asked the Lord President of the Council whether he proposes to move the Adjournment of the House for a period prior to the intended elections to the European Assembly.

I have no plans to move the Adjournment of the House for the specific purpose of the European Assembly election campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what publicity he has given to the arrangements for the coming winter's fuel payments scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how he proposes to publicise the availability of the electricity discount scheme for needy customers.

The publicity campaign planned for the scheme will begin on 10th December and run throughout the winter. It will be the largest yet undertaken for the scheme and some £375,000 has been allocated to it. Of this £250,000 is for advertising in the national press and the remainder is for publicity material including posters and leaflets.From Monday next— 11th December—a leaflet giving full details about the scheme will be available at post offices, electricity showrooms, social security offices, unemployment benefit offices, local authority offices, citizens advice bureaux and the offices of a number of voluntary organisations. This explains how to get help offered by the scheme and provides answers to a number of questions about it. Local authorities are also sending an explanatory letter and certificate to all recipients of rate and rent rebate or rent allowance, to enable them to claim the discount on electricity board bills. The £5 payment to people receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement will be made automatically in the week beginning 22nd January 1979, and does not have to be claimed. Advertisements about the scheme will appear in the national press from next week and at intervals throughout its period of operation. The scheme starts on 1st January, but information about it is being made available at an early date to help people understand how to claim a discount before the qualifying electricity bills start to arrive. I have arranged for copies of the explanatory literature about the scheme to be placed in the Library of the House. Separate announcements will be made about the arrangements for the operation of the scheme in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the output per manshift in the coal industry at the latest available date; and how this compares with the similar period in 1977 and 1976.

The average overall output per manshift for the week ending 18th November 1978 was 2·35 tonnes; in the corresponding weeks in 1977 and 1976 it was 2·18 tonnes and 2·32 tonnes respectively. Average face output in the week ending 18th November 1978 was 8·81 tonnes; in the corresponding weeks in 1977 and 1976 it was 7·76 tonnes and 8·04 tonnes respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes next to meet the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board.

I met the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board last Wednesday, and do so as and when necessary. I have no immediate plan for a meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he can report towards the use of sea waves for the generation of electricity.

Substantial progress has been made in the theoretical and experimental understanding of wave energy and of the ways in which that energy can be tapped. Open water trials have been conducted on two different generator designs in Loch Ness and in the Solent, and the four leading devices have been subjected to detailed engineering evaluation. Results so far have highlighted a number of areas in which further work will be needed and these were discussed at a conference organised by the Department recently. Abstracts of contributions to the conference have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a list of the names and the organisations they represent of the Welsh representatives on the Severn Barrage committee.

A list giving names and details of the 18 members appointed to the Severn Barrage committee in August is in the Library. Appointments are on a personal basis and members should not be regarded as representing particular interests or organisations. It is hoped to announce very shortly the few remaining appointments to the committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he proposes to take to encourage oil companies to increase their exploration activities in the North Sea in preference to other parts of the world.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many oil exploration wells were drilled in the North Sea during the period June to August for each of the years 1976, 1977 and 1978, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the current level of offshore exploration activity.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the level of oil exploration in the North Sea and elsewhere on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

During the period June to August in each of the past three years, the numbers of exploration wells spudded in the United Kingdom continental shelf were 17 in 1976, 22 in 1977, and three in 1978. In the complete years, the totals were 58 and 67 in 1976 and 1977 respectively, and the estimate for 1978 is 39. The Department is analysing the reasons for this reduction with the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association and BNOC. The number of applications for sixth round licences—55 applications for 46 blocks—is very encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the number, scope and provenance of the applications received by his Department for licences in the sixth round of North Sea oil exploration by British and foreign companies or consortia.

The sixth round of licensing attracted 55 applications, covering all 46 blocks offered, from nearly 100 companies—United Kingdom, other EEC and European, USA and Canadian.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the Central Electricity Generating Board's programme for the construction of pump storage hydro-electric schemes.

Work is proceeding satisfactorily with the CEGB's pumped storage scheme at Dinorwic. The possibilities of future development of pumped storage schemes are kept under review by the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussion he has had with his ministerial colleagues in the EEC regarding the increased use of EEC-produced coal in power stations within the Community.

I have had such discussions on frequent occasions, both formally in the council and bilaterally with other Energy Ministers. No progress has yet been possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many miners have left the coal industry under the voluntary early retirement scheme.

To date, 15,297 miners have left the coal industry under the voluntary early retirement scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the information available to his Department shows that nuclear energy is now more expensive than more conventional forms of energy.

The CEGB advises me that its calculation of generating costs shows that nuclear stations now operating are producing electricity more cheaply than fossil stations now operating.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with the general availability and supply of liquid petroleum gas in different parts of the United Kingdom.

I am not aware of any particular difficulties in the supply of liquefied petroleum gases in the United Kingdom at present. In previous winters there have been some localised shortages of LPG in refillable cylinders; these were largely due to the numbers of cylinders in circulation being insufficient to meet sudden large increases in demand. I am advised that the cylinder position is now satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent discussions he has had with the oil companies.

I and my colleagues have frequent discussions with oil companies on matters of common interest. Industry representatives presented a paper to a meeting of the Energy Commission last Friday.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to meet representatives of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

It has been suggested that my right hon. Friend should attend an informal meeting of the Energy Minis- ters of a few OPEC and a few non-OPEC countries. He has agreed in principle. but no date has yet been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to reorganise the British nuclear industry.

I am having discussions with the parties involved, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with his colleagues on the EEC Council of Ministers regarding alternative sources of energy.

Discussions with my EEC colleagues have confirmed that all member States attach importance to studying and developing the potential of alternative sources of energy. Such discussions also led to adoption on 12th June of Regulation EEC no. 1302/78 concerning financial support for projects to exploit alternative energy sources. Such support may be granted following further proposals from the Commission and decisions by a future Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the chairman of the National Coal Board about increases in miners' pay for the coming year.

My discussions with the chairman of the National Coal Board cover a wide range of topics, but the levels of pay in the coal industry are traditionally for negotiation between the board and the coal mining unions against the background of the financial and economic prospects of the industry. Both sides are well aware of the Government's guidelines.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of the National Coal Board.

:I meet the chairman of the National Coal Board frequently; most recently last Friday at the Energy Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to ensure that there should be a sufficient United Kingdom design capability for oil exploration vessels.

The United Kingdom already has experience in the provision of vessels for oil exploration. The Department is always prepared to consider proposals for supporting any potentially worthwhile projects which would help to increase our offshore capability.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the fact that the United Kingdom imports considerable quantities of agricultural products from the EEC, the price of some of which is far above world prices, he will enter discussions with member States with a view to their importing more coal from the United Kingdom and to reducing the imbalance of trade with EEC countries and at the same time improving morale in the British mining industry.

An increase in exports to the Community would be welcome; and both the National Coal Board in its commercial negotiations and I myself in discussion with EEC Ministers will do everything possible to pursue this.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many tons of coal were imported by the other eight members of the EEC from the time that the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the United Kingdom joined the EEC to the latest available date; and how many tons of these imports were from the United Kingdom.

According to figures published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities, the other eight members of the EEC imported 208 million tonnes of hard coal from the United Kingdom and countries outside the Community between January 1973 and July 1978. About 10 million tonnes of this coal was supplied by the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest estimates of the Central Electricity Generating Board for the consumption of electricity in South-West England over the next five years; and what percentage increase this represents over current consumption.

I am asking the chairman of the board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal nuclear-powered electricity and petroleum, respectively, has been consumed in the United Kingdom so far in 1978, as compared with a similar period in 1977; and what percentage increases or decrease these figures show.

The most recent figures relate to the nine month period January to September, and were published in the Department's monthly statistical bulletin"Energy Trends ". They are as follows:

No. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Members for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) and Eastleigh (Mr. Price) on 24th October.—[Vol. 955, cc. 833–34.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the working of the Employment Protection Act, in the light of the dispute involving the work force of Times Newspapers Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I know nothing in the circumstances of the dispute to suggest that the Act is not working satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now introduce legislation to amend the definition of trade dispute so as to ensure that those employees involved in disputes over industrial safety and whose cases are upheld by the Health and Safety Executive are not denied unemployment benefit.

Responsibility for the definition lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. However, I understand that the practice of the adjudicating authorities is to pay unemployment benefit in disputes where the employer is found by the appropriate determining authority to be in breach of a statutory health and safety requirement. Therefore, it is not necessary to amend the definition of"trade dispute"for the purpose referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many schemes have been undertaken by the Manpower Services Commission from the public sector in Carlisle and Cumbria, respectively; and if he will give details.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the cost of the recent industrial dispute in the Ford Motor Company in terms of (a) the loss of earnings to employees, (b) the loss of sales to the Company, (c) the cost of payment from union funds of strike benefit, (d) the additional cost to the taxpayer of supplementary benefit paid to dependants of employees, (e) the value of the loss of output to the national economy; and if he will calculate the gain which would have accrued to employees, the Ford Company, the national revenue and the real economy of the United Kingdom by an agreed 5 per cent. settlement without industrial action.

Most of the information needed for such an estimate is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total of persons unemployed and in receipt of any form of employment subsidy listing the number in each category separately.

The total number of persons registered as unemployed in Great Britain on 9th November was 1,330,794. On 7th November there were 16,956 persons in receipt of job release allowance, having voluntarily given up work early under the job release scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement showing how the low paid have benefited under incomes policy since 1975 relative to workers earning average or median earnings.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers of members on each of the wages councils from (a) the employers, (b) the unions, and (c) the Government; and in how many cases, the employer representatives are in the majority.

Wages councils are constituted with equal numbers of employers' and workers' representative members, together with three independent members appointed by the Secretary of State. There are no Government members. The numbers of representative members on each side of the wages councils are:—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions for illegal underpayment of wages have been started by the Wages Inspectorate during 1978.

Fifteen.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many visits have been made by the factory inspectors to (a) industrial premises and (b) Crown premises during the current year.

I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that since the coming into force of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate has not distinguished between industrial establishments and the other establishments for which it is the enforcing authority. In 1977 inspectors paid 152,618 visits to establishments excluding visits to construction sites and similar transient workplaces. Separate figures are not kept for Crown premises. Because of a change in the method of recording visits nationally, similar figures are not available for the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors there are in Her Majesty's Inspectorate.

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that there were 925 factory inspectors in post at the beginning of October 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvement notices and prohibition notices have been issued; how many prosecutions have been made; how many convictions have been secured; and what was the average amount of fines imposed, by the Health and Safety Executive, up to 30th September 1978.

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many pharmacists are unemployed in Carlisle and Cumbria respectively.

At 14th September, three people seeking employment as pharmacists were registered as unemployed in the county of Cumbria. Of these, one was registered in the area of the Carlisle employment office.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many building and construction projects have been undertaken under the job creation scheme; how many building and construction projects have been completed; and what has been the expenditure on these construction projects?

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th November 1978; Vol. 959, c. 141], gave the following reply:I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that precise figures are not available. However, since the Job Creation Programme began in October 1975, approximately 2,000 projects have been funded in which building or construction activities formed the main element of the work. It is estimated that approximately 1,800 have been completed. MSC expenditure on these projects is estimated to be about £30 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost) Official Report, 20th November, columns 898–9, by which month in 1979 prices will have doubled since February 1974, assuming that his forecast of an annual rate of inflation of 7·9 per cent, at the end of 1978 proves correct.

The forecast to which the hon. Member refers was, as his question makes clear, related to 1978. It is therefore, not possible to use it as a basis for predictions about 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what responsibilities Rear-Admiral Stacey will have concerning pollution by oil in confined waters such as the approaches to Sullom Voe or within Scapa Flow.

Rear-Admiral Stacey and the marine pollution control unit will take charge of operations at sea to deal with marine pollution. They will stand ready to assist the harbour authorities in dealing with any major spill within the harbour limits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when those persons owed money from the Court Line case by virtue of the jobs they then held, might expect to receive the cash owed to them.

The liquidators have paid in full the agreed preferential claims of those employees of Court Line Limited, and other companies in the Court Line Group, who submitted claims for payment out of funds in the liquidators' control. An interim dividend of 3½p in the £ has been paid to ordinary unsecured creditors, including employees, of Court Line Limited and dividends have also been paid in some of the other companies in the Court Line Group. The liquidators say that they will pay further dividends as and when sufficient funds become available.Crew members of MT"Halcyon Isle ", one of the ships operated by Court Line Limited, look to funds held in court in Singapore for payment of their claims for wages under a maritime lien. I understand from solicitors acting for them that payment is imminent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report those recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Press which would require action on the part of Her Majesty's Government, indicating what action, if any, has been taken upon each recommendation.

The recommendations in paragraphs 11.3, 14.28, 14.31, 14.32, 14.33, 14.36, 14.38, 15.26 (part), 15.40, 15.42, 17.20, 17.21, 17.23, 17.24, 17.25, 17.29, 17.30, 19.22, 19.30, 19.46 and 19.48 of Cmnd. 6810 call for Government consideration and possible action.The Government's views on the question of press shareholdings in broadcasting (15.26) are set out in the White Paper on Broadcasting—Cmnd. 7294. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment has been undertaking a lengthy series of consultations on the press charter; this process has not yet been completed. Proposals for reform of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 have been published as Cmnd. 7285. The Queen's Speech indicated that further proposals would be brought forward to achieve more open government—19.30. The case for anonymity in relation to sexual offences—covered in 19.22—will be examined by the Criminal Law Revision Committee. The recommendation on the special defence of innocent dissemination —19.46—is being considered in connection with the report of the Faulks committee on defamation. The offence of criminal libel—19.48—is being reviewed by the Law Commission. The recommendation as regards zero-rating for value added tax purposes of newspapers and periodicals—11.13—has been noted. The other recommendations are under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ban the import of Rhabdophis subminiatus, red-neck keel-back snake, and prohibit its sale in pet shops as a non-venomous snake, in the light of the fact that it has been discovered to be highly venomous and particularly dangerous when handled.

No. The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 provides consumers with considerable protection against the misdescription of goods including animals.However, the Home Office is aware of the doubts which have been expressed about this snake's characteristics and is considering whether it should be added to the schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his estimate of the cost to emergency services, responsible to his Department, of the hoax emergency call regarding an alleged disaster at sea off Peterhead on 26th November; how that cost was incurred; and if he will make a statement.

Soon after midnight on 26th November, Her Majesty's Coastguard, Peterhead, received radio distress calls from the vessel"Alicia"reporting a fire in engine room and making water in a position 20 miles east of Peterhead. The coastguard initiated a thorough search of the area by aircraft and by ships, but no trace of a vessel in distress was found. No further radio signals were received nor has my Department been able to trace any vessel with the name"Alicia ". It seems likely, therefore, that the distress signals were a hoax. The cost of this incident to my Department was approximately £30, but the costs of the search undertaken by MoD ships and aircraft and other ships must have been substantial.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much oil per day can be treated in Orkney and Shetland in the event of a spill at Scapa Flow, the Pentland Firth or the approaches to Sullom Voe.

In the initial stage of an operation, it would be necessary to rely on local resources. We would expect five dispersant spraying vessels to be available in Scapa Flow or the Pentland Firth and up to 10 vessels in the approaches to Sullom Voe, each capable of dealing with up to 15 tons of oil per daylight hour. Some of the resources located in Orkney could, if necessary, then be used to assist off Shetland and vice versa, and additional resources would be brought in from elsewhere, as required.The adequacy of these arrangements is under examination and in any event the director of the new marine pollution control unit will no doubt wish to give consideration to this matter when he takes up his appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the value of paper machine imports into the United Kingdom for each of the last 10 years; and from which countries the imports originated;(2) what was the value of paper machine exports from the United Kingdom for each of the last 10 years.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade where the equipment for use in the event of serious oil pollution will be kept.

The stockpile of specialised oil pollution clearance equipment which will be available to local authorities faced with serious pollution of the coastline is being set up by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, in consultation with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales. The equipment now being ordered will initially be received and stored at Bristol, but discussions with the local authority associations about eventual locations are continuing. At least one depot will be in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade pursuant to his Written Answer of 24th November, if he will now name the 16 salvage tugs owned by British companies, and referred to by him in his answer.

I regret that the information which I gave was not entirely accurate.The eight vessels listed below have bollard pulls and brake horse power comparable with those of the French tug:"Lloydsman ","Guardsman ","Linesman ","Serviceman ","Winchman ","Statesman ","Wimpey Seafox ","Wimpey Seatiger ".The remainder of the 16 included in my earlier Answer are less powerful though each should be capable of holding a very large crude carrier in all but exceptional weather conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many company formations have been registered in Wales during the last year; what were the corresponding figures for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Since 5th April 1976, all companies incorporated in England and Wales have been registered in Cardiff, following the transfer of companies registration office. Before that date, they were registered in London. In 1977 there were 52,872 registrations. No records are maintained of the number of companies whose registered offices are in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the South-West Thames regional health authority and the Kingston area health authority commenced consideration of proposals for upgrading the in— patient accommodation at the Royal hospital, Richmond; when these bodies will reach a decision; and if the plans include the reinstatement of the following facilities: post-operative beds, general practitioner beds, geriatric beds, minor surgery and minor casualty.

The South-West Thames regional health authority and the Kingston and Richmond area health authority began to consider the upgrading of inpatient accommodation at the Royal hospital, Richmond, in 1976. The facilities to be provided are still under discussion and no decisions have yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increases have been made in the level of supplementary benefits earnings disregard for those not required to register for work since 1966.

The 1966 level of £2 a week was increased in November 1975 to £4 and in November 1976, for lone parents only, to £6.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to introduce a Pensions (Increase) Order if the November 1977-November 1978 increase in average earnings significantly exceeds 11½ Per cent.

The extent to which earnings have increased over the period from November 1977 to November 1978 will not be known until the relevant index figure becomes available in January 1979. I will then consider the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pharmacies closed in the last six months for which figures are available: how many opened; how qualified and unqualified staff were involved; and how these figures compare with the same months in the previous year.

Returns which family practitioner committees have made to my Department indicate that, from 1st April to 30th September 1978, 103 pharmacies on NHS pharmaceutical lists in England closed and 47 opened: there were also 27 changes of address. Family practitioner committee statistics are not available for the same period in 1977, but, according to the records of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 140 pharmacies on the register in England closed and 61 opened between April and September 1977. These figures, however, include changes of address.I regret that information on the staff involved in these pharmacy openings and closures is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department will take all reasonable steps in future to obtain compensation for the full amount from persons convicted of social security fraud;(2) why his Department demanded full compensation of the amount fraudulently obtained from social security in one case involving £775·10 in Sheffield magistrates' court, but not in another in the same court on the same day involving fraud of £2,585·32; when his Department claimed back only £292·31; and if he will make a statement;(3) to what extent it is to be the practice of his Department, in future, in the case of successful prosecution for social security fraud, following the example set in the recent case in Sheffield magistrates' court, to claim in compensation the whole amount fraudulently obtained by the convicted person; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's policy is to prosecute those who have fraudulently claimed social security benefits wherever appropriate and, if a conviction is gained, to seek the maximum compensation available through the courts. The amount of such compensation is, however, affected by such issues as the practical need to take sample offences, a court's view of a defendant's assets, and the time limits which apply to prosecutions under social security legislation.Where a court order does not cover the full amount of an established overpayment due to fraud, we can seek to recover any balance by civil process. The cases the hon. Member raises are being dealt with under that general policy.As I explained in my statement of 7th December 1977, we have made increasing use of compensation orders.—[Vol. 940, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate a national inquiry into behaviour modification treatment at present in use at Hellingly hospital; and if he will place in the Library details of his inquiries on the subject.

As my recent letter to my hon. Friend on this subject indicates, I am satified from the information I have received that the programme of behaviour modification in use in Alfriston Ward, Hellingly hospital, is carefully thought out and closely monitored. I do not consider that a national inquiry is called for. I am placing in the Library a copy of my letter of 28th November to my hon. Friend, excluding the details of the individual concerned. This gives the information provided in response to my inquiries on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the expenditure so far on the building of regional secure psychiatric units.

Building has not yet commenced on any permanent secure psychia-

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he estimates would be the cost to the National Health Service of adding the condition of cystic fibrosis to the list of conditions qualifying for exemption from prescription charges.

Most sufferers from cystic fibrosis are children, and thus exempt from prescription charges. The cost of exempting adults would be minimal. But the arrangements for exempting patients with certain chronic medical conditions requiring continuous treatment rely on the co-operation of the medical profession, whose representatives, when last consulted in 1976, did not feel able to extend the present list of conditions. I intend shortly to ask the profession to reconsider their decision. Meantime, I hope any adults with cystic fibrosis who are not eligible for exemption on other grounds such as low income will consider buying the"season ticket"which saves money for those who need frequent prescriptions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pharmacies have closed in Carlisle and Cumbria, respectively, over the last three years; and how many have opened.

Over the three years from 1975 to 1977, one pharmacy closed in Carlisle and none opened. Within the remainder of the area covered by the Cumbria family practitioner committee, 10 pharmacies closed over the same period and two opened.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors are now dispensing in Carlisle and Cumbria, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

On 1st October 1978, the numbers of dispensing doctors in Carlisle and Cumbria were one and 70 respectively. I am not aware of any problem in respect of dispensing by doctors in Cumbria, but if my hon. Friend has any particular matter in mind and will write to me, I shall consider carefully what he says.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when his Department intends to report on the case of the conviction of the social worker at Royal Marsden hospital, as promised to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam during the recent Adjournment debate and subsequent correspondence.

I expect to receive the Department's report very shortly. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of staff in his Department currently engaged on reclassification of self-employed as employees; and at what cost.

No staff in my Department are engaged specifically in reclassifying self-employed earners as employed earners. Indeed, if they are properly self-employed earners under the Social Security Act 1975 and regulations made under it, there is no question of classifying them as otherwise. The class of contribution a person is liable to pay under the Act depends upon the conditions of his particular employment and the Department investigates cases where the category is in doubt. This work forms a small part of the duties of some two thousand inspectors and of a small number of staff in regional offices. Categorisation policy and cases of difficulty are dealt with by about a dozen staff at headquarters. It is not possible to isolate the cost of this particular aspect of contributions work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many employers have appealed to him in each of the last five years for which figures are available against a decision by a local Department of Health and Social Security office to reclassify a self-employed person as an employee; and in how many such cases the employer or contractor has been successful;(2) what was the total amount of back class 1 national insurance contributions paid to his Department by employers in situations where self-employed subcontractors had been reclassified as employees in each of the last five years for which figures are available;(3) what was the total number of self-employed people classified as employees by his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Detailed information of the type asked for is not available; and to

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will bring up to date in line with benefit changes due to take effect next November his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report 12th July, c. 615–16, showing the net weekly spending power of a lone mother at different levels of earnings and when unemployed, on the assumption that when working she is contracted in the State pension scheme.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th November 1978; Vol. 957 c. 147–8], gave the following information:The tables attached correspond to those included in my earlier reply, table 2 showing the levels at which, on the basis of the hon. Member's hypothetical assumptions, there may no longer be title to means-tested benefits. The hon. Member will appreciate that the figures relate only to the illustrative examples he has chosen and have no general validity.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to revise form CF90.

Form CF90 was last revised in May 1978 when it was reprinted. There are no plans for any further revision of the form.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list in the Official Report the communications which he has received both supporting and opposing his decision to commence, and to continue with, the recent prosecution of Messrs. Aubrey, Berry, and Campbell; and what reply he has sent to the trial judge concerning his strictures on the continuance of a number of the charges which were subsequently withdrawn in the course of the trial.

No. It is not the practice to list the communications which I may receive relating to my decisions as Attorney-General to consent to the prosecution of criminal offences. I have received no strictures from the trial judge to which I could reply.

asked the Attorney-General if legal aid is available to British citizens in connection with legal proceedings taken against them in foreign countries.

Legal aid in this country is available only for proceedings before the courts of this country. Legal aid for proceedings before the courts of a foreign country is a matter for the country concerned.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will take the necessary steps to enable all public servants, including Members of Parliament, to have voluntary retirement at the age of 60 years with 30 or more years' service without loss of pension rights.

No. Retiring ages must be closely related to occupational circumstances. There are no plans to change the early retirement provisions for Members of Parliament introduced as recently as 2nd August 1978 by section 1 of the Parliamentary Pensions Act 1978, which followed the recommendation in Report No. 8 by the Top Salaries Review Body.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total Government expenditure during each of the last five years on advertising in English and in Welsh, respectively.

Total Government expenditure on advertising in English and in Welsh during the last five years was as follows:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what calculation he has made of the cost to central funds of seconding civil servants on detached duty to Shetland in the period between 1st November 1977 and 31st October 1978.

I regret that this information is not held centrally and to collect it would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many posts of permanent secretary rank or drawing the equivalent salary or above; and how many posts of second permanent secretary rank or drawing the equivalent salary, there are at present in the Home Civil Service.