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The Solicitor-General : The Lord Chancellor has made clear on a number of occasions his wish to see more solicitors appointed to judicial office. "Legal Services : A Framework for the Future" (Cm. 740) published on 19 July sets out the Government's proposals for extending eligibility for higher judicial office to solicitors. In addition, pilot schemes have been set up in certain parts of the country with the specific aim of identifying solicitors suitable for appointment, and, as part of the regular programme of reviews of candidates for judicial appointment, a special initiative has been taken to consult the judiciary about solicitor candidates on the south eastern circuit. It is hoped to extend this initiative to the other circuits shortly.
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Legal Aid
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the chair of the Legal Aid Board ; and whether he discussed the franchising or contracting of legal services.
The Solicitor-General : My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has ministerial responsibility for legal aid. At his request, the legal aid board is currently considering the future arrangements for providing advice and assistance under the green form scheme. As part of that review, the board recently issued a consultation document which contains proposals for the future provision of advice through franchises involving solicitors' firms, law centres and, possibly, advice agencies. The board will be bringing forward recommendations to the Lord Chancellor once the review has been completed.
Law Centres
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Attorney-General how many and which law centres (a) he, (b) the Lord Chancellor and (c) the Solicitor-General have visited since 1987.
The Solicitor-General : (a) none ; (b) one (to the North Kensington law centre) ; (c) none.
Malicious Communications
Mr. Janner : To ask the Attorney-General where information regarding prosecutions made under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 in the London metropolitan areas is held ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten : I have been asked to reply.
I shall write to the hon. and learned Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.
County Courts
Mr. Allen : To ask the Attorney-General what has been the increase in the county court caseload over the last three years ; and what increases there have been over a similar period in numbers of county court (a) judges, (b) registrars and (c) administrative staff.
The Solicitor-General : There is no single measure of caseload in the county courts ; the work initially comes from the commencement of proceedings, but further work results from all stages of the procedures including enforcement. The increase in the number of proceedings commenced between 1985 and 1988 was 5 per cent. The number of proceedings initiated is continuing to increase. Over the same period the number of circuit judges (who also deal with Crown Court work) and county court registrars in office on 1 April of each year increased by 7 per cent. and 19 per cent. respectively. Similarly the number of staff (including bailiffs and ushers) in post in county courts on 1 April increased by 8 per cent. between 1985 and 1988. These figures include a number of staff employed in combined court centres on county court work.
Westminster City Council
Mr Austin Mitchell : To ask the Attorney-General whether he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider allegations of a criminal conspiracy by Westminster city council to defraud the ratepayers of the City of Westminster.
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The Solicitor-General : Preliminary police inquiries have been made into the sale of cemeteries by the Westminster city council. The director has requested further inquiries and will consider the matter when they have been completed. Other than that inquiry, the director has not had referred to him any allegations of fraudulent conduct by councillors or officials of the Westminster city council. One former official is presently the subject of proceedings for corruption arising out of an entirely unrelated matter.
West Midlands Police
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Attorney General how many West Midlands police officers are or have been the subject of reports referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions within the last 12 months.
The Solicitor-General : The information requested is not readily available. However, a total of 150 reports relating to allegations concerning one or more West Midlands police officers were received by the Director of Public Prosecutions office in the period 1 July 1988 to 26 July 1989.
Crown Prosecution Service
Mr. Summerson : To ask the Attorney-General if he has yet received the Director of Public Prosecutions' report on the Crown Prosecution service for the year 1988-89 ; and when the report will be laid before Parliament.
The Solicitor-General : I have received the proof of this report and a copy of the proof has been placed in the Journal Office today. The report will be published later this summer and copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Immigration
Mr. Darling : To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish a table of the number of appeals to the immigration appeal tribunal allowed and dismissed in 1988 and the first quarter of 1989.
The Solicitor-General : The information requested is as follows :
|Allowed |Remitted for re-hearing|Dismissed
|before an Immigration
|Adjudicator
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appeals heard in 1988 |266 |308 |378
Appeals heard
January-March 1989 |55 |27 |67
Mr. Darling : To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish a table showing the number of appeals to immigration adjudicators allowed and dismissed in 1988 and the first quarter of 1989 ; broken down according to the nationality of the appellant and the type of decision appealed against.
The Attorney-General : The information requested is set out in the tables.
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1 January to 31 March 1989
India Pakistan Bangladesh EEC All other countries
Appeal categories |Allowed |Dismissed |Allowed |Dismissed |Allowed |Dismissed |Allowed |Dismissed |Allowed |Dismissed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Exclusion-Appeal at port |1 |1 |4 |11 |5 |13 |0 |0 |3 |21
2. Exclusion-External appeals |0 |2 |0 |2 |1 |4 |1 |3 |24 |183
3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement |0 |5 |0 |0 |10 |6 |0 |0 |2 |8
4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for
temporary purposes (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees) |110 |154 |75 |154 |10 |28 |0 |0 |57 |126
5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for
employment, business or
independent means (not husbands,
wives, fiances or fiancees) |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |3
6. Refusal of Entry Clearance
requested by wives and children,
other dependent relatives and
returning residents |5 |14 |51 |32 |185 |134 |0 |0 |4 |34
7. Refusal of Entry Clearance
requested by female fiancees |0 |2 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3
8. Refusal of Entry Clearance
requested by husbands |20 |27 |17 |37 |1 |6 |0 |0 |5 |3
9. Refusal of Entry Clearance
requested by male fiances |29 |35 |51 |55 |1 |0 |0 |0 |3 |0
10. Variation of Landing Conditions |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |7 |13
11. Refusal to vary leave to enter |4 |54 |1 |45 |0 |10 |0 |3 |30 |294
12. Decision to make deportation order |5 |12 |1 |8 |0 |11 |0 |0 |14 |91
13. Refusal to revoke deportation
order |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |5
14. Giving of removal directions |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |11
15. Destination only appeal |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
|--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Total |177 |307 |200 |346 |213 |213 |1 |6 |153 |795
1 January to 31 December 1988
India Pakistan Bangladesh EEC All other countries
Appeal categories |Allowed |Dismissed |Allowed |Dismissed |Allowed |Dismissed |Allowed |Dismissed |Allowed |Dismissed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Exclusion-Appeal at port |0 |14 |1 |19 |82 |43 |0 |0 |14 |111
2. Exclusion-External appeals |1 |13 |4 |15 |1 |17 |0 |7 |35 |547
3. Refusal of Certificate Entitlement |4 |10 |1 |2 |21 |16 |0 |3 |3 |22
4. Refusal of Entry Clearance for
temporary purposes (not husbands, wives, fiances or fiancees) |97 |206 |132 |292 |50 |164 |0 |0 |264 |664
5. Refusal of Entry Clearance for
employment, business or independent means (not husbands,
wives, fiances or fiancees) |6 |32 |0 |2 |0 |3 |1 |0 |5 |28
6. Refusal of Entry Clearance
requested by wives and children,
other dependent relatives and
returning residents |14 |65 |128 |178 |690 |639 |0 |0 |48 |139
7. Refusal of Entry Clearance
requested by female fiancees |6 |9 |0 |6 |7 |9 |0 |0 |3 |9
8. Refusal of Entry Clearance
requested by husbands |48 |78 |56 |74 |10 |18 |0 |0 |9 |13
9. Refusal of Entry Clearance
requested by male fiances |65 |118 |125 |150 |12 |15 |0 |0 |2 |9
10. Variation of Landing Conditions |0 |2 |0 |4 |0 |5 |0 |0 |10 |55
11. Refusal to vary leave to enter |33 |169 |18 |120 |20 |59 |0 |5 |132 |1,118
12. Decision to make deportation order |4 |41 |2 |36 |0 |13 |0 |0 |51 |297
13. Refusal to revoke deportation
order |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |0 |1 |9 |12
14. Giving of removal directions |1 |0 |0 |4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |28
15. Destination only appeal |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2
|--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Total |279 |757 |467 |903 |893 |1,003 |1 |16 |585 |3,054
Israeli-occupied Territories
Ms. Short : To ask the Attorney-General whether he has considered taking proceedings under section 1 of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 in relation to breaches of
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the conventions in the Israeli-occupied territories which have been drawn to the attention of the Government of Israel by Her Majesty's Government.Column 1027
Plastic Bullets (Northern Ireland)
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Attorney-General how many cases in 1988 and in the first half of 1989 involving persons injured by plastic bullets in Northern Ireland have been considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland ; and what action was taken in each case.
The Solicitor-General : Figures for cases considered during 1988 and the first half of 1989 by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland involving persons injured by the alleged use of baton rounds are as follows :
|1988 |1 January 1989 to 30 June
|1989
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cases |15 |7
Persons injured |15 |9
Persons killed |0 |0
Prosecution directed |1 |0
No prosecution directed |14 |5
Direction pending the receipt of
further information |0 |2
Personal Injury
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Attorney-General how many complaints he has received about the delay in payments being made in personal injury cases by the county court in Liverpool ; what representations he has received on this matter ; what his reponse has been ; and what plans he has to increase staff resources.
The Solicitor-General : A number of complaints have been received about delays in paying out suitors' money from Liverpool county court. Information is not readily available which would show how many of these cases are personal injury actions. Where money has been paid into court in satisfaction of a claim and the court is responsible for an unreasonable delay in paying out, the Lord Chancellor will consider the payment of interest of the capital sum for the period of the delay. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Broadgreen (Mr. Fields) dated 6 June 1989 at column 1, in relation to the steps being taken to remedy certain problems at Liverpool county court.
DEFENCE
Correspondence
Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many letters were received from, and sent to, hon. Members by his Department in (a) January and (b) the whole of this Session up to 1 July.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information is not readily available in the form requested. In January this year the Ministry of Defence received some 357 letters from right hon. and hon. Members, and some 2,223 from the beginning of the Session until 1 July. The number of letters sent to right hon. and hon. Members during these periods will have been higher, but a precise figure could be established only at disproportionate cost.
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Rhu Narrows (Dredging)
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Trident-related contract for the dredging of the Rhu narrows to be placed and the date when the contract will commence.
Mr. Chope : I have been asked to reply.
I will write to the hon. Member.
Armed Forces (Recruits)
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of new recruits to the armed forces nationally in each of the last three years ; and what number of these recruits originated from Bolton.
Mr. Neubert : The total number of recruits to the regular forces in each of the last three financial years was as follows :
|Numbers
------------------------
1986-87 |34,049
1987-88 |33,826
1988-89 |33,863
It is not possible to give precise figures on the number of recruits who originated from Bolton without checking each recruit's personal file. However, the following figures show the number of recruits enlisted at the Army's career information office at Bolton, although it is possible some did not actually live in Bolton at the time :
|Numbers
------------------------
1986-87 |153
1987-88 |170
1988-89 |148
It is not possible to give comparable figures for officer applicants, as they are handled centrally, or for Royal Navy and Royal Air Force recruits, as these services do not have offices in Bolton.
Defence Estimates
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide an explanation of the fluctuations in the levels of expenditure in the category "Other Army Combat Forces : Other Areas since 1985-86", as set in table 2.3 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989", volume two.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : This category consists of the costs of the Belize garrison and personnel and freight transport costs around the world. The latter varies annually with activity levels and fuel costs.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what categories of equipment are included in the budget item, "Expenditure on equipment : Other" in table 2.2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989", volume two ; and if he will make a statement on trends in this item since 1987-88.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : This sub-heading includes miscellaneous expenditure on such items as plant, machinery and works services at the R & D establishments and other outstations ; technology demonstrator programmes ; research equipment for the Meteorological Office ;
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extra-mural research contracts with universities and industry ; royalties ; payments to the Civil Aviation Authority ; and computers. It is difficult to infer general trends from figures which are derived from so many such disparate items.RAF War Stocks
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the level of expenditure on RAF war stocks in each year since 1983-84, expressed in constant 1989-90 prices, applying the basis of attribution of war stocks used prior to 1986-87.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the reasons for the changes in the basis of calculation of RAF war stocks in 1986-87 and 1987-88 noted on page 10 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989", volume two.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The RAF war stocks figures reflect judgments about the attribution of the missiles or bombs to be purchased in a year between war stocks and peace-time consumption. The figures for 1986-87 were calculated on the basis of a new and narrower definition of war and contingency stocks (for example, they included gun ammunition but not missiles). In retrospect, however, these assumptions were not felt to have been as realistic as those previously used and subsequent figures have been calculated on a wider basis.
United States Government
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to meet representatives of the United States Government ; and what matters he expects to discuss.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend next expects to meet representatives of the United States Government at the nuclear planning group in the autumn when a range of matters of mutual interest will be discussed.
TA Marksmen
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of territorial soldiers who have qualified as marksmen over the last 15 years ; and if he will tabulate the average number of rounds shot by Territorial Army soldiers in rifle practice by district and for sponsored and independent units for the last five years.
Mr. Neubert : The figures requested are not held centrally and it would not be possible to provide them without disproportionate cost.
NATO Nuclear Planning Group
Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the NATO nuclear planning group last met ; and what items were on the agenda.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Provan (Mr. Wray) on 9 May at column 718 .
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TA (Recruitment)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to date of the current recruitment drive for the Territorial Army.
Mr. Neubert : The volunteer reserve forces campaign, which emanated from a recommendation by the national employers liaison committee and which was launched in September of last year, will cost £2 million per annum over a period of five years. It should be stressed that the prime objective of this campaign is to improve retention with the reserve forces of all services. We would, however, hope to see some spin-off on recruitment.
Free-fall Nuclear Bomb
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with the West German Government about the possible replacement of the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb.
West German Defence Minister
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he is next meeting his West German counterpart ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend hopes to meet Dr. Stoltenberg at some time in the autumn to review the close defence relationship which we enjoy with the Federal Republic of Germany and to discuss matters of current bilateral interest.
Troop Numbers
Mr. Illsley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the British Army of the proposals tabled in Vienna for ceilings on troop numbers.
Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the British Army of the proposals tabled in Vienna for ceilings on troop numbers.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : NATO has made no specific manpower proposals at the CFE talks in Vienna affecting the British Army.
Warsaw Pact
Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department now has any evidence that the Warsaw pact is changing its military doctrine.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 11 April 1989 at column 732 .
Skyguard Radar
Mr. Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the height-monitoring radar system Skyguard to begin operating in the Borders ; and whether he will report on the results of the monitoring.
Mr. Neubert : I will write to the right hon. Member.
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Pilots
Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pilots are trained by the armed services each year ; how many qualified pilots remain in the services for (a) five years and (b) 10 years after qualifying ; how many are recruited by civil airlines ; and if any of the cost of training is recouped from the civil airlines.
Mr. Neubert : I will write to my hon. Friend.
Low Flying
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints he has received this year about low-flying military aircraft.
Mr. Neubert : Between 1 January and 30 June 1989 the Ministry of Defence received 3,569 inquiries and complaints about military low-flying training in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has obtained a copy of the United States air forces in Europe document, "USAF Tactical Fighter Low-Level Flying Training in the Federal Republic of Germany Data Book", December 1988 ; and what plans he has to prepare a document setting out the rationales and requirements for Royal Air Force low flying over West Germany.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 10 July 1989] : My Department has a copy of this document. There are no plans to prepare a similar document covering Royal Air Force low flying over the Federal Republic of Germany.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date the Chepstow transit area was abolished; what was the specific reason for its abolition; and if he will list the parliamentary constituencies over which low flying is newly permitted, or within which the area available for low flying is extended, as a result of this measure ;
(2) on what date that part of the London/Thames Valley avoidance area between Aylesbury and Chippenham and between Reading and Banbury was abolished; what was the specific reason for its abolition; and if he will list the parliamentary constituencies over which low flying is newly permitted, or within which the area available for low flying is extended, as a result of this measure.
Mr. Neubert [holding answers 10 July and 20 July 1989] : It is not our practice to publish detailed information on the United Kingdom low-flying system. As part of the continuous monitoring of the United Kingdom low-flying system, however, a programme of reviews of avoidance areas is carried out and changes made when necessary, reflecting changes on the ground, and aimed at spreading low flying more evenly and enhancing flight safety, while at the same time reducing, where possible, the disturbance to those on the ground.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of low-level training flights are flown at night; what changes in this proportion have occurred since 1979; and what definition of night is used in compiling this figure.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 10 July 1989] : It is estimated that night low-flying training continues to
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account for some 5 per cent. of military low flying training activity in the United Kingdom. I have nothing further to add to my predecessor's answer of 10 November 1987 to the hon. Member at column 38 .Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many low-level sorties were flown over the United Kingdom in each year since 1985 by United States Air Force aircraft from units not based in this country ;
(2) how many Skyguard radar systems are to be employed on low-flying monitoring duties ; and on what date they are due to enter service in this role ;
(3) how many sorties were flown in the United Kingdom low-flying system by F16 aircraft in each year since 1985 ;
(4) how many sorties were flown in the United Kingdom low-flying system by (a) F-104, (b) Hunter, (c) Canberra, (d) Lynx, (e) Gazelle, (f) Sea King, (g) Puma, (h) Wessex, (i) Chinook, (j) Hercules, (k) Dominie, (l) Jet Provost, (m) Hawk, (n) Jaguar, (o) Buccaneer, (p) Harrier, (q) Phantom, (r) Tornado and (s) A-10, aircraft in each year since 1985 ;
(5) if a quota system, specifying a maximum number of aircraft permitted to operate in a specific low-flying area, is in operation in the United Kingdom low-flying system ; and if he will make a statement ;
(6) if he will list the categories of information required to be provided by military aircrew to Royal Air Force West Drayton when booking in to the United Kingdom low-flying system ;
(7) if the low-flying regulations permit military pilots to fly their aircraft at speeds greater than 450 knots in order to catch up with other aircraft when changing or re-establishing formations at low-level ;
(8) on how many occasions in 1988 Royal Air Force police covert monitoring of low-flying in the United Kingdom detected breaches of low-flying regulations ;
(9) what agreements have been reached with the West German authorities since 30 January on reductions in the number of Royal Air Force low-level flights over West Germany ;
(10) what information he can provide on the number of sorties flown at low level by United States Air Force aircraft, broken down by aircraft type ;
(11) what is the minimum distance from the coast of Britain at which low flying over the sea at 100 ft minimum separation distance is authorised ;
(12) what low-level air training activity was carried out at weekends over the Wash between 6 May and 25 June ; and how many and what types of aircraft took part ;
(13) what means are used by aircrew of military aircraft operating in the United Kingdom low flying system to advise Royal Air Force West Drayton when remaining within a low flying area beyond the booked period ;
(14) what proportion of fixed-wing low flying at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom in 1988 consisted of aircrew continuation training ;
(15) what was the total number of complaints received about low-flying military aircraft in each month from January 1989 onwards ; and how many of these came from addresses in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland ;
(16) what was the total number of low-flying sorties over the United Kingdom in each month from January 1989 onwards ;
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(17) what, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 10 July, Official Report, column 386, are the normal and long-standing arrangements applicable to public records in the Ministry of Defence referred to ;(18) why it is not Her Majesty's Government's practice to release detailed information about the United Kingdom low flying system ; (19) how many air misses involving British military aircraft were reported over the Federal Republic of Germany in each year since 1985 ;
(20) how many air misses involving military aircraft operating in the night low-flying system were reported for the period 1 June 1988 to 9 October 1988, inclusive.
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