this kind and there are no powers available to compel them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which member countries of the EEC British subjects resident in those countries will be able to cast a vote in the direct elections to the European Parliament.

I understand that the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands will extend the franchise for their elections to the European Assembly to all EEC nationals resident in those countries. The European Assembly Elections Bill now before Parliament proposes that in the United Kingdom the franchise should be the same as for elections to Westminster, with the addition of peers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (i) if he intends to seek to repeal the Incitement to Disaffection Act; and, if so, when;(2) what studies have been made of the implications of the repeal of the Incitement to Disaffection Act or of the reform suggested by the Law Commission.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 22nd November to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Miss Richardson).—[Vol. 939, c. 621.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his intention to accept and act upon the recommendation in the Fisher Report, paragraph 2.18, that any further circular amending or adding to the Judges' Rules and Directions should be given a wide circulation and should he published in Archbold.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the Judges' Rules and the accompanying Directions and Circular.

The Judges' Rules and Administrative Directions to the Police, together with the accompanying Home Office circular of January 1964, are published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as a self-contained pamphlet, and copies are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has estimated the cost of granting postal votes at parliamentary and local government elections to all persons in receipt of State registered pensions.

Since there are over 8 million people in receipt of such pensions, the potential cost of granting them postal votes could be over £1 million for postal charges alone.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment how many postal votes were cast in each of the General Elections in 1974; and what information is available on the numbers of postal votes cast in each constituency.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers my right hon. Friend and I gave to Questions by the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 15th December and on 16th January.—[Vol. 941, c. 353; Vol. 942, c. 109–32.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what annual revenue accrued to the Exchequer at the latest convenient date from the activities of the Betting Levy Board in Scotland; and what was the total amount of that Board's expenditure in Scotland during the same 12-month period.

Under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 the Horserace Betting Levy Board is charged with the duty of assessing and collecting monetary contributions from bookmakers and from the Horserace Totalisator Board. These contributions do not accrue to the Exchequer. They are applied by the Levy Board to the improvement of breeds of horses; the advancement or encouragement of veterinary science or veterinary education; and the improvement of horseracing.The contributions which the Board received from Scotland in the year ending 31st December 1977 are estimated at £940,000. The Board allocated £960,000 to Scotland during the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the law, in the light of the deliberations of Lord Justice Scarman, Lord Justice Geoffrey Lane and Mr. Justice Donaldson in the case of Regina v. Whitehouse, to protect girls between 14 and 16 years of age from incest.

We have made this amendment. Under Section 54 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, which came into force on 8th September last, it is an offence for a man to incite a girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse with him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, what was the number of persons who have been treated on the same basis as Mr. Mohammed Iqbal, of Greenwich.

We have no record of any case bearing a precise resemblance to Mr. Iqbal's

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each of the years 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, per 1,000 employed in fire services in (a) Great Britain and (b)

	1974		1975		1976
Fire Services	Great Britain	Northern Ireland	Great Britain	Northern Ireland	Great Britain	Northern Ireland
(a) Number killed on duty	10	—	8	—	5	1
(b) Whole-time operational personnel	32,645	463	34,321	508	34,250	503
(c) Part-time operational personnel	16,098	779	16,887	757	17,255	731

Police Services	1974	1975	1976
Great Britain
(a) Number killed on duty	4	6	6
(b) Strength for ordinary duty	112,268	117,931	120,267
Northern Ireland (Regular Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve)—
(a) Number of violent deaths on duty	14	11	20
(b) Strength	8,425	9,721	9,950

	1974		1975		1976
Armed Forces	Great Britain	Northern Ireland	Great Britain	Northern Ireland	Great Britain	Northern Ireland
(a) Number killed on duty	17	38	32	22	33	23
(b) Average strength deployed as at 30th June	233,000	16,000	226,000	16,000	231,000	16,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what offence Mr. Donald Hall vas sentenced to imprisonment; what sentence was imposed and on his release from prison in Cumbria on Friday 12th January how much of his sentence he had completed; what was the reason for his early release; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Donald Hall was sentenced on 17th March 1976 to a total of three years' imprisonment for two offences of burglary. He was released from Haverigg Prison on 13th January 1978. In accordance with Section 67 of

pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 215–6], gave the following information:The following is the information about the numbers killed while on fire service duty in (

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances Pakistani mothers or fathers who are illegal immigrants but who have children while illegally in this country are allowed to remain in the United Kingdom on the grounds that the children are entitled to be regarded as United Kingdom citizens and that therefore one or both parents may remain in the United Kingdom to look after the child or children.

The existence of children born in the United Kingdom gives no entitlement to either parent to remain here but is taken into account, among all the other circumstances of the case, when deciding whether there are exceptional grounds for allowing someone to remain who would otherwise be liable to deportation or removal as an illegal entrant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Maltese citizens have been admitted for permanent settlement in the United Kingdom for each of the last five years; and how many applications are currently under consideration.

The number of Maltese citizens accepted for settlement is published annually in a Command Paper, the latest of which is "Control of Immigration Statistics 1976" (Cmnd. 6883), where the figures for 1976 are given in Tables 2(a) and 3(a). In the period January to September 1977, 154 Maltese citizens were accepted on arrival and 105 on removal of time limit. The number of applications for settlement currently being considered could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list in the Official Report those areas where the Department's monitoring shows there to be problems of a shortage of land for housing development.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how local authority mortgage rates now generally compare with those of building societies following the fourth cut in a year recently announced by the Building Societies Association.

A typical local authority mortgage rate is estimated to be about 2 per cent. above the current rate recommended by the Building Societies' Asso ciation, although rates vary widely as between authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to outline the Government's response to the Stevens Report.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Rossi) on 24th January.—[Vol. 942, c. 511].

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many firms are barred at present from tendering to his Department for Her Majesty's Government contracts because they have not complied with Government pay guidelines.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 12th January 1978.—[Vol. 941, c. 790].

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those new towns in which he considers that development corporations have largely fulfilled their purposes and should be wound up; and if he will indicate the target date in each case.

I said on 5th April last year that most of the earlier new towns had largely fulfilled the purposes for which they were established and that, subject to the necessary consultations, it was my intention that the development corporations would be wound up within the next five years. The towns concerned were Basildon, Bracknell, Corby, Harlow, Red-ditch, Runcorn, Skelmersdale and Stevenage. In July I indicated a similar timetable for Aycliffe, Peterlee and Washington.Informal consultations have now taken place in most of these towns, and I hope to be able to announce a programme of target dates for dissolution of these development corporations within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the per capita and global spending of the metropolitan districts in West Yorkshire on public sector housing, including mortgages.

Gross capital expenditure financed from the capital account on public sector housing, including mortgage lending, by the metropolitan districts in West Yorkshire for 1976–77 was as follows:

GROSS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC SECTOR HOUSING 1976–77
	Total (£.'000)	Per Capita of population (£)
Bradford	11,679	25
Calderdale	7,066	37
Kirklees	9,247	25
Leeds	23,114	31
Wakefield	13,584	44

Capital expenditure by individual authorities is known to vary considerably from year to year, due to the incidence of large capital projects. These figures are based on returns made by authorities prior to the finalisation of their accounts for the year, and may, therefore, differ from corresponding figures appearing in the authorities' own published accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now provide an estimate for the losses sustained and costs incurred, as notified to him, by the Swale District Council, householders, businesses and others within the Faversham constituency resulting from the floods of 11th and 12th January; and if he will make a statement about central Government assistance to local authorities and individuals in that area.

I have received some general reports of the kind of damage and losses sustained in the hon. Member's constituency and information about an isolated individual loss of a small business. But I have not yet had compre hensive details on which a realistic estimate of the costs involved could be based. On the question of central Government assistance I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, South (Mr. Orbach).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the damage sustained by businesses in the flooding of 11th and 12th January for which flood insurance was not available and which were therefore dependent upon adequate sea defences, if he will make a statement about possible Government assistance in the form of grants or loans to deal with emergencies of this kind.

There is no provision whereby Government can compensate uninsured businesses specifically for losses sustained in these circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been received from the local authorities affected by the recent floods and gales on the East Coast; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has given further consideration to the need of local authorities in Eastern England for central Government financial aid to assist in giving relief to the victims of the recent floods; and if he will make a statement.

The recent floods and gales affected substantial areas of the East Coast, causing wide spread damage. Many of the local authorities involved have been in touch with us, and my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Markes) from my Department, has, at my request, toured some of the worst affected areas, has had discussions with representatives of the local authorities concerned, and has had a meeting with a number of hon. Members whose constituencies suffered the most.Local authorities in the affected areas have wide powers given to them in Section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972 to initiate any action they consider necessary to safeguard life, minimise damage and alleviate distress. They have, of course, been helped by the full range of emergency services, and, where necessary, by the Armed Forces. The regional offices of my own Department, and the local officers of the Department of Health and Social Security, have been available to give whatever help they can. Government engineering experts have made on site inspections and have given specialist advice wherever necessary. There can be no doubt that in this emergency, the local authorities and all who have helped have reacted with great speed and efficiency.The Government are ready, as in similar emergencies in the past, to consider claims for special financial assistance to lighten the burden which will otherwise fall on local ratepayers. This would be additional to the specific grants already available, for example, for coast protection and sea defence.When deciding on special financial assistance, we shall be looking at such factors as the additional expenditure falling on the local authority as against its financial resources and the availability of specific grants.All local authorities who think that they have a case for special financial assistance should send me reports as soon as possible giving the nature and amount of the expenditure which they have already incurred, or which they feel they will have to incur. Claims will need to be properly examined, but this will be done expeditiously and the local authorities concerned will be informed of the outcome with the minimum delay.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has set out in his answer today to the hon. Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate) the types of emergency help that are available to individual victims of the floods through the supplementary Benefits Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to lay before Parliament his proposals to extend Part F of the Building Regulations to improve thermal insulation standards for industrial, commercial and residential buildings, on which consultations ended on 4th July 1977; and when they will come into operation.

My right hon. Friend hopes to lay regulations before Parliament in the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent to date on providing nursery education under the urban aid programme.

This information is not readily available. I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are in receipt of graduated pension to the value of 2½p a week.

I regret that this information is not readily available. Graduated pensions are normally payable as an increase of a retirement pension. Where there is no title to a retirement pension the graduated pension is paid on its own, except where the title to graduated pension is less than 12½p a week. In that event, the graduated pension is commuted to a single lump sum payment. Single payments are not, however, made to married women who will become entitled to a retirement pension on their husbands' contributions when the husband retires. They receive their graduated pension at four weekly intervals until they become entitled to their retirement pension. There are about 25,000 married women in this category, of whom about 7,000 receive graduated pension of 2½p a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the cost of operating the old graduated pension scheme; and what would be the cost of making a single repayment of all the original contributions;(2) how many people are in receipt of payments under the old graduated pension scheme; what is the average weekly payment; how many people are paid quarterly; and what is the cost of administering the scheme.

Approximately 3,700,000 people receive payments of graduated pension, the average weekly payment being about 37p. Graduated pensions are normally payable as an increase of retirement pension, and I regret that the information which is readily available about the quarterly payments of retirement pensions does not enable the numbers of those payments which include graduated pension to be determined. As the graduated pension scheme is administered as part of the national insurance scheme as a whole, it is not possible to assess separately the cost of its administration.The cost of repaying graduated contributions, after allowing for payments already made of graduated pensions and earnings-related supplements, to which those contributions also conferred title, would be about £10,000 million as at March 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many persons are classified as seasonal workers;(2) whether any further steps are required in order to make classified seasonal workers aware of the extent to which they are entitled to unemployment benefit;(3) what steps are taken by his Department to make classified seasonal workers aware of the extent to which they are entitled to unemployment benefit;(4) what is the entitlement to unemployment benefit of classified seasonal workers.

A person who works seasonally is not usually classified as a "seasonal worker" by the independent statutory authorities unless he has followed a regular seasonal pattern of work over the last three years. When he is so classified, he has to satisfy two additional conditions in order to receive unemployment benefit during his off-season. These are that he must have registered for employment during all periods of unemployment occurring in the preceding two years; and that he must have had, or must reasonably expect to obtain, a substantial amount of employment—generally at least a quarter of his off-season—in his current off-season. The number of claimants classified as seasonal workers who nevertheless qualify for unemployment benefit is not known, but in the 12 months ending 31st March 1977 about 2,000 claims to unemployment benefit were disallowed under the seasonal worker rules.Where it seems possible that a person who has claimed unemployment benefit may be a seasonal worker he is asked to provide further information about his past pattern of employment and is given a leaflet (NI 55) which explains when a person may be regarded as a seasonal worker and now he can qualify for benefit in his off-season. If the information obtained suggests that the claimant could be a seasonal worker, the additional conditions are discussed with him. Thus a person who works seasonally would usually be aware of the extent to which he would be entitled to unemployment benefit as a seasonal worker even before he was so classified. The explanatory leaflet is also available to claimants on request and is issued to anyone who inquires about the seasonal workers' rules. I do not think that any further action to bring this information to the notice of seasonal workers could usefully be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate his Department has made of the number of people over 70 years of age who, by the year 2000, will be in need of care in residential accommodation; and what is his policy for ensuring that the necessary information on the number of elderly people requiring such care is available to local authorities with sufficient lead time, so as to enable them to plan ahead and to provide the necessary financial resources.

Although population projections are important, assessment of requirements for residential care by the year 2000 will need to be made nearer the time in the context of the development of a co-ordinated pattern of provision for the elderly by social services, health and housing authorities and the likely availability of family and community support. Centrally prepared population projections to the 1990s and beyond are to be provided regularly to local authorities to assist them in assessing the services they need to provide for the elderly in the light of local circumstances. My Department will continue to provide such other guidance as may be required from time to time to assist field authorities in developing their services effectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is taken when food unfit for human consumption arrives in the United Kingdom; how soon local authorities are informed; and what action is taken by the importers, the wholesalers, the Ministry, and the local authority, respectively, in order to arrange for the immediate withdrawal of such food from retailers.

The action taken varies according to the circumstances of particular cases, but the following is a general explanation of what happens when, following its distribution, doubts arise about the fitness of imported food for human consumption.If the food is widely distributed my Department informs local authorities by letter or telegram, asking them to take action to ensure that the food is not sold or used for human consumption; it also issues a public warning. The cooperation of commercial interests is sought both centrally and locally to secure the withdrawal of the food. If voluntary co-operation with distributors and retailers is not forthcoming, local authorities can take action under food and drugs legislation to seize, and secure the safe disposal of, stocks of the food. They may also initiate proceedings against anyone selling the food for human consumption.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the level of stocks of pertussis vaccine available; and if he will make a statement.

Demand for pertussis vaccine has for several months been running at five times the normal level. I believe this is because the recent increases in whooping cough cases has led to requests for vaccination of children with the single pertussis vaccine whose parents had previously decided against vaccination with the triple vaccine at the normal time. The manufacturers have, however, met all demands received up to 25th January, and they will continue to accept orders against further supplies, which they expect to become available in March. Meantime, the very large numbers of doses recently issued should enable authorities to continue vaccination. The quantities of vaccine under production will be sufficient to meet the estimated demand for several months ahead at the current rate. My Department is keeping watch on the situation. There is no shortage of the triple vaccine against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances his Department pays for the wedding expenses of persons on social security benefits; and whether these circumstances can include payments for the hire of a Rolls-Royce and attendant liveried chauffeurs.

It is not the Supplementary Benefits Commission's policy to meet any such expenses. If the hon. Member has details of a case in which this policy has not been followed and will let me have them, the matter will be investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the information on supplementary benefit recipients and rehabilitation centres given to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe, Official Report, 14th January 1976, column 184.

The numbers commencing courses at the Supplementary Benefits Commission's re-establishment centres were 2,415 in 1976 and 2,345 in 1977. Information regarding the number offered places is not available, but, in 1976, 855 men found work shortly after being placed on waiting lists or receiving an invitation to attend, and 858 in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether unemployed school leavers who return to school for not more than three days a week are allowed to keep entitlement to full supplementary benefit.

Yes, subject to conditions laid down by the Supplementary Benefits Commission to ensure that the claimants remain at all times available to seek, pursue and take up suitable work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total nursing staffing establishment for the Worksop and Retford Hospitals; why this is below strength; and what steps he is taking to rectify this.

The numbers of nursing staff in post are below the approved funded establishment of 433·5 whole-time equivalents because of recent recruiting difficulties. The Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) is taking urgent steps to remedy the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set up an inquiry into the staffing of the Worksop and Retford District Hospitals, resulting in ward and theatre closures and inadequate, unqualified supervision of patients at night.

Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) has already set up an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will investigate the circumstances of 9th November 1977 at Kilton Hospital, Worksop, in Ward 1, when pupils had to attend a patient with a cardiac arrest because the only available ward sister was engaged on a fire alarm emergency; and whether he is satisfied with emergency switchboard procedures on this scattered hospital site.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to an incident which occurred on 19th November. The patient was admitted that evening to a ward which was in the charge of an experienced sister. When the sister subsequently had to leave in response to a fire alarm a senior house officer came to the ward to supervise the patient. Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) is investigating the adequacy of the emergency switchboard procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in November 1977 in Ward 4 of Kilton Hospital, Worksop, a State enrolled nurse was on duty for only two nights out of 30, and for only seven nights in December; why supervision on other nights was merely by auxiliaries and ward orderlies; why, during the week of 31st December, porters on duty had to supervise wards while nursing staff had their break; and why, on 2nd January, day staff had to stay until 8.30 p.m. to give medicine.

The policy of the Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) is to have a trained nurse on each ward at all times. Ward 4 is the only ward where this has not yet been achieved. I understand that a night sister supervises the giving of medicines, visits the ward regularly, and is available on a personal call system at all times. I am assured that porters have not supervised wards. Day staff are routinely on duty until 8.30 p.m.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the operating theatre at Retford Hospital has been closed since 2nd December 1977; and when it is likely to reopen.

The theatre closed because of staff shortages and will reopen as soon as additional staff have been recruited.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Capper Williams Ward at Victoria Hospital, Worksop, has been closed since 3rd December 1977; when he expects it to open again; what effect this is likely to have on the waiting list in Worksop and Retford district for day surgical cases; and whether he will make a statement.

The ward was closed in order to release staff for other duties in the hospital and will reopen when staff levels permit. The increase in the waiting list is estimated to be about 90 cases per month.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the children's surgical ward, Ward 7, at Kilton Hospital, Worksop, has been closed since 4th December; how many children have had to be sent elsewhere because of this closure; what effect this has had on the waiting list; and when it is likely to open again.

The ward closed due to sickness among trained staff and will reopen when staff levels permit. No cases have been sent elsewhere by the hospital, as urgent cases have continued to be treated in the hospital. Before the ward was closed, there was no waiting list. There are now 46 children on an ear, nose and throat waiting list.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why seven student nurses at Kilton and Victoria Hospitals, Worksop, who had qualified there in December 1977, were told to apply elsewhere for available jobs.

In August 1977, when the numbers of nursing stall in post were up to establishment, final-year student nurses were advised that there might not be vacancies available when they qualified. At the time they qualified, vacancies existed, and none of those seeking a post in the district at that time has been turned down.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the nursing staffing level of the Worksop and Retford District Hospitals in 1969 and 1977; what is the comparative number of admissions; and what is the number of administrative staff responsible for the hospitals on each of these dates.

The information is as follows:

	1969	1977
Nursing establishment (whole-time equivalent)	298	418
Admissions	8,378	9,807
Administrative staff (whole-time equivalent)	8·5	9

Direct comparisons are misleading as many changes have taken place during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric patients attended clinics in Retford and Worksop Hospitals for follow-up treatment and referrals from general practitioners in 1974; and how many attended in 1977.

168 in 1974 and 834 in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of geriatric admissions to Kilton Hospital, Worksop, in 1969; what staff were available to treat them; and what were the equivalent figures for 1977.

In 1977 admissions of geriatric patients totalled 1,033. Staff in post at 31st December 1977 were one consultant in geriatric medicine, three senior house officers and 49·5 nursing staff. There was no geriatric department at the hospital in 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many domiciliary consultations were made by the consultant physician in geriatrics from February 1976 to June 1976 and from July 1977 to December 1977; what is the maximum number of visits he is supposed to make in a year; and how many are actually made.