asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the percentage increase of public expenditure in constant values on financial assistance to industry under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 in each year since 1972; and what has been the percentage change in the overall level of investment in manufacturing industry in the same years.

The percentage increase in public expenditure under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972, for the years 1972–77, and the percentage change in the level of investment in manufacturing-industry for the same period are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in his Department's discussions with the Lucas Aerospace management, there are any plans for the closure or rundown of the Lucas Aerospace plant in Luton.

My Department's discussions with Lucas Aerospace, in the light of the company's rationalisation proposals, are concentrating on the range of regional incentives available in the assisted areas. I understand that the companys proposals do not affect Luton.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if his Department met the management and agreed to the recent announcement of redundancies at Lucas Aerospace before having made any approach to the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions.

Representatives of the company's management advised the Department of their proposals for the reorganisation of Lucas Aerospace on 14th March. I immediately asked management representatives to come and see me and stressed the importance of their consulting with the CSEU and the workforce in advance of making any decisions. There was never any question of the Department's approval being granted for redundancies, even if sought, which it was not.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to support the work of the Lucas Aerospace workers in the formulation of their corporate plan.

Issues relating to Lucas Aerospace are being discussed between the management and the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions. If either party believes that my intervention would be of assistance, I shall be glad to consider what help I can provide.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what measures have been taken to assist in attracting industry to London; and if he will make a statement.

Several areas of London benefit from the Government's inner city policy and the whole of the London area benefits from the national measures to encourage investment in manufacturing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he next expects to meet the chairman of the National Enterprise Board.

I last met the chairman of the National Enterprise Board this morning. I will no doubt be meeting him again shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he next plans to have a meeting with the chairman of the National Enterprise Board.

My right hon. Friend met the chairman earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is contemplating making any changes in the assisted area status of Merseyside.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he last had a report from the National Enterprise Board on the performance of BL Cars Ltd.

The most recent quarterly report on the performance of British Leyland which also covered the company's audited results for 1977 was received from the National Enterprise Board on 3rd April.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has any immediate plans to meet the chairman of British Leyland.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of British Leyland from time to time but has no plans to do so in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he was consulted by the Board of British Leyland before it made its decision to import a quantity of Minis manufactured in Belgium; and if this decision meets with his approval.

This is a management decision which is a matter for the British Leyland board.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will introduce measures to ensure that when Government grants are made to industrial undertakings no donations are paid by directors to political parties or their allies as a condition of such assistance.

Selective financial assistance is negotiated for particular projects and there is no question of any of the money being used for any other purpose. The question of political donations from general company funds however is a matter for the directors of companies, who are subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 19 of the Companies Act 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, when he expects to make a recommendation regarding collaboration with United States manufacturers on future passenger aircraft development; and whether he is considering the possibility of British Aerospace undertaking collaborative programmes with more than one United States aircraft manufacturer.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions he has had with American and European aerospace organisations about collaborative ventures with British aerospace companies.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the total public sector expenditure disbursed to the British aerospace industry between January 1977 and January 1978.

In 1977 my Department provided £45 million to British Aerospace—£27 million in public dividend capital and £18 million in loans from the National Loans Fund—to enable BAe to repay loans to one of the parents of the vesting companies. In addition, the NEB provided £30 million to Rolls-Royce, divided 70:30 between equity capital and loan.Details of other public expenditure on the aerospace industry are not collected on a calendar year basis. Final figures for such expenditure on civil aircraft and aeroengine research, development and production, and space programmes in 1977–78 are not yet available, but forecast net expenditure on aerospace innovation in the year ended 31st March 1978, published in Cmnd. 7049, was £90 million at 1977 survey prices. These figures exclude expenditure on military aerospace projects which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the present system for auditing the accounts of the public corporations for which he is the sponsoring Minister.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the operation of the Chrysler planning agreement; and if he will make a statement.

The planning agreement has been helpful to both sides and I am particularly pleased by the contribution that the agreement has made to increasing mutual understanding between management and employees on the many strategic issues facing the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what financial assistance is available to industrial trade associations who set up recycling schemes involving local authorities' refuse.

There is no specific provision for assistance to schemes of this kind but individual recycling projects may qualify for assistance under the Industry or Science and Technology Acts. Assistance with publicity may also be given as part of the national anti-waste programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he is taking to encourage the British aircraft industry to produce quieter aircraft.

My Department continues to encourage the development of quieter aircraft technology with funds provided under its aircraft and aeroengine general research and development programme. Expenditure on noise research in 1977–78 totalled £1·7 million going both to Government research and development establishment and to industry. The Government also continue to work for international agreement on improved noise standards for civil aircraft, and future aircraft types produced in the United Kingdom will have to meet noise certification requirements which have become increasingly stringent in recent years. Negotiations for agreement on noise regulations and standards are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what research his Department is sponsoring for the development of electric vehicles.

My Department is supporting vehicle battery development work, the electric delivery vehicle assessment scheme in London, and has other battery electric vehicle development programmes under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list all public sector support of the private sector between January 1977 and January 1978.

The 1977–78 provisions for my Department, included in Programme 4 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1978–79 to 1981–82", Cmnd. 7049—Volume II, was £892 million net of receipts, at 1977 survey prices excluding staff and administration costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, what estimate he has made of the overall profitability and return on capital employed of all the loans and subscriptions for equity capital made by his Department in 1977–78 or in the latest year for which figures are available.

During 1976–77 my Department's gross expenditure on loans and equity purchases was £86·3 million, while receipts of interest and dividends from these and earlier investments, which at 31st March 1977 totalled £332·5 million, were £23 million at outturn prices. Later information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he proposes to establish an office for arms conversion which was called for in a recent Transport and General Workers Union policy statement.

My Department already keeps in close contact with the Department of Employment and the Ministry of Defence about the consequences of reductions in defence expenditure and the need to alleviate their effects on particular areas through our system of regional and other aids.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry at what proportion of capacity the British Steel Corporation is currently operating; and how this compares with other significant steel producing countries in Europe and Japan.

Details information regarding capacity utilisation within BSC is a matter for the Corporation. No significant change, however, in the world demand for steel has occurred since my reply to my hon. Friend on 3rd April.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the number of small firms that have closed down in each of the last two years for which this information is available.

I regret that the information is not available. The insolvency statistics do not distinguish between sizes of firms; or is insolvency the only reason for company closures.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in view of the latest Confederation of British Industry survey of business prospects, what is his estimate for the growth of manufacturing output in the United Kingdom in the current year.

The main forecast in the Financial Statement and Budget Report indicated that manufacturing output is expected to rise by 2½ per cent. between the first half of 1978 and the first half of 1979. I see no reason to revise this forecast.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now agree to the request by British Aerospace for permission to proceed with full production of the HS146 feeder-liner jet.

The Government are considering as a matter of urgency the recommendation of the British Aerospace Board to proceed with the HS146.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has any plans to change the boundaries of those areas at present designated either special development, development or intermediate areas.

I do not consider it a suitable time to make changes in the boundaries of the areas which I believe my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations have been received about the future location of the historical records of the Post Office.

I understand that the Post Office has received a number of representations from organisations and individuals who have a special interest in postal history.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has received the submission he requested from the British Institute of Management on whether the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life in respect of bribery and corruption should be extended to cover the private sector; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. The submission from the British Institute of Management and other representations received on this point are being considered along with the other recommendations of the Royal Commission. Primary responsibility for this matter rests with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what studies the Government is carrying out of the proposal for a bank loan guarantee scheme for small and medium-size companies.

The need for a loan guarantee scheme for small and medium-sized companies is currently being examined by the NEDC Committee on Finance for Industry chaired by Lord Roll—the Roll Committee—and proposals for such a scheme are among the topics being considered by the Wilson Committee in the part of its inquiry relating to the financing of industry and trade. The findings of these committees on the loan guarantee scheme will be examined by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and myself, in order to assess the desirability and feasibility of such a scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what were the proportions of large firms and small firms, respectively, which applied for Government financial assistance; and of these how many received loans and grants, respectively.

I regret that this information is not readily available. Financial assistance under the Industry Act 1972 is related to projects involving particular factories or offices and not to the total size of the applicant firms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the working of the new immigration rule as it affects the "marriage of convenience" and the arranged marriage; and what representations he has received concerning decisions for settlement and employment.

The new immigration rules relating to husbands and male fiances which came into force in March 1977 have not been in operation long enough to enable a significant assessment of their effects to be made. They were not intended to have any effect on the genuine arranged marriage.It is not possible to answer the second part of the Question precisely without disproportionate cost but there have been few, if any, recent general representations about decisions for settlement. The Indian Workers Association and the Ealing Community Relations Council have complained of delays in dealing with the cases of those who marry following their entry as male fiances and apply for the restrictions on their taking emloyment to be removed. The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants has also suggested that persons subject to a time limit on their stay have difficulty in obtaining employment despite the absence of any restriction on their doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual revenue from broadcasting licences for burglar alarms; and what are the annual cost incurred in collecting it.

The annual revenue from licences to use radio burglar alarms for the last five years is as follows:

	£
1973	1,428
1974	820
1975	1,228
1976	1,160
1977	1,432

These licences are issued for a five-year period. The guiding principle in charging fees for transmitting licences such as these is to recover the total administrative and regulatory costs inherent in the licensing requirement laid down by the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. It is difficult to isolate the cost of collecting the revenue from licences for burglar alarms from that of the many other licences issued under the Act; but on a very rough calculation the current total annual cost incurred in processing these licences and collecting the fees is in the order of £1,500, which is in line with the guiding principle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue instructions to all returning officers that facilities should be made available at all polling stations to enable physically disabled persons to vote in person.

My Department has already issued advice to acting returning officers on this topic. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the relevant circular.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average gross pay and take-home pay of a police constable in Devon and Cornwall in the latest period for which figures are available.

This information is not held centrally. However, I understand from the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary that for the monthly pay period ending 15th May 1978 the figures were £358 and £252 respectively. Both figures include overtime payments and allowances: the take-home pay figure is after tax on rent allowance, although this is later refunded by way of compensatory grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for local broadcasting licences in East Anglia have been received by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Since the publication of the Annan Committee Report in March 1977, the Home Office has received three applications or statements of intent to set up new local radio broadcasting stations in East Anglia together with several other letters, advocating support for such new stations. Further consideration of those applications, and of any others that may be made, must await the Government's proposals for the future constitution, structure and pattern of broadcasting which I intend to publish in the form of a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be in a position to reply to the letters of the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton, dated 30th November 1977 and 19th December 1977, concerning Mr. B. S. Chowdhary and his adopted daughter Alka.

I shall be writing to the hon. Member shortly.

Name	Full-time Occupation	Part-time Government Appointments
J. Maxwell Wood, O.B.E. (Chairman of the Metrication Board)	Retired.	Member, National Consumer Council; Member, Policy Holders Protection Board (unpaid except for attendance, subsistence, etc.); Food Hygiene Advisory Council (unpaid); Consumers Committee, Agricultural Marketing Schemes (unpaid).
Dr. M. A. Abrams.	Retired.	None.
E. Cust	Chief Executive Warwickshire County Council.	None.
D. H. Darbishire, J.P.	Chairman, F.M.C. Ltd. and farmer.	None.
D. Hobman.	Director, Age Concern (England).	None.
Miss D. D. Hyams, O.B.E.	Managing Director, Tesco (Wholesale) Ltd.; Director, Tesco Stores Ltd. and Tesco Stores (Holdings) Ltd.	None.
D. M. Landau.	Deputy Chief Executive Officer, C.W.S. Ltd.	None.
T. R. S. Lyon.	Chairman, Clam-Brummer Ltd.	None.
Professor M. L. McGlashan.	Head of Department of Chemistry, University College London.	None.
H. P. Scanlon.	President, Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers.	Member, National Enterprise Board; Board Member, British Gas Corporation; Member, National Economic Development Council; Chairman, Engineering Industry Training Board (this was given in a Written Answer on 2nd May as a part-time public sector appointment).
Mrs. A. Stanley, O.B.E., J.P.	Journalist.	None.
Mrs. J. Upward.	Housewife and Secretary of the National Federation of Consumer Groups.	Vice Chairman of Domestic Coal Consumers Council.
The Baroness Macleod of Borve, D.L., J.P.	None.	Member, Parole Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list in the Official Report the full-time occupation and the part-time Government appointments held by each part-time member of the Metrication Board.

The information is as follows:what has been the percentage increase in the cost of food for the average family over the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

In the 12 months to April 1978, the retail food index increased by 6·3 per cent. This is the lowest annual increase since June 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection

Name	Full-time/Part-time Occupation	Other Part-time Government Appointments
Mr. Michael Shanks (Chairman).	Company Director.	Member—Employment Appeal Tribunal: Member—National Economic Development Council
Mrs. Joan Macintosh (Deputy Chairman).	Citizens' Advice Bureasu Organiser.	Chairman—Scottish Consumer Council; Member—Royal Commissions on Divorce, Legal Services in Scotland.
Ms. Beata Lipman.	Journalist.	Chairwoman—Welsh Consumer Council.
Councillor Richard Knowles.	National Organiser of the Co-operative Party.	None.
Mr. Brendan Sewill.	Public Affairs Adviser—Committee of London Clearing Bankers.	None.
Mr. Alexander Crawford.	Business Editor.	Member—Southern Electricity Consultative Council.
Mrs. Patricia Lambert.	None.	None.
Mrs. Joan Young.	Bransh Secretary—Co-op Women's Guild.	None.
Baroness Phillips.	Director—Association for the Prevention of Theft in Shops.	None.
Mrs. Rachel Waterhouse.	Public Relations Officer—Birmingham Consumer Group.	Member—Price Commission, Potato Marketing Board, Advisory Committee on Asbestos.
Mr. Kenneth Glyn.	General Secretary—Society of Post Office Executives.	None.
Mr. Christopher Holmes.	Executive Director—Society for Co-operative Dwellings.	None.
Mrs. Dorette McAuslan.	Health Visitor.	Deputy Chairman—West Midlands Gas Consumers Council.
Dr. Hylda Armstrong.	Chairman—Central Consumer Group of Northern Ireland.	Chairman—Northern Ireland Consumer Council.
Mr. J. Max Wood.	Consultant.	Chairman—Metrication Board; Member—Policy Holders Protection Board, Food Hygiene Advisory Council, Committee of the Agricultural Marketing Acts.
Mr. Michael Barnes.	Marketing Consultant.	Chairman-Electricity Consumers' Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) if he will list the names of the chairman and members of the Price Commission, stating in each case the salaries paid and, where differences in remuneration exist, the reason for such differences;(2) if he will list in the

The information currently available to the Department is as follows:each part-time member of the Price Commission.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list in the Official Report the full-time occupation and the part-time Government appointments held by each part-time member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

	Full-time Occupation	Other Part-time Government Appointments
Mr. E. L. Richards, C.B.E., M.C., T.D. (Deputy Chairman).	Stockbroker (Partner, Moy Vandervell & Co.).	None.
Sir Max Brown, K.C.B., C.M.G. (Deputy Chairman).	Director, Schroder Wagg; ex civil servant.	Member, Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry. Chairman, Sub-Committee, Committee of Invisible Exports.
Mr. G. F. Ashford, O.B.E.	Industrialist (Director, Albright & Wilson).	None.
Mr. R. J. Aspray.	Chief Executive, Norwest Co-operative Society.	None.
Professor T. Barna, C.B.E.	Professor of Economics, Sussex University.	None.
Sir Dallas Bernard, Bt.	Merchant Banker (Director, Morgan Grenfell).	None.
Lady Bowden.	Retired Civil Servant.	Member, Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
Mr. J. S. Copp.	Retired Solicitor to ICI.	None.
The Hon. John Eccles.	Industrialist (Chairman and Managing Director, Head Wrightson, Director Davy International).	Member, Northern Industrial Development Board.
Sir Roger Falk, O.B.E.	Management Consultant.	Chairman, Furniture Development Council.
Professor K. D. George, B.A., M.A.	Professor of Economics, University College.	Member, Economic Committee, Social Science Research Council.
Mr. C. J. M. Hardie, M.A., B.Phil.	Accountant (Partner in Dixon & Wilson & Co.).	Member, Advertising Standards Authority.
Dr. F. E. Jones, M.B.E., F.R.S.	Industrialist (Retired) (Director, Philips Industries).	None.
Mr. T. P. Lyons	Personnel Director, Williams and Glyn's Bank.	None.
Dr. R. L. Marshall, O.B.E., M.A.	Retired Principal, Co-operative College, Loughborough.	None.
Mrs. V. M. Marshall, M.A., M.S.C., L.R.A.M.	Finance Controller, Finance for Industry Limited.	None.
Mrs. C. M. Miles.	Consulting Economist.	Member, National Enterprise Board.
Mr. R. G. Opie, C.B.E.	Economist, Fellow of New College, Oxford.	Member, Price Commission.
The Lord Plant, C.B.E.	Retired General Secretary, Inland Revenue Staff Federation.	Vice-Chairman, British Waterways Board. Chairman, Northern Ireland Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights. Member, Location of Offices Bureaux and Southern Water Authority.
Mr. T. M. Rybzcynski.	Economic Adviser to Lazard Brothers and Co. Limited	None.
Mr. J. S. Sadler.	Finance Director, John Lewis Partnership.	None.
Miss R. Stephen, M.B.E.	Executive Secretary of the Association of Professional Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff.	Member, Food Standards Committee, British Wool Marketing Board and Economic Development Council for the Distributive Trades.
Professor Harry Street, LL.M., Ph.D., F.B.A.	Professor English Law, Manchester University.	None.
Professor B. S. Yamey, C.B.E.	Professor of Economics, London School of Economics.	None.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when the industrial

The information is as follows:fastener industry was referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; how far this referral has progressed; and when the Commission's report is expected.

The reference was made by the Director General of Fair Trading on 14th October 1976. The Commission is due to report by 14th October 1978. The conduct of investigations is a matter for the Commission, but I understand that difficulties have arisen over definition of some of the products concerned and that the Director General is considering whether to vary the original reference in order to clarify its terms.

asked the Prime Minister, further to his speech to the annual dinner of the CBI on Tuesday 16th May, whether he envisages any major changes in the economic strategy of Her Majesty's Government if the major industrial nations do not adopt a concerted programme for national and international action at the Summit in Bonn.

This is a hypothetical Question and it is better to work for a successful outcome to the Bonn Summit.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the Government Departments and agencies which have the power to enter and search premises and the statutes under which such powers are given to them.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies on these matters given to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Price) on 21st June 1976 by my right hon. and hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretaries of State for Energy, Environment, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Trade, Prices and Consumer Protection, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and food, the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, and the Under-Secretaries of State at the Departments of Health and Social Security, Employment, Industry and the Home Office.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will report progress on a further United Kingdom subscription to the capital of the International Finance Corporation.

The resolution of the governors of the International Finance Corporation providing for an increase in the authorised capital stock from $110 million to $650 million, of which $480 million is allocated for subscription, became effective on 2nd November 1977. The United Kingdom governor voted in favour of the resolution. Our allocated subscription is $23·5 million—about £13 million—and a Statutory Instrument seeking approval for the contribution of this amount will be laid before Parliament shortly.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when the report by the study team on internal communications in the Falkland Islands will be published.

This study of the feasibility of improving communications in the Falkland Islands constituted advice to the Falkland Islands Government and to myself. Following the study of the report by the Governor and my Department, I have recently authorised financial provision for the construction of a road between Stanley and Darwin, to cost some £770,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry into Normansfield Hospital, Teddington; and when he expects to publish it.

I understand that the report will not be submitted to my right hon. Friend for some weeks. Decisions on publication cannot be taken until my right hon. Friend has read it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, for the last year for which figures are available, how many people received hospital treatment as a result of attack by dogs and how many people died as a result of such attacks; and how many people received hospital treatment for dog-borne diseases, particularly toxocara canis, as a result of contact with dogs or dog excrement.

Information is not available about the number of people who received hospital treatment as a result of attack by dogs, but in 1976 two persons died in England and Wales following dog bites and two died after being knocked down by dogs.As regards dog-borne diseases contracted in this country, out-patient figures are not available but the following numbers of spells of treatment were recorded in a 10 per cent. sample of in-patients in NHS hospitals in England and Wales:

	1974	1975
Toxocara canis	1	2
Hydatidosis	12	9

It is not known, however, whether or not a dog was the source of the disease in the case of hydatidosis.The following numbers of cases were reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service in 1977:

Toxocara canis	5
	(4 children and 1 adult)
Hydatidosis	16

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local bodies have specific responsibilities for the quality of, and advance planning for, general practitioner services.

General practitioners provide services under individual contracts with Family Practitioner Committees (FPCs). The standard terms of the contracts are negotiated centrally and laid down in statutory instruments. FPCs, though they are set up by area health authorities, are directly responsible under the National Health Service Act 1977 for administering the contracts and thus carry local responsibility, with the professions themselves, for the quality of the services.Planning of National Health Service services as a whole, including family practitioner services, is the responsibility of regional health authorities and area health authorities, and entails co-operation between them and family practitioner committees on general practice matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the result of his personal inspection of the Caldy Manor Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

I visited Caldy Manor Hospital on 11th May. I also visited Cleaver Hospital to which the area health authority proposes to transfer part of the service from Caldy Manor. Following this visit I have asked the health authorities for a statement of the detailed arrangements proposed at Cleaver, which I shall wish to study before the future of Caldy Manor Hospital is finally decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the resignation of all its officers and a number of its members, he will hold an inquiry into the membership and workings of the Rochdale Community Health Council and publish the findings of such an inquiry.

No. Community health councils are independent statutory bodies and are not accountable to my right hon. Friend. Regional health authorities are responsible for appointing the staff and a proportion of the members of community health councils and for approving their expenditure. The Rochdale Community Health Council consists of 30 members and there are seven vacancies at present. The Community health council has two staff, a secretary and an assistant. The post of secretary becomes vacant on 1st June when the present secretary's secondment to the council ends, and this post has been advertised. The assistant remains in post.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South on 19th April 1978, undertaking to publish as soon as it was assembled information on the benefits where calculations of total income for purposes of eligibility for benefit are affected by income from child benefit, if he will now publish that information.

I am publishing the information in the Official Reporttoday.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the net income from supplementary benefits and all other benefits of a disabled person in 1974 and at present, expressed at current prices.

The total income, after payment of rent, of a single disabled person

					February 1974 Rate £	Present Value*of 1974 Rate £	Present Rate £
Supplementary Benefit, Ordinary Rates:
Householders	…	…	…	…	6·60	12·71	14·55
Non-householders	…	…	…	…	5·70	10·97	11·60
Long-term Rates:
Householders	…	…	…	…	8·15	15·69	17·90
Non-householders	…	…	…	…	7·15	13·77	14·50
Attendance Allowance:
Higher Rate	…	…	…	…	6·20	11·94	14·00
Lower Rate	…	…	…	…	4·15	7·99	9·30
Mobility Allowance	…	…	…	…	Not in payment	—	7·00
* Calculated on the basis of RPI (less housing) up to March 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the purchasing power of a family, with three children under the age of 11 years, on supplementary benefits and all other benefits in February 1974 and at present, expressed at current prices.

The total income, after payment of rent, of a family with

			February 1974 Rates £	Present Value of 1974 Rates* £	Present Rates £
Supplementary benefit ordinary rate	…	…	18·20	35·04	36·70
Long-term rate	…	…	19·40	37·35	41·50
Free school meals	…	…	0·45	0·87	1·25
Free welfare foods(2 children)	…	…	0·70	1·35	1·76
* Calculated on basis of RPI (less housing) up to March 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons in the parliamentary constituency of the Isle of Ely, or in Cambridgeshire if the Isle of Ely is not separately assessed, are now in receipt of some social security benefit; and what were the relevant figures in each of the last four years.

I will publish the available information in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many teenagers in

I regret that the information is not available for either the Isle of Ely or for Cambridgeshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the titles of all benefits where calculation of total income for purposes of eligibility for these social security benefits, in cash or in kind, includes child benefits as income; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of decrease in these benefits that will follow as a result of child benefit income being included for purposes of their calculation.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th April 1978], gave the following information:The means-tested benefits for which child benefit is taken into account in determining total income, and hence eligibility are listed below. The right hand column shows the estimated increase in expenditure which would result in 1978–79 if child benefit were no longer taken into account for those benefits, but all other factors remained the same.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married women are now claiming non-contributory invalidity pension.

Up to 12th May 1978, about 60,000 claims for the benefit had been made. There are currently about 35,000 awards of the benefit in payment from the cumulative total of 39,000 awards made since the non-contributory invalidity pension was extended to married women in November, 1977. The difference between the cumulative total of awards and the number currently in payment is explained by the number of cases in which awards have ended because of death or for other reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married women who are incapable of employment have been disallowed non-contributory invalidity pension on the grounds that they are capable of doing housework.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Dr. McDonald).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women to date have been refused the housewife's non-contributory invalidity pension because they fail the "normal household duties" test; and what percentage of (a) all claims and (b) all refusals of housewife's non-contributory invalidity pension this represents.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978; Vol. 950, c. 55], gave the following information:Up to 12th May 1978, just over 9,000 claims from married women for the non-contributory invalidity pension were disallowed on the ground that the claimant had not proved that she was incapable of performing normal household duties. This represents approximately 15 per cent. of all claims for the benefit and 51 per cent. of all disallowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in the light of the recent decision of the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Area Health Authority to defy the budgetary allocations of the South-East Thames Regional Health Authority and to continue to overspend, in the belief that the regional health authority will fund the deficit, what steps he proposes to take in order to ensure that the authority of the regional health authority is not flouted and that the policy of the Resource Allocation Working Party is enacted.

I have asked my officials to discuss the matter with the officers of the South-East Thames Regional Health Authority and of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Area Health Authority (Teaching) with a view to informing me of the facts of the case. I have written to the chairman of the regional health authority urging on him the need to resolve quickly any differences between the regional health authority and the area health authority over allocations, and I have invited the chairmen of the two authorities to discuss the matter with me at an early date. I have also reiterated that once an allocation has been finally made by an RHA, after full discussion with its areas, this must be accepted by the AHA concerned and its services must be adjusted accordingly.

							England	Trent Region	Percentage of National Average
							£	£
1977–78	Revenue	…	…	…	…	…	83·34	71·75	86
	Capital	…	…	…	…	…	6·33	9·55	151
	Total	…	…	…	…	…	89·67	81·30	91
1978–79	Revenue	…	…	…	…	…	92·25	80·54	87
	Capital	…	…	…	…	…	7·53	9·32	124
	Total	…	…	…	…	…	99·78	89·86	90
Notes:
(1) The figures used are the cash limits allocations to regional health authorities for 1977–78 and 1978–79 and the populations for 1976 and 1977 respectively.
(2) Figures of resident population have been used. In assessing the basic allocations, account is also taken of a number of demographic factors to determine the relative health care needs of each region; and, for revenue, adjustments are made to reflect the populations served.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what his policy is with regard to the future provision of health centres in Ashby de la Zouch;(2) what his policy is with regard to the future provision of health centres in Shepshed.(3) what his policy is with regard to the future provision of health centres in Loughborough.

Trent Regional Health Authority has no plans to provide further health centres in Ashby de la Zouch, but plans to start building a health centre in Loughborough and another in Shepshed in 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what he estimates will be the percentage of the national average spent on health care in the Trent Region during the financial year 1978–79;(2) what percentage of the national average was spent on health care in the Trent Region during the financial year 1977–78;(3) what he estimates will be the average expenditure per head of population on health care in the Trent Region during the financial year 1978–79;(4) what was the average expenditure per head of population on health care in the Trent Region during the last financial year.

The estimated average expenditure per head of population on hospital and community health services is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further improvements will be carried out in the design of vehicles provided by his Department for handicapped persons.

To the extent that can be accommodated within available resources, my Department introduces improvements to the vehicles it supplies for handicapped people. Some of these involve modifications to current equipment and others the introduction into our range of completely new models. For example, for certain disabled children we have recently accepted into our range of equipment a small bicycle with special stabilisers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what deductions are made from retirement pensioners' pensions when they are admitted to hospital.

The following table sets out the deductions from the standard weekly rate of retirement pension (£17·50).

	Deduction
Period	Pensioner with a dependant	Pensioner without a dependant
	£	£
After 8 weeks in hospital	3·50	7·00
After 52 weeks in hospital	3·50*	14·00†
* Amount deducted from £17·50. The remaining £14 personal benefit can, if the pensioner agrees, be paid to a dependant. In the absence of agreement, the deduction is £14 (as for a pensioner without a dependant) but a £7 "re-settlement benefit" accumulates for 52 weeks.
† A £7 "resettlement benefit" accumulates for 52 weeks.

There are special rules, for example if both husband and wife are in hospital or if a retirement pensioner who has been in hospital for two years has a dependant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why a constituent of the hon. Member for Twickenham, details of which have been sent to him, who retired on 28th February from a lifetime of work as a musician partly employed and partly self-employed, has not yet received his pension book; and what action he intends to put this right as a matter of urgency.

Because the hon. Member's constituent had deferred his retirement beyond pensionable age he was entitled to increases to the basic rate of his retirement pension. A pension book was not issued to him immediately following his retirement because the final rate of pension had not been determined. However, payment of the basic rate of pension was made to him at the proper time by Giro cheque. Inquiries to establish the amount of extra pension due to him for deferred retirement took longer than expected, but they have now been completed and a book has been issued for payment of the full pension from 1st June 1978 and arrears have been paid. I am writing to the hon. Member giving full details and asking him to convey my apologies to his constituent for the delay in issuing the pension book to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to increase the number of beds at Frimley Park Hospital, Frimley, Surrey; and whether he will make a statement.

The functional content, siting and timing of further hospital development in the West Surrey/North-East Hampshire Health District, which is served by Frimley Park Hospital, is being examined by the South-West Thames Regional Health Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much blood is provided monthly to St. Anthony's private hospital, Cheam; and what charge is made.

I am informed by the regional health authority concerned that a maximum of 40 units of blood a month is provided to St. Anthony's Hospital, North Cheam. No charge is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much it costs the National Blood Transfusion Service to obtain a pint of blood.

The information is not available in the form requested, but in 1976, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,844,363 units of blood were collected by the National Blood Transfusion Service in England and Wales. Each unit is about four-fifths of a pint.Expenditure on the National Blood Transfusion Service for 1976–77 in England and Wales, including the centrally financed laboratories, was £18,912,856.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list all those organisations outside the National Health Service, and all foreign countries or foreign organisations, to which the United Kingdom sells blood, specifying the yearly amount sold and the price received;(2) how much blood was sold to the United States armed services in each of the last two years; where the blood came from; and what price per pint was received.

No blood is sold by the National Health Service to other organisations, whether in this country or abroad.

					Urgent		Non-Urgent
Specialty					All cases	Cases on list for more than one month	All cases	Cases on list for more than one year
General Medicine	…	…	…	…	—	—	19	—
Dermatology	…	…	…	…	—	—	15	—
Neurology	…	…	…	…	—	—	15	—
Cardiology	…	…	…	…	11	4	66	—
Rheumatology	…	…	…	…	—	—	3	—
Geriatrics	…	…	…	…	216	4	115	38
General Surgery	…	…	…	…	14	—	2,214	715
Ear, Nose and Throat	…	…	…	…	—	—	838	118
Traumatic and Orthopaedic	…	…	…	…	64	64	1,749	447
Ophthalmology	…	…	…	…	—	—	363	51
Radiotherapy	…	…	…	…	—	—	35	—
Urology	…	…	…	…	—	—	31	—
Plastic Surgery	…	…	…	…	—	—	753	192
Thoracic Surgery	…	…	…	…	—	—	35	—
Neurosurgery	…	…	…	…	—	—	85	48
Gynaecology	…	…	…	…	—	—	1,622	216
Mental Illness	…	…	…	…	—	—	35	24
Totals	…	…	…	…	305	72	8,020	1,949

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which persons over the age of 84 years in the case of men and 79 years in the case of women do not qualify for payment of death grant, as set out in Schedule 4, Part II, 2(d), to the Social Security Act 1975.

Section 32(5) of the Social Security Act 1975 provides that no death grant is payable in respect of the death of a person who had attained pensionable age—65 for a man, 60 for a woman—before 5th July 1948, when the present National Insurance Scheme began. Paragraph

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many urgent cases are awaiting admission to hospitals in North Staffordshire; how long they have been waiting; and if he will tabulate the numbers according to the main medical disciplines.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many non-urgent cases are awaiting admission to hospitals in North Staffordshire; how long they have been waiting; and if he will tabulate the numbers according to the main medical disciplines.

The information at 31st March 1978 is as follows:2(

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average delay between the final payment of sickness contributions in any one year and the crediting to the contributor's account held at the Central Office at Newcastle.

Returns of the majority of employees' national insurance contributions are sent in by employers within about three months of the end of the tax year, although some are received much later. The information is processsed in the Central Office at Newcastle and 95 per cent. of all the contribution records which have been submitted, including class 2 contributions, are posted to the contributors' accounts before the beginning of January, when the new benefit year begins. It is not possible to specify the average delay between final payment of contributions and the crediting of the appropriate account because, for administrative reasons, during the early months from April priority is given to particular types of returns. From about August, however, contributions are processed as they are received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the countries within the EEC permit fluoridation of their public water supplies, have abandoned it after trial use, and have not to date authorised its use.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the policies relating to fluoridation in the other member States of the European Community.

, pursuant to his replies [Official Report, 2nd May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 34 and 8th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 368], gave the following information:Five of the nine EEC countries at present permit fluoridation of water supplies and two of them have so far introduced it. In one other country which introduced fluoridation it has had to cease because of a legal decision on a technicality, not for any medical or dental reason. Seven EEC countries were co-sponsors of one or other of the 1969 and 1975 resolutions of the World Health Assembly which commended fluoridation to member States.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the names and specialties of consultants who have ceased to work at Northwick Park Clinical Research Centre since the appointment of the new director, and the number of senior registrars who have not had their contracts renewed or will not have contracts renewed on present termination.

I have been asked to reply.Since the new director of the Medical Research Council's clinical research centre took up his appointment on 1st May 1978 no member of the Council's staff holding an honorary clinical contract at consultant level has ceased to work at the centre. One member of staff holding an honorary contract as a senior registrar will be leaving the centre in August 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the various efforts which have been made by the Government to intensify exploration for oil, gas and uranium, respectively; if he will specify the occasions on which the United Kingdom have been assisted, either financially or otherwise, by the EEC funds or institutions; and if he will provide comparable information for each of the other eight member States of the EEC.

Government policy on the pace of exploration for offshore oil and gas has been to license small amounts of territory at relatively frequent intervals. Thus, 44 blocks have recently been licensed under the fifth round of licensing, supplemented by the award of 10 blocks to the British National Oil Corporation and British Gas Corporation. On 10th May I issued a consultative document about the next round of licensing which will comprise about 40 blocks. I will also soon announce new terms for petroleum licensing in onshore areas which I hope will stimulate an increase in exploration in those areas. There is currently no uranium exploration venture in prospect in the United Kingdom which is governed by United Kingdom legislation.The United Kingdom has not so far received any assistance from EEC sources for oil and gas exploration, nor has it taken up any allocation of funds made available for uranium exploration. Details of the occasions on which other EEC member States have been provided with assistance are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to make increased volumes of crude oil available to EEC members on condition that they purchase additional quantities of United Kingdom coal; and whether he is prepared to give the British National Oil Corporation a specific direction accordingly.

No. These are matters for negotiation between the different parties in the trades concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why it is Her Majesty's Government's policy that the British National Oil Corporation is permitted exemption from the Restrictive Trade Practices Acts for participation agreements which is denied to private sector companies in their dealings inter se.

Participation agreements between the Secretary of State, the British National Oil Corporation and licensees and associated companies have been negotiated to implement Her Majesty's Government's policy of majority State participation in commercial oil fields on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. The policy is set out in Cmnd. 5696. The Participation Agreements Act 1978 was introduced to remove doubts as to whether or not the terms of the Restrictive Practices Act 1976 applied to participation agreements certified as such by the Secretary of State. The Participation Agreements Act 1978 does not affect the application of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 to any other agreements or commercial arrangements which BNOC or private sector companies enter into.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the British National Oil Corporation is bound by normal confidential rules when advising the Secretary of State in respect of information derived from companies through participation agreements.

The use of information derived from companies through participation agreements by the British National Oil Corporation is governed by the terms of these agreements which were individually negotiated with the companies and which generally provide for BNOC to use such information when performing its duty under Section 3(3) of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975 to advise the Secretary of State at his request on petroleum matters. Extended summaries of agreements are placed in the Library of the House as the agreements become effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the British National Oil Corporation is permitted to further its commercial interests by making use of confidential information derived from companies under participation agreements.

The use to which the British National Oil Corporation may put information received under participation agreements is governed by the terms of the individual agreements which were negotiated between the companies, the Secretary of State and BNOC and which take account of the particular circumstances and interests of individual companies. Extended summaries of agreements are placed in the Library of the House as the agreements become effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will meet representatives of the Lucas Aerospace combined shop stewards committee in order to assist in the development of a hybrid power-pack proposed in that committee's corporate plan which was produced as a constructive alternative to redundancy.

I refer my hon. Friend to the written reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Dean) on 17th May. The primary responsibility in the field of vehicles and drive systems rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people complained in writing to the British Gas Corporation and the various parts of the electricity industry, respectively, about any aspect of their respective activities in the latest available period; and by what criteria requests for information were distinguished from complaints.

This is a matter for the industries and I have asked the respective chairmen to write to my hon. Friend with such information as they have available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of United Kingdom exports of coal to the EEC of about 3 million tons, what percentage is power station coal and what percentage is for domestic use.

Total National Coal Board's shipments of coal to the EEC in 1977 were 1·7 million tons. This could be broken down as follows:

	per cent.
Power Station coal	56·0
For Domestic Use	8·5
Other	35·5

Non-NCB shipments of slightly over 100,000 tons cannot be broken down by its end use.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the total consumption of anthracite, what is the percentage and tonnage supplied by United Kingdom pits, the percentage supplied by the USSR and satellites and the percentage supplied by other EEC members, and the percentage derived from other sources.

Total disposal for consumption of anthracite in the United Kingdom in 1977 amounted to 2,241 thousand tonnes. The recorded sources of supply were as follows:

	thousand tonnes	percentage
Source:
United Kingdom	1,971·0	88·0
Other EEC members	76·3	3·4
USSR	164·7	7·3
German Democratic Republic	0·9	—
South Africa	11·1	0·5
Morocco	16·9	0·8
Other	0·1	—
Total	2,241·0	100·0

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) of the total intra-Community deliveries of coal and coke for 1976 and 1977, what was the percentage derived from the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom;(2) of the total intra-Community deliveries of coal for 1976 and 1977, what was the percentage derived from the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom.

Of the total intra-Community deliveries of hard coal and coke for 1976 and 1977, the percentage derived from the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany were as follows:

(percentage)
	United Kingdom		Germany
	Coal	Coke	Coal	Coke
1976	8·8	4·8	81·5	74·5
1977	11·5	3·2	78·5	70·8

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what, separately, would be the gain in £ sterling to the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany and France on the basis of proposals relating to the intra-Community trade in power station coal, pursuant to Community document R/48/78; and what would be the annual total cost to the Community;(2) given separately, what would be the gain in £ sterling to the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, and France on the basis of proposals relating to the financing of cyclical coal stocks, pursuant to Community document R686/77 or subsequent amendments; and what would be the total annual cost to the Community;(3) given separately, what would be the gain in £ sterling to the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany and France on the basis of proposals for the increased use of coal for electricity generation, pursuant to Community document R75/77 or subsequent amendments; and what would be the total annual cost to the Community.

The three proposals referred to are still under negotiation and there is great scope for change in the details. The financial benefits would depend not only upon the precise forms of the schemes as they might be finally adopted but also upon the circumstances when the proposals came to be implemented, for example, the amounts of coal and coke in stock, which power station projects became eligible for aid, how successful the countries were in exporting their coal etc. But as proposed in the documents referred to the maximum costs falling on the Community would be as follows:

R/48/78	120meua (£80 million)
R/75/77	50meua (£34 million)
R/686/77	50meua (£34 million)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will reconsider his decision not to impose a ban on imports of seal products.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Members for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd) and Windsor and Maidenhead (Dr. Glyn) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Bar (Mr. Rooker) on 23rd March 1978, and to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie) on 19th May 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the decision by the European Commission to recommend significant textile import concessions to Portugal.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on this subject on 18th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether textile import concessions similar to those recommended for Portgual have been granted to other countries including Spain, Greece and Turkey by the European Commission.

As I said in reply to the Questions on this subject from the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 18th May, the EEC Commission has proposed an agreement with Portugal which would involve a number of increases in the quotas agreed by the Council of Foreign Ministers on 20th December 1977. No such increases have been offered to any other country.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he intends urgently to take up the recommendation of textile import concessions to Portugal in Brussels and press for a reversal of the Commission's recommendations as being in breach of the Community's policy.

I expect this matter to be discussed at the Council of Ministers on 6th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what amount of coal has been imported by the United Kingdom in the last 12 months; from which countries; and at what price;(2) what amount of coal has been exported from the United Kingdom in the last 12 months; and to which countries.

The information for the period April 1977 to March 1978 is as follows:

EXPORTS
Country of destination	Tonnes
France	930,573
Federal Republic of Germany	400,940
Irish Republic	179,754
Netherlands	158,076
Belgium-Luxembourg	130,865
Norway	76,870
Denmark	35,320
Sweden	29,124
Portugal	6,490
Other countries	3,548
GRAND TOTAL	1,951,560

IMPORTS
Country of consignment	Tonnes	£ per tonne cif
Australia	1,105,311	26·30
United States of America	352,592	39·78
Netherlands	303,009	25·06
Federal Republic of Germany	255,968	47·66
Poland	214,929	33·05
Belgium-Luxembourg	181,802	25·89
USSR	145,165	39·48
Irish Republic	38,803	23·95
France	23,612	50·04
Morocco	19,075	49·75
South Africa	17,380	34·05
Other countries	7,280	33·00
Grand Total	2,664,926	31·64