asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to restrict the import of Japanese racing motor bicycles at prices below that calculated on the basis of their prices in Japan plus the cost of transport to the United Kingdom and relevant tariff charges.

As I told the hon. Member in my recent letter, if the industry thinks there is an unfair trading practice here, it should contact my officials to discuss the details of a possible application to the Commission for anti-dumping action.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the balance of payments figure for 1977 excluding North Sea oil.

In view of the uncertainty about what would have happened to the United Kingdom economy in the absence of North Sea oil it is not possible to make other than a rough assessment of the impact on the visible trade balance. North Sea oil production in 1977 was valued at around £2 billion, and the effect on visible trade is likely to have been of this broad order of magnitude.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last met the Board of British Airways.

My right hon. Friend last met the full Board on 31st March last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received from the tourist industry about the structure and membership of the British Tourist Authority as proposed in the devolution Bills; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from two regional tourist boards. I believe the structure and membership of the British Tourist Authority provided for in the Scotland Bill will enable the Authority, following devolution, to continue to carry out its activities as effectively as it does at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to be able to announce a solution to the insurance problems on product liability of small firm's exports.

The problems reported to us concern the United States market. The United Kingdom insurance industry assure us that their cover is available for the United States as elsewhere and is competitive with United States rates, though rates are rising in both countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how often he meets the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority.

Frequently.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why the British Airports Authority at Heathrow bans Press reporters from operating properly at the airport; and, in particular, why after 32 years as a Press correspondent there, the authority suddenly without appeal withdrew the resident Press pass from Mr. Raymond Watts of a national Press agency.

This is a matter for the British Airports Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will request the Swiss authorities to reopen the inquiry on the Vanguard air accident at Basle on 10th April 1973, with a view to determining the effect of high frequency communication transmissions using overhead power lines on the operation of radio beacons for air navigation.

No. By international agreement new and significant evidence is a prerequisite for reopening an aircraft accident investigation of this kind. The French authorities passed the report by General Forestier on spurious emissions from continuously modulated communication signals on high tension cables to the Swiss commission of inquiry in October 1974 before the public hearing was held. The Commission considered this matter and rejected it as a factor leading to the disorientation of the flight Crew.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the number of skins of wild felines imported during the first six months of 1976 and 1977 and to date in 1978.

The figures given in the Overseas Trade Statistics for imports of wild feline skins for 1976 and 1977 were considerably inflated by the mistaken inclusion of several non-feline species. Fully corrected figures will be made available by Her Majesty's Customs as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade under what statutory authority he gave directions to the Sun Alliance company requiring it to change the level of their premiums.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade under what statutory authority he has directed the adjustment of the level of insurance company premiums.

I have not yet given any insurance company a statutory direction to adjust the level of its premiums.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the main British companies presently trading with Uganda.

My Department does not collect such information.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the proposed starting date for the building of the fourth terminal at Heathrow Airport; and when he expects to receive the results of the public inquiry which is to be set up.

The British Airports Authority had hoped to start building the fourth terminal in September 1978, but this will now be subject to a public inquiry to be held this summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress he has made with the other EEC members on agreeing co-ordinated defence measures to meet the Russian maritime threat; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot make a statement at this stage. A number of possible measures are under consideration in Brussels in preparation for discussion at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers (Transport).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps his Department has taken to protect British shipping from the Russian maritime threat in the two years since the publication of the General Council of British Shipping's leaflet "Red Ensign versus Red Flag"; and what progress he has made over this period.

In the last two years there have been two meetings with the Soviet maritime authorities at ministerial level, and some seven meetings at official level which have included representatives from the General Council of British Shipping. Some improvement in the United Kingdom share of the bilateral liner traffic has been obtained, but progress towards an accommodation on Soviet cross-trade activity has so far been disappointing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will have discussions with the EEC, the European Civil Aviation Comission, and the International Civil Aviation Organisation to ensure that transit passengers are not subjeted to extra searches in addition to the search at the original point at departure and do not incur extras charges for security precautions.

No. All passengers and their hand baggage departing from United Kingdom airports will continue to be subject to such search as the Government consider necessary. After the passing of the Civil Aviation Bill now before the House, airport authorities and airlines will be free to absorb the aviation security levy, or to pass it on to the user in whatever way they choose.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he is taking to monitor the increasing market share captured by COMECON liners of bilateral and cross trades and the consequent damage being caused to British shipping.

The Department of Trade is keeping a close watch on the development of carryings to and from the United Kingdom by East bloc vessels. It is less easy to obtain data on east bloc carryings in the cross-trades, although the Department receives regular and helpful reports from British shipowners. The Government are pursuing the possibility of an improved statistical reporting system on an OECD-wide basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to ensure that air landing strips in Orkney and Shetland, threatened with closure owing to increased licence fees, are left open.

I have no powers to ensure that air landing strips be kept open. I understand that in some cases operators will need to increase expenditure to meet the cost of compliance with higher safety standards as well as that on increased licence fees, but that financial assistance might in some cases be available under the terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what is the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland for the latest year for which figures are available; what is the balance for textiles, clothing and footwear; and if he will give the comparable figures for each year since 1970;(2) what is the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Denmark for the latest year for which figures are available; what is the balance for textiles, clothing and footwear; and if he will give the comparable figures for each year since 1970.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when it is expected that the improvement at Sumburgh Airport will be completed.

There is more than one improvement planned or in hand at Sumburgh aerodrome. I am sure the Civil Aviation Authority will give the right hon. Member information about any project he has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many Concordes have so far been delivered to British Airways; and how many are currently in use.

British Airways have taken delivery of their fleet of five Concordes, all of which are in use.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what progress British Airways and British Aerospace have so far made toward concluding a Concorde interchange and leasing arrangements for international services with Braniff;(2) what advantages he sees in British Airways and British Aerospace reaching an interchange and leasing arrangement with Braniff;(3) what steps he is taking to encourage a British Airways and British Aerospace interchange and leasing arrangements with Braniff;(4) what assessment he has made of the potential value to British Airways and British Aerospace, respectively, of Braniff's proposed interchange and leasing arrangements.

An agreement was signed between British Airways and Braniff on 10th February 1977. British Aerospace is not a party to the agreement. I am, of course, in favour of arrangements that will enable British Airways to improve utilisation of their Concorde fleet. The Government are actively giving them every assistance in seeking solutions to the problems which must be resolved before the agreement can be implemented. An assessment of this and future such leasing arrangements is a matter for the commercial judgment of the British Airways Board.

asked the Attorney-General if he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to prosecution for offences under the Marine Broadcasting Act the activities of Radio Caroline in using postal boxes for the distribution of its samples and other publicity activities.

I shall consider any details submitted to me by my hon. Friend in relation to the alleged activities.

asked the Attorney-General if he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions, with a view to prosecution for offences under the Incitement to Hatred Act, the speech in Coalisland on 22nd January of Mr. Kevin Agnew, in which he referred, in offensive and derogatory terms, to the Unionist people of Northern Ireland and invited their expulsion from the Province.

No. The report which I have seen does not appear to disclose offences against the relevant legislation.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases have so far been instituted in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland under the provisions of the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 and the equivalent legislation of the Republic, respectively; and with what results.

One case has been instituted in Northern Ireland. It involves three persons who have been returned for trial to the Belfast City Commission for offences including the extra-territororial offence of murder in the Republic of Ireland and possession of firearms with intent in that jurisdiction. Their trial has been provisionally fixed for 20th February next.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor will dismiss Colonel R. L. Gardner Thorpe J.P., presiding in the Mansion House Court, in view of evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough arising out of an incident on 20th January; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend is inquiring into the allegations made against the magistrate concerned, and will decide whether any action is necessary when he has been able to consider the relevant facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether her Department gave instructions to members of the staff of the Victoria and Albert Museum to refrain from writing to the Press or appearing on television during the month of January; and whether she will make a statement.

Members of the staff of the museum, like all other civil servants, must seek special permission before they comment in public on matters relating to their work. Taking account of the established principles for dealing with such questions my Department turned down a request by some members of the staff to write to the Press about the affairs of the museum. In January the director received two invitations to appear on television; he was advised against accepting the first and was left free to accept the second. I am normally willing to permit him, as head of the museum, to appear on television or write in the newspapers if he wishes to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will specify the total amounts at 1st January 1978 covered by certificates of indemnity issued by the national museums, galleries and libraries in England in respect of objects lent to their permanent collections on a long-term basis, broken down to the individual institutions, and recording the comprehensive total for all the institutions together.

The total amounts, at 1st January 1978, reported by the national museums, galleries and libraries in England as covered by certificates of indemnity issued in respect of objects lent to their permanent collections on a long-term basis, are listed below:

	£
British Museum.	607,398
Science Museum	500,000
Victoria and Albert Museum	9,620,778
Imperial War Museum	79,437
National Gallery.	8,900,000
National Maritime Museum	807,318
National Portrait Gallery	261,000
Tate Gallery	2,600,000
Wallace Collection	nil
British Museum (Natural History)	nil
Geological Museum.	nil
British Library.	1,500,000*
All the above institutions	£24,875,931
*approximately

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the fact that in the last year the university student population rose by about 5 per cent. while that of academic staff has risen by only 0·7 per cent., whether this increase in productivity could justify a productivity bonus.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will approve a productivity deal under the current incomes policy in settlement of the university teachers' pay claim in the light of the increase in productivity of university staff.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Irving) on 31st of January—[Vol. 943, c. 114–15.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects the discussions between her officials, the university authorities and the Association of University Teachers to reach agreement in settling the university teachers' pay claim.

It is not possible to forecast how long the present negotiations will take, but there will be no unnecessary delays.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in the light of the fact that two major food retailers have reduced prices across the board by 5 to 15 per cent., if he will refer tothe Price Commission for investigation the profit margins of retailers.

My right hon. Friend has no present plans to direct the Price Commission to examine profit margins of retailers in general. A number of current examinations cover specific areas of retail trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, Official Report, 26th January, columns 733–4, if he will seek the agreement of the Chairman of the Price Commission to publish in the Official Report the Chairman's letter to the hon. Member dated 24th January 1978, PS 16/75, in view of the public interest in this subject and the need to keep the media informed.

No. Publication of the letter is a matter for the Chairman of the Price Commission and the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many paid public appointments he has made since assuming office which are under the patronage of his Department; whether each position is advertised and open for public competition; and how many paid appointments he has given to (a) trade union representatives and (b) members of the Labour Party, since the Government assumed office;

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of offers made under schemes of selective assistance to industry, in accordance with Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972, was offered to companies in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region at the latest available date.

At 31st December 1977 the total amount of offers made under schemes of selective assistance to industry in accordance with Section 8 of the Industry Act was £201,163,000, ofThe following United Kingdom companies were acquired by the Board from the receiver for the Fairey Company Ltd:

Company	Location		Activities
Fairey Hydraulics Ltd	Heston	…	Hydraulic power controls and filters for aircraft
Fairey Engineering Ltd	Stockport	…	General and nuclear engineering
Fairey Nuclear Ltd	Heston	…	Nuclear components and light engineering
Fairey Industrial Products Ltd	Heston	…	Management company
Fairey Filtration Ltd	Heston	…	Industrial filters
Fairey Winches Ltd	Tavistock	…	Vehicle overdrives, winches and hubs
Jerguson Tress Gauge and Valve Co Ltd	Newcastle	…	Liquid Level indicators
The Tress Engineering Co Ltd,	Newcastle	…	Petrochemical valves
Fairey Marine Holdings Ltd	Hamble	…	Management company
Fairey Marine (East Cowes) Ltd	East Cowes	…	Ship and boat building
Fairey Exhibitions Ltd	Hamble	…	Exhibition stand contractors
Fairey Marine Ltd	Hamble	…	Boat building and repair
Fairey Yacht Harbours Ltd	Hamble	…	Boat handling, berthing and storage
Fairey Surveys Ltd	Maidenhead	…	Aerial and geophysical survey and mapping
Fairey Surveys (Scotland) Ltd	Livingston	…	Aerial and geophysical survey and mapping
Fairey Developments Ltd	Heston	…	Management company

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list any investments or loans made by the Northern Region Board of the National Enterprise Board up to 31st January 1978.

This is a matter for the National Enterprise Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) when he expects the process of paying compensation to the shareholders and the companies being acquired

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list, and give details of, those subsidiary companies of the former Fairey Co. Ltd., acquired by the National Enterprise Board from the receiver, and describe the activities of those subsidiaries.

The Information is as follows:under the Shipbuilding and Aircraft Nationalisation Act to be completed;(2) if he will explain further the formulae used by the official accountants in calculating total compensation payments in respect of companies and their subsidiaries being acquired under the Shipbuilding and Aircraft Nationalisation Act;(3) if he will explain further the formulae used by the official accountants in calculating interim compensation payments in respect of companies and their subsidiaries being acquired under the Shipbuilding and Aircraft Nationalisation Act;(4) what information he has supplied to companies and their subsidiaries being acquired publicly under the Shipbuilding and Aircraft Nationalisation Act to explain the formulae used to calculate compensation to shareholders, including interim payments.

The final payment of compensation in respect of each company will be made as quickly as possible after the amount has been determined, either by negotiation or, if necessary, by arbitration, in accordance with the provisions of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977. I have nothing to add to the explanation of the basis of the payments on account which my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave in his answer of 25th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett)—[Vol. 942, c. 615–16]—and which was notified to stockholders' representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what advice has been given to the British Steel Corporation about the withholding of contracts from electrical contracting firms which break the Government's pay guidelines.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury gave to the right hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) on 12th December 1977.—[Vol. 941, c. 76.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a further statement on his proposed policy on nuclear reactor choice.

I have nothing to add to the statement which my right hon. Friend made to the House on 25th January.—[Vol. 943, c. 1391–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are being taken in process technology for the conversion of coal into liquid and gaseous fuels to be commercially viable.

Processes to improve the economics of making liquid and gaseous fuels from coal, figure in the research and development work carried out by the National Coal Board and the British Gas Corporation. Their work is summarised in the respective annual reports and in the Department of Energy's annual report on research and development. In addition, proposals for the development of United Kingdom coal liquefaction and gasification technology at the pilot plant scale have been put to a working party on research and development under the Coal Industry Tripartite Group. The working party, comprising representatives of Government, National Coal Board and the mining unions, is expected to report in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much financial support the Government are giving to the five specific projects of research and development now being considered by the coal and gas industries for the conversion of coal into liquid and gaseous fuels; and if he will give details of the projects concerned.

No Government financial support is being given to the projects to which the hon. Member refers, as the question will not arise until after the working party on research and development under the Coal Industry Tripartite Group has completed its studies and reports in the spring. Some details of the projects and the composition of the working party are given in the Department of Energy Press Notice No. 345, dated 19th October 1977, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are being taken to assist persons with low incomes, who receive rent or rate rebates instead of supplementary benefits, with payment of their winter electricity bills in the same way as those persons receiving supplementary benefits and family income supplements.

Over 3 million people receive rent or rate rebates and most have incomes significantly above the supplementary benefit level. It is not possible within the limited funds available to extend the electricity discount to these people, but some of those who receive rebates might qualify for supplementary benefit and are free to change over if they believe that benefits such as help with electricity bills make it worth their while to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to be able to announce the findings of the study of the design and economics of aero-generators by an industrial consortium set up by his Department.

My Department expects to receive the report of the commissioned design study in the near future. It will be considered by my right hon. Friend's Advisory Council on Research and Development, which will advise on the report and on any further work on wind energy which it considers to be appropriate. The findings and any further programme will be announced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what he estimates to be the cost per ton mile of moving colliery shale by rail between the Vale of Belvoir and the Bedfordshire brickfields;(2) whether it is proposed to move colliery shale from projected developments in the Vale of Belvoir to the Bedfordshire brickfields by road or by rail or by an admixture of both;(3) what he estimates to be the tonnage of colliery waste available for disposal during the first phase of developments in the Vale of Belvoir.

I refer the hon. Member to Appendix J, Sections 2, 3, 6 and 7 of Part 2 of the report "Belvoir Prospect" by the consultants Leonard and Partners and Thyssen (G.B.), a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list, by cost and countries, the amount of coal imported.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek to impose a legally enforceable maximum price for petrol during periods of shortage; and if he will make a statement

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give an assurance that he will not activate powers of price control over petrol under the Energy Act 1976 in order that the effects of the shortage of petrol may be minimised.

The Government are watching the situation very closely. So far, few garages have run out of petrol and there have been only isolated reports of sharp price increases. Close monitoring will continue and I will not hesitate to use my powers to introduce price control if this becomes necessary during a period of shortage.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will indicate how he expects additional coal derived from the productivity scheme to be consumed.

If coal is to make a major contribution to meeting our future energy requirements it is important that the trend of falling production should be reversed. For the next financial year the National Coal Board and the Central Electricity Generating Board have agreed on an increased supply of coal to power stations. Higher output will enable the NCB to seek other outlets, too.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list the exports of coal to individual EEC countries for 1975, 1976 and 1977.

I have been asked to reply and I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent changes have been made in Hong Kong to provisions for workmen's compensation for injury at work; and what percentage of employees in Hong Kong are now eligible for such compensation.

Recent changes have widened coverage of the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance; extended the time allowed for claims and the cover for medical expenses to 24 months; imposed a surcharge on employers who default on payment; ensured that compensation covers treatment costs and removed some anomalies. 99 per cent. of employees in the private sector and all public employees are now eligible for such compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will recall British diplomatic representatives from Saudi Arabia in view of the Saudi Arabian Government's execution of a princess of the Royal Household and her husband for marrying against the supposed requirements of Saudi Arabian law; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the Press statement issued by his Department regarding the recent execution of the Saudi Arabian princess and of her husband; and if he will make a statement.

The statement, made orally by a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman, in reply to a request at the daily news conference on 26th January, was as follows:

"We share the regret which has already been widely expressed that such a tragedy should have occurred. But, as the original British Press, report pointed out, the episode is exceptional."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Saudi Arabia regarding BBC reports of an execution in Saudi Arabia; and what reply he has sent.

I received representations on this matter from the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister and sent him a personal message in reply. I cannot disclose the details of our exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will define and list the basic principles of the Anglo-American proposals referred to in his answer to the right hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Amery) Official Report, 25th January, column 1368.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to Cmnd. 6919.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list in the Official Report for each of the last 10 years the total number of extradition cases instituted by the Republic of Ireland in United Kingdom courts under the provisions of the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965 showing how many such cases were successful; and how many were refused on the ground that they involved offences of a political character;(2) if he will list in the

The full information is not available. The issue or execution of warrants under the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965 and the reciprocal legislation in the Republic's Extradition Act 1965 is a matter for the police and the courts in the two countries and the Executive have no part in this procedure. However, arrangements have been made to obtain information from the police about extradition traffic between

WARRANTS RECEIVED FROM THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
		Number of warrants	Fugitives surrendered	Surrender refused on the grounds that the offence was of a political character
August—December 1975	…	22	20	—
1976	…	52	27	—

WARRANTS SENT FOR EXECUTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
	Number of warrants	Fugitives surrendered	Surrender refused on the ground that the offence was of a political character	Surrender refused on other grounds
August—December 1975	28	15	—	—
1976	44	8	1	1

Not all the cases arising from warrants received from or sent to the Republic of Ireland in the periods mentioned in the tables were determined within those periods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the possible cost to public funds of excluding from public contracts placed by his Department companies which might otherwise have submitted the most competitive tender on the ground that those companies have broken the Government's pay guidelines.

None. It is not possible to make such an estimate.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will consider providing aid to the Forest Indians of Paraguay.

I am aware of problems being faced by the Forest Indians and would be willing to consider any request for assistance to them, although at present I have not received such a request.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the cost per annum of the production and distribution of the departmental journal "Overseas

The present cost per annum, for six issues each of 9,000 copies, is £7,500. Of this, about £1,300 is recovered from non-official subscribers. The distribution is:

Foreign Governments, international organisations, diplomatic posts	3,101
Ministry of Overseas Development and other departmental staff	1,925
UK non-governmental organisations	1,433
Members of the Houses of Parliament (at their request)	339
Subscribers (e.g. commercial companies, educational institutions, individuals)	1,479
	8,277

The remaining copies are distributed to non-subscribers on individual request.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will inquire into the circumstances in which his Department's centre at Hendon tested an Austin 1100 put up by Drive, the magazine of the Automobile Association: why it crossed out the word "dangerous" in form VT21; and why it did not use the more appropriate red and white form VT22 which gives warning that the vehicle tested is dangerous for use on the roads.

The Austin 1100 was submitted on 13th October 1977 by Drive magazine for an MOT test at Hendon. The test revealed an unusually large number of defective items, and as there was insufficient space to record them all in the "remarks" column of the check list—Form VT29—some were listed in the space normally reserved for dangerous items. There was then no room left for the normal use of this space, so the word "dangerous" was deleted. This procedure was incorrect and the staff at Hendon have now been instructed accordingly.Form VT22 does not warn that a vehicle is dangerous for use on the roads. It is used only when a testing station cannot safely carry out a brake test. As it was possible to conduct the brake test safely with the equipment available at Hendon, the test was completed and the Form VT21 was correctly issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to include a compulsory course in first aid for future learner drivers on the lines of the scheme introduced by the Swiss Federal Government.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications for pelican crossings he has refused in each of the past three years.

There are no statistics on such refusals. Formal applications are rarely refused because local authorities know the Department's criteria and often discuss their proposals for installation of pelican crossings with the Department before making formal application.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents are known to have been caused, in each of the past three years, by sudden braking on the part of motorists who have subconsciously assumed that a green light at a pelican crossing will not change to red.

There is no means of compiling accident statistics on the basis of the subconscious assumptions of the motorists involved; accidents of the kind which the hon. Member describes are probably infrequent, but they could occur more often if the criteria for the installation of pelican crossings were unduly relaxed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the 60 per cent. of pedestrian crossings that were removed in the 1960s were light-controlled.

No precise figures are available, but the majority of the crossings that have been removed were Belisha crossings.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken into the possibility that a motorist who has formed the habit of ignoring red lights at empty pelican crossings will then start to disregard other traffic signals.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he employs in deciding on the proximity of junctions on motorways; and if he will list the 10 nearest pairs of existing junctions.

Decisions are based on the consideration of accident risks, environmental intrusion, cost and the practicability of signposting. At spacings less than two miles it becomes necessary to adopt non-standard signposting with substantially increased accident risks. The 10 nearest pairs of existing motorway junctions are:

• M6—Junction7 to Junction 8.
• M6—21a to Junction 22.
• M56—Junction 4 to Junction 5.
• M57—A580 Junction to B5192 Junction.
• M61—Junction 1 to Junction 2.
• M61—Junction 3 to Junction 4.
• M62—Junction 12 to Junction 13.
• M63—Junction 1 to Junction 2.
• M63—Junction 3 to Junction 4.
• M531—Junction 1 to Junction 2.

The spacing of these junctions is between three-eighths of a mile and five-eighths of a mile.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further progress has been made with plans for Okehampton bypass.

Studies into the precise route for this urgently needed new road are continuing, while the standard to which the scheme should be built is being reconsidered in the general review of the trunk road programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the Road Traffic Statutory Instrument, 1978, No. 7 although made under the European Communities Act 1972, was not made to extend to Northern Ireland.

The European Communities (Designation) No. 2 Order 1975 designates any Department of Northern Ireland or its head as the appropriate authority for implementing, under the European Communities Act 1972, EEC legislation on the subject of drivers' hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the accident and emergency department of King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, was closed to 999 ambulances over the weekend of 14th-15th January last and all Sunday admissions cancelled.

From 5 p.m. Friday 6th to 9 a.m. Monday 9th January, the accident and emergency department of King's College Hospital was closed and all cold admissions and non-emergency surgery were stopped due to increased sickness amongst nursing staff. Usually this situation would be alleviated, if other NHS nurses were not available, by the use of suitable agency nurses. They were not obtainable on this occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the number of staff in residential institutions who have been seconded for full-time training by Walsall social services for each year since 1971; how many such staff are currently undertaking full-time study in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the need for qualified social workers in residential establishments.

In the year ending 31st July 1977, in England and Wales 241^* staff of community homes and 65^* staff of other residential homes and hostels started a period of full time seconded training on courses lasting three months or more, representing approximately 1·7 per cent. and 0·6 per cent. respectively of the whole-time care staff. No staff in these categories were seconded for training by Walsall social services department during the two years ending 31st July 1977. No figures are available in the form requested for earlier years.In my reply to the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) on 28th June 1977—[Vol. 934, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his statement of 21st October, how the changes in home visiting procedures will affect one-parent families on supplementary benefit; and what steps he is taking to ensure that consideration of claims from lone parents in urgent need for exceptional needs payment is not delayed.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden) on 2nd February.—[Vol. 943, c. 260.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost to the National Health Service of one B11 and one B12 hearing aid, on the basis of the last consignment received.

It is not the practice to disclose unit prices for articles purchased under Government contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the area health authority districts in England and Wales in which permission has been granted to build a privately owned hospital or clinic, together with figures showing the number of people on publicly owned hospital waiting lists in those areas, together with the number of beds to be created in the proposed private hospitals.

The information requested is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton can expect to receive the letter promised in the Written Answer by the hon. Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moyle).—[Official Report, 23rd January, c. 493.]

I wrote to the hon. Member on 3rd February.

STANDARD RATES OF SHORT TERM NATIONAL INSURANCE BENEFITS AS A PERCENTAGE OF NET AVERAGE EARNINGS*
Year (October)†					Single person	Married couple	Married couple with two children aged under 11	Married couple with four children aged under 11	Married couple with four children aged 3, 8, 12 and 14
1954	…	…	…	…	18·7	29·3	36·7	43·1	43·1
1955	…	…	…	…	21·3	32·4	39·4	46·2
1956	…	…	…	…	20·1	30·7	37·1	44·4
1957	…	…	…	…	19·2	29·3	35·5	42·2
1958	…	…	…	…	23·9	35·9	44·0	52·4
1959	…	…	…	…	22·4	33·9	41·9	49·8	49·8
1960	…	…	…	…	21·1	31·9	39·5	46·7
1961	…	…	…	…	23·6	35·8	44·3	52·3
1962	…	…	…	…	22·9	34·8	43·0	50·8
1963	…	…	…	…	25·6	38·8	47·4	56·0
1964	…	…	…	…	24·0	36·5	44·6	52·0	52·0
1965	…	…	…	…	27·0	41·2	49·3	56·8
1966	…	…	…	…	26·2	40·1	48·0	55·2
1967	…	…	…	…	28·4	43·4	51·8	58·9
1968	…	…	…	…	26·6	40·8	50·6	57·4
1969	…	…	…	…	27·5	42·4	52·8	60·2	59·3
1970	…	…	…	…	25·0	38·4	48·3	55·6
1971	…	…	…	…	27·1	41·8	51·8	59·1
1972	…	…	…	…	25·7	39·8	50·4	58·4
1973	…	…	…	…	24·8	38·7	49·5	58·1
1974	…	…	…	…	25·6	39·5	50·2	58·5	57·9
1975	…	…	…	…	27·8	43·0	54·7	63·7	63·2
1976	…	…	…	…	28·9	44·5	56·1	65·1	64·6
1977‡	…	…	…	…	29·2	44·3	56·0	65·5	65·0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled housewives in Scotland are in receipt of the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost to public funds of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys research inquiry in the period 1973–74 into representation before industrial tribunals.

The total cost of this inquiry was £22,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the information on benefit rates given to the hon. Member for North Norfolk, Official Report, 13th February 1976, c. 416–18.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many paid public appointments he has made since assuming office which are under the patronage of his Department; whether each position is advertised and open for public competition; and how many paid appointments he has given to: (a) trade union representatives and (b) members of the Labour Party, since the Government assumed office.

The information about numbers of paid appointments and the background of appointees could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. These positions are not, however, normally advertised and open to public competition.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of evidence sent to him by the hon. Mem ber for Eccles, he will seek to amend the law to make it an offence to impose discriminatory restrictions on disabled people seeking holiday accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he proposes to take any action against public companies discriminating against mentally handicapped people;(2) if he will make a further statement of his policy towards leisure companies which accept booking of holidays for mentally handicapped people conditional upon those people satisfying that company's own arbitrary criteria that necessarily discriminate against the more severely handicapped;(3) in view of current discrimination against mentally handicapped persons on the basis of the degree of their handicap, if he remains satisfied with the working of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.

My. Hon. Friends drew my attention to reports, including a report in The Guardian, of discriminatory restrictions against mentally handicapped people wishing to take holidays at Butlin's Holiday Camps. I expressed my concern about the reports in a public statement on 30th January and instructed my Department to seek early discussions with the firm.My officials met Mr. Robert Butlin and other representatives of the firm on 3rd February. Mr. Butlin has undertaken to review the terms of a letter which was criticised in the reports sent to me by my hon. Friends. This review will take full account of my public statement. The firm has also accepted my Department's offer of assistance in resolving any future problems that may arise in providing holidays for handicapped people.I shall keep the suggestion of legislation in mind. Meanwhile, I know that my hon. Friends appreciate the importance of the Silver Jubilee Committee on Improving Access for Disabled People, which is seeking the help of all right hon. and hon. Members in drawing public attention to its work.There has been a marked improvement in public attitudes to mentally handicapped people over the past few years. I am sure the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act has contributed much to this improvement. The number of holidays provided for severely handicapped people under the provisions of Section 2 of the Act increased by 25 per cent. from 80,900 in 1973 to 101,400 in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the average increase in deaths of people between ages 65 and 75 years in periods of acute cold weather.

Only limited information is immediately available to link deaths of old people with specific periods of acute cold weather. There is a regular seasonal pattern of increased mortality in winter compared with summer, but there are many factors which contribute to this, and in some winters influenza epidemics increase the death rate. Over a 10-year period which included three epidemics, the average daily number of deaths of persons aged 65 to 74 in England and Wales was 423. Averages for the months of December and January were 503 and 526, respectively. In the winter of 1962– 63—the latest period of prolonged acute cold—it is estimated that there were nearly 16 per cent. more deaths from all causes during the first quarter of 1963 compared with the average of the corresponding quarters in 1960 to 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of people over 65 years are estimated to live in rooms with air temperatures of less than 60·8°F.(2) what percentage of people over 65 years are estimated to live in rooms with a temperature of less than 70°F.

Information in the form requested is not available centrally. However, a recent survey of the elderly living at home carried out in February 1976 by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, and to be published shortly, asked respondents in England whether they were warm enough in particular rooms of their house. The answers to this subjective question indicate that between nearly 8 per cent. and 12 per cent. of the respondents were not warm enough all the time in winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies his Department have undertaken into deficiencies of vitamins B, C and D among people over 65 years.

Nutritional surveys on men and women over 65 living in six different areas in England and Scotland were carried out by my Department in 1967–68—Reports on Health and Social Subjects No. 3: Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1972—and in 1972–73; this report is in course of preparation. The latter survey was a follow-up of those in the earlier one who were alive and could be traced. The surveys, which included an assessment of vitamin status, found no evidence of a general vitamin deficiency, but there were a few cases of vitamin C and D deficiency, mostly occurring in persons suffering from medical conditions.A larger nutrition study of the elderly was undertaken in 1973–74; the results of this are still being analysed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the information on retirement pensions given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 22nd March 1977, c. 486.

RETIREMENT PENSION AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS* AND NET† AVERAGE EARNINGS FOR EACH YEAR SINCE 1948
					Retirement pension for a single person as a percentage of		Retirement pension for a married couple as a percentage of
Year (October)					Gross earnings	Net earnings	Gross earnings	Net earnings
1948	…	…	…	…	18·9	22·4	30·4	33·8
1949	…	…	…	…	18·2	21·7	29·5	32·9
1950	…	…	…	…	17·3	20·2	27·9	31·0
1951	…	…	…	…	18·1	18·7	30·1	28·5
1952	…	…	…	…	18·2	21·3	30·2	33·3
1953	…	…	…	…	17·2	20·0	28·5	31·4
1954	…	…	…	…	15·9	18·7	26·4	29·3
1955	…	…	…	…	17·9	21·3	29·1	32·4
1956	…	…	…	…	16·8	20·1	27·3	30·7
1957	…	…	…	…	15·9	19·2	25·8	29·3
1958	…	…	…	…	19·5	23·9	31·2	35·9
1959	…	…	…	…	18·4	22·4	29·5	33·9
1960	…	…	…	…	17·2	21·1	27·5	31·9
1961	…	…	…	…	18·7	23·6	30·1	35·8
1962	…	…	…	…	18·1	22·9	29·2	34·8
1963	…	…	…	…	20·2	25·6	32·5	38·8
1964	…	…	…	…	18·6	24·0	30·1	36·5
1965	…	…	…	…	20·4	27·0	33·2	41·2
1966	…	…	…	…	19·7	26·2	32·0	40·1
1967	…	…	…	…	21·1	28·4	34·2	43·4
1968	…	…	…	…	19·6	26·6	31·7	40·8
1969§	…	…	…	…	20·1	27·5	32·6	42·4
1969‡	…	…	…	…	20·0	27·7	32·4	42·7
1970	…	…	…	…	17·8	25·0	28·9	38·4
1971	…	…	…	…	19·4	27·1	31·4	41·8
1972	…	…	…	…	18·8	25·7	30·4	39·8
1973	…	…	…	…	18·9	26·1	30·5	40·7
1974	…	…	…	…	20·6	29·7	32·9	45·5
1975§	…	…	…	…	22·3	33·3	35·6	50·6
1975‡	…	…	…	…	22·2	33·0	35·3	50·3
1976§	…	…	…	…	22·8	34·3	36·6	52·1
1976‡	…	…	…	…	22·6	33·9	36·2	51·6
1977§║	…	…	…	…	23·9	34·7	38·2	52·1
1977‡║	…	…	…	…	23·4	34·2	37·5	51·4
* Average gross weekly earnings of male, adult full-time manual workers as determined by the Department of Employment's October enquiry into the earnings of manual workers employed in manufacturing and certain other industries and the monthly index of average earnings.
† Gross earnings less tax and national insurance contributions.
‡ November benefit rates as a percentage of estimated November earnings.
§ November benefit rates as a percentage of October earnings.
║ Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new public national governmental organisations have been created and for which he is responsible since the Government assumed office; and how many paid situations there are within them.