asked Her Majesty's Government:What research has been done and what information they hold on the relationship between crime and single homeless people; and whether the experience of the USA and the republic of Ireland (where there is no lodging benefit for young people) indicates a connection.

A number of research studies in the last ten years have dealt with the question of homelessness and crime. They suggest that homelessness is a serious problem among offenders and one which is likely to increase the chances of reconviction. There is also evidence that among adult offenders homelessness and single status are closely related. There is, however, little clear-cut evidence that homelessness in itself causes crime. We have no information about the relationship between single homelessness and crime in other countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What psychiatric qualifications are held by the Medical Officer at Lewes.

The Medical Officer at HM Prison Lewes does not hold any psychiatric qualifications. He has had some psychiatric training and some experience of looking after psychiatric patients.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any contributions remain to be made from public funds in respect of persons now employed by the National Freight Consortium and, if so, the estimated amount of these contributions.

The only Government contributions now being paid in respect of employees and former employees of the National Freight Consortium and their dependants relate to persons transferred from the employment of the British Railways Board to that of the then National Freight Corporation in 1968. These contributions consist of about £5 million a year support for pre-1975 pension obligations and about £2 million a year to reimburse the inherited cost of travel concessions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with arrangements for passengers travelling by bus from Heathrow to Victoria, particularly the shelter provided at the bus stop in Grosvenor Gardens.

Travellers from central London to Heathrow have a variety of public transport choices for their journey. The LRT Airbus service from Victoria is only one of these and is in direct competition with coach services between Heathrow and Victoria provided by Green Line and Alder Valley. The facilities made available for users of the LRT Airbus service are a matter for London Regional Transport, as operators of the service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are in favour of increasing duty free allowances for travellers between European Community countries and, if so, whether they will indicate the timing and extent of the increases which they favour.

I can confirm that the Government support proposals for increased allowances which so far have been put forward. However, the agreement of all the member states is required before proposals can be implemented. A package of proposals, which included increases to two of the allowances in question, was put to the Internal Market Council last December but, unfortunately, complete agreement could not be reached and the package as a whole was unacceptable. The particular proposals were for an increase in the still table wine allowance from 4 to 5 litres and for the 'other goods' allowance to be increased by annual increments from its present level of £163 (280 ECUs) to reach an amount currently estimated at £237 (400 ECUs) by 1987. It is hoped that fresh proposals may be agreed later this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will now increase Premium Bond prizes to bring them in line with current interest rates.

The number and value of tax-free prizes is determined by the rules set out in the prospectus. The rate of interest used to calculate the prize fund has therefore only an indirect effect. The Premium Bond Scheme was reviewed recently, and as a result in November 1984 the number of prizes paid out each month was substantially increased from approximately 100,000 to 150,000. As a separate measure, the interest rate was increased to 7¾ per cent. per annum, its highest level ever. This interest rate may be varied from time to time and is kept under review. But a rate that is variable on three months' notice must be less volatile than market rates offered to savers without such notice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the number, proportion, term of service and manner of appointment of members of the International Commission of Jurists who are British jurists.

The International Commission of Jurists is an independent, non-governmental organisation which elects its members in their personal capacity. The information requested can best be obtained by approaching the commission direct.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to secure the release of Mr. R. Astles, who has been imprisoned in Uganda for more than five years although acquitted on charges of murder and burglary in separate trials.

Since Mr. Robert Astles renounced his British citizenship to become a mono-Ugandan citizen we have no right to intervene on his behalf and it is for the Ugandan authorities to decide when to release him.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consultation took place between the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of the Environment and the Home Office before their recent proposals on board and lodging benefit were published and whether the proposals were amended as a result.

The Department of Health and Social Security always seeks to keep in touch with other departments which have an interest in matters of shared concern, and to take full account of their views.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the considered response of the Social Security Advisory Committee to the submissions on board and lodging benefit will be published, and if so when.

As required by the Social Security Act 1980, the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee on the Government's recent proposals for changes in supplementary benefit board and lodging payments will be published as a Command paper at the time when regulations are laid in draft before Parliament. It is not yet possible to say precisely when the regulations will be laid.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In what way they expect the proposals on board and lodging benefit to achieve value for money from the point of view of the claimant; and whether the proposed restrictions on the area within which claimants may seek accommodation will not prevent people, and especially the young, from seeking jobs where these are available.

Our new proposals on limits are designed to reflect the reasonable costs for various types of provision, particularly within the residential and nursing home sector. But achieving value for money goes wider than the supplementary benefit scheme, and claimants themselves have a part to play. We expect our proposals to encourage people, especially the young, to seek available jobs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the costs of each of the 21 Junior Training Units for young soldiers in the United Kingdom in the last three years.

The total cost of each of the 21 Army establishments currently providing training to juniors in the last three financial years are set out below. The roles of these establishments differ considerably depending upon the corps or arm involved and some train adult as well as junior soldiers. In addition, the throughput of students varies between establishments and so comparisons of total costs should be treated with care.