asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ensure continuity for the work of the Lambeth English Language Centre, if affected by the proposed abolition of ILEA.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that the arrangements for property transfer and for staff transfer and recruitment will be designed to prevent any disruption to the education of children. It is too early to say precisely what arrangements will apply to individual institutions such as the Lambeth English Language Centre. That will become clearer as the individual councils prepare their development plans. These plans are due to be published by the end of February 1989 at the latest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what basis the reasonable weekly charge payable by the DHSS is fixed for patients in private nursing and residential homes; and what are the highest and the lowest weekly charges at present being paid.

Supplementary benefit does not pay residential care or nursing homes charges as such. Individuals in these homes are responsible for their own charges but they can claim supplementary benefit to help meet the charges. There are limits to the levels of supplementary benefit assistance and these limits are based on the different types of care that homes can provide.The Government review all of the limits each year to ensure that they are set at a reasonable level. The review takes into account information on the movement of costs and charges in homes as well as representations from interested individuals and organisations. Decisions are then made about the level of each limit in the light of all of this information.The maximum amounts of supplementary benefit which can be paid to help with charges currently range from £130 to £230 a week.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the guidance to adjudication officers in paragraph 1847 of the

Guidance covering questions on the conflict of medical opinion is included in volume 1 of the Adjudication Officers' Guide which deals with adjudication matters relating to all social security benefits, including income support. The relevant paragraphs are AOG 03062 et. seq. on the questions of medical evidence, and AOG 04134 et. seq. on distinguishing between matters of opinion and matters of fact. In addition, paragraph 25299 of Volume 3 of the AOG specifies the reduction, of either 20 per cent. or 40 per cent. of the personal allowance, that will apply to the applicable amount for a claimant: "who is exempt from the availability condition because of a conflict of medical evidence." When the Adjudication Officers' Guide is published later this month, copies will be placed in the Library.