asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schools in Scotland have been affected by the teachers' current withdrawal of labour.

So far this term, 432 secondary schools were affected on 24 April, and 284 primary schools in the week beginning 29 April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce his decision on the Mingary-Tobermory ferry.

Today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 25 April 1985, Official Report, column 532, concerning broadleaved woodland licensed for clearfelling for conversion of the land to agriculture, if he will give the exact location of those woodlands so felled on Cwm Mosydd farm, Gwent.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many tons of cereal and other foodstuffs approved at the Dublin summit of European Economic Community Ministers were delivered in each of the last eight weeks to the principal ports of Ethiopia and Port Sudan.

Information on action by the Community and the individual member states is not available in this detail. Figures for the distribution of food aid in each of the last two months from the amounts committed at the European Council in Dublin were given to my hon. Friend on 22 April, at column 364, by my hon. Friend the Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce).

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many parliamentary questions, written and oral, have been tabled to the Secretary of State for Defence over each of the last three Sessions.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal in what form he anticipates that the House of Commons will be asked to give its opinion on the new EEC own resources decision, the EEC intergovernmental agreement on the 1985 budget and the accession of Spain and Portugal; and, if in each case, he will undertake to ensure adequate time for debate.

Final decisions on the form of consideration by the House of Commons of these subjects have not yet been taken, but I can assure the hon. Member that adequate time for debate will be given.

asked the Paymaster-General how many departmental committees of inquiry he and his predecessors have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported.

Neither I nor any of my predecessors since the date specified have commissioned any departmental committee of inquiry.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada.

I was delighted to welcome Mr. Mulroney on his first visit to London as Prime Minister of Canada. As partners in the Commonwealth and NATO we share many common interests. We had most friendly and useful talks on the Bonn summit and other international issues.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will publish the evidence given to the Widdicombe inquiry on the conventions governing the use of public funds for central Government publicity.

A note on the conventions which successive Governments have applied to their publicity and advertising has been sent to the committee. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner as to why Metropolitan police marksmen have military style uniforms.

Metropolitan police officers who are authorised to carry firearms normally wear standard police clothing or plain clothes when doing so. But when firearms instructors are deployed to the sceme of an incident they wear berets because that is the most suitable headgear if rifles have to be carried. On very rare occasions the firearms instructors may have to be deployed urgently while still wearing their firearms range clothing, which consists of plain nylon overalls clearly marked with police identification numerals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an urgent inquiry into the reasons for the current incidence of self-mutilation by women prisoners and the means by which it can be reduced; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to set up such an inquiry. The incidence of self-injury by prisoners and the means by which it can be reduced are kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to raise the £1.25 allowance on television licences for families which include at least one registered blind person.

	1982		1983		1984
	Prosecutions	Convictions	Prosecutions	Convictions	Prosecutions	Convictions
Greater Manchester	5,147	5,135	5,671	5,666	6,933	6,931
Merseyside	2,617	2,611	3,072	3,058	2,540	2,529
Tyne & Wear	1,465	1,463	1,804	1,799	2,367	2,367
West Midlands	3,456	3,451	5,001	4,992	7,953	7,936
West Yorkshire	3,600	3,595	3,054	3,052	4,266	4,262
Greater London	7,698	7,635	7,635	7,600	8,518	8,466

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detector vans are used by the Post Office for the purpose of detecting those people who have not paid for their television licences.

Twenty-two.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what use is made of market research by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Market research plays an important role in the workings of the Department particularly in respect of information and publicity for energy efficiency office campaigns.

We have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department(1) if he will indicate the number of prosecutions and convictions in Greater Manchester county for the last three years for which records are available in respect of offences by people failing to pay for their television licences;(2) if he will indicate the number of prosecutions and convictions in Merseyside metropolitan county for the last three years for which records are available in respect of offences by people failing to pay for their television licences;(3) if he will indicate the number of prosecutions and convictions in Tyne and Wear metropolitan county for the last three years for which records are available in respect of offences by people failing to pay for their television licences;(4) if he will indicate the number of prosecutions and convictions in the West Midlands metropolitan county for the last three years for which records are available in respect of offences by people failing to pay for their television licences;(5) if he will indicate the number of prosecutions and convictions in the West Yorkshire metropolitan county for the last three years for which records are available in respect of offences by people failing to pay for their television licences;(6) if he will indicate the number of prosecutions and convictions in the Greater London area for the last three years for which records are available in respect of offences by people failing to pay for their television licences.

Prosecutions initiated in these areas and the convictions resulting from them in the last three years were as follows:Extensive use is made of research into attitudes and awareness in the domestic market sector and is an integral feature of our work in the industrial and commercial sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to the answer of 15 April, Official Report, column 30, he will provide the same information relating to comparative international energy prices on a single unit basis, such as pence per therm, for all the fuels concerned.

The information requested which relates to the third quarter of 1984, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, if, pursuant to the answer of 26 March, Official Report, column 108, he will provide the same information relating to domestic fuel prices on a single unit basis, such as pence per therm, for all the fuels concerned.

	May 1979	April 1983	May 1984	January 1985
Average price of gas (including standing charge) to domestic credit meter consumers in Great Britain using 400 therms per annum.Pence per therm	17·9	43·0	44·7	44·7
Average price of electricity (including standing charge) to consumers in England and Wales on the standard domestic tariff using 3,300kwh per annum.Pence per therm	93·52	173·62	176·63	176·63
Average price of standard grade burning oil. Pence per therm	28·42	62·59	53·83	61·22

It should be noted that thermal efficiency varies according to fuel. The figures take no account of this variation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, if, pursuant to the answer of 18 March, Official Report, column 400, he will provide the same information

The information requested is given in the table:relating to comparative international energy costs on a single unit basis, such as pence per therm, for all the fuels concerned.

The information requested is given in the table:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of employers' costs attributable to wages in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Japan and the Federal Republic of Germany, respectively.

Information is available, on a consistent basis for different countries, only in respect of wages as a proportion of employers' labour costs in production industries and in some services in member states of the European Communities. The latest results relate to 1981 and are shown in tables 201A and 207 of "Labour Costs, Volume 1: Principal Results," published by Eurostat, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for the monthly unemployment statistics in future to incorporate a breakdown according to (a) the age, (b) the sex, (c) the educational and other qualifications and (d) the previous trade or profession, of each unemployed person; and if he will arrange for such information to be made available on a regional and travel-to-work area basis.

International Financial Statistics Yearbook: United Kingdom other transactions (net) (line 84 ag) analysed by component
	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Northern Ireland Central Government Debt	17	38	–1	6	41	19	12	9
Other non-marketable Debt	–3	11	–82	28	–181	–168	215	–338

The monthly unemployment statistics are already available analysed by sex, for regions and local areas, including travel-to-work areas. More detailed figures by age and duration are also available quarterly, and the full range of analysis will shortly be available for the travel-to-work areas and other areas defined in terms of wards. The records on which the unemployment count is based do not include details of qualifications or previous trades or professions because these are not needed for the purposes of administering benefits, and we have no plans to provide such an extension of the statistics. The labour force survey collects information about the qualifications, previous occupation and previous industry of people who are not working and are looking for work, but the sample size is too small to provide estimates at local level.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the other transactions referred to in line 84 ag in the United Kingdom section of the International Financial Statistics Yearbook for 1983; and if he will provide a breakdown on this basis for each year since 1977.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy concerning the sale of premium bonds abroad.

United Kingdom law permits the purchase of premium bonds by people living abroad. If residents of other countries buy premium bonds, this may not be permitted by local laws. So national savings suggests that people resident abroad should check this. National savings does not accept purchase applications from residents of countries where it is known such laws exist.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total revenue from the sale of premium bonds in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how much of this revenue was generated by sales of premium bonds abroad in each of those years.

Sales of premium bonds have been as follows:

Year	£ million
1975	131·61
1976	149·03
1977	149·92
1978	190·62
1979	133·35
1980	160·02
1981	149·96
1982	159·62
1983	192·62
1984	206·70
Total	1,623·45

In the same period repayments totalled £929·71 million so the net amount received was £693·74 million.Sales to people abroad are not recorded separately, but estimates suggest that they form a very small proportion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of tax reliefs paid each year since 1970 (i) to employees contributing to private pension schemes, (ii) to employers' running private pension schemes, (iii) to pension funds on their investments and

Readily available estimates of the direct revenue costs of the reliefs relate to 1984-85 and are as follows:

Relief in respect of:	Direct re-venue cost in full year (£ million) 1984–85
Employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes allowed as a deduction for income tax purposes	1,250
Employers' contributions to occupational pension schemes allowed as a charge against profits for corporation tax purposes	*1,600
Investment income of occupational pension funds (assuming relief at the basic rate)	2,500
Lump sum payments to pensioners (assuming relief at the basic rate)	900
* This estimate is particularly tentative.

The effect on tax reliefs of abolition of the state earnings-related pension scheme would depend on the assumptions made about any consequential changes in the numbers of contributions made to pension schemes arid in their level.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Government have plans to issue any new commemorative coins.

Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the Master of the Mint's recommendation that a special £2 piece be issued to commemorate the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986. There will be a normal version of the coin issued at face value, and collectors' versions, in precious metals and base metals, issued at a premium.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the inquiries by the Bank of England into Johnson Matthey Bankers have revealed departures from normal prudent banking practice.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1985, c. 246]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has evaluated the effect of the development of a STOLport in the royal docks area on the willingness of foreign investors to establish businesses in the area.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he received the request from the Nature Conservancy Council for a section 29 conservation order to be applied on land within Ferry Ford Farm, Staffordshire; and when he expects to sign the order;(2) when he expects to list as a European Commission birds directive special protection area and Ramsar convention site the following estuaries

I shall answer these questions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision on the grant application made on behalf of the London Lesbian and Gay Centre in Smithfield EC1.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 April 1985, c. 578]: After the most careful consideration, we have decided that consent should be refused to the application by the Greater London council for consent to expenditure of over £100,000 under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 to meet the salary costs in 1985-86 of the centre's staff, who would collectively manage the centre. The formal decision of the Secretary of State has been communicated to the council today.In reaching this decision, I have not sought to judge whether the centre, which has been provided at considerable public expense, is necessary or justifiable. Neither would I wish to comment on whether the intended users of what is predominantly a social and recreational centre constitute a group of the population who suffer social discrimination. Instead, in considering whether the proposed expenditure would be expedient, the question has to be asked whether it is right for the recurrent annual operating costs of £115,000, together with the full annual salary costs of £119,207, to be met predominantly by ratepayers, in comparison with anticipated but unsubstantiated direct income from users of £90,865. If there is indeed a demand for social and recreational facilities of this kind, I question whether it would not be reasonable to expect the operating costs to be met by the intended users, when there is no evidence that they constitue an economically deprived group of the population. These questions do not appear to have been addressed in any depth by the council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information is available to Her Majesty's Government regarding the outcome of meetings between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics officials on the non-proliferation treaty in Helsinki between 15 and 19 April: and if consultations took place with Her Majesty's Government before this meeting.

Details of talks between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are a matter for the Governments concerned.We ourselves hold regular consultations with the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics about nuclear non-proliferation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's execution of their obligations and duties as a depository power under the non-proliferation treaty.

As required by article IX (5) of the treaty, we have promptly informed all signatory and acceding states of the date of each signature, the date of deposit of each instrument of ratification or accession, and the date of the treaty's entry into force. As required by article IX (6), we registered the treaty pursuant to article 102 of the United Nations Charter. We have also played a full part in setting up the third non-proliferation treaty review conference to be held in Geneva in September 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report as much information as is in his possession about Mr. Raoul Wallenberg; when was the last time he made representations to the Government of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics about him; if he has any plans to make representations in the future; and if he will make a statement.

We have no firm evidence of what happened to Mr. Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, after his arrest by Soviet troops in Budapest in 1945. In 1957, Mr. Gromyko, the Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that Mr. Wallenberg had died in prison in the Soviet Union in 1947. There have, however, been a number of reports since then from former inmates of Soviet prisons suggesting that Mr. Wallenberg is still alive.We have raised the case of Raoul Wallenberg with the Soviet authorities on several occasions in the past. My hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) last did so when he met the Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Kornienko, in March 1984. While decisions to press for more information from the Soviet Union are in the first instance from the Swedish Government, we remain ready to assist them in efforts to establish with greater certainty what has happened to Mr. Wallenberg.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what indications were given to the United States Commission touring Europe recently regarding British attitudes in the event of the production by the United States of America of new chemical weapons; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.As a major ally of the United States and in view of the United Kingdom's leading role in the negotiations on a comprehensive chemical weapon ban at Geneva, the British Government were approached for their view by the United States presidential chemical warfare review commission. In their response, the British Government expressed concern about the chemical warfare threat from the Warsaw pact. They also emphasised their view that the Alliance should continue as its first priority to work urgently, in the current negotiations at Geneva, for a total and verifiable ban on all aspects of chemical warfare. They noted that United States moves towards modernisation would underline to the Russians the benefits of reaching early agreement on a total ban. In addition, the British Government underlined the need to uphold NATO's deterrent strategy of flexible response.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what indications were given to the United States commission touring Europe recently regarding British attitudes towards the storage in the United Kingdom of United States nerve gas bombs; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked reply.None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will indicate the purpose, nature and quality of radio emissions from the radar station at Bishopscourt, County Down; and if he will make a statement about their effect on public health.

The radar station at Bishopscourt, County Down, forms part of the United Kingdom air defence ground environment (UKADGE) network. The radars are sited in accordance with approved safety criteria and there is no hazard to public health.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement describing the development currently taking place at RAF Bishopscourt.

The development currently taking place at RAF Bishopscourt is part of the improved United Kingdom air defence ground environment (IUKADGE) network development. Bishopscourt is one of a number of radar reporting posts in this network. The latest improvements are based on assessments of requirements up to the end of the century.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the recent excavations and earth removals at RAF Bishopscourt.

I refer the hon. Member to the other answers I am giving on this subject. The actual excavation and earth removals referred to form the foundation works to the main reporting post, transmitter and receiver buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the runway-type approach leading to a large excavation at RAF Bishopscourt.

The runway-type approach adjacent to the excavation work at Bishopscourt is one of the station's main runways and has been in existence since 1942. It has no connection with the current IUKADGE development.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the community near Bishopscourt and their local representatives about the developments taking place at the Royal Air Force installations.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will permit a visit to RAF Bishopscourt, including the development site, by local elected representatives.

There is no objection in principle to such a visit although security considerations would limit its scope.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide Down district council with an aerial or satellite photograph of RAF Bishopscourt showing the recent development and excavations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in chronological order the frigates and destroyers disposed of since 5 May 1979 including loss by enemy action.

Destroyers and frigates are disposed of in a number of ways when no longer needed. They can be sold to foreign navies, sold for scrap or sunk as targets. Ships can also, of course, be lost in action.Destroyers and frigates finally disposed of since 5 May 1979 are as follows:

	Destroyers	Frigates
1979 (from 5 May)	Caprice Matapan

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in chronological order the frigates and destroyers ordered since 5 May 1979, listing the date of ordering and the date of commissioning where applicable.

Details of frigates ordered since 5 May 1979 are as follows. No destroyers have been ordered during this period.

Vessel	Date of Order
Broadsword Class Frigate (Type 22)
HMS Brave*	27 August 1981
HMS London	23 February 1982
HMS Sheffield	14 December 1982
HMS Coventry	14 December 1982
HMS Cornwall	14 December 1982
HMS Cumberland	14 December 1982
Duke Class Frigate (Type 23)
HMS Norfolk	29 October 1984

	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Officers
Rear Admiral and above	10	14	15	15	19
Captain	33	30	34	47	51
Commander	70	66	64	105	151
Lt Commander	180	128	148	214	246
Lieutenant	226	144	142	152	154
Sub-Lieutenant and below	184	180	221	207	164
Ratings
Fleet Chief Petty Officer	142	96	93	91	88
Chief Petty Officer	940	742	664	732	850
Petty Officer	658	503	375	436	435
Leading Rate	1,502	1,089	742	457	510
Able Rate and below	4,364	3,566	2,623	1,619	1,835

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the past the Procurement Executive has telephoned tenderers for his Department's contracts on contracts worth more than £100 million giving the deadline date for tendering; whether this

asked the Secretary of State for Defence under which circumstances the contract for the replacement trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force recently awarded to Shorts is revokable.

The contract contains various provisions under which it could be determined by the Ministry.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether, subsequent to the receipt of Shorts' bid for the Royal Air Force air basic trainer on 14 March, any member of his Department requested Shorts to make a revised offer:(2) whether he will state the rank and post held of the member of the Procurement Executive who telephoned British Aerospace on 13 March to inform it of the deadline date for tender for the new basic trainer for the Royal Air Force; to whom he spoke; and if the call was logged by his Department;(3) why, on 15 March, the controller of aircraft of his Department's Procurement Executive requested a revised bid from British Aerospace for the new basic trainer for the Royal Air Force.

I shall reply shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many ratings and officers left the Royal Navy in each of the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 by rank.

The information which is available only by financial year, not calendar year, is as follows:is the normal procedure within his Department; and on how many occasions such a telephone call has been confirmed by letter, telex or other written communication.Mr. Butler: I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the costings produced by his Department prior to the decision to site the defence school of music at Deal.

No. To do so would prejudice both competitive tendering for the building contract and bidding by contract and bidding by potential buyers.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licences have been issued in Northern Ireland by the Health and Safety Agency to contractors since August 1984 in respect of authorised asbestos removal; and how many prosecutions have been commenced and completed for breaches of the asbestos removal regulations in Northern Ireland before and after 1 August 1984.

Under the provisions of the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984, the Department of Economic Development issues licences to contractors who undertake any work with asbestos insulation or asbestos coating. Since the commencement of these regulations on 1 August 1984, 14 licences have been granted. Three prosecutions are pending in relation to the regulations.

	1984							1985
	June	July	August	September	October	November	December	January	February	March
First admission on remand and awaiting trial—sentence	8	2	2	3	7	3	1	6	8	9
First admission on sentence, and final discharge	9	10	14	3	5	16	13	23	23	24
Attending Armagh Remand Court	2	5	2	2	2	2	1	2	1	—
Attending Belfast Remand Court	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Attending Lisburn Remand Court	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—
Attending Dowpatrick Remand Court	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—
Attending Omagh Remand Court	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
Attending Trial	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	1	1
Bail Court Appearances at Belfast High Court	11	2	2	2	5	4	5	2	8	6
Appeal Court Appearances	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
Inter Prison Visits	—	—	4	—	2	4	—	2	2	—
Outside Hospital Visits	—	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	2	—
Pre-Release Programme	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	8
Home Leave Scheme	6	5	4	1	5	2	18	—	2	11
Employment Interview	—	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	—	—
Totals	38	25	28	13	30	33	38	36	50	59

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the financial contribution of the tourist industry to the Northern Ireland economy in each of the last three years.

The information requested is as follows:

	1981 £ million	1982 £ million	1983 £ million
Staying Visitors	42·3	48·0	72·2
Day Excursionists	17·8	20·0	120·0
Home Holidaymakers	18·5	16·8	33·4
Total	78·6	84·8	225·6

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is considering the closure of Magilligan prison.

This is one of a number of options which will need to be considered for when Her Majesty's prison Maghaberry is opened.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, pursuant to his replie s of 19 March, Official Report, columns 434-5 and 19 April, Official Report, column 282, to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North, he will break down the other reasons for conducting of strip searches upon female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, to distinguish between first admission and final discharge, bail court appearance, indicating which court, attendance at other remand courts, indicating which courts, appeal court hearings, outside hospital visits, pre-release programmes and employment interviews, for the monthly periods before March from the commencement of strip searches at Her Majesty's prison, Armagh.

The information requested is available only from 1 June 1984 and is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has to the number of tourists who visited the Province in each of the past six years to the latest available date.

The information is as follows:

	Number
1979	728,000
1980	710,000
1981	588,000
1982	712,000
1983	865,000
1984	908,000

(Rounded to the nearest thousand)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the number of tourists who visited Northern Ireland from (a) the British mainland, (b) Europe, (c) the United States of America and (d) other countries, in each of the past four years.

The information is as follows:

	1981	1982	1983	1984
Great Britain	343,000	352,000	377,000	405,000
Europe	191,000	305,000	419,000	441,000
United States of America	20,000	26,000	33,000	27,000
Other	34,000	29,000	36,000	35,000

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the recent performance of the agencies responsible for promoting tourism in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am satisfied that the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, district councils and local tourist development groups are working effectively to promote Northern Ireland tourism.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will forthwith use his regulation-making power under section 1.(2)(1F) of the Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985 to resolve the difficulty which has arisen over the use of medical cards at the local government elections on 15 May.

My right hon. Friend has carefully considered this possibility. However, to alter the list of documents specified in paragraph 34(6) of schedule 1 to the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, two instruments are necessary, one to alter the list for parliamentary elections, the other for local elections. The form of the legislation ensures that the same documents must be used for both parliamentary and local elections.

Breakdown of Medical Cards Issued from 1 October 1973 to 31 December 1984
	All Medical Cards	Births	Immigrants and Re-entrants to Northern Ireland from outwith the United Kingdom	Change of Doctor transfers from Great Britain and others
1973*	45,170	6,947	2,714	35,509
1974	126,987	23,761	5,213	98,013
1975	130,773	22,538	5,926	102,309
1976	132,518	23,409	4,224	104,885
1977	139,072	23,454	3,350	112,268
1978	130,822	23,647	3,757	103,418
1979	121,033	25,178	3,523	92,332
1980	115,718	25,896	3,074	86,748
1981	107,009	25,400	2,458	79,151
1982	†115,000	†25,000	†2,500	†87,500
1983	†110,000	†25,000	†2,500	†82,500
1984	†110,000	†25,000	†2,500	†82,500
TOTAL	1,384,102	275,230	41,739	1,067,133
* From 1 Octoberber 1973.
† Estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in each year since the Central Services Agency for Personal Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland was set up, how many medical cards have

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met representatives of the Royal College of Nursing in Northern Ireland to discuss the findings of the review body on pay for nurses, midwives and health visitors; and if it is his intention that the full recommendations of the review body should be implemented in Northern Ireland.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give a breakdown of the 1 4 million medical cards issued to which his hon. Friend referred on 29 April, Official Report, column 22, to indicate, as far as possible, what groups of people received them, namely, newly born persons changing address or doctor and the number issued to each group in each year since the central services agency was set up.

Statistics are not available in the form requested, and no specific records of the number of medical cards issued have been kept since 1981. The figures for 1982, 1983 and 1984 which appear in the table are therefore estimates.been issued to

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to his earlier question on this subject. Figures for the numbers of replacement cards issued to adults or to persons entering Northern Ireland are not separately recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of local government electors in Northern Ireland who hold a medical card which is acceptable as proof of identity for the local government elections on 15 May; and what percentage of the electorate this represents.

This information is not available. The total number of medical cards issued by the Central Services Agency since its inception in 1973 is approximately 1,384,000, but there is no reliable means of correlating this figure with the number of people eligible to vote. The total includes applications from people who have since died, left Northern Ireland or not yet reached voting age. In addition, some applicants may have obtained replacements for cards issued since 1973, either because they have changed their doctor or address, or because they have lost their previous card.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of local government electors in Northern Ireland who hold a medical card which is not acceptable as proof of identity for the local government elections on 15 May; and what percentage of the local government electors this represents.

It is not possible to estimate the number of electors who were issued with a medical card by the General Health Services Board, who have not subsequently received a card issued by the Central Services Agency, and who still have their original card in their possession.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of local government electors in Northern Ireland whose only means of proving their identity for the purpose of receiving their ballot paper for the local government elections on 15 May is a medical card which they hold; and, of those persons, how many hold a medical card not issued by the Central Services Agency of the Personal Health and Social Services Department.

The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 provides that the only medical cards which may be accepted by presiding officers in local elections as proof of identity are those issued by the Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for the health and social services. It is not possible to estimate how many electors holding a medical card issued by the agency possess none of the other documents specified under the order.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he was first made aware that a medical card issued by the Northern Ireland General Health Services Board could not be accepted as proof of identity under the provisions of the Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985 and the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.

My right hon. Friend was informed on 24 April 1985 that some voters in Northern Ireland still held medical cards issued by the Northern Ireland General Health Services Board which was abolished in 1973. As the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland stated on

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of local government electors in Northern Ireland who hold either a United Kingdom passport or a passport issued by the Republic of Ireland, or both.

I do not have any information about the number of holders of Republic of Ireland passports living in Northern Ireland. No separate record is kept of applications for United Kingdom passports from Northern Ireland residents. It is not possible therefore to give a useful estimate of the number of such passport holders on the electoral register for Northern Ireland local elections.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of married women who would need to produce their marriage certificate as proof of identity in order to cast their ballot in the local government elections on 15 May.

The inclusion of marriage certificates in the list of specified documents under the provisions of the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 was designed to assist women who have married since the electoral register was last compiled, and who may not possess any other documents under their maiden name. It is not possible to estimate how many women may fall into this category.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of local government electors in Northern Ireland who hold an allowance or pension book, or books, which is acceptable as proof of identity for the purpose of exercising the franchise on 15 May.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list what information is available about the geographical distribution, by regions or otherwise, of the number of recipients of supplementary benefit on long-term scale rates, in each year since 1981.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 17 April at columns 214-15.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his policy on the circumstances in which he waives repayment of overpaid benefit;(2) why he will not waive repayment in the case of Mr. D. Wilcha about whom the hon. Member for Stretford wrote to him on 12 and 14 February.

The Secretary of State has a statutory right to recover benefit which the independent

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to establish a precise means of defining those people who may be categorised as the elderly mentally infirm.

In recent years the Department has followed professional practice in abandoning the distinction formerly made between elderly people with mental illness and those suffering from forms of dementia. It is now accepted that a specialised service for the "psychiatry of old age" is required. Guidance on the development of such a service is contained in the Health Advisory Service's report "The Rising Tide," issued in 1983, a copy of which is in the Library. If my hon. Friend has a particular problem in mind, no doubt he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the contracts, with the subject of assignment, awarded to management consultancy firms by his Department in 1984, with the name of the consultants concerned.

The following is a list of contracts awarded by my Department in 1984, for management-computer-technical consultancy.

Contract	Consultancy firm
Management Information System	Touche Ross and Co.
Study of Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Service	Arthur Andersen and Co.
Study on effectiveness of Department forms	Coopers and Lybrand Associates Ltd.
Management Budgeting, North Tees and Southmead Health Authorities	Arthur Young
Management Budgeting, Ealing and Basingstoke Health Authorities	Coopers and Lybrand Associates Ltd.
Review of Pharmaceutical Services	Binder Hamlyn
Use of Computers in the Family Practitioner Services	Arthur Andersen and Co.
Review of Public Health Laboratory Service Board	Robert Blowers
Review of pricing of medical gasses in the National Health Service	Binder Hamlyn Fry and Co.
Research into forms design	The Open University
Wembley 'Complex' of Family Practitioner Committees	Major-General R. P. Wall
Social Security Audit System appraisal and internal assistance	Arthur Young
Review of Wheelchair Services	Inbucon Ltd.
Advisor for Social Security Reviews	Coopers & Lybrands Ltd.
Monitoring Social Security Encashments	C2 Systems Ltd.
Production of Data model	Model Systems Ltd.
Development of 'Artemis' Programming Aspects for electronic office	MOM
Housing Benefit Review	Logica Ltd.
To Provide Guidelines on Hardware for the Wembley (Family Practitioners Services) Complex	Abbey Business Consultants

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information is available to him about the rise in prices paid by the National Health Service as compared with the general rise in prices since 1979.

Since 1979, the Health Services Price Index, which measures movements in the prices of goods and services directly bought by health authorities, has risen by nearly 60 per cent., compared to an estimated general rise in prices as measured by the GDP deflator over the same period of 52 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what percentage the petrol allowance paid to the disabled drivers of his Department's invalid vehicles has fallen in real terms since it was increased to its present value; and to what amount it would be necessary to increase the allowance to restore its value.

The value of the petrol tax allowance paid to drivers of the Department's invalid three-wheelers has fallen by 68·5 per cent. in real terms since it was fixed in November 1974. Based on the movement in the retail prices index from November 1974 to March 1985, it would be necessary to increase the allowance to £32 a year to restore its value. It is, however, not linked directly to the index or any other specific factor.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what difficulties his Department is aware of where claimants have a single order book for more than one benefit; and what efforts have been made to overcome them.

We are not aware of difficulties where claimants have single order books for more than one benefit. If the right hon. Member cares to let me have details of any such difficulties which claimants have encountered, I will arrange for these to be examined.