asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements they intend to make to assist elderly people and other persons on low incomes who are obliged to buy drugs which are no longer to be permitted to be prescribed on NHS prescriptions after the new regulations come into force.

The drugs which will remain available at National Health Service expense after 1st April will, on the advice of an independent group of medical and pharmaceutical experts, meet all clinical needs. There will therefore be no medical need for any patients to buy drugs which are not on the selected list.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When it is intended to demolish the Orlit houses in the North Down area following the Housing Executive's acceptance that they are beyond permanent repair; and whether in view of the fact that though they are substandard, no improvements will be made to the houses prior to demolition, they will authorise the Housing Executive to bring into effect a reduction in rents until such time as the tenants can be re-housed.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Housing Executive that replacement of the Orlit houses at Donaghadee which have an estimated life of 5 to 10 years is under consideration following consultation with residents. Proposals have not yet been submitted to the Department of the Environment for approval. The Orlits at Comber have an estimated life of 10 to 15 years and a strategy for that group is also being drawn up by the Housing Executive. In the meantime both groups of Orlits are receiving a full maintenance service. There is therefore no case for a reduction in rent. However, where, following a decision to demolish any group of Orlits, the executive introduces a restricted maintenance service, then the rents of those Orlits will be frozen from the date of the restriction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is the case that Members of both Houses of Parliament are now treated exactly the same as other citizens in regard to the interception of communications, and for what period and why MPs and Peers in receipt of a writ of summons were exempt from surveillance without the specific authority of the Prime Minister.

There has been no change in the policy stated in 1966 by the then Prime Minister, the noble Lord, Lord Wilson of Rievaulx, and to which successive governments since then have adhered. In answers to Questions in another place on 17th November 1966 (Official Report, Vol. 736; cols. 634–41), he said that he had given instructions that there was to be no tapping of the telephones of Members of Parliament; that that remained the policy of the Government and that, if there was any development which required a change in the general policy, he would, at such moment as seemed compatible with the security of the country, on his own initiative make a statement in the House about it.In answer to a Question in your Lordships' House on 22nd November 1966 (HL Debates, Vol. 278; col. 122) the noble Earl, Lord Longford, indicated on behalf of the Government that the foregoing statement extended to your Lordships' House. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has made it clear, in answer to a Question in another place on 11th December 1984 (