asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount of public expenditure for the Welsh primary and secondary schools sector; what estimates he has made of the likely numbers of teacher redundancies; by how much the modernisation and rebuilding purpose of primary and secondary schools will be cut; by how much the nursery schools programme will be cut; what estimates he has of nursery school closures in Wales consequent upon the Budget Statement; and if he will make a statement.

Current and capital expenditure by local education authorities on primary and secondary education in Wales amounted to £242 million net in 1977–78, excluding elements not apportioned between the education sectors. It is for authorities to decide how many teachers to employ, what building work to undertake and what level of nursery provision to make, consistent with the Government's requirement for authorities to contain their expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the M4 link between Pencoed and Pyle to be completed and opened.

As I told the hon. Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson) on 28 June, I expect the Bridgend northern bypass to be opened at the beginning of 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what number of advance factories there are within the Ogmore constituency area; and what plans he has for ensuring their occupation.

There are no vacant advance factories in the Ogmore constituency. Two units each of 5,000 sq. ft. are under construction; one is already formally allocated and the other provisionally allocated. The Welsh Office industry department ensures that industrialists are aware of the availability of advance factory space throughout Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the additional cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer, including the Welsh—to date, and in a full year, for the provision of (a) official forms in two languages in Wales and (b) bilingual road signs in Wales; and by how much (a) the above costs would be reduced if forms in the Welsh language were sent only to those who specifically requested them.

It is not possible to identify the additional cost of the bilingual, or Welsh-only, element in the 480 Government forms available, or to state by how much, if at all, printing and distribution costs would be reduced if all were in Welsh only and were made available only on request.I estimate the additional cost since 1974 incurred on bilingual signs on trunk roads to be about £600,000, and in the current year to be £160,000. Costs on other roads are a matter for the highway authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the murder last weekend of Joseph Porter, a part-time member of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

On the morning of 24 June, following a telephone call to the RUC from a member of the public, the body of Joseph Porter, a part-time member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, was found at the gateway of his home at Mountnorris, Co. Armagh. Mr. Porter had sustained gunshot wounds to the head. The Provisional Irish Republican Army later admitted that it was responsible for the murder. No arrests have yet been made, but police inquiries aimed at apprehending those responsible are being vigorously pursued.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the number of unsolved murders in each police district in Northern Ireland and the period they have been unsolved.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4 July 1979; Vol. 969, c. 646], gave the following answer:The information requested is not readily available for the period before 1 January 1974 and could not be provided for individual police divisions without disproportionate cost. The figures for Northern Ireland as a whole since 1 January 1974 as are follows:

asked the Attorney-General what was the actual or estimated cost of the Thorpe committal and Old Bailey proceedings to the Exchequer; and what action he has taken or intends taking to control and reduce these high legal costs.

It is too soon after the end of the proceedings for me to be able to give the actual costs of the trial or a reasonably accurate estimate. I have already indicated in the House that I believe the decision taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions to institute these proceedings was the correct one. Any consideration of legal costs in general ought to await the publication of the report of the Royal Commission on legal services which is expected in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the personnel strengths of all corps of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (a) now and (b) for the past three years: (i) in numbers and (ii) as a percentage of establishment.

Information on the strength and establishment of individual TAVR corps is classified. Figures for the TAVR as a whole are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he proposes to take to achieve a major strengthening of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve.

The TAVR has a vital role to play in the successful execution of our defence policy. The Government therefore attach a high priority to maintaining the TAVR's efficiency, improving its equipment and encouraging recruitment and prolongation of service. Particular attention will be paid to reducing the present level of manpower turnover and the recommendations of the Shapland report are under urgent consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what evaluation has been made of the practicability of making use of container vessels or other merchant ships as helicopter platforms for antisubmarine warfare.

The United States Navy is undertaking studies into the rapid adaptation of container ships to the operation of ASW helicopters. The Royal Navy has taken a close interest in this project, called "ARAPAHO", and the possibility of RN participation in its trial stage is being discussed with the United States authorities.The possibilities of using merchant ships for defence purposes are being explored by the Royal Navy and merchant navies.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in studies of the practicability of making use of certain civil airliners shortly to enter service, as a means of enhancing the air-to-air refuelling capacity available to the Royal Air Force in a period of tension or in the event of war.

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his helpful initiative in this matter. Studies into the practicality of using civil airliners to augment the RAF's air-to-air refuelling capacity in a period of tension or war are continuing. The concept undoubtedly offers the prospect of a useful addition to the RAF's air tanker capacity in an emergency.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of 44 Parachute Brigade (Volunteers) in its final year before disbandment; and if he will examine as a matter of urgency the possibility of reconstituting this airborne force.

The primary operational role of 44 Parachute Brigade (Volunteers) is now undertaken by 7 Field Force and in these circumstances no requirement exists for its reconstitution. Details of the cost of 44 Parachute Brigade (Volunteers) are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the numbers of SS-20 intermediate range ballistic missiles and Backfire nuclear strike bombers deployed against Western Europe.

We believe that about 100 SS-20 intermediate range ballistic missiles are now deployed with the Soviet strategic rocket forces; and that 80 Backfire nuclear strike bombers are now deployed with the Soviet long range and naval air forces. The majority of these missiles and all these aircraft are deployed against Western Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is the inten- tion of Her Majesty's Government to increase the funding of the cruises missile programme commended by the previous Administration; and if he will make a statement.

The research studies initiated in 1977 were designed solely to enable the Government to play an informed part in discussions on the military potential of cruise missiles. The contracts for these studies, which were referred to by my predecessor on 8 March 1978—[Vol 945, c. 624]—were completed in 1978, and no decision has been taken to initiate further studies specifically related to cruise missiles, but I am already in consultation with our allies on the question of modernising our theatre nuclear forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the sale of Jaguar aircraft to India; and whether this will result in any reduction in the size of the Jaguar wing at RAF Bruggen.

I was very pleased that British Aerospace was able to conclude a contract with the Indian Government for the supply of Jaguar aircraft and for the establishment of licensed production of the type in India. The sale will not affect the number of Jaguar aircraft at RAF Bruggen declared to NATO.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the principal categories in each of the Armed Services where serious manpower shortages exist; and if he will make a statement as to the measures he proposes to deal with these deficiencies.

Manpower shortages affect officers and service men in all three Services. At present there are particular shortfalls in the Royal Navy among junior seamen officers, artificers, mechanics, electricians and seamen leading rates; in the Army among captains and junior majors and non-commissioned officer aircrew and signal technicians; and in the RAF among pilots, ground engineers and fighter controllers and in the airframe and weapon engineering trades, suppliers and the police. In the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers) on 28th June I set out the measures which we have had to take to reduce to a minimum the effects of these shortages on our front line forces. In the speech which I made on 28th June, a copy of which I have placed in the Library, I set out the steps which we are taking for the Armed Forces as a whole, and which I hope will remedy our manpower shortages. I made it clear, however, that it will not be an easy task to do this in the short term.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the cancellation of the Iranian tank order, he will make a statement about the future prospects of the Royal Ordnance factory, Leeds.

We intend to maintain the tank production capability at ROF Leeds and every effort is being made to obtain replacement orders. If some of the prospects which are under examination at present come to fruition, they will enable the nucleus of the work force to be retained until the orders for MBT 80 start to be placed in the mid-80s.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will urgently examine the suitability of Land Dart in a static or mobile form for the protection of port installations and centres of civilian population against air attack.

An assessment of a land version of Seadart has already been carried out but at present there are no plans to deploy such a system.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the fact that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has a biological warfare capability greater than that ever possessed by Nazi Germany, he will reconsider the decision of the previous Administration to close Porton as a military research centre; and, if he will make a statement.

The former microbiological research establishment at Porton was closed as a defence centre in April this year following an assessment of requirements in the light of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention. Research on defence and protection against biological attack is continuing to be undertaken by a small team at the chemical defence establishment at Porton.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence since when it has been the practice temporarily to "moth-ball" a proportion of BAOR Chieftain tanks specifically in consequence of manpower shortages; whether the number of tanks in light preservation—not DRICLAD—is greater or less than a year ago; and how soon he expects manpower strength to be sufficient to restore BAOR's operational Chieftain force to its normal peacetime establishment.

Since December 1977 a proportion of BAOR's Chieftain tanks has been kept in light preservation because of manpower shortages. The number now in light preservation is slightly smaller than a year ago. It will be some time before the effect on manpower shortages of the decision to restore Service pay to its proper levels can be estimated, but all the tanks in light preservation could rapidly be brought into full operational use in an emergency.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has for safeguarding fuel supplies for fishing boats in the light of recent shortfalls.

Although supplies of fuel oil continue to be tight, and this has caused worries for many consumers, including those in the fishing industry, the output of the industry has not been significantly affected by any lack of oil. I shall continue to keep a close watch on the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy under current productivity trends in the mines whether he envisages British power station requirements of coal will be met in 1979 and 1980 without imports.

There will be a substantial reduction in oil-bum in power stations in 1979–80 and, in close co-operation with the electricity boards and with British Rail, the National Coal Board will be supplying a record amount of coal to power stations. The electricity boards will be supplementing these supplies with a limited quantity of imports. I am in touch with the Central Electricity Generating Board about future coal supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will call for a report from the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels Limited concerning the reported supply of defective container systems for the transportation of irradiated fuel elements to Windscale; whether he will publish the chairman's reply; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised that the containers referred to in a recent newspaper article are not part of the safety system used in the movement of irradiated fuel. They are devices—commonly referred to as "bottles"—used for operational convenience in the handling of fuel from overseas at Wind-scale. Where they are used in the carriage of fuel outside that site, they are placed inside the massive steel flasks used for that purpose, which are constructed in accordance with stringent international safety standards and which provide the necessary safety packaging.None the less, for operational purposes British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. requires the bottles to be constructed to strict standards and capable of meeting specified tests. The company keeps arrangements for the manufacture of the bottles under review. It terminated the contract of the company referred to in the newspaper report some time ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he has taken to ensure adequate fuel supplies for the fishing industry in White-haven and elsewhere in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Although supplies of fuel oil are tight, and this has caused wor- ries for many consumers, I know of no special difficulties in the case of White-haven fishermen. If the hon. Member has some specific case in mind, perhaps he will write to me on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans the Coal Board has to increase or reduce its activities in industrial activities other than coal production; and if the policy of Her Majesty's Government is to encourage the Coal Board to sell some of its investments in these areas of production.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27 June 1979; Vol. 969, c. 260], gave the following further answer:The National Coal Board has no major proposals for changes in the scope of such activities.The Government are reviewing the scope for the sale of assets in the public sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the aggregate production of deep-mined coal from United Kingdom coal fields and aggregate output per man-shift, in the latest period of 12 months for which details are available; what were the corresponding figures for the period of 12 months prior to introduction of the pit productivity scheme; and what has been the aggregate cost of that scheme to date.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27 June 1979; Vol. 969, c. 259], gave the following further answer:Overall output per man-shift was 2·23 tonnes in the 12 months to 16 June 1979 compared with 2·20 tonnes in the 12 months to 29 October 1977, but with lower average manpower—233,000 against 241,500—deep-mined output was some 2 million tonnes less at 105·7 million tonnes. Because there was a steadily declining output before the introduction of the productivity arrangements, the above comparison substantially understates the benefits of the arrangements. I am asking the chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member on his question about costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what profit or loss was made by the National Coal Board from deep mining, opencast mining and other activities, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27 June 1979; Vol. 969 c. 260], gave the following further answer:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average size of an English constituency and the average size of a Scottish constituency.

The electoral quotas, or the average number of electors per constituency, were published with the provisional figures for the 1979 register in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys monitor EL 79/2, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of convictions for taking and driving away motor vehicles for each year from 1968.

Numbers of findings of guilt for unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle are available separately only for the years 1975–77 and are given in the table below. Numbers of findings of

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Sir Henry Yellowlees to report on his inquiry into the use of medical examinations in immigration control and the question of X-rays to assess age; and if he intends to publish the report.

The review, in consultation with the chief medical adviser Sir Henry Yellowlees, of the objects and nature of medical examinations in the context of immigration control, is continuing. It is too soon to say when it will be completed. When it is, I shall report the conclusions to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is kept by his Department as to the number of legal aid contribution orders made by each individual criminal court, and the number of down payments ordered by each court; and whether he will publish the information.

My Department receives from each petty sessional division and each crown court centre the numbers of legal aid contribution orders made, but no information is collected centrally on the number of down payments ordered. Numbers of contribution orders for each petty sessional division and crown court centre could be published in the Official Report only at disproportionate cost, but if the hon. Member would like information on any particular petty sessional division or crown court centre, I shall be pleased to provide it. I shall also consider publication in future issues of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of the Commission for Racial Equality, in the light of the statement by the chief complaints officer to the Midland region of the Commission that he go complainants to sign blank forms and later, in their absence, filled in complaints; and if he will make a statement.

The Commission is responsible for the conduct of its day-to-day business. I have asked the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to meet the executive of the Association of Magisterial Officers.

I have no present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with fire safety regulations as they affect provincial city centre stores.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my reply to a question by the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) on 25 May.—[Vol. 967, c. 298.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans the Government have prepared in the event of the industrial action now threatened by magistrates' court staff in furtherance of their pay claim; and what are the reasons for widening the differential between crown court and magistrates' court staff.

As to the first part of the question, I do not think it would be helpful at this stage to say what action the Government might take in the circumstances indicated by the right hon. Member. As to the second part of the question, I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell) on 29 June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the various undertakings entered into by the United Kingdom as a member of the International Whaling Commission, if he will refuse Mr. A. M. Behr permission to enter the United Kingdom in view of his involvement in certain whaling activities.

Mr. A. M. Behr has already entered the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the productivity of the Post Office in terms of letters delivered per employee and parcels delivered per employee for each of the past 10 years.

The information is as follows:Letters and parcels handled per Post Office mails operations employee

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will dismiss the chairman of the Post Office corporation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the contract of the Post Office corporation chairman is due to expire.

31 October 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has any plans to offer incentives to the motor and motor components industry in order to speed the progress of innovative technology that will lead to lower fuel consumption by both the motor car and trucks.

The range of support schemes currently operating under the Science and Technology Act 1965 are utilised by a whole range of industries in support of innovative technology including measures to improve fuel consumption.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the time taken by his Department's North-West regional office in approving schemes submitted by housing associations in the region.

There are considerable fluctuations in the rate of submission of housing association schemes for approval. In recent months there has been an exceptionally high number of submissions in the North-West. Within current staff constraints the Department is endeavouring to clear these as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans for relaxing or abolishing office development permits; and whether he will consider instigating discussions with the leading professional bodies associated with the provision and letting of office accommodation to review the present position.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Baker).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow)—Official Report, 11 June, column 59–60—why he does not have the information for the London borough of Enfield; and if he will take steps to procure the information.

The question from the hon. Member for Northampton, North related only to inner London boroughs. The corresponding figures for the London borough of Enfield at 31 March 1978 were 4½ hectares of housing land and no slum clearance land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have been forced to close their own homes for unsupported mothers because of public expenditure cuts; which local authorities have been forced to close because of lack of demand; and which diocesan or moral welfare board homes have been closed through lack of demand.

I have been asked to reply. I regret that this information is not available centrally.

asked the Minister of Transport whether forecasts have been made of the investment required in road and rail transport to meet an expansion of Gatwick airport to a passenger handling capacity of 25 million per annum; and what is the estimated cost.

The implications for surface transport of the proposed expansion of Gatwick airport are at present being studied by the Government Departments and other interests concerned, including the British Airports Authority, British Rail and the highway and planning authorities. We expect these aspects to be considered at the public inquiry which is to be arranged following the calling-in of the planning applications made by the British Airports Authority, to which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment referred in his reply to a question from my hon. Friend, the Member for Dorking (Mr. Wickenden) on 5 July.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to make a decision about the preferred route for the Spalding bypass.

We hope to make a decision later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of cases of driving without a valid vehicle excise licence do not result in prosecution; what is his estimate of the loss of revenue that results from excise licence evasion; and if he will issue a circular to chief constables advising a stricter policy with regard to prosecutions of such evasions.

Out of 724,000 cases reported in 1978 86,000—12 per cent.—were prosecuted, 57,000—8 per cent.—were dealt with by mitigated penalties, and 140,000—19 per cent.—resulted in full payment of back duty without enforcement action. The remaining 441,000—61 per cent.—cases were not pursued to prosecution. A survey of evasion in 1977–78 concluded that some £70 million to £90 million was being lost. The level of evasion and my Department's enforcement policy are matters which will be fully considered in our current review of VED. The police resources which can be devoted to the enforcement of any particular aspect of the law is a matter for the individual chief officer concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects the review of noise insulation in respect of the A13 Saxham Road and Renwick Road improvement scheme to be completed.

The first stage, which is to identify those properties which may qualify for insulation under the revised interpretation of the Noise Insulation Regulations 1973, should be completed within six weeks.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the tragic accident in the centre of Sandbach on Monday 2 July, he will make emergency funds available to Cheshire county council with a view to increasing the priority of the inner relief road round Sandbach town centre, and implementing the plan for a new bypass.

It is for Cheshire county council to determine the priority of its schemes. The county, in its current transport policy and programme, accord a start date of 1983. As it has yet to initiate the process of determining a scheme at Sandbach and taking the necessary statutory powers, the question of funds does not arise.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study his department has made of the report by Professor J. H. Fremlin, professor of applied radioactivity at Birmingham university, concerning the cancer risk from radiation poisoned fish; and what conclusions have been arrived at.

Professor Fremlin's report, prepared for the Cumbria county council, makes it clear that the risks arising from eating fish contaminated by radioactivity from Windscale are minimal compared with the deaths from cancer caused by other factors such as breathing the products of coal or oil combustion or heavy smoking.I see no reason to disagree with his conclusions which, I understand, were based on published data.The discharges to the sea from Wind-scale are authorised jointly by my right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretary of State for the Environment and are well within the dose limits recommended by the International Commission on radiological protection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the clog licence fee was last increased; and to what figure it would have to be raised to maintain its value since the last increase in real terms.

The excise duty for keeping a dog was raised to its present level of 37½p—7/6d—in 1878. I am advised that, in terms of purchasing power, the corresponding amount today might lie in the range £5—£6·75.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now estimate the quantity and value of foodstuffs imported into the United Kingdom from the German Democratic Republic which qualify for EEC monetary compensatory amounts and publish the results in due course.

My reply to the hon. Member's question on 29 June was intended to make it clear that, according to "Overseas Trade Statistics", there were no such imports from the German Democratic Republic last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the effect on the United Kingdom's contribution to the EEC budget of the £83 million of benefit arising from the recent Luxembourg meeting, as set out in the answer dated 28 June to the right hon. Member for Llanelli.

The benefit of £83 million has no additional effect on the United Kingdom's contribution to the EEC budget. The £49 million to which I referred in my reply to the right hon. Member on 28 June was my estimate of our total contribution to the EEC budget as a result of the CAP prices settlement, including the contribution towards our own benefits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to ensure that no British citizens or organisation gives support to whaling activities which contravene international agreements entered into by the United Kingdom.

I am presently reviewing United Kingdom policy on whaling taking into account all the relevant factors. The Government's policy on all aspects will be made clear in the opening speech which my hon. Friend the Minister of State will make to the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission on 9 July and of which the House will be informed.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the discussions in Tokyo with the Prime Minister of Canada about the regular and guaranteed supply of uranium to Great Britain and her European Economic Community partners.

The Government attach importance to the United Kingdom continuing to receive uranium from Canada under Community arrangements. But the subject did not come up in my talks with Mr. Clark.

asked the Prime Minister what is the present remuneration of Ministers and other office holders inclusive of parliamentary salary compared with the full inclusive salary recommended in report No. 12 of the Review

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what changes will be made this summer regarding the entitlement of students to receive supplementary benefit.

I have been asked to reply.None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now tabulate in the Official Report for each local education authority where one

The information is given in the following table:or more maintained grammar schools now exist: the number of pupils attending multi-tier comprehensive schools, all-through comprehensive schools, all-comprehensive schools, modern schools, grammar schools, technical schools, sixth form colleges and other secondary schools, respectively, and the total secondary school population, together with a table showing the percentage of secondary school population in each authority attending comprehensive, modern, grammar, technical, sixth form colleges and other schools, respectively.

In January 1978, the latest date for which statistical information is available, the information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed free prescriptions on grounds of low income in each year since 1970; and how many of these were claiming it on the passport of supplementary benefit or family income supplement.

It is not possible to say how many recipients of supplementary benefit and family income supplement actually claimed free prescriptions, but the estimated numbers, including dependants, entitled to do so and not already entitled to exemption on age grounds are set out below, together with the numbers of other people claiming exemption on grounds of low income to whom exemption certificates were issued. These certificates also provide exemption for dependants of the certificate holder.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research has been conducted into the effect on absence from work due to influenza; in what respects this differs when a programme of vaccinations against influenza has been carried out; whether there have been any reports of adverse reactions to such vaccine; what steps have been taken to examine the cases of such adverse effects; and what is the annual take-up of anti-flu vaccine.

An investigation into the effectiveness of a campaign of vaccination against influenza was conducted in the Post Office during the period 1970 and 1976. The study showed that, for example, in an office of 100 people offered the vaccination, about 30 fewer working days were lost through sickness over six winter months each year than in a similar office where the offer was not made.In most years, an average of between 20 and 30 reports of adverse reactions to influenza vaccine have been received by the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Most of them describe transient general reactions such as rash or pain at the site of an injection. In this respect the pattern of reactions does not differ from those produced by most other vaccines.Several years ago, the then Committee on Safety of Drugs investigated a number of cases in which the injection of an influenza vaccine made up in oil had produced local tissue reactions at the injection site. These reactions were clearly due to the oil rather than to the vaccine itself; oil-based vaccines were therefore abandoned and no further trouble was reported. A small group of cases of local tissue necrosis has been reported to have resulted from vaccinations carried out in Watford on one occasion in 1977. It has not been possible to trace the batch or batches of vaccine involved, but no similar cases have been reported elsewhere.The take-up of the vaccination is not known, but between October 1977 and September 1978 inclusive, sales of influenza vaccine totalled just under 1·8 million doses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent aged people are being admitted into and remain as bed patients in hospital when they could be looked after by their families and relatives; and whether some action could be taken to change this situation.

Some elderly people remain in hospital for longer than is necessary, but many of these are too frail to be cared for by family or relatives, even with full support from domiciliary services, and discharge is possible only when alternative accommodation can be arranged. My right hon. Friend sees no need for a special investigation: it is for the health and local authorities concerned to decide on appropriate action in each case.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now cause information to be collected by his Department on (a) the number of children suffering from arthritis, (b) the number of children suffering from less severe rheumatic pains and (c) the number of children with arthritis who are receiving treatment at special clinics or centres.

No, I do not think that this would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to complete his consideration of the report, "Children with Arthritis".

I cannot yet say.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made by his Department in reviewing the claims made on behalf of children damaged by pertussis vaccine.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the arrangements for the review of claims under the vaccine damage payments scheme which have initially been disallowed. In respect of triple or pertussis vaccine claims, nearly 400 requests for review have been received, and the independent medical tribunals will be considering the first cases in the near future.