asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy towards the Small Business Bureau research survey entitled "Employment Protection" and the statistical results of that analysis; and if he will make a statement.

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to the survey entitled "Employment Protection or Prevention" printed and published by the Conservative Party Central Office. The introduction to this survey said

"The provisions of the Employment Protection Act have been mentioned as an important reason why small firms do not take on more workers",

and invited respondents to indicate by ticking boxes

"how significant it is to your business in terms of jobs and your plans for the next couple of years"

and

"which parts of the Act it is which are actively reducing job prospects in your firm".

		Industry
		Fishing†		Coal mining		Manufacturing (Factories Act only)
Year		Fatal accidents	Incidence per 100,000 at risk	Fatal accidents	Incidence per 100,000 at risk	Fatal accidents	Incidence per 100,000 at risk
1961	…	30	114·5	235	39·8	313	4·5
1962	…	44	168·6	257	45·1	319	4·7
1963	…	24	96·4	254	46·8	276	4·1
1964	…	30	123·5	198	38·4	292	4·3
1965	…	47	196·7	216	44·6	296	4·3
1966	…	33	143·5	160	36·0	312	4·5
1967	…	20	88·1	151	36·1	278	4·1
1968	…	84	385·3	115	31·4	298	4·4
1969	…	30	140·9	100	30·6	285	4·2
1970	…	23	111·7	91	29·9	278	4·3
1971	…	26	122·6	72	24·2	251	4·3
1972	…	23	104·1	64	22·1	214	3·9
1973	…	28	123·9	80	29·6	236	4·2
1974	…	73	320·2	48	18·7	254	4·5
1975	…	29	135·5	64	24·7	196	3·7
1976	…	31	148·3	50	19·6	175	3·4
1977	…	..	..	40	15·8	182*	3·5*
* Provisional.
† Figures on fatalities and numbers at risk have been provided by Department of Trade.
.. Not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why he will not amend the pay policy to permit all

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what comparisons have been made between accidental deaths for British fishermen and those in the mining and manufacturing industrial sector; and what they are for each of the years since 1960 expressed as a percentage of the labour employed in each of those industries.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that a comparison between numbers of accidental deaths for British fishermen and those in the mining and manufacturing industrial sector can be found in the following table. It is customary for accidents at work to be expressed in terms of 100,000 employees at risk rather than as a percentage of numbers employed in the industry.persons below the national average wage level to receive an average of 30 per cent. increase on the same basis as the top paid persons detailed in the Boyle report.

The recommended increases referred to by my hon. Friend result from the very special circumstances of the groups concerned and would in general, if applied to other employees in place of the increases they have received since 1972, produce a substantial cut in pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been saved by the temporary employment subsidy in the Bristol travel-to-work area.

As at 21st July, 4,056 jobs in the Bristol travel-to-work area had been supported by TES since the inception of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report details showing to what extent the unemployment problem in the London borough of Newham is improving or worsening; and how the local figures compare with the latest national figures.

The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed in the London borough of Newham and in Great Britain monthly from August 1977. The London borough of Newham has been taken as the area covered by the Canning Town, East Ham and Stratford employment offices.

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED
	London Borough of Newham	Great Britain
August 1977	7,662	1,567,013
September 1977	7,255	1,541,844
October 1977	6,813	1,456,583
November 1977	6,741	1,437,963
December 1977	6,680	1,419,726
January 1978	7,164	1,484,687
February 1978	6,843	1,445,863
March 1978	6,839	1,398,980
April 1978	6,716	1,387,484
May 1978	6,468	1,324,866
June 1978	6,416	1,381,403
July 1978	6,951	1,512,487

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of registered unemployed in Blackpool on 6th July 1978; and what was the equivalent figure for July 1974, July 1975, July 1976 and July 1977.

The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed in the Blackpool employment office area at the dates specified:

July 1974	1,262
July 1975	2,737
July 1976	3,914
July 1977	4,067
July 1978	3,880

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about the number of companies who do not meet their quotas for the employment of disabled people in the Bristol travel-to-work-area.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that as at 1st June 1978, the latest date for which figures are available, 417 employers or 72·4 per cent. of the total number of employers subject to quota in the Bristol travel-to-work area did not meet the 3 per cent. quota for the employment of registered disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the results of the 12 months' experimental period of the job introduction scheme for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the job introduction scheme which was introduced experimentally for one year from 4th July 1977, enables the employment service division to make grants of £30 per week for six weeks to employers who engage a disabled person, who has been unemployed for more than six months, for a trial period of employment. The scheme is operated selectively by disablement resettlement officers and by careers officers in conjunction with DROs, in cases where an employer's reservations about the suitability of a disabled person might be removed by a trial period.After an initially slow take-up, usage of the scheme increased and 639 disabled people have been placed by this method during the 12-month period. Follow up of the 166 placements made during the first six months showed that 134—81 per cent.—were still in satisfactory employment one month after the end of their trial periods. Follow up reports on the placements made during the second six months will be analysed in September.In the evaluation of this experiment, two modifications were recommended. First, that the eligibility criterion of six months or more unemployment should be removed, and, secondly, that extended trial periods of up to 13 weeks should exceptionally be granted, in those cases where disabled people need longer than six weeks to demonstrate their ability to do a job.In view of the encouraging results, it has been decided to continue the scheme for a further experimental period of 18 months, and to incorporate the two recommended modifications. In the light of a further evaluation, it is proposed that a decision will then be taken about making the scheme permanent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place an order for the next nuclear-powered submarine.

An order for the fourteenth nuclear Fleet submarine was placed with Vickers Shipbuilding Group Ltd. today. This will be the second submarine of the new Trafalgar class.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances under which the nuclear submarine, HMS "Revenge" was prevented from putting to sea by industrial action by civilian trade union members at Faslane.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 25th July.—[Vol. 954, c. 1364–8.] The industrial action by civilian trades union members at Clyde submarine base specifically involved the blacking of deliveries of items required by HMS "Revenge" for her patrol.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the organisation of the Royal Navy Polaris force to avoid the situation where three out of four of the submarines are in port and unserviceable at the same time.

I am satisfied that the present arrangements for the Polaris force ensure the achievement of a continuous deterrent patrol as an integral part of NATO's strategic nuclear force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those areas of defence land which were disposed of during the last 12 months; and what other recommendations contained in the Nugent report on defence lands he still intends to implement.

The following property was passed to the Property Services Agency for disposal within the last 12 months:

MARRIED QUARTERS: ENGLAND
Bedfordshire
Bedford	137
Berkshire
Didcot	17
Newbury	8
Reading	19
Shinfield Park	55
Buckinghamshire
High Wycombe	122
Marsworth	1
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge	3
Comberton	32
Cheshire
Chester	1
Warrington	17
Cumbria
Carlisle	12
Devon
Honiton	36
Dorset
Bournemouth	2
Dorchester	1
East Sussex
Eastbourne	6
East Grinstead	1
Sharpthorne	3
Uckfield	60
Essex
Canewdon	7
Colchester	2
Fingringhoe	1
North Weald	154
Shoeburyness	59
Gloucestershire
Gloucester	1
Innsworth	20
Sedbury	6

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate cost of the series of Polaris missile tests announced on 20th July; what is the purpose of these tests; whether they mean a new generation of nuclear weapons; whether they will make Great Britain a more likely target if a nuclear bomb were launched against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by design or accident; and if he will make a statement.

It is not the practice to disclose estimates of costs of such tests. The tests are in pursuance of the Government's policy of maintaining the effectiveness of the deterrent and do not indicate a move toward a new generation of strategic nuclear weapons. Our security is centred on NATO, to which Polaris is committed. The risks of aggression are thus shared equally by all members of the Alliance. The collective defence which NATO maintains, involving conventional as well as nuclear forces, reduces the risk that aggression of any kind will occur against us or our allies.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of fully trained civilian apprentices who have accepted permanent posts in Royal Signals and radar establishments remain in these posts for five years or more.

Figures are not available in exactly the form sought by the hon. Member, but the proportion of apprentices completing their training in the years 1968–73 and still in post at the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment are:

	per cent.
1968	14
1969	22
1970	7
1971	36
1972	47
1973	8

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian apprentices are trained each year at Royal Signals and radar establishments (a) in England and Wales and (b) in Scotland.

The Royal Signals and Radar Establishment plans an intake of 20 apprentices this year. The establishment has no outstations in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian apprentices are trained each year by the Ministry of Defence at places other than Royal Signals and radar establishments; and what proportion of these apprentices are trained in Scotland.

This year's planned intake of apprentices for Ministry of Defence establishments other than the Royal Signals and Radar Establishments is 2,294. 347 of these—approximately 15 per cent.—will be trained in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if all fully trained civilian apprentices are offered full-time posts with the Ministry of Defence establishments which trained them.

It is our policy that apprentices should whenevr possible be offered full-time posts in their trade when they complete their training. Unfortunately occasions do sometimes arise when this cannot be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what further consultations he has had with industry on the use of sperm whale oil in defence products; and if he will make a statement.

The Ministry of Defence has been studying since May 1977 the extent to which sperm whale oil has been used in defence products and whether its use could be eliminated without prejudice to operational requirements. During this period discussions have been held with other Government Departments. Officials have also held discussions with representatives of the British Leather Federation, the British Leather Manufacturers Research Association, and many of the major companies in the fuel oil refining and fat liquor manufacturing industries. These discussions have been supplemented by the Department's internal investigation into the practicability of eliminating sperm whale oil from those defence products which were found to contain it.By March of this year, it had been established that in the field of lubricants oil containing sperm whale oil had been in use by the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield and Royal Artillery units as a lubricant and preservative for certain breech mechanisms, and that Royal ordnance factories had been using it as a cutting oil in the machining of certain equipments. The Materials Quality Assurance Directorate drafted a new specification for these applications which the oil manufacturers have been able to meet by using subsitutes for sperm oil. The Ministry of Defence still has some stocks of oil used in Royal Air Force aircraft gearboxes, but these are being used up as quickly as possible, and by the end of 1978 stocks will consist solely of oil containing substitutes.Sperm whale oil was found to be more extensively used in leather products purchased by the Ministry of Defence. In February and March of this year, two experts from the contracts and quality assurance branches of the Ministry carried out an investigation in this field. They consulted 27 of the tanners who supply leather to MOD contractors in order to establish which of their products contained sperm whale oil, and which products the firms would regard as those for which sperm whale oil was essential in the tanning process for reasons of quality. The conclusion drawn from this investigation was that all leathers other than calf leathers could be supplied without sperm whale oil being used in he tanning process. The Ministry has now been using for some months a new contractual clause which requires contractors either to certify that sperm whale oil has not been used in the production of the material for the pro- duct, or to seek a waiver if the use of substitutes is impossible or if it would result in unacceptable penalties of quality or price. A copy of this contract clause was put into the Library in response to the Question from my hon. Friend, the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 25th Jully. The use of sperm oil has been eliminated without difficulty by the leather industry from all defence items other than those for which high quality calf leather is necessary.The items that require such high quality leather are five types of glove: men and women's dress gloves, combat gloves, MT gloves, sheepskin gloves which are leather faced, and aircrew gloves; lining and ear capsules for aircrew helmets, and a special type of Wellington boot used by the Household Brigade. The Ministry has asked two firms in the tanning trade to produce batches of leather with substitutes, to be made up into gloves by the Ministry's major contractors, and these gloves will then be tested by the Ministry to see whether they represent an acceptable standard of product. The estimated cost of this programme is £8,000. It will take about a year to be completed and for the results to be evaluated.The Ministry of Defence has been able to make quick progress in the phasing out of sperm whale oil from defence products because of the considerable amount of work already done by United Kingdom industry on substitutes. The leather industry in particular has already put about 25 man/years into research. The Ministry is grateful to the leather and oil industries for the co-operation it has received in ensuring that future requirements of the Services will not be put in jeopardy by unforeseeable reductions in supplies of sperm whale oil or unacceptable increases in its price.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will review the unfavourable differential which exists between the mileage rate allowed to a Service man for the use of his own car on a duty journey for which public transport is available and the rate allowed to civil servants in the same circumstances, taking account of the fact that the benefit of the preferential rate of rail travel available to Service men, which he has quoted as the justification for this difference, goes in those circumstances to his Department and not to the Service man.

The basis for the differential between the Service and the Civil Service public transport rates of motor mileage allowance is currently under review and I will advise the hon. Member of the outcome in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed on the collection of tolls at the Erskine, Forth and Tay road bridges.

At Erskine there are at present 20 toll collectors and six toll supervisors. The Forth and Tay road bridges are the responsibility of their respective joint boards, and I do not have information about their staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied that all appropriate procedures have been followed by the South Glamorgan area health authority in the matter of the inquiry into the treatment of Mr. Alun Truman of 8 Pleasant View, Maesycwmmer, Hengoed, Mid-Glamorgan who has been the subject of correspondence between himself and the hon. Member for Bedweilty.

I am satisfied that the health authority has correctly followed all appropriate procedures in dealing with Mr. Alun Truman's complaints. When these complaints were first notified to the authority it convened a complaints panel which met in November 1977. The panel considered that Mr. Truman had been unable to adduce sufficient evidence to substantiate his complaints. After consultation with the Welsh Office, the authority then convened a members panel in May 1978 to consider a written statement from Mr. Truman. This panel gave Mr. Truman the opportunity he had requested to produce witnesses who could support his complaints, but I understand that he failed to do so. The panel concluded there was no substance in the complaints. The authority considers that it has given Mr. Truman every reasonable opportunity to present his case, and I believe it has.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many shares the National Enterprise Board is acquiring in Inmos Ltd.; what percentage this represents; and what is the cost of the shares to be acquired.

These are matters for the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has received from the British Shipbuilders any manpower projections.

I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on what assumptions as to Intervention Fund support British Shipbuilders forecasted its loss.

The forecast assumes that Intervention Fund subsidies will be available this year to assist the Corporation to secure new orders. The amount of Intervention Fund support was not quantified and terms of orders secured.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action the Government have taken to support the Mullard investment programme and the Radio Council initiative of October 1977.

With a £4·5 million grant provided by the Government under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 Mullard has launched a £24 million, three-year investment plan to modernise the manufacturing facilities at the company's tube assembly plant at Durham, and to establish a new 20" 90° tube production line at its Simonstone plant. Investment at Simonstone will total £13·1 million and at Durham £7·8 million. Further investments of £2·4 million will be made at Washington, which makes the neck components for the tubes and £0·9 million at Crossens where the incorporated magnetic components are produced.By specialising in the production of 20" and 22" tubes, Mullard will be well placed to meet the growing demand within the EEC for tube sizes below 26".The Government have consistently stated their determination to maintain a viable colour television tube making capacity in the United Kingdom.In order to assist this major investment programme, the Government reaffirms its support for the Radio Industry Council initiative of October 1977 under which United Kingdom set-makers agreed to increase their use of United Kingdom made tubes, in particular the 22" tube. The Government are taking steps both to enable United Kingdom set-makers to increase their proportion of 22" tubes made in the United Kingdom up to 75 per cent. by 1980 and to monitor systematically the achievement of this objective.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the total cost of running the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Arbitration Tribunal, including all main constituent costs of any sort whatsoever, such as expenditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating, lighting and maintenance, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79.

The Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Arbitration Tribunal has not yet had to sit. The departmental costs of setting up the tribunal amount to just under £1,000. Costs for 1978–79 cannot be predicted since references to the tribunal depend on the progress of negotiations on compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what charges he proposes introducing in the method of registration for electoral purposes of Service personnel and their spouses so that spouses are not dependent on serving members of the Armed Forces for registration and no indication is given on the electoral register that they are a Service family; and if he will make a statement.

The present arrangements for the electoral registration of members of the Armed Forces and their wives derive from the Representation of the People (Armed Forces) Act 1976, which followed the recommendations of a Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law. In consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, I shall keep these arrangements under review to see if improvements can be made, but I have no plans for further legislation at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the industrial action recently taken by prison officers stationed in London prisons, in the light of the delays caused thereby to the operation of the courts at the Central Criminal Court through the non-production of remand prisoners.

Prison officers at a number of establishments, including some of the London prisons, have been taking industrial action in support of claims for payment for breakfast time periods. I regret that some delay has been caused in the operation of the courts. The claims are being dealt with as speedily as possible, and all the London prisons are now working normally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the list of applicants for licences to cull seals in the Wash in the current year.

There have been no such applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will license a controlled cull of Farne Island seals later in 1978.

If I receive an application I shall, in accordance with section 10(3) of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, consult the Natural Environment Research Council before issuing any licence under the Act. I shall also take into account any other relevant considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are at present serving sentences of: (a) up to three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six months to one year, (d) one to three years, (e) three to five years, (f) five to 10 years, (g) 10 to 15 years, (h) 15 to 20 years, (i) 20 to 30 years, and (j) over 30 years in Her Majesty's prisons.

The latest available information is given in the following table:Persons serving sentences of imprisonment(

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government proposed to take to aid victims of crime other than through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

The police and the social services already do a great deal to aid victims of crime and the courts have wide powers to order reparation by offenders for the benefit of victims. We shall continue to follow with close interest the development of local victim support schemes and the part played in these by the police and probation services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the Government are prepared to contribute towards the administration costs of the victim support schemes through a responsible body like the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders;(2) how much the Government contributes to any of the victim support schemes started by the south-west regional council of the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders;(3) how much the Government contribute to the National Victims Association.

No central Government financial assistance has been made available specifically for victim support schemes or related associations, and I have no present plans for providing such assistance, either directly or through an intermediary body. The schemes developed so far have been inspired by local enthusiasm and sustained by local initiative and generally enjoy the co-operation and assistance of the police and the probation service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been spent by his Department on research into crime in each of the last five years.

Expenditure by my Department on research into crime for the period 1973 to 1978 was as follows:

Financial Year	£'000
1973–74	535
1974–75	592
1975–76	803
1976–77	834
1977–78	945

These figures relate to the programme of criminological research carried out by the Home Office Research Unit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors have been employed in each of the past five years to ensure that experiments on live animals are not carried out in breach of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

Fourteen. It is hoped to recruit an additional inspector this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that both generally and in the London borough of Newham, in particular, there are many names on the electoral register which should not be there, such as foreigners, non-British persons and others not entitled to vote and many persons deceased long before the make-up of the register in October 1977, what action he has taken or proposes taking to deal with this matter.

The report of the Working Party on the Electoral Register, published earlier this year, contains proposals for improving the accuracy of the register. The report is at present the subject of consultation with the local authority associations and others concerned. If electors have reason to believe that the names of those not entitled to vote have been included in an electoral register, they should inform the appropriate electoral registration officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute the free issue of passports to all British subjects as a means of identification for the use by public authorities including the police and as a means of stopping illegal overstaying and immigration.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when tie expects to receive the report from the Data Protection Committee.

I have today received the committee's report, for which I am most grateful to Sir Norman Lindop and his colleagues. I am arranging for it to be published during the recess.

asked the Secretary of Staate for Social Services what percentage of dentists in the East Surrey and Mid-Surrey health districts, respectively, is currently willing to provide the full range of treatment under the National Health Service.

I regret that the information is not available.A dentist on a family practitioner committee's dental list is free to make day-to-day decisions as to whether he will provide the full range of treatment for a particular patient or patients. But, having accepted a patient for treatment, he is obliged to provide all the treatment necessary to render the patient dentally fit which the patient is willing to undergo.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet studied the implications for the Natonal Health Service of the EEC directive on nurse training; whether the additional funds required to implement this directive from June 1979 will be made available to area health authorities; and, since planning will have to be made in good time, if he will now make a statement.

The EEC directive relates to students in general nursing only and of courses of training starting after June 1979. The General Nursing Council for England which will be the "competent authority" for this purpose gave guidance to nurse training schools in December 1977, and has discussed with individual training schools any difficulties they may have. I understand plans are now well in hand for the necessary changes to ensure that all student general nurses will have practical experience in fields of nursing which are currently only optional. This may require additional resources, but the directive offers scope for some degree of flexibility because particular periods of experience are not specified. I hope health authorities can develop their programmes of practical experience within the resources available at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will reconsider his negative response to recent representations made by the National Federation of the Blind to the Prime Minister in regard to its claim for certain special social benefits.

I met representatives of the national organisations of and for blind people, including the National Federation of the Blind, on 19th July. My response to their case was not negative and my Department will give careful consideration to all of the points that were put to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of increasing the death grant to (a) £60, (b) £100 and (c) the cost of an average funeral.

It is estimated that the extra annual cost would be (a) £15 million; (b) £35 million; and (c), on the assumption that the average cost of a funeral is about £200, about £85 million, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement about the working group which he set up in 1977 to examine the National Health Service supplies service; who is the chairman of the working party; and what relevant experience he has relating to the tasks and responsibilities of the working group.

My right hon. Friend has just received the report of the Supply Board Working Group, which he appointed in August 1977, under the chairmanship of Mr. Brian Salmon, to examine the arrangements for procuring NHS supplies and to make recommendations for improvements leading to the better use of resources, with particular regard to the proposals to set up a supply board.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled men receiving non-contributory invalidity pension (NCIP) are married to women who are in paid employment.

I regret that this information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps will be taken to safeguard the position of taxpaying war widows when child benefit is increased and the child tax allowances generally withdrawn next April.

From April next year child benefit goes up by £1 and social security allowances for children are to be reduced by the same amount. It is also proposed that child tax allowances should be withdrawn next April.The net result of these changes would be that the war widow paying tax would be worse off. To safeguard her income, the dependency allowance will be increased next April by 5p instead of being reduced by £1.The effect of these adjustments, together with the child benefit payable, will be that no war widow paying the basic rate of tax will suffer a loss of income and some will receive an increase of up to 42p. War widows not paying income tax will, of course, be better off by £1·05 a week for each child.I am writing today to all the major ex-Service organisations to inform them of this improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether, following his decision that the birth of the test-tube baby in Oldham should be filmed by the Central Office of Information he is satisfied that the Central Office of Information has the commercial expertise to raise the maximum revenue from the film;(2) if he will make a statement on the financial arrangements reached between the Central Office of Information and the doctors and the hospital concerned for the filming of the birth of the first test-tube baby in Oldham;(3) if he will set out his reasons for deciding that the birth of the test-tube baby in Oldham should be filmed by the Central Office of Information and not by an independent television company;(4) whether he is satisfied that the sum of money raised by the Central Office of Information through film rights of the birth of the test-tube baby in Oldham will provide the source of greater financial benefit to research as those guaranteed by an independent television company;(5) whether he is satisfied that the Central Office of Information is able to make prompt enough arrangements for the world-wide sale of the film of the birth of the test-tube baby in Oldham to replace the satellite transmission to the United States of America by an independent television company.

The decision to ask the COI to produce a film to assist in the evaluation of the behaviour of the baby at birth and to provide a historical record, was not made on commercial grounds. I am nevertheless satisfied that the COI has the necessary expertise to make a competent film and ensure an appropriate return for its use. The COI entered into no financial arrangement. Mrs. Brown was a NHS patient, and the Government's sole concern was that the NHS should not become involved in an auction for the TV rights, nor appear to be giving any advantage to one TV company. There is no question of "raising maximum revenue" from the film, and after repayment of the production costs, I would expect any balance to accrue to the National Health Service.The timing of the release of the film is governed by the Department's obligation to observe the wishes of the parents. It is obvious, therefore, that immediate satellite distribution to the United States was precluded, but the COI anticipates continuing overseas interest in the film, including the USA.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 21st June, if he will give the date when action was taken about advertising and licensing of hormone pregnancy test drugs; what that action was; if he will publish details of the communications with doctors that is referred to in the reply; and if he will publish further details about the three other occasions when similar action has been taken.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 21st July 1978; Vol. 954, c. 457–8], gave the following information:In June 1975 licences in respect of four hormone pregnancy test drugs were varied to include contraindications in case of pregnancy. One other product licence was revoked and two products were withdrawn from the market by the company. Leaflet 13 in the adverse reactions series was issued to doctors in June 1975 advising the use of alternative methods of pregnancy testing. This advise was reiterated in leaflet 16 issued in November 1977. My hon. Friend has already received copies of these two leaflets.The three occasions I refer to in my reply to my hon. Friend on 21st June, when early communication to doctors was made in cases in which action was taken on advertising or licensing were:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will seek to amend the law so that endorsements for motoring offences are erased from a person's record after 10 years in the same way as those for rape or violence so that those concerned may not be prevented from obtaining employment where a clean driving licence is needed.

Endorsements for most road traffic offences may be removed from licences after four years but those for drinking and driving must remain for 11 years. We have no proposals to alter these periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, when next running his campaign in the media on seat belts, he will include advertisements advising motor-cyclists to have painted on their crash helmets their blood group and for motorists to have similar details clearly visible or attached to the steering wheels of their vehicles.

No. Such advertisements would be inappropriate to a campaign to persuade drivers and front seat passengers to wear seat belts.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of (a) cycle tracks and (b) cycle lanes have been provided on roads for which his Department is responsible within Greater London during each of the last five years.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the hon. Member for Torbay may expect a reply to his letter of 14th July on Her Majesty's Government's attitude to sporting and cultural exchanges with countries of whose policies in regard to human rights they object.

The letter was received on 17th July and I sent a reply on 27th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, as a result of the Amnesty International report on the abduction of a British passport holder, William Beausire, by Chilean agents at Buenos Aires airport he will declare military attachés at the Chilean Embassy in London personae non gratae until Mr. Beausire is allowed to return to his family.

The Government continue to press the Chilean Government to account for the disappearance of Mr. Beausire, but we do not believe that the action suggested would contribute to a satisfactory resolution of this tragic case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply he has received to his representations to the Soviet Government about the recent trials of Anatoly Shcharansky and Alexander Ginsburg; and if he will publish it in the Official Report.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 26th July to the hon. Member for Hastings (Mr. Warren).—[Vol. 954, c. 1546.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many licences were issued in each of the most recent convenient five years for the export of arms by private dealers.

The information requested could be obtained only by examining individually the records relating to many thousands of relevant applications for export licences relating to the chosen five-year period: for 1977 alone, there were some 15,000 applications which may have been relevant. About half of these related to personal firearms which mainly involve a single pistol or shotgun, although of course some were for much more substantial items.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the value of imports of clothing and accessories from all countries into the United Kingdom in 1976, 1977 and 1978 to the latest convenient date;(2) what was the value of exports of clothing and accessories from the United Kingdom to all countries in 1976, 1977 and 1978 to the latest convenient date.(3) what was the cost and volume of United Kingdom textile and clothing exports to EEC countries in 1976 and 1977.

Following is the information:

TEXTILE CLOTHING (INCLUDING ACCESSORIES THEREOF)
£million
	1976	1977	January-June 1978
Imports (cif)	639	707	387
Exports (fob)	358	536	266

EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND TEXTILE CLOTHING TO EEC COUNTRIES
	1976	1977
Quantity (thousand tonnes)	272	277
Value (£ million fob)	571	757

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proposals are being put to the next Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation conference concerning the need for a positive sea traffic control system in the English Channel and North Sea.

In association with the French, we are proposing to IMCO on 31st July that oil tankers, gas and chemical tankers should report to shore stations before they enter any traffic separation scheme in the Channel and Western Approaches. We are also examining what further measures are required for better traffic management in these waters and in the North Sea with a view to submitting further proposals to IMCO.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement before the summer adjournment on the Government's plans for either full or part implementation of the report of the interim action committee on the Film Industry, including a statement on Her Majesty's Government's commitment in respect of a British Film Authority.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Reading, North (Mr. Durant) on 24th July.—[Vol. 954, c. 1126–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he intends to make a statutory instrument under section 79 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act to require companies to include specified information on safety in the directors' report.

I am awaiting advice and proposals from the Health and Safety Commission which has the matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what amount was spent last year by his Department in setting up exhibitions abroad; and what proportion of the contracts were awarded to British firms.

In the financial year 1977–78 total expenditure by the British Overseas Trade Board on construction and allied display work at exhibitions abroad was £5·7 million of which an estimated £2·0 million—35 per cent.—went to United Kingdom firms. This proportion should be seen in context whereby some 40 per cent. of BOTB fairs activity is in markets such as the Far East, Australasia, North and South America, where because of the sheer distances involved it is unrealistic to expect United Kingdom firms to compete with local companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement on the possibility of a Price Commission study of unit trust managers' charges.

With the agreement and co-operation of the Unit Trust Association, the Department of Trade has commissioned the Price Commission to carry out an inquiry with the following terms of reference:

To study the method of determining profits, and the level of such profits made by management companies from their authorised unit trust activities in recent years; to consider whether the formulae controlling the maximum charges borne by unitholders are appropriate in the light of economic developments during this period; and to suggest ways of modifying these formulae if this seems appropriate.

This inquiry, which is in no sense an arbitration between the Department and unit trust managers, is expected to take three months. It will be conducted on an informal basis, and the statutory provisions of the Price Commission Act 1977 under which the Commission examines questions relating to prices and charges will not apply in this case. In formulating its judgment, however, the Commission intends to be guided inter alia by the criteria set out in section 2 of the Price Commission Act 1977. The Commission will report to the Department, which will pay for the cost of the inquiry. The report will be made available to unit trust managers; wider publication will be a matter for the Department, which would however expect to publish it. The report should form a useful basis for resolving a question which has been under discussion for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps the Government have taken to support the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation's marine safety corps scheme.

The marine safety corps scheme, which was conceived and proposed to the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation— IMCO—by the United Kingdom in April 1977, is an international initiative to encourage and support the adoption and effective world-wide enforcement of marine safety conventions. I am pleased to announce that, in response to a request from IMCO on behalf of the Republic of Panama, we have agreed to provide two senior members of the Department of Trade's marine survey organisation who will be able to provide advice and guidance to the Government of Panama's maritime safety services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action has been taken on the Price Commission's recommendation that consultations should take place between his Department and the banks with a view to requiring disclosure of general provisions for had and doubtful debts and movements in those provisions; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) what action has been taken on the Price Commission's recommendation that there should be greater flexibility of bank opening hours so retail banking services can be provided to the public whenever there is a commercially justifiable demand; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action has been taken on the Price Commission's recommendations that: (

I have been asked to reply.The recommendations in the Price Commission's report on bank charges are being discussed with interested parties. My right hon. Friend expects to make a statement in the next few weeks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the importation of two Argentinian professional football players by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club will have on the balance of payments; and if he will make a statement.

The direct effect of the importation of two Argentinian football players by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club on the balance of payments, which is being treated as an import of services, will be to increase the value of invisible imports by £750,000.