TNAG-2170-FCO40-3107-Hong-Kong-annual-review-for-1989-and-1990-1990 — Page 32

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3. Hearing should be tested on the basis of simple clinical examination. The test should be a simple instruction or question, shouted from just beyond one metre behind the claimant. As it must test the claimant's need to understand, rather than just the ability to react to the shout by turning the head, it should be in a form such as "Please lift your right arm” or “How old are you?” If possible the test should be conducted outdoors so that the effect of loss of hearing on the claimant's outdoor mobility problems can be properly assessed. Where an outdoor test is not possible the results should be related to the outdoors. Experience with other benefits indicates that an assessment of 80 per cent. will be appropriate where the claimant is unable to hear a shout beyond 1 metre using both ears (with aids). Please record your assessment overleaf.

4. Also, the examining doctor needs to assess the ability of the deaf/blind person to walk to any intended or required destination whilst out of doors without the assistance of another person. If a walking test is appropriate it should be carried out on the kind of surface which the claimant would normally have to cope with outdoors. Where this in not possible, the examining doctor should use medical judgement to assess walking ability in such outdoor circumstances, bearing in mind the effects of both blindness and deafness.

5. Unless it is clear beyond doubt that the specific criteria for deaf/blind people are satisfied a full test of walking ability should be undertaken (this should include balance tests, if it seems that a person needs physical support to walk). This will make it possible for a decision to be made as to whether a person qualifies under any of the criteria which apply to disabled people generally if the criteria for deaf/blind people are not fulfilled.

Child Benefit

Mr. Allen McKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the increase in child benefit since 1987.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard: Pursuant to my reply of 2 April, Official Report, c. 486, which was found to be incomplete, the full reply is as follows.

Child benefit has remained payable at £7·25 per week for each child since April 1987.

We have however since then devoted considerable extra resources totalling some £350 million in real terms to the least well-off families-those on income support and family credit-who do not gain from an increase in Child Benefit of itself and who are now therefore better off than they would have been if child benefit had been uprated.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

MED Iraq (Nuclear Weapons) SEND

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to instruct (a) Her Majesty's Government's representative on the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency and (b) the United Kingdom Ambassador to the United Nations, to initiate investigations at the International Atomic Energy Agency and United Nations, respectively, into the Iraqi nuclear weapons programme.

Mr. Waldegrave: Iraq is a party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and as such has undertaken not to develop nuclear weapons. We expect Iraq to abide by her international legal obligations. We are currently considering, in consultation with interested parties, how to

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strengthen barriers against proliferation. We do not, however, envisage taking the specific action outlined by the hon. Member.

HKD

Hong Kong

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report on Hong Kong will be laid before Parliament.

Mr. Maude: The report was laid before Parliament and published on 18 April. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

EED

Czechoslovakia SCD

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the cessation of exports of Semtex from Czechoslovakia.

Mr. Waldegrave: As I informed the House on 10 April 1989, Official Report, column 360, we had been told that Czechoslovakia ceased exporting Semtex in 1982. We have now received further clarification from the Czechoslovak authorities, who have explained that the last foreign trade exports had indeed been in 1982, but that in addition "special deliveries" to the GDR and Hungary had continued in the context of Warsaw Pact commitments. These deliveries were distinct from normal foreign trade operations and had been covered by a guarantee of non re-export to third countries. They have informed us that all exports of Semtex, including the "special deliveries", ended in 1989. We are in discussion with the Czechoslovak authorities about past exports of Semtex, and have noted President Havel's statement that about 1,000 tonnes had been exported to Libya.

NATIONAL FINANCE

Uniform Business Rate

Mr. Gareth Wardell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued to district rating valuation officers as to the criteria to be used by them to determine the rateable values on which the uniform business rate is calculated.

Mr. Lilley: No. The material contains information confidential to indvidual ratepayers.

Civil Service Relocation

Mr. Speller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there are any plans to relocate any part of the civil service to north Devon.

Mr. Ryder: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 17 January 1990, Official Report, c. 289-90. Departmental Ministers will announce their own decisions on relocation venues once the essential processes of assessment and consultation have been completed.

Gross Domestic Product

Mr. Gareth Wardell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of the top 30 countries in the world in descending order for gross domestic product per head for the latest available date.