To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement concerning the Government's intention to commission independent research into the operation of benefit and youth training provision for 16 and 17-year-olds; and if the research will include an examination of the appropriateness or suitability of the training for the young people's needs and the size of the sample.

Further details of the proposed research into the operation of arrangements for 16 and 17-year-olds, announced by my noble Friend in another place on 2 July, will be given shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what differences apply between the rights of European Community students and European Community non-students in claiming social security benefits.

Students and non-students who are nationals of other EC member states and have a right of residence in the United Kingdom have the same social security benefit rights as their counterparts who are United Kingdom nationals. In addition EC nationals who are workers, whether or not they are also students, are covered by the provisions of Social Security Regulations (EEC) No. 1408/71—co-ordination of member states' social security schemes for migrant workers and their families.