asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases referred to pneumoconiosis medical panels by coroners' pathologists who have diagnosed asbestosis there have been in which (a) the pneumoconiosis medical panel has confirmed the diagnosis of asbestosis, (b) the pneumoconiosis medical panel has not confirmed the diagnosis of asbestosis with the alternative diagnosis made in each of these cases and (c) the pneumoconiosis medical panel has confirmed the diagnosis but it has been decided that asbestosis did not contribute to death and has been omitted from the death certificate.

I have been asked to reply.Separate records of the opinions of coroners' pathologists and of the pneumoconiosis medical panels as to the cause of death are not maintained. I therefore regret that this information is not available. It could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received the copy of the Westminster medical school's response to the report of the working party on medical and dental teaching resources under the chairmanship of Lord Flowers, sent to him by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received a copy of the Westminster medical school's response to the Flowers report. Consideration of this and other responses to the report is a matter for the University of London.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, having regard to the fact that over 46 per cent. of area health authorities provide foetal neural tube detection, he will seek powers to require health authorities to provide such diagnostic expertise so as to eliminate foetal neurological damage.

The decision to introduce a screening programme is for the individual health authority concerned. Although a number of health authorities do not screen all pregnant women routinely for neural tube defects, I expect all authorities to have the facilities and expertise available for the appropriate diagnostic tests to be performed in individual cases where this is judged to be necessary by the doctor in charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he still expects, in the first full year of each item prescribed, eventually costing £1 to the patient, to save £85 million.

The estimated income from prescription charges in 1980–81 in Great Britain is £85 million at the survey prices used for the Government's expenditure plans published in March (Cmnd. 7841). This is expected to amount to about £94 million at out-turn prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 4 February, column 75, and following the consultation with the professional bodies referred to in his reply, Official Report, 8 May, column 217, he will reconsider his decision not to give more publicity to the apparent dangers associated with the use of the intrauterine contraceptive device, the Dalkon shield.

I shall answer the hon. Member as soon as I have considered the responses of the professional bodies whose views on this matter I have invited.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the kitchen at the hospital at St. Cross conforms to the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Food and Hygiene Regulations 1970; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Warwickshire area health authority which has emphasised that it is not seeking to evade its responsibilities. It has taken and will continue to take action to improve the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has in the future when the financial situation improves to provide a unit for spinal injuries for the South-West of England.

Planning of a 48-bed spinal unit to be sited at Odstock hospital, near Salisbury, is now at an ad

Per cent.
Regional Hospital Board area	Pre-1850	1850 to 1899	1900 to 1918	1919 to 1948	1948 to 1972	Age not stated
Newcastle	2·5	24·9	7·2	24·8	28·7	11·9
Leeds	2·2	25·8	21·6	22·1	22·8	5·5
Sheffield	3·2	24·0	14·1	22·8	27·7	8·2
East Anglian	13·0	25·2	12·4	18·2	31·2	—
North West Metropolitan	1·7	20·4	17·4	26·8	26·6	7·1
North East Metropolitan	4·3	23·3	13·1	27·4	17·4	14·5
South East Metropolitan	8·5	34·5	19·6	20·7	13·0	3·6
South West Metropolitan	5·2	29·2	24·2	20·8	19·5	1·0
Oxford	10·1	20·1	5·9	31·8	27·2	4·9
South Western	14·9	21·5	9·6	27·3	22·2	4·5
Birmingham	9·3	24·4	15·5	23·3	21·9	5·6
Manchester	4·2	35·7	20·1	20·1	19·8	—
Liverpool	3·2	47·3	17·8	15·3	13·4	2·9
Wessex	4·6	24·4	15·4	19·6	21·6	14·4
London Teaching Hospitals	10·2	45·4	13·5	15·4	11·5	3·8
Provincial Teaching Hospitals	5·8	16·3	7·5	18·1	43·0	9·3

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from members of professions supplementary to medicine concerning their professional status; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a considerable number of letters and representations from members of these professions. They are concerned at the implica vanced stage. This unit, which is expected to open in 1983, will serve part of Southern England including the South-Western region.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the hospital stock in the separate regions of England was built (a) pre-1850, (b) pre-1900, (c) pre-1925, (d) pre-1950 and (e) pre-1960.

Information in the precise form requested is not available. The last detailed survey of the age of hospital stock was carried out in 1972. This showed an estimated percentage age distribution of hospital stock in the hospital regions of England as they existed in 1972 as follows:tions on their professional status of certain aspects of the report by the Clegg Standing Commission on pay comparability. I have made clear that some of the issues raised are matters for negotiation within the Professional and Technical A Whitley Council, but that I am very willing to discuss with representatives of the professions concerned any matters which are causing them particular concern. I shall be meeting the Whitley Council staff side on 7 July and will be having further meetings with individual organisations in the following weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if there are any studies that have established detrimental psychological effects on people who live adjacent to opencast coalmining operations.

The Department has not sponsored any such studies and neither the Department nor, I understand, the Medical Research Council is aware of any research specific to this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any proposals to contract out to private companies ancillary services of the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement clarifying the use and employment of private contractors in the support services of the Health Service, and detailing the extent of such usage in the various sectors.

Health authorities have discretion to put a wide range of services out to contract, and it is for them to decide whether their needs can most suitably be met by doing so. My right hon. Friend has indicated that he would be glad to see them use their discretion more freely, and I am considering what further encouragement it may be appropriate for me to offer.Detailed information about all services is not available centrally; but in 1978–79 the provision by contractors of catering and domestic cleaning services, for example, accounted for 0·16 per cent. and 2·38 per cent. respectively of the total NHS expenditure on these services in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of national health expenditure for each year since 1960 has been on building new hospitals and on repair and maintenance of hospitals.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1980, c. 70]: The percentages of national health expenditure in England on new hospital building and on the repair and maintenance of hospitals for each year since 1960 are as follows:

Year	Percentage of expenditure on new hospital building	Percentage of expenditure on repair and maintenance
1960–61	0·5	3·8
1961–62	0·8	4·0
1962–63	1·0	3·5
1963–64	1·3	3·5
1964–65	1·6	3·6
1965–66	1·6	3·3
1966–67	1·5	3·2
1967–68	2·0	3·3
1968–69	2·5	3·2
1969–70	2·9	3·4
1970–71	2·9	3·4
1971–72	3·2	3·6
1972–73	3·2	3·6
1973–74	3·2	3·5
1974–75	3·4	4·3
1975–76	3·2	4·3
1976–77	3·1	3·0
1977–78	2·5	3·7
1978–79	2·0	3·6

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 13 June, if he will set up a full inquiry in order to establish the up-to-date position as to how much it would cost to bring hospitals, buildings and equipment up to standard.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1980, c. 638–39]: No. I have no reason to think that the results of such an inquiry would be likely to modify significantly the estimate I gave in my reply to the hon. Member of 13 June.—[Vol. 986, c. 338.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table, with the highest benefit entitlement at the top, showing the total benefit entitlement for a widow with two children in each of the circumstances to which the appropriate benefits listed in Official Report, 27 March, columns 1674–8 refer, also showing which benefits are taxable and which are tax-free, and which are to be increased by 16½ per cent. next November compared with those which are to be abated.

[pursuant to her reply, 16 June 1980, c. 439]: All the benefits

	Before Uprating	After Uprating
	£	£
1. Widow's allowance* (first 26 weeks of widowhood)	54·80(22·20)	62·50(24·50)
2. War widow's pension (private's widow)†	52·40(52·40)	59·80(59·80)
3. Industrial injuries—widow's pension‡	46·05(22·20)	52·20(24·50)
4. Widowed mother's allowance‡	45·50(22·20)	51·65(24·50)
* Industrial injuries or contributory benefit; widow's earnings-related addition may also be payable.
† A variable rent allowance is payable; rank element and additional component may be payable.
‡ Additional component may be payable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were employed in hospital works departments in each year since 1970; and how many extra staff would need to be employed now to bring these departments up to their full staffing complement.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 June, c. 639]: The number of people—whole-time equivalents—employed in hospital works departments in England excluding administrative support staff for each year from 1970 to 1978 (the latest year for which figures are available) is as follows:

1970	27,448
1971	27,787
1972	27,185
1973	26,569
1974	26,432
1975	27,929
1976	28,668
1977	28,700
1978	28,447

Area health authorities are responsible for the maintenance of the NHS estate and for determining the level of staffing needed for this purpose. Records of staffing complements are not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now conduct an inquiry into the present con shown receive the full 16·5 per cent, up-rating, but the child dependency allowances are reduced by 75p each to take account of the increase in child benefit—which is included in the amounts shown. Apart from war widow's pension, which is not taxable, the personal element of the benefits is taxable but benefit payable for children is tax-free. The tax-free amount is shown in brackets after the total benefit.ditions of the National Health Service's estates; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) today.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to receive the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry into British Railways London and South-East services.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive the commission's report by 3 September this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will define, for the benefit of the consumer, a proper capacity for a glass of wine.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will use his powers under the Weights and Measures Acts to make a prescribed quantities order for wine sold by the glass in licensed establishments.

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Mr. Benyon) on 23 June 1980, which covers the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what consideration has been given to levying an airport arrival and departure tax on all foreign nations entering and leaving the United Kingdom; what information he has on any such taxes levied in other countries; and if he will make a statement.

I do not know of any country where airport arrival and departure taxes are levied on foreign nationals only. Since such discrimination would be unjustifiable, no serious consideration has been given to the proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he plans to introduce legislation giving effect to amendments to the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 as recommended by the review committee which reported in 1975.

No. It may, however, become necessary to amend the Act, depending on the outcome of certain policy decisions which are currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the representative bodies, trade associations and professional bodies in, and connected with, the construction industry he has met since June 1979.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1980, c. 95]: I have had no meetings with representative bodies of the construction industry, though officials from my Department are in regular contact with them particularly as far as specific overseas projects are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will consider setting up an investigation into the effect of the escalating costs of spectacles upon the frequency with which people who suffer from defective and deteriorating eyesight seek optical examinations and acquire new lenses; and if he will publish updated figures for the profitability of the optical industry, from lens and frame manufacture to the provision of spectacles to the customer, as compared with figures made available in the last report on the optical industry published in 1976.

I have been asked to reply.No. Optical examinations in the National Health Service are free of charge. The costs of NHS optical appliances are kept under continuous review and remission of charge is available to children and persons with low incomes.As regards the publication of updated figures for the profitability of the optical industry, I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade has no figures more up-to-date than those published in 1976. I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 10 June.—[Vol. 986, c.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects the final report of the Committee to Review the Functioning of Financial Institutions, chaired by the right hon. Member for Huyton (Sir. H. Wilson) to be published.

The report of the Committee to Review the Functioning of Financial Institutions is being laid before the House and published today.I would like to take this opportunity to thank the right hon. Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) and his fellow members. They have performed a notable service for the authorities and for the financial community generally in charting the financial system as it now is and as it might develop. The Government will be studying their findings and recommendations with the utmost care. I am sure that others to whom recommendations are directed will wish to do likewise.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a. statement on Government proposals for expenditure on the disabled, in the light of the statement by the Minister with special responsibility for the disabled that figures in the public expenditure White Paper do not reflect Government policy.

The Government's prime objectives are to reduce inflation and to secure an improvement in the country's economic performance, on which the future of the social services depends. These require a reduction in public spending and the Government are therefore committed to achieving the overall targets for local and central Government spending in 1980–81 set out in their expenditure plans (Cmnd. 7841), as instanced by the recent request to local authorities to revise their budgets for this year. Within this lower level there are no specific Government plans to cut services for the disabled: it is for spending Departments and authorities to determine priorities within the main totals. Thus paragraph 43 of the White Paper, which was what my right hon. Friend primarily had in mind, states that the breakdown shown for local authority services is tentative and that it is for individual authorities—who have been asked to protect services for the most vulnerable as far as possible—to decide the eventual distribution between services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will issue guidance to wages councils considering the next round of pay bargaining regarding the need to moderate the rate of wage increases.

Wages councils are independent statutory bodies established under the Wages Council Act 1979 which consolidated earlier legislation. The councils are empowered to fix minimum rates of pay and terms and conditions for workers in the trades and industries they cover. These minima have statutory force. There are 34 councils covering some 2·75 million workers. Each council consists of equal numbers of representatives of employers and workers together with three independent members whose function is to preside over negotiations, help the two sides to reach agreement, or, if necessary, exercise a casting vote.Ministers have no powers to direct any change in a wages council decision properly reached under the statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Keighley on Wednesday 18 June, why the Health and Safety Executive is not incorporating in the instrument appointing inspectors, those powers conferred on inspectors by the relevant statutory provisions which are to be exercisable by the person appointed as it is required to do so under section 19(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his earlier question on 5 June 1980.—[Vol. 985, c. 843.] The warrants issued by the Health and Safety Executive fully meet the requirements of section 19(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the increase in percentage and actual terms in unemployment among ethnic minorities, showing age groups and, in particular, young people, for the latest 12 months for which figures are available; what were the comparable figures for the increase in total unemployment; and what were the comparable figures in those regions which account for most ethnic minority unemployment.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 June 1980, c. 704]: An age analysis of ethnic minority group workers registered as unemployed is made annually in February and table 1 below gives the changes between February 1979 and February 1980. For all unemployed, the analysis is made quarterly in January, April, July and October. Table 2 gives the changes between January 1979 and January 1980, the nearest comparable period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the education and training content of the work experience on employers' premises module of the youth opportunities programme; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 June 1980, c. 452]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the youth opportunities programme (YOP) that it is making continuing efforts to improve the education and training content of the schemes run under YOP. There has been a significant improvement in the work experience on employers' premises element of the programme, but this improvement has not yet fully satisfied the commission. I am pleased with the efforts being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of redundancies of disabled people notified to his Department in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area in the 12 months following May 1979.

UNEMPLOYED REGISTERED DISABLED PERSONS
	Males	Females	Total
Volumes	319	54	373
Percentage unemployment rate	11·4 percent.	10·6 per cent.	11·3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce the numbers of school leavers who are currently unemployed.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 June 1980, c. 35]: The Government have agreed to a proposal from the Manpower Services Commission to expand the youth opportunities programme by 25 per cent. in 1980–81; this expansion has enabled the MSC to renew the undertakings to unemployed school leavers and the long-term unemployed that they will be offered places in the programmes. Community industry is also available to help young people with particular diffi

[pursuant to his reply, 23 June 1980, c. 30]: The information requested is not available. Neither the Employment Protection Act 1975, nor the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 requires employers to make my Department aware that disabled people are about to be made redundant. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it would in any case be difficult for employers—particularly large ones—to be certain which of their employees were disabled, because many disabled people choose not to register as such, and even registered disabled people are not required to disclose their status to their employer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers and percentages of unemployed male and female registered disabled persons in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area at the latest convenient date.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 June 1980, c. 30]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information requested is set out below. Figures are for 8 May 1980, the latest date available.culties. Both programmes will continue to help unemployed school leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of unemployed in the transportatation industry (a) in absolute figures (b) as a percentage of those employed in the construction industry and (c) as a percentage of the total number of unemployed persons in the United Kingdom; and if he will give all the above items of information for each of the past 10 years at a comparable time.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 June 1980, c. 234–5]: I have obtained the information set out below.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will seek powers to provide direct subsidy to public transport undertakings.

My Department already provides direct support to British Rail, through the public service obligation, and to bus operators in the form of new bus grants which continues until 1984. I have no proposals to extend these arrangements to other forms of direct subsidy.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions he has had with Leyland Vehicles in connection with type approval regulations.

Officials have had discussions with Leyland Vehicles about type approval and related matters The introduction of national type approval for commercial vehicles is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will institute an inquiry into restrictive practices in British Railways.

I have no plans to do so.Any such issue in London and the South-East would fall within the terms of reference of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry on commuter services.

asked the Minister of Transport, in relation to paragraph 160 of his White Paper on Roads, Cmnd. 7908, what is his precise definition of the term "very shortly"; and how long will elapse before he announces his decision.

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Transport hope to announce their decision on the proposals for the Popham-Compton section of the M3 motorway within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give financial assistance to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, basing his assessment upon costs, such as the dredging of the Mersey estuary, which are borne by the company but could properly be borne by the community.

I do not accept that costs incurred by harbour authorities should fall on the taxpayer.

asked the Minister of Transport what recent representations he has received on the question of the shipment of nuclear material by rail and the ports in the county of Cumbria.

The hon. Member for Whitehaven has written recently to my right hon. Friend on this matter. I will be writing to him shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport what railway track mileage will be electrified in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985, respectively.

5,900 single track miles are presently electrified. The board's current investment proposals include projects to electrify a further 650 miles, though only about 300 of these miles would be completed by the end of 1984. It is not possible to estimate precisely how many miles will be completed in each year.Apart from this, the joint Government/ British Rail study of the case for a main line electrification programme is evaluating three options which would electrify a further 2,430 to 7,480 track miles by between the years 1995 and 2010.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the future organisation of the British Transport Docks Board.

I am currently consulting the British Transport Docks Board and merchant bankers on the introduction of private capital into the board's undertaking. I shall make a statement when my consultations are complete.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the maximum speeds attainable by two-wheeled motor vehicles of the following engine capacities: 49, 99, 124 and 249 cc; and how such performance compares with that of vehicles of similar power which were available 23 years ago.

A 49cc motorcycle can reach about 50 miles per hour, a 99cc one 60 to 70 miles per hour, a 124cc one 70 to 80 miles per hour and a 249cc one 80 to 100 miles per hour. Twenty-five years ago speeds would probably have been 20 to 33 miles per hour lower, although there were few 49cc and 99cc motor cycles then available.

asked the Minister of Transport what future reductions in Civil Service staff in his Department are planned.

Arising from the measures announced in the House on 6 December last my Department is due to save 2,480 staff or some 18 per cent. of its staff costs, over the three year period 1980–81—1982–83. A further reduction of 2½ per cent.—some 350 staff—will be made in the current year in connection with the recent Civil Service pay agreement. In addition to these reductions, my Department will of course play its part in securing the savings arising from the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 13 May.

asked the Minister of Transport how many elderly people were killed or injured at pelican crossings last year; and what consideration he has given to increasing the minimum time allowed for the steady green walking man light in order to make these crossings safer for elderly people.

In 1978 (the latest full year for which figures are available) 13 pedestrians over 60 were killed and 191 injured at the 6,000 pelicans and other light controlled crossings away from junctions throughout Great Britain.Experiments are in hand to test the effects of a slightly extended steady green phase for pedestrians, and separately, of a delay in the flashing amber signal for motorists.

asked the Minister of Transport if he plans to introduce legislation to curb overloading and poor maintenance of commercial vehicles.

Commercial vehicles are already subject to an annual test and detailed checks by this Department's examiners, the police and local authorities. These include spot checks at the roadside, with the possibility of diversion to weighbridges or testing stations and of prohibition of unfit or overloaded vehicles. Subject to any recommendations the Armitage inquiry may make, I have no plans to add to the existing legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to assist the increased volume of commuter cyclists travelling in and out of congested inner city areas; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, although steps of this kind are primarily for local highway authorities to take in the light of local circumstances. The Department has published technical advice and we are prepared to contribute to the cost of experimental schemes. We are considering what more we can do to help.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with the Operation of the law relating to the fencing of railway lines.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to alter the present system of vehicle registration numbers after the suffix "Z" has been used.

I intend shortly to issue a consultation document on the system to be used after July 1983. The suffix "Z" will not in fact be used, to avoid confusion with vehicles registered in Ireland.

asked the Minister of Transport how much was spent on the maintenance of trunk roads in the most recent year for which figures are available; and whether he expects this level of expenditure to be maintained in the next few years.

The provisional outturn of expenditure of the maintenance of motorways and trunk roads in 1979–80 is £93 million at 1979 survey prices. The Government's spending plans provide for spending to continue at or just below this level until 1983–84, subject to the overriding need to keep within annual cash limits.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has studied the recent annual report of the North-Eastern area of the transport users' consultative committee regarding the railway network in the North-East, a copy of which has been supplied to him; and what are his Department's views on its proposals.

I have studied the North-Eastern transport users' consultative committee's recent annual report, and the Department is ready to discuss particular proposals with the central transport consultative committee.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will discuss with the chairman of British Railways greater investment for the Sheffield to St. Pancras line.

I am happy to discuss with the chairman any investment proposals that the Railways Board submits to me, but it is for the board to decide its priorities.

asked the Minister of Transport what further discussions he has had with his European Economic Community colleagues about financing the Channel Tunnel.

The European Commission's proposals for Community support for transport infrastructure projects—which are relevant to this question—were briefly discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Council of Ministers (Transport) which I attended.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on progress towards attracting private capital into British Railways' subsidiaries.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the British Railways Board about his proposal to introduce private capital into British Railways' subsidiary businesses.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the British Railways Board about his proposal to introduce private capital into British Railways' subsidiary businesses.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in his consideration of a change in the financing of the British Railways hotels.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the British Railways Board about his proposal to introduce private capital into British Railways' subsidiary businesses.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Montgomery (Mr. Williams) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given to police forces in Scotland regarding the publication of the book "Towards a Citizen's Militia"; and whether he or his officials have examined the contents of the book.

Neither I nor my officials have yet been able to study this book. It is for the Lord Advocate, acting through procurators fiscal and the police, to decide whether any action should be taken over it, and it is not for me to issue instructions to the police in matters of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought in respect of offences under the Protection of Children Act 1978.

The Protection of Children Act came into force on 20 August 1978 and the Department's records of court proceedings in 1978 contain no prosecutions completed by 31 December; corresponding information for 1979 is not yet available. I understand, however, that to date the Director of Public Prosecutions has recorded having completed six prosecutions under the Act; and that he has given his consent to prosecution in other cases but the number of such prosecutions undertaken by the police cannot be readily ascertained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the criminal statistics for 1979; whether he will ensure that the statistics are available more rapidly in future; and if he will make a statement.

The preparation of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" involves the collection, processing, analysis and presentation of a very large amount of statistical data. Allowing for printing time, it is not feasible to issue the publication before late July. We do not expect to be able to publish the 1979 volume of "Criminal Statistics" before November, because the preparation of statistics on criminal court proceedings and cautions in 1979 has been complicated by changes to offence groupings resulting from the Criminal Law Act 1977. In view of this delay, figures on serious offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in 1979 have already been published in more offence detail in Home Office statistical bulletin 9/80 issued on 20 June 1980; copies of this bulletin have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the progress of the Rayner scrutiny of the Civil Service.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Cadbury) on 23 April. In addition, Sir Derek Rayner is helping me on a number of other issues which we are considering and about which I have written to the Council of Civil Service Unions.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what recent representations he has received regarding the findings to date of the Rayner review.

There is no general Rayner review. But Sir Derek Rayner is assisting Ministers in the scrutinies of the work of their Departments, as explained in the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Cadbury) on 23 April and to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher) on 25 June. If the hon. Member has any specific point in mind I hope he will get in touch with me.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what further progress has been made in the establishment of the new Civil Service jobs in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 23 April.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many days have been lost in strikes in the Civil Service since May 1979; and how this compares with the previous year.

In the 12-month period up to the end of May this year, 268,000 man-days were lost. Figures are not available centrally for the whole of the preceding 12-month period. The number of man-days lost for the nine-month period September 1978 to May 1979 was 631,000.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement about the profitability of the Civil Service catering organisation.

Since 1974–75, when Civil Service catering was put on its present financial basis, the Civil Service catering organisation has moved from a deficit of £615,000 to a surplus of over £300,000, achieving a cumulative trading surplus of £232,000 over the period.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what study he has made of Civil Service practices in Europe.

There is a continuing exchange of information on Civil Service practices between European countries. The United Kingdom—and the Civil Service Department particularly—regularly participates in these activities.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the recent pay settlement for the non-industrial Civil Service is within Her Majesty's Government's 14 per cent. cash limit.

Yes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the latest monthly cost of Civil Service pensions; and what the comparable figure was one year previously.

It is estimated that £708·4 million will be spent on pensions and lump sums for retired civil servants and their dependants in 1980–81, a monthly expenditure of approximately £59 million, The comparable figures for 1979–80 were £579·0 million and £48 million. Some 45 per cent. of expenditure this year will be met from salary reduc tions and direct contributions made by civil servants. The net charge to the Exchequer will, therefore, be about £32 million a month which is equal to about 9 per cent. of the salary bill. Last year, the net charge was about £29 million a month or about 10 per cent. of the salary bill for that year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the Civil Service Department.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 19 June.—[Vol. 986, c. 590.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many separate areas of Powys have been designated as areas of scientific interest by the Nature Conservancy Council; and how many other possible areas of Powys are being considered by the council for potential addition to its list.

50 areas have been notified and a further 27 are under investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, before deciding whether or not to designate any part of the Clwydian Range as a site of special scientific interest, he will order the holding of a public inquiry to consider the views, in particular, of the local people who would be directly affected by such a designation.

We are not responsible for deciding on such designations. The Nature Conservancy Council has a duty under section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to notify local planning authorities when it is of the opinion that an area is of special scientific interest. Notification is a statement of fact which imposes no direct constraints on owners or occupiers, and there is no provision for a public inquiry. However, before the NCC takes a formal decision it gives landowners, tenants, official bodies and other interested parties full opportunity to make their views known.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his estimate of the number of public sector houses and flats that will be completed in Wales in the current year; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is his estimate of the number of private houses and flats that will be completed in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot make firm estimates, because within the single block housing investment allocation it will be for individual local authorities in Wales to decide what resources to use for new house building in 1980. However, for comparison purposes, in the first quarter of this year, 1,029 dwellings were completed and 932 started in the public sector in Wales, compared with 946 dwellings completed and 1,073 started in the first quarter of last year. In the full year 1979, 4,351 dwellings were completed.

Year ended 31 March	New Planting	Re-Stocking	Hectares Total
1976	408	112	520
1977	723	125	848
1978	591	36	627
1979	591	90	681

asked the Lord Privy Seal what discussions he and his colleagues have had with Ministers in other member countries of the European Community over famine relief in East Africa; and whether any food surpluses could be readily released for this purpose.

Discussions about the situation in East Africa have taken place among officials in the European Development Fund Committee, as a result of which some £5·6 million of emergency assistance has been committed to East Africa in recent months.The United Kingdom share of this is about £1 million.Out of the Community's food aid programme, which is additional to member

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many acres of trees were planted by owner-occupiers in Wales in 1979; and what were the corresponding figures for the last three years.

A precise breakdown is not readily available, although it is believed that most private planting in Wales is undertaken by or on behalf of owner occupiers. The total area of private planting for which grant-aid was provided in the year ended 31 March 1979 is shown below with the corresponding figures for the previous three years.States' bilateral food aid programmes, some 75,000 tonnes of cereals, 23,000 tonnes of dried skimmed milk and 4,000 tonnes of butter oil have been or will be shipped during 1980 to the countries principally affected (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about manning in Her Majesty's dockyard, Devonport.

The Royal dockyards, in common with all Ministry of Defence departments, have to achieve savings in civilian manpower costs this year to meet the Civil Service pay bill cash limits for 1980–81 announced by the Minister of State, Civil Service Department, in this House on 14 March last.—[Vol. 980, c. 748–9.] These economies will be found mainly by a mixture of reducing numbers employed and overtime levels. Devon-port dockyard has been given target planning figures for 1 April 1981; but consideration is still being given to the most equitable and efficient way of achieving these economies.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many apprentices completed their training at Devonport Dockyard in 1973, 1975 and 1978; and how many of each intake are still employed there at the latest convenient date; and if he will give the figures for the intake of apprentices in 1978 and 1980.

At Her Majesty's dockyard Devonport 212 apprentices completed their training in 1975 and 287 in 1978. I regret that information is not available for 1973 or for the numbers in each intake who are still employed in the dockyard. In 1978, 288 apprentices were entered. The intake for 1980 has not been decided, but the target figure being used for planning purposes is of a similar order to those of 1976 and 1977, approximately 260.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether United Kingdom military personnel will have control of a physical and effective blocking device which will prevent the use of cruise missiles on sites in the United Kingom until authorisation for their use has been given by Her Majesty's Government.

I explained to the House on 17 June—[Vol. 986, c. 1353]—that the ground-launched cruise missiles, which will be owned and operated by the United States, do not involve a dual key system. However, as I have already made clear, the use of the bases concerned in the United Kingdom in an emergency will be a matter for joint decision between the two Governments in the light of the circumstances at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take action regarding the inadequate provision of textbooks at a school in Wellington.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to a report in The Teacher for 20 June that there is a school in Wellington which has no textbooks. I have approached the editor of The Teacher who tells me the school referred to is not in Wellington but is in Werrington, Staffordshire, and I understand that the source of his information was the hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock). I have made inquiries of the Staffordshire local education authority which categorically denies the allegation that the school in question has no textbooks, and I can only conclude that there is no truth in the story.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what study he has made of the effect of the increase in overseas students' fees on potential students among the Vietnamese refugees in the United Kingdom; if he will take steps to meet the fees of such potential and actual students; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering with colleagues the difficulties faced by student refugees from Vietnam and elsewhere and hopes to make a statement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has not yet approved the joint salary proposals arrived at by the university authorities and the Association of University Teachers, in the light of the fact that these proposals are within existing cash limits and so do not involve additional public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in the light of the agreement between the Association of University Teachers and the University Authorities Panel to settle the current pay claim within cash limits, when the Government will approve a pay settlement for university teachers; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the reasons for the delay by his Department in giving approval to the pay proposals agreed to by the university authorities and the Association of University Teachers within Government cash limits.

I refer the hon Members to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 23 June.—[Vol. 987, c. 66–67.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what instructions and guidance are given by his Department to local education authorities in respect of children who are both dyslectic and highly gifted; and if he will make a statement.

None. The educational needs of such children vary widely and it is for local education authorities to determine in the circumstances of each case how those needs may best be met.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that part-time teachers, like full-time staff, should be eligible for payment on a scale appropriate to their responsibilities and experience.

Responsibility for determining the pay of part-time teachers, like that of full-time teachers, rests with the Burnham committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities currently provide nursery facilities for teachers in their employ.

The Department has no information on nursery education or child minding facilities provided specifically for the children of teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that local education authorities keep and publicise an up-to-date register of (a) would-be returning teachers, full or part-time, (b) teachers currently in employment who wish to work part-time and (c) teachers who wish to act as substitute teachers in the absence of full or part-time staff, and that this register is circulated to all teachers on it, together with details of all part-time and fixed-term vacancies.