asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on nurses' pay.

Negotiation of nurses' pay is the responsibility of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council. The normal annual settlement date is 1 April, and I expect the council will be undertaking negotiations early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the minimum current cost involved in securing the medical certification required in order that a cremation can be carried out.

No fee is laid down, but the British Medical Association recommends a fee of £13·75, together with an allowance for mileage incurred, for each of the two certificates required.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance or advice he has given to the offices of his Department and to social services departments following the introduction of the £2,000 limit for obtaining supplementary benefits.

Instructions were issued to all the Department's local offices setting out the changes to the supplementary benefits scheme which came into effect on 24 November. A circular was also sent to all local authorities, including directors of social services, which described the major changes, including the new capital rule.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will raise the cut-off point for supplementary benefit from £2,000 in savings to a figure nearer to £5,000.

Not at present. My right hon. Friend will, however be keeping the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the arrangements under which individuals are or may be refused supplementary benefit on the grounds that their capital exceeds the maximum amount allowed where access to such capital is strictly limited.

It will be for the independent adjudicating authorities—the benefit officer in the first instance—to decide in the light of the regulations and case law decided by the social security commissioner as it evolves what is capital and whether or not it is available to a claimant. I understand that the chief supplementary benefits officer will be issuing guidance to benefit officers on this point and that he will be making that guidance public.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met representatives of the Disablement Income Group to hear their views on his policies with respect to the disabled.

I have not had any formal meeting with representatives of the Disablement Income Group, although both I and officials of the Department have had frequent contact and correspondence with individual members of the group.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost of the additional fraud and abuse inspectors appointed by him; and what savings have been achieved directly as a result of their work.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown) on 24 July.—[Vol. 989, c. 371.] As I said then, I propose to make a full statement as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. I have noted the hon. Member's specific interests and will make sure that they are covered in my statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what conclusion he can report in reducing the alleged frauds in connection with his Department's payments.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 24 July—[Vol. 989, c. 371]—and ask him to await the fuller statement I intend to make as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the increase in the number of persons dependent on means-tested benefits since May 1979.

Detailed information on which to make a comparison between May 1979 and December 1980 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to raise the age-related addition, introduced at 25p weekly in 1971; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to increase the age addition to retirement pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to make social security benefits which are payable to unemployed school leavers available from the date they leave school.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 11 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assurances he can give regarding the future area and responsibilities covered by the Cuckfield and Crawley health district.

Before considering the boundaries of new district health authorities in the South West and South East Thames regions I need to await the outcome of consultation now being undertaken by the regional health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to announce any further measures to help the elderly in the coming winter.

The measures I announced to the House last March—[Vol.981, c. 1661–641]—to help poor fuel consumers came into effect three weeks ago. They include the raising of the basic rate of heating addition to £1·40; the merging of the old middle and upper rates to a new higher rate of £3·40; the merging of the central heating additions to two enhanced rates of £1·40 and £2·80; the automatic award of the basic heating addition of £1·40 to all pensioner householders who are or have a dependant over 70; the continuation of the automatic basic heating addition to householders with a child under five; the automatic award of the higher rate heating addition where the claimant or a dependent is in receipt of attendance allowance, constant attendance allowance or mobility allowance; a further £1 a week to recipients of family income supplement and an enhanced 90 per cent. award—up to £90—under the homes insulation scheme for pensioners receiving supplementary benefit or a housing rebate or allowance. This package of measures will increase the total amount spent in helping poor fuel consumers from about £120 million to just over £200 million annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the White Paper on the elderly to be published.

I hope it will soon be possible to move towards publication, but I cannot yet indicate a likely date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what study he has made of the effect of public expenditure cuts on the welfare of elderly people;(2) what estimate is available of the number of deaths this winter from hypothermia and malnutrition;(3) what steps he is taking to monitor the effects which cuts in local authority expenditure may have on welfare for the elderly; if he will gather statistics at frequent intervals throughout the winter months on the incidence of hypothermia and malnutrition among elderly people; and if he will make a statement.

Spending on the NHS is expected to be higher in real terms this year than ever before, and further increases are planned for next year. For the elderly, the value of retirement pensions and supplementary pensions has been protected. This year we are spending £200 million on extra help for the poorer consumers faced with fuel bills. From 24 November, 1½ million supplementary pensioners have been paid higher heating additions and the basic rate has risen from 95p to £1·40 a week—half as much again as the expected rise in fuel prices.Decisions on local government expenditure are for individual authorities, but they have been asked to reduce their overall spending and to protect, as far as possible, services for the most vulnerable. Indications are that this is happening, as current expenditure in 1979–80 on the personal social services was at its highest ever level in real terms and budgets for 1980–81 suggest this could be maintained this year. The Government have recently set out their position on monitoring the application of policies in paragraph 15 of their reply to the third report from the Social Services Committee, Session 1979–80 (Cmnd. 8086).OPCS is not able to make any estimate of the numbers of deaths which may occur in winter 1980–81. Statistics for numbers of deaths are collated routinely on a quarterly basis and are available six months after the quarter of registration. Provisional figures for winter 1980–81 should be available in autumn 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the breakdown in the "fuel direct" arrangement between his Department and the fuel authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he has made on securing an agreement with the fuel boards to replace the joint statement of intent aimed at ensuring that supplementary benefit recipients do not lose their gas or electricity supplies.

There has been no breakdown; the arrangements to which the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) refers were, until last month, operated under the joint statement of intent on direct payment for fuel agreed between the Supplementary Benefits Commission and the fuel industries. That agreement lapsed with the end of the commission.A new joint statement has been agreed between the Department and the fuel industries and came into operation on 24 November. This version reflects the new supplementary benefit regulations, which continue the arrangements on much the same basis as before.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to maintain and improve the quality of local authority child care services.

Local authorities provide child care services in accordance with their statutory powers and duties and bear the primary responsibility for maintaining and improving them. At national level, the Department encourages desirable developments—for example, the further use of intermediate treatment, adoption and fostering—and, through the social work service, inspects local authorities' services and gives them advice.

Price asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the Granada programme "Life for Christine", he will review the procedures for monitoring the progress of those patients in special hospitals sentenced under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

All persons in the special hospitals are subject to detention under the Mental Health Act 1959, whether or not originally subject to an order made under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. In all cases their treatment and progress are monitored regularly by ward staff and others responsible for their care, and the responsible medical officer will recommend transfer or discharge as soon as this is thought appropriate. In addition, if over 16, they may require their cases to be reviewed by a mental health review tribunal at specifed intervals. It is proposed, in amending the Mental Health Act 1959, to extend the right to a tribunal review to those under the age of 16. In the meantime I intend, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to make administrative arrangements for the tribunal's advice to be sought periodically in the very small number of cases where a patient under 16 is detained in a special hospital. At present there are three such patients, none of whom was originally subject to an order under the 1933 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to implement the Children and Young Persons Act 1975 relating to a comprehensive adoption service.

The provisions in the Children Act 1975 which relate to a comprehensive adoption service were included in a recent report on the costs of operating the unimplemented provisions of the Act. This report will provide a basis for discussions during the coming months about further implementation of the Act. The report is in the Library' of the House and copies are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds there are in the psychiatric hospital run by a private company to which he announced his visit on 21 November; what is his estimate of the occupancy of National Health Service hospital beds by psychiatric patients; and if he will make a statement.

I understand there are 51 beds in the charter clinic which I shall be visiting in January. The average daily bed occupancy of NHS mental illness beds in 1978 was 77,402.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is the intention of the Government that all maternity benefits shall, in due course, become a full charge on the employer if the mother has been in employment.

This question is discussed in the consultative document "A Fresh Look At Maternity Benefits", on which comments have been invited over the last two months. Under all the options presented in that document, the maternity grant at least would continue to be paid as a social security benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received concerning the proposed employers' statutory sick pay scheme.

About 1,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect the Government's proposals for increases in council house rents of between £2·50 and £3 will have in global terms for people receiving supplementary benefit.

It is estimated that such an increase would put up the annual cost for current beneficiaries by some £250 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has given to area and district health authorities in respect of the provision of health centres; and if he will make a statement.

We issued a health circular (HC(80)6; HC(FP)(80)2) last May in which we asked health authorities to review schemes for health centre building and proceed only where the scheme was clearly supported by the general practitioners who would work from the health centre; where it would make a marked improvement to the standards of primary health services and where the possible ways of assisting general practitioners to improve their own premises had been considered and were not regarded as appropriate. We made it clear that, where centres were proceeded with, a reasonable rather than ideal level of provision should be the aim. Our intention was to avoid making unnecessary use of health authorities' capital allocations and to avoid increasing unnecessarily the number of publicly owned premises. Copies of the circular were placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 on adaptations and home improvements for disabled people are to be excluded from the effects of the moratorium on housing finance.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 30 October and that of my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction on 6 November to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris).—[Vol. 991, c. 346; Vol. 991, c. 658–59.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement about the effect of public expenditure cuts on the disabled.

In implementing any necessary reductions in public expenditure we have sought where possible to protect the interests of severely disabled people. We have asked local and health authorities to do the same, and I believe they are doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the level of increases in national insurance contributions.

As at 15 December I have received three letters on this subject; whilst two complain that the changes represent, in effect, an increase in taxation, the third supports the proposed increases on the ground that national insurance is a good bargain.

Short asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will uprate pensions and other benefits 50 weeks from 24 November, in view of the fact that the current uprating has been 54 weeks from the last one.

I have noted the hon. Lady's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to amend the Vaccine Damage Payments Act so as to define more precisely the provision relating to 80 per cent. disability, in view of the problems relating to the definition of mental incapacity.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals for any further legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the increase in the take-up of benefits in the Strathclyde region in the first six months of 1980–81 compared with the equivalent period in 1979–80.

I regret that we have no means of calculating what proportions of people living in the Strathclyde region who were entitled to social security benefits failed to claim them in the first six months of 1979–80 or 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployment review officers and re-establishment personnel are employed by his Department.

Not all unemployment review officers are engaged full-time on unemployment review, but the number is now roughly equivalent to 900 full-time posts. This figure includes about 60 officers allocated to the unemployment review of people receiving unsupplemented unemployment benefit. Of the 17 re-establishment centres run by the Department, 14 are combined with resettlement units and the duties of some staff overlap. Apart from centre managers, the full-time equivalent of staff concerned with re-establishment work is about 114.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give figures showing the incidence of the amputation of limbs in the United Kingdom due to peripheral vascular disease; and if he will make a statement about future plans to bring the risk of peripheral vascular disease due to smoking to the public's attention.

I refer the hon. and learned Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs) on 1 December. In addition, a recently published paper—"The Artificial Limb Service" by A. W. G. English and A. A. G. Dean —(Health Trends November 1980 No. 4 volume 12)—gives an estimate by members of the Department's medical staff that, of approximately 65,000 amputees in England, just over 50,000 are lower limb amputees; of whom approximately three quarters have had a leg amputated on account of peripheral vascular disease. I look to all those engaged in health education to ensure that information on the kinds and degree of risk to health from smoking, including the risk of peripheral vascular disease, is increasingly brought before the public. My right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 21 November explained the measures agreed with the tobacco industry to strengthen health warnings generally on cigarette packets and advertisements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any proposals to increase fees for eye examinations.

There are two rates of fee payable for an NHS eye examination depending on whether the practitioner concerned is an ophthalmic medical practitioner or an ophthalmic optician. Increases in each fee are determined separately by well established methods which are agreed between the Department and representatives of the two professions concerned.I expect negotiations on fees for ophthalmic opticians to begin within the next few months when the results of periodic joint inquiries into opticians' actual costs and practices become available.The remuneration element of the fee for ophthalmic medical practitioners is determined annually by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body, so that a revision will not be considered until the 1981 review body report becomes available. The expenses element of their fee is due to be determined in negotiation when a recently begun inquiry into actual costs incurred by ophthalmic medical practitioners is completed. It is too early to forecast when this might be.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received about the pension uprating for the year November 1981 to November 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received about the pension uprating for the year November 1981 to November 1982.

Up to the end of last week some 20 representations on this subject had been received from individuals and organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had from small businesses regarding his proposals on short-term sickness benefit.

We have had a large number of submissions from small businesses and their representative organisations about the Green Paper "Income During Initial Sickness: A New Strategy". Their main concern has been that small firms will have higher than average costs as a result of the scheme, and that these costs will not be fully met by the compensation proposed. We have taken these comments into account in making the changes that my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 21 November.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a circular advising practitioners to follow the guidelines of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in relation to unmodified electroplexy.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists' memorandum on the use of electroconvulsive therapy did not specifically mention unmodified treatments: the president of the college said in the 9 February 1980 edition of the British Medical Journal that the memorandum made no reference to unmodified ECT

"as it was rightly assumed that under all normal circumstances the treatment would always be given with anaesthetic and muscle relaxants".

It was also recognised that in certain exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to use unmodified ECT. It would be a matter for the clinical judgment of the consultant as to whether he would be justified in going ahead with unmodified electroplexy. 1 have no evidence that practitioners are not following the Royal College's guidance, that is, using anaesthetic and muscle relaxants under all normal circumstances, and I have no plans to issue a circular.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects the cut in the real value of invalidity benefit to be restored.

My right hon. Friend assured the House on 29 April—[Vol. 983, c. 1131–32]—that the rate of invalidity benefit would be realigned with that of retirement pension when incapacity benefits are brought into taxation, subject to resources being available. The question of taxation of the incapacity benefits is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the years since the war in which the level of child income support for a standard rate taxpayer with two children under 11 years of age has risen in real terms.

The years concerned are 1947, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1963, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1978 and 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the Minister for Health's recent visit to hospitals in Leicester.

The visit gave me a valuable opportunity to discuss with those responsible for the provision of health services and medical education locally their current problems and future plans for developments in Leicestershire.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet replied to the offer made by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations to print the Black report, so far only available from his Department in mimeographed form; if so, what reply he has given; and if not, what is the reason for the delay.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has not made any formal offer to my Department to publish this report. The council's imprint, the Bedford Square Press, has expressed some interest in publishing an abridged version and has had preliminary discussions with my Department about copyright and other matters, but has not made any firm proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking and proposes to take to relocate the mentally handicapped children in hospital.

In a speech on 10 December to the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults my right hon. Friend stated unequivocally that large hospitals do not provide a favourable environment for a mentally handicapped child to grow up in. As well as urging health authorities to identify children who do not need specialised health care my right hon. Friend has asked officials of the Department to look at, in consultation with all those concerned, including voluntary bodies, alternatives to hospital care with a view to producing guidelines for authorities. Also, to encourage local initiatives and fund raising activities, he has offered up to £1 million over the next four years to match on a £1 for £1 basis funds raised specially for suitable local projects to help get mentally handicapped children out of hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to establish the joint reviews by health, social services and education staff of the conditions under which mentally handicapped children are being cared for in hospital, as promised in October 1978.

I am deeply concerned that those mentally handicapped children who are in hospital should receive the best possible standards of care. But it is for the responsible authorities—using the publications of the national development group and other material together with the services of the development team for the mentally handicapped, and so on—to decide how best to improve standards within their locality. I do not believe that it would be beneficial for the Government to impose a particular arrangement, such as a system of joint reviews, on authorities as a whole and, as the hon. Member will see from my reply to his earlier question today, I am suggesting a different approach.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, since domiciliary visits by consultants to patients of general practitioners has developed into a method of queue jumping to secure immediate out-patient appointments and hospital admissions, he will set up a departmental inquiry into these practices; and if he will make a statement upon the survey results published by David Hall of Liverpool university and sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, South.

The article sent to me by the hon. Member identifies various possible reasons for differences in treatment patterns following domiciliary visits, but does not conclude that such visits are being used improperly. I see no need for any inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set out his Department's view on the future financing of the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is planning to draw up a consultative document for an insurance-based Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friends to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Lewis) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients were awaiting admission to the surgical specialties in each of the National Health Service hospitals in the Greenwich and Bexley area at 31 December 1979.

Information for 31 December 1979 is not yet available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what stage has now been reached in the consideration of the London health planning consortium reports on the future pattern of cardio-thoracic, neurological and neuro-surgical services in the Thames regions; and when he now anticipates decisions to be reached on the future of the regional units at the Brook general hospital, Woolwich.

Following extensive consultation the consortium issued a revised report on specialist services in the Thames regions. It is now for the authorities concerned to consider whether the revised proposals should be implemented. No proposals for the future of the regional units at the Brook hospital have come to my right hon. Friend for decision and the hon. Member may, therefore, like to seek information from the South East Thames regional health authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the most recent figures for bed occupancy of (a) surgical and (b) medical beds in each of the National Health Service hospitals in the Greenwich and Bexley area.

The average daily bed occupancy during 1978, the latest year for which separate information on surgical and medical beds is available centrally, is as follows:

Hospital	Medical	Surgical
St Nicholas'	49·4	73·9
Dreadnought Seamen's	33·4	50·4
Eltham and Mottingham	1·8	21·3
Greenwich District	109·4	163·0
Brook General	149·4	188·6
Queen Mary's	89·5	155·1
Erith and District	0·1	15·0
Bexley and Welling*	Nil	0·2
* Hospital closed March 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the most recent estimated annual running costs for each of the National Health Service hospitals in the Greenwich and Bexley area, together with the cost per in-patient stay.

In 1979–80 the total revenue expenditure and cost per in-patient day at each hospital were as follows:

Hospital	Type	Expenditure (£'000)	Cost per in-patient Day (£)
St. Nicholas'	Acute	2,481·2	58·54
Dreadnought Seamen's	Acute	2,069·9	45·45
Eltham and Mottingham	Acute	457·4	29·46
Queen Mary's	Acute	9,609·4	45·57
Erith and District	Acute	669·5	48·01
Greenwich District	Mainly acute	13,807·6	51·70
Brook General	Mainly acute	10,857·6	66·63
Memorial	Mainly long-stay	1,674·0	29·13
The Gables	Geriatric	182·3	19·86
British Hospital for Mothers and Babies	Maternity	1,257·5	76·71
Bexley	Mental illness Mental	7,323·9	20·76
Goldie Leigh	handicap	1,262·0	34·91

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of unemployed men who have attended each of the re-establishment centres so far this year; and how many, in each case, subsequently found employment.

The following table shows the number of men who were admitted to each re-establishment centre between 1 January and 2 October this year and the number who, during the same period, went directly into employment upon completion of their course. Information about the number of men who have found employment some time after completing a re-establishment course, based on a sample of cases, is compiled twice yearly; figures for men admitted to centres during the first half of 1980 will be available shortly and I shall send them to the hon. Member.

Centre	Number of admissions	Number of leaving directly into employment
Bridge House	92	18
Alvaston	44	12
Crown Quay Lodge	140	37
Fazakerley	116	8
Glasgow	127	15
Leeds	124	13
Newbury	76	16
Plawsworth	218	29
Southampton	76	12
South Wales	94	8
Walkden	209	33
West Midlands	172	32
Winterbourne	91	38
Woodhouse	83	18
Brady House	194	54
Henley-in-Arden	356	66
Manchester	120	16

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give at the latest and most convenient stated date the names of peers who hold any appointments sponsored by or coming under the control of his Department and the salary or expenses paid or claimed; and how many meetings or conferences, committees or non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible, held during the past 12 months, were attended by them.

The following is the information available centrally:

asked the Secretary of State for Social. Services if he will give the estimated annual cost savings in unemployment benefit if the male qualifying age for full State retirement pension was reduced from 65 to 60 years.

On the assumptions that the pattern of retirement in relation to pensionable age remained as at present, and that two thirds^* of the jobs vacated by men retiring earlier were filled by people on the unemployment register, it is estimated that expenditure on unemployment benefit would be reduced by about £500 million a year. However, as indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) on 22 July—[Vol. 989, c. 209–10]—the overall cost to Government funds of such a reduction in the pensionable age for men would be of the order of £1,800 million.NOTE.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider laying down a timetable for trainees undergoing vocational training as to how many hours per week they are expected to be on call.

No; as an employee of a general practice trainer principal, a trainee's training programme, hours of work and arrangements for on-call duties, are a matter for agreement between him and his employer, having regard to any advice given by the professional bodies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department intends to submit evidence to the Commission for Racial Equality's major study on discrimination and employment prospects of overseas doctors in the United Kingdom.

No. An official from the Department is on the steering group for the Commission for Racial Equality's study into the work experience of National Health Service doctors in hospitals which it is conducting in the North Western and Mersey regions, but I understand that the nature of this study does not call for evidence from outside bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the net weekly spending power of a man with a wife and two children earning £65 per week when the national insurance contributions are increased in April 1981.

I cannot say. Net weekly spending power in April 1981 will depend on many factors, including housing and work expenses, the value of school meals and the income tax provisions in force in the 1981–82 tax year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many EEC directives or regulations which are at present in force were resisted by his Department before their implementation.

I regret that detailed information is not available in the form requested. Throughout Community discussions of individual proposals put forward by the Commission the Department's attitude is determined by an evaluation of where the United Kingdom's best interests lie in each case and often results in improvements to meet this end. Once a regulation or directive has been adopted, it is not the policy of the Government to oppose its implementation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received from (a) business men, (b) trade associations, (c) trade unions and (d) the general public against EEC policy, directives or regulations since membership.

I regret that the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce a code of conduct and methods of protection for patients who subject themselves to hypnosis not practised by fully-qualified medical practitioners.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, East (Mr. Bright) on 13 November.—[Vol. 992, c. 409.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the recent 31 per cent. salary rise for Great Britain's 1,000 part-time medical officers employed by his Department complies with the 6 per cent. cash limit imposed upon other workers in the National Health Service and doctors' pay in general.

Part-time medical services for the Department are provided by doctors, mainly general practitioners, on a fee-paid basis. These services are not provided under the National Health Service. The increase of 31 per cent., which was promulgated in June last, took effect from 1 April 1980. The figure of 31 per cent. originated in the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body report for 1980–81. This included the last stage of the increases recommended in the review body's 1978 report which was implemented on a staged basis. In addition, negotiations between the Civil Service Department and the British Medical Association which began in 1978 led to a restructuring of the fee scales with effect from 1 October 1980. This resulted in a further increase of varying amounts in some of the fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of increasing cardiorespiratory mortality and morbidity in women, he is satisfied that his recent agreement on (a) tobacco and

Any material reduction in the death and suffering which results from smoking can only be brought about by individual decisions not to start smoking, or to give up the habit. My role is to promote the kind of social climate in which the right decision is made, and I believe that the recent short voluntary agreement will contribute to that by reducing the impact of the most obtrusive form of cigarette advertising and by reaffirming the basic message that smoking is dangerous.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding free or low cost television licences for all pensioners.

About 10 representations on behalf of retirement pensioners or disabled people have been received in 1980 by the Department. Responsibility for setting the level of the television licence fee rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet come to any conclusion over the licensing and management of privately run old people's homes.

I refer the hon. Member to my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) on 13 and 26 November.—[Vol. 992, c. 424; Vol. 994, c. 139.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount paid out in child benefit to families in Dundee in the latest year for which figures are available.

I regret that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made towards securing the transferability of occupational pensions in view of its potential contribution to greater labour mobility.

The complex question of what further protection should be provided for the occupational pension rights and expectations of employees who change employment, including the transfer of rights between pension schemes, was referred to the Occupational Pensions Board for its advice in March 1978. The board has received evidence from more than 700 organisations and individuals and we hope to receive its report in the early part of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the percentage of adverse reactions to Depo Provera; and on what statistical analysis his reply is given.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 18 July.—[Vol. 988, c. 739–80.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whose responsibility it is to inform the medical profession that the use of Depo Provera in the support of pregnancy is no longer licensed;(2) what instructions have been issued by his Department to general practioners and hospital doctors regarding the removal of the licence for Depo Provera in the support of pregnancy.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 2 May.—[Vol. 983, c. 721–22.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, having regard to the findings printed in The Lancet on 5 November 1977 by Dr. Parveen et al concerning the use of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Depo Provera, in Bangladesh, and in view of the fact that any irregularities in the menstrual cycles of women of both Muslim and Hindu faiths can have serious effects on both their social and religious activities, he will ask the Committee on Safety of Medicines to review the advice which it gives to doctors explaining the possible adverse side effects when prescribing the drug to women of these religions.

I can add nothing to my reply to the hon. Member on 10 July.—[Vol. 988, c. 282.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if the Committee on Safety of Medicines or his Department knows of any hospitals which have banned or discontinued the use of Depo Provera; if any reasons have been given; and if he will make a statement;(2) if the Committee on Safety of Medicines has received any inquiries or complaints from hospital consultants regarding the adverse side effects of Depo Provera; if such complaints would be counted as yellow card complaints; if the Committee on Safety of Medicines has followed up such inquiries and complaints; and if he will make a statement.

I can add nothing to my reply to the hon. Member on 9 July; and to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 10 November.—[Vol. 988, c. 199–200; Vol. 992, c. 65–66.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doses of Depo Provera have been purchased by each regional health authority in the last five years for which figures are available.

It is regretted that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will indicate how many times the Committee on Safety of Medicines and its various sub- committees meets each year, the average number of items on the agenda for each meeting and the amount and weight of documents sent to members prior to each meeting.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 14 November.—[Vol. 991, c. 547–48.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has yet been formally asked to adjudicate on the future of the Grove maternity hospital, Barton-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement.

I understand the Wessex regional health authority has not yet taken any decision about the future of the Grove maternity hospital, Barton-on-Sea. The local community health council has opposed the proposed closure of this hospital and, as my hon. Friend knows, the matter will come to Ministers for decision if the regional health authority decides to pursue it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds have been permanently closed in each hospital region since the beginning of December 1979; and how many more closures are contemplated.

Information is not held centrally in the form requested, but between 1 January 1980 and 30 September 1980 decisions were taken to close permanently hospitals or parts of hospitals which will involve the following number of beds:

Regional health authority
Northern	22
Yorkshire	39
Trent	194
North Western	96
Mersey	71
West Midlands	44
North West Thames	155
North East Thames	128
South East Thames	146
South West Thames	762
East Anglia	10
Wessex	46

Not all these closures will yet have taken place. No decisions to make permanent closures were taken in Oxford or South Western regions.At 30 September 1980 the Department had been notified by area health authorities of proposals to close permanently other hospitals or parts of hospitals involving the following numbers of beds:

Regional health authority
Northern	Nil
Yorkshire	450
Trent	83
North Western	41
Mersey	1,112
West Midlands	84
North West Thames	243
North East Thames	226
South East Thames	78
South West Thames	88
East Anglia	10
Wessex	506
Oxford	65
South Western	16

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the procedures used and the criteria applicable for the implementation of the "Fuel Direct" system, whereby direct deductions are made from supplementary benefits payments to pay fuel debts; whether any check is being kept to ensure that each responsible authority is observing the criteria; and whether he is satisfied that authorities are operating a coherent policy throughout the United Kingdom.

The procedures and criteria which apply to the arrangements under which deductions are made from supplementary benefit and paid direct to a fuel board to safeguard the fuel supply are set out in the new Joint Statement of Intent on Direct Payments for Fuel, a copy of which I have placed in the Library. The responsibility for operating these arrangements under the joint statement lies with local DHSS offices and individual fuel boards. Officials of the Department will continue to keep a close eye on the operation of the departmental side of these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has considered the report of the Conservation Society entitled "Lead or Health"; and when he expects to comment on its conclusions and recommendations.

The report is being studied. It will be taken into account in preparing the Government's response to the Lawther report. I cannot yet give a date for the response.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he will now give to local health authorities regarding nurses helping in abortions using the drug prostogladin.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) on 12 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total bill for sanitary appliances supplied for the National Health Service in the current year.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he intends to make to ensure that any blood donor not wishing his or her blood to be sold for profit and use by non-National Health Service organisations can be so assured prior to his donation of blood.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 December 1980]: In this country we have a voluntary blood donor service, which provides a very high quality of blood and we are proud of this service. There is no question of commercialising the NHS blood donor service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied about the present level of psychiatric services in South Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

I share the hon. Member's concern over this. Last week I met a deputation from Rotherham led by the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Hardy). As a result I have written to the chairman of the Trent regional health authority asking him to look into this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent communications he has had from the Derbyshire area health authority concerning hospital closures.

The chairman for Derbyshire area health authority has recently written to inform me of his authority's decision to reopen Etwell hospital as a psycho-geriatric hospital in October 1981. I have replied to him, making it clear that I accept his decision, but urging that the hospital be reopened earlier if possible.I have also corresponded with the chairman over the proposed closure of Parwich hospital and have asked him to discuss the Parwich hospital trust committee's proposals for the future of the hospital with the trust. I have made it clear that I am not prepared to agree to the closure of the hospital until I know the outcome of those discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the rationalisation of geriatric and paediatric services in Liverpool.

So far as I am aware the Liverpool area health authority (teaching) is not proposing any wide-scale rationalisation of geriatric services in the city, and I imagine that the hon. Member has in mind the reduction which has occurred in geriatric facilities at Newsham hospital for reasons of patient safety. I have received letters from three hon. Members and three members of the public about this. The representations received on paediatric services are detailed in replies to a number of questions from the hon. Member, the most recent being on 25 July—[Vol. 989, c. 443.] Since then I have received no further letters about proposals for the Myrtle Street branch of the Royal Liverpool children's hospital, although I met a deputation led by my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Steen) on 18 November. But I have had a great many letters, from hon. and right hon. Members and from the general public, about the Heswall branch of that hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why unemployment benefit due to be paid to Mr. Philip G. Carr of 14 Towthorpe Road, Haxby, York YO3 8ND, by 31 August 1980 has not yet been paid; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Details of individuals' benefit claims are confidential and not normally disclosed in reply to parliamentary questions. For this reason I shall be writing to my hon. Friend about Mr. Carr's position.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make an announcement regarding the seventh round of offshore licensing.

The seventh round offered (i) a number of blocks designated by my Department and (ii) a defined area of the northern North Sea from which companies were able to apply for any block or blocks of their own selection. I have today placed in the Library of the House a list of conditional licence awards for blocks in the latter category. The total number of awards is 42 and each of these attracts an initial payment of £5 million.The assessment continues of applications for the designated blocks and I plan to announce awards in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the meeting of the governing board of the International Energy Agency at ministerial level on 9 December.

The governing board of the International Energy Agency met at ministerial level on 9 December under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Energy of the United States, Mr. Charles W. Duncan. I represented the United Kingdom.Ministers considered both the short-term oil market situation and the structural changes required in the medium-term to enable IEA countries to move away from dependence on imported oil.Ministers noted with concern that events in the Middle East had cast new uncertainties over future oil supplies and that the risk of a new spiral in oil prices threatened the world economy with further loss of growth, increased inflation and unemployment. Ministers were determined that the industrialised countries should do all in their power to prevent a repetition of the events of 1979. In their view the overall oil market situation, given the combination of high stock levels, declining consumption and the helpful action of several OPEC countries by way of increased production, should remain manageable. They reaffirmed the measures agreed on 1 October 1980 and extended them for the first quarter of 1981. Ministers agreed that, in the fourth quarter of 1980 and the first quarter of 1981, the balance between oil supply and demand should be maintained by continuing to draw on stocks. They also emphasised the need to discourage undesirable purchases, which brought undue pressure to bear on the market, and to keep oil consumption under control. They decided on a system to manage any serious country and company imbalances which might arise. The collective result of these actions, as estimated by the IEA secretariat, would be to reduce demand by IEA countries for oil by 10 per cent.—from 264 million tonnes in the first quarter of 1981 to 238 million tonnes. Their effectiveness will be the subject of rigorous monitoring.Ministers also reviewed progress made in achieving the structural change necessary to ensure that energy shortages do not act as a constraint to growth in the medium term. They noted that stronger measures to manage energy demand and reduce oil requirements would be needed if further slippage in the prospects of economic recovery in the middle 1980s was to be avoided. They had in mind in particular measures to increase coal production trade and use, on which they had received valuable presentation by the Coal Industry Advisory Board, an expansion in the development of nuclear power, an increase in the production, trade and use of natural gas, the development of alternative sources of energy and the vigorous promotion of energy demand management through energy conservation and the substitution of other energy forms for oil.The importance of the price mechanism and the view that domestic oil prices should reflect world prices was reaffirmed. Officials were asked to examine the pricing of energy in general and to institute more effective monitoring systems on energy pricing. Ministers will return to this question at their next meeting.Her Majesty's Government believe that effective implementation of the conclusions of the IEA meeting is essential if the short-term difficulties now being experienced in the oil market are not to lead to a further damaging price explosion. In the medium term sound pricing policy is fundamental to ensure the adaption of our economies to new patterns of energy use. Implementation of both the short-term measures and of those necessary in the medium term will require politic al commitment on the part of all member Governments. Her Majesty's Government will approach the IEA conclusions in this spirit.I am placing a copy of the governing board's communiqué in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the costs of different forms of energy supplied to the United Kingdom steel industry compare with the cost of energy supplied to the Dutch steel industry.

Reliable comparative information on energy prices to the steel industry as between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands is not yet available. However, I understand that the NEDO iron and steel sector working party has commissioned a comparative survey of prices to the industry in Europe, which I look forward to receiving in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the International Energy Agency oil-sharing scheme will be implemented, in view of the Sherman and Clayton Acts of the United States of America inhibiting market co-operation; and whether he, representing a member State of the International Energy Agency, will apply to the United States of America courts for a dispensation for this purpose.

The operation of the Sherman and Clayton Acts is a matter for the United States. They are parties to the agreement on short-term measures reached at the meeting of the IEA governing board at ministerial level on 9 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the International Energy Agency oil-sharing scheme recently announced contains any sanction to enable redistribution of supplies as recommended by the authorities.

The measures to correct serious oil supply imbalances between countries or companies, which were agreed at the meeting of the IEA governing board at ministerial level on 9 December, represent a political commitment by member countries to the implementation of a flexible and informal system to reduce undue market pressures on prices. The governing board agreed that its implementation would be "rigorously monitored".

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will elaborate upon the European Commission's proposals, referred to in his written answer, Official Report, 8 December, to extend regulations on the registration of crude oil and imported products.

Following the Tokyo summit in 1979 both the IEA and EEC established registers for imports of crude oil and products. The IEA recently agreed to extend both registers into the first six months of 1981, during which time the continuing worth of the registers will be evaluated. Meanwhile, the EEC registers run to 31 December 1980. The Commission has proposed an extension for 12 months, but the matter has yet to be decided by the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has to encourage local authorities in North-East England to investigate further, and where possible introduce, district heating schemes and to give financial support for such schemes.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy announced on 2 April a programme of work to test the feasibility of combined district heating and power generation in specific locations. The city of Newcastle upon Tyne and Tyne and Wear county council are amongst those local authorities which are participating in this programme. Information from this work will enable judgments to be made on the desirability of providing funds and on the scale of involvement by central and local government and other bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the projected total world oil reserves as assessed in each of the following years: 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1980; and what was the estimated period of time such reserves would last made in each of those years.

Regular oil reserve estimates dating back to the last war exist only for "published proved" reserves: that is the volume of oil remaining in the ground which geological and engineering information indicate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. No historic estimates are available of the time such reserves were expected to last, and so in the following table the reserves are compared with the level of oil production in the same years.

	World "Published Proved" oil reserves, end year billion barrels	World oil production billion barrels	Ratio reserves to production
1938	34·3	2·0	17
1950	90·0	4·0	22
1955	190·0	5·9	32
1960	298·3	8·0	37
1965	357·3	11·6	31
1970	620·7	17·5	35
1975	666·1	20·1	33
1979	649·2	24·0	27

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish the text of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material; whether it is the Government's intention to ratify the convention; and if he will make a statement.

Cmnd. 8112, copies of which have today been placed in the Library of the House, contains the text of the convention, which was prepared under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency and opened for signature in Vienna and New York on 3 March this year. The convention will come into force 30 days after 21 countries have ratified it.Under the convention, which applies to civil nuclear material, a signatory will be obliged to:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the ratio of exports to imports, as a percentage of the 1975 figure, for United Kingdom trade in manufactures, less precious stones, with the EEC Six each year since 1952.

Provision of the information for the whole period would require a great deal of data extraction which could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost. The readily available information is given in the table below.

United Kingdom trade with the European Community (6) in manufactures* less precious stonest†
	Export/Import ratios (as % of the 1975 figure)
1970	138
1971	129
1972	111
1973	96
1974	94
1975	100
1976	103
1977	103
1978	93
1979	90

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the date of the report to his Department of the accident involving a Boeing 707 at Lulsgate airport on 11 October 1979; when his Department's inquiry into the accident commenced; and when he expects the resulting report to be complete.

The accidents investigation branch was notified of the accident by air traffic control at Lulsgate a few hours after it occurred and field inquiries were commenced the following morning. On the basis of the facts established the chief inspector of accidents decided not to order an inspector's investigation to be carried out.An AIB bulletin containing a summary of the facts relating to the accident was published in January 1980. It is not intended to produce a formal report on this accident.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied that his Department is in possession of all the necessary information, including tape recordings of air traffic control messages, required for the completion of its inquiry into the accident involving a Boeing 707 aircraft at Lulsgate airport on 11 October 1979.

This accident is not the subject of an inspector's investigation, though inquiries in the field were carried out by the accidents investigation branch. I am satisfied that all the necessary information, including tape recordings of air traffic control messages, was obtained sufficient to enable the AIB to complete its inquiries. An AIB bulletin was published in January 1980 and contained a summary of the factual information relating to the accident. It is not intended to raise a formal report on this accident.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in the light of the report made to him by his inspectors, he is satisfied with the ground and air traffic control procedures at Lulsgate airport throughout the time that the airport was responsible for the Boeing 707, which then become involved in an accident at the airport on 11 October.

The field inquiries conducted by the accidents investigation branch have brought to light no evidence of improper procedures or mishandling on the part of the airport officials or air traffic control at Lulsgate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the registration number of the Boeing 707 aircraft involved in an accident at Lulsgate airport on 11 October 1979; if the number provided was authentic; what was the identity of the owner and operator; whether the pilot was qualified to fly that aircraft type; and if, pending publication of the report by his Department, he will make a statement.

At the time of the accident the aircraft carried the Zaire registration markings 9Q-CRY. Inquiries of the Zaire authorities through our embassy in Kinshasa established that no aircraft with that registration was known in Zaire.A Swiss organisation by the name of Air Union Aktiengesellshaft has indicated that it was the owner of the aircraft, but it has not been established who was the operator. The question as to the pilot's qualifications to fly the aircraft is still the subject of investigation by the CAA.Since there will be no formal report on this accident, I do not intend to make any statement about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will recommend a date by which metrication in the drapery and textile industry should be completed.

Since the Government have no plans for imposing any further compulsory metrication, completion of the drapery and textile industry's voluntary programme is entirely in its own hands. I understand that it is changing to metric measurements voluntarily and hopes that any transition will be orderly and that consumers will not be confused or misled as a result.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he proposes to take action against vessels which do not obey traffic rules in the English Channel.

My Department frequently brings prosecutions under the Collision Regulations and Distress Signals Order 1977 against masters of British ships, particularly in the case of alleged breach of the provisions which apply to traffic separation schemes such as those in the English Channel.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many patrol boats are owned or operated by the Coastguard Service.

The Coastguard Service has 36 boats of various sorts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many surveillance aircraft are owned or operated by the Coastguard Service; and what acquisitions are proposed by the service.

For some years the Department has chartered a light aircraft to assist in identifying vessels that may be in breach of the international collision regulations in the Dover Straits. The Department does not propose to buy any aircraft for this or any other Coastguard purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will request the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate the excessive variations in tour operators' surcharges, and their justification.

A tour operator's right to levy surcharges depends on the terms of his contract with his clients. These contracts, usually in the form of booking conditions, vary among tour operators.Tour operators who are members of the Association of British Travel Agents also subscribe to a voluntary code of conduct, drawn up in consultation with the Director General of Fair Trading. This code lays down the circumstances in which the brochure price may be increased, and by a recent amendment will also ensure that clients are in future given a breakdown of any surcharges.In these circumstances I do not consider it necessary to refer this matter to the Director General.