asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the pay of medical and dental officers in the Armed Forces.

The supplement to the eighth report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body covering the pay of Service medical and dental officers has been published today as Cmnd. 7603. Copies are available in the Vote Office.The Government accept the review body's recommendations on the levels of military salary for Service medical and dental officers appropriate at 1 April 1979. These will be implemented in full from 1 April 1979 in line with the decision already announced to pay the fully up-to-date rates of pay for all combatant ranks up to brigadier as recommended in the review body's eighth report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if in view of the disquiet expressed by magisterial officers regarding the offer of 9 per cent. on their present wages, and considering the effect that any form of sanction would have on the administration of justice throughout the country, he will take action to avoid such a disquiet.

I attach the highest-importance to the proper working of the magistrates' courts. But the pay of staff employed in those courts in England and Wales outside Inner London is negotiated in the Joint Negotiating Committee for Justices' Clerks' Assistants. I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the negotiations currently taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the country of origin of persons brought before St. Helens magistrates' court at Haydock on 24 May for offences relating to motor vehicles; how many of those prosecuted by Merseyside police were from (a) Great Britain, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) the Republic of Ireland and (d) other European countries.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list in the Official Report the number of houses owned by his Department which are rented to members of the public;(2) if he will say how many of the houses owned by his Department are to be offered for sale to tenants;(3) what discount will be offered to tenants renting houses from his Department who wish to buy their homes.

The answer to the first question is 215. This small number of houses can only be considered in the context of the much larger number owned by my Department and occupied by staff entitled to free quarters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the Government's intentions on revising the law relating to charities following the considerations of the House of Commons Expenditure Committee report "Charity Commission and Their Accountability" and the National Council of Social Service-sponsored Goodman committee report.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 27 June to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) about the Government's reply to the Expenditure Committee's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the existing provision which allows certain qualified people to sign postal vote application forms, and if he will make a statement.

I shall consider this matter in the course of my review of postal voting at the recent elections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to reimpose the ban on foreign husbands; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 15 June [Vol. 968, c. 340].

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations are presently under discussion in the Council of Europe to complement the European convention on the control of the acquisition and possession of firearms by individuals.

The Council of Europe Committee on Crime Problems has had some confidential discussions about possible ways of harmonising member States' firearms laws. These discussions are likely to be continued in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which member States of the Council of Europe are currently signatories to the European convention on the control of the acquisition and possession of firearms by individuals; whether any legislation arising from this convention is contemplated in the United Kingdom; and, if so, what measures are to be proposed.

Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Luxemburg, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom have signed the convention. Some minor amendments to the Firearms Act are needed before we can ratify the convention. These are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the conclusions reached at the meeting with representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 12 June.

It was agreed at the meeting that the Association of Chief Police Officers would consider with urgency the arrangements for complying with the agreed procedures which I set out in the reply to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has agreed to any further extension of the Commonwealth Development Corporation's area of operations.

I have recently given approval for the corporation to undertake activities in Honduras, subject to consultation on the scale and content of its intended investment programme in that country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the serious plight of many hill farmers in Scotland and of the urgency of reviewing the compensatory allowances for cattle and sheep, available under the European Economic Community less favoured area directive, he is yet able to make a statement.

My right hon. Friends and I have been reviewing the economic situation in the hill farming industry following representations from the farmers' unions for further assistance. We hope to make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to abolish toll charges on road bridges in Scotland.

My right hon Friend is examining the financial situation of these bridges in the context of the Government's review of public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has issued any guidelines to local authorities about mergers or use of primary and secondary schools following upon the lowering of the birth rate; and if he will make a statement of Government policy in relation to the anticipated problem which will arise.

A discussion paper reviewing the implications of the falling school population for school accommodation in Scotland was issued last year by the previous Administration. A suggestion in this paper that there should be a thorough examination by central and local government jointly of the complex problems involved was accepted by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and a working party of officials of my Department and local authorities is at present drawing up proposals for a systematic review of the stock of schools in the first instance. I shall consult the convention on this subject when the working party reports.Under the Education (Scotland) Acts, proposals by local authorities for the closure or merger of schools require my right hon. Friend's approval: they are considered on their merits and with full regard to the views of the parents and communities affected. In all other respects the use to be made of space released by falling numbers in schools is a matter for decision by the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what action he has taken to improve the level of supervision of those on parole following the criticism made in the 1978 report of the Parole Board for Scotland;(2) in how many cases in 1977 and 1978 licensees on parole were not allocated to a supervising officer; and what proposals have been considered to deal with the problem raised by the Parole Board for Scotland in its report for 1978.

The provision of supervision for parole licensees and young offender licensees is the responsibility of the local authority for the area in which the licensee lives. In its annual report for 1978, the Parole Board for Scotland acknowledges that, thanks to the efforts of local authorities, social work departments and individual social workers, there have been great improvements both in the volume and the quality of the work being done. The board did, however, express concern about the supervision being given to young offender licensees, and my Department is considering with the directors of social work ways in which these difficulties can be overcome.There were no cases in 1977 and 1978 in which a person on parole was not allocated to a supervising officer. Information is not available centrally about the number of young offender licensees who have not been allocated to a supervising officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of consultant rheumatologists in each of the area health board areas in Scotland.

The numbers of consultant rheumatologists in each of the Scottish health board areas with doctors in this specialty are as follows:

Greater Glasgow	3
Lothian	3
Grampian	3

Patients with problems associated with rheumatism and arthritis are also treated by consultants in general medicine with experience in this field, consultants in rehabilitation, and orthopaedic surgeons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration his Department is giving to the shortage, recruitment and training of qualified environmental health officers in local authorities in Scotland.

None. This is a matter for the local authorities, and I know that the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is considering what action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is prepared to take to ensure that juries in Scottish courts are given adequate facilities for meals and if necessary overnight accommodation during the course of their deliberations; and whether he is prepared to introduce the necessary legislation to repeal the Act of 1587 which confines a jury to one place while considering its verdict.

My right hon. Friend is considering amending legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how and why it took his Department from 24 May until 20 June before he could discover and pass on to another Department matters which he discovered were not within his ministerial responsibilities; and whether he will expedite such transference of letters in the future.

The letter to which the hon. Member refers was received in the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 30 May and acknowledged the same day. One of the points raised in the letter was the concern of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, and a copy of the letter was accordingly sent to his Department on 20 June. I regret the delay between receipt of the letter and a copy being sent to the Department of Health and Social Security. This letter was received at a time when Treasury Ministers received a particularly large volume of correspondence in the immediate pre-Budget period. I have no reason to believe that such delays are common or should recur, and I am satisfied that in general letters received in the Chancellor's departments are dealt with as expeditiously as possible. If hon. Members are particularly concerned about specific cases, they are always free to inquire by telephone. Such inquiries are usually dealt with on the same day.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the adult employment subsidy scheme.

The adult employment subsidy was introduced on 7 August 1978 as a limited experiment in the Merseyside, Tyneside and Leeds areas to assess the effectiveness of a subsidy in assisting the long-term unemployed to obtain work. The take-up of the scheme has been disappointing, and the experiment will close for applications on 30 June 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Written Answers, Official Report, 11 June, column 83, quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, if he will list the costs of these, the membership and salaries and expenses of the members, the meetings held and what action he proposes to take to reduce this aspect of Government expenditure.

The latest estimates of total costs to my Department of the bodies listed relate to the year 1979–80 and are as follows:

	£
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service	10,127,000
Central Arbitration Committee	1,030,900
Certification Office for Trade Unions and Employers Associations	167,100
Health and Safety Commission	53,516,000
Industrial Tribunals	5,995,000
Manpower Services Commission	621,083,000
Included in this figure are the costs of Industrial Training Boards £42,600,000 and Levy Exemption Referees (Industrial Training) expenses £,1000.
National Dock Labour Board Contribution by Department of Employment to salaries of Chairman and Vice-Chairman	13,990
Remploy Ltd.	31,049,000
Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal
Panel to consider Representations about Licences. (Employment Agencies Act1973).	-78,000
	(separate provision not readily identifiable)

Wages CouncilsMemberships of the principal bodies concerned are shown in the publication "A Directory of Paid Public Appointments made by Ministers", a copy of which is in the Library. The salary rates shown therein have since been updated in accordance with the recommendations of the Review Body on Top Salaries, reports Nos. 10 and 11.It is not possible to identify separately the expenses paid to members, but such payments involve reimbursement of necessary expenditure on travel, meals, etc.Meetings of the bodies concerned are held to meet their own requirements and, because of the work involved, I could not undertake to provide a list of such meetings. At the request of the Prime Minister I am undertaking an urgent review of all the public bodies within my Department's field of responsibility. The dissolution of the Royal Commission on the distribution of income and wealth has been announced. The figure given above for the Manpower Services Commission reflects a reduction in 1979–80 of £72 million compared with the Estimates published by the previous Administration. We shall also be considering expenditure plans for 1980–81 and beyond of the Commission and the other bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will immediately review the Baking Industry (Hours of Work) Act, in the light of impending proceedings under the Act where there is no union labour involved.

My right hon. Friend has decided that the operation of the Act should be reviewed. It is one of the "relevant statutory provisions" of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which I have already invited the Health and Safety Commission to consider in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's report on health and safety legislation. As I have already intimated to the Health and Safety Commission, I shall now be asking it for its views on the operation of the Baking Industry (Hours of Work) Act 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled persons, men, women and young people, were unemployed in Scotland at the latest date for which figures are available.

I have been asked to reply.On 11 January 1979, the most recent date for which statistics analysed by age are available, 5,315 registered disabled persons were registered as unemployed in Scotland (4,494 males, 821 females) of whom 206 (119 males, 87 females) were under 20 years of age. On 14 June 1979 the total was 5,457 (4,517 males, 940 females).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will initiate a study into methods by which the standards of safety for young children travelling on escalators can be improved.

The British Standards Institution has recently published, as a draft for public comment, the text of a draft European standard specification for safety standards for the construction and installation of escalators. Appropriate Government Departments and agencies, including the Health and Safety Executive and the Railway Inspectorate of the Department of Transport, have accordingly been submitting comments, some of which are particularly relevant to the safety of young children. These comments will be pursued by Government representatives on the relevant BSI committee, and in subsequent negotiation of an EEC directive based on the European standard.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, (1) which training opportunities scheme courses are to be cut as a result of Government spending constraints; and what measures are being taken to ensure that women retain their present share of places on training opportunities scheme training schemes;(2) what is the ratio of men to women on training opportunities scheme courses being cut and what is the ratio of men to women on courses being retained.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25 June 1979], gave the following information:The cuts in expenditure on employment and training programmes announced by my right hon. Friend in the Budget Statement includes a £22·3 million reduction this year in expenditure on the training opportunities scheme. As announced by the Manpower Services Commission following the Budget, the cuts are likely to affect a wide range of training opportunities

TRAINING COMPLETIONS 1978–79
				Women		Men		Total
				Numbers	Per cent.	Numbers	Per cent.	Numbers
Clerical and Commercial Courses			…	22,156	91	2,162	9	24,318
All TOPS Courses	…	…	…	28,332	40	42,033	60	70,365

The precise pattern of cuts is still under consideration, but MSC and the Government are concerned to ensure that women have full and effective access to opportunities provided under TOPS.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list those grades whose salaries are in excess of the present salaries of hon. Members of Parliament indicating the numbers employed in each grade and the salary and also publish a further table indicating

				Staff in post	Salary at 1 April 1979	Salary at 1 January 1980
					£	£
Senior Executive Officer			…	8,040	6,471–7,665	7,350–8,900
Principal	…	…	…	4,442	7,402–9,515	8,850–11,750
Assistant Secretary		…	…	1,153	10,947–13,378	14,250–17,000
Under Secretary		…	…	590	16,714	16,714
Deputy Secretary		…	…	153	20,134	20,134
Permanent Secretary			…	39	23,811	23,811
					25,886	25,886
					28,211	28,211

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he can publish a table showing the salaries of a private secretary to an hon. Member of Parliament based on the secretarial allowance as compared to a private secretary to an assistant secretary in the Civil Service showing—where appropriate—incremental increases after five, 10, 15 and 20 years and superannuation and pension arrangements.

Members may reclaim actual expenditure on secretarial assistance up to a maximum, currently, of £4,200, but it is for individual Members to decide the salaries they pay their secretaries. The Government has accepted the recommendation in the twelfth report from the Review Body on Top Salaries

To provide information in respect of all Civil Service grades would involve disproportionate costs. However, the details for the main grades in the administration group is given in the table below. The present salary of a Member of Parliament is £6,897, and under the proposals which my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House put to the House on 21 June, this will rise to £8,593 from 13 June 1979.that this limit should be increased to £4,600 as a temporary measure pending a more detailed review of the allowance in a further report.The salary scale of a personal secretary to an assistant secretary in the Civil Service ranges from £3,004 by six increments to £3,778. Personal secretaries are covered by the principal Civil Service pension scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will obtain copies of statements made recently by the coroner, concerning the high rate of fatalities on the Winchester bypass; and if he will make a statement thereon.

I understand that, in the course of an inquest, the coroner made a statement expressing concern about casualties on a section of the A33. The coroner has no written record of his statement and I regret that I cannot comment on press reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the public inquiry into the Winchester bypass started work; for how many days it sat; how many days have elapsed since it reported; and how many people have been killed or seriously injured since the inquiry was first announced.

The public inquiry started on 29 June 1976 and sat on 111 days, closing on 28 June 1977. The inspector has not yet reported. Seven people have been killed and 49 seriously injured on the A33 Winchester bypass in the period between the announcement of the inquiry in May 1976 and 31 March 1979.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the facilities for the training of motor cyclists in Birmingham; if he is satisfied they are adequate; and, if not, what are his proposals to improve them.

The question of facilities for motor cycle training in any locality is a matter for individual local authorities to consider as part of their general duty under section 8 of the Road Safety Act 1974 to promote road safety. I am very concerned to improve the provision of motor cycle training nationally, and, when I have received and considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Motor Cycle Training, I shall consider what steps might be taken to increase the numbers of motor cyclists undergoing proper training.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the withdrawal from use of pump islands and credit card services at motorway service stations infringes franchise agreements between his Department and licensees.

No. It is a matter for the commercial judgment of the motorway service area operators whether to offer credit card facilities.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent he estimates that the withdrawal of motorway petrol facilities can be justified in the light of petrol delivery shortages; and whether he will take action to draw to the attention of the motorway petrol licensees the need to retain the use of sufficient staff and pumps to handle the demands of the motoring public.

These are operational matters and thus primarily the responsibility of the motorway service area operators. However, if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind which he would like me to take up with the operator concerned perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Minister of Transport, from international sources available to him, in which countries the use of seat belts in cars is now compulsory.

I understand that wearing is compulsory in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada—Ontario and Quebec, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Eire, Finland, France, German Federal Republic, Hungary, Israel, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden and the USSR. However, provisions as to exemptions and penalties vary from country to country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to remove the asbestos lining from the roof of the Chamber of the House.

Although the lining was completely resealed last year, it was agreed that the asbestos should be removed as soon as practicable. The work, which has been planned in association with the Health and Safety Executive and the House authorities, will start at the beginning of the Summer Recess to be completed in 10 weeks. In the interests of safety, the Chamber will be closed for seven weeks. However, the work is being planned in such a way that, throughout this period, the work can be stopped at short notice and the Chamber be brought back into use if required within five days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans for (a) relaxing and (b) abolishing Industrial development certificates.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend is considering industrial development certificates as part of the current review of regional industrial policy, and a statement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will hold urgent talks with the oil companies to ensure that sufficient diesel fuel is released to farmers to enable them to get in the hay and pea harvests.

I have already stressed in discussions with the oil industry the particular importance of ensuring that farmers receive sufficient fuel supplies in good time for harvesting and haymaking.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what increase in the quantity of gas being flared in million cubic feet per day has resulted from his changes in flaring consent referred to in the answer given to the hon. Member for Whitehaven on Monday 25 June; what is the value of this gas in £ sterling; and if he will make a statement.

The flaring consent levels to which the hon. Member refers extend to 30 June 1979 and the actual quantities of gas flared under them are not yet available. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library when the actual figures are reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the anticipated demand for energy in the United Kingdom over the next two decades; and from which fuels this will be supplied.

The Green Paper on energy policy (Cmnd. 7101) gave United Kingdom energy supply and estimates of possible developments in demand up to the end of the century. These estimates are currently being updated.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the energy requirements of the United Kingdom will be met by nuclear energy over the next two decades.

Projections in the Green Paper on energy policy (Cmnd. 7101) indicated that nuclear energy could supply about 6 per cent. of total primary fuel requirements in 1985 and up to 17 per cent. by the end of the century. These estimates are currently being updated.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he intends to make further use of his power to require the royalties due to him under petroleum production licences to be paid in oil rather than in money.

After consulting the licensees concerned and considering their representations, I have decided to take the bulk of the royalty due to me in the first half of 1980 in oil rather than in cash. I also intend to hold discussions with oil companies on the possibility of taking royalty in kind in subsequent chargeable periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the statement of the former Secretary of State for Energy of December 1974 represents the Government's oil and gas depletion policy or whether changes are contemplated.

In applying depletion policy to discoveries made on first to fourth round licences, the Government will be guided by the assurance given in December 1974 by the then Secretary of State for Energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the Government propose to contribute to the financing of fluidised combustion contractors in the interest of developing a large-scale plant for burning coal with minimum atmospheric pollution.

Discussions on the development of large-scale fluidised bed combustion plant are in progress at the present time, but no firm conclusions have yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy at what price of crude oil expressed in United States $ per barrel will gasoline from coal become competitive in the United Kingdom.

On present estimates, United Kingdom coal at £30 a tonne could be converted to gasoline which would be competitive with that produced from crude oil costing $35 to $45 per barrel.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government will support the Seychelles' proposal to the International Whaling Commission for a cetacean sanctuary in the Indian Ocean.

This proposal will be considered at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission to be held from 9–13 July. My right hon. Friend the Minister is presently reviewing United Kingdom policy on whaling, and I shall make clear the Government'S policy in the opening speech which I aim to make to the conference.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his forecast of the possible levels of cereal and root crop production for the current year; and which crops are likely to be affected adversely by poor weather conditions in recent months.

Winter cereals suffered from the cold weather, and spring sowings of cereals, sugar beet, potatoes and other root crops were delayed. The recent weather has been more favourable, and there is time for recovery. I cannot forecast the level of cereal and root crop production this year, since much depends on the weather between now and the harvest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on representations he has received in respect of the proposed European Economic Community directive regarding plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs; and what reply he has given.

The Government are studying this proposal in the light of comments from the representatives of the United Kingdom interests who would be affected by it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present size of the national pig herd; and what was the equivalent figure for 12 months ago.

The most recent census returns available, for December 1978, show that there was then a total pig herd in the United Kingdom of 7,964 thousand head compared with 7,733 thousand head in December 1977. The breeding herd of sows and gilts in pig at those dates was 864 thousand head and 821 thousand head respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the new price of individual basic foodstuffs showing the actual increase consequent upon a devaluation of the green pound acceptable to the Government.

The effects on retail prices of the 5 per cent. devaluation of the green pound agreed on 22 June will be substantially the same as those for the 5 per cent. devaluation agreed by the previous Government in March this year, which were given by my predecessor on 21 February 1979 in a written answer to the then hon. Member for Southampton, Test.—[Vol. 963, c. 177–8.] The special United Kingdom butter subsidy on which the Council also agreed last week is equivalent to 12p per lb at the retail stage. This will more than offset the effect on butter prices of the green pound devaluation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has so far had with the National Farmers' Union concerning the level of imports of processed pigmeat.

My right hon. Friend the Minister and I have had several discussions with the president and the deputy president of the National Farmers' Union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the quantities and values of foodstuffs imported into the United Kingdom from the German Democratic Republic which qualify for EEC monetary compensatory amounts.

Nil.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he considers that the Meat and Livestock Commission fulfils a useful purpose.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suspected murderers from Northern Ireland are believed to be resident in the Irish Republic; how many murders they are suspected of committing; under what circumstances the Irish authorities will return these people; and where the Irish authorities are not prepared to return such suspects to face charges, what physical action the United Kingdom authorities will take to pursue, apprehend and retrieve these suspected criminals.

The RUC has sought the extradition of seven persons who are suspected of being involved in a total of 11 murders in Northern Ireland and who are currently thought to be resident in the Republic of Ireland. Five of the seven applications have been refused in the Irish courts; of the two remaining cases, one person has so far not been located and the other is serving a prison sentence. Use of the mutual criminal jurisdiction legislation would not have been possible in these cases because the offences were committed prior to the effective date of the legislation. In the case of a number of other persons believed to be connected with serious crimes, including murder, committed in Northern Ireland, and believed to be in the Republic, I am satisfied that where evidence is available the RUC will, in consultation with the Irish authorities, make appropriate use of the criminal jurisdiction legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has plans to publish a document on energy policy for Northern Ireland.

I have at present nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 24 May.—[Vol. 967, c. 1216].

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his latest estimate of the aggregate cost to public funds of all forms of Exchequer support, whether direct or indirect, for the Harland and Wolff shipyards in the current financial year; and what is the cost per person employed in the yards.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27 June 1979], gave the following information:The provision for special assistance to Harland and Wolff in the 1979–80 Northern Ireland Estimates, which it is hoped to make available to the House in early July, is £23·8 million. Aid under standard industrial assistance schemes may amount to a further £2·4 million. Current employment at the shipyard is 7,800; on this basis, full utilisation of these sums would give a cost per employee for the year of approximately £3,359, though the actual figure will depend on a number of factors, including the timing of receipts from shipowners. In addition, those who have placed orders at Harland and Wolff benefit from the standard United Kingdom credit arrangements for shipowners. The Government are currently examining the position of Harland and Wolff in the context of their overall review of the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the concessionary fares system in Northern Ireland; and if he will consider widening its coverage to include persons over the age of 60 years.

I have no plans to change the present Northern Ireland system.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he intends to take in response to the recommendations made in the Department of Employment's report on the employment effects of microelectronics.

The study group set up by the Department of Employment in July 1978 is still examining the question of the employment effects of micro-electronics. It hopes to complete its work in the next month or so, but I and my colleagues are not yet aware of its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he intends to exercise his power under section 7 (1) of the Industry Act 1975 to give a direction of a specific character to the National Enterprise Board to dispose of any of its securities; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will make a statement about the NEB in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is his intention to abolish or amend the Post Office monopoly of approval for equipment attached to the telephone and telex systems.

We are looking into this question with the aim of ensuring that the customer obtains the best possible telecommunications service.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress is being made by the working party on the cutlery industry; and when it expects to report.

The working party has fully considered the joint study carried out in 1978. It has set up subgroups which are preparing proposals for action for each sub-sector of the industry, for examination by the working party, which aims to complete its report in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make it his policy that in considering regional and industrial grants the overriding consideration will be the wealth rather than the jobs that such a system of grants will generate.

The Government'S review will take into account my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the Post Office has applied for clearing bank status for the Giro system; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Post Office, but I understand that National Girobank has been discussing with the Committee of London Clearing Bankers the possibility of joining the clearing house, and these discussions are nearing a conclusion. However, no decision has yet been taken by the Post Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if it is possible to lower the general level of temperature of the central heating in the Palace of Westminster; and whether there are any plans to do so.

I have been asked to reply.The major part of the Palace of Westminster is heated by an archaic steam radiator system—at present turned off—which can be regulated only by shutting down individual radiators. A six-year modernisation programme, which will eventually include an air-cooling system, was begun last year, and this should allow control of temperature levels throughout the building.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he intends to take in response to the recommendations about education made in the Department of Employment's report on the employment effects of microelectronics.

My right hon. and learned Friend is not aware of the recommendations to which the hon. Lady refers. He is, however, considering the implications of developments in microelectronic technology for the whole of the education service.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he is taking to assist British private airlines in their bids for lower air fares between London and other West European countries.

We are considering with the Civil Aviation Authority what action would be appropriate in the light of the unhelpful attitude adopted by the French, Dutch and Belgian authorities to the new low fares proposed by British Caledonian Airways on its existing services to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. We are anxious to see that air fares are as low as possible consistent with the viability of efficient airlines.It would not be proper for me to comment on the applications made to the Civil Aviation Authority for new low-fares services to many European destinations by airlines not at present holding licences to serve those destinations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what improvements have been made, within the last 12 months, in general aviation facilities at airports serving to London areas; and what plans there are for some further improvements within the next two years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why he decided to authorise the use of chemical pollutants to disperse the oil spilled from the "Tarpenbek"; and if he will make a statement.

Intermittent spraying using approved low-toxicity dispersants has been undertaken, after consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and with the Nature Conservancy Council, as the most effective means of dealing with the small quantities of light diesel oil that have escaped from the "Tarpenbek".

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if there has been any contact between his department and Oil Recovery International of Christchurch, Dorset, concerning the oil spillage from the wrecked tanker "Tarpenbek"; if the company has been asked to supply its mechanical oil-mop device to clear the oil; and if he will list all the companies which have been asked to assist, or to provide equipment.

Oil Recovery International and Star Offshore Services made contact with my Department offering the hire of their Force 7 Ocean System but it has not been judged appropriate to take up this offer in the present circumstances. As is known to those concerned, "oil mop" devices can be useful very close inshore as an adjunct to beach cleaning, but they are not thought to be suitable for the open sea operations conducted by my Department. A substantial number of companies are providing supplies, equipment or assistance for the present operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what regulations govern the transfer of oil from one tanker to another within the Firth of Clyde; how many such transfers take place; and what is his policy on such transfers.

I have been asked to reply.The oversight of harbours generally is a matter for my Department, but management is in the hands of the individual port authorities acting under local

		1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979 (1 Januvary to 25 June)
Crude Carriers	…	4	13	1	1	0	0	1
Lightening Vessels	…	4	19	2	2	0	0	3

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the numbers waiting for operations under the main surgical specialties at each of the hospitals in the Newham area

Hospital				Specialty				1975	1976	1977	1978
East Ham Memorial hospital			…	General surgery		…	…	115	290	235	268
				ENT	…	…	…	178	271	283	364
				Traumatic and orthopaedic				45	103	38	84
Queen Mary's hospital		…	…	General surgery		…	…	150	178	144	113
				ENT	…	…	…	26	42	38	9
				Ophthalmology		…	…	4	—	—	—
St. Andrew's hospital		…	…	General surgery		…	…	69	141	108	140
				ENT	…	…	…	162	234	90	66
				Traumatic and orthopaedic				41	—	51	—
St. Mary's hospital	…	…	…	ENT	…	…	…	24	27	55	—
				Dental surgery		…	…	—	1	—	—
				Gynaecology		…	…	94	170	164	123
Albert Dock Seamen's hospital			…	Traumatic and orthopaedic				46	35	62	102

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied as to the present arrangements over admission of mental patients to hospitals; whether he is satisfied that decisions as to admissions are made by medical officers

The number of patients on in-patient waiting lists in the Newham health district as at 31 December for the years 1975 to 1978, by surgical specialty, is shown in the following table:and not by charge nurses; and if he will make a statement.

Most admissions of mentally ill people are informal or under part IV of the Mental Health Act 1959 and difficulty rarely arises. But with a small minority of those considered for these two types of admission, and a larger proportion of offenders considered for admission under part V of the Mental Health Act, the situation arises when hospital staff agree that a patient requires hospital care, but consider that their own hospital is unable to admit because it cannot provide the care needed. I am concerned about the deficiency in the NHS that this implies. The consultant has traditionally been taken to express the decision of the hospital managers as to admission, but it is often appropriate for the professionl opinion of the nursing staff to be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he plans to increase the income eligibility limits for free prescriptions and remission of dental charges in the light of the increase in price.

By raising the tolerance margin, which sets the income limits for low income exemption from prescription charges, from 30p, the level set in 1971, to 65p I shall enable over a quarter of a million more households to

Category						Estimated number eligible	Beneficiaries	Take-up
						000	000	per cent.
Supplementary benefit beneficiaries				…	…	328	325	99
FIS beneficiaries	…	…	…	…	…	50	50	100
Other low income beneficiaries			…	…	…	1,518	13	0·8
Beneficiaries in large young families and certain handicapped children		…	…	…	…	90	74	82

Information about free milk and vitamins is published by means of an improved leaflet (MV1) which is displayed at child health clinics with a related poster. The leaflet includes a claim form to be used by families on low income, apart from those receiving supplementary benefit or FIS, who may be eligible for tokens. Advertisements about free milk and vitamins for low income families are also published in baby books issued to mothers at clinics and hospital maternity units.The Department has just produced a TV filler, publicising free milk and vitamins, for distribution to, and transmission by, television companies.Take-up of exemption from prescription charges on grounds of supplementary benefit or FIS entitlement is thought to be almost universal where there is no other form of entitlement. It is estimated that the take-up of exemption on other claim exemption. I have no plans at present to increase the tolerance margin for dental treatment, which was last increased in 1976. However, when charges for dental treatment are increased it follows automatically that more people will be entitled to help with such charges if they claim. The limits will also increase automatically when supplementary benefit rates, by which low income exemption claims are assessed, increase this November.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated take-up of free milk, free prescriptions, remission of optical and dental charges and payment of fares to hospital; and what steps he is taking to bring these benefits to the attention of those eligible for them.

Take-up of free welfare milk tokens in Great Britain at December 1976, which is the latest date at which estimated numbers of those eligible are available, is given in the following table:low income grounds is about 2 per cent. in England.Every prescription form handed to a patient by a doctor contains information on all the categories of exemption: in addition information leaflets [FP91 and M11] are available at Post Offices, family practitioner committees and local offices of my Department. The publicity for the July increase in prescription charges will highlight the range of exemptions.Information about optical charges cannot be supplied in the form requested since no estimate of the number of persons eligible for help on low income grounds is available. However, in 1978, out of 4·03 million prescriptions dispensed in England under the general ophthalmic services, 748,652 (19 per cent.) exemptions, remissions or refunds were granted to patients seeking help with charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he plans to take to resolve the difficulty encountered by many National Health Service dentists in securing the services of medically qualified anaesthetists at rates of remuneration currently authorised.

I am looking into this and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total expenditure on health, in the latest available year, for each of the following: the United Kingdom, other EEC countries, the United States of America, Canada and Australia, expressed both in expenditure per head and as a percentage of gross national product.

Expenditure on health care is not recorded on a strictly comparable basis in the national accounts of all countries. There are, therefore, serious difficulties in expressing such expenditure, either in absolute terms or as a percentage of national income, in order to allow meaningful comparisons. The best figures at present available are those produced recently by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, giving expenditure on health provision at current market prices in 1974 (or new date). The figures refer to current expenditure only. Total expenditure—that is, public and private combined—on health provision per head and as a percentage of "trend" gross domestic product—that is, GDP adjusted to avoid influence of business fluctuations—in the EEC countries, the United States of America, Canada and Australia is as follows:

Country	Expenditure per head*	Total expenditure as Percentage of "trends" GDP
	£
Australia (1974–75)	187	6·2
Belgium	117	5·0
Canada (1973)	151	6·8
Denmark	172†	6·5†
France	149	6·9
Germany	183	6·7
Ireland (1975)	76	6·2
Italy	72	6·0
Luxembourg	110	4·0
Netherlands (1972)	102	7·3
UK (1975)	98	5·2
USA	216	7·4
* Expenditure per head calculated from expenditure in local currency, converted to £ sterling according to the average exchange rate for the year in question.
† Public expenditure only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total expenditure on health, expressed as a percentage of gross national product, for each year from 1963 to date.

Total NHS expenditure, expressed as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost, for the years 1963 to 1977 is as follows:

1963	3·79
1964	3·82
1965	4·03
1966	4·18
1967	4·41
1968	4·49
1969	4·44
1970	4·60
1971	4·62
1972	4·77
1973	4·62
1974	5·25
1975	5·68
1976	5·63
1977	5·57

Source: National Income and Expenditure (Blue Book), 1976–77 and earlier years, CSO.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to ensure that supplies of oil to the Isle of Wight area health authority are reduced in line with Government requirements, namely, by 5 per cent. and not by 20 per cent. as has occurred for the month of June.

I am informed that supplies of fuel oil delivered by 25 June to the Isle of Wight area health authority represent a cutback of less than 20 per cent., and there is the possibility of further deliveries this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of consultant rheumatologists in each of the area health authority areas in England.

I regret the information is not collected centrally on the detailed basis requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the present work at the Townsend maternity home; and how does he envisage the future work load at the hospital.

At present all 17 general practitioner beds are open. The hon. Member is aware that the Yorkshire regional health authority has asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to adjudicate in the proposals by the Humberside area health authority to close Townsend for maternity purposes. The area health authority is still considering possible alternative Health Service uses of the premises.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will appoint a chairman of the Health Education Council in succession to Mr. Leslie Baines.

I have decided to appoint Dr. Brian Lloyd, director of Oxford polytechnic, as chairman of the Health Education Council in succession to Mr Leslie Baines, who retires on 30 June. Dr. Lloyd has been a member of the council since 1975 and is currently chairman of its education committee. He will be associated with the re-examination of the council's functions and operations which will form part of the Government's general review of all "quangos".I should like to take the opportunity to express the Government's warm appreciation to Mr. Baines for the very considerable contribution which he has made to the cause of health education generally, and to the work of the council in particular, in his capacity as a member since the council's inception in 1968, as vice-chairman from 1973 to 1978, and as chairman this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the standards of antenatal care being given by general practitioners to pregnant women; what efforts he is making to ensure that all general practitioners engaged in obstetric care are retrained and updated regularly; and if he will make a statement.

In undertaking to provide maternity medical services, the general practitioner assumes responsibility for providing care of a standard consistent with that described in the memorandum on maternal care by general practitioners issued on the advice of the Standing Medical Advisory committee and the Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory committee. It is the responsibility of the individual practitioner to ensure that he remains abreast of advances in knowledge and technique affecting the service he provides. Opportunities for postgraduate training in obstetric care for general practitioners are available in every region.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioners of five or more years' practice have been on a retraining course in obstetics since they qualified.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioners on the obstetric register are over the age of 50 years and 60 years, respectively.

Of 17,014 general medical practitioners on the obstetric list in England on 1 October 1978, 7,167 were aged 50 years and over and 2,251 were aged 60 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of pregnant women have been attending a clinic or have seen a general practitioner for antenatal care by (a) the 16th and (b) the 20th week of their pregnancy;(2) what figures are available on delays by hospitals in issuing first appointments at antenatal clinics.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many small or sick new-born babies were able to be found necessary intensive care last year in each regional health authority; and how many babies refused such intensive care subsequently died.

Intensive care is provided for new-born babies in a number of units in each region, and information on this is not kept centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, following his reply of 20 June 1979, how much the new Liverpool Royal hospital has cost to build; how much it will cost to run next year; how much it cost during their last operational year to run the hospitals it replaced; when it is anticipated that manning levels for ancillary workers will be agreed; what Government assistance will be forthcoming in meeting the £180,000 repair bill recently announced; and whether he will have a public inquiry into these matters.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the levels of maternity grant currently paid in each EEC country, Sweden and Norway in local currency and expressed in £ sterling; on what conditions they are paid; at what week in pregnancy they are paid; and what medical or other necessary expenses have to be met by them.

Any comparison between the levels of maternity benefits in different countries ought to take account of differences in wage levels, standards of living, taxation treatment and the other free or subsidised services and support available during pregnancy and at confinement. Such information as is available to me on the cost of medical services in the countries to which the hon. Member refers is given in my subsequent written answer to him today.The following table contains information on cash maternity benefits provided in each EEC country and Sweden as at 1 January 1979.In relation to Norway, the only information available in the Department shows that at 1 January 1977 a maternity benefit was payable to women with 10 months of insurance at the rate of 4 Kroner (£0·46) a day, plus 1 Kroner (£0·11) a day for each 1,000 Kroner annual income, up to a maximum of 93 Kroner (£10·60) a day. This was payable for six weeks before and six weeks after confinement. There was also a maternity grant for insured mothers not entitled to the main benefit and for certain insured unmarried mothers.