asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will examine the extent to which the costs of the National Health Service would be reduced and the GNP enhanced by accepting the contribution which manipulative therapy would make in reducing the cost of treating back pain and preventing its incidence.

The report of the Working Group on Back Pain (the Cochrane Report) published in 1979 recommended that comparative trials of manipulative and other treatments for back pain should be initiated. An assurance was given to the noble Lord on 21st November of that year [Official Report Vol. 403, col. 271] that research into the causes of and treatment for back pain was as a result already given high priority by the Department of Health and Social Security and that research proposals in this field would be welcome. Unfortunately, no proposals of acceptable scientific validity have been received. Clinical decisions on how particular patients should be treated for back pain would in any case be a matter for the judgment of the medical or other practitioners treating them.

asked Her Majesty's GovernmentWhether they have yet decided what action to take on the Williams Report on Scotland's national museums and galleries

Interested organisations were asked to give comments by 31st December 1981 on the recommendations in the report, including those for the establishment of a museum of Scotland. The comments are now being considered and the Government's conclusions will be announced as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What sums have been received in cash since 6th April 1979 by local authorities in England and Wales as a result of the sale of council houses (or flats), and how much they have provided by way of loans to their tenants for house purchase.

In the period 1st April 1979 to 30th September 1981, it is estimated that local authorities in England and Wales had £526 million initial capital receipts from the sale of 171,400 council dwellings, including the full selling price where sales were privately financed and deposits on sales with a council mortgage. A further estimated £143 million of capital receipts were repayments of loans on past sales.The sums left outstanding in the form of loans on sales of council houses in the same period is estimated at £1,119 million most of which would have been on sales to council tenants.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that there are no legal doubts regarding the use of the District Valuer to carry out valuations with reference to council house sales.

Submissions on this matter have been made in the Court of Appeal in the course of their hearing of Norwich City Council v. The Secretary of State for the Environment on 22nd, 25th, 26th and 27th January. The court has reserved judgment. I shall write to the noble Baroness when judgment has been given.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will take steps to allay the fears of many parents in Hertfordshire who think that road crossing patrols are to be abolished from April 1982 despite the fact that many of the roads carry fast moving traffic, especially in the Watford area.

The provision of school crossing patrols is, by law, an entirely local matter in which my right honourable friend has no power to intervene. I am however confident that the Hertfordshire County Council, which is active in improving road safety, will take the value of these patrols fully into account in deciding its future policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date the memorandum, DAC IMM 34 (7/79)

Memorandum DAC IMM 34 (7/79) issued by the British High Commission in Dacca was superseded by DAC IMM 34 (4/80) in April 1980. A revised edition, bearing the same reference number DAC IMM 34 (4/80) was issued early in 1981. A copy of this revised edition will be placed in the House of Lords Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many X-rays were conducted on children for the purpose of age estimation at each of the posts in the Indian sub-continent in the calendar year 1981.

No figures are kept by our posts in Pakistan but it is estimated that during 1981 approximately 420 children were X-rayed in Islamabad and between 6 and 10 children in Karachi. 262 children were X-rayed in Dacca. No children were X-rayed in India in 1981.House adjourned at half-past seven o'clock.