asked the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley), Official Report, 8th June, column 370, when the practice of giving more advance notice of business, as at present, was introduced and how much notice was previously given.

The present arrangement was introduced on 28th January 1960, following a recommendation by the Select Committee on Procedure. The previous practice was to announce business for the following week only.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement regarding the period of time that the 15 cases currently referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions by the Department of Trade mentioned in his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, at 18th May 1978 have been with the Director.

Of the 15 cases currently referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions by the Department of Trade, five, which were the subject of investigations under Section 165 of the Companies Act 1948, were initially notified to him on various dates between June 1975 and August 1976. Of the 10, which were the subject of investigations under Section 109 of the Companies Act 1967, three were initially notified to him on various dates between November 1972 and November 1974, and seven between September 1975 and May 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost of running the Parole Board, including all main constituent costs of any sort whatsoever, such as ex- penditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating, lighting and maintenance in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for the recruitment, selection, training and employment of interpreters within prison establishments in order to enable prisoners or people detained under Immigration Act powers to write letters or obtain advice in their first language.

There are no central arrangements for the recruitment, selection and training of interpreters in the prison service. Governors have authority to engage the services of interpreters as the need arises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of mentally abnormal oflenders sentenced in the years since 1974 has been sent to prison as opposed to being admitted to National Health Service and special hospitals.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what control he has over the recruitment, selection, training and career structure of employees of Securicor Limited who are contracted to escort and detain people held under Immigration Act powers; and whether he is satisfied with the policy of employing a commercial company rather than staff of the prison service for this work.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "none", but Securicor employees engaged on these duties work under the direction of the Immigration Service and are subject to strict rules as to the correct treatment of detainees. There appears to be no strong reason for prison staff to be used.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans have been made for the provision of special accommodation for the detention of people held under Immigration Act powers within the prison service, or by Securicor Limited, bearing in mind the increase of this section of the prison population during the last three years.

There are no plans at present for any major extension of special accommodation for persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971. The number of such persons held in prison remains a very small proportion of the total prison population.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Prison Department exercises authority over the decision whether a person held under Immigration Act powers should be detained at Harmondsworth detention centre or at a prison establishment; and on what criteria such a decision is based.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No". In general, persons who are detained for more than a short time in the course of deportation proceedings or as illegal entrants are detained in a prison or remand centre. Harmondsworth is used mainly for the detention of people who have been refused leave to enter or who are detained pending completion of their examination by an immigration officer. There are sometimes exceptions, principally because of the degree of security the detainee is thought to need.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to governors of prison establishments concerning the granting or refusal of application for escorted release to people held under Immigration Act powers, in order to enable them to finalise their domestic, commercial or financial affairs before deportation, removal or supervised departure.

None. It is the prisoner's responsibility to make suitable arrangements through relatives, friends or agents. Every effort is made to ensure that he is able to communicate with them for this purpose. On rare occasions it may be possible to accede to requests for visits under escort for the purposes mentioned by my hon. Friend but usually there is no reason why the necessary arrangements cannot be made while the person concerned is in prison or after he has left the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions during 1977 he exercised his powers to order temporary release of people detained under Immigration Act powers pending consideration of the substance of cases; on what general criteria such decisions were made; and how many people so released absconded.

I regret that the information requested in the first and third part of the Question is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense. In general, decisions on temporary release are taken on the basis of the likelihood of absconding and the presence or absence of compassionate considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current estimated cost of detaining a person under Immigration Act powers at Harmondsworth Detention Centre and at Her Majesty's prison, Pentonville.

The costs of detaining a person at any one establishment are impossible to determine with any degree of precision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department at which prison establishments unconvicted prisoners are not allowed access to a telephone to deal with urgent domestic problems, consult solicitors or approved organisations or arrange bail sureties; if the use of a telephone by such people is a right or a privilege; and at what level of authority within the Prison Service the decision to allow or deny the use of a telephone is made.

There is no formal provision for such telephone calls in statute or in the prison rules, but any prisoners with unconvicted status may be allowed to make such calls. The initial decision to allow or refuse this facility is normally taken by the wing principal officer, who may refer the case to higher authority: an inmate who is dissatisfied with the decision may put the matter to the governor or to the board of visitors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any consideration has been given to the establishment, apart from the collections of photographic material and apparatus held by individual museums, of a National Photographic Museum with its own archives and historic apparatus in a specially designated building.

My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for the arts has receiver a proposal for the establishment of such a museum, but major problems of manpower and finance would have to be solved before the proposal could be developed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost of the proposed grants to school pupils in a full year.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Ripon (Dr. Hampson) on 25th May.—[Vol. 950, c. 635.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects action to supplement electric heating with solid fuel open fires in married quarters, following the experiment at two airfields in Lincolnshire.

The trials carried out at RAF stations Coningsby and Wittering have been completed, and the resulting information is now being studied in conjunction with a report by the Property Services Agency. We shall complete our studies as quickly as possible and, if it is decided to implement the scheme more widely, I hope that work will begin before next winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the excellent reputation of Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester and the centralisation of facilities, he will provide funds for an adolescent unit, additional mothers' beds and a campaign to alleviate the current shortage of trained nursing personnel specialising in the paediatric sector.

No. Regional health authorities are responsible for the allocation of funds to area health authorities and for planning services in conjunction with them. Proposals for reorganising hospital services for children were set out in a consultative document issued by the Manchester Area Health Authority (Teaching) in December 1977. These include the provision of separate facilities for adolescent in-patients and additional mothers' beds at Booth Hall Hospital. The authority is now considering comments on the proposals which have been received from the statutory and voluntary bodies consulted. The shortage of trained paediatric nurses working on children's wards is recognised as a complex national problem of long standing. My Department is discussing with the General Nursing Council for England and Wales the reasons for the continuing shortage and possible solutions to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the level of saving to which a person has been entitled before deduction on its account is made from supplementary benefit payments, and the period of time during which these levels have been in operation.

Between 1966 and 1975, the level of savings at which supplementary benefit began to be affected was £325. In 1975 the figure was increased to £1,250.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in discussions undertaken by his Department with regard to the acquisition of land for an extension to Frimley General Hospital.

The functional content, siting and timing of further hospital development in the West Surrey and North East Hampshire Health District, which is served by Frimley Park Hospital, is being examined by the South West Thames Regional Health Authority. Should that authority decide that Ministry of Defence land is required, there will be further discussions between the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health and Social Security.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take to maintain the Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital at Greenwich.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Mem-

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the estimated annual average waiting time for operations in each of the main surgical specialties at St. Nicholas Hospital, Plumstead, the Brook General Hospital, Woolwich and Greenwich District Hospital.

The information is as follows:ber for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) on 12th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is in a position to make a statement on the progress of negotiations with the Canadian Government on a reciprocal agreement on retirement pensions which would enable Her Majesty's Government to pay retirement pension increases to British citizens resident in Canada on the same basis as reciprocal agreements allow them to do in 28 other countries.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Price) on 13th June 1978.—[Vol. 951, c. 450.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the future of the maternity unit at Rossendale General Hospital.

I am not aware of any proposal affecting the future of this unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount of rented office space is now occupied by Greenwich and Bexley Area Health

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the working party into ways of improving radiological services in the Grimsby Health District.

The working party's report made recommendations for addi-

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the most recent estimated annual running costs for each of the hospitals in the Greenwich health district; and what are the latest estimated daily costs per occupied bed at each hospital.

In 1976–77, the latest year for which figures are available, the total revenue expenditure and the cost per inpatient day at each hospital were as follows:Authority employees: and what are the current rents paid.

The following office space is occupied by the area health authority, its two district management teams and the family practitioner committee.tional staffing equipment and accommodation. The area health authority have appointed two additional radiographers and made minor improvements to accommodation and equipment. Other recommendations were referred to the regional health authority for further consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the waiting times necessary for contrast medium X-rays in the Grimsby Health District.

No. I share the health authorities' view that the waiting times are unacceptably long.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the requirements for provision of services laid on him by Part II, Section 3(1) of the National Health Service Act 1946, he is satisfied by the adequacy of service and the delays in reports on X-rays in the Grimsby Health District; and if he will make a statement.

I share the concern of the regional health authority and area health authority about the length of time patients have to wait in Grimsby for non-urgent barium contrast work. However, I am satisfied that, following the area health authority's acceptance of the majority of the recommendations in the review carried out by the Yorkshire Regional Health Authority, active steps are being taken to improve the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the decision by Humberside Area Health Authority that the advice of the Department of Health and Social Security adviser in radiology be sought on the problems in the Grimsby Health District X-ray units, he will make that advice available as a matter of urgency.

No formal request for such advice has yet been submitted to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in the

Steps have already been taken to implement the recommendations on management responsibilities and on the replacement of obsolete equipment at Scarthe Road Hospital. Those concerning consultant radiology staffing will be considered in the light of discussions now taking place with the Trent Regional Health Authority over the appropriate level of consultant cover for Louth once the new district general hospital at Grimsby is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average waiting time for plain and medium contrast X-rays in the Grimsby Health District; and how this compares with the waiting time for both a year ago;(2) how the waiting periods for plain and medium contrast X-rays in the Grimsby Health District compare with waiting periods in Scunthorpe and Hull.

Information on waiting times is as follows:light of the waiting times for barium meal and enema investigations in the Grimsby Health District, what waiting times for such X-ray reports he considers to be reasonable.

I have no information on national average waiting times for these investigations. It is not possible to specify a reasonable waiting time since much depends on the nature of the condition for which the investigation is required and the degree of clinical urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average number of patients treated by each radiologist, and by each consultant radiologist, in the Scunthorpe Health District and in the Grimsby Health District, respectively; and to what factors he attributes the difference in rates of treatment.

This information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish figures for gross expenditure on the National Health Service, inclusive of expenditure financed by charges, in real terms, from each of the years since 1970–71; and whether he will publish

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what dates and in what numbers he expects beds to become available in the new Grimsby hospital; and what is the current completion date.

The current completion date is October 1981, when all 530 beds are expected to become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the recommendation in the final report of the ad hoc working party on retinitis pigmentosa that a computerised central register of cases be established, any progress has been made in the creation of such a register.

This is just one out of a series of recommendations in which the working party has defined a strategy to govern research into retinitis pigmentosa. It would be for research workers and clinicians to make proposals within that strategy, which would then be considered

The table below sets out the gross expenditure on the National Health Service in England—expressed in Public Expenditure Survey 1977 prices—for each of the years 1970–71 to 1976–77 inclusive, together with the figures for revenue from prescription charges—pharmaceutical services—dental and optical charges and other charges, comprising recoveries in respect of pay and amenity beds and other services in hospitals and welfare foods, for the same years and on the same price basis:by the Medical Research Council and my Department, as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of his answer of 17th May 1978 to the hon. Member for Grimsby, he knows of any cases in which the methods of the Opos Eye Clinic are in fact used in the United Kingdom by consultant ophthalmologists under the Health Service.

None have been brought to my attention in the last few years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list those countries in Europe that have repealed legislation that either permitted or required public water supplies for human consumption to be fluoridated.

I assume that, as in his other Questions on this subject, the hon. Member is referring to the position in EEC countries. In no EEC country has such legislation been repealed. In the information I gave him in my reply on 22nd May, I mentioned one EEC country, The Netherlands, where fluoridation has had to cease because of a legal decision on a technicality.—[Vol. 950, c. 391.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the member States of the EEC that have introduced legislation requiring all public water supplies for human consumption to be fluoridated, giving the date when the legislation was introduced.

The Republic of Ireland passed the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 on 28th December 1960, requiring piped water supplies to be fluoridated. On 3rd July 1964, the Republic's Supreme Court dismissed an appeal against a decision of the High Court that the Act was constitutional.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is yet satisfied that an adoption service is available throughout the county of Northumberland.

I understand that Northumberland County Council has appointed an officer with responsibility for adoption and fostering and that further plans are under consideration on the basis of an action plan recently submitted to the council. There are interim arrangements for the referral of adoption work in Northumberland to the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and to local voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the consequences for the National Health Service of the increase in the national insurance surcharge announced by the Government on 8th June.

The implications of the increase in the national insurance surcharge on the National Health Service, particularly the Department of Health and Social Security Block 2 cash limit, are being examined. As to the National Health Service element of receipt from national insurance contributions, this is considered separately from general Government funds when plans are made for Health Service expenditure, and the increase in the surcharge will not therefore provide additional public expenditure for the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the level of death grant payable to individuals since its inception on an annual basis in (a) money terms and (b) real terms.

On the basis of the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices up to April 1978—the latest month for which figures are available—the value, at constant April 1978 prices, of the maximum rate of death grant for each year since it was introduced in 1949 is given in the following table:—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received in the last six months from (a) individuals, and (b) organisations asking that the level of death grant be reviewed.

Since December 1977, I have received about 70 such representations from individuals and 75 from organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to make an announcement advising the parents of vaccine-damaged children about the application procedures for interim compensation payments.

Urgent work is going ahead and a further announcement about the payments scheme will be made as soon as details have been settled. In the meantime, intending claimants may write to:—

• Vaccine Damaged Payments Scheme
• Department of Health and Social Security
• North Fylde Central Offices
• Norcross
• Blackpool, FY5 3TA

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time between the receipt of a case submitted by hon. Members to his Department and the reply of the Department; whether he is satisfied with the present situation; and whether he will make a statement.

Statistics of this kind are not readily available. Every effort is made to reply to letters as quickly as possible, and we are seeking at all times ways of improving performance. I am writing to the hon. Member about the specific cases he may have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps his Department has taken to implement the urgent recommendation contained in the interim report of the Butler Committee of April 1974 to set up regional secure units for mentally disordered offenders;(2) what directions have been sent out to regional health authorities about the establishment of permanent regional secure units for mentally disordered offenders.

Regional health authorities were asked, by a circular issued in July 1974, to establish as a matter of urgency regional secure units for mentally disordered patients who cannot be satisfactorily managed in ordinary psychiatric hospitals or units but whose condition is not such as to require treatment in a special hospital. The circular was accompanied by copies of the report of a departmental working party on security in National Health Service psychiatric hospitals as well as the interim report of the Butler Committee on mentally abnormal offenders. The priority to be accorded to regional secure units was further emphasised in the 1976 consultative document on priorities and endorsed in "The Way Forward" published last year.Special capital and revenue funds have been made available. Last summer, I set up a working group to help authorities overcome difficulties in setting up regional secure units. My Department is engaged in continuing discussions with individual health authorities on their proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the large sum of money made immediately and urgently available by his predecessor for the setting up of regional secure units for mentally disordered offenders has been spent by regional health authorities either as general revenue or to offset over-spending.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friends the Members for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) and Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 28th July 1977, in relation to the use of the allocation in 1976–77. Final information for 1977–78 is not yet available.—[Vol. 936, c. 611–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the proportion of the average income of a retirement pensioner which is taken up by food, fuel and light, transport, rates and taxation, and rent, in each of the last 10 years.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th June 1978; Vol. 951, c. 99–100], gave the following information:I regret that information about expenditure on the items referred to, expressed as a proportion of the average income of a retirement pensioner, is not available. However, information about expenditure on those items as a proportion of total

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the main reasons why claimants of housewife's non-contributory invalidity pension have been refused benefit, giving the numbers turned down for each of these reasons.

pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 6th June 1978; Vol. 951, c. 98.]—gave the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has any plans to bring forward legislation to make the owners of oil tankers liable for the cost of damage caused by oil spillage at sea within British waters.

Such legislation already exists. Under the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act 1971 shipowners are made strictly liable, within

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of his measures to abate the inflow of Japanese motor vehicles into the United Kingdom; and if he has any plans for the further reduction of this inflow.

I announced the Japanese Government's measures to the House on 7th March. We are watching the results of these closely and I have no plans for further action at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his latest estimate of the total gross value of trade in manufactured goods with Iran.

Following is the information for the year May 1977-April 1978 inclusive:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the value of exports by the United Kingdom of textiles for the years 1970 to the first quarter of 1978 at 1970 prices; and what was the volume of exports by the United Kingdom of textiles for this same period, with the volume for 1970 as 100;(2) what was the value of imports of textiles, broken down as to where the merchandise came from, what kinds of merchandise were imported, and what they were made from, into the United Kingdom during the period 1970 to the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department plans to advertise in the Equal Opportunities Commission News.

The Equal Opportunities Commission News does not carry advertising and has not, therefore, been considered by my Department for advertising purposes. However, in view of the hon. Gentleman's interest we would certainly consider doing so should the opportunity arise, subject to the usual criteria for placing Government advertising.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many capital grants have been made to date to employers in first quarter of 1978, expressed at constant 1970 prices; and what was the relative volume of imports of textiles, broken down into the same categories into the United Kingdom during the same period, expressed as volume index numbers, taking 1970 to be equal to 100.

Following are data on the volume of exports and imports of textiles, SITC (Rev 2) Division 65—textile yarns, fabrics and made-up articles:order to assist them in the employment of disabled people; what is the total value of the grants made; what action the Manpower Services Commission is taking to give the scheme greater publicity; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there are no readily available figures of numbers and total value of grants made to date, but authority has been given for 37 adaptations to premises or equipment at a total cost of £19,913. An explanatory leaflet has been published and has been included in the package provided for the Press during National Access Week. Details of the scheme have been included in the Disabled Living Foundation's newssheet, which is sent to all organisations with an interest in the employment problems of disabled people. Disablement resettlement officers also refer to the scheme as often as possible in their day-to-day contracts with employers.I am most dissatisfied with the take-up of the scheme so far, and I have urged the MSC to encourage employers to use the scheme far more effectively. The MSC has further publicity under urgent consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost per 1,000 employees in 1976 and in 1977 (a) in firms with fewer than 100 employees, and (b) in firms with 100 or more employees.

Statistics about industrial stoppages are not normally compiled in respect of the size of the firm affected. The analyses requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Data derived from a special analysis in respect of 1971–73 were published on page 116 of the February 1976 issue of the Department of Employment Gazette.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how the responsibilities and purpose of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service differ from those of the Conciliation and Arbitration Service it replaced.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service was given specific statutory responsibilities—for example, in relation to trade union recognition—by the Employment Protection Act 1975. Its general purpose and functions, however, remain basically the same as those of the Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, prior to making the appointment, what assessment he made of the contribution of the experience of the chairman of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to his performing his job in accordance with the objective and unbiased role assigned to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service by the Employment Protection Act 1975.

In making an appointment of this kind, my right hon. Friend would naturally consider only people who had demonstrated that they were likely to perform the job in an objective and unbiased manner.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the reasons for the decision by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, earlier this year, to recommend the representation of teachers by the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education and not by the Association of Polytechnic Teachers.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service's reports on the recognition references from the Association of Polytechnic Teachers (APT) in respect of staff at three polytechnics—North London, Portsmouth and Lanchester—each state that the Service has made no recommendation for the recognition of the APT because in its view such recognition would fragment the existing collective bargaining machinery and would not be helpful to the development of good industrial relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list by region the numbers of skilled workers who are presently unemployed and whose previous skilled employment was in the aerospace manufacturing and repairing industry, as defined under Minimum List Heading 383;(2) if he will list by region the numbers of skilled workers who were unemployed on 31st May, or other convenient date, and whose previous skilled employment was in the ordnance and small arms industry, as defined under Minimum List Heading 342;(3) if he will list by region the number of skilled workers who were unemployed on 31st May, or similar convenient date, and whose previous skilled employment was in the shipbuilding and marine engineering industry, as defined under Minimum List Heading 370;(4) if he will list by region the numbers of skilled workers who were unemployed on 31st May, or similar convenient date, and whose previous skilled employment was in the motor vehicle manufacturing industry, as defined under Minimum List Heading 381;(5) if he will list by region the number of skilled workers who were unemployed on 31st May, or similar convenient date, and whose previous employment was in the scientific instruments and systems industry, as defined under Minimum List Heading 354;(6) if he will list by region the number of skilled workers who were unemployed on 31st May, or similar convenient date, and whose previous skilled employment was in the radio, radar and electronic capital goods industries, as defined under Minimum List Heading 367;(7) if he will list by region the number of skilled workers who were unemployed on 31st May, or similar convenient date, and whose previous employment was in the radio and electronic components industry, as defined under Minimum List Heading 364.

I regret that the information is not available. The numbers unemployed are analysed, at different dates, by industry and by occupation, but there is no cross-analysis giving an occupational breakdown within an industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what machinery exists to monitor the effectiveness of the youth opportunities programme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is giving high priority to the monitoring and evaluation of the new youth opportunities programme. A network of MSC area offices has been set up and MSC officials will visit sponsors regularly to keep a check on the quality of schemes and on the progress of young people on them.The Manpower Services Commission is also developing a comprehensive management information system on the programme and a number of studies and surveys are being planned to assess the effects nationally of the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to continue the prohibition order forbid- ding the disposal of kepone in the United Kingdom.

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the prohibition notice issued by the Health and Safety Executive on 4th April 1978 in respect of disposal of kepone applies only to Re-Chem International Ltd. at its premises in Pontypool. The notice will remain in force until a safe system of work has been established and agreed between the Health and Safety Executive and the firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the gross cost and the cost per place of the work experience on employers' premises schemes; and how many places will be available in 1978–9.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th June 1978], gave the following answer:I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the gross cost of the work experience on employers' premises scheme during 1978–9 is estimated to be approximately £43 million. The cost per place per week is £19·50, to which should be added a small sum to cover the cost of associated further education provision. It is envisaged that the number of places available under the scheme will be at an average level of 40,000 during 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are available on the other work experience projects programme; and what is the gross cost of the programme and the cost per place.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th June 1978], gave the following answer:I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, according to the most recently available statistics, the number of places currently available under the project-based work experience and community service elements of the youth opportunities programme is approximately 950. Since the YOP is now in a phase of rapid build-up, it should be noted that the estimated number of young people who will pass through schemes of this sort in the fiscal year 1978–79 is in excess of 30,000.The cost per place per week is approximately £38, which includes the associated cost of wages for adult supervisors employed by sponsors of these schemes and of administrative overheads. In the fiscal year 1978–9 the gross cost of these schemes is expected to be approximately £40 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places will be on the new work experience programme and what is the estimated gross cost of the programme, the cost per place and the level of grant or allowances which participants receive.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th June 1978], gave the following answer:I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the estimated gross cost of the work experience elements of the YOP—that is, work experience on employers' premises, training workshops, community service and project-based work experience—during the financial year 1978–79 is approximately £100 million. The cost per place averaged over the four kinds of scheme will be approximately £27 per week. Young people participating in the youth opportunities programme are paid a standard allowance of £19·50 per week irrespective of the kind of scheme upon which they are engaged or their ages. The allowance is not taxable and neither sponsors nor young people pay national insurance contributions.It is not possible at present to give a figure for the number of places which will be available on all the work experience elements of the YOP. It can be said, however, that the numbers of young people passing through schemes of this sort will comfortably meet the targets set out in the report of the working party on young people and work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers are covered by settlements which have so far been monitored by his Department during stage three of the Government's pay policy; how many of these workers settled outside the Government's pay guidelines, and what proportion of the total national work force is covered by settlements monitored by his Department.

As I have previously made clear, my Department maintains comprehensive monitoring only of major settlements, which cover about half the total labour force. Since 31st July, major settlements under the current pay policy have been reached covering over 7¼ million workers, the overwhelming majority within the policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he intends to take any steps to prohibit or restrict the sale of aerosols containing hydrocarbon.

I am not aware of any grounds on which such action would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects all ironing boards with asbestos rests to carry a warning label; what spot checks are made on these rests to check for safety; and if he will make a statement.

All manufacturers of asbestos-containing products were expected to begin to attach a warning label to them from October 1976 when the voluntary labelling scheme was introduced. I have no information on the extent to which ironing boards with asbestos rests now bear the label, but I propose to make some inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend and let her know the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection why, under the code of fair trading practice covering the travel agency business, travel agents are specifically authorised to impose surcharges when the exchange rate for the £ sterling falls but are placed under no obligation under the code even to consider the making of refunds when the £ sterling exchange rate moves the other way.

The code of practice adhered to by members of the Association of British Travel Agents was drawn up in consultation with the Director General of Fair Trading under Section 124 of the Fair Trading Act 1973. I shall therefore draw the Director General's attention to the point raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will arrange for a collection to be made of all current postmarks in England and Wales in order that these can be retained as a permanent historical record, in view of the Post Office's decision to phase out the majority of local postmarks in the next two or three years.

No. I shall, however, make sure that the Post Office is aware of the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the statement by Mr. Chadzingwa that the Zimbabwe Patriotic Front would accept weapons from the IRA, if available, he will cease to have further diplomatic contacts with Mr. Chadzingwa or his organisation.

My right hon. Friend regards it as important that ZAPU, as one of the major Rhodesian nationalist parties, should be included in negotiations for an overall settlement of the Rhodesia problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the strength of links between the IRA and the Zimbabwe Patriotic Front.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 24th April.—[Vol. 948, c. 466.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs were incurred by public funds in connection with the visit of Mr. Robert Mugabe to Belfast in 1975.

My right hon. Friend has no information to suggest that such a visit took place.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is now the permitted amount of lead in petrol and what proposals he has for further reducing the lead content of petrol.

The maximum permitted lead content of petrol is at present 0·45 grams per litre. However, agreement has just been reached within the EEC on a Directive providing for a limit of 0·40 grams per litre by 1st January 1981. My right hon. Friend intends to make regulations to apply this new limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement about the financial position of the Port of London Authority.

Since my statement to the House on 8th May, the Port of London Authority has continued to keep me closely in touch with its urgent examination of its financial situation and of the various courses of action that might be taken to restore viability. I have been encouraged by the constructive and responsible manner in which all parties concerned have reacted to the propositions put forward by the Authority for consideration.There is merit in letting the parties continue to discuss the steps that are needed with a view to reaching mutually acceptable solutions in so far as that may be possible. But when I receive firm proposals from the Authority, which as I have told it should be designed to chart a path to viability and a secure future, I shall be in a position to complete my consideration of ways in which the Government might assist.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what categories of disabled people are restricted to three year driving licences; on what criteria the restriction is based; why traumatic paraplegics and tetraplegics are included; and if he will make a statement.

Licences restricted to one, two, or three years are issued to those who suffer from disabilities which now or in the future are likely to cause the driving of vehicles in pursuance of the licence to be a source of danger to the public. Restriction is based in individual cases on medical evidence obtained with the applicant or licence-holder's consent. Paraplegics and tetraplegics are included because, I am advised, they may develop complications which could lead to them becoming sources of danger when driving. It seems right to review these cases periodically to ensure that a licence holder's medical condition has not changed. I should emphasise that if all is well licences are renewed automatically and at no cost to applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when work on the Newburgh bypass is expected to start; and when it will be completed.

The existing road through Newburgh is a principal road and is the responsibility of Lancashire County Council as highway authority. I regret that we have no knowledge of any proposal to bypass the village.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is her estimate of disbursements of overseas aid arising from existing firm commitments over the next three years on the basis adopted in her Written Answer to the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 20th July 1977.

I estimate that over the next three years disbursements arising from existing firm commitments will be as follows:

asked the Minister of Overseas Development on how many occasions in 1978 the British Government's Director abstained or cast a negative vote on loan applications put before the executive of the World Bank; and if he will list the applicants concerned and the purposes of the loan.

It is exceptional for a vote to be taken in the World Bank Executive Board when loan applications are considered, and there have been no such occasions in 1978. However, the United Kingdom director stated in March that if a vote had been called for he would have opposed a loan application from Paraguay for highway construction, and in April that he would have abstained from voting on a loan application from Ethiopia for grain storage and marketing facilities.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if the British Director at the World Bank abstained or cast a negative vote in the recent loan application to the World Bank for $23 million for telecommunication development by the Government of El Salvador; and what were the reasons for the British Government's action.

No vote on this matter was called for in the Executive Board of the World Bank.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in his partnership arrangements with East London boroughs.

Since the first meeting of the docklands partnership in November 1977, £20 million of additional resources have been allocated for a wide range of agreed projects. The docklands partnership area has been granted priority for industrial development certificates within London and the South-East. All five dockland boroughs will be able to use the powers in the Inner Urban Areas Bill.Government main programmes increasingly take account of the docklands strategy and the new priority being given to the problems of the area. I shall shortly be discussing with the authorities the first three-year programme for the partnership area, for which an additional £45 million of resources has already been allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of council-owned dwellings sold to their tenants in Greater London on the latest date for which figures are available.

During 1977–78, housing authorities in London sold an estimated 950 dwellings. Figures of reported sales for earlier periods have been published in "Local Housing Statistics".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from members of the public in the Greater London area on the question of selling council houses to tenants, since the borough elections on 4th May.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of local authority dwellings sold in the last five years, or other convenient period, have been houses with gardens and what proportion flats; and how this compares with the proportions of the national stock of local authority dwellings.

No firm figures are available on the relative proportions of houses and flats sold by local authorities, though the impression has been that the majority of dwellings sold have been houses. Of the dwellings owned by local authorities in England and Wales in 1976—the latest year for which information is available—it is estimated that some two-thirds were houses and one-third were flats, but those would not necessarily be the proportions for the local authorities which sold council houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he had yet allocated any expenditure to the Birmingham partnership area under the land reclamation scheme.

£1,228,000 has been allocated for 1978–79. Additional funds will be made available following designation of inner Birmingham as a derelict land clearance area. We have asked the city and county councils to submit bids for additional expenditure as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that his powers to override planning proposals are sufficient to ensure that the coastline is adequately protected from obtrusive planning developments.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made to him by the Liverpool District Council about the development of the South End Dock area in Liverpool.

I know of no recent representation to me by the city council on this particular part of the inner city area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how he has defined special social need for the designation of districts which will benefit from the provisions of the Inner Urban Areas Bill.

I refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 13th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to assist small businesses in inner urban areas.

The Inner Urban Areas Bill will enable selected local authorities with inner area problems to give grants and Ioans to promote employment. This will particularly help small businesses. Secondly, I have encouraged each inner city partnership committee to consider how best to involve the local business community. Thirdly, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I asked all local authorities last year to review and, where necessary, change policies that affect businesses, particularly small ones, and drew special attention to the needs of inner areas. Fourthly, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has extended the small firms employment subsidy to apply to partnership areas outside the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to encourage the growth of small businesses in inner urban areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to encourage the development of small businesses in inner urban areas.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Wakeham).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received on a tenants' charter.

We have received many helpful comments in response to our consultation paper. I have been impressed by the support shown for our central objective—to raise the status and the independence of tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he intends to take in order to encourage the take-up of rent allowances.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advantages he intends for those city dwellers living in the 14 partnership areas which will be unavailable to those living in the 15 programme districts or the recently announced 14 designated districts and London boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advantages he intends for those city dwellers living in the 14 partnership areas which will be unavailable to those living in the 15 programme districts or the recently announced 14 designated districts and London boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advantages he intends for those city dwellers living in the 14 partnership areas which will be unavailable to those living in the 15 programme districts or the recently announced 14 designated districts and London boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advantages he intends for those city dwellers living in the 14 partnership areas which will be unavailable to those living in the 15 programme districts or the recently an-announced 14 designated districts and London boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advantages he intends for those city dwellers living in the 14 partnership areas which will be unavailable to those living in the 15 programme districts or the recently announced 14 designated districts and London boroughs.