asked Her Majesty's Government:What actions they are taking on the suggestion made in a recent debate by Lord Trefgarne on behalf of the Government that one way of forcing an increase in competition in the supply of spectacles might be to alter the law so as to allow people other than trained opticians to dispense spectacles on production of a prescription.

My noble friend's hypothesis on 27th April of freeing of optical dispensing while retaining statutory control of sight-testing was designed to illustrate the contentious nature of the recommendations of the Office of Fair Trading Report which are being given serious study by Ministers. We hope to be in a position to reach our conclusions on these issues shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all the beds at the secure unit at St. Luke's Hospital, Middlesbrough, are now operational, or whether some beds are still closed owing to lack of staff.

Twenty of the 30 beds at the Regional Secure (Hutton) Unit at St. Luke's Hospital, Middlesbrough, are staffed and available. I understand from South Tees Health Authority that the unit has had some difficulty in recruiting trained and experienced staff, particularly nurses, despite national and local advertising. The authority is continuing in its efforts to recruit staff but in the meantime, in the absence of additional staff, it is reluctant to bring more beds into use since this could have a damaging effect on the standard of care it is currently providing for its patients.At the end of September there were no patients awaiting admission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What effect they envisage the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposed cuts in public expenditure will have on the social services in general.

The Government have not cut overall public expenditure on the NHS and have no present intention of doing so. Spending on the local authority personal social services will depend on the priority given to them by individual authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list and briefly describe the more notable successes and failures by local education authorities to develop the "dual use" of schools and colleges for leisure and recreational use; and what further support and encouragement they intend to give to maximise such use.

Responsibility for the use of their premises rests with local education authorities and information on individual cases of dual use is not collected centrally. However, a sample survey carried out in 1978–79 in England suggested that the dual use of maintained school premises was widespread: 59 per cent. of all schools were regularly used by members of the public outside school hours during term time; and 19 per cent. of all schools were so used during the school holidays. A seperate survey carried out in Wales at the same time showed comparable figures of 53 per cent. and 10per cent. respectively. The survey is now being repeated in both countries to see whether the pattern of community use has changed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are yet able to make a statement on whether ships and units which took part in the Falklands campaign will be able to include the campaign in their battle honours.

Her Majesty The Queen has graciously approved the award of battle honours to ships and units of the three services and the Merchant Navy which took part in the campaign to liberate the Falkland Islands.The award of the battle honour "Falkland Islands 1982" is to he made to all HM ships, submarines and Fleet Air Arm squadrons which had passed or were below 35° South and were north of 60° South in the South Atlantic between 2nd April and 14th June 1982. Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service vessels will similarly qualify, as will ships taken up from trade in support of the operation. The ships and naval air squadrons which qualify are set out below.In accordance with a long-standing tradition which dates back more than 150 years, the Royal Marines do not receive battle honours for any individual operation or campaign in which they have been engaged. Instead the corps motif of the globe surrounded by laurel is the symbol of their outstanding service throughout the world.The Theatre Honour "Falkland Islands 1982" together with honours for the engagements at Goose Green, Mount Longdon, Tumbledown Mountain and Wireless Ridge have been approved for the Army. Those regiments which took part in the campaign will be entitled to claim these honours in accordance with normal practice in the Army. After these claims have been considered by the Army Board, recommendations will be submitted for Her Majesty the Queen's approval. I am therefore not able today to list the regiments which will be so honoured, but will make a further statement to your Lordships in due course.The squadrons of the Royal Air Force which saw service between 2nd April and 14th June 1982 south of 35° South and north of 60° South or took part in an operational sortie south of Ascension Island will be awarded the battle honour "South Atlantic 1982". The squadrons concerned are set out below.