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

I expect to meet the chairman of the North-East Thames regional health authority on 20 March at the next regular meeting with chairmen of regional health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that a sufficient proportion of current National Health Services re sources are devoted to actual medical care, as against administration.

With health authorities, I have paid particular attention to ways of reducing the costs of managing the National Health Service so as to release the maximum possible resources for direct care of patients. So far the proportion of total revenue spent on management has been reduced from about 5·6 per cent. in 1976 to about 5·1 per cent. If this reduction is sustained, in the coming financial year I estimate that between £16 million and £27 million will be released. I am awaiting the report of the Royal Commission on the Health Service, which we hope to receive this summer; this may give advice on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met representatives of the chiropodists' profession.

Last November.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the length of hospital waiting lists.

Since the inception of the NHS there have never been fewer than 400,000 people awaiting admission to hospital. It was originally believed that the initial demand for hospital treatment would reduce as the nation's health improved under the NHS but successive Governments have found that the expected reduction in demand has not occurred.The length of waiting lists is determined by many factors. The rate at which patients are treated tends to reduce them—and this rate continues to increase; but factors such as the increasing proportion of the elderly in the population, the growing range of available surgical techniques, industrial action, poor waiting list management practices and increasing public expectations tend to increase them. Despite a steady and very considerable increase in hospital activity the number of people on waiting lists has continued to rise. In September 1978, the latest date for which a provisional figure is available, the number was 628,400. I am most concerned about the length of time some people have to wait for treatment and am attempting, by a number of means—including the injections of new money for the NHS announced in April 1978 and January 1979 and the dissemination of good practice—to tackle the problem.It is not possible to say to what extent current industrial action will affect waiting lists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients have been added to the hospital waiting lists as a result of the hospital workers' dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients have been added to the hospital waiting lists as a result of the hospital workers' dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the effect of recent industrial action on hospital waiting lists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients have been added to the hospital waiting lists as a result of the hospital workers' dispute.

I refer the hon. Members to my replies to the hon. Members for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold), Devizes (Mr. Morrison), Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) and Braintree (Sir B. Braine) on 30 January.—[Vol. 961, c. 370–85.] At present, over 20,000 planned admissions to hospitals have been cancelled since the start of the dispute but it is not possible to say from this what the final effect on waiting lists will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients have been added to the hospital waiting lists as a result of the hospital workers' dispute within the Birmingham area health authority.

The number of admissions to hospitals in Birmingham postponed as a result of the current industrial action is estimated to be 2,523 up to 2 March 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the level of benefits paid to the long-term unemployed.

National insurance unemployment benefit extends for 12 months. A person unemployed for longer than 12 months must rely on supplementary benefit, but this is never paid to the unemployed at the higher long-term rate. It is a high priority to improve benefits for the long-term unemployed, but such improvements are costly. It would cost £35 million a year at constant prices to extend the long-term rate of supplementary benefit to those on supplementary benefit for two years. Giving all people under pension age the long-term rate after one year would cost £85 million a year at constant prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will issue regulations to ban the use of the cane in community homes.

No. I have told local authorities that I regard the use of corporal punishment as undesirable and inconsistent with proper care. The Association of Directors of Social Services, the British Association of Social Workers and the residential care associations oppose its use in community homes and we think that the local authorities who permit it are now a minority. But I am reluctant to withdraw the discretion that local authorities have under the existing regulations at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met representatives of the Disablement Income Group.

I and my officials have frequent and informal contacts with representatives and members of the Disablement Income Group to discuss a wide range of issues affecting disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department is satisfied that the former residents of Dawn House, Moseley, Birmingham, are now adequately accommodated.

I am giving consideration to my hon. Friend's representations on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that individual privacy is not invaded by the operations of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975.

I take this opportunity to reaffirm our policy that private information obtained by my Department for social security purposes is not divulged without the consent of the person concerned save in exceptional circumstances in which we feel bound to recognise that disclosure is justified. My hon. Friend has expressed concern that my Department may, in certain circumstances, disclose to an employer the age of an employee. As was made clear in our evidence to the Lindop committee on data protection, this is one of the very limited range of circumstances in which information is disclosed; this disclosure is necessary in certain circumstances in order to establish a contracted-out pension scheme's liabilities or in order to enable the employer to comply with his responsibility for the correct payment of national insurance contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people occupying acute hospital beds who are waiting either for places in old people's homes, or for geriatric accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met the chairman of the Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark area health authority.

On 7 December 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will hold a public inquiry into laboratories holding dangerous pathogens.

In my statement to the House on 24 January—[Vol. 961, c. 434–48.]—I announced a number of important decisions on matters relating to dangerous pathogens, including the need for further controls, as a result of the recommendations made in the report of the Shooter investigation. I do not think that a public inquiry would further the objectives which I know my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met the retirement pensioners' associations; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend met representatives of the National Federation of Old Age Pensions Associations on 9 November 1978. I met representatives of the British Pensioners and Trade Unions Action Committee on 5 Decem- ber 1978. A number of issues affecting pensioners were discussed at these meetings. They included the pension rates introduced in November 1978; pension levels generally; the Christmas bonus; the new pension scheme and services for the elderly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why phase 3 of the rebuilding programme for the Watford general hospital has not yet been implemented.

Tenders have been invited with a view to a start on site by next September.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with X-ray facilities at rural hospitals.

In general, yes. With regard to the situation in the hon. Member's constituency, I understand that arrangements are being made by the Hereford and Worcester area health authority to appoint a full-time State-registered radiographer so that the facilities available at rural hospitals can be operated to the best advantage and with due regard to radiation safety standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much, in real terms, retirement pensions have increased since February 1974.

Based on the movement of the general index of retail prices to January 1979, the latest figures available, retirement pensions have increased in real terms by 23 per cent. since February 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will report on the progress of the Motability scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) and Braintree (Sir B. Braine) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for how long the current negotiations between his Department and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee have been going on; and when he expects a settlement to be reached.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee submitted a claim for an increase in the rate of return on capital employed on 8 March 1976. The committee and I have recently agreed to refer the claim to an independent panel with the following terms of reference:—

" To consider the general criteria which should determine the profit payable to chemist contractors for the provision of Part II Pharmaceutical Services under the National Health Service Act 1977 and in particular consider:

i. whether the rate of return on capital employed in NHS dispensing is appropriate, and if not suggest what it should be;

ii. whether the profit should be determined on some basis other than capital employed;

and to make recommendations."

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the retention of day care facilities of Airedale general hospital in Keighley.

I understand that the whole question of the retention of day nursery facilities at Airedale general hospital is currently the subject of discussion by the Bradford area health authority. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security stated in his reply to my hon. Friend on 12 February, it is for the health authority to decide about the continued provision of these facilities.—[Vol. 962, c. 401.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether all transfers between local psychiatric hos- pitals and special hospitals are made on the basis of an assessment of the individual patient's condition and the appropriate degree of security for his or her therapeutic needs.

Yes. Each case is considered on its merits and the decision is based on the individual needs of the patient.It is not, however, always possible to effect the transfer of a patient from a special hospital to the appropriate hospital when this is first recommended. The reasons for this are varied and I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 20 November the steps we take to try to overcome these difficulties.—[Vol. 958, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he next will meet representatives of the Royal College of Nursing.

I have not at present got any meetings arranged with representatives of the Royal College of Nursing, though I do frequently meet officers or other representatives of the college in various forums.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if be will now implement the recommendation of the pensions appeal tribunal held in London on 18 September 1978, that the degree of disablement sufferd by Mr. W. J. Gittins, of St. Neots, in respect of war injuries to his right tibia and fibula should be asessed at 20 per cent.

This assessment related entirely to a past period. Mr. Gittins appealed in 1977 against a final assessment of his disablement award, which was made over 30 years earlier in 1945. The appeal was thus long "out of time". Article 65 of the Service Pensions Order 1979 (and its forerunner, article 65 of the Royal Warrant) provides that payment of pension following a favourable tribunal decision on the degree of disablement in an "out of time" assessment appeal shall not be made before the date of the commencement of the appeal, unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs. My right hon. Friend exercises this discretion to make a payment in respect of an earlier period, as have his predecessors, only where the pensioner has been prevented by physical or mental incapacity from making an appeal earlier or where there has been material departmental error. I am advised that none of these considerations applies in Mr. Gittins's case and in these circumstances my right hon. Friend sees no grounds to depart from the normal rule. Mr. Gittins's present pension, which has been in payment since January 1976, is based on a 30 per cent. assessment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of dentists offering National Health Service dental treatment in the Dacorum district council area of Hertfordshire; what were the numbers three and five years ago; and how many courses of dental treatment were provided in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

The number of dentists currently having arrangements with the Hertfordshire family practitioner committee for the provision of National Health Service dental treatment in the Dacorum district council area is 38. The corresponding number in January 1976 was 37 and in January 1974 was 35. The number of courses of treatment provided is not available on a district basis and could only be computed in the particular case at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the local authorities with respon-

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that regional health authorities institute productivity schemes and respond to re quests for such schemes without delay.

Regional health authorities are aware of the need to respond quickly to the requests of hospital manual staff for productivity schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he plans next to meet the leaders of the Health Service unions.

I frequently meet the leaders of major health service trade unions, and the last meeting took place on 15 January. Since then I have had several meetings with the general secretaries of NUPE, COHSE, TGWU and GMWU. A date has yet to be fixed for the next meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of patients, their age ranges, their home local authorities, and the percentage ready for discharge into the community in the Lancaster Royal Albert, the Calderstones and Brockall mental hospitals.

Following is the information for 31 December 1978:sibility for patients in the Lancaster Royal Albert, the Calderstones and Whalley mental hospitals are able to offer sufficient alternative accommodation within their locality; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to say that local authority residential provision for both mentally handicapped children and adults in the catchment area of these hospitals is substantially above the national average. According to the latest published statistics, Greater Manchester has more places in relation to its population than any other metropolitan area, and the position in Lancashire is even better. However, as is the case throughout the country, both areas have some way to go before achieving the levels of provision suggested for attainment by the early 1990s in the 1971 White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if social abortions are considered emergencies when hospitals are closed for normal emergency admissions.

It is the responsibility of each health authority to do everything possible to make appropriate arrangements locally for the maintenance of essential services and to meet emergencies. Nevertheless, it would clearly not be possible to admit emergency cases of any sort to a hospital which a health authority had found it necessary to close for emergency admissions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the waiting lists for surgery of those residing within the Sandwell area health authority.

Waiting lists and times are longer than I would wish. The concentration of facilities at the new Sandwell district general hospital, the first phase of which should be fully commissioned later this year, is expected to improve the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the current level of invalid care allowance.

Last summer, we received, through hon. and right hon. Members, about a dozen representations from members of the National Council for the Single Woman and her Dependants, suggesting that invalid care allowance—ICA—should be paid at the same rate as unemployment benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families will no longer be dependent on supplementary allowances following the settlement of the industrial dispute affecting low-paid workers in the National Health Service.

Families whose head is in full-time work are not eligible for supplementary allowances but may be entitled to receive family income supplement—FIS. I regret that the information requested is not available for National Health Service employees in receipt of FIS.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, if he is satisfied with the working of the mobility allowance unit at Blackpool.

Last November, in the course of the debate on the Second Reading of the Social Security Bill, I paid a warm tribute, which I am glad to repeat, to the staff of the mobility allowance unit.—[Vol. 958, c. 1192.] They face a difficult task in handling as quickly as they can the administrative processes connected with claims for mobility allowance. The announcement of the phasing-in of each new age group brings in its train a substantial number of extra claims. Towards the end of last year, we took on two heavy new phases. Some individual cases have been delayed, but every effort is being made to clear outstanding claims. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, I shall be very glad to have it looked into urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the retirement pension will be paid to Mr. Shukar Mohammed, NI number YK 15 40 62 C. of 26 Cobden Street, Peterborough, whose registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies gives a birth date of 12 June 1912 and who retired from full-time employment in June 1978 with sufficient contributions to earn the benefit.

I am having inquiries made into Mr. Mohammed's case and I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the recent closure of the accident unit at the King Edward hospital, Ealing, at a time when the nearest alternative units were seriously overstretched.

The accident and emergency unit at the King Edward memorial hospital was closed as part of the process of transferring services to Ealing hospital. Arrangements have been made for alternative facilities to be provided at neighbouring hospitals. The accident and emergency unit in the new Ealing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the rules for maximum length of seclusion without toilet facilities at Broadmoor, Rampton, Park Lane and Moss Side, respectively.

No such rules exist.None of the rooms in the special hospitals used specifically for seclusion purposes contains en suite toilet facilities. When patients are placed in seclusion it is therefore necessary either to escort them to and from the ward toilet facilities or to provide them with chamber pots and bowls of water for washing. Staff make every effort to take patients to the ward facilities but whether they are able to do so depends on the mental state of the patient, the distance from the room to the toilet facilities, the presence of other patients and the number of staff available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to establish the reasons why correspondence to his Department from the hon. Member for Falmouth and Cambourne, dated 9 December 1978, concerning the composition of the governing bodies of adult training centres, is still unanswered; and if he will explain the reasons for the delay.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many (a) general practitioners and (b) hospital doctors, are currently employed in the West Midlands; and how this compares with the total numbers in 1974.

The information requested is as follows:—Whilst in seclusion patients are observed closely by nursing staff at frequent intervals and this ensures speedy response to requests for toilet facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many injuries to patients at Broadmoor, Rampton, Park Lane and Moss Side hospitals, respectively, have been dealt with at outside hospitals during the past five years.

Information about the occasions on which a patient has been sent to an outside hospital for treatment of injuries or physical illness is kept on the individual patient's case notes. The information requested could be obtained only by scrutiny of these notes and it is considered that this would be disproportionate in terms of time and cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many charge nurses have been appointed from outside to the staff of Broadmoor, Rampton, Park Lane and Moss Side, respectively, during the past five years.

At Broadmoor, Rampton and Moss Side hospitals the grade of charge nurse is considered to be a promotion grade and the Whitley agreement on promotion procedures does not allow for staff outside the special hospitals to be appointed direct to this grade. The situation is slightly different at the Park Lane advance unit where, because it is a new hospital in process of being built up, charge nurses have been recruited from outside. Since the unit opened in 1974, six appointments from outside have been made at charge nurse level.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many straitjackets exist at Broadmoor, Rampton, Park Lane and Moss Side hospitals, respectively; and how many times they have been used in the past five years.

Straitjackets in the previously accepted sense of the term have now been replaced by strong clothing. This is designed to provide variable degrees of physical restraint but retains a clothes function. It comprises a one-piece, long-sleeved, overall type garment, fastening at the back and made from very tough material; it is used occasionally at Rampton, Moss Side and Park Lane for patients whose condition is such that they might injure themselves or others and where sedation by drugs is not regarded as the best form of management. This clothing is a means of physical restraint but it is flexible in its use so that patients so dressed are subjected to the least restraint necessary for their management. In this way the use of strong clothing enables some disturbed patients—who would otherwise be secluded in their rooms—to mix with other patients and take part in ward activities.The number suits of strong clothing kept in the special hospitals is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with his powers under the Medicines Act to control the distribution of contact lenses and associated fluids.

The provisions of the Medicines Act 1968 applied to contact lenses and associated fluids by the Medicines (Specified Articles and Substances) Order 1976 make available a wide range of powers for the control of these products. Under the Opticians Act 1958 contact lenses may be sold to the public only by doctors or opticians. These powers seem to give me adequate basis for control.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that contact lenses manufactured from cellulose acetate butyrate are satisfactory and that lenses made of silicone rubber are safe; and if he will make a statement.

Cellulose acetate butyrate and silicone rubber are of recent introduction as contact lens materials. Evaluation is not possible at present. I await the report of an expert working party on contact lenses. I should be pleased to examine any relevant evidence the hon. Gentleman may have.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the health problems of hyperactive children have been considered by his Department; and what conclusions have been reached as to the beneficial effects, or otherwise, of a diet free from artificial additives in keeping this condition under control.

I am aware of the problems of children suffering from hyper-activity and of the difficulties faced by their families. Opinions differ over whether it can be regarded as a distinct syndrome. There are several approaches to its treatment, of which one involves an additive-free diet. Medical opinion is divided on the efficacy or otherwise of additive-free diets in this context and many experienced clinicians do not accept that this treatment is, or necessarily is, the right answer for the majority of such cases.In considering the needs of these children we have concluded that the immediate need is for more research. My Department would be happy to consider funding any soundly based studies into the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost to the National Health Service of each stoma pouch in the translet colosafe and translet supreme ranges.

So far as supplies for use in hospitals are concerned, it is not the practice to disclose the prices which are agreed with my Department. I can, however, say that the prices paid for these articles are not significantly different from those paid for similar products from other manufacturers.So far as supply by retail pharmacists is concerned, there is no centrally agreed price for these products.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will issue a directive to all area health authorities not to reduce the number of nurses to be trained in order to meet the additional costs which will arise from the implementation of the European Economic Communnity directive;(2) if he will now refuse to implement European Economic Community nurse directives until such time as the Briggs legislation is in operation;(3) what will be the total extra cost in England and Wales if the European Economic Community directive which becomes operative in July on student nurse training is implemented.

The EEC directives, which relate to students in general nursing only and to courses of training starting after June 1979, were promulgated in June 1977. The General Nursing Council for England and Wales, which will be the "competent authority" for this purpose, gave guidance to nurse training schools in December 1977, and has discussed with individual training schools any difficulties they may have. I would not expect the direct and unavoidable consequences of the introduction of the directives to be appreciable in resource terms, although I am aware that the opportunity is being taken to go beyond the minimum and to introduce other desirable changes in nurse training at the same time where resources permit. Staffing requirements are for health authorities to determine, but I would not expect any reduction in the number of nurses in training as a result of the EEC directives, and I would see no necessity to issue a directive on the subject. As I have already made clear during the Committee stage of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Bill, I propose to implement the EEC directives by means of an Order in Council under the European Communities Act, quite independently of the former legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the extra £1,015,000 needed to implement the European Economic Community directives on student nurse training in July 1979 will be funded separately or will be absorbed by the allocation to the North-West Thames regional hospital board for 1979–80.

I am aware that the North-West Thames regional health authority takes the view that the EEC nursing directives will add more than £1 million to their costs. But this figure was arrived at from estimates recently provided by the Regional Nursing Officers' Group, and will have included not only the direct and unavoidable costs of implementing those directives, but also certain costs in excess of the minimum relating to other desirable changes in nurse training.The length of training for a general nurse remains at three years and, as the directives relate only to training starting after June 1979, there can be no question of all the costs directly or indirectly attributable to the implementation of those directives having to be absorbed within the financial year 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a further statement on the investigations carried out by the officers of his Department into the management of the case of Stephen Menheniott.

The report of an investigation carried out by my Department's social work service into certain aspects of the management of the case of Stephen Menheniott has been published today and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.Stephen Menheniott died in January 1976 in the Isles of Scilly. He was then 19 years old. His father, Thomas Menheniott, was subsequently convicted of Stephen's murder at Bodmin Crown Court in December 1977. Stephen had been in the care of East Sussex county council for most of his life before being returned to his father's home at the age of 15.The investigation focused on the decision by the East Sussex authorities in 1972 to allow Stephen to live with his father in the Isles of Scilly, the subsequent exercise of their parental rights and powers in respect of Stephen, and the level of supervision afforded. The main finding of the investigating team was that, in reaching the decision to allow Stephen to return to his father's home in 1972, too much emphasis was placed on Stephen's own wishes to return home and his lack of prospects in East Sussex and too little on the opinion of officers in Cornwall and some officers in East Sussex who, with close knowledge of Stephen and his family, opposed the move. The report points to a failure on the part of the county council to visit Stephen after his return home, and to review the case and exercise its continuing responsibilities for Stephen, who remained legally in its care until his eighteenth birthday.The team reviewed current policies and procedures in East Sussex and concluded that a satisfactory framework now exists which should prevent the more obvious shortcomings revealed in the handling of the case from recurring. The three authorities—East Sussex, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly—and all the officers concerned co-operated fully in the investigation and, recognising the severe anxiety that the case has caused for them, I hope that the report will help them and others when dealing with similar problems in future.The report makes a number of recommendations relating to professional practice; my Department's chief social work officer and his staff will be discussing these with professional organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual cost of the death grant; and what would be the estimated annual cost of restoring the real value of the grant to what it was when it was first introduced at £30.

The current annual cost of the death grant is about £16 million. Based on the movement of the retail prices index up to January 1979, the latest month for which figures are available, the present grant would have to be increased to nearly £100 to restore its value in 1967 when it was increased to £30. The additional cost would be over £37 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many ambulance men and ambulance women are employed by the Hertfordshire area health authority by grade and station; what are the average earnings of leading ambulance men/women, qualified ambulance men/women, sitting case drivers and trainees, respectively, and for how many hours worked; what is the current establishment for each grade in the county by station, and how many in each grade are in post; and what is the agreed establishment for sub-officers and how many are in post.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25 January 1979; Vol. 961, c. 245], gave the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authority areas throughout England and Wales with a total population of 230,000 or above have not got a hospital accident and emergency department located within their boundaries.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23 January 1979; Vol. 961, c. 109], gave the following additional information:So far as Wales is concerned, I understand that every county and district in Wales with a population of 230,000 or more has an accident and emergency department within its boundaries.Information about the provision of hospital services in England is not readily available in terms of local authority areas; the information which follows relates, therefore, to health districts whose populations range approximately from 75,000 to 515,000. There are only two health districts in England which do not have within their boundaries an accident and emergency department. These are North Nottingham (238,200), which refers its cases to one of three accident and emergency departments in the South Nottingham health district, and Beverley (224,900), whose services are provided in Hull.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance is available to women who pay reduced rate national insurance contributions when at work and who might find it advantageous to change to full contribution liability in order to build up rights to benefits under the new pensions scheme.

A married woman or widow who still has the right to pay reduced contributions may write to the Department of Health and Social Security saying that she is giving up this right and choosing instead to be liable to pay the full rate of contributions. She can do this even if she is not at present working. A change to full liability means that she will pay full-rate contributions when she is at work but she will continue not to have to pay any contributions when she is not working. By making this change, a woman at work will build up benefit rights under the new scheme. A woman who is at home bringing up a family or, in some circumstances, looking after a disabled or elderly person, will get "home responsibilities protection" which make it easier for her to get a basic retirement pension. The date when the change takes place will generally be the 6 April following the date when the woman writes to us. However, if she has had the right to pay the reduced rate of contribution since before 6 April 1975, but has not had to pay contributions or been self-employed since then, the change to full liability can be from the 6 April before she wrote. In either case the important thing is that she should write to the Department as soon as possible and certainly before 6 April 1979. Married women can find out more about national insurance from leaflet NI 1 and widows can find out more from leaflet NI 51; these leaflets have a tear-off form which can be used to tell the Department about wanting to give up the right to pay reduced contributions. Women can get these leaflets, and any further information they need, at local social security offices.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he proposes to take to mitigate the effects of a strike by members of the Civil and Public Services Association and the Society of Civil and Public Servants at Government computer centres.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Henderson) on 8 February 1979.—[Vol. 962, cols. 243–44.] Some contingency plans are being implemented by those computer-using Departments which are affected by the present industrial action, but it would not be appropriate for me to give details.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Services have died, or suffered serious injury from exposure, in the course of vigorous training exercise in the United Kingdom during the past 12 months; and how this compares with the figures for each of the three previous years.

In the 12 months to 28 February 1979 one member of the Armed Forces died from exposure while on training in the United Kingdom. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed by an inquest. In the previous three years, only two deaths from exposure in the United Kingdom occurred when, in 1975, two junior soldiers died as a result of a sailing accident during adventure training.Information on injuries in 1978 is not yet available, but in the period 1975 to 1977 no members of the Armed Forces suffered injury from exposure involving more than a short stay in a sick unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total value of all the military equipment supplied by the United Kingdom to Iran during the period from the accession of the Shah until his recent withdrawal into exile; and what was the value of such supplies in the period since 1 January 1974.

It has been the practice of successive Governments not to reveal details about arms sales to individual countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report what the ratio between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Warsaw Pact forces as shown in the White Paper Command No. 7474 would be if French forces were excluded.

The ratios excluding French forces are:

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 6 March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 6 March.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I meet 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 met last the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy).

asked the Prime Minister when last he met the leaders of the Confederation of British Industry; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to him on 13 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will visit Reddish Vale.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Social Security on the application of corporal punishment.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he plans to visit Rugeley.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to visit Wales.

On Friday week.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the approach he received from Mr. Joe Gormley, president of the National Union of Mineworkers, for the Government to provide more money for the coal industry; and what was the nature of his reply.

At my meeting with the executive of the National Union of Mineworkers on 26 February, the executive urged the need for adequate financial support for the coal industry. I reaffirmed the Government's commitment to a healthy coal industry and explained that the Government recognised the need for continuing financial support, though this would have to be considered in relation to other claims on public expenditure.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state in the Official Report the present criteria used by the Diamond committee concerning its recommendations on commercial appointments from the Civil Service prior to and after retirement, respectively; and if he will now review any such criteria.

The criteria are laid down in the rules on the acceptance of outside business appointments by Crown servants, a copy of which is in the Library. These rules are concerned with the acceptance of business appointments by senior civil servants after retirement or resignation. The rules were reviewed in 1975 and the Government will continue to watch how they are working.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions he has reached concerning the reasons for the flooding in Greenford, Middlesex and in particular Costons Brook; what repairs have been submitted to him by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the appropriate land drainage authority. The Greater London Council has applied for grant-aid under land drainage legislation for its resumed programme of flood alleviation works on the River Brent. I understand that the borough of Ealing has investigated the problems affecting the Costons Brook and other minor local watercourses in respect of which it has powers to carry out improvement works but it has made no approach to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for further action on energy conservation; and if he will make a statement.

The Department of Energy is today publishing a report by an inter-departmental group of officials "Energy conservation: scope for new measures and long term strategy." This report, covering a detailed review of energy conservation in the main sectors of the economy was completed last year and has been endorsed by Ministers. It is now being published in the interests of wider understanding of the Government's approach to energy conservation and to stimulate public discussion of an important long-term component of overall energy policy. The interruption of oil supplies from Iran underlines the importance of improving the efficiency with which we use energy and the elimination of waste.The report concludes that the main priority at this stage is to implement effectively the 10-year programme of measures costing £450 million over the first four years, announced over the last 12 months or so. But it says that energy conservation is not a once-and-for-all activity and cannot be achieved overnight. Policy and measures will need to be developed in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends next to discuss the EEC code of conduct for Community firms operating in South Africa with his European counterparts.

My right hon. Friend expects to discuss the code at a meeting in Political Co-operation as soon as all members of the Nine have received and analysed the first reports from companies under the code. The code is regularly discussed at official level among the Nine.