asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure available for the proportion of the average cost of a funeral covered by the death grant; what were the equivalent proportions in 1950, 1960 and 1970; and if he will make a statement.

The average cost of a funeral varies according to the locality. However, on the assumption that it is generally in the region of £250, the £30 death grant represents about 12 per cent. of the cost. The £20 grant introduced in 1949 represented about 60 per cent. of the cost in 1950. After the increase to £25 in 1958. the grant represented about 50 per cent. of the cost in 1960. The grant was again increased, to £30, in 1967 and in 1970 it covered rather less than 35 per cent. of the average cost of a funeral.

My right hon. Friend is considering the whole question of the death grant and he will make a statement as soon as he is in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce a disability allowance for registered blind persons aged between 16 and 65 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration is being given by his Department to providing a supplementary benefit to totally blind persons who require special facilities due to their disability.

While we have the greatest sympathy for blind people and the problems they face, resources are not at present available to finance new benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the success or otherwise of the extra 1,000 social security inspectors recently appointed.

I ask my hon. Friend to await the statement promised in my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) and other hon. Members on 25 March.—[Vol. 981, c. 1155–59.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his policy towards occupational pension schemes.

The Government's continuing aim is to provide a secure future for those whose working life has come to an end. We consider this is best achieved by fostering the unique relationship which exists between the State and the many excellent private pension schemes in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the savings to his Department if invalidity benefit came into taxability in the year 1981–82.

When income replacement benefits are brought into taxation—in 1982 or as soon as possible thereafter—the revenue from taxing invalidity benefit is estimated as £80 million at current rates. Such revenue, like that from benefits already taxable, accrues to the Exchequer and is not attributed to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on flexible retirement ages for both men and women; and whether he envisages early action on its implementation.

Flexible retirement has its attractions, but its cost rules out any change in the short term.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the entitlement of people on strike, and of people locked out, whether trade unionists or not, respectively, to draw social security for their families; and if they will each be treated in the same way.

The Social Security (No. 2) Bill proposes a reduction of £12 a week in the benefit payable for the dependants of a person who is participating in or directly interested in a stoppage of work at his place of employment, whether he is on strike or locked out, and whether or not he is a trade unionist. The Bill also proposes to abolish the present disregard of £4 on income tax refunds, but it is intended that regulations will provide for a disregard of up to £12 on strike pay and for special hardship payments in very exceptional circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current waiting list for major operations in the Macclesfield constituency; and if he will make a statement.

In my reply on 13 May to my hon. Friend—[Vol. 984, c. 460 ]—I listed numbers awaiting admission to Macclesfield health district hospitals. Information collected by the Department refers only to specialties and not to numbers waiting for specific operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is yet in a position to indicate the first topic on which the London hospitals advisory group is proposing to formulate advice; and whether he will list the order in which the group will be considering the other topics referred to in his parliamentary answer to the hon. Member for Ravensbourne, Official Report , 2 May, column 721.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Thorne).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the progress of the advisory group on the future of London hospitals.

The group met for the first time on 12 May, and will meet again later this week. Three further meetings have been arranged before the summer break so the group will be well into its stride by the summer. It is too early to comment on progress but I regard this as a most promising start.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when last he received representations from the community health councils with regard to their continuing role in the National Health Service.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from a large number of community health councils, and from the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales, in the form of comments on our consultative paper " Patients First". In addition, I met representatives of the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales on 12 February and my right hon. Friend did so on 15 February last at its special general meeting called to consider "Patients First".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on his proposals for the remuneration of dispensing pharmacists.

I have recently written to the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee reaffirming the offer of a package deal on remuneration which, in my view, fairly reflects the intentions of the Franks panel, and agreeing in principle to set up an independent agency to resolve disputes between the Department and the committee. I am now discussing with the committee the details of the offer and the precise form such an agency should take, and hope to be able to complete these discussions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what encouragement he is giving to voluntary assistance within the social services.

Volunteers and the voluntary movement play a crucial and indispensable role in the social services. It has been estimated that the input to the social services from the voluntary sector exceeds that of the statutory agencies. I seek to encourage this in every way open to me, including maintaining the real value of the Department's financial contribution to the voluntary sector; urging local and health authorities at every opportunity to do likewise and to work in close partnership with voluntary and community groups; urging voluntary bodies in the social services to exploit fully the Budget measures designed to increase charities' donation incomes; and urging the community generally to increase the support—in both money and service—that it offers to the social services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the introduction of a 54-week year for current pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Representations have been received from the National Federation of Old Age Pensions Associations, the British Pensioners and Trade Unions Action Committee and a number of individuals. In the present difficult economic situation, the Government consider it necessary to defer this year's up-rating until the week beginning November 24.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the provision of prostheses in the National Health Service; and if he has any plans for improving this service.

The statistics we keep on delivery times for limbs indicate that these continue to be a problem. Our information on complaints and on work that is below an acceptable standard indicates that the level of complaint is low and that the standard of work is acceptable. I am aware of the criticisms of the limb service raised by the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association and following a meeting with it, which the hon. Member attended, I am in correspondence with the association to agree the best way to investigate, and as necessary resolve, the points it has raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for the establishment of either a district general hospital or a community hospital in Peterlee; and if he will make a statement.

The Northern regional health authority, which is responsible for the hospital building programme for the region, is currently discussing the future provision of hospital services in Peterlee with the Durham area health authority and Durham community health council. The hon. Member may wish to contact the RHA direct for further information.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received from the National Federation of Old Age Pensions Associations about the pension policies in the Social Security (No. 2) Bill.

I have received no representations from the National Federation of Old Age Pensions Associations about the pension policies in the Social Security (No. 2) Bill. Its most recent representation was about the date chosen for the 1980 uprating of pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from dentists concerning proposed changes in dental charges.

A number of letters have been received about the proposal in the White Paper on the Government's expenditure plans—Cmnd. 7841—that young people who have left school should become liable for dental treatment charges and my right hon. Friend has received a deputation from the British Dental Association. The proposal has since been modified so that the exemption would be retained for school leavers until their 18th birthday.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the reaction of the Government to the recent suggestion that there should be directly elected health councillors to monitor the future running of the National Health Service.

In its report—Cmnd. 7615, chapter 20—the Royal Commission saw a variety of difficulties and objections to elections of this kind. These included the difficulty of obtaining the right mix of professional experience and lay membership, the costs and complications of running a new set of elections, the inevitable involvement of party politics in the arrangements and the possible lack of public interest in the procedure. The Royal Commission concluded—paragraph 20.63—that it would be preferable to retain appointment arrangements in something like their existing form. The Government agree with this view.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it is not open to opticians to prescribe plastic lenses on the National Health Service for the more powerful grades of lens.

A wide range of plastic bifocal, lenticular single vision, and lenticular bifocal lenses, are available through opticians under the general ophthalmic services to everyone who needs them. In addition, since December 1978 children and young people up to 18 years who need lenses in the power of six dioptres or more can be prescribed plastic single vision lenses.

Because plastic lenses are currently more expensive than glass lenses any extension of their availability would depend upon the resources available to the Health Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the amount of fraud of his Department's benefits in the 12 months to the latest convenient date.

A precise estimate is not possible. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) and other hon. Members on 25 March.—[Vol. 981, c. 1155–59.].

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it took his Department until 20 May to reply to the letters of 12 January, 13 February, and the parliamentary question of 26 February concerning the hon. Member for Newham, North-West's complaints of interminable delays in dealing with correspondence; and whether he will take action to expedite replies in the future.

I am sorry that the final reply to the hon. Member's representations was delayed. As I explained in my reply to his question on 16 April—[Vol. 982, c. 625 – 626 ]—the Department handles a very large volume of correspondence both from the general public and from hon. Members. Every letter is given the fullest consideration and our aim is to provide a reply as quickly as is possible. Correspondence is dealt with as fast as staff resources permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received a copy of "The Strategy for Corby", a community plan produced by the Corby joint industrial committee; and what is his policy on the proposals for capital and revenue costs for social services contained therein.

I have not received a copy of this report and it would be for the county council to consider any proposals on personal social services provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pregnancies were terminated in 1979 because of ( a ) maternal rubella disease, ( b ) maternal rubella contact and ( c ) maternal rubella immunisation.

The information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many girls were aged between 11 and 14 years since 1978 and 1979 in each area health authority, and what percentage of girls, in each year, had been vaccinated against rubella.

The numbers in this particular age group are not held centrally but, as part of the rubella vaccination campaign, the Department will be seeking information from area health authorities on the percentage uptake of rubella vaccination among girls in the group.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of rubella were reported in 1978, 1979 and at the last date for which figures are available.

Rubella is not a notifiable disease, but returns to the Royal College of General Practitioners from a representative sample of practices show the national trend, expressed as a weekly rate per 100,000 of the population, of all ages, to be as follows: 1978 13.4 1979 8.7 1980 (up to 17 May) 6.7

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has any plans to continue the rubella campaign; and if he will make a statement.

Although the Department has no plans to launch another national publicity campaign, health authorities' efforts will need to be sustained in order that the targets set last year may be achieved and maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, following his Department's rubella campaign in 1979, if he will list those health authorities which are undertaking rubella campaigns; and whether any campaign has been stopped because of financial constraints.

I am not aware that any local campaign has been stopped because of financial constraints but details are left to health authorities and the Department does not maintain a list of those running campaigns. If the hon. Member wishes to know the position in a particular authority, he may like to seek the information direct.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the incidence of congenital rubella by area health authority in 1979.

The national congenital rubella surveillance scheme does not give the number of notifications of congenital rubella by area. Only 34 children born in Great Britain in 1979 with congenital rubella had been notified to the scheme by 1 March 1980. It is expected that the final total will exceed this number as further notifications have yet to be confirmed and some defects only become apparent later in life.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many fully equipped intensive and special care baby units are in operation; and what are the names and locations of each hospital in which they are situated and the respective number of intensive and special care baby cots.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 22 October 1979.—[Vol. 972, c. 92 — 4 .] Information on the numbers of special and intensive care cots for the newly born is not collected routinely, but the following changes have come to the Department's notice since that reply was given: Northern Region Newcastle general hospital: number of intensive care cots now three. Yorkshire region Leeds general infirmary (Roundhay hospital): a number of intensive care cots available (see below). Trent region Nottingham city hospital: number of special care cots now 38. Jessop hospital, Sheffield: number of special care cots now 25. West Midlands region Birmingham maternity hospital: number of intensive care cots now five. Oxford region John Radcliffe hospital, Oxford: number of special care cots now 34. South-East Thames region King's College hospital: number of special care cots now 20 and of intensive care cots now four. Guy's hospital: number of special care cots now 15. Royal Sussex hospital, Brighton: number of intensive care cots now five. South-West Thames region St. George's hospital, Tooting: number of special care cots is now 10. London Post-Graduate Boards of Governors Hospitals for sick children, Great Ormond Street and Queen Elizabeth hospital, Hackney: a number of intensive care cots available (see below).

Cots at the hospitals for sick children (Great Ormond Street and Hackney) and at the Leeds general infirmary serve both specialist surgery and paediatric intensive care as required; the numbers employed for each of these purposes will vary according to demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentages of women reported their pregnancies by (a) 12 weeks, (b) 16 weeks, (c) 20 weeks and (d) 25 weeks in each area health authority for the years 1977, 1978 and 1979.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what results he has had from his discussions as to the possibilities of increasing the output of newly-qualified chiropodists over the next five years.

Plans have been agreed in principle between Health and Education Departments, the Chiropodists' Board and the main professional bodies to raise the output of chiropodists from recognised chiropody schools by 50 per cent. over the level achieved in 1978. Intakes to existing schools rose in 1979 to 299 students as against 278 in 1978. Further expansion at these schools will be made as resources permit. The Chiropodists' Board has also approved the opening of two new schools in Plymouth and in East Sussex which between them will add another 50 places by 1986. The scope for further progress will be kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the numbers and locations of family planning clinics in England in 1977, 1978 and 1979 and at the present date; and if he will name those clinics which are scheduled for closure.

The numbers of family planning clinics in England in 1977 and 1978 were as follows: 1977 — 1,745 1978 — 1,735

Information about the total number of clinics in 1979 and at present is not yet available.

The remaining information for which the hon. Member has asked is not available centrally in the detail requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are at present using kidney machines either in a hospital or at home in the North-West; if he is satisfied with the number of machines and the number of trained staff available to operate them; and whether he has any plans to increase the number of machines in the near future.

In 1978, the latest year for which figures are held centrally, there were 96 patients on home dialysis and 35 on hospital dialysis in the region for which the North-Western regional health authority is responsible. The number of machines and the number of trained staff available to operate them are for the regional health authority to determine in the light of local circumstances and available resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates for England in 1979 by region and area health authority.

The figures are expected to be available in July or August.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentages of ( a ) all births and ( b ) births in National Health Service hospitals were induced in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979, respectively; and what was the perinatal mortality rates for these births.

The estimated number of inductions as percentages of all deliveries in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales in 1976 and 1977, the last two years for which figures are available, was 370 per cent. and 37.7 per cent. respectively; the comparable figures for hospital inductions as a percentage of all births were 35.2 per cent. and 36.1 per cent. The perinatal mortality rate for these births is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of congenital malformations per 1,000 total births for babies of women ( a ) under 16 years, ( b ) 16 to 19 years, ( c ) 20 to 29 years, ( d ) 30 to 35 years and ( e ) over 35 years for 1977, 1978 and 1979.

The available figures are set out below. Corresponding figures for 1979 are not yet available. 1978 1978 1979 * All births— Total (live and still) births … … … … 574,664 601,526 642,530 Perinatal mortality rate† … … … … 17 15 Not yet available Infant mortality rate‡ … … … … 14 13 Illegitimates§ Total (live and still) births … … … … 56,078 61,336 69,960 Perinatal mortality rate† … … … … 23 21 Not yet available Infant mortality rate‡ … … … … 20 18 * Provisional (estimated to the nearest 10). †Per 1,000 live and still births. ‡Per 1,000 livebirths. §Illegitimate at birth.

Numbers of congenitally malformed babies per 1,000 total births in England and Wales. Age of Mother 1977 All ages 21.6 Under 15 37.5 15–19 22.4 20–29 21.0 30–34 21.0 35 and over 23.1 Age of Mother 1978 All ages 21.2 Under 15 27.0 15–19 22.8 20–29 20.9 30–34 19.5 35 and over 23.6

Notes: 1. Rates at age under 15 are based on very small numbers and should be interpreted with caution. 2. Figures are derived from a voluntary system of notifying congenital malformations observed at birth or up to seven days after birth and are therefore an incomplete measure of the total number of affected infants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of births to single women in 1977, 1978 and 1979; and what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates, together with the comparable figures for all births.

The information requested is not available. Statistics from birth registration on illegitimate births are available but do not distinguish whether the mother was single, married to someone other than the father, widowed or divorced.

For all births and all illegitimate births the perinatal and infant mortality rates were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total numbers of births to the age groups ( a ) under 16 years, ( b ) 16 to 19 years, ( c ) 20 to 29 years, ( d ) 30 to 35 years, and PERINATAL AND INFANT MORTAUTY RATES AND NUMBERS OF BIRTHS BY ACE OF MOTHER IN ENGLAND AND WALES Age of mother ( in years ) All ages Under 16 16–19 20–29 30–34 35 and over 1978— Perinatal mortality rate* … 15 24 21 14 14 23 Infant mortality rate† … 13 16 19 13 11 14 Numbers of stillbirths … 5,108 18 597 3,083 911 499 Numbers of livebirths … 596,418 1,383 54,601 393,178 113,077 34,179 Total numbers of births … 601,526 1,401 55,198 396,261 113,988 34,678 1979‡— Numbers of stillbirths … 5,130 20 560 3,120 960 480 Numbers of livebirths … 637,400 1,330 57,690 415,040 125,580 37,760 Total number of births … 642,530 1,350 58,250 418,150 126,540 38,240 * Per 1,000 live and stillbirths. † Per 1,000 livebirths. ‡ Provisional (estimated to the nearest ten).

Infant and perinatal mortality rates by age of mother for 1979 will not be available until early 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what percentage of total births were represented by ( a ) babies weighing 2,500 1977 1978 Babies weighing— ( a ) 2,500 grams or less: Number … 38,231 39,839 Percentage of total births (live and still) … 7 7 Stillbirths: Rate per thousand live and stillbirths … 85.1 77.9 Perinatal deaths: Rate per thousand live and stillbirths … 154.3 143.1 Neonatal deaths: Rate per thousand live births … 84.4 80.8 ( b ) 2,500 grams or less: Number … 12,695 13,290 Percentage of total births … 2.3 2.3 Stillbirths: Rate … 195.5 179.3 Perinatal deaths: Rate … 366.4 339.8 Neonatal deaths: Rate … 232.5 219.2 ( c ) 1,500 grams or less: Number … 5,363 5,728 Percentage of total births … 1 1 Stillbirths: Rate … 303.4 276.9 Perinatal deaths: Rate … 611.6 558.7 Neonatal deaths: Rate … 479.7 435.5

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the up-to-date comparisons between take-home pay of nurses and doctors.

( c ) 35 years and over in 1978 and 1979; and what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates for each group.

The available figures are as follows:

grams or less, ( b ) 2,000 grams or less and ( c ) 1,500 grame or less; and what were the stillbirth, perinatal and neonatal rates for each group for 1977, 1978 and 1979.

This information is not yet available for 1979. Figures for the previous years are as follows:

Information is not available which would enable comparisons to be made in the form suggested. Gross pay reflects, in addition to basic salary for the grade concerned, the various allowances or additional payments to which particular individuals may be entitled. Net pay—or take-home pay—is affected by a variety of factors including income tax, which depend largely on the personal and domestic circumstances of each individual employee.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions he has given to the relevant authorities regarding nurses' pay arising out of the meeting on 29 May at 10 Downing Street.

No instructions have been given to health authorities following the meeting of 29 May. The management side of the nurses and midwives Whitley Council is aware of the overall cash limit increase for 1980–81 within which the pay settlement for nurses has to be negotiated. That situation has not changed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a further statement on the Clegg Commission report relating to nurses' pay.

There has been no error.

The Standing Commission dealt with the question of working hours for nurses and midwives in paragraph 44 of its Report No. 3 (Cmnd. 7795). It acknowledged that nurses currently worked a 40-hour week, but said it had based its recommended pay scales on a 37½ hour week, as commonly worked by comparators, since it was intended to reduce the nurses' working week to 37½ hours by April 1981, and it would not be necessary to make further adjustments to nurses' pay when the shorter week was introduced. After the Standing Commission's award had been implemented, the Government authorised NHS management to negotiate a solution to the problem of nurses' working hours in the financial year 1980–81. An agreement was reached on 11 March 1980 by the nurses and midwives Whitley Council, on which the National Union of Public Employees is represented, which allowed the working week to be reduced up to a year earlier than expected, with provision for additional payments from 1 April 1980 for any nurses who continued to work 40 hours after that date. Thus, the problem of nurses' hours has been resolved within the normal negotiating machinery, with the assistance of additional finance provided by the Government. Whatever view one may take of the approach to this question adopted by the Standing Commission, it is not the case that there was any error similar to the one which occurred in the commission's report on teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made on the cytomegalovirus vaccine; if there is any evidence that it can be reactivated in pregnancy; and if he will make a statement.

The Medical Research Council, jointly with the Health Departments and the Public Health Laboratory Service Board, has a Committee on the Development of Vaccines and Immunisation Procedures which is closely in touch with vaccination programmes and keeps the field under regular review. There is a sub-committee on cytomegalovirus and, although the Medical Research Council is not itself supporting any research specifically aimed at development of a vaccine, the sub-committee is aware of work being done in the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

A small trial of a potential cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine is being conducted in kidney transplant patients at St. George's hospital medical school and King's College hospital in London. Initial results are encouraging, but very few patients have so far been recruited and it is hoped to extend the trial to other hospitals in the London area.

An epidemiological study of CMV infection in pregnancy is in progress at St. Bartholomew's hospital, London, and a similar study was recently begun at the Charing Cross hospital medical school. A further study is planned in Dublin.

There is some evidence that reactivation of CMV infection in pregnancy is unlikely to be a major problem; foetal damage is more likely to occur following primary infection in pregnancy in women who have had no previous infection and therefore have no immunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the level of the single and married couples retirement pension at 1980 values for the last 25 years.

It is customary to compare the value of benefits as at uprating dates. For information on the value of retirement pensions at uprating dates since July 1948, at November 1979 prices, I refer my hon. Friend to table 5.1 of the Department of Health and Social Security's Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions , dated May 1980, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled drivers received the petrol allowance; what is the annual cost; and what would be the annual cost of increasing the allowance to £17.

Approximately 23,600 disabled people currently receive this allowance at an annual cost of around £236,000 The additional annual cost of increasing the allowance to £17 a year would be of the order of £165,000, though in present economic circumstances such an increase cannot be contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of current places on courses for the certificate of qualification in social work; and what information he has as to the proportion of such places utilised by persons who are not supported either by grants from his Department or through secondment by their employers.

Provisional figures from the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work show that 3,760 students entered courses leading to the certificate of qualification in social work in the current academic year.

The latest information compiled by the council on the sources of student finance relates to the student intake in 1978–79. While this information is not complete, it suggests that about 48 per cent. of students were seconded by their employers, 20 per cent. received support from this Department, 18 per cent. from other Government Departments, and 12 per cent. from local education authorities; 2 per cent. were self-financed or came from overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was spent on National Health Service medicines, including chemists' dispensing fees and other distributory costs, per person in every year since June 1970.

The average total cost per person in the United Kingdom was as follows: £ 1970 3.849 1971 4.281 1972 4.843 1973 5.297 1974 6.167 1975 8.129 1976 10.215 1977 12.501 1978 14.802 1979 16.580

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what were the numbers of prescriptions issued in the United Kingdom in 1978 and 1979 for the following categories: antacids and antispasmodics, tonics and gastro-intestinal sedatives, preparations acting on the heart, diuretics, anti-hypertensives, vasco-dilators and vasco-constrictors, expectorants and cough suppressants, asthma, sedatives and tranquilisers, anti-depressants, hypnotics (barbiturate), hypnotics (non-barbiturate), CNS stimulants and appetite suppressants, anti-convulsants and anti-parkinsonism, local anaesthetics and counter-irritants, penicillins, tetro-cyclines, sulphanomides, other antibiotics, other anti-infectives, oral contraceptives, insulin (including hypoglycaemic agents), vitamin preparations, eye preparations, rheumatic preparations and dressings and appliances;

(2) what was the distribution of prescriptions by the following therapeutic classes in the United Kingdom in 1979: preparations acting on the nervous system, preparations acting on the cardiovascular-system and diuretics, preparations acting systematically on infections, preparations acting on the respiratory system, preparations acting locally on the skin and mucous membranes, preparations acting on the gastro-intestinal system, preparations with hormones or anti-hormone activity, preparations for rheumatism and all others.

The figures requested, under their current therapeutic classifications, which relate to the prescriptions dispensed in 1977 and 1978, the latest years available, are contained in separate tables for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As these tables are lengthy I am sending my hon. Friend a copy and am placing a copy in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prescriptions were issued in England and Wales for the following categories in 1979: tranquillisers, non barbiturate hypnotics and antidepressants.

Prescriptions have not been analysed under the therapeutic classes specified in the question since 1975, but the figures for revised classes which are broadly comparable are shown below for 1978, the latest year available: Therapeutic class Number of prescriptions ( million ) Hypnotics 15.41 Sedatives and tranquillisers 22.66 Anti-depressants 7.19 Anti-depressant and sedative/tranquilliser combinations 1.49

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the occasions and dates when he or any of his departmental colleagues have met official representatives of the Trades Union Congress at a formal meeting to discuss policy issues, excluding meetings with departmental unions about Whitley conditions; and whether there has been any occasion when he has refused to meet a Trades Union Congress deputation after the congress has officially requested one.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what specific advice his Department has received from the Advisory Committee on Alcoholism in the last three years on relaxation of the licensing laws both in regard to permitted hours and young people.

The following recommendations were included in the 1977 report on prevention by the advisory committee on alcoholism Licensing hours should not be extended until sufficient evidence exists that to do so would not aggravate the problem; there should be no relaxation of the present age limits for purchasing or consuming alcohol until there is sufficient evidence to suggest that to do so will not lead to increased harm; and the responsible authorities should take steps to ensure that the existing age limits are enforced as rigorously as possible at both on-licence and off-licence premises ".

The licensing law is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I refer my hon. Friend to his reply to his related question of today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department, after 13 months of the present Government, in achieving the policy programme which he set it on assuming office.

The Government's principal objectives in the health and personal social services, mostly set out in the manifesto, were to maintain spending on the National Health Service, to promote partnership with the voluntary and private sectors and to provide services which are less bureaucratic and more sensitive to local needs. The commitment on National Health Service spending has been maintained, and legislation before the House frees private medicine, and gives health authorities fund-raising powers. Central Government support for voluntary organisations is being maintained, proposals have been issued for more flexible future patterns of hospital provision, and revised arrangements will be announced shortly for the structure and management of the National Health Service. The Department has also, with others, contributed to the relaxation of central Government controls over local authorities, and reduction in the number of circulars.

In the social security field, we have made progress towards the manifesto objectives, despite the overriding need to restrain public expenditure to get the economy straight. Within that constraint price protection for retirement and widow pensioners and the supplementary benefit safety net have been maintained, child benefits are being increased, and the annual payment of a Christmas bonus made statutory. War widows' pensions have been freed of tax and war and industrial injuries disablement benefits have been fully price-protected. Proposals have been put forward for an employers' statutory sick pay scheme, and for taxing unemployment and incapacity benefits. A simpler supplementary benefits scheme is being introduced; action is being stepped up against fraud and abuse, and the balance between union and employer in trade disputes in being redressed. I intend to make further progress in the months ahead.

In addition, we have provided better help for those most in need. Special help with heating costs has been provided for those on supplementary benefit and family income supplement and this is being extended next winter. From November, the chronic sick and disabled will be able to take advantage of the reduction in the qualifying level for the long term supplementary benefit rate from two years to one. Many of them will also benefit from increases in mobility allowance which will have increased by 45 per cent. since we came into office. The doubling of family income supplement payments will have helped low paid working families, especially lone parents, and provided them with a passport to other benefits. Lone parents will also have benefited by a 50 per cent. increase in the child benefit addition and speedier qualification for the long term supplementary benefit rate and more generous disregard for earnings. The maternity grant is being made non-contributory so that it will become available to all mothers including the small number who fail the present conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many terminations of pregnancy were due to failure of an intrauterine device; and what were the total numbers of malformed births due to an intrauterine device for the years 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

The information requested is not available; and I am advised that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the use of intrauterine devices and the occurrence of congenital malformations.

asked the Attorney-General if any of the 450 staff savings in the Lord Chancellor's Department announced on 6 December 1979 have yet been made; and, if not, when he expects them to be achieved and in what divisions, at what grades and in which geographical regions.

The numbers of posts saved so far in departments for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible are as follows: ( a ) by division Royal Courts of Justice 24 Land Registry 74 Public Trustee Office 7 105 ( b ) by grade Administration Group 24 Secretarial Category 40 Messengers, Paperkeepers etc. 39 Legal Category 2 105 ( c ) by region East Anglia 1 East Midlands 7 North 4 North-West 8 South-East 57 South-West 26 Wales 2 105

The remaining staff savings will be distributed as follows:

in 1980/81 Royal Courts of Justic 26 Public Trustee Office 18 in 1981/82 Crown Conrt 75 County Courts Court of Protection Official Solicitor's Department Internal Audit Service

Land Registry 61 Public Record Office 39 Public Trustee Office 10 in 1982/83 Crown Court 25 County Courts Internal Audit Service Land Registry 61 Public Trustee Office 30

It is not yet possible to say precisely in what regions or at what grades these further savings will be achieved.

asked the Attorney-General in which divisions, at what grades and in what geographical area the 211 posts by which the staff in post in his Department contracted between 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1980 were employed.

In the Lord Chancellor's Department a contraction of staff in post of 201 occurred between 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1980 as set out below (by region): North/Yorks and Humberside 22 East Midlands/West Midlands 17 East Anglia/South-East 75 South-West 22 North-West 37 Wales 28 201

This contraction of staff in post occurred mainly in clerical and bailiff grades in the county courts.

It is not possible at short notice to provide a more detailed breakdown of the grades and locations in which the contraction occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will list those statistical or management reports of the Department of Trade which require input from field numbers, 32 to 46 inclusive, of the C10 general import entry form;

(2) if he will list those statistical or management reports of the Department of Trade which require input from the information contained in the C10 general import entry form.

The information collected by this form is mainly required by Her Majesty's Customs in the dis- charge of the administrative responsibilities laid upon it by Parliament. The principal report for which the Department of Trade is responsible which contains information obtained from the form C10 is the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom. A number of other regular statistical publications also include data drawn from the form, including: Business Monitor MA 8 : Nationality of vessels in United Kingdom seaborne trade; Business Monitor MQ 10 : Overseas trade analysed in terms of industries; Business Monitor MQ 12 : Import penetration and export sales ratios for manufacturing industry; Monthly Press Notice : The current account of the United Kingdom balance of payments; Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics; United Kingdom Trade with European Countries.

Articles drawn from these sources also apper regularly in the periodical " British Business ", and the business monitor production series (in which there are currently over 160 separate titles) includes import statistics which derive ultimately from the form C10. Additionally, there are a large number of other reports and statistical documents, regular and ad hoc, circulated both within and outside the Department, which in varying degree incorporate information obtained from that form.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much anthracite imported into the United Kingdom is being marketed in Ireland.

This information is not available, as re-exports—whether to the Irish Republic or other countries—are not separately identified in the statistics of overseas trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of pharmaceutical imports into the United Kingdom in each year since 1970; and what was the value of pharmaceutical exports from the United Kingdom for the same period.

The value of imports and exports of medicinal and pharmaceutical products from 1970 to 1978 is given in tables 12.6 and 125 respectively of the 1980 edition of the annual abstract of statistics and for 1979 in tables II and V of the December 1979 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom , under SITC (R2) division 54. Copies of these publications are in the library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give an estimate of the total cost of airport passenger security checks at British Airports Authority airports and the total income expected from the proposed new charges per passenger; and if he is considering a reduced charge for package tour passengers.

It is estimated that the total cost of aviation security measures at the seven British Airport Authority airports in the financial year 1980–81 will be approximately £27,000,000 of which 65 per cent. is for searching, and that levy income in respect of the same airports will be a little over £34,000,000. The excess of income over expenditure will pay off the deficit of nearly £6,000,000 incurred in 1979–80, when the income from the levy was insufficient to reimburse security expenditure at BAA and other United Kingdom airports. It will also contribute to the cost of certain expenses borne by the aviation security fund that cannot be attributed to particular airports. The levy payable by airport authorities to the fund has been calculated at a rate of £1.60 per arriving passenger since 1 February 1980, and there are no plans to distinguish between types of passenger for the purpose of this calculation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why the report of the Rayner project concerning services to exporters makes no reference to the funding of inward missions.

The action document on Sir Derek Rayner's report on services to exporters that my right hon. Friend placed in the Library of the House on 30 April in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, Central (Mr. Grant) did not refer to the inward mission scheme since no changes in the present arrangements are proposed. Full details of the scheme are to be found in the booklet " BOTB's Services ", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many companies have taken advantage of the market entry guarantee scheme in each year since its commencement.

The market entry guarantee scheme was introduced on 26 January 1978. Seventeen companies entered into agreements in the first year of the scheme; 27 in the second year; and nine to date in the current year. A further nine companies are considering offers of agreements. Forty-three applications are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the Companies Act 1980 will be brought into effect; and if he will make a statement.

I have made the commencement order to bring into effect on 23 June certain provisions of the Companies Act 1980. These are: section 46 which lays down that directors are to have regard in the performance of their functions to the interests of the company's employees; sections 68.73 which make insider dealing a criminal offence; section 80 which (together with schedule 2) revises the mode of trial and penalties for offences under the Companies Acts 1948 to 1976 and revises the definition of a default fine in relation to offences under the Companies Acts 1948 to 1980; section 81 which confers a power to alter the requirements as to the matters to be stated in the directors' report; section 83 which continues the application of certain provisions of the Protection of Depositors Act 1963 for deposit-takers not licensed under the Banking Act 1979; and relevant parts of section 84 and sections 86 to 90 which deal with minor amendments, repeals, interpretation, technical provisions and corresponding provision for Northern Ireland. Amongst the minor and consequential amendments is an amendment to section 54 of the 1948 Act which enables financial assistance to be provided by companies for employee share schemes as defined in the 1980 Act.

Work is in hand on the implementation of the rest of the Act and I hope that this will be completed later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what limit on the volume of imports into the United Kingdom of knitted underwear products was agreed between the EEC and Spain for 1979; and what was the actual volume of these imports for that year.

[ pursuant to his reply , 2 June 1980]: A separate restraint level was agreed only for underpants and briefs. Spain agreed to limit her exports of these products to the United Kingdom in 1979 to 3,300,000 pieces, which could be enhanced under the flexibility provisions of the agreement by up to a further 1,260,000 pieces. This quantity was, however, exceeded, and, at the request of the Community, Spain suspended issue of further export licences. Imports consigned from Spain in 1979 amounted to 4,764,781 pieces. (Source: Overseas Trade Statistics ).

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 June.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley).

asked the Prime Minister when next she plans to take the chair at a meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

I hope to do so at a future meeting.

asked the Prime Minister if she will set up an inquiry into the nutritional standards of school meals.

No.

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

I meet representatives of the TUC at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Inverallochy.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received on the hardship caused to the elderly and infirm by the level of prescription charges.

I have received a number of letters on the general subject of prescription charges, including one from the hon. Member dated 19 May. The arrangements for charges provide for exemption for women aged 60 and over and for men aged 65 and over, and for those of all ages suffering from certain specified medical conditions.

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made since the last European Council held in Luxembourg in solving the problem of the United Kingdom's budgetary contribution to the Common Market.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will recommend to Her Majesty that she confer the title " Royal " on the Ulster Defence Regiment.

The Government have the highest possible regard for the contribution made by the members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and I should like to congratulate the regiment warmly on attaining its tenth anniversary.

The award of a Royal title is an honour most sparingly given by Her Majesty who would not normally consider any individual recommendation in isolation. At present, there are a number of possible candidates, both in this country and in the Commonwealth, including other corps and regiments of the British Army which have also given loyal and distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the last 10 years.

asked the Prime Minister if, further to her reply of 22 May, the inquiry chaired by Sir Bernard Scott will be considering the operation of the pay research unit and the system of fair comparison as a basis for settling Civil Service pay.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what assessment she has made of the proportion of the reduction in the numbers of civil servants announced on 13 May which will be due to a reduction in the tasks expected from them.

Ministers in charge of Departments are now drawing up their plans for further reductions. As I explained in my statement to the House on 13 May, these will be obtained by concentrating on essential functions and making operations simpler and more efficient. It is too early to say what will be the respective proportions of savings arising from these two sources.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the light of the fact that up to 100 questions are put down for her oral answer each Tuesday and Thursday, but there is time for only some five to be called, or some 20 if other hon. Members' supplementaries are included, she will extend the period of Prime Minister's questions from 15 to 30 minutes.

As I said when I made a statement on 12 July 1979 on the arrangements for Prime Minister's questions, I do not believe that it would be desirable to depart from the traditional procedure and to take time away from departmental Ministers in order to extend the time which is available for my questions.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the 1979 annual report and accounts of the Commonwealth Development Corporation have been published; and if he will arrange for copies to be made available to hon. Members.

The report and accounts were published on 28 May and copies were laid before the House. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of both Houses.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is yet able to make a statement in response to the report of the Select Committee for Overseas Development on British aid to India, published in the last Parliament.

My observations on the report are being placed in the House today, as Cmnd. 7909.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the amount spent by the United Kingdom on official development assistance in 1978–79; and what proportion of the gross national product this amount represented.

Net flows of official development assistance (oda) and their proportion of the gross national product in 1978 and 1979 were as follows: 1978 Official Development Assistance (£ million) 759 Ratio oda/GNP 0.47% 1979 Official Development Assistance (£ million) 974 Ratio oda/GNP 0.52%

These figures are net of capital repayments to the United Kingdom in respect of past aid loans. They have been compiled according to the development assistance committee's new basis of assessment which requires the inclusion of promissory notes deposited in respect of certain multilateral agencies instead of the cash drawn down by those agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to extend the concessionary television licence payment at present made to retirement pensioners residing in sheltered accommodation to disabled persons residing in such accommodation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Lord Chancellor will refer to the Law Commission the question of the operation of the Judges' Rules and the procedures for interrogating suspected persons.

A reference to the Law Commission would not be appropriate on these matters, which are already under review by the Royal Commission on criminal procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which divisions, at what grades and in what geographical area the 610 posts by which the staff in post in his Department increased between 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1980 were employed.

Between the dates mentioned there was a net increase of 605 in staff in post; growth in priority areas was partly offset by reductions elsewhere. The main increases were as follows: