asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will bring up to date the answers given by the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Jones) to questions by the hon. Member for Melton about the Community Land Scheme on 11 July 1978 and 11 December 1978.

I have nothing to add to the answer given on 11 December 1978.—[Vol. 960, c. 77–76.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, in conformity with his reply to the hon. Member for Warley, East Official Report, 13 April 1978, c. 493, stating that the amount allocated to his Department in 1978–79 in respect of moneys set aside for the preservation of the national heritage was £85,320, what sum it is proposed should be similarly allocated in 1979–80, as revalued to current prices.

£241,832, subject to parliamentary approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many acres in Wales have been planted with tree in the decade 1968–78.

From 1 October 1967 to 31 March 1978, the nearest period for which figures are readily available, 89,654 acres were planted and restocked with trees by the Forestry Commission and private owners.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what account he is taking, in deciding whether to make Government grants of several million pounds to Thorn Consumer Electronics for development at Enfield and Gosport, of the fact that in 1978 they closed their television plants at Bradford and Shipley where unemployment is much greater.

Applications for selective financial assistance are dealt with on their merits, taking into account all relevant considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in the light of general exclusions which apply to the provision of finance through the European Investment Bank for projects which would increase production capacity in certain sectors of the textile industry, he will make a statement on the availability of grants from his Department, under the 1972 Industry Act, sections 7 and 8, which would have a similar effect in those sectors.

Regional assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 is given for viable projects creating or preserving jobs in the assisted areas. The effect of the assistance on overall capacity is taken into account in appropriate cases. Each application is considered on its merits. This is also the case for section 8 assistance although the capacity position in a sector is an important consideration in the industrial case for support. Industry schemes for textile sectors have reflected this in the emphasis given to restructuring and rationalisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what development grants have been received by Dunlop Co. UK.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5 March 1979; Vol. 963, c. 461]. gave the following information:In general particulars of payments of regional development grant are treated as confidential between the Department and the grantees, although since 1 October 1974 payments in excess of £25,000 have been published in

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the claims submitted by United Kingdom citizens in Cyprus for loss and damage suffered in the Turkish invasion of 1974 have yet been paid.

Although 74 claims have now been approved by the Turkish Cypriot claims commission, no payments have yet been made because the rate of exchange to be used in settlement of these claims remains the subject of negotiations. The British Government are doing all they can to ensure that a fair and reasonable rate of exchange is adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on sporting contacts with South Africa, in the light of the plans by a number of British rugby clubs to play in South Africa in the summer.

I have been asked to reply.I understand that three English and three Welsh club teams are planning to visit South Africa this summer at the expense of their South African hosts, and I am also aware that individuals from a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, have been invited to play there at the end of this month. I need hardly say that this causes the Government considerable concern. We have consistently condemned apartheid in sport as in other spheres. Our repugnance is shared by all the Commonwealth countries and finds expression in the Gleneagles agreement of June 1977. In addition, COE Sports Ministers meeting in London in April 1978 unanimously adopted a resolution emphasising their similar opposition to racial and other forms of discrimination, and emphasised the responsibility of national and international sports bodies in upholding this principle in their own sports. Governing bodies of sport are fully aware of the contents of the agreements, and the proposed rugby tours of South Africa would be in direct contravention of these collective agreements. Therefore, these tours are very much to be regretted.Ministers have consequently had meetings with representatives of the English and Welsh rugby unions to emphasise the concern of the Government, and the teams involved have been separately reminded of these policies by their respective unions. The two rugby unions have also been informed in writing of the possible repercussions to sport which could well go beyond the world of rugby, and I know that as governing bodies they accept the Gleneagles agreement and have ensured that it has been brought to the attention of the clubs concerned.Of course all our governing bodies of Sport are independent, which means that they must also accept the responsibilities which go with independence. The majority of them recognise this, and I know that all of them disapprove of racial discrimination within their sport. This is a prime factor in our general success in carrying out the spirit of the Commonwealth agreement. But the fact is that the progress achieved by South African sports bodies is quite insufficient to outweigh the fundamental objections to such tours and the danger which certainly exists that clubs taking part will be used to justify an objectionable system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why correspondence lodged with the Home Office by the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne on 21 November 1978, at the request of Mr. G. E. Fields of Falmouth, is still unanswered; and if he will explain the reasons for the delay.

The hon. Member was informed in a letter dated 5 December that it would be necessary for the Post Office, which acts as my agent in investigating interference to television reception, to pursue inquiries into the problem raised by his constituent. The Post Office report has been received only recently, and my noble Friend the Minister of State has written to the hon. Member today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why correspondence lodged with the Home Office by the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne on 15 November 1978, at the request of Mr. D. T. Dennis of Falmouth, is still unanswered; and if he will explain the reasons for the delay.

The hon. Member was informed in a letter dated 29 November that inquiries would be made into the interference to the constituent's television reception. The inquiries are undertaken by the Post Office, which acts as my agent in this matter. Its report has been received only recently, and my noble Friend the Minister of State is writing to the hon. Member today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained in the West Midlands during the last 12 months under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

In the 12-month period 5 February 1978—4 February 1979, 16 persons were detained in the West Midlands police force area under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the reduced right of challenge of jurors, in the light of the findings of the Survey of Criminal Trials, conducted by Messrs. McConville and Baldwin, with a view to restoring the original right of peremptory challenge so as to provide for the possibility of greater representation of ethnic and other minorities on juries; if he will review the scope of challenge for cause, in the light of other deficiencies revealed in this survey; and if he will make a statement.

No. The conclusions reached by Dr. Baldwin and Mr. McConville in their book "Jury Trials" give me no reason to believe that a review of the law on challenging jurors—either peremptorily or for cause—is necessary. I invite my hon. Friend's attention, in this regard, to pages 91 to 93 of the book.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the law of blasphemous libel, in the light of the decision of the House of Lords in the case of Lemon v. Director of Public Prosecutions, mindful of the fact that according to these judgments mens rea does not now appear to be the essential ingredient of this offence.

As I informed the House on 8 February last year, the Law Commission is engaged upon a review of offences against religion and public worship, which include blasphemy and blasphemous libel. It will no doubt take full account of the recent decision. I understand that the Commission hopes to issue a working paper later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires occurred in residential houses on Mersey-side in the last year for which figures are available; and, of those, how many were flats and maisonettes.

, pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 22 February 1979; Vol. 963, c. 257], gave the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department lays down any standards on the size of warning lights that are placed at the gates of level crossings which are operated by the public.

Yes. They are laid down in the appropriate section of the Department of Transport's railway construction and operation requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have occurred at level crossings with gates operated by the public.

During the period 1974 to 1978, a total of eight accidents causing one fatality and one minor injury were reported as occurring at level crossings protected by warning lights and with gates or barriers operated by the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents there have been on level crossings with gates operated by the public in each of the last five years.

Only one. A pedestrian was fatally injured at Mickley, near Prudhoe, in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many level crossings there are in England and Wales with gates operated by the public.

There are altogether 80 level crossings in England and Wales protected by warning lights with gates or barriers operated by the public. Of these, 42 are on public roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many level crossings in the South-West region have gates which are operated by members of the public.

There are 10 level crossings in the South-West region protected by warning lights at which the gates or barriers are operated by the public. Five of these are on public roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will confirm that spoke reflectors on bicycles are acceptable to his Department from a road safety point of view;(2) when he intends to bring in amending regulations to permit the use of spoke reflectors on bicycles.

I accept that it would be reasonable to permit the use of such reflectors. A letter is now being sent to interested bodies seeking their comments on draft regulations to this effect. It is hoped to enact the regulations within the next two months, but this depends on the results of consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the cost of implementing the Control of Pollution Act.

The cost of implementing the Control of Pollution Act 1974 cannot be quantified. Where appropriate, transitional provisions will facilitate the phasing-in of controls and thus enable costs to be absorbed gradually.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, which parts of the Control of Pollution Act remain to be implemented.

The sections of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 which have not yet been implemented are sections 1, 12 to 14 and 24 in Part I (Waste on Land), and sections 31 to 42, 45 to 48, 51, 52 (part), 54 and 55 in Part II (Water Pollution).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to give final figures for 1977–78 for each county area for land acquired and disposed of up to 31 March 1978, for which he gave provisional

Revised figures of land acquired and disposed of up to 31 March 1978 for each county area are given in the tables attached. Further revisions are possible, although they are unlikely to be significant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give a provisional estimate of the amount of land (a) bought and (b) resold under the Community Land Act in the current financial year.

Past experience shows that reliable estimates are not possible before the end of the financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any use has been made by him of the powers contained in part IV of the Community Land Act 1975, which permit the compulsory purchase of empty office blocks by his Department, since the Royal Assent to the Act; and whether he will make a statement on his policy on this matter.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hectares of derelict and despoiled land there were in 1974 in (a) West Lancashire, (b) Knowsley, (c) Sefton and (d) St. Helens; how many hectares have been reclaimed in each case to date; how many of these were with the aid of his Department's 50 per cent. grant; and if he is satisfied with progress.

The information requested is set out in the table attached. Additionally, proposals for the reclamation of a further 81 hectares of land have been notified to the Department, although final scheme approvals have not yet been sought.I am not entirely satisfied with the rate of progress in these areas, but tentative proposals which are now emerging certainly are more encouraging. I should emphasise that prior to 15 December 1975 derelict land grant was available at 75 per cent. in the intermediate areas and 85 per cent. in the special development areas and that is the reason for distinguishing between the rates of grant in column 3 of the table. On 15 December

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total manpower employed in the local government service in Great Britain in each year since 1970, including 1978; and what was the proportion of the employed population this represented in each year, and the proportion of total public sector employees this represented each year.

Available information about total local authority manpower and the proportion this forms of the employed labour force and of total public sector employees is given in the following tables 1 and 2. Table 1 shows the available information for Great Britain. More comprehensive figures are available on a United Kingdom basis and these are shown in table 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will bring up to date the information regarding circulars, letters, publicity booklets, orders, regulations, including joint orders, and directions under the Community Land Act last given in a written answer by the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Melton on 11 December 1978.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend on 11 December 1978. [Vol. 960, c. 53–4.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what expenses and other payments Ministers and junior Ministers are able to claim in addition to their salaries; whether these are taxable or non-taxable; and for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, how much money has been claimed and paid out under these arrangements.

As I have previously made clear to my hon. Friend in the answer I gave to him on 6 April 1978 [Vol. 947, c. 171], no special payments other than the London supplement are made to Ministers in addition to salary. Ministers staying away from home or travelling on official duty are entitled to non-taxable reimbursement of expenses at the same rates as senior civil servants, but detailed central records of this expenditure are not maintained and to obtain the information would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he can give an assurance that, where an independent committee of inquiry reports on wages and salaries of any public servant, such recommendations will not be vetoed by the Government; and whether this assurance can be given regarding the pay of Service men, civil servants, Members of Parliament and others in the public sector.

The position must be considered at the time according to the circumstances of the inquiry. For references to the Standing Commission on Comparability, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 7 March [Vol. 963, c. 1251–3]. For the three standing review bodies covering the Armed Forces, doctors and dentists, top salaries and Members of Parliament, the Government have said that they will accept their recommendations unless there are clear and compelling reasons for not so doing.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what are the criteria used by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, in selecting speculative research projects;(2) what are the methods adopted by which the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, markets the findings of its speculative research projects; and whether they bring their products to the attention of all potential licensees;(3) what safeguards the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, adopts when selling or licensing the fruits of its speculative research projects to ensure that the compeitive position of any British company is not impaired.(4) what speculative research projects have been undertaken by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, during the four years ended 31 December 1978; and what sales or licensing agreements have been entered into in respect of those projects.

The Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, does not undertake speculative—that is, unsponsored—research into non-nuclear matters. AERE Harwell does, however, carry out a significant amount of sponsored research work paid for by industrial customers, Government Departments and requirements boards. In taking on this work, AERE Harwell has regard to all the relevant circumstances including the general value of the work to UK industry.The question of choosing a licensee arises only where developments are sponsored by Government Departments or arise from the nuclear programme. In these cases, AERE Harwell follows normal commercial practice in surveying all likely licensees on the grounds of known technical and marketing capability. AERE Harwell is particularly concerned to seek United Kingdom firms most likely to carry out a successful operation, and only licenses firms situated outside the UK with the approval of the relevant Government Department.In the four years ended 31 December 1978, AERE Harwell has entered into over 4,000 sponsored contracts in excess of £1,000 for specific research and development projects. In the same period, 51 licensing agreements have been signed covering a range of items including for example fecralloy steels, coal ash monitors and computer software.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the United Kingdom gas needs he estimates will be met by coal converted gas by 1985.

No commercial quantities of substitute natural gas from coal are expected to be supplied in the United Kingdom by 1985.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to increase forestation, in view of the recent estimates of a world wood shortage within the foreseeable future.

The Forestry Commission has been set a planting and restocking programme of up to 22,250 hectares per annum, although it has had difficulties in meeting this because of the lack of suitable land on the market. Incentives to plant are given to private woodland owners in the form of grants and fiscal reliefs and these have recently been improved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will continue to allow, after 1 January 1980 and onwards, the labels on bottles of whisky, gin and other spirits, bottled in the United Kingdom for sale within the United Kingdom, to show the alcoholic strength of the contents in the traditional form of degrees proof, in addition to the new compulsory EEC format of percentage of alcohol by volume.

I am advised that the existing methods of declaration will be permissible after 1 January 1980 in addition to the method prescribed in EEC Directive 76/766. However, I shall be discussing the declaration of alcoholic strength with industry representatives later this year when my Department issue proposals for amending the labelling of food regulations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the review of drainage rating arrangements in internal drainage districts has yet been completed.

Yes. The review was undertaken by a working party on which organisations with a major interest in drainage rating were represented. The working party has now submitted its report, but in view of the recommendations which it makes for significant changes to the existing statutory arrangements, the Government will wish to have the comments of all those with an interest in the subject before taking a final decision. I am therefore arranging for the report to be widely circulated as a consultation document. A copy of the report has also been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for each month from May to December 1978, what was the number of tonnes of cauliflowers that were withdrawn from the market and disposed of under the instructions or auspices of the Intervention Board.

The quantities withdrawn and disposed of under the supervision of the Intervention Board for agricultural produce were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's estimate of the cost to the Treasury of interest charges to be paid until their maturity dates on the Government securities sold during the last two weeks.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8 March 1979; Vol. 963, c. 774], gave the following in formation:In accordance with the prospectus dated 16 February 1979, £500 million of 13·1/4 per cent. Exchequer Stock 1987, and £800 million of 13·3/4 Treasury stock 2000–2003 were issued on 22 February 1979. First interest payments fall due on 22 July, £21,571,000, and on 25 July, £38,101,600. Thereafter, annual interest payments on the two stocks amount to £176,250,000 until January 1987, and then £110 million is payable annually until the second stock matures in 2000–2003. In addition, in accordance with invitations to tender issued on 23 February and 2 March 1979, £600 million Treasury Bills were issued in the two weeks ending 9 March 1979, the amount of discount allowed being £18,099,985. In addition tap Treasury bills, certificates of tax deposit, and securities issued through the director of savings were on sale during the period but details of the amounts sold and the interest payable thereon are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of foreign currency have been borrowed by Her Majesty's Government between March 1974 and the present date; and how much was repaid over the same period.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8 March 1979; Vol. 963, c. 775], gave the following information:The total amount of foreign currency borrowing incurred by Her Majesty's Government between March 1974 and 1 March 1979 was $10 billion. Repayments over the same period amounted to $2·7 billion.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the riots resulting on 4 March from the Irish Republican Army march in Belfast; how many policemen were injured; what was the estimated cost of damage done; how many rubber bullets were fired; and how many arrests were made.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th March 1979; Vol. 963, c. 608], gave the following information:On 4 March 1979, supporters of the Relatives Action Committee marched from West Belfast towards Belfast city centre. The notice required by section 1(1) of the Public Order Acts (Northern Ireland) 1951–1971 had not been given and the security forces acted to prevent the marchers from entering the city centre. The majority of marchers dispersed peacefully but groups of youths stoned the security forces; 40 baton rounds were fired to disperse them. Damage was widespread but of a relatively minor nature; no accurate assessment of the cost can be made at present. Twelve policemen were injured, none seriously, and one person was arrested and charged with riotious behaviour. The police are pursuing their inquiries with a view to bringing further charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Republican parades have taken place in the last six months in Belfast; in respect of how many of these the statutory notice of intention was given; and how many prosecutions have been made for a breach of the required notice.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th March 1979; Vol. 963, c. 809], gave the following information:Since 1 September 1978, 11 parades involving groups with Republican sympathies have taken place in Belfast police divisions. No notice of intention was given as required under section 1(1) of the Public Order Acts (Northern Ireland) 1951–1971. Arising from these parades, five persons have been prosecuted for offences under the Acts. Four of the five persons were convicted.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Republican parades have taken place in Londonderry in the last six months; in respect of how many of these the statutory notice of intention was given; and how many prosecutions have been made for a breach of the required notice.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th March 1979; Vol. 963, c. 810], gave the following information:Since 1 September 1978, two parades involving groups with Republican sympathies have taken place in Londonderry. Notice of intention under section 1(1) of the Public Order Acts (Northern Ireland) 1951–1971 was required for one of these parades but was not given. An RUC report on this parade has been prepared and will be forwaraded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the cost of wood imports and exports in each of the last eight years; and what action he is taking to reduce the former and increase the latter.

The value of overseas trade in wood—including lumber, plywood, wood-based panels, and other forms of wood simply prepared—is given in the table below. The prospects for increasing exports of wood are limited by our high level of domestic consumption, but the services of the British Overseas Trade Board are always available to exporters and have been made use of by some sections of the wood production industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the hon. Member for Newbury can expect a reply to his letter of 18 January about airports.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 7 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what consideration has been given within the European Community of the amount of export subsidy on Italian washing machines; and what action he proposes to take to prevent unfair competition.

No substantiated proof of export subsidies on Italian washing machines imported into the United Kingdom has been produced, so the issue has not come up for consideration within the Community. I am not aware that any member State has lodged a complaint about such subsidies. The Government remain in close consultation with United Kingdom industry and would look with urgency at any evidence that could be put forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade under what status the Bank of Commerce and Credit International at present operates; and if it is registered with his Department.

Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA, an oversea company incorporated in Luxembourg, and two of its subsidiaries, Bank of Credit and Commerce International (Lebanon) SAL and Bank of Credit and Commerce International (Overseas) Ltd., incorporated respectively in Lebanon and Cayman Islands, are all registered under Part X of the Companies Act 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now review the need for a Third London airport.

The provision of additional airport capacity for the South-East is being considered by the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy, and it is hoped that its work will be completed in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade on what grounds his Department ordered the provisional winding-up of Barnett Christie Ltd., bankers, of 16 Berkeley Street, London; and if he expects to be able to take any action to protect the interests of depositors.

On 11 December 1978, the High Court appointed a provisional liquidator for Barnett Christie Limited to protect the assets of the company pending the hearing of a petition for winding-up on 22 January 1979 when, in fact, a winding-up order was made. The petition was presented because it appeared to my right hon. Friend expedient in the public interest for the company to be wound-up, and there had been default in delivery of the accounts required by the Protection of Depositors Act 1963. In presenting the petition and applying immediately for the appointment of a provisional liquidator, my right hon. Friend took all such action as was open to him to protect the interests of depositors, who, in due course, will participate in any dividend payble to unsecured creditors in the liquidation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made and what further representations he is proposing to make to the Council of Ministers of the EEC concerning Protocol XVII to the Agreement of Accession to the Treaty of Rome, in respect of products in List G annexed to the Treaty, concerning the right granted to United States civil aircraft manufacturers to export aircraft with an unladened weight exceeding 15,000 kg. to EEC countries duty free, without any reciprocal arrangements being obtained for aircraft of EEC manufacture being exported to the United States.

I have been asked to reply.An agreement about trade in the aircraft sector is currently under discussion in the context of the GATT multilateral trade negotiations, and these discussions offer a prospect of reciprocal duty free trade in aircraft between the United States, the EEC and other participating countries. In the circumstances, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by making representations to the Council of Ministers about the EEC protocol relating to suspension of duties on aircraft of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000 kgs. while the GATT discussions are still in progress.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has received representations about the staff refreshment problems of firms too small to operate a canteen and which find the lunch voucher alternatives to be fiscally unattractive.

Yes; this point has been raised with me many times.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will explain in what way the offer made to the nurses on 5 March represents a better deal for them than the apparently identical offer made earlier to the NHS ancillaries meant for them.

I do not believe it would be helpful to discuss the relative merits of various pay offers at a time when negotiations are taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total overall annual cost of catering for patients in hospital.

Total National Health Service expenditure on catering in England in 1976ȓ77 was £205 million, of which approximately £163 million was on catering for patients in hospital. The total in 1977–78 was £225 million, but a separate figure for catering for hospital patients in that year is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when payment is to be made to consultants in the National Health Service of increases in distinction awards promised in 1975.

The recommendations of the eighth report of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body for immediate implementation within the pay policy did not include any change in the current annual value of distinction awards on 1 April 1978. The report, which was accepted by the Government, also recommended fully up-to-date values for these awards to be paid, with any further updating which might be considered appropriate by the review body in subsequent reports, not later than 1 April 1980; these values will subsume, from the date when they are implemented, the second-stage payments originally deferred in 1975. The Government accepted that the superannuable remuneration of doctors should be based from 1 April 1978 on the fully up-to-date rates appropriate to that date, including the appropriate values for distinction awards.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the breakdown of distinction awards for England and Wales in 1977.

The tables below set out the distribution of distinction awards to hospital consultants and community physicians in England and Wales by health region and specialty at 31 December 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why 73·4 per cent. of thoracic surgeons and 67·1 per cent. of neuro-surgeons receive distinction awards in contrast to only 22·8 per cent. of doctors specialising in geriatrics and 13·4 per cent. in community medicine.

Distinction awards in England are made by me on the advice of an independent committee, chaired by Sir Stanley Clayton, which also advises on the distribution of awards between regions and specialties. It is fundamental to the system that distinction and merit should be recognised wherever they are found. The committee goes to considerable lengths to ensure that the claims of all eligible consultants and community physicians are fully considered. Geriatrics were recognised as a separate specialty for awards in 1968, and community medicine became eligible only in 1974. The proportion of specialists in these two fields who hold an award has grown in

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of the inquiry into the death of Darryn Clarke in Liverpool.

The committee of inquiry has still to complete its work and no estimate can yet be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish an analysis by occupational group of people receiving family income supplement.

The latest available information is shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the report of the inquiry into the death of Darryn Clarke in Liverpool.

The Darryn Clarke committee of inquiry is currently considering the evidence it heard from 29 January until 20 February this year. I understand that the committee hopes to be able to report to me by the end of April. I intend to publish its findings as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women are estimated to be affected by the decision not to pay maternity benefit to women who failed to sign the appropriate form when changing to the new rate of national insurance contribution for married women last year.

We have no knowledge of the number of cases in which married women have wrongly paid contributions at the full rate despite their election to be liable to pay contributions at only the reduced rate and who have subsequently failed to qualify for maternity benefit. If the right hon. Gentleman has an individual case in mind, I will gladly look into the circumstances if he will send me identifying details of the person concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women were eligible for maternity benefit in the latest year for which figures are available; and what percentage failed to obtain the benefit because they claimed too late.

During the year ended 31 December 1977, the latest year for which figures are available, 609,900 claims were received for maternity benefit—that is, for maternity allowance and maternity grant, or for maternity grant alone—of which 593,200 of these were successful. I regret that figures are not available to show how many of the 2·74 per cent. who were unsuccessful were disqualified because of late claim.