To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homes would have to be demolished to make way for British Rail's proposed extension to East Kilbride town centre.

Until detailed studies have been commissioned it is impossible to say how many homes would have to be demolished, but it is established public policy to keep such numbers to an absolute minimum, consistent with the technical requirements of any development proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to hold an inquiry into British Rail's proposal to build a rail extension into East Kilbride town centre.

If British Rail is unable to satisfy the petitioner against the relevant provisional order deposited under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936, the provisions of the Act require that the Secretary of State shall direct an inquiry by commissioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration has been given to improving the existing 'park and ride' facilities serving East Kilbride town centre.

This is a matter for Strathclyde passenger transport executive to consider in consultation with East Kilbride development corporation and Scot Rail. I understand that the existing park and ride facilities are to be retained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of the proposed British Rail proposed extension to East Kilbride town centre.

A preliminary estimate published with the provisional order gave a total cost of £8·295 million. However East Kilbride development corporation stresses that any such estimates are somewhat speculative until detailed design studies have been concluded particularly in this case as some tunnelling would be necessary and in the absence of detailed knowledge of local geological conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect changes in taxation relating to the forestry industry made in the 1988 budget have had on that industry; and if he will make a statement.

It is too early to say precisely what effect the 1988 Budget changes will have on the forestry industry. We do, however, expect that there will be some temporary reduction in the amount of new planting as the industry adjusts to the new arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the total grants given to the Glasgow school of art by his Department for each year since 1981 in 1989 money; and what is the planned grant for 1990–91.

The information is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the Glasgow school of art remains open.

I have every confidence that the school will continue. My recent decision to abolish quotas on student intakes will encourage the school to increase student numbers and generate more income.Departmental officials are in close touch with the school about the preparation of its institutional plan for 1990–91 and beyond, and decisions on the allocation of grant-in-aid for 1990–91 will be taken later this year in the light of that. I am also considering proposals for major capital expenditure to improve physical facilities at the school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the reasons why the support rate for epilepsy centre clients in Strathclyde increased at a lower rate than actual running costs in the period between 1 April 1987 and 1 April 1989;(2) what is his Department's policy towards the provision of support rate for epilepsy centre clients; and if he will make a statement.

The level of financial support for day care and residential centres provided by voluntary bodies or for those attending them is at the discretion of the regional council. My right hon. and learned Friend has no power to intervene in their decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if doctors will continue to have the same choice when they purchase orthopaedic appliances following the Common Services Agency's takeover of the allocation of contracts from health boards;(2) what advice was taken from doctors regarding the decision to transfer the purchasing of orthopaedic apliances from the health boards to the Common Services Agency;(3) what savings he expects will be made following the Common Services Agency's takeover of the allocation of contracts for the purchase of orthopaedic appliances.

The purchasing of orthopaedic appliances continues to be the responsibility of the relevant health boards. The supplies division of the Common Services Agency acts on their behalf in the arrangement of contracts for the supply of orthopaedic appliances, as for many other commodities bought by the Health Service. The new contracts arranged by the Common Services Agency, which come into effect on 1 July, were entered into on the advice of a panel of health board experts including a consultant orthopaedic surgeon from Greater Glasgow health board. The contracts give doctors access to the same range of items as at present and each health board has a choice of suppliers for most items.The contracts include special clauses designed to ensure that the appliances are of good quality and it is expected that patient satisfaction will be improved as a result. The main purpose of the new contracts is to improve quality, but they will also make significant savings compared with current costs. The precise amount will depend on the number of appliances of various types which are bought under the new contracts but is provisionally estimated at approximately £1 million.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the number of immigration appeals heard in Scotland for each year since 1976.

The number of appeals heard by immigration adjudicators in each year since 1976 is as follows:

To ask the Attorney-General what is the average payment received by solicitors and by barristers acting for the defence in legal aid cases considered by the Crown court and in which the standard fee applies.

The average standard fee received by solicitors for preparation of the brief for counsel and other matters including attendance at court in legal aid cases in the Crown court was £258·67 in the financial year 1988–89. In the same year the average standard fee received by barristers for preparing for trial and providing representation in the Crown court in legal aid cases was £209·10.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will outline the action he has taken, and the reasons for that response, on the application to him from the City of Swansea Council to authorise a prosecution under the Agricultural Land (Removal of Soil) Act 1953 against the owner of Kilian Fach Farm, Swansea.

I refused my consent to a prosecution since the time limit for commencing proceedings expired before the council presented me with any information to enable me properly to consider the case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will be attending the Paris peace conference on Cambodia in July.

The French Government plan to host an international conference on Cambodia in August. In principle, we expect to attend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Tredinnick), Official Report, 7 June, column 138, what information he has on the Hong Kong Government's urgent review of its position on trading in ivory; and if he will make a statement.

The Hong Kong Government announced on 9 June their support for a ban on trade in new ivory. Pending the outcome of the meeting of the convention on international trade in endangered species in October 1989, they have suspended the issue of licences for imports of raw ivory from all sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those members of the European Economic Community who have acceded to the United Nations and Council of Europe conventions on human rights, respectively; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning any similar declarations by the European Community.

All members of the European Community except Ireland and Greece have ratified the international covenant on civil and political rights; all but Ireland have ratified the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights. These are the two major United Nations human rights instruments. The position on other United Nations conventions varies. All EC members have ratified the European convention on human rights.The United Kingdom is signatory to the 1977 joint declaration, by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, of fundamental rights. Protection of human rights forms an important part of EC law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will ensure that the United Kingdom delegate to the 41st session of the United Nations human rights sub-commission due to sit in Geneva this summer makes a definitive and strong statement about gross violations of human rights in Ethiopia, and a demand for a direct response.

The British member of the United Nations human rights sub-commission is an independent expert and does not take instructions from Her Majesty's Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the environmental damage caused by British companies to the Amazon rain forest;(2) whether he will have discussions with the chairman of

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will be visiting Brazil, including the Amazon region, from 4 to 9 July. During his visit, he will be discussing with Brazilian Ministers and officials our efforts to identify effective ways of helping them with a wide range of environmental problems, including rain forest conservation. He will also be meeting representatives of British companies operating in Brazil with whom he hopes to discuss their role in environmental protection.The hon. Member will be aware of recent media reports alleging involvement by United Kingdom companies in rain forest destruction. We are studying these, but I understand that the companies claim that these press reports contain important errors of fact, and that they themselves operate significant environmental protection programmes in their projects in Brazil.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about the denial of human rights in the last five years in Australia.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about the denial of human rights and the use of torture in the last five years in Kenya.

We have made a number of representations about human rights to the Kenyan authorities over the last five years, but the precise information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. We welcome the recent release of all political detainees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made in connection with the continuing executions of protestors in China: and if he will make a statement.

Representations have been made in Peking to the Chinese authorities on behalf of all 12 EC members appealing for clemency. We have made it clear that we deeply deplore the recent executions and have renewed our appeal to the Chinese authorities not to persecute those campaigning for their democratic rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Iraq about the forced deportation of 100,000 people from the town of Qaladiza which began on Monday 12 June; and if he will make a statement.

I summoned the Iraqi ambassador on 14 June and repeated our concern about renewed reports of mass resettlement of Kurdish people within northern Iraq. We view these stories with considerable concern. We shall continue to press the Iraqis to allow foreign diplomats and journalists access to the areas in question to see for themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the matter of the Iraqi programme of forced deportations of its Kurdish minority in the context of European Economic Community political co-operation, as well as in other appropriate international meetings.

We discuss this issue regularly with our partners in the Twelve, as well as in other international meetings, and shall continue to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iraq about its campaign of forced deportation of its Kurdish citizens; if he will protest strongly against this breach of Iraq's obligations under the international human rights conventions; and if he will make a statement.

I summoned the Iraqi ambassador on 14 June to repeat our concern at renewed reports of the mass resettlement of Kurds from northern Iraq. The Iraqi authorities are under no illusion that we expect them to fulfil their obligations under the human rights conventions to which they are a signatory.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for residency in the United Kingdom from all people in (a) Hong Kong, (b) Pakistan, (c) India and (d) Soviet Union have been (i) accepted and (ii) rejected in each year since 1979 for each respective country.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 8 May columns

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements his Department is making to deal with requests for political asylum from people in China who fear persecution.

I have been asked to reply.In accordance with our normal practice, we will look carefully at any entry clearance application made in China from a Chinese national claiming to be in immediate danger who has links with the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up an inquiry into the future supply of research biologists.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further information he has received or new decisions he has made since 19 June in respect of his scheme for students' loans.

Following my right hon. Friend's statement on 19 June at columns 21–22, we have set in hand continued discussions with the financial institutions on the arrangements for the top-up loans scheme. We shall announce further details of those arrangements in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which public relations firms his Department has employed and at what cost, for each year since 1979.

The consistent practice of successive Governments has been to avoid the use of public relations firms or other firms outside government for public relations work, apart from their use by some Departments in the special circumstances of privatisation work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his latest discussions with the university authorities about the optimum level of outside earnings of university teachers.

I have not had any formal meeting with the university authorities on this topic but I have discussed it, like many others, in my frequent contacts with the academic world.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his reply of 19 June, Official Report, column 33, if he will publish a revised version of annex E to the White Paper on student loans to include estimates of administrative costs, interest subsidy, default and write off costs, on the assumption of (a) 80 per cent. take-up, (b) 90 per cent. take-up and (c) 100 per cent. take-up.

I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer of 21 March at columns 497–99, which showed the effect of various take-up assumptions on the estimates in annex E of Cm. 520. Those estimates made allowance for the cost of an illustrative 10 per cent. default rate, and of writing off debts in cases of death or of deferment beyond the age of 50. Those estimates also allowed for the cost of the zero real interest rate, which has the effect, as compared with a higher interest rate, of reducing the size of repayments. The administrative costs mentioned in my right hon. Friend's statement on 19 June at columns 21–22 were based on there being 1·15 million accounts in 1995. It is estimated that the scheme will grow eventually to some 2·5 million accounts in the second decade of the next century, but it is not expected that administrative costs will increase in proportion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of Chinese students presently enrolled in each educational institution in the United Kingdom.

Details for individual institutions are confidential. In 1987–88, there were 1,200 full-time and part-time students in further and higher education in the United Kingdom from the People's Republic of China.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about current cultural and educational links between educational institutions in the United Kingdom and China.

This Department keeps no record of links between educational institutions in this country and China. The British Council, with funds from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Overseas Development Administration, administers a variety of cultural and educational programmes. A list of current activity under the academic links with china scheme (ALCS) is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford of 8 May, Official Report, column 299, if he will now publish a table based on the 1987 database of teacher records data showing the distribution of teachers across the salary scales at March 1987, distinguishing between primary and secondary sectors; whether the numbers of teachers in each sector on scale 3, scale 4 or senior teacher scales agrees with the projections made by his Department based on the March 1985 database of teacher records data for the purposes of salary assimilation in September 1987; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 June 1989]: The information is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been earned by Her Majesty's Inland Revenue under the entertainers and sportmen's rules introduced by the Finance Act 1986 and now contained in chapter III of part XIII of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

The special scheme for deducting tax at source from payment to non-resident entertainers and sportsmen yielded £6·9 million net (after repayments) in the period I May 1987 (when it took effect) to 31 March 1988 and £12·4 million net in 1988–89.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, further to the reply by the Economic Secretary to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury on 16 June, Official Report, column 549, he will indicate what percentage proportion of (a) the Italian consumer price index, and (b) the United Kingdom retail prices index is represented in each case by the lists of housing costs contained in his reply.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the increased costs to British industry of each 0·5 per cent. increase in interest rates.

The cost to industrial and commercial companies of a 0·5 per cent. increase in United Kingdom short-term interest rates maintained for a full year is estimated to be about £0·2 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

The ECOFIN Council met in Luxembourg on 19 June. I represented the United Kingdom.The Council adopted a regulation re-weighting the ecu.The Council reached substantive agreement on a common position, subject to some further procedural details, on the draft second banking co-ordination directive and on the solvency ratios directive; and reached agreement on a common position on the insider trading directive.The Council reached agreement on a common position on a revised financial regulation. The Council adopted the 18th VAT directive.The Council had a further discussion of the Commission's proposals on fiscal frontiers.The Council discussed proposals for the three company tax measures to encourage cross-border co-operation.The Council heard a progress report on the latest proposals for anti-fraud measures, supported the useful progress made since the March ECOFIN, and endorsed the need to continue progress.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of his recent Audit Commission lecture on public service management.

I have already done so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the estimated gain to the Exchequer in 1988–89 and 1989–90 of reducing capital gains tax exemptions from £5,000 to (a) £1,000 and (b) £2,000; and what would be the number of people who would have chargeable gains on this basis.

[holding answer 19 June 1989]: I regret that precise estimates are not possible, but the figures for gains realised in each of these years could be of the order of:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the estimated gain to the Exchequer in 1990–91 of reducing capital gains tax exemptions from £5,000 to (a) £1,000 and (b) £2,000 and the number of people who would have chargeable gains on this basis allowing for the impact of independent taxation.

[holding answer 19 June 1989]: I regret that no sufficiently firm estimate can be made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he gave specific approval for additional moneys to the water authorities for pre-flotation advertising.

[holding answer 20 June 1989]: The Government allowed for expenditure on the water authorities' current corporate awareness advertising campaigns when approving the water authorities' overall financing limits.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on what is meant in terms of length of time by the phrase, "for the foreseeable future," in regard to the need for a continued mix of conventional and nuclear weapons in Europe deployed by NATO.

This agreement was reached by 16 Governments. It is not for any one Government to vary the normal meaning of the words.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during her meeting with the Prime Minister of Australia on his forthcoming visit to Europe, she has any plans to raise (a) initiatives to be taken to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in the lead up to the 1990 non-proliferation treaty review conference, and (b) the arrangements for safeguards on uranium imported to the United Kingdom from Australia.

We discussed non-proliferation matters. The answer to the second part of the question is no.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister of Australia, she plans to raise (a) the amendment conference for the 1963 partial nuclear test ban treaty and (b) the French nuclear testing programme in the Pacific and its effect on the treaty of Rarotonga.

Nuclear testing in the Pacific was discussed.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the basis for her statement at the NATO press conference in Brussels on 30 May that President Bush's plan for conventional force cuts in Europe within six months to a year is a very optimistic timetable.

The practical details (such as definitions, counting rules and verification arrangements) of a negotiation as complex as this are daunting. Negotiating satisfactory arrangements within the timetable we have set ourselves will be hard work, but we have made a good start.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will use the opportunity of her planned discussions with Mr. F. W. de Klerk to urge the South African Government to negotiate an end to apartheid.

Yes. We want to see the peaceful abolition of apartheid through negotiation.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her discussions on rain forest issues with Dr. Ghillean Prance during her official visit to Kew gardens.

During my visit to the Royal botanical gardens at Kew on 16 June, I spoke to a number of experts with whom I discussed, among many other things, the problems of tropical reafforestation which follow the destruction of natural habitats.

To ask the Prime Minister whether she will host a conference in Britain for private companies to enable discussions to take place in order to reduce the damage caused to rain forests throughout the world: and if she will make a statement.

I share the widespread concern about the depletion of the tropical rain forests, and this was among the subjects discussed at the seminar which I held at Downing street on 26 April which involved individuals from the world of science and of business. I have no present plans for a further conference.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list, for each year since 1986, all the ministerial talks and meetings held by her or other Ministers with Ministers or representatives of the Governments of (a) Guatemala, (b) Haiti, (c) Honduras, (d) E1 Salvador and (e) South Africa.

The following table lists those meetings at ministerial level of which we have records. Ministers have had additional informal bilateral meetings in the margins of international conferences.In addition to these formal and informal meetings with their opposite numbers, Ministers in London regularly see the ambassadors of these countries in the course of their normal duties.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will ensure that the principle of making economic assistance and trade credits conditional on an improvement in democratic and human rights is applied in the case of Iraq as well as in that of Poland.

We regularly make clear to the Iraqi Government our concerns over their human rights record, but we do not believe that unilateral economic measures would be effective in ending human rights abuses. Only by maintaining a working relationship can we hope to achieve changes. I announced a number of steps on 10 June following my meeting with General Jaruzelski to support progress towards democracy and a market economy, including the contribution of £5 million a year for five years towards a "Know How" fund. Our policy on export credit guarantees for Poland is governed by economic considerations.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will ensure that the current events in China and the repression by the Chinese authorities will be discussed as a matter of urgency at the EEC summit in Madrid; and if she will make a statement.

I can assure the hon. Member that the current repression by the Chinese authorities will be discussed at the forthcoming Madrid European Council.

To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will protest to the Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom on the executions now taking place in China; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 6 June that he had summoned the Chinese chargé d'affaires to make clear our attitude to the violent suppression of peaceful protest in Peking. As I made clear in the House on 22 June, I was among the first to condemn the recent executions in China, about which representations have also been made to the Chinese authorities by the 12 EC member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, in the light of the Social Security Advisory Committee's report, "Benefits for Disabled People: A Strategy for Change", he plans to increase spending on disability benefits.

Current expenditure plans, Command 615, provide for spending on benefits for the sick and disabled to increase by over £3 billion by 1991–92. We shall give careful consideration to the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee when we reach conclusions on the implications of the results of the surveys of disability carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. It is too soon to say how this will affect existing expenditure plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of his Department's offices in the Greater London area have spent more than 100 per cent. of their profile allocation for social fund loans and social fund grants for (i) April 1989 and (ii) May 1989.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of his Department's offices in the Greater London area have spent between 90 per cent, and 100 per cent, of their profile allocation for social fund loans and social fund grants for (i) April 1989 and (ii) May 1989.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many decisions made by social fund officers are overturned by social fund inspectors.

The social fund commissioner has advised me that in the period from 11 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 social fund inspectors reviewed 2,499 cases. A total of 1,109 were referred back to social fund officers to redetermine and in 96 cases the social fund inspector substituted his own decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what grants are available for the establishment of hostels.

Grants can be made under schedule 5 of the Supplementary Benefit Act 1976, as amended, to voluntary organisations and/or local authorities. These would be to set up facilities for those people without a settled way of life with a view to influencing them to lead a settled way of life. However, such grants are currently being restricted to organisations that provide hostels which form part of an approved scheme to replace resettlement units.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which public relations firms his Department has employed, and at what cost, for each year since 1979.

Apart from the special circumstances of privatisation work, the consistent practice of successive Governments has been to avoid the use of public relations firms or other firms outside Government for public relations work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the numbers of people receiving housing benefit rent allowances in May 1986, May 1987, and May 1988.

The information requested is as follows. The figures represent the estimated average number receiving benefit in the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the numbers of people who are currently receiving rent allowance via housing benefit.

The latest available estimate for 1989–90 is 1·04 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the categories of information held in his Department that are available for use by community charge registration officers.

The information that may be passed to community charge registration officers is prescribed in the Community Charges (Information Concerning Social Security) (Scotland) Regulations 1988 and the Community Charges (Information Concerning Social Security) Regulations 1989. It is confined to the name and address of any person aged over 18, and of any partner he or she may have aged over 18, who has been awarded income support and who, prior to 1 April 1989 in Scotland and prior to 1 April 1990 in England and Wales, has not claimed housing benefit, or who, after 1 April 1989 in Scotland and after 1 April 1990 in England and Wales, has not claimed a community charge rebate. In Scotland the information may also include the date of birth of any such person.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of pensioners in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom whose only source of income is the basic national insurance retirement pension.

In 1986, just under 20 per cent. of United Kingdom pensioners' sole source of income was from state benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of pensioners in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom who are in receipt of housing benefit for each year since 1981.

The available information for Great Britain is as follows. Figures for Scotland and the United Kingdom are not available in the form requested. Housing Benefit did not come into full operation until April 1983.Estimated number of pensioners receiving Housing Benefit 1983–4—1988–9.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many war widows are receiving war widows pensions because their husband left the services before 31 March 1973; and what would be the total cost of uprating their pensions to £5,000 per person.

At 31 March approximately 56,000 pre-1973 war widows were in receipt of a pension under the war pensions scheme. We estimate that the total extra cost of uprating their pensions to £5,000 per person would be about £100 million per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the regulations governing the treatment of earnings from the Territorial Army for unemployed males receiving benefit.

Unemployed people receiving earnings from the Territorial Army arc most likely to be in receipt of unemployment benefit, income support and housing benefit. The main provisions dealing with the treatment of these earnings in each benefit are as follows.The regulation governing the effect on unemployment benefit of earnings specifically from the Territorial Army is regulation 3(3) of the Social Security (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1978. Under this regulation no account is taken of annual bounty and payment in respect of attendance at the first 16 authorised drill nights each year. Further payments are subject to regulation 7(1)(g)(i) of the Social Security (Unemployment, Sickness and Invalidity Benefit) Regulations 1983, under which a day is not treated as a day of unemployment if earnings for that day exceed £2.For unemployed reservists receiving income support or housing benefit, the weekly amount of the earnings and the period for which they are to he taken into account are determined by reference to regulations 29, 31 and 32 of the Income Support (General) Regulations, and regulations 21 and 25 of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations. Payments made in respect of income tax, class 1 national insurance contributions and half of any sum paid by an employee towards an occupational or personal pension scheme are disregarded under regulation 36(3) of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 and regulation 29(3) of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987. The first £15 of weekly earnings is also disregarded under paragraph 7(1) of schedule 8 to the income support regulations and paragraph 6(1) of schedule 3 to the housing benefit regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether in addition to any provision in the Acts and regulations, there is any (a) guidance to all Departments of Social Security offices and (b) internal guidance within the offices covering the Peckham constituency on the amounts to be awarded to people in different categories who are given community care grants.

Guidance has been issued in the social fund manual on suggested maximum amounts which may be awarded to applicants who need a start-up grant, a clothing grant and minor structural repairs to the home. The decision on how much to award in an individual case rests with the social fund officer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there is any (a) guidance to all Departments of Social Security offices and (b) internal guidance within the offices covering the Peckham constituency on the priority for community care grants as between homeless women in refuges, people coming out of mental institutions, children leaving care, and others.

Guidance on the national priorities for community care grants has been issued in the social fund manual. Local office managers have issued guidance to social fund officers on local priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what level of state benefit income an unemployed family consisting of mother, father, and two children aged 12 and 5 years received in 1979; and what benefit they would receive today if 1979 benefits had been increased to match inflation if the benefits were paid on the same basis as in 1979.

There is no prescribed procedure for uprating supplementary benefit or housing benefit— different elements of these schemes have been uprated in different ways and by different indices at different times.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing the number of families with children: (a) entitled to and (b) receiving supplementary benefit/income support in each year since 1970, distinguishing between one and two-parent families.

[holding answer 3 May 1989]: The available information is as follows: