asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has completed his review of the rates of car allowances payable to war pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has completed his review of the rates of car allowances payable to war pensioners.

Yes. I am glad to announce that both the car maintenance allowance and the war pensioners' private car maintenance allowance will be substantially increased later this year.The car maintenance allowance is a contribution towards the cost of maintaining cars loaned by my Department to war pensioners and to certain beneficiaries of the former National Health Service Vehicle Scheme. It is paid on a scale, related to the age of the car in question, of £35 a year (for the first two years), £55 a year (for the third and fourth years) and £65 a year (for the fifth and later years). These rates will be increased to £50 a year, £90 a year and £150 a year respectively with effect from 15th July 1978. Overall we estimate that these increases will mean a doubling of expenditure in a full year. All the other benefits for war pensioners provided with cars by my Department, such as petrol tax allowance, garaging supplement, free comprehensive insurance and exemption from vehicle excise duty, will remain unchanged.War pensioners who are eligible for the loan of a car, under the war pensioners' vehicle scheme, may choose instead to receive a private car maintenance allowance as a contribution towards the cost of running their own vehicles. This allowance will be increased to £250 a year tax free. The new rate will be effective from 5th July 1978, and the first payment at the new rate, with arrears, will be paid on 1st October. Recipients of this allowance will also continue to receive exemption from vehicle excise duty.Similar arrangements will be made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will show the net weekly spending power on the basis of the figures published in reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North—Official Report, 10th November 1975, c. 540 and as amended, Official Report, 8th March 1976, c. 96—of: (a) a civil servant, (b) a member of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, (c) a local government official, (d) an agricultural worker, and (e) a car worker, with a wife and two children and whose income is normally £100 per week, when sick and when in receipt of tax refunds.

I regret that, in view of the disproportionate expense involved, I cannot provide an answer to the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the amount by which the actual annual allocation of funds to the Essex Area Health Authority falls short of the provisional target allocation, based upon the formula produced by the National Resource Allocation Working Party; and if he will make a statement.

The allocation of resources to Essex Area Health Authority is a matter for the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority, which in 1976 calculated that on the interim recommendations of the Resource Allocation Working Party, Essex was about £20 million underfunded on a population basis. However, this calculation was subject to adjustment in respect of the additional costs of providing services in London, the cost of undergraduate medical and dental education, regional specialities and meeting the deprivation prevalent in the inner city areas. The RHA is now recalculating area targets.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of general practitioners attending instruction under Section 63 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 (a) for the most recent month or period available before October 1977 and (b) for the most recent month or period available since that date.

Figures are not kept on a monthly basis. In the academic year to 31st August 1977, 4,548 courses approved under Section 63 arrangements were attended by 19,843 general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that the Medway health district is the only health district in Kent in which geriatric services are far below the regional norm; and what steps he intends to take to improve the position.

I am aware of the deficiencies in geriatric provision in the Medway health district. The regional health authority is determined to improve geriatric services in Medway as quickly as possible. Any major improvement in inpatient and day hospital provision for geriatric patients depends on completion of the next phase of the development of Medway Hospital. The area health authority is examining the possibility of providing further places at Keycol Hospital. The area health authority has this year increased the health district's revenue allocation by £580,000: 12 per cent. of this is for the provision of additional staff to care for the elderly, and a further share will be spent on general community support services. Every effort is being made to develop a wide range of services to support elderly people in the community.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the psychogeriatric assessment unit will be installed in the Medway health district.

The local health authorities are hoping shortly to bring back into use the small unit at All Saints Hospital. They are also considering the possibility of extending it on completion of adaptation works at the end of this summer. It is hoped to make further provision following the next phase of development at Medway Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, at which hospitals in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales supplies of Zagreb B serum for use in cases of adder-bite are normally available.

Since health authorities are able to obtain this serum directly from the suppliers, my Department does not have a record of all the hospitals which hold stocks. As a fall-back arrangement stocks of the serum are available from the National Poisons Information Centres at New Cross Hospital, London; Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Wales; and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the number of national insurance commissioners is sufficient to prevent undue delays in dealing with appeals.

In consultation with my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor,

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of suspected over-exposure to radiation were referred to the National Radiological Protection Board in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977; if he will give for each year a breakdown of the industries or institutions from which they were referred; and how many cases were confirmed.

I regret that the information is not available in the precise form requested but the National Radiological Protection Board has provided the following information on the results of its investigations into cases referred to it from various industries and institutions for the years in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, pursuant to his reply of 10th April 1978 to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, he will now ask all the companies producing hormone pregnancy test drugs to meet him to discuss the steps they have taken to ensure that such drugs conform to the advice tendered by the Committee on Safety of Medicines;(2) if, pursuant to his reply of 10th April to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, he will state if the Committee on Safety of Medicines, acting as licensing authority to him, advised that measures should be taken to ensure that warnings were issued in all promotional literature for hormone pregnancy test drugs about possible hazards to pregnancy; and why such warnings were not issued previously in view of existing medical knowledge;(3) why no warnings of the dangers of hormone pregnancy test drugs were issued by his department after the first reports of the dangers of such drugs;(4) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, on 13th December 1977, what further discussions he has had with the manufacturers of Primodos and other hormone pregnancy test drugs; and what conclusions he reached.

A report in 1967 suggested that hormonal pregnancy tests might be associated with neural tube defects. Other studies did not confirm these findings and the initial report was open to criticism on scientific grounds. Nevertheless, the Committee on Safety of Drugs suggested that it should be published to alert the profession. The Committee did not feel justified in taking further action itself without stronger evidence. It had already decided to carry out, as soon as competing demands allowed, its own wide-ranging survey of the possible adverse effects of drugs taken in pregnancy. When the preliminary findings of this study became available in 1975, they indicated a statistical relationship between hormonal pregnancy tests and non-specific congenital abnormalities.The United Kingdom Health Ministers acting as the licensing authority were then advised by the Committee on Safety of Medicines that measures should be taken to ensure that indications for pregnancy testing were no longer included in the licences for such products and to require the insertion in all promotional literature of a warning about the possible hazard in pregnancy. The licensing authority acted upon the Committee's advice. Warnings were also issued by the Committee to all doctors.Since my reply to my hon. Friend on 13th December 1977, I have had no further discussions with the manufacturers of Primodos or other hormone pregnancy test drugs. I understand that all those companies concerned took the measures required by the licensing authority. I therefore see no need to meet the companies to discuss this matter.—[Vol. 941, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether capital payments to redundant employees of nationalised industries or private enterprise firms disqualify an individual from unemployment benefit; and, if so, under what circumstances.

Payments made to redundant employees under the Redundancy Payment Act 1965, or any other payments regarded by the independent statutory authorities who determine all claims to unemployment benefit as being made solely on account of redundancy, do not affect title to unemployment benefit. Any claimant in receipt of a capital payment that was determined by the statutory authorities to have been made in lieu of notice or remuneration, however, would be disqualified for receipt of unemployment benefit for the period covered by the payment up to a maximum of 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why a number of his Department's offices have announced that they will provide only a limited service on 28th April in addition to being closed all day on 1st May, a public holiday.

The intention is to limit the volume of work at the public counters to essential business so that the staff can ensure that beneficiaries receive any payments which are due before the holiday, or on the Bank Holiday when post offices are closed. The staff do not have an extra holiday on 28th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is now taking to publicise the new State pension scheme requirements to married women living overseas, particularly where their husbands are members of Her Majesty's forces.

The new pensions scheme has received considerable publicity in recent years. In the run-up to 6th April, when the scheme began, numerous articles and advertisements appeared in newspapers and women's magazines which invited readers to send for explanatory leaflets. As British people abroad including service personnel and their wives continue to see British newspapers, I would expect them generally to have been aware that important changes were taking place in the national insurance scheme.The Department cannot do more than provide general publicity and leave it to individuals to decide whether or not to seek further information if they think they may be affected by changes in the national insurance scheme. It would be quite impracticable to ensure that everyone who might be affected by a change is made aware of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the figures establishing the need under the norms laid down by his Department and the present provision of services by the Kent County Council in relation to the following categories within the five districts of the administration of the Kent County Council Social Service Department which covers the area of the Medway health district (a) home help facilities, (b) numbers of day nursery places and residential places for children in care, (c) meals on wheels service, day centres for the elderly and residential places in homes for the elderly, (d) day centres, places for physically handicapped, (e) day centres, hostels and staffed homes for the mentally ill, and (f) the provision of foster homes/lodging facilities for the mentally ill; and what if any is the provision for the age groups of 0 to 15 years and 15 plus years.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of his negotiations over a new consultants' contract.

Negotiations on a new consultants' contract have recently been resumed between the health Departments and representaitves of the professions. I hope to be able to make a further statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average period served in prison by persons convicted of murder who were released on licence between 1974 and 1977.

The average time spent in custody after sentence by those convicted of murder who were released on licence between 1974 and 1977 was 10 years one month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Edmund-Davies Committee on police pay.

I have had no firm date but the committee will, I am sure, report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether animals of any species in danger of extinction are being used for experiments in British laboratories.

I am looking into this and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of overtime hours worked on average per month by police constables in each police force in England and Wales during the year 1977.

Comprehensive information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The earnings survey carried out by the Police Council last year showed the average overtime hours worked by uniformed police constables in one week during April 1977 to be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in some police forces, officers attending road accidents in addition to completing accident reports in the normal course of their duties are required to complete up to three sets of statistical returns for the Department of Transport and his Department; why these data cannot be extracted from police accident report books by officials of the Departments concerned, thereby saving police time; and if, in order to utilise police manpower more efficiently, he will advise chief officers that they are under no obligation to undertake these time-consuming extra duties unless they consider it operationally useful to do so.

National accident statistics are based on returns made by police forces to the Department of Transport, not the Home Office. Arrangements for the completion of these returns are matters for chief officers of police. The revised three-part form already in use in some areas was resigned in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, and others concerned, and accepted by the association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each of the following groups of offences, what was the total number of detections in each London borough in each year since 1970 (a) violence against the person, (b) sexual offences, (c) burglary, (d) robbery, (e) theft and handling of stolen goods, (f) fraud and forgery, (g) criminal damage, and (h) other offences not included in the above.

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are being made to bring back to the police force men and women who have left the force in recent years.

This is a matter for chief officers of police. They are very conscious of the need to attract all suitable people, but I have no details of arrangements made in individual forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the total number of detected burglaries and robberies in 1975, 1976 and 1978, how many burglars and robbers were found carrying firearms.

Information in the form requested is not readily available. The information available on offences in which firearms were reported to have been used is published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—Chapter 6 of the issue for 1975 and Chapter 9 of the issue for 1976. Later figures are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those detained at Risley remand centre have died by suicide over the last five years; what is the maximum number of those detained at Risley at any one time: and what are the total numbers of suicides of persons in custody over the same period, and the maximum numbers of such persons at any one time.

Between 1st January 1973 and 31st December 1977 there were 64 suicides in prison department establishments in England and Wales, of which two occurred at Risley.During the same period the highest recorded number held in custody at any one time in all establishments was 42,419 and in Risley 1,087.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations from the London Transport Executive in connection with Metropolitan Police efforts to interdict violent incidents on public service buses and trains.

I have received a letter from the chairman of London Transport Executive to which I shall be replying shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the present accommodation provided for prison officers.

Prison service staff quarters have been acquired over many decades and differ widely in age, type and construction, so that their quality inevitably varies despite continuous programmes of maintenance and repair. It is my aim, in close consultation with the staff associations, to devise arrangements which both provide satisfactory accommodation for staff who wish to live in official quarters and recognise the wishes of those who prefer to live in their own homes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to reduce the number and to simplify the contents of the statutory forms which magistrates now have to complete with reference to bail applications under the new Bail Act which came into force on 17th April 1978.

Since the Bail Act and the new forms have been in operation for only one week, it is too soon to assess the new procedures. I shall keep them under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends, and, if so, by what means, to review the present procedure for dealing with allegations against the conduct of chief officers of police.

We are drawing up proposals for possible changes in the disciplinary arrangements for chief officers of police as a basis for early consultation with the local authority associations and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of minors detained in detention centres in England and Wales at 31st December 1977.

On 31st December 1977 there were 948 persons under the age of 18 serving sentences in detention centres in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many public employees receive higher annual salaries than the Prime Minister and a Cabinet Minister, respectively.

Arrangements for collecting such detailed information systematically from all organisations in the public sector have not been made and would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Report of the Royal Commission on the Press in view of the intended refusal of the National Union of Journalists and the National Graphical Association to allow publication of certain articles which they consider racialist.

I will take the recommendations of the Royal Commission fully into account in drawing up the draft charter on Press freedom as required by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Amendment) Act 1976. The Act provides that the charter must include guidance on, amongst other matters, the avoidance of improper pressure to distort or suppress news, comment or criticism.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many times since 1st January 1976 the Factory Inspectorate has taken action to remedy apparent deficiencies in the observing of health and safety legislation in Canvey Island; and if he will categorise the nature of these deficiencies and whether they arose in respect of gas, chemical, and of other installations, respectively.

Since 1st January 1976 Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate has paid 170 visits to the 87 factory premises registered on Canvey Island. These visits have been paid as part of the normal inspection programme of the inspectorate and also in connection with the Canvey Island investigation.At any of these visits action taken by the inspector to remedy apparent deficiencies in compliance with health and safety legislation can take the form of verbal advice, a letter, issue of an enforcement notice or prosecution. Since 1st January 1976 letters sent have dealt with 44 items concerning health matters, and 59 concerning safety matters. One prohibition notice was issued concerning a dangerous machine. Information about visits to premises other than those covered by the Factories Act 1961 and about the action taken there by inspectors, further categorisation of the information given above, and the type of installation involved could only be provided at disproportionate cost of administrative and inspectoral resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average remuneration per salaried employee on the staff of the Furniture and Timber Industry Training Board in the years 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77 and, if available, 1977–78, in cash terms; and what percentage increases are represented year-on-year by these figures.

I am informed by the board that the required information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what adjustments to the index-linked contracts for salary increases for the staff of the Furniture and Timber Industry Training Board, reached prior to July 1975, have had to be made to comply with the specific limits subsequently imposed by phases of incomes policy since that date.

The provision in the contracts of Furniture and Timber Industry Training Board staff for index-linking of salaries was overridden only by the requirement of Phase 1 of pay policy that those with salaries over £8,500 a year should forgo any increase in that phase.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether fewer work permits were issued in 1977 than in previous years.

Yes. The number of work permits issued for workers overseas and permission given to those already in this country has been falling significantly in recent years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information he has about the death of oak trees and the rate of planting of oak saplings to replace them;(2) what evidence he has that further tree diseases are establishing themselves in Great Britain; whether the damage being done by oak wilt represents a potential threat on the scale of Dutch elm disease; what steps he is taking to alert tree owners and timber importers to the problems; and if he will make a statement.

Periodic dying-back of oak trees has been observed for many years in Britain. This has been due to a number of factors, including some common pests and diseases of oak acting in collaboration with drought and exposure to wind. Figures are not available on the rate of replanting.Tree diseases will always be present in some degree, but, with the exception of Dutch elm disease, there is no evidence that any are becoming established in this country on any scale. Oak wilt which is present in North America has not reached this country. The provisions of current British legislation and those to be introduced under EEC regulations are designed to maintain protective measures against the import of diseased wood. The Forestry Commission monitors the situation carefully and maintains close liaison both with timber growers and the trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the quantity of raspberry and other fruit imports into the United Kingdom from Yugoslavia, Poland and Holland in each year over the past five years; and which of these countries are subject to a quota system for such products.

The quantities of fresh and processed fruit were (in tonnes):

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost of farm fires, including livestock killed, in each of the past five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to make compulsory the fitting of fire alarms to outhouses which house a number of live animals in order to reduce the risk of suffering by farm animals.

We have no evidence that farm livestock are unduly at risk from fires, but the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee proposes to review the position, including the need for the compulsory fitting of fire alarms to livestock buildings, and my right hon. Friend the Minister and the other Agriculture Ministers will consider its advice.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the grade of agricultural land at Holland Farm, Cornwood Road, Chaddlewood, Cornwood, South Devon.

The land is graded 2—land of high quality—and 3a—valuable land for a wide range of agricultural uses—under the Ministry's agricultural land classification system.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the preservation of the good agricultural land at Holland Farm, Cornwood Road, Chaddlewood, Cornwood, South Devon, which is currently threatened by house development.

When he is consulted by the local planning authority, my Department's divisional surveyor at Exeter will consider such a proposal in the light of the Government's policy for the protection of agricultural land. This policy is to ensure that as far as possible land of a higher agricultural quality is not taken for development where land of a lower quality is available and that the amount of land is no greater than is reasonably required for carrying out the development in accordance with proper standards.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will withdraw the instruction to the Potato Marketing Board not to release potatoes except for pre-packing or processing which is forcing up the price of potatoes artificially.

A more general release of potatoes on to the market was announced in a Press notice issued by my Department on 25th April. Copies of the Press notice are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provision exists in relation to the right of tenants of agricultural land when they are given notice to quit by the landlord of the property.

A landlord may only serve an effective notice to quit on an agricultural tenant in certain closely defined circumstances. These, and the tenant's rights, are set out in the Agricultural Holdings (Notices to Quit) Act 1977 and the Agricultural Holdings (Arbitration on Notices) Order 1978 (SI 1978 No. 257).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) meeting in Luxembourg on 25th-26th April.

I hope to be able to make a statement in due course.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what use is currently being made by Government Departments of private security organisations; which companies are used; and what plans he has to increase the use of their services.

No central record is kept of contracts with private security organisations, and I regret that the detailed information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. We believe, however, that about 30 Departments find it necessary to make use of private security companies; in most cases such companies are engaged either to protect and control access to Government buildings or for cash carrying operations. The circumstances of individual Departments vary widely, and the Civil Service Department leaves to the discretion of each Department the decision whether to employ such companies, and if so for what purposes. My Department does, of course, give advice when asked to do so.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many fringe public bodies are currently in being and actively operating; and on what basis the salaries of the staffs in these bodies are determined.

There is no single agreed definition of the term "fringe body" which, depending on the purpose required, has been used to describe a wide range or organisations with greatly differing constitutions, powers and relationships to Government. No figure for fringe bodies would therefore be meaningful, but the number whose staffs' salaries and other conditions of service are subject to ministerial control is 171. While the circumstances in particular cases may require special arrangements, as a general rule such controls are exercised in the case of those bodies which receive 50 per cent. or more of their income from public funds.The salaries of staff in most fringe bodies under ministerial control are linked to those of comparable grades in the Home Civil Service or other suitable public sector models, depending on the nature of their work. The salaries of the staffs of the industrial training boards, however, generally follow salary movements in the industries concerned.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what was the total cost of economy class journeys by air by civil servants on Government business in the last 12 months to the latest convenient date;(2) what was the total cost of first class journeys by air by civil servants on Government business in the last 12 months to the latest convenient date;(3) how many first class journeys by air were made by civil servants on Government business in the last 12 months to the latest convenient date;(4) what was the total cost of first class journeys by air by Members of Parliament on Government business in the last 12 months to the latest convenient date;(5) what was the total cost of economy class journeys by air by Ministers on Government business in the last 12 months to the latest convenient date;(6) what was the total cost of first class journeys by air by Ministers on Government business in the last 12 months to the latest convenient date;(7) how many first class journeys by air were made by Ministers on Government business in the last 12 months to the latest convenient date.

This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service by what criteria the class of air travel for civil servants on Government business overseas is determined.

Civil servants of the grade of under-secretary and above are entitled to first-class travel on all flights. Those graded assistant secretary and above but below under-secretary have the same entitlement on flights of at least four hours flying time without a break, but on shorter flights travel economy class. Other civil servants travel economy class on all flights. They may, however, travel first class in certain specified circumstances, for example, when necessarily travelling for official reasons in company with a person, not a United Kingdom civil servant, who is travelling first class.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service by what criteria the class of air travel for Ministers on Government business overseas is determined.

Ministers are entitled to travel first class on official journeys by air overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the latest number of officers and men who have applied to leave each of the three Services.

908 Army officers applied for premature voluntary release in 1977–78. During the first 11 months of 1977–78, 295 Royal Navy and Royal Marine officers, 715 RAF officers and 2,954 airmen also applied for premature voluntary release. It is not possible to give comparable figures for applications from Service men in the Royal Navy and Army but 1,265 and 4,643 respectively actually left these two Services prematurely and at their own request during the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the relative proportions of those nuclear weapons in store for use by the Royal Air Force which are equipped with modern electronic safety catches and insensitive high explosive triggers, and those which are not; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on this subject on 13th April 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Belper on 12th April, whether, in establishing his satisfaction with the effectiveness of the system of security at bases where nuclear weapons are stored, he contacted the United States Secretary of Defence; and what reply he received.(2) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Belper on 12th April, whether, in establishing his satisfaction with the design and handling arrangements for nuclear weapons stored in the United Kingdom, he contacted the United States Secretary of Defence; and what reply he received.

I am in regular and frequent contact with my United States opposite number about matters of our

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the agreement to supply eight Hawk ground/attack aircraft to Indonesia; and if any condition is to be inserted in the contract to prevent their use in East Timor.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave in the Official Report on 24th April to our hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Miss Maynard).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will state that, contrary to his statement, Official Report, 13th March 1978, column

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications there were in the current year to be craft apprentices in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Rosyth; and how many will be accepted as apprentices.

This year 966 applications for craft apprenticeships have been made to Her Majesty's dockyard. I expect that 200 apprenticeships will be offered as against the normal intake of 150.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total work force employed in Her Majesty's Naval Base, Rosyth, HMs "Caledonia", Lathalmond Stores Depot and Crombie Armaments Depot in the years 1976 and 1977 and the number currently employed in those establishments.

The total number of MOD civilian staff employed at these establishments on the dates shown was as follows:46, the inclusion of certain French forces in the Balance of Forces Table on pages 8 and 9 of the 1978 Statement on the Defence Estimates was not done at the request of the Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee, and that what the Sub-Committee recommended was the reintroduction of the Balance of Forces Tables, which had been discontinued in the 1977 Statement on the Defence Estimates.

I can confirm that the tables showing the balance of forces were reintroduced this year at the request of the Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee, and that I decided to include certain French forces in those tables to give a more realistic and balanced presentation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers who have applied for release from the Army are being compelled to lose the gratuities due to them in consequence of the withdrawal of the optional gratuity announced in 1975 and, of these, how many officers have not had three years to exercise an option to leave with a gratuity in consequence of being time-barred.

The withdrawal of the optional gratuity for officers on regular commissions who retire voluntarily after a minimum of 10 years' service was announced in 1975. The withdrawal was effective from 31st March 1977 but eligibility for the gratuity was subsequently extended to officers leaving the Services before 6th April 1978. Two Army officers who would otherwise have been able to opt for payment of gratuity were refused applications to retire in consequence of being time-barred.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the net pay after stoppages and rent of an RAF senior aircraftsman with four school age children, two of them teenagers, is more or less than the income of a man in similar circumstances receiving supplementary benefit; and by how much.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which Commonwealth and foreign countries accord the United Kingdom overflying rights.

I have been asked to reply.Provision for overflying by civil aircraft is made under international conventions or agreements, or under specific bilateral understandings. Some of these understandings are subject to particular conditions. Nearly all countries permit overflying by British civil aircraft under one or other of these arrangements. Military aircraft generally require specific clearance for each flight.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what amounts of money are spent providing research for retinitis pigmentosa cures;(2) whether any research projects investigating cures for retinitis pigmentosa have been, or are being, withdrawn because of lack of funds;(3) if she will provide additional National Health Service funds for provision of further research regarding retinitis pigmentosa.

Biochemical research including research on retinitis pigmentosa is the concern of the Medical Research Council.A recent report to the Council by its expert working party on retinitis pigmentosa concluded that the present need was for basic studies on the normal development of the retina and its pathological reactions. Without a better understanding of these processes progress in treatment is unlikely. A grant for the study of abnormal retinal physiology in patients with retinitis pigmentosa was recently awarded to two research workers in the Institute of Ophthalmology in London. Another grant has been awarded for research into the genetic and clinical aspects of retinitis pigmentosa with the aim of subdividing this group of disorders into individual disease states. The Council is always prepared to consider support for soundly based projects of potential value for its treatment of retinitis pigmentosa. It is not aware of any research on a cure which has been, or is to be, cancelled because of lack of funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total of grants made to the museums councils in England and Wales, respectively, in each year from 1975 to 1978.

The grants made to the area museums councils in England were:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to support the refurbishment of the Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

My right hon. Friend does not have any funds directly at her disposal for this purpose. As I explained in my letter of 4th April to the hon. Member it is for the Arts Council to decide what projects it can support from its housing the arts funds. The Estimates for 1978–79 contain a provision of £600,000 for the Arts Council's housing the arts fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total amount of Government grants paid to maintain the London Welsh-medium primary school.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Welsh School in Brent. This is an independent school and, as such, is not grant aided by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has any plans to provide a Welsh-language primary education for the children of Welsh-speaking families in England who desire it.

Provision for language teaching in schools, and the use of a language other than English as a medium of instruction, are matters for the local education authorities and the schools themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that the phasing-out of the tax allowances for children has not made it more difficult for parents of students on awards to make the parental contribution, particularly where the student is over the age of 19 years.

The arrangements for student grants for the academic years 1977–78 and 1978–79 included reductions in the parental contributions to compensate for the first and second stages of phasing out child tax allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, further to his consultations with the South Wales Electricity Board Consumers' Consultative Council, he will make a statement about his discussions with the South Wales Electricity Board.

I have written to the South Wales Electricity Consultative Council to the effect that having considered its representation under Section 7(8) of the Electricity Act 1947—as amended—I have not found a defect in the Board's general plans and arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of those persons eligible have made use of the electricity discount scheme since it came into operation on 5th January up to 31st March last; what funds were set aside for the scheme; and how much of this has been taken up.

Virtually all the 3·2 million recipients of supplementary benefit and family income supplement received the £5 paid towards electricity and other fuel costs in January. Up to 31st March the number claiming the discount also available on electricity board bills over £20 was about 420,000. This represents less than half of those able to claim but the number of people eligible receiving such bills is not known precisely. £25 million was allocated to the scheme and some £20 million has been taken up so far.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the terms of the recent EEC loan of £31 million to the National Coal Board.

The EEC recently announced that it had approved 14 NCB projects for which Community loans might be offered. Of a total of £31 million that is expected to be made available the National Coal Board has to date drawn £10·6 million (US $20 million) on following terms:

Rate of interest: 9·05 per cent. per annum.

Period: Nine years.

Repayments: Four instalments of US $5 million in each of the years 1984 to 1987.

Use of funds: Improvements at 14 colliery locations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the planned capital expenditure on mining in Scotland for the current year; and what proportion this represents of overall capital expenditure.

I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why two years after a meeting between a Minister in his Department and a representative of Oil Recovery International, of Christchurch, Dorset, the testing at sea of the company's oil recovering device by his Department's Warren Springs Laboratory has still not taken place, in spite of assurance to the contrary given to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington.

The Warren Spring Laboratory has already agreed to test at sea the equipment of Oil Recovery International, Christchurch, when it becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that a former official in his Department, with access to confidential commercial information on the process and procedures of Oil Recovery International, of Christchurch, Dorset who left his Department and took up employment with a United States competitor of the company, has observed his signed agreement not to disclose privileged information obtained while employed by Her Majesty's Government.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, in the case of those certificates and licences for the issue of which he has responsibility, whether the fees for issue have been increased by a greater amount or a greater percentage than that represented by a rise from £2·50 in 1973 to £13 in 1978.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th April 1978; Vol. 948, c. 453] gave the following information:My Department issues numerous certificates for calibrating instruments and for chemical analysis. Many of the fees have increased by more than £10·50 since 1973, but generally starting from a considerably higher base than £2·50. A few of the increases have exceeded the percentage indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action has been taken following the Price Commission report on call-out charges.

As my announcement on 5th July 1977 made clear, the Price Commission found that most of the complaints relating to call-out charges concerned emergency plumbing services. They recommended that the Department of the Environment should inquire into the problem to see how far the trade and water authorities could provide a suitable service. This has now been done.I am advised that water authorities and water companies are not in a position to undertake a full range of domestic plumbing repairs. However, in an emergency all of them offer advice and provide assistance to seal off burst pipes to prevent flooding. Most authorities also have lists available to the public of private plumbers prepared to provide plumbing services outside normal working hours.A voluntary registration scheme for plumbing contractors, currently being discussed by the Plumbing Industry Working Group and the National Water Council, should help to improve the public's access to emergency plumbing services. The scheme, would provide for the maintenance of publicly available lists of approved plumbers within a water authority's area.As well as extending the information available to the public, the scheme would provide some assurance that those plumbers on the register were of a reasonable standard of competence. I hope therefore that it will be implemented as soon as possible.My advice to the public when faced with plumbing emergencies is that they should not hesitate to contact their local water authority or water company for advice and assistance. As far as repairs are concerned, if they cannot rely on personal recommendation, as the Price Commission suggested, they should ring the water authority to see if they have a list of reliable plumbing contractors. Finally, it should be remembered that the Commission recommended customers to obtain an estimate in advance if it was at all possible to do so.—[Vol. 934, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to receive a report on the discussions between the Director-General of Fair Trading and professional bodies on architects' fees.

I understand that the Director-General expects to submit his report shortly, in accordance with my right hon. Friend's request to him in November 1977, when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report was published, that he should hold discussions with the professional bodies and report the outcome within six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Ashfield, 23rd March, Official Report, col. 652, why, if he is completely satisfied that there is general support for the change to metric units from imperial units amongst consumers and trade organisations, he has now found it necessary to write to more than a hundred organisation asking them whether they still want to go ahead with metrication.

I thought it right to do so because the Opposition, having in government accepted the commitment to metrication, having welcomed statutory cut-off orders, and having told the Government that mandatory dates were required on a sector by sector basis, eventually decided to oppose the latest proposals in principle. In view of this change in the political background I considered that organisations should have the opportunity to confirm whether their previous views still apply. I regard the views of these organisations as important because they have given serious consideration to the subject, which affects the lives and livelihoods of the members which they represent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in the case of those certificates and licences for the issue of which he has responsibility, whether the fees for issue have been increased by a greater amount or a greater percentage than that represented by a rise from £2·50 in 1973 to £13 in 1978.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th March 1978], gave the following information:My Department is responsible for issuing certificates under the Weights and Measures Act 1963, for which there is a large number of separate fees. Since 1973 these fees have generally been increased by more than £10·50 and some increases have exceeded the percentage indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the percentage shares in world exports of manufactured goods in 1946, 1956, 1966, 1976 and 1977, or the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available, of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, West Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and Denmark.

The conventional measure of a country's share of trade in manufactured goods is in terms of its share in exports of manufactures by the main manufacturing countries—MMCs. The following table is constructed on this basis. Reliable information is not available prior to 1955 and the 12-month period to September 1977 is the most recent for which we have the data. Precise

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the percentage shares in world exports in 1946, 1956, 1966, 1976 and 1977, or the most recent 12-months period for which figures are available, of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, West Germany,

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is aware of the extended delays to the certification of invoices of British manufacturers of goods destined for the Middle East, since certification must be through the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce rather than individual embassies; and what action he is taking to persuade Arab embassies to revert to the former system.

My Department is not aware of any delays in the certification of documents relating to goodss destined

Following is the information. 1948 is the first post-war and 1976 the latest year for which comprehensive information is available.for Arab States. Indeed, it has been informed by the United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce movement that 99 per cent. of all documents lodged for certification with the Arab British Chamber of Commerce are processed within 48 hours. However, delays in the legislation of documents by Arab States embassies do exist and my Department will investigate cases of extreme delay on receipt of full details.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why it is an unacceptable security risk for passengers to have a hard-cover book in the cabin when flying from Heathrow to Aldergrove but not from Gatwick to Aldergrove or from Aldergrove to Gatwick or Heathrow.

My Department's advice allows loose papers to be carried by passengers on flights between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It appears that the authorities at different airports have slightly different interpretations of this phrase. I am taking steps to clarify the advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the stocks of detergents held by his Department for oil-pollution purposes which are themselves manufactured by the oil companies; and if he will indicate the value by individual oil company.

The stock of dispersants currently held by my Department may include a small quantity manufactured by an oil company. It is not possible to give a precise figure for the amount and consequently for the value, because this dispersant was mixed with other makes of dispersant in a storage tanker from which spraying vessels used in the "Amoco Cadiz" operation were replenished. This stock also includes some dispersant marketed, but not manufactured by an oil company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what further negotiations he has had with the United States of America on charter air services.

As the result of further discussions in Washington, an Exchenge of Notes took place on 25th April to amend the United Kingdom/United States Air Services Agreement signed in Bermuda on 23rd July 1977 as regards charter air services. The revised agreement contains provision for cargo charters which provide increased opportunities for our carriers in conditions of fair competition with United States carriers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received regarding the import of low price subsidised bulk raspberry and other fruit products into the United Kingdom; and what effect he estimates present East European and other Communist country imports will have on current and future prices for the home industry.

I have been asked to reply.Discussions have taken place from time to time with representatives of growers and food processors on the possible effect of imports of processed fruit products, including raspberries, from the Eastern Area. Imports of processed raspberries from third countries are subject to import certification. Certificates issued this year covering imports up to the end of June total 387 tonnes for the Eastern Area. It seems unlikely that these supplies would have a significant impact on our prices.

asked the Lord President of the Council why holders of temporary passes giving access to the Palace of Westminster are not required to hold photo-identity cards whereas permanent, better-known staff are required to do so.

The whole question of passes is being considered by the Joint Committee on Security and I will refer the hon. Member's Question to that committee.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the total cost of economy class journeys by air by Members of Parliament on parliamentary business in the last 12 months to the latest convenient date.

The total costs during the 12 months ended 31st March 1978 amounted to £167,371.

asked the Lord President of the Council by what criteria the class of air travel for Members of Parliament on parliamentary business overseas is determined.

The administrative arrangements for travel by Members attending meetings of European Assemblies provide for air economy class for meetings in Europe and for first class travel elsewhere. Similar arrangements apply to Members travelling on other business of the House.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many first-class journeys by air were made by members of Parliament on parliamentary business in the last 12 months to the latest convenient date.

The total number in the 12 months ended 31st March 1978 was 31.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many persons were directly employed in Scotland in offshore related work; and of these how many were United Kingdom nationals EEC nationals and aliens, respectively;(2) how many oil-related jobs in each Scottish region have been created since 1976; and how many exist at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Complete information in the form requested is not available. The latest comprehensive analysis of the impact of North Sea oil-related activity on employment in Scotland, relating to the position at mid-1976, was published in the Scottish Economic Bulletin No. 11. This survey is to be updated during the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many building workers were employed in Tayside and Dundee at the last most convenient date; how many building workers there were unemployed; and how many vacancies existed.