Have instructions been issued concerning cases such as the one in relation to the Adult Secondary Education Assistance Scheme outlined in the Commonwealth Ombudsman's Second Annual Report 1979, page 83; if so what are the details of the instructions.

Yes. Supplementary instructions have been issued, concerning the assessment of an applicant's time away from previous secondary study. It was a condition that an applicant must not have undertaken more than three years of full-time secondary study in the previous five years. It has been decided after reviewing the case referred by the Ombudsman that proportions of a school year rather than calendar year should be the basis for aggregating period of less than a year away from full-time secondary study.

Has the Hungarian ethnic minority in Romania been subjected to various forms of discrimination and harassment, including attempts to wipe out its distinctive language and culture; if so, what action is proposed by the Minister to protest to the Romanian Government over this matter.

The Government deplores the fact that Eastern European governments, including Romania's, continue to deny fundamental civil and political rights to their citizens and that minorities often suffer most in this respect. In the case of Romania, the Government is aware that for some years now the alleged grievances of the large Hungarian minority of that country have been the subject of considerable concern in the West, particularly among people of Hungarian origin. I am aware of the concern of the Hungarian community in Australia concerning this matter. I am also aware of the statements of the Romanian Government which insists that the Hungarians of Romania are treated no differently from other Romanians and that they enjoy equal opportunities in such fields as employment, education, use of language and the pursuit of their cultural traditions and heritage.

Australia is not in the best position to make precise judgements about the condition of the Hungarian people of Romania, although the Government would very much hope that they do not suffer discrimination because they are a minority group. The matter is basically one for discussion between the Governments of Romania and Hungary.