asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many disabled people over the age of 18 years are attending further education courses; and how many places in further education are set aside for disabled people.

This information is not available. In January 1978 there were about 700 students—mainly physically handicapped or blind—receiving further education in establishments catering specifically for the disabled. Nearly half of these students were aged 18 or over. In addition, there was an unknown number of disabled students in the general further education system where it is not the practice to designate places specially.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from the Professional Association of Teachers for representation on the Burnham Committee; and, in view of the fact that the association has in excess of 10,000 members, what her reasons are for refusing it a seat.

Since my right hon. Friend's proposals for reconstituting the teachers' panel of the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee were announced she has received over 100 letters from hon. Members as well as various representations from members and officers of the Association. The Association is not included in the proposals for reconstitution for the reasons given in the answer I gave to a question from the hon. and gallant Member for Winchester (Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles) on Monday 6th November 1978.—[Vol. 957, c. 52.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice was given by her Department to Liverpool polytechnic about discriminatory charges in student self-catering accommodation; whether similar advice has been given to Kingston polytechnic, which has a very large number of self-catering places; and whether it has been heeded.

My Department, in the light of advice, was obliged to inform Liverpool polytechnic on 16th March 1978 that self-catering accommodation could not be construed as included in the arrangements regarding the charging of economic residence costs to overseas students approved by my right hon. Friend for the purposes of section 41(2) of the Race Relations Act 1976. In response to an inquiry on the same subject from the Royal borough of Kingston upon Thames, the Department indicated on 18th October that the matter was under consideration. It is understood that, pending further guidance, Kingston polytechnic has continued to charge full cost fees to overseas students in self-catering accommodation in conformity with the Government's intentions. Steps are being taken to correct the anomaly and to issue fresh guidance to authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is her intention, by making further exemptions from the provisions of community relations legislation, to permit institutions of further and higher education to make higher charges to overseas students in self-catering accommodation than they make to domestic students.

It has long been Government policy that overseas students should be charged the economic cost for residential accommodation whether with or without board. In order to remove the uncertainty that has arisen in this matter, my right hon. Friend intends very shortly to vary the approval given for the purposes of the Race Relations Act 1976 as set out in paragraph 3 (iii) of annex 1 to part II of circular 8/77 and to issue fresh guidance.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give full details of how she intends to carry out the Government's decision to place sanctions on the Ford Motor Company in her own Department and in all other public bodies answerable to her.

Save in exceptional circumstances of overriding public policy, my Department will not place contracts or invite tenders in respect of Ford products during the currency of the company's excessive pay settlement. Where this is appropriate I shall be inviting the public sector bodies within my area of responsibility to take into account the Government's decision in this respect.

		Maintained Special Schools	Independent Schools	Special Units/Classes	Awaiting Placement
Bolton	…	—	—	—	—
Bury	…	2	3	—	4
Manchester	…	20	—	—	—
Oldham	…	10	—	—	1
Rochdale	…	2	—	—	—
Salford	…	5	—	—	—
Stockport	…	2	—	9	2
Tameside	…	3	—	—	—
Trafford	…	2	—	—	—
Wigan	…	1	—	4	—

In addition to the provision of special educational treatment as defined in law the authorities provide special help, in a variety of ways, for other children with speech difficulties. Whilst it is not practicable to describe the arrangements area by area, they include a special school, special classes or units, observation classes and remedial work by teachers and visiting professionals in ordinary schools.Similarly, all the authorities concerned make specific provision for children with reading difficulties, either in special centres, clinics or classes or by visiting specialist teachers or other professionals in ordinary schools, or in a combination of these ways.The special educational needs of individual children differ, both in kind and degree, and it is not possible to make a precise measurement of need or of provision. Whilst there is always room for improvement, I have no evidence that the local education authorities in the area are experiencing undue difficulty in making suitable provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision is made for special education places for speech and language handicapped children in each of the authorities in the Greater Manchester area; what is the shortfall in each area; and if she will make a statement.

Returns from the local education authorities concerned for January this year show the numbers of children who at that time had been formally ascertained as requiring special educational treatment on account of speech defects and their place of education. The figures are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultative processes will operate and time-scales will be provided on the publication of the Data Protection Committee report; and when he expects publication to occur.

The report of the Data Protection Committee is being published today. I am indebted to the committee for a thorough and wide-ranging analysis of the problems in this field.The committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Norman Lindop, was set up by the Government in 1976 to advise the Government on the content of legislation to control, in the interests of privacy, computers that handle personal information. The general framework of the Government's policy within which the committee was invited to work was described in the White Paper on computers and privacy (Cmnd. 6353) published in December 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many physically handicapped persons are currently serving a sentence in British gaols; and what attention he is giving to the transfer of such persons to more suitable accommodation.

No central record of the number of physically handicapped persons in prison department establishments in England and Wales is main- tained. There is no provision for the transfer of such persons from prison to other accommodation except for the purposes of medical or surgical treatment which cannot be provided in the establishment. It is for the courts when passing sentence to decide whether imprisonment is appropriate in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for being a suspected person under the provisions of the Vagrancy Act 1824 were obtained for the first nine months of the current year; and what were the total numbers of convictions for this offence for the complete years 1977 and 1976; how many of these convictions occurred in respect of offences committed in the Birmingham district council area and how many in the area of Greater London.

The number of persons found guilty in England and Wales of being a suspected person or reputed thief frequenting a public place with intent to commit an arrestable offence is published annually in"Criminal Statistics, England and Wales "— classification 186,"frequenting ", in table 1(a) of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7289, the latest period for which information is available.The numbers of persons found guilty in the Birmingham petty sessional division were 87 in 1976 and 66 in 1977. The corresponding figures for the Metropolitan Police district were 1,567 in 1976 and 1,472 in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for increasing the staff of the probation service; and what will be the cost of this in salaries and related expenditure.

Provision has been made for a growth of 189 field probation officers in 1979–80, at a cost with related expenditure of £1·2 million in that year—£2·4 million in a full year. With regard to later years and to plans for probation officers in prison service establishments, I ask the hon. Member to await the forthcoming publication of the Government's expenditure plans for the period to 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for capital expenditure for the prison and probation Services, respectively; and how many beds or day places, as the case may be, will be provided.

The Government's expenditure plans for 1978–79 to 1981–82 were published in Cmnd. 7049. Provision was made to complete prison building schemes in progress to give a net addition of 4,700 places in England and Wales by 1981–82 and to Start one new prison in that year. Planned capital expenditure to 1981–82 also provided for an increase in adult probation hostels to about 1,080 places, and in adult bail hostels to nearly 400 places.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Rhodesians have been admitted to Great Britain for the purpose of their education in each of the years 1970 to 1977, respectively; how many were admitted in each of the first three quarters of 1978; and how many applications by Rhodesians for student visas are now under consideration.

The number of Rhodesian citizens admitted to the United Kingdom as students is given in the annual Command Papers the latest of which,"Control of Immigration: Statistics 1977 ", (Cmnd. 7160), was published in April 1978. During the first two quarters of this year 29 and 31 Rhodesians were admitted as students. I regret that the information about applications for entry clearance could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to increasing the penalties for hoax calls about alleged emergencies which result in expenditure by the emergency services and in those emergency services being temporarily unavailable for genuine emergencies; and if he will make a statement.

The penalties for such offences are kept under regular review and in some instances were increased only last year; but detection is the main difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the use of the right of search without warrant powers enjoyed by the Jersey honorary police force, does not violate the European Convention on Human Rights.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals for the people of the Isle of Man to elect their own representatives to the European Assembly.

No. The decision of the Council of the European Communities on 20th September 1976 regarding the direct election of representatives to the European Assembly applies only to the United Kingdom and not to its dependencies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the human rights safeguards included in the Treaty of Rome extend to the Isle of Man.

The position of the Isle of Man in relation to the European Economic Community is governed by article 26 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession and by protocol 3 to the Treaty of Accession. The broad effect is that the Isle of Man is included in the EEC solely for customs purposes and for certain aspects of the common agricultural policy. The Treaty of Rome does not contain provisions in the field of human rights as such.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for planning the combination of the juvenile and adult courts in inner London; and if he will give an assurance that separate juvenile courts will continue to exist in inner London.

The combination of juvenile courts with adult courts anywhere in England and Wales would be contrary to section 45 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, and I have no proposals to alter this.My hon. Friend may, however, have in mind the proposition reported in the press that the present procedure whereby the justices for the juvenile court panel for the inner London area are selected by the Lord Chancellor should be replaced by the procedure obtaining elsewhere in England and Wales under which the justices for each petty sessions area appoint a juvenile court panel from amongst themselves. Such a change would require legislation to amend schedule 2 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, as amended. I understand that advisers to my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor are considering whether the present system for inner London is operating satisfactorily, but no conclusions have yet been reached and no recommendations made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies have been extradited to the Federated Republic of Germany since 1960;(2) how many citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany have been extradited to the United Kingdom since 1960.

Since 1960 no citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies has been extradited from the United Kingdom to the Federal Republic of Germany, and no German citizen has been extradited from the Federal Republic to the United Kingdom. Until 3rd October 1978, when the Federal Republic of Germany (Extradition) (Amendment) Order 1978 came into force, the Anglo-German extradition treaty prohibited surrender by either country of its own nationals. That absolute prohibition is now replaced by a discretion to withhold surrender.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about granting asylum to the South African refugees. Pitika Ntuli, E. M. M. Mabil- etsa, Johannes Moabi, Bernice Ndziba, and Robert Stephens Mabusela at present detained in Swaziland; and if he will make a statement.

In response to a recent appeal by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that the United Kingdom should participate in a scheme to find countries of resettlement for a number of detainees in Swaziland. I agreed last month to the admission of Mr. Ntuli, Mr. Mabiletsa and Mr. Moabi. I did not feel able to agree to the UNHCR's subsequent request in respect of Mrs. Ndziba and Mr. Mabusela. Representations were also received from my hon. Friend the Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds), and the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates on which he has received representations by or on behalf of the Radio Birmingham local radio council about the reception difficulties.

Copies of a letter dated 11th November 1976 to the BBC from the Radio Birmingham local radio council were sent to me in November 1976 by 11 hon. Members whose constituencies are in the coverage area of BBC Radio Birmingham. Representations dated 20th May and 17th November 1977; 20th August, 4th September, 30th October and 15th and 17th November 1978 have also been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give full details of how he intends to carry out the Government's decision to place sanctions on the Ford Motor Company in his own Department and in all other public bodies answerable to him.

Save in exceptional circumstances of overriding public policy my Department will not place contracts or invite tenders in respect of Ford products during the currency of the company's excessive pay settlement. Accordingly I am inviting those public sector bodies with which I am concerned, with the exception of police authorities, to take into account the Government's decision in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ford cars were purchased, and at what cost, by Government Departments and nationalized

			Ministry of Defence		Other Government Departments and non-Exchequer bodies
Financial year			Quantity	Value	Quantity	Value
				£		£
1973–74	…	…	385	304,000	339	302,000
1974–75	…	…	910	937,000	289	341,000
1975–76	…	…	791	1,005,000	236	357,000
1976–77	…	…	565	823,000	307	481,000
1977–78	…	…	1,189	2,024,000	433	755,000

The Ministry of Defence does not purchase vehicles on behalf of nationalised industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many cars were purchased, and at what cost, by Government Departments and nationalised industries, respectively, in the most recent

			Ministry of Defence		Other Government Departments and non-Exchequer bodies
Financial year			Quantity	Value	Quantity	Value
				£		£
1973–74	…	…	1,386	1,117,000	3,053	1,901,000
1974–75	…	…	2,111	2,021,000	2,458	1,921,000
1975–76	…	…	1,660	1,874,000	2,624	2,488,000
1976–77	…	…	1,070	1,567,000	1,579	1,739,000
1977–78	…	…	1,693	2,942,000	1,448	2,371,000

The Ministry of Defence does not purchase vehicles on behalf of nationalised industries.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he proposes to publish the recommendations of the Pay Research Unit's consideration of salaries and wages in the Civil Service; whether the membership of the unit will be made public; and if he will make a statement on these matters before the Christmas Adjournment.

The Civil Service Pay Research Unit does not make recommendations about salaries and wage in the Civil Service. Its role is strictly confined to fact-finding surveys to establish comparisons between individual Jobs industries, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are avail-able; and what the comparable figures were in each of the previous five years.

Ford cars purchased by the Ministry of Defence include the requirements of non-Exchequer bodies as well as other Government Departments. Details are as follows:annual period for which figures are avail-able; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.

Cars purchased by the Ministry of Defence include the requirements of non-Exchequer bodies as well as other Government Departments. Details are as follows:inside and outside the Civil Service, and to report the actual rates of pay and other conditions of service of the analogous jobs outside the Service. The unit's survey reports are confidential to the negotiating parties. For further detail about the unit's work I refer the hon. Gentleman to a memorandum by the Civil Service Department on pay determination in the non-industrial Civil Service published in the minutes of evidence of the Expenditure Committee, General Sub-Committee, for Thursday 3rd February 1977, and to the 1977 Civil Service pay agreement, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The independent Pay Research Unit Board, established following that agreement, will publish its first annual report on the work of the unit in due course. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the membership of the Board in this House on l0th May 1978. I see no need for a further statement.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his estimate of the additional cost to date of pensions for civil servants in each year since the passing of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971.

It is estimated that the additional cost over the first full year—it declines progressively thereafter—of implementing increases in Civil Service pensions under the Pensions (Increase Act 1971 was as follows:

Year	Main percentage increase	First year's cost
		£million
1972	9·9	9
1973	9·3	10
1974	16·5	21
1975	26·1	41
1976	13·8	31
1977	17·7	48
1978	7·4	25

However, in addition to the cost of indexation the total costs of Civil Service pensions in any year reflect a number of other factors including variations in the number of pensioners, their average salary and reckonable service on retirement.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish the pay rates for permanent secretaries in his Department compared with their nearest equivalent in the EEC Commission.

The current pay rate of the permanent secretaries of the Civil Service Department and of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is£22,422 per annum, and that of the second permanent secretaries is£19,122. There is no equivalent to either permanent secretary grade among the staff of the European Communities. The nearest comparison is between the United Kingdom Civil Service deputy secretary—£15,629—and the EEC grade A1—gross basic scale, £38,531 to £48,266 per annum—at current rate of exchange; plus 2·3 per cent. net cost of living supplement.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied that the productivity scheme operated by the National Coal Board has proved, in practice, to be self-financing; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, the NCB advises me that this is so particularly given the earlier downward trend in productivity prior to the introduction of the scheme, which has now been reversed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give full details of how he intends to carry out the Government's decision to place sanctions on the Ford Motor Company in his own Department and in all other public bodies answerable to him.

My Department will follow Government policy on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the current average rate of earnings by helicopter pilots running services to oil rigs.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will initiate an embargo on exports of oil to Uganda.

The Government have no powers to stop oil supplies to Uganda. We are in close touch with the two British oil companies which supply oil to Uganda through subsidiaries jointly owned with local interests. We understand that, for a number of technical reasons, their supply is currently running at substantially reduced levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the numbers printed and cost of the recent pamphlet published by the EEC Commissioners entitled"Europe and Our Food "; and if comparable pamphlets were printed in the languages of the member States together with the respective cost and numbers.

The pamphlet in question was published, in English only, by the London Information Office of the EEC Commission. We have asked for details of the numbers printed and of the cost, which are not immediately available, and will send them to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.The Commission publishes pamphlets in other EEC languages on specific Community policies,including the common agricultural policy. We are not aware of a pamphlet in another language directly comparable with"Europe and our Food ".

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give full details of how he intends to carry out the Government's decision to place sanctions on the Ford Motor Company in his own Department and in all other public bodies answerable to him.

Except in exceptional circumstances of overriding public policy the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not place contracts or invite tenders in respect of Ford products during the currency of the company's excessive pay settlement. My right hon. Friend is inviting those public sector bodies for which he is responsible to take into account the Government's decision in this respect.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how the contribution of the United Kingdom to aid to developing countries compares with contributions made by each of the EEC countries, together with contributions made by Norway, Sweden, Canada, the USA, Japan and the USSR, respectively.

The latest available figures, for 1977, are as follows:

	1977
	$million	Percentage of GNP
EEC Members
United Kingdom	914	0·37
Belgium	371	0·46
Denmark	258	0·61
France	2,267	0·60
Germany	1,386	0·27
Italy	186	0·10
Netherlands	900	0·85
Others
Canada	991	0·51
Japan	1,424	0·21
Norway	(295)	(0·82)
Sweden	779	0·99
United States of America	4,159	0·22

These figures are for official development assistance, net of repayments of principal on loans.It is estimated that the comparable figure for concessional assistance from the USSR to developing countries was$374 million—0·04 per cent. of GNP—in 1975, the latest year for which information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will give full details of how he intends to carry out the Government's decision to place sanctions on the Ford Motor Company in his own Department and in all other public bodies answerable to him.

Save in exceptional circumstances of overriding public policy my Department will not place contracts or invite tenders in respect of Ford products during the currency of the company's excessive pay settlement. I am inviting those public sector bodies for which I am responsible to take into account the Government's decision in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish the amount of grants provided by (a) Government and (b) local authorities for the citizens advice bureau service for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on his future intentions.

My Department expects to provide a total of£1·26 million to the National Association of Citizen's Advice Bureaux in the current financial year. Total grants to the association from central Government in the last four years were as follows:

1974–75	£377,000
1975–76	£766,000
1976–77	£1,193,000
1977–78	£1,142,000

No similar information is available about the total of local authority assistance to individual citizen's advice bureaux. I have nothing to add to the statement about future Government assistance to the citizens advice bureau service which I made in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Mr. Sever) on 16th November this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to review the categories of recognised disability.

As I indicated during the debate on the report of the Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury on 17th November—[Vol. 958, c. 773.]—we are studying a number of proposals for improving the range of cash benefits available to the disabled, including the possibility of a general disablement allowance which would help a wide range of disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met representatives of the Society of Radiographers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met representatives of the Society of Radiographers.

My officials maintain regular contact with the Society of Radiographers on matters of mutual concern and my predecessor met representatives of the society on 1st August 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the statement on the death certificate of Mrs. Nicole Arnott, aged 24 years, of Queens Road, Swanage, indicating the birth control pill as a possible contributory factor to her death, if he will again draw the attention of the general public to the dangers involved.

While it is impossible to determine the oral contraceptive pill's responsibility for any particular death, its association with some increased risk of blood clotting disorders in a minority of cases is now well known. Doctors are aware both of the benefits and of the possible risks of the"pill"which have to be weighed against the risks of unwanted pregnancy. I believe that doctors are in the best position to offer women advice about the method of contraception most suited to their needs in the light of their medical history and particular circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken to encourage local authorities to meet the needs of the disabled.

I take every opportunity to draw the attention of local authorities to the needs of disabled people. Last month I sent all authorities copies of a report by the Health Services Research Unit at Kent university on the numbers and needs of disabled people living at home. My officials also maintain close and continuing contact with local authorities in this important field.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he plans to introduce a comprehensive disability scheme with benefit payable irrespective of the cause and duration of the disability.

We are studying this and other suggested improvements in benefits and services for disabled people. At present, resources are not available for us to go further in introducing new benefits. If extra resources become available we shall have to make firm decisions about our priorities for further help for the disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many community hospitals have been recognised since 1974; how many changes of site use have been approved in order to use old premises as community hospitals in the future; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the use of their discretionary powers by staff of the Department of Health and Social Security when dealing with applications for assistance.

I am satisfied that, in this difficult area of discretionary payments, staff conscientiously apply their judgment to the facts of individual cases in the light of guidance laid down by the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects next to meet the chairman of the Trent regional health authority.

On 15th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the current level of the death grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the present level of the death grant.

My right hon. Friend has received various representations from organisations, members of the public and hon. Members pressing for an increase in the level of the death grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends next to meet the chairman of the South-East Thames regional health authority.

I expect to meet Sir John Donne on 27th January 1979 at one of my regular meetings with chairmen of regional health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what level of unemployment is being assumed in 1979–80 for national insurance purposes.

The average level of unemployment, excluding school leavers. assumed for 1979–80 is 1,350,000.This was the figure which the Government Actuary was instructed by the Government to assume, for illustrative purposes, in his recent report on the draft of the Social Security (Contributions, Re-Rating) Order 1978 (Cmnd. 7403).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service.

I understand that the Royal Commission hopes to report during the first half of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken by his Department to extend the scope of national insurance to the long-term unemployed.

Like my hon. Friend, I am concerned about the long-term unemployed and I am considering whether anything more can be done to help them. Extending the duration of flat-rate benefit is not, however, the ideal Solution since it gives most help to those better placed financially, for example, occupational pensioners. My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, recently outlined a more constructive aim for the long-term unemployed, namely, that all of them should be offered a job or a training or retraining place and has asked Ministers to undertake the necessary studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give further consideration to the case in favour of backdated payments for former tuberculosis visitors who were downgraded to staff nurse Status but retired before regrading was recommended.

As my hon. Friend is aware, the Government's incomes policy does not allow this regrading to be applied retrospectively to any date earlier than 1st April 1978, and it is not possible to relax for this group of nurses alone the 12-month rule in incomes policy which precludes backdating. There are difficulties about the alternative proposals which have been suggested and which I hope to discuss with my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will State the number of children born as a result of artificial insemination by donor

This Information is not available. No central records are kept of children born as a result of artificial insemination by donor—AID. I am also advised that it is not always possible, when this technique is used, to be certain that it is the cause of conception.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects next to meet the chairman of the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

I met the chairman of the Supplementary Benefits Commission on 14th and 20th November and I expect to meet him and other members of the Commission in January. My right hon. Friend usually meets the chairman every month. The points raised by my hon. Friend recently in discussion with my right hon. Friend on the question of the payment of rent direct to a landlord by the Supplementary Benefits Commission and related problems of housing benefits for low income families have been passed on to the chairman.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in reducing the additions to waiting lists in hospitals in England and Wales brought about by recent actual or threatened industrial action by hospital staff.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the right hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Jenkin) on l0th November 1978.—[Vol. 957, c. 375.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are awaiting admission to National Health Service hospitals at the present time.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hampstead (Mr. Finsberg) on 7th November 1978.—[Vol. 957, c. 97.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals in England and Wales limited the admission of patients because of actual or threatened industrial action on the part of nursing and other staff at the end of October 1978.

The information is not held centrally. Information is, however, collected as the Situation demands in connection with particular national disputes. In the case of the recent action by works Supervisors, some 380 hospitals were restricting admissions when the dispute ended on 27th October.My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has asked me to say that the corresponding figure for Wales was 15.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding delays in admitting cases for hospital operations.

I receive many letters from hon. Members and from patients and others expressing concern about delays in admission to hospital for surgical treatment. I share this concern about long waiting times and I shall continue with health authorities actively to seek ways of reducing the time spent waiting by patients for hospital treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent consultations he has had with representatives of ambulance personnel.

I met representatives of ambulance personnel on 3rd November. They expressed concern about the combining of regional and area ambulance posts. The subject is now being discussed in the Administrative and Clerical Staffs Whitley Council, the body responsible for the pay and conditions of service of senior ambulance officers.My right hon. Friend the Minister of State has recently met representatives of ambulance men about the dispute in the West Midlands metropolitan ambulance service. The underlying problem in this dispute is now being considered by the Ambulancemen's Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to make the maternity grant a noncontributory benefit.

I have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent he is considering applying a greater proportion of National Health Service resources to psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric treatment.

The Government attach high priority to developing services for mentally ill and mentally handicapped people, and in March 1978 national guidelines for forward planning were issued to health and local authorities, suggesting rates of growth to 1982 and indicating the major priority areas where service development and increased expenditure are needed. It is the Government's policy that the balance of care in these two fields should shift from the health services towards the personal social services.It is envisaged that, in England as a whole, NHS capital and revenue expenditure on mentally ill and mentally handicapped hospital patients should increase in real terms by about 2 per cent. a year over the period 1976–77 to 1981–82. During this time the number of beds is expected to reduce so that the amount spent per bed would increase by over 41½ percent. a year. Expenditure on personal social services for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped over these years is planned to increase by almost 9 per cent. a year.Authorities were asked to spend about£9 million of the English share of the £50 million injection announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his April Budget on psychiatric and geriatric hospital care, and as I said in the debate on the Gracious Address, I hope to be able to announce further resources for the health and personal social services over and above the increases already planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will pay an official visit to Hillingdon.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is now in a position to announce his acceptance of the proposals of the Health Services Board on common waiting lists.

I discussed this matter with representatives of the Joint Consultants Committee on 30th November. I intend shortly to write to health authorities on the subject and will make my proposals known to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the expected revenue from pay beds in National Health Service hospitals in the United Kingdom in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the expected revenue from National Health Service pay beds in the current financial year in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland combined.

About £30·9 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he in-tends to provide for one-parent families any additional new allowances in 1979.

I have no plans for adding new benefits to the existing range paid to one-parent families, now totalling £900 million a year. In April, however, I propose to extend family income Supplement to an additional 10,000 or so lone parents working a minimum of 24 hours a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a Statement on his meeting with the chair-man of the Bromley area health authority on 28th November.

I met Mr. Bolland together with other AHA chairmen at one of our regular meetings. We discussed subjects of mutual interest, including industrial relations, Services for the mentally handicapped and residential accommodation for the elderly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now give consideration to making persons ineligible for social security benefits until they have lived in the United Kingdom for a specific length of time.

The qualifying conditions attaching to most benefits provided under the Social Security Act effectively impose waiting periods, although people Coming from an EEC country, or from a country with which the United Kingdom has a reciprocal agreement, may qualify for some benefits without waiting. Supple-mentary benefit is a means-tested benefit based on need and does not involve a residence condition. The Government have no plans to alter these conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further Statement on the recent Government proposals for the future of teaching hospitals.

A consultative document on the future management of the London specialist postgraduate hospitals was issued on 3rd October 1978 and comments on the proposals have been invited by 31st December 1978. I do not intend to make a further statement until I have considered the comments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his policy to press for the allocation of additional resources to the National Health Service.

Yes. In both 1977 and 1978 the Government made extra allocations to the NHS, over and above the expenditure growth already planned. Given success in the Government's overall economic policies, I hope to be able to announce a further expansion in allocations to the NHS in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he next expects to announce an increase in the mobility allowance.

The rate of the mobility allowance will be considered in the course of the general review of social security benefits during 1979. I cannot, at the moment, add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 6th December 1977.—[Vol. 940, c. 1125.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects next to meet his ministerial colleagues in the EEC.

My right hon. Friend was represented at a meeting of EEC Health Ministers on 16th November and at a meeting of EEC Labour and Social Affairs Ministers on 27th November. I expect similar Council meetings to be held during the course of 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the future provision of support by midwives for home confinements.

In"The Way Forward"health authorities were advised to

" ensure that there is an adequate midwifery service working in the community as well as in hospitals to provide high standards of maternity care, especially for mothers who are discharged early from hospital ".

If a woman chooses to be delivered at home, despite the advice against it, health authorities should ensure that the services necessary to make home confinements as safe as possible are provided, including the attendance of a midwife. I recognise, however, that some areas are experiencing difficulties in maintaining the necessary support and my Department is at present consulting professional bodies most closely concerned to see how these might be overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the current arrangements for employed people travelling in other EEC countries and in need of urgent medical treatment to be extended to the self-employed.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 6th November.—[Vol. 957 c. 30–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the operation of social services in the county of Derbyshire.

Compared with a group of authorities with similar social, economic and demographic conditions, Derbyshire's level of expenditure per capita in 1976–77—the latest year for which figures are available—appeared about the same as the average. I under- stand that the social services committee of Derbyshire county council is considering what changes are desirable in the total resources available for provision of personal social services and in the way resources are deployed among the various services. I am hoping to discuss this issue informally when I am in Derbyshire on 15th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total of resources made available by his Department this year to the West Midlands regional health authority.

Excluding funds for the family practitioner services, a total of £457·3 million was allocated to West Midlands regional health authority in 1978–79 made up of £427·5 million for revenue and £29·8 million for capital purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with industrial relations in the ambulance service.

I am well aware of the need to improve industrial relations in the NHS, and this includes the ambulance service. Following discussions with the major unions and with the chairmen of RHAs, my right hon. Friend has circulated to the NHS joint recommendations for improving procedures for handling local disputes with a proposal that the General Whitley Council be invited to incorporate them into a national agreement. The proposed new procedure would deal with disputes that are not covered by the existing Whitley procedures.The National Training Council, which has made industrial relations training one of its main priorities, is also considering whether the ambulance service has any special needs in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to promote the negotiation of further new reciprocal medical care agreements with East European countries, following the recent accord with the People's Republic of Hungary.

None is necessary. The United Kingdom has reciprocal health care agreements with all East European countries with which we have diplomatic relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to delegate more managerial authority to individual hospitals within the National Health Service, so that more decisions can be taken where the action takes place.

I am concerned that the present structure of the Health Service introduced by the previous Government may have weakened management at hospital level and that some decisions are being unnecessarily referred to higher management levels. The damage must be repaired and I shall decide what action to take when the Royal Commission on the National Health Service has reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the use of the drug Oxytocin in childbirth; and if, in view of the fact it has been banned in the United States of America, he will refer its use in the United Kingdom to the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

I have received from time to time representations about the induction of labour but I am not aware of any which refer specifically to the use of oxyctocin. The Food and Drugs Administration—FDA—of the United States of America has not banned Oxytocin but has advised doctors not to use it to induce labour for non-medical reasons. I have no evidence that it is used for such purposes in NHS hospitals. There are, however, many medical indications for induction and both the United Kingdom licensing authority and the FDA consider that the benefits of oxytocin-induced labour outweigh the known possible risks where continuation of pregnancy threatens the health of the mother or her baby. The Committee on Safety of Medicines keeps the safety of this and all other medicinal products under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the level of nurses'pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in the discussions on nurses' pay.

I have at present nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend on 7th November.—[Vol 957, c. 103.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to safeguard the future of health visiting, education and training; and what representations he has received on the matter.

The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Bill, which is at present under consideration by Standing Committee B, is designed to safeguard the future of education and training in nursing, midwifery and health visiting. The Council for Education and Training of Health Visitors and the Health Visitors Association have expressed fears that the high Standards of health visiting which have been achieved may suffer as a result of the Bill. I believe that their fears are groundless and I am having meetings with their representatives to see whether their fears can be allayed by some amendment of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether a grant has been made available under section 63 of the Health Act to provide postgraduate medical courses in transcendental meditation.

The Department makes funds available under section 63 of the Health Services and Public Health Act to postgraduate medical deans to spend as they think appropriate on educational activities for general practitioners in their regions. I understand that two courses in transcendental meditation have received limited approval recently so that, while no contribution was made towards the course costs, doctors who attended could claim travelling and subsistence allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the progress made over the past two years in preventing handicap; and if he will make a statement.

While some factors such as perinatal mortality show an encouraging trend, it is extremely difficult to quantify overall progress in a multifactorial field like handicap; and I am sure my hon. Friend will not expect me to express satisfaction where there plainly remains room for further improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for supporting a central agency of doctors and unorthodox practitioners as outlined in his speech to a London symposium on 17th November; and if he will make a statement.

In my address to the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society symposium on 17th November, I welcomed the recommendation of the working group on back pain that there should be comparative trials of the therapies used both by medical practitioners and by osteopaths, chiropractors and acupuncturists in the treatment of back pain. How these can best be arranged will be determined following the publication of the report of the working group and subsequent consultations with the professional organisations and other bodies concerned. I am sending a copy of my speech to my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 5th December.1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 5th December.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Walker).

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC and CBI.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend meets representatives of the TUC and CBI from time to time, at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the leaders of the TUC.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend meets representatives of the TUC from time to time, at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met leaders of the CBI.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Members to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 14th November.