asked Her Majesty's Government.Whether they would permit the Government of the United States to use nuclear weapons from bases in the United Kingdom as a deterrent to terrorists.

The Government have made clear that, under long-standing arrangements, the use by US forces of bases in the UK in an emergency would be a matter for joint decision by the two governments in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. It has also made clear that it is fanciful and ridiculous to contemplate the use of nuclear weapons in operations such as that recently conducted by the US against Libya.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of events over the past year, they will institute a comprehensive inquiry into the recruitment, training, duties (especially in regard to those concerning abuse of children) and discipline in the social services, and whether they will report as a matter of urgency, within six months.

The Government have under consideration a number of proposals in this area and do not consider that an inquiry of the kind suggested is necessary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the United Kingdom has received its VAT abatement in respect of payments into the European Community Budget.

The European Community 1986 Budget provides for an automatic abatement of the UK's VAT payments of 1,400 million ecus (£900 million) in respect of 1985. As VAT contributions are made monthly and the abatement is made by reducing these contributions in equal monthly amounts, 580 mecu (£375 million) of this abatement has already been made available, and a further 820 mecu will be made available between now and the end of the year. The Commission has also said that it will be proposing as part of a supplementary budget this year an additional correction to our 1985 abatement to cover the difference between the estimate of the amount owing to us and the actual amount.