asked the Minister for the Civil Service what action has been taken to date to implement the commitment by Her Majesty's Government to introduce the Prestel/Viewdata system into service in Government Departments.

The Civil Service Department is keeping itself informed of the development of the Prestel/Viewdata system with a view to encouraging Departments to consider its use as opportunities arise, with due regard to efficiency and economy in carrying out their functions. A number of Departments have been taking part in the market trials and the Viewdata unit in the Central Office of Information has been advising them and co-ordinating their activities.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, in view of the fact that the election to the European Assembly is not directly or indirectly connected with British administration, whether civil servants and other public servants will be allowed complete freedom to participate in all activities in connection with these elections.

Political activities connected with be European Asseembly elections will be treated under the Civil Service rules in the same way as other activities which involve party politics at the national level.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement about the progress of pay negotiations with the civil servants' unions.

The joint processing of the pay research data is going ahead with all possible speed. My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal and I have invited the unions to meet us on Monday to begin substantive negotiations.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in view of the difficulties occurring concerning non-attributable press reports affecting Government Departments and Ministers, he will take action to ensure that no official or other public statements are made by civil servants unless attributable to the person making the statement or issuing the written document.

No. I am not aware of any such difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out his responsibilities in relation to the traffic warden service in London.

In addition to my general responsibility to prescribe the functions and to determine the uniform of traffic wardens in England and Wales, I have, as police authority for the Metropolitan Police district, responsibility for overall numbers, rates of pay, conditions of service and superannuation arrangements in relation to Metropolitan Police traffic wardens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his statement that the refusal rate of passengers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in 1977 was substantially lower than the refusal rate from a number of other countries, what is the refusal rate separately for India, for Pakistan and for Bangladesh, the refusals rates for each of those countries for which it is higher, and the refusal rate for Australia, for Canada, for New Zealand and for the United States of America; what is the estimated proportion of visitors from each of the countries referred to above who applied for entry clearance overseas in 1977; and what is the number of applications for entry clearance as visitors made in India, in Pakistan and in Bangladesh, and the proportion refused, in 1977 or for whatever period such information can be obtained.

Numbers of passengers admitted and refused entry is published annually by citizenship and nationally in"Control of Immigration Statistics"(Tables 1(a) and 1(b) of Cmnd. 7160 for 1977.) The refusal rates for the countries specified are given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number of visits which he personally has made to stated areas in Great Britain which are known to have large immigrant populations, for the specific purpose of dealing with racial matters; what engagements he has already arranged for the next six months for the same purpose; and whether in both instances these include the London borough of Newham.

For the reasons given in the letter I wrote to my hon. Friend on 4 August 1978 it would not be practicable to particularise the visits I have made, or propose to make, which include reference to these matters. They have not included the London borough of Newham and I have no plans to pay a visit there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the longest and most convenient period of time the number of women aged 70 years and over who have been raped; and where charges have been made and persons found guilty, what was the age of the women in each case and the sentence imposed on those found guilty.

Information on the age of victims of rape is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to the laying of the orders for elections to the European Assembly, he will initiate a meeting with his EEC counterparts with a view to seeking a system of enabling EEC citizens resident outwith the country in which they are registered as electors to vote in the EEC country in which they currently reside, or to be eligible to vote in their national elections by so doing at the relevant embassy.

No. It has been agreed that each member State should make its own electoral arrangements for the first direct election of representatives to the European Assembly. Parliament has decided that in the United Kingdom the franchise for this election should be based on that for parliamentary elections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Kingswood of 19 March, what steps have been or will be taken to deal with recurrent problems with television reception in the New Cheltenham area.

The BBC tells me that if there are still television reception problems in the Kingswood area despite the use of high gain aerials and aerial amplifiers, it would be willing, subject to resource availability, to give further advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his criteria for the granting of political asylum.

The circumstances in which the grant of political asylum may be justified are so varied that it would not be practicable to list them all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, in granting a franchise for a local commercial radio station for Coventry, he will ensure that a satisfactorily strong signal is provided to enable programmes to be received by the residents of the adjacent area of Leamington, Kenilworth and Warwick;(2) what consideration he gives when granting new franchises to local radio stations to the need to provide a signal of sufficient strength to reach adjacent communities, particularly those within a 10-mile radius of the transmitter.

The granting of franchises is a matter for the Independent Broadcasting Authority, which is primarily responsible for determining the editorial area it would wish a particular station to serve. The Authority tells me that it is aware of the desire of the residents of Leamington, Kenilworth and Warwick to receive the Coventry independent local radio service. But the proposals for a particular station have to take account of the technical constraints which may be imposed by the limited number of frequencies, the effects of geographical factors and the need to avoid interfering with transmissions in other parts of the country, bearing in mind the Government's intention that the local radio services of the IBA and the BBC should be made available to as much of the population of the United Kingdom as practicable. The technical provisions that will apply to the Coventry franchise have yet to be finalised, but there will be no unnecessary limitation on the signal strength of the station's transmissions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if research is being done into the cleansing of oil from animals; and, if not, whether in view of the serious contamination of sheep from bunker oil he will initiate such research.

No. My right hon. Friend has no plans to initiate such research.The practice of discharging oily ballast water from oil tankers is prohibited by international law and there are heavy penalties under United Kingdom law—the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971. Aerial surveillance is being maintained by the aircraft of the oil companies on approach routes to the Sullom Voe oil terminal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent acidity of agricultural land in the United Kingdom has been increased due to the deposition of sulphur from power stations.

The emission of sulphur from power stations and other sources is one of the causes of soil acidity, but I am advised that the total amount of sulphur emitted from power stations has not changed greatly over the past decade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he proposes to increase the use of lime on marginal and hill land in the United Kingdom; and whether selective financial assistance is contemplated.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 20 March. We have no plans at present to introduce further financial assistance for liming.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage the protection of Great Britain's remaining elm trees and to prevent the destruction of other trees.

The Forestry Commission advises local authorities to carry out sanitation felling of diseased elms in selected areas where this action is practical and is likely to be effective in slowing down the spread of Dutch elm disease. No means has yet been found of eradicating the disease or immunising individual trees against it, but by the action advised it is hoped that mature, unaffected elm populations can, in part, be conserved for a longer period. Among other advantages, this would allow replanting schemes using different species to be planned and for new trees to be established.The Commission and private woodland owners take routine protective measures to prevent or treat other tree pests and diseases, and controls on wood imports are currently in force to prevent the entry of non-indigenous pests and diseases. The latter will be strengthened when the EEC plant health directive is implemented on 1 September this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further measures he proposes to introduce to conserve fish stocks.

The Government yesterday sought the Commission's approval, in accordance with annex VI of the Hague agreement of November 1976, to the introduction from 1 June 1979 of the following measures to conserve fish stocks within United Kingdom fishery limits:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action the Government propose to take as a result of the survey of welfare conditions at horse sales undertaken by the State Veterinary Service.

The findings of the survey, while showing that there were no deficiencies in accommodation facilities, nor unsatisfactory practices at the great majority of places where horse and pony sales occur, indicate that there is a need for guidance on the conduct of such markets, sales and fairs. Ministers have therefore decided to introduce a code of practice to guide the operators of horse and pony sales. Many of the provisions of the code will accord with the recommendations made by the British Horse Society. Others arise from the experience of the State Veterinary Service. Copies of the code in draft are being sent immediately to the principal organisations concerned inviting their comments. As soon as these have been considered, the code will be introduced. Ministry veterinary officers will be instructed to report regularly on the effect the code is having on the conduct of those sales which they attend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many times Ministers in her Department have received deputations led by prospective parliamentary candidates without the sitting hon. Member being notified in advance during the past 12 months.

I have nothing to add to what I said to my hon Friend in my letter of 28 July 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a decision has yet been made on who should lead the inquiry into the education of children from ethnic minority groups which the Government announced in last year's White Paper"The West Indian Community "; and if she will make a statement.

I am pleased to say that Mr. Anthony Rampton, who is the chairman of Freemans Limited and a trustee of the Runnymede Trust, has recently accepted my invitation to lead an independent inquiry. As the White Paper—Cmnd. 7186—indicated, the inquiry will cover the educational attainments and needs of children from all ethnic minority groups, but early attention will be given to pupils of West Indian origin. It will also be concerned with the educational preparation of all pupils for life in a multiracial society. My Department will shortly be seeking the views of interested bodies on the inquiry's exact terms of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions have taken place between her Department and the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs and the employers concerning the pay of university technicians with a view to establishing acceptable forms of comparison with terms and conditions for other comparable work; and if she will make a statement.

Meetings have been held on 16 and 17 February and there have been various informal contacts since. I am waiting to hear whether the Standing Commission on pay comparability could conduct a speedy inquiry into the pay of university technicians using data already available appropriately updated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set out in tabular form the final figures for the number of acres and the price for land acquired by local authorities in England in 1977–78 under the Community Land Act for each of the following uses (a) housing, (b) industry and (c) other, including commerce, for which the provisional previous figures totalled 714 acres and £8·5 million.

The latest figures are given in the table below. Further revisions are possible, although they are unlikely to be significant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he is making to acquire the medieval moated manor, Baddesley Clinton, from its owner, Mr. T. W. Ferrers-Walker, who has maintained the property for many years at considerable financial cost to himself.

A new approach has been made by Mr. Ferrers-Walker which I and my colleagues are considering. I hope to make a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the points put forward by the five Western nations for Namibia include the establishment inside the territory of South West Africa People's Organisation bases at Windhoek, Ondanywa, Katiwa, Mulibo, Tsumeb and Rundu; how many South West Africa People's Organisation guerrillas he has proposed should be stationed at these bases; and what arrangements he visualises for United Nation's monitoring of the numbers and activities of South West Africa People's Organisation forces inside and outside Namibia.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend on 13 March to the hon. Member for Havant and Waterloo (Mr. Lloyd).—[Vol. 964, c. 185.] My right hon. Friend has made no proposals for stationing SWAPO guerrillas at these or any other locations. The question of monitoring of SWAPO forces both in and outside Namibia is the subject of discussion at present with all the Governments and parties concerned in New York.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a list of the independent countries with which Her Majesty's Government have no diplomatic relations at the present time.

Her Majesty's Government have no diplomatic relations at the present time with the following States:

• The People's Republic of Albania.
• Republic of Comoros.
• Republic of Guatemala.
• Republic of Sao Tomé and Principe.
• Republic of Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an ex gratia payment to ensure that Uist Builders Ltd. receive full recompense for its work in connection with the manufacture of the United Kingdom's gift to mark the 200th anniversary of the declaration of American independence.

Uist Builders Ltd. has an outstanding claim against the main contractor, who has been declared bankrupt. Although we sympathise with it, we believe it would be wrong for the Government to use public funds to settle a claim arising out of a transaction to which they were not a party.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons have been prosecuted for offences of aiding the illegal regime in Rhodesia other than by sanctions-breaking since the unilateral declaration of independence until the present time.

There have been no prosecutions other than those listed in my reply to my hon. Friend of 17 January—[Vol. 960, c. 813.]

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will advise the British representatives to the intergovernmental group on Indonesia to raise the issue of human rights in that country with the representatives of other Governments before any final decision is taken on the package of aid and loans to be provided for the next financial year.

Yes. I intend that the United Kingdom delegate should raise the issue again, while acknowledging the progress which has undoubtedly been made. I believe that that progress is at least partly due to our frequent representations and those of others. I shall keep in mind the human rights situation when deciding how much new British aid should be pledged at this meeting.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development why certain Palestine police service pensioners continued to receive payment of increased pension in respect of their service after 1 December 1972 when their United Kingdom supplement became payable; if she is aware that the arrangements made by the Crown Agents on her instructions to recover the overpayments made as a result of this administrative omission are onerous and in some cases vexatious to elderly Palestine pensioners; and if she will take steps to mitigate the hardship arising from this.

The overpayments, which we regret but which have only recently come to light, were the result of a failure to adjust the Palestine pension when the United Kingdom supplement became payable. When public funds are over-issued in this way we are obliged to make every effort to secure recovery.The overpayments date from various times from 1972 onwards. A total of 61 pensioners are affected and in 35 cases the amount to be recovered is less than £100: in only one case does it exceed £1,000. The pensioners have been invited to express their own wishes in regard to the method of repayment. Sympathetic consideration will be given to representations from individual pensioners.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) for what purpose the Government have a 26 per cent. shareholding in Malawi Hotels Ltd.; and what is the cost to public funds in the latest year for which figures are available;(2) for what purpose the Government have a 41 per cent. shareholding in Serge Islands Dairies Ltd.; and what is the cost to public funds in the latest year for which figures are available;(3) for what purpose the Government have a 10 per cent. shareholding in Banjul Breweries Ltd.; and what is the cost to public funds in the latest year for which figures are available;(4) for what purpose the Government have an 18 per cent. shareholding in Leonard Fairclough (Hotels) Ltd.; and what is the cost to public funds in the latest year for which figures are available;(5) for what purpose the Government have a 100 per cent. shareholding in the Rodney Bay Mortgage Finance Co. Ltd.; and what is the cost to public funds in the latest year for which figures are available.

The Government have no shares in any of these companies. Shares are held by the Commonwealth Development Corporation, which has existed since 1948 to promote economic growth in developing countries. Public funds are made available to the Corporation towards its investment programme as a

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list in the Official Report in respect of approved driving training instructors (a) the numbers of persons on the register, (b) the number of trainee licence holders, (c) the number retiring from the register and (d) the number removed from the

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what he estimates would be the additional cost of extending the travel concessions suggested in his recent Green Paper on concessionary fares to travel at any time of day.

Very roughly £25 million, but this estimate makes no allowance for the additional operating costs which could result from heavier traffic at peak hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the number of approved driving instructors qualifying examinations conducted in each of the past five years; and what was the pass rate.

The qualifying examination is in two parts. The first part is written and has to be passed before the second practical part can be attempted. The position in relation to each part was as follows:register in each of the past five years, taking 30 September as the relevant date.

Records have not distinguished between those who are removed from the register through retirement and those removed by the registrar. The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications have been received for driving tests; how many tests have been conducted; and what was the pass rate in each of the past five years, taking 30 September as the relevant date.

The figures requested are not readily available.The position in the last full calendar years was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents have occurred during the last two years involving vehicles conveying corrosive, dangerous or explosive substances; in how many cases the containers in which the substances were conveyed were fractured to the extent that leakage occurred; in how many such cases the accident concerned resulted in an outbreak of fire; in how many cases toxic fumes were emitted on a sufficient scale to require those attending upon the accident to wear protective breathing gear; and in how many cases the explosive hazard was of sufficient seriousness to warrant evacuation of people from nearby premises.

Two accidents involving vehicles conveying corrosive, dangerous or explosive substances by road during 1977 and 1978 were reported under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928. Leakage and fire occurred in one of these accidents and fire occurred in the other.I regret that fuller information is not at present available as statistics on accidents involving the transport of dangerous goods by road, other than those required to be reported under this Act, are not collected systematically. Much fuller reporting of such accidents would be required under the draft proposals recently published by the Health and Safety Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends next to meet the chairman of British Railways.

Soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the current position in regard to EEC proposals concerning maximum lorry weights.

I recently provided an explanatory memorandum to the Scrutiny Committee which is available from the Vote Office. The proposals are being discussed by the European Economic and Social Committee and must be discussed by the European Parliament.

Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he now has available to him the views of the Central Policy Review Staff and the generating boards on the advanced gas-cooled reactor turbine orders.

No. The CPRS is continuing to study the question and the boards are continuing to evaluate the tenders received some weeks ago from the manufacturers.

Clarke asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the policy of the Government on the proposed textiles agreement between the People's Republic of China and the EEC.

We shall wish to ensure that the outcome to the current negotiations is consistent both with the Community's textile policy and with our general commercial interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the approximate number and value of seal skins imported into the United Kingdom over the last available 12-month period; what were the countries of origin; and if he has any intention of banning the import of such skins.

Imports of seal skins are not separately distinguished in the United Kingdom overseas trade statistics. The following is the latest available information:IMPORTS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN DURING THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 1978-JANUARY 1979Complete raw fur skins of sea lions, of fur seals or of other seals—Tariff code No. 4301 2300.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he proposes to take in the case of those companies which fail to reply to his requests for information about the extent to which they are complying with the EEC code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa.

I am glad to say that 182 companies have now reported and others which did not report in the first round have promised to do so in the second round later this year. Since this is a voluntary code, I hope to persuade the few remaining companies to which the reportig format in Cmnd. 7233 is believed to apply that it is in their own interest, as well as in the national interest, to publish information about the policies followed by their South African affiliates for the welfare and advancement of their black African workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what will be the effect of enlargement of the EEC to include Spain, Portugal and Greece on the future of import controls on textile and clothing products from these countries.

The accession of Spain, Portugal and Greece will ultimately mean that imports from these countries are treated on the same basis as imports from other EEC member States. But it is intended that the accession treaties should include a safeguard clause which would allow the Commission to authorise action against disruptive imports during the transitional periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total cost of imports of alumina in 1978.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 297], gave the following information:£67·2 million cif.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what estimate he makes of the adverse effects on United Kingdom trade through the port of Felixstowe which has been brought about by the current work-to-rule of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 467–8], gave the following information:I understand that, although this industrial action has led to some delay in the clearance of certain imports, it has had generally little effect on the flow of exports and imports at the dockside.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he remains satisfied with progress on phasing out child tax allowances.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on any adjustments to cash limits on public expenditure, civil and military, as a result of pay settlements.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 23 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth).—[Vol. 963, c. 334–5.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect he estimates a 5 per cent. plus or minus variation in the dollar-sterling exchange rate would have on the British retail price index.

The effect of a change in the dollar-sterling exchange rate on the retail price index will depend on a number of factors including the extent to which other exchange rates are affected; the repercussions that there may be elsewhere in the economy—for example, on the level of earnings, profit margins or the level of activity; and any actions the Government may take in consequence. These effects can only be quantified by simulating the change on a macro-economic model.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effects of recent industrial action on the Government's financial transactions with industry, commerce and the general public.

The industrial action by members of two of the main Civil Service unions is affecting the timing of some of the Government's financial transactions. Wherever possible, steps are being taken to mitigate the effects. When the action ends every effort will be made to return to normal as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the taxation of the mileage allowances of essential car users who travel fewer than 3,000 miles each year.

Mileage allowances payable to employees who use their private cars for the purposes of their employment are taxable in so far as they exceed the actual expenses for which they are paid.The Inland Revenue has reached agreement with several bodies, including the National Health Service, that where an employee receives an allowance for using his car in connection with his employment he should not be taxable on it if he travels 3,000 miles or more a year on business; but that if his business mileage is less than this he should be taxable by reference to a scale which reflects the excess of the allowance over the expenses incurred in the performance of his duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects next to meet the managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

I expect to meet the managing director of the International Monetary Fund at the annual meeting of the IMF in October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will define the parameters of the United Kingdom economy for 1979–80 upon which he will base his Budget judgment in respect of prices, balance of payments, gross domestic product and employment respectively.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Chesterle-Street (Mr. Radice).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will announce measures to relieve the impact of income tax on those with low incomes.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effects of any reduction in income tax upon the prospects for economic growth.

Such estimates are made frequently as part of my Department's day-to-day work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the respective proportions of revenue derived from direct and in direct taxation in 1978–79.

On a receipts basis, revenue from direct taxes, including insured persons' National Insurance contributions, is estimated to be 49 per cent. of total general Government revenue in the financial year 1978–79; similarly, the proportion of indirect revenue, including employers' national insurance contributions and local authority rates, is estimated to be 51 per cent. of the total.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportions of direct taxation have been contributed by income tax and corporation tax respectively, for each tax year since 1973–74.

The proportions of direct taxation contributed by income tax and corporation tax respectively are 57 per cent. and 18 per cent. in 1973–74, 61 per cent. and 17 per cent. in 1974–75, 72 per cent. and 10 per cent in 1975–76, 71 per cent. and 11 per cent. in 1976–77, and 68 per cent. and 13 per cent. in 1977–78. The figures are based on national accounts estimates. Direct taxation is defined in the Official Report of 25 May 1978, c. 743; that is, taxes on income, taxes on capital and employees' National insurance etc. contributions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income tax and national insurance contributions are paid by a married man with two children earning £110 per week.

£24·14 tax and £7·15 national insurance contributions if the children are both aged under 11 and he is not contracted out of the earnings-related pension scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the present level of contribution to the common services of the United Kingdom by the Manx Government.

I am not satisfied with the present level of contribution and the Isle of Man authorities have been told that Her Majesty's Government do not think the reduction is justified. However, we recognise that Tynwald was acting within its legal rights in taking the decision.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent consultations he has held with organisations representing widows and one-parent families.

On 25 January I met representatives of the National Council for One-Parent Families and Gingerbread, and on 21 February I received a joint delegation from the all party group for widows and one-parent families and the National Association of Widows. I have sent reports of both meetings to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he now expects the annual rate of inflation to remain in single figures during 1979.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the rate of inflation likely for September. October, November and December.

I am not going to speculate about the course of inflation for the rest of 1979. It will depend upon a number of factors, including world prices and increases in earnings. As I have pointed out many times before, controlling future rates of inflation depends upon moderate pay settlements now.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his current expectation of tax revenue from North Sea oil compares with the expectation envisaged in the statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 2 August 1978.

The figures given in my statement to the House on 2 August 1978 were for the increase in Government revenue arising from the proposed changes in PRT announced then. The current estimates of the increase have not changed significantly since then.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22 March.

I have several meetings with my ministerial colleagues during the course of the day. In the afternoon, as I think the House will be aware, I am answering parliamentary questions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the increase in real terms in military spending for 1979–80 and 1980–81, and as this is additional public spending to that forecast in the earlier public spending phases, what other areas of services have suffered to accommodate this increase.

A recent White Paper on public expenditure—Cmnd. 7439—included no new plans for increased defence spending. The figures shown for 1979–80 and 1980–81 reflect the plans made during the 1977 survey, and published about a year ago in Cmnd. 7049, for real increases in defence spending of 3 per cent. a year in line with the 1977 agreement of NATO Ministers. Changes on revaluation mean that in fact the latest plans are slightly lower, expressed at 1978 survey prices, than those shown in Cmnd 7049.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that the existing procedures by which Her Majesty's Government borrow money remain the best possible.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire. West (Mr. Watkinson).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, in the light of recent independent forecasts, is his revised assessment of the prospects for unemployment by 1990 under current economic policies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the light of recent independent forecasts, what revised assessment he has made of the prospects for unemployment by 1990 if current economic policies are pursued and import controls are not introduced.

I have not made any quantified assessment of unemployment levels in 1990. Those who have made such assessments must be aware of the great uncertainties surrounding them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he expects will be the yield from the tax on cider for the 1978–79 financial year.

It is estimated that the duty on cider and perry will yield £13 million in 1978–79; in addition, value added tax will yield about £10 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow income tax relief to all divorced women on moneys they now pay in regard to insurance policies connected with mortgages in arrangements that were entered into before the break-up of the marriage and which were in their former husbands' names.

Relief will be allowed in such circumstances when a couple are divorced after 5 April next when the new system of life assurance relief by deduction comes into effect, but I do not think it would be right to extend this to cases where the divorce took place when the old life assurance relief provisions were in force.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the proposed tax amnesty for casual workers in Fleet Street.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 16 March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures have been taken against newspaper proprietors for their failure to maintain proper records of the casual workers who have now been relieved of the obligation to pay arrears of income tax.

None. The Inland Revenue believes that the new arrangements in Fleet Street introduced on 4 March 1979 are the most effective means of combating the problem of evasion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, on 15 March 1979, a tax-free daily allowance of £13·50, £16·50, £20 and £30 a day, respectively, was worth to a married man with an income of £5,000 per annum, £10,000 per annum, £15,000 per annum, and £20,000 per annum, respectively, on a taxed basis.

On an income of £5,000 they are worth £20·10, £24·60, £29·80 and £44·80; on £10,000 £22·50, £27·50, £33·30 and £5000; on £15,000 £33·70, £41·20, £50·00 and £75·00; and on £20,000 £45·00, £55·00, £66·70 and £100·00.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals the United Kingdom will be placing before the governing body of the International Monetary Fund for improvements in the functioning of the international monetary system.

The next meeting of the IMF interim committee is not until the autumn. We shall be considering whether to make proposals nearer the time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the average level of wage settlements and its likely effect on inflation.

My impression is that the average level of wage settlements is some way below that prevailing this time last year. However, although there has been no pay explosion, the average level of settlements has been higher than the Government had hoped for and this will inevitably have adverse consequences for the future rate of inflation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from stamp duty on house purchase conveyances for the year ended 5 April 1978.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) on 5 March 1979.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he takes of the monthly figure of M3 in determining his monetary policy.

The figures for the growth of £M3 and the other monetary aggregates fluctuate from month to month, and so should not be interpreted in isolation. My right hon. Friend instead has regard to what appears to be the underlying trend over a period of, say, six months and how that trend may be changing. The most recent monthly figures for £M3 and for its components are an important element in that assessment, but no more than that.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rate of increase in the money supply—M3—on an annual basis in the 12-month period of current money supply targets to date; and what steps he intends to take to bring this rate of growth into concordance with his targets.

In the 10 months to mid-February, £M3 grew at an annual rate of 10·7 per cent., which is within the target range of 8–12 per cent. set in the April 1978 Budget for the period to mid-April 1979. The target was subsequently rolled forward to cover the 12 months to mid-October 1979. In the first four months of the new target period £M3 grew at an annual rate of 15·8 per cent. The growth of £M3 during this latter period, and particularly in January, has been affected by a number of special factors. If allowance were made for these, the underlying rate of growth of £M3 would be broadly consistent with the target range. The Government have made it clear that they will keep to their monetary targets. I do not consider that any further policy adjustment is required at present to achieve this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost per person of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Economic Community's budget in 1978 and the estimated cost for 1979 and 1980 (a) taking into account the appropriate reduction in respect of monetary compensatory amounts and (b) not taking monetary compensatory amounts into consideration.

The cost per head of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the Communities' Budget in 1978, treating monetary compensatory amounts on United Kingdom food imports paid in exporting member States as if they were direct receipts by the United Kingdom from the Budget, is estimated at £5·8. No estimate is available for 1979 and 1980 of monetary compensatory amounts paid in exporting member States. The cost per head of the United Kingdom's net contribution at 1978 prices, not taking monetary compensatory amounts paid in exporting member States—i.e. the actual net contribution—into consideration is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the amount either overspent or under-spent by each area health authority in the year ended 31 March 1978.

This information is not collected centrally by my Department. The Department monitors the spending of regional health authorities against the allocations made to them, and they in turn monitor the spending of the area health authorities against the allocations made by the region. Any overspending or under-spending in one year is taken into account in the cash allocations for the following year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many elderly persons were recommended for geriatric care in the Burnley area health authority during each year since 1974; what was the average waiting period for admission; and how this compared with (a) the North-West and (b) England and Wales.

Information in the form requested is not available. The following table shows the numbers of elderly people waiting for admission to a geriatric bed for each year since 1974 in the Burnley health district, the North-Western health region and England.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from consultants in hospital X-ray departments over the memorandum HC 78 30 from his Department, drawing attention to the possibility of criminal proceedings under the health and safety legislation.

I have no record of receiving any such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the policy of the Government on the proposed EEC directive on the advertising of medicines.

There is currently no extant draft EEC directive on the advertising of medicines.There have been proposals to control the advertising of medicines put forward

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what decision he has taken over the manufacture of the myoelectric hand in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he will re-examine the time spent on lengthy trials of the myoelectric hand in the United Kingdom when trials have already been carried out in Sweden.

My hon. Friend will know of my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 15 December 1978.—[Vol. 960. c. 467–9.] While I cannot add to that reply at the moment, I shall try to make a further statement at the earliest possible date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what arrangements he has made, in line with his statement on 19 June 1978 that parents of children needing myoelectric hands would by the EEC Commission which, after consideration by the EEC pharmaceutical committee, were withdrawn by the Commission for re-drafting.It would be premature to declare the policy of the United Kingdom Government before a draft directive on the advertising of medicines is available for consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) half-sets and (b) full sets of dentures were provided under the National Health Service dental service in 1958, 1968 and 1978; and whether he will estimate the number of half and full sets provided privately in the same years.

The table below contains details of the provision in the National Health Service general dental services in England and Wales of full upper and/or lower dentures made of synthetic resin. I have no means of estimating the corresponding private provision.be consulted and informed as quickly as possible of the outcome of assessments of their children and of future possibilities for them;(2) whether he will establish a definite time period for informing parents of the results of assessments for children needing myoelectric hands.

My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that parents of children called for clinical assessment for the trial of the myoelectric hand have all been informed of the results. All children in the relevant age group who were found suitable in England and Wales have now been fitted with the hand. Moreover, parents who have written either to me or to my Department have received replies setting out the current position. If my hon. Friend has a particular case he would like to raise with me, I shall be glad to hear from him.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many myoelectric limbs have been fitted to date; and how many of these are to adults;(2) how many children, and of what age, are included in the current trials for myoelectric limbs; what was the basis of their selection; and if he will make a statement;(3) what progress has been made in providing myoelectric hands for older children; and if he will make a statement.

In the course of the trial now taking place, 23 children in England and Wales have been fitted with the myoelectric hand developed in Sweden. A further four children are being fitted in Scotland. The criteria for selection were decided following discussions with Dr. Sorbye who developed the hand, and in the light of his advice and experience as to which children were most likely to succeed with the hand. Included were children between the ages of 3½ and 4½ with a limb deficiency at about the middle third of the forearm. The children concerned are now between the ages of four years and five years three months.Work is proceeding both in this country and in Sweden on the development of a larger size of child's myoelectric hand. This is one of a number of initiatives which may benefit the older child.The current trial is confined to younger children and previous attempts to meet the needs of adults by supply of myoelectric limbs have had very limited success. Currently, three adults are using such limbs supplied by my Department

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much money has been allocated for his programme of research for 1978–792; and for what specific purposes it will be spent;(2) what were the specific purposes for which the £500,000 allocated to his programme of research for 1977–78 was spent; and how the figure compared with that of each of the preceding five years.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Bendall) on 5 December 1978, which covered prosthetic research and development.—[Vol. 959, c. 621–2.] Further information is also given annually in the report published under section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.Comparable figures for research and development over the preceding five years were about:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the amount which his Department has spent on advertising in each of the past five years on (a) newspapers and periodicals, (b) radio and (c) television, to inform prospective claimants of their eligibility to social benefits for which his Department is responsible.

The following amounts have been spent on advertising benefits during the past four financial years and in the current financial year ending next month:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he has made for supplying to, and receiving information from REACH, the organisation representing parents of limbless children.

On 20 February I had the pleasure of meeting two representatives of REACH, one of them a constituent of my hon. Friend. Three days later, officials of my Department met representatives of the organisation's main committee. Both meetings provided a very useful exchange of information. Arrangements have been made for further meetings to take place as necessary and points of contact for both my Department and the organisation have been established.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number of persons who had their pensions increased, and past increases awarded, at the time reciprocal social security agreements were concluded in each of the following countries: Austria, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Malta, Sark, Spain, Turkey and Yugoslavia.

I regret that detailed information is not held in the precise form requested. It is estimated that the numbers were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many United Kingdom pensioners are now paid under reciprocal agreements with Bermuda, Jamaica, and the United States of America; and how many pensioners were not brought up to full parity with pensioners living in Great Britain at the time these agreements were made.

I regret that information is not held in the precise form requested. Available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what year were reciprocal social security agreements concluded with Austria, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Israel, Jersey, Malta, Sark, Spain, Turkey, and Yugoslavia.

Agreements modifying the National Insurance Acts or the Social Security Acts were concluded as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the proportion of the 105,000 general practitioners who received a fee in 1977 for responsibility for confinement who were themselves the actual accoucheurs; and if he will make a statement.

In 1977, 105,000 maternity medical services fees in respect of responsibility for confinement were paid to general medical practitioners in England. There is no basis for estimating in what proportion of these cases the practitioner undertook the delivery.In undertaking to provide services for which complete maternity medical services fees are payable, the practitioner assumes responsibility for ensuring that good maternal and early neonatal care is provided in each case, and this will include making suitable arrangements so that he, or a suitable experienced deputy, is always available if summoned by the midwife during the confinement. Whether the practitioner rather than the midwife undertakes a delivery is a matter for the practitioner's clinical judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the people of England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, have reached pensionable age.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his estimates of programme expenditure, current and capital, at constant prices for 1977–78