asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that certain of the provisions of the Credit Union Act 1979 do not now inhibit both the continuance of existing credit unions and the formation of new ones.

The Credit Union Act, like other legislation directed to the protection of investors, places certain obligations and limitations on organisations holding investors' money. It is intended to strike a balance between the need to protect investors and the freedom of management. If the noble Lord is aware of particular problems, perhaps he would write to me.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much expenditure they expect to save in each of the first five fiscal years following the social security reforms proposed in Cmnd. 9517–9520.

Detailed expenditure estimates cannot be made until decisions about the new structure of social security have been taken in the light of comments on the proposals in the Green Paper.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that any booster vaccination against rubella (German measles) is necessary; and, if so, at what age.

I am advised that the evidence currently available does not support the need for routine booster vaccination against rubella.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in view of conflicting accounts of the events of 1st and 2nd June near Stonehenge, they will appoint an independent inquiry to establish,

No. I would refer the noble Lord to the reply given to a Question from the noble Lord, Lord Inglewood, on 12th June, at columns 1346–7.

I am also informed by the Chief Constable that he has appointed a senior officer from another force to investigate any complaints made as a result of his officers' actions on this occasion.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will expand on the statement of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office [

As my right honourable friend the Home Secretary explained in announcing on 20th May his policy towards the return of Sri Lankan Tamils to Sri Lanka, it is unlikely that many Tamils will qualify for recognition as refugees under the terms of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. There is no evidence of systematic persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has acknowledged that the situation in Sri Lanka is not such that a person will qualify for refugee recognition solely by virtue of being a Tamil.Nevertheless, every application for asylum is considered individually in accordance with established asylum procedures. So far, of more than 200 cases considered one has been granted refugee recognition; others have been given leave to enter exceptionally in accordance with the terms of the statement by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On which days in the month of May the bookbinding shop in Maidstone Prison was closed, and why.

The bookbinding shop at Maidstone Prison was closed on three public holidays in May and for the whole or part of a further 17 days because no prison officers were available on those days to provide control and discipline supervision in the workshop.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What decision has been reached in the case of the Greek Cypriot couple Mr. and Mrs. Nicola whose original home was in North Cyprus and who are seeking permission to stay in this country.

Mr. and Mrs. Nicola, whose case has been considered by Ministers of successive Governments and by the independent appellate authorities, were made the subjects of deportation orders on 15th October 1979. We see no reason for varying the decision that they should be removed to Cyprus.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the estimated cost to the Metropolitan Police of administering the firearms and shotguns certificate system in 1982, 1983 and 1984 respectively; and what was the income derived from fees.

Annual figures of costs are not available, but the income derived by the Metropolitan Police from firearm and shotgun fees was £186,000 in 1982–83, £198,000 in 1983–84 and £191,000 in 1984–85.