asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1945 the proportion of the gross national product produced by nationalised statutory corporations.

Details from 1959 are given in the table below. Only very broad estimates are available for earlier years and figures for 1977 are not yet available.

PROPORTION OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT PRODUCED BY PUBLIC CORPORATIONS
Year	Per cent.
1959	8·5
1960	8·7
1961	9·8
1962	10·4
1963	10·4
1964	10·2
1965	10·0
1966	9·9
1967	10·3
1968	10·8
1969	10·5
1970	10·2
1971	10·0
1972	10·1
1973	9·9
1974	10·5
1975	11·1
1976	11·5

The proportions of the gross national product produced by the public corpora- tions are affected by movements of institutions into and out of the sector. In the early post war years the sector expanded very rapidly with the nationalisation of a number of industries and its share of gross national product increased from less than 1 per cent. in 1945 to about 10 per cent. in 1952. The share declined slightly between 1952 and 1960 as a result of the denationalisation of the iron and steel and road haulage undertakings. Since then the following major changes in coverage have affected the figures. In 1961 the Post Office was reclassified as a public corporation. In 1967 the British Steel Corporation was set up. In 1974 the regional water authorities were set up to take over certain responsibilities from local authorities in England and Wales; and public trust ports, such as the Port of London Authority, were reclassified in the national accounts as public corporations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has prepared a statement on the increase in the salaries of top-paid public servants; who received this; what were the costs involved; and whether he will circulate copies to each of the trade unions in the Trades Union Congress.

This was not a statement but background information for distribution to Labour Members of Parliament; this is a perfectly normal practice. The costs of preparation were minimal. I see no reason to give the information wider circulation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that in the week ending Saturday 8th July a large number of companies issued their reports giving details of vastly increased profits and dividend increases of 100 per cent. or more than the previous year, whether such payments are within the Government's policy for incomes and the control of inflation.

A number of companies have made statements on the level of dividends which they intend to pay if controls are ended on 31st July 1978. Others have been given Treasury approval to forecast dividend increases above the statutory limit in accordance with longstanding rules, for example, to raise new capital for investment. A statement on the Government's intentions when the present controls end on 31st July 1978 will be made at an appropriate time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of inflation, as defined by the percentage rise in the retail price index over the six months to June, excluding seasonal foods, expressed as an annual rate; and how this compares with the similar figure based on the six months to August 1974.

I regret that the June figures are not yet available; thus the latest figures are as set out in my reply to the hon. Member on 16th June —[Vol. 951, c. 695.] The increase in the retail price index excluding seasonal foods over the six months to August 1974, expressed at an annual rate, was 172 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of inflation, as defined by the percentage rise in the retail price index over the three months to June, expressed as an annual rate; and how this compares with the similar figure based on three months to August 1974.

I regret that the June figures are not yet available: thus the latest figures are as set out in my reply to the hon. Member on 16th June —[Vol. 951, c. 695.] The increase in the retail price index over the three months to August 1974, expressed at an annual rate, was 8·4 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report, for the years 1950–51, 1973–74 and the latest available year, a table showing (a) the percentage of the total represented by, and (b) the relative position in the list of, each of the following: military defence, social security, National Health Service, agriculture, housing, education, other industry and trade, transport and communication, external relations, and finance and tax collection.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been convicted in each of the last five years for evading currency regulations; what proportion of these were British subjects; and what have been the annual sums involved.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department is still investigating currency matters relating to a real estate company, details of which have been sent to him; and when he expects these investigations to be concluded.

Investigations are still proceeding and I cannot forecast when they will be concluded. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the information he has sent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of introducing an allowance as of right for all registered blind persons of £7 per week; and what would be the net cost allowing for the effects of taxation at current rates.

I have been asked to reply.The scope of a social security benefit, and thus its cost, depends on many factors. These include age limits; the interaction with other social security benefits; and the relationship with other benefits, allowances and services. About 125,000 people are currently registered as blind in the United Kingdom. The gross cost of paying all of them £7 a week would be around £45 million a year. It must, however, be kept in mind that many more people could be registered as blind than are at present registered. The gross cost of the proposal would, of course, increase if registration went up as a result of the introduction of a blindness allowance. Many factors affect the yield of tax on a particular source of income, and it would be inappropriate to attempt to estimate the tax yield on the benefit contemplated by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the per capita foreign currency debt of the public sector, expressed in sterling terms, at February 1974 and at the latest available date, for the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, France, Italy, West Germany, and Japan.

, pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 10th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 402], gave the following information:The following figures are the best available estimates of per capita foreign currency debt of the public sectors of the specified countries: but the figures are not comparable because those of the United States, France and Italy cover borrowing by the central Government alone and do not take into account foreign borrowing by the rest of the public sector.

PUBLIC SECTOR BORROWING
		£per capita
	End-February 1974	Latest available estimate
United Kingdom:
Central Government	34	115*
Other public sector	31	108*
U.S.A	6	6
Canada	n.a.	n.a.
France	3	5
Italy	2	47
West Germany	3	6
Japan	8	23†
* End-June 1978 (provisional).
† End-December 1976.

The Government's policy for the management of the external debt of the public sector is to combine net repayment of debt year by year with new borrowing to spread the maturities. Since October 1977 arrangements have been made to prepay around $3½ billion of external debt and new borrowing has amounted to $1¼ billion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, in terms of £ sterling converted at the appropriate exchange rate for each member State of the EEC, the amount of money paid into EEC funds and the amount received from EEC funds in each year since Great Britain became a member of the EEC.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much benefit he now expects to accrue to the Exchequer during 1978 deriving from North Sea oil development; and how this compares with his estimates of such benefit made during 1977.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances the receipt of a FEOGA grant affects the recipient's tax position, particularly over capital allowances.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th July 1978], gave the following information:Under section 84(1) of the Capital Allowances Act 1968 expenditure met by grants from public authorities is generally disregarded; and capital allowances are due only on that part of the expenditure which the taxpayer bears himself. This treatment applies to grants from the EEC Agricultural Fund—FEOGA—in the same way as it applies to grants under the farm capital grant scheme.Similar treatment applies where a grant is made as a contribution towards revenue expenditure which would otherwise be deductible in full in arriving at taxable profits. A grant made to restore or supplement profits is taxable.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute a feasibility study of the usefulness of pedestrian travelators in urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is already aware of the considerations relating to the use of travelators, as a result of both a study commissioned by, and work undertaken in, the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. I shall write to my hon. Friend about the matter all roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many circulars his Department has issued to local authorities (a) in England and (b) in England and Wales, in each year since 1974; and how many issued instructions increasing the statutory duties of local authorities.

The information is as follows.

	Circulars to English local authorities only	Circulars to English and Welsh local authorities
1976	2	4
1977	6	3
1978 (to date)	3	4

13 of these circulars were issued jointly with one Department or more. Five related to new legislation or regulations affecting the statutory duties of local authorities. None increased those duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many returns of information are made by (a) non-metropolitan countries, (b) non-metropolitan districts, (c) metropolitan counties and (d) metropolitan districts to his department each year.

Metropolitan counties annually make 17 returns of information, and non-metropolitan counties 14. The main return is the annual submission of transport policies and programmes from each county. In addition 11 different forms are used for reporting certain situations as and when they occur. Each district provides 7 returns annually.Statistical returns from local authorities relating to transport are being reviewed by a joint central and local government working party.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve lane discipline on motorways.

In the publicity to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 6th July—[Vol. 953, c. 295]—we shall continue to stress that keeping to the proper lane is essential when driving on all roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West showing that in 1978 the service offered by the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre is now worse than it was in 1938; and whether he will make a statement on the reference made to him by the hon. Member.

Since 1938 the number of vehicles on our roads has increased from 3 million to 20 million and the number of drivers from 4½ million to 26 million. My concern must be to ensure that the present licensing system is capable of dealing efficiently with the new numbers. As I have previously told the House, I believe that we are making useful progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Advisory Committee on Local Government Audit to report.

As the chairman and members of the Committee have yet to be appointed, it is too early to say.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Cripps Report before the parliamentary recess.

A statement will be made next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which provide accommodation for single homeless people other than those for whom they are legally obliged to provide accommodation.

Information about the number of authorities which have secured accommodation for single homeless people not in priority need as defined in the Act will be available when the statistics which the Department collects from local authorities have been analysed; I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the outcome of recent negotiations between the Property Services Agency and the main contractor over the delays in reaching agreement on payments for work on the Hanley automatic telephone exchange, Stoke-on-Trent.

I shall answer this Question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom contribution to the United Nation environmental programme of a case study on the cost and benefits from environmental protection; and what consultations he has had or intends to have with industry on this matter.

The executive director of the United Nations has asked Governments to inform him by the end of September 1978 whether they will be prepared to participate in a co-ordinated programme of case studies aimed at ensuring that the benefits accruing from environmental protection measures are more clearly ascertained and given sufficient weight in decision making. My Department is currently studying how to respond to this request.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the agreement of all the local authorities involved that traffic problems at the Rayleigh weir junction on the Al27 would best be solved by the construction of a two-way flyover, he will now make a decision to proceed on that basis.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the per capita average of the current year's rate support grant for Greater Manchester and Greater London, respectively; and if he will explain the difference.

The figures based on the initial calculations for the year are:

Greater Manchester	£165·2
Greater London	£148·5

A higher proportion of resources element of rate support grant is paid to the Greater Manchester authorities because of that area's lower rateable resources per head of population. The difference is to a large extent offset by the much higher per capita grant being paid to London by way of the needs element, which is designed to compensate for differences in the amount authorities need to spend per head of population, and the domestic element—paid to authorities to reimburse them for the relief given to domestic ratepayers—and thus reflecting the higher average domestic rateable value in Greater London.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce his decision on the appeal by Grampian regional council against the refusal by Aberdeen district council to allow planning permission for the development of an exhibition, conference and sports centre at Bridge of Don, Aberdeen.

The comments of parties on part I of the report of the inquiry—summary of evidence and findings of fact —are awaited. Once I receive the complete report, I shall reach a decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the figures for the number of employees in the National Health Service for Scotland, dividing the employees into qualified medical personnel, nurses, ancillary hospital staff and administration personnel, stating the figures on 30th September 1974 and at the latest available date.

The numbers of employees in the National Health Service at 30th September 1974 and 30th September 1977, analysed by staff group, were, as follows:

	September	September
	1974	1977
Medical and dental	5,240	5,681
Nurses and midwives	48,288	53,076
Professional and technical	6,218	8,030
Works and maintenance	2,875	3,239
Administrative and Clerical	10,493	12,580
Ambulance staff	1,499	1,753
Ancillary	26,032	27,059
Total	100,645	111,418

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he intends to take action over the price-fixing activities of British Insulated Callender Cables Ltd. and others with regard to Post Office cables; and if he will make a statement on any measures which he has in mind to prevent a repetition of such activities.

Action on restrictive trading agreements is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading in accordance with his duties under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act. On the Director General's application the Restrictive Practices Court has already made orders against BICC Ltd. and the other parties to the agreements concerning Post Office cables with the result that the companies concerned will risk being in contempt of court if they enter into similar agreements in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the three most serious examples of inefficient use of public funds that have come to light in her Department in each of the past three years.

The Comptroller and Auditor General reports annually on any inefficient use of public funds to the Public Accounts Committee whose reports give details of cases affecting my Department. Relevant reports issued in the last three years are the 1974–75 fourth report, the 1975–76 fifth report and the 1976–77 ninth report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends to publish the report of Sir James Waddell's steering committee which has been studying the proposals for a common system of examining to replace the GCE O levels and CSE examinations; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I believe that the Committee's report will be of considerable interest to all those concerned with school examinations. We have therefore arranged for its publication, which takes place today—Cmnd. 7281. Copies are available in the Vote Office. We are grateful to the members of the Committee and its study groups for their careful and thorough work.The report concludes that a common system, providing examinations for all the candidates for whom GCE O-level and CSE examinations are now intended and awarding certificates with the same title and with grades on a single scale. could be introduced without harmful educational consequences. The Committee considers that in some subjects alternative examination papers and tests of different degrees of difficulty will be required to match the varying needs of candidates of different abilities, but that the main potential advantages seen in a common system can nevertheless be realised. The report also makes recommendations about the administration of a common system.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a decision has been taken about the allocation of the Elton collection.

Yes. My noble Friend, the Minister with responsibility for the Arts, has decided, after receiving the advice of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries, that the Elton collection on the history of technology accepted in lieu of estate duty and paid

ENGLAND AND WALES (EXCEPT AS INDICATED)
Reductions announced in July and December 1976			£million 1978 survey prices
			1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1980–81	1981–82
Capital:
Schools	…	…	12·9	21·9	17·4	3·5	0·7
Further education	…	…	1·9	9·0	13·4	6·7	2·7
Universities*	…	…	—	35·2	0·1	—	—
Current:
Schools	…	…	—	17·0	21·6	—	—
Universities*	…	…	—	5·0	7·5	—	—
Total	…	…	14·8	88·1	60·0	10·2	3·4
* Great Britain.

The Government's latest expenditure plans (Cmnd. 7049) provide for levels of expenditure on education which, in total more than restore these reductions from 1978–79 onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of children in (a) England and Wales, and (b) Suffolk who are being educated personally by parents at home, outside the State and independent school system at the latest available date; and what were the figures for the last five years.

It is the responsibility of local education authorities to satisfy themselves that children of school age not attending school are receiving efficient full time education. My Department does not collect information on the numbers of children being educated at home by their parents, but I

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the areas in which cuts were made in the education budget in each year since 1974; what would be the current cost in real terms of making good those cuts and restoring the services to their original planned level; and if she will do so as early as possible.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested but the following table gives details of the reductions in the planned levels of expenditure on education announced during 1976:understand from the Suffolk education authority that there are five such children in Suffolk.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to be in a position to announce her proposals with regard to the future of the Burnham Committee and the determination of teachers' salaries.

I have informed the teacher and local authority associations of my intention to review the membership of the teachers' panels of the Burnham committees in the autumn in the light of mergers between the teacher associations and of representations that have been made to me about the distribution of seats.I agree with the report of the Houghton committee on the adverse effects of the separate machinery for considering the pay and conditions of service of teachers. It is essential that any changes have the support of all the partners in the education service if improvements are to be secured and I therefore look forward to considering with the local authority associations the proposals for joint national councils on conditions of service, designed to work closely with the Burnham committees, which they have told me they are developing and wish to discuss.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many circulars her Department has issued to local authorities (a) in England and (b) in England and Wales, in each year since 1974; and how many issued instructions increasing the statutory duties of local authorities.

The figures are:

ENGLAND ONLY
	New circulars.*	Amendments addenda
1977	1	—

ENGLAND AND WALES
	New circulars*	Amendments addenda
1974	13 (10)	3
1975	15 (8)	4
1976	16 (15)	—
1977	14 (9)	2
1978 (to date)	8 (7)	—
* The figures in brackets indicate circulars issued jointly with other departments.

These circulars do not in themselves increase the statutory duties of local authorities.Copies of all circulars and administrative memoranda issued by my Department are bound annually and published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Those for 1974, 1975 and 1976 are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will institute the regular compilation and publication of statistics relating to accidents in the school environment.

The regular collection of useful statistics on school accidents would impose a considerable extra burden on schools and local education authorities. My right hon. Friend considers that the work involved in collecting such statistics would not be justified and that greater benefits accrue from concentrating efforts on practical measures to ensure safe working in schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many returns of information are made by (a) non-metropolitan counties, (b) non-metropolitan districts, (c) metropolitan counties and (d) metropolitan districts to her Department each year.

Non-metropolitan counties and metropolitan districts each make 35 different returns of statistical information to my Department annually; most of the returns also serve administrative purposes. These authorities also make returns of a purely administrative nature as the occasion demands. In addition, my Department may mount a small number of ad hoc surveys to local education authorities in a year. No returns are made by metropolitan countries or non-metropolitan districts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce his policy on the future of the post-graduate hospitals.

Discussions have been going on for some time about the future administration of these hospitals, but my right hon. Friend will not reach a decision until he has received comments on a formal consultative document which is to be published shortly.On 28th June I met representatives of interested health and academic bodies, including the boards of governors of the hospitals. There was considerable support for the early establishment of a new authority to which the boards of governors would report, the functions of which would include the task of considering the desirability of some further changes in management arrangements and how further progress might best be made towards integrating the activities of the hospitals with those of other parts of the NHS. This possibility will be canvassed in the forthcoming consultative document.The order under which the boards of governors were preserved in 1974 will expire on 22nd February 1979. My right hon. Friend has it in mind to seek the agreement of the House later in the year to the preservation of the boards for a further period of two or three years. This would allow time, among other things, for examination of the implications of the forthcoming report of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give (a) the total number of children aged 16, 17 and 18 years and (b) the number of children of these ages living in the parental home, in England and Wales in 1951, 1961, 1966, 1971, and the most recent subsequent estimate.

The numbers of children aged 16, 17 and 18 years in England and Wales as enumerated in the 1951 census and, for later years, as given in the midyear estimates of the resident population are as follows:

ENGLAND AND WALES
Thousands
	16	17	18
1951	546·5	534·3	546·7
1961	674·7	666·7	642·2
1966	686·8	717·4	768·5
1971	654·3	673·7	666·3
1972	769·9	738·2	730·9

An analysis of 1 per cent. of the 1971 census forms for Great Britain shows that approximately 98 per cent. of single persons aged 16, 97 per cent. of those aged 17 and 95 per cent. of those aged 18, were either living in the parental home or were, at the time, away from home at school, university or college.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many general practitioners are now in full-time practice in Stoke-on-Trent; and how many were in practice in 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1976 and the latest available date;(2) what is the average number of patients for each general practitioner in Stoke-on-Trent; and what was the num- ber in 1950, 1965, 1970 and 1976 and at the latest available date.

The table gives the number of general medical practitioners offering the full range of general medical services and their average list size at 1st October of the year stated. Information is not available on the proportion who worked full-time.

Date	Number of G.P.s	Average list size
1961*	105	2,546
1965	108	2,723
1970	104	2,798
1976	109	†
1977	108	†
* Earliest available.
†Figures for average list size in Stoke-on-Tren are not available for years following 1974; those for the Staffordshire area health authority were 2,559 in 1976 and 2,502 in 1977

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioners have ceased to practise in Stoke-on-Trent in each of the last three years; how many have been replaced; and, in how many cases, and what number of patients have been allocated to other practices.

This information is not available centrally for Stoke-on-Trent. The number of general practitioners ceasing to practise in the Staffordshire area as a whole was 30 in 1974–75, 24 in 1975–76 and 16 in 1976–77, while the number of general practitioners offering the full range of services at 1st October in each year rose from 374 in 1975 and 383 in 1976 to 396 in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioner group practices there are in Stoke-on-Trent; and how many are now operating from health centres.

There are 16 general practitioner group practices in Stoke-on-Trent, of which three group practices use health centre accommodation as main surgeries. In addition, a total of 17 doctors from the other 13 group practices have branch surgeries at health centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prescriptions have been dispensed by chemists under the National Health Service in the Leek parliamentary constituency in each of the past two years.

Information relating to the number of prescriptions dispensed by chemists in the Leek parliamentary constituency is not readily available. However, the number of prescriptions dispensed by chemist—including appliance —contractors under the National Health Service in the Staffordshire family practitioner committee area—in which the Leek constituency is included—was as follows:

Calendar Year	Prescriptions
1976	5,738,251
1977	5,877,794

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people awaiting admission to hospital in Staffordshire for non-urgent treatment have been waiting for more than six months; and how this compares with the figures in each of the past five years.

These figures are not available centrally in the form requested. The only relevant information held centrally is as follows: at 30th September 1977 the total number of people awaiting admission for non-urgent treatment in Staffordshire was 11,067. This compares with 9,237 and 7,891 at 30th September 1976 and 30th September 1975, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the additional £44 million made available to the National Health Service in England during 1978–79 in the Chancellor's Budget speech will be used up by the increase in employers' national insurance contributions of 1½ per cent.; and if he will provide a similar figure in respect of the additional £3·8 million allocated to the Trent regional health authority.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Kilbride (Dr. Miller) on 12th July. The Trent regional health authority will be notified of the increase in its cash limit shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many eye tests were undertaken by opticians under the National Health Service in the Leek parliamentary constituency in each of the past three years.

The number of NHS sight tests carried out under the general ophthalmic services in the Staffordshire family practitioner committee area—in which the Leek constituency is included —were as follows:

Calendar Year
1975	131,800
1976	132,133
1977	139,466

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average number of teeth filled per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in 1977; and what the comparable figure was for the Leek parliamentary constituency.

The average number of teeth filled per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in England in 1977 was 1,833; information is not available in respect of parliamentary constituencies, but the comparable figure for the area of the Staffordshire area health authority was 1,587.The dental officers concerned spent a small part of their time treating patients other than in the school dental service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average number of patients treated per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in 1977; and what was the comparable figure for the Leek parliamentary constituency.

The average number of patients treated per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in England in 1977 was 954; information is not available in respect of parliamentary constituencies, but the comparable figure for the area of the Staffordshire area health authority was 905.The dental officers concerned spent a small part of their time treating patients other than in the school dental service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the problems in heart surgery and cardiac treatment, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange.

As I said in my replies on 12th July to my hon. Friends the Members for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Loyden) and Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk), I have asked the Mersey regional health authority for an urgent report. I will write to my hon. Friend when this has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for open heart surgery on Merseyside; and how this compares with other regions.

This information is not available centrally, It is being collected from regional health Authorities and I will publish it in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the figures for the cost met from all sources of finance for national health and personal social services for the years ended 31st March 1976–77 and 1977–78.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 28th June.—[Vol. 952, c. 608].

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the admission of patients to the Westminster hospital is being limited in any way as the result of industrial action.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will now vary the rule that an employee must have been in the occupation for 20 years before he can claim benefit for loss of hearing, following the note of dissent by Mr. S. J. Stanbrook in the report on "Occupational Deafness", Command Paper No. 7266;(2) when he proposes to implement the decisions contained in the report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council contained in Command Paper No. 7266, entitled "Occupational Deafness".

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 111th July.The Government are considering the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the subject of occupational deafness (Cmnd. 7266). All aspects of the Council's report are being studied urgently with a view to the possibility of extending the occupational deafness scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the decision by the Chief National Insurance Commissioner on the appeal from a haemodialysis patient for attendance allowance.

The chief commissioner decided that the decision given on behalf of the Attendance Allowance Board was not erroneous in law. This means that the rejection of the claim for attendance allowance stands.The Government have been considering the implications of this decision and the conditions for the award of attendance allowance generally. We have concluded that it is unsatisfactory for payment for attendance allowance to people dialysing at home to be so heavily dependent upon the precise pattern of dialysis.Under the law as it now stands, many people who dialyse in hospital, and who have no significant attendance needs at home, qualify for the allowance. This was not foreseen when the attendance allowance was introduced. Nor was the allowance intended in such cases.We have therefore decided to make it clear beyond any doubt that people dialysing at home should in general qualify for attendance allowance, but that people who attend hospitals for dialysis and who have no significant attendance needs at home, do not qualify. To achieve this will require amendments to the Social Security Act 1975. We shall bring proposals for this before the House as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the average daily consumption of drinking water in the United Kingdom has had fluoride added to it by water authorities.

I have been asked to reply.It is not possible to provide a meaningful average figure for the whole country. In those areas which receive fluoridated water all the water consumed will have had fluoride added while elsewhere it is nil. About 9 per cent. of the population of England receives fluoridated water, the average consumption of drinking water being 1 to 1½ litres per head per day.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the British National Oil Corporation has complied with the agreement negotiated with National Coal Board (Coal Products) Ltd. covering its former subsidiary, National Coal Board (Exploration) Ltd., to the effect that the Corporation would pay to National Coal Board (Coal Products) Ltd. 75 per cent. of its available profits for the year ended 27th March 1976, and that existing accounting policies would be applied; and, failing compliance, whether he will give the Corporation a specific direction to do so.

Appointment, academic and professional qualification	Salary
NATIONAL COAL BOARD
Chairman
Sir Derek Ezra, M.B.E., M.A.	£24,715
Deputy Chairman
Mr. N. Siddall, C.B.E., B.Eng., C. Eng., F.I.Min. E., M A.I.M.E., F.R.S.A., F.B.I.M.	£20,515
Full-time Members
Mr. G. C. Shephard, F.C.I.S., A.C.M.A., M.B.I.M.	2 between £12,501 and £15,000 3 between £15,001 and £17,500
Mr. D. Davies, C.B.E., B.Sc.
Mr. L. J. Mills, C.B.E., B.Sc., C. Eng., F.I.Min. E.
Mr. F. B. Harrison, F.C.A.
Dr. J. Gibson, M.Sc., C.Chem., C.Eng., F.R.I.C., F.Inst.F.

I am at present considering this matter with the two chairmen concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement explaining the reasons for the estimated yield from North Sea oil development being substantially lower than was originally anticipated, attributing as far as it is possible the extent to which each factor involved will contribute to the expected shortfall.

I do not accept that oil production from the United Kingdom continental shelf is substantially lower than was originally expected. Production in the early years has been delayed, largely because of the time taken to develop solutions to problems posed by the hostile environment of the North Sea. However, the possibility, first noted in the 1974 report to Parliament on production and reserves of oil and gas in the United Kingdom, of achieving net self-sufficiency in oil in 1980 remains our main initial objective and we expect to achieve it.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the names and qualifications of all persons whom he has appointed to positions within the nationalised industries for which he has responsibility, listing the salary in each case.

The information is given below. Salaries quoted are those currently in payment. These are to be adjusted shortly in line with Government decisions on the recommendations of the tenth report of the Review Body on Top Salaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what involvement he has in the selection and appointment of persons to consumer bodies in the energy sector.

I am consulted by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, on the appointments which he makes to the posts of chairmen, deputy chairmen and mem- bers of all the national and regional consumer bodies in the energy sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many days are given to the study of, and training for, United Nations peacekeeping operations at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and at the Staff College, Camberley; and if the amount of time is to be increased.

United Nations peacekeeping operations are studied in various contexts as part of courses attended by Army officers at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Further instruction is given at the Staff College Camberley, where the course includes a full study of the subject with a lecture, an exercise and a presentation by officers with recent experience in Cyprus. In addition, United Nations peacekeeping may feature in projects which students choose for research. The amount of time devoted to the subject will therefore vary and cannot be precisely quantified. There are no plans at present to increase the formal instruction and training given.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how he accounts for the shortage of clerical officers and clerical assistants in his Department; and how many staff vacancies currently exist in these grades.

There is no grave shortage of clerical officers and clerical assistants in the Ministry of Defence, as a whole, but there is a problem in London, where wastage is high and recruiting has had disappointing results. We are hoping to rectify the situation by a drive to recruit school leavers that we currently have under way. At present vacancies exist in London for 205 clerical officers and 145 clerical assistants.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the rate of accidents per 100,000 hours of flight for all RAF aircraft.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Williams) on 17th January 1978.—[Vol. 942, c. 158.] United Kingdom military flying accident rates are customarily expressed using units of 10,000 flying hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the rate of accidents per 100,000 hours of flight for the Harrier aircraft.

It is not the practice to disclose this information in the form requested. However, I can say that in the two years to 11th July 1978 no RAF Harriers have been lost. The only accident in that period was a landing mishap in which damage to the nosewheel required repair by the manufacturer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours of training RAF pilots receive specifically on flying the Harrier aircraft.

The flying element of the course at the Harrier operational conversion unit normally last 75 hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will initiate a review of allowances payable to Service men to take account of inflation and compar- ability with Civil Service rates; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member on 22nd February 1978—[Vol. 944, c. 665–6]—the rates of compensatory allowances are reviewed from time to time to ensure they meet their objective, and are increased as necessary to reflect higher costs. Taxable allowances, such as separation allowance, fall within the remit of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and are therefore the subject of MOD evidence to that Body. On the question of comparability with Civil Service rates, there are many allowances which differ between Service and civilian personnel, to take account of very different conditions of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the standard general conditions of contract for the purchase of Government stores, and related procedures were last reviewed with a view to their simplification.

These standard conditions and related procedures are kept under regular review in consultation with the CBI. The aim is to keep them as simple as possible consistent with their adequacy for general use in the drafting and administration of Government contracts.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the three most serious examples of inefficient use of public funds that have come to light in her Department in each of the past three years.

If any such cases come to light they would be brought to the notice of the House through the established procedures. I refer the hon. Gentleman to published material. But if he has any evidence suggesting inefficient use of public funds by my Department I shall be glad to investigate it.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what firm aid commitments her Department has entered into since 1st January 1978.

Our aid commitments, many of which relate to relatively minor technical co-operation proposals, are too

AID COMMITMENTS SINCE 1ST JANUARY 1978 BILATERAL CAPITAL AID AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION
Country								Amount £ million	Number of years
Africa (Regional)	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	19·079	—
Algeria	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·060	3
Anguilla	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·197	—
Bangladesh	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	67·750	1
Belize	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	8·875	4
Bolivia	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·200	3
British Virgin Islands	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·071	—
Burma	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·000	3
Caribbean Association States	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·000	—
Cayman Islands	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·400	3
Cyprus	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	7·500	3
Egypt	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	11·100	4
Falkland Islands	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·789	2
Gibraltar	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	14·000	3
Gilbert Islands	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·210	—
Guinea Bissau	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·300	—
Guyana	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	17·000	5
Horn of Africa (Relief Aid)	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·025	—
India	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	146·000	—
Indonesia	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·900	3
Jamaica	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	25·500	2
Liberia	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·520	4
Malaysia	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·000	3
Montserrat	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·200	—
Morocco	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·024	2
Mozambique	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·500	2
Nepal	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·296	2–5
New Hebrides	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·660	—
Nigeria	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·280	—
Pakistan	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	20·500	—
Portugal	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	10·600	1
Rhodesia*	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	5·238	1
Solomon Islands	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	26·000	4
Somalia	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·650	1–3
Sri Lanka	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	15·000	5
Sudan	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	14·725	3–4
St. Helena	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·115	—
Tanzania	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	6·800	—
Tunisia	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·030	—
Turkey	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·500	2
Turks and Caicos Islands	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·095	—
Tuvalu	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	5·120	3
University of the South Pacific	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·150	3
Zambia	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	9·260	—
Total	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	461·219
* Aid committed for Rhodesia is not provided to the regime in Salisbury, but is spent directly on the education of Rhodesian Africans or made available directly to relief organisations.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many overseas students are receiving educational grants from her Department; what are the actual estimated grants made; to what extent other earnings or income may be added to such grants; and whether there

6,862 overseas students and trainees were being assisted by my Department on the 31st December 1977—the latest date for which statistics are available. For the majority the award comprised maintenance allowances—£177 a month in most cases—tuition fees and fares to and from United Kingdom. Maintenance allowances are abated by any earnings in United Kingdom during the period of training. For the remainder an annual grant of £325 is made towards the cost of tuition fees for full-time courses, on evidence of financial need; these awards are not affected by any subsequent earnings. Opportunities for gainful employment for overseas students brought to the United Kingdom under my Department's programmes are few.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest annual cost of the services whose executive responsibility will come under the proposed Welsh Assembly; and if it remains the Government's intention that there should be no reduction in the total funds available for these services consequent on the establishment of the Assembly.

Public expenditure on services proposed for devolution in Wales amount to about £1,300 million in 1976–77 at 1977 survey prices. As stated in the White Paper "Devolution: Financing the Devolved Services" (Cmnd. 6890), it is intended that the level of devolved public expenditure in Wales should be determined according to assessed need, relative to that elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the three most serious examples of inefficient use of public funds that have come to light in his Department in each of the past three years.

My Department seeks to use as efficiently as possible the public funds entrusted to it. If the hon. Member has in mind a particular case which might appear to indicate the contrary I shall be glad to examine it.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the figures for the number of employees in the National Health Service for Wales, dividing the employees into qualified medical personnel, nurses, ancillary hospital staff and administration personnel, stating the figures on 30th September 1974 and at the latest available date.

The number of employees by staff group in the National Health Service in Wales at 30th September 1974 and at 30th September 1977 was:

	30th September 1974	30th September 1977
Medical and dental	1,810	2,032
Nursing and midwifery	20,282	21,860
Professional and technical	2,727	3,354
Works and maintenance	1,726	2,173
Administrative and clerical	5,253	5,894
Ambulance	1,150	1,286
Ancillary	11,740	11,407
Total	44,688	48,006

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what effect he anticipates the United States Toxic Substances Control Act will have on United Kingdom chemical exports to the United States; and what representations he is making;(2) what representations the Government are making with regard to the effect of the United States Toxic Substances Control Act: and what joint action is proposed through the EEC to make the views of the member States on this subject known to the United States Government.

The United States Toxic Substances Control Act will come into operation in January 1979. The detailed regulations for its implementation have not yet been published.The Government consider that this Act constitutes a potential non-tariff barrier to trade and I am making efforts through the European Economic Community and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to ensure that the effect on trade is minimised. The European Economic Community is currently pursuing the matter with the United States authorities and the United Kingdom is playing an active role in the process.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many tyres were imported

Thousands
Year				Total tyres of all types	New tyres for tractors	New tyres for lorries buses	New tyres for cars	Other* tyres
1967	…	…	…	99	2	—	14	83
1972	…	…	…	2,532	11	3	103	2,415
1977	…	…	…	2,274	12	34	585	1,643
* "Other tyres" consists mainly of bicycle tyres from Poland and Czechoslovakia but also include used tyres of all types.

The estimated percentages of the United Kingdom domestic market for tractor tryres, lorry/bus tyres and car

Per cent
Year					New tyres 'or tractors	New tyres for lorries/buses	New replacement car tyres
1967	…	…	…	…	0·5	—	—
1972	…	…	…	…	1·5	—	0·5
1977	…	…	…	…	1·5	1·0	3·5
— Less than 0·25 per cent.

These estimates are based on figures from official and trade sources.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will undertake to veto the introduction of a Common Market sheepmeat regime for so long as the Common Market sheepmeat prices remain higher than New Zealand lamb prices.

In considering proposals for a sheepmeat regime, should one prove necessary, we cannot ignore the normal difference between fresh and frozen lamb prices, but we intend that any common measure should provide for no new restrictions on imports from New Zealand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent incidents there have been of animal deaths due to the use of timber treated

The number of tyres imported into the United Kingdom from COMECON countries was:replacement tyres accounted for by imports from the COMECON countries were:with dieldrin in the animal feed and sawdust industries; and if he will forthwith take steps to stop the use of this chemical pending the definition of code of practice and compensation provisions.

Two incidents of this kind have been reported to my Department this year involving poultry in Norfolk. Losses of about 2,140 birds—out of a total of 9,000—were attributed to the use of litter treated with dieldrin. Controls on and codes of practice relating to the industrial uses of pesticides are a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will ensure that there is an early reorganisation of the district manpower committees of the Manpower Services Commission so as to provide the district manpower committees with clear and positive objectives and adequate resources with which to tackle more effectively at local level the problems of youth employment.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that a review of district manpower committees is currently being undertaken. The review is looking at the way the committees are working and is also considering the role and form of advisory machinery best suited to meet the Commission's needs in carrying out its functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many professional football clubs or other professional sporting clubs and similar organisations are in receipt of temporary employment subsidies; and how many persons and what sums of money are involved.

One professional football club only is in receipt of TES: in respect of 23 jobs. Subsidy is payable at the rate of £20 per week per full-time job maintained for a maximum period of one year provided all the conditions of the scheme remain fulfilled.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those categories of persons who do not qualify to receive special unemployment assistance as is given to young people or those nearing retirement.

There are no categories of persons who are excluded from all the special employment and training measures. The youth opportunities programme, community industry and in practice most of the special training programmes are confined to young people. The special temporary employment programme is limited to persons over 18 and is concentrated in the areas of highest unemployment with priority given to people aged 19 to 24 who have been unemployed six months or more and to people aged 25 and over who have been unemployed for at least 12 months. The small firms employment subsidy applies to small manufacturing firms in the private sector in assisted areas and the inner city partnership areas but, as with the temporary employment subsidy, the subsidies apply to workers of any age. The job release scheme is restricted to 64-year-old men and 59-year-old women who give up their job but the replacement condition has no age limitation. The job introduction scheme is directed at disabled people of any age.