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PRIME MINISTER
Inner Cities Policies
Q8. Mr. Kirkhope : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the Government's inner cities policies.
The Prime Minister : Excellent progress continues to be made in the regeneration of our inner cities under the Government's Action for Cities programmes, spending on which is planned to increase to about £3.5 billion this year. Unemployment in the 57 inner city target areas has fallen by 23 per cent. over the last year.
Pakistan
Q18. Mr. Waller : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Pakistan.
The Prime Minister : Our close and friendly relations with the democratic Government in Pakistan have been reinforced by Pakistan's recent resumption of Commonwealth membership. After Prime Minister Bhutto's welcome visit to Britain in July, I was pleased to
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renew my acquantance with her at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kuala Lumpur last week.Housing Policy
Q20. Mr. Fishburn : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding housing policy.
The Prime Minister : Many representations are received on housing policy. The Government's policies have encouraged the spread of owner- occupation which has increased by 3,600,000 homes since 1979, an increase in the total housing stock of nearly 2 million since 1979 and the highest number of private housing starts since 1972.
Legal Profession
Q21. Mr. Alexander : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding reform of the legal profession.
The Prime Minister : I have received a number of representations both on the Government's consultation papers. Many support the Government's aim of securing for the public the best possible access to legal services of sound quality.
Countryside
Q27. Mr. Marland : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the preservation of the countryside.
The Prime Minister : Widespread appreciation has been expressed at this Government's determination to protect the countryside, and to recognise the interests of people who live and work there.
United States of America
Q45. Mr. Leigh : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the United Kingdom's relations with the United States of America.
The Prime Minister : I regularly receive representations on a range of subjects from members of the public and from hon. Members of this House.
Education Policy
Q57. Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representatives regarding educational policy.
The Prime Minister : I receive many representations about education. The Government's educational policies, in particular the introduction of the national curriculum, will continue to raise standards at all levels.
National Heritage
Q60. Mr. William Powell : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the preservation of the national heritage.
The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friends and I receive representations frequently. Our heritage makes a particularly important contribution both to the quality of
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life within our communities and to the tourism industry. The Government are concerned to ensure that the nation's wealth of important historic buildings, monuments and sites are preserved wherever possible.British Rail
Q64. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding British Rail.
The Prime Minister : Yes. Many welcome the current investment programme which at £4 billion over the next five years is the largest programme since the transition from steam to diesel 30 years ago.
Cawston, Rugby
Q80. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to pay an official visit to Cawston near Rugby.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Exeter
Q96. Mr. Hannam : To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Exeter.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Water Act
Q99. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received on the implementation of the Water Act.
The Prime Minister : We have received a wide range of representations on the subject of water privatisation generally. In our view this represents the best way of achieving even higher standards of water quality more quickly and more cost effectively.
Waste Disposal
Q104. Sir Hugh Rossi : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding waste disposal.
The Prime Minister : I receive representations from a variety of sources on a wide range of waste disposal issues.
USA President
Q108. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Prime Minister when she next proposes to meet the President of the United States of America.
The Prime Minister : I expect to meet President Bush again next month.
South Hams
Q135. Mr. Steen : To ask the Prime Minister if she will visit South Hams.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Transport Policy
Q149. Mr. Page : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding transport policy.
The Prime Minister : I regularly receive representations on a wide range of issues concerning transport policy.
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Food Safety
Q152. Mr. Boswell : To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received on food safety.
The Prime Minister : I have received a number of representations on a range of matters relating to food safety. These have been drawn to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health. The Government's proposals on food safety have been set out in its White Paper published in July this year.
London Transport
Q155. Mr. Malins : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding London Transport.
The Prime Minister : I receive various representations concerning different aspects of London Regional Transport's operations.
EC Intergovernmental Conference
Q165. Mr. Cash : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the proposed intergovernmental conference in the European Community.
The Prime Minister : No such representations have been received.
Engagements
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.
Mr. Stern : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.
Mr. Pike : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 October.
The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Southern Africa
Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position on the Organisation of Africa Unity declaration on South Africa, adopted in Harare on 21 August.
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The Prime Minister : We do not believe that it is for outsiders to prescribe constitutional solutions to South Africa's problems. South Africans themselves must decide their own future. However, we welcome signs that the ANC is now thinking seriously about a negotiating process.
Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister (1) if she will make a statement on the Commonwealth Heads of Government document, "Southern Africa : The Way Ahead." ;
(2) if she will make a statement on the document, "Southern Africa : The Way Ahead : Britain's View."
The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made earlier this afternoon.
Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to call upon the Governments of the United States of America, the Nordic countries and others to maintain existing sanctions and other measures against South Africa, as agreed at the Kuala Lumpur meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth.
The Prime Minister : Britain agreed with all other Commonwealth countries at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting the passage in the Kuala Lumpur statement on Southern Africa
"that all existing sanctions and measures should be maintained and called upon the wider international community to do likewise."
Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report a statement on the progress that Her Majesty's Government believe has been made towards dismantling the pillars of apartheid.
The Prime Minister : Progress towards the dismantling of apartheid has included the abolition of the pass laws and influx control, the ending of job reservation on a racial basis, the granting of freehold property rights to all South Africans, the legalisation of black trades unions and the lifting of many restrictions on black small businesses. There have also been substantial moves towards the desegregation of public amenities. The release of eight long-term security prisoners and the granting of permission for peaceful demonstrations are welcome steps in the right direction. We will continue to seek the total abolition of apartheid, including the repeal of the remaining discriminatory legislation which forms the legal basis of apartheid, and its peaceful replacement by a system of government acceptable to all South Africans.
Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report, in relation to the document, "Southern Africa : The Way Ahead : Britain's View", when it was released, when it was decided to release the document and on which previous occasions Her Majesty's Government has issued a formal document of explanation further to a Commonwealth statement.
The Prime Minister : "Southern Africa : The Way Ahead : Britain's View" is not a formal document. It is a statement setting out our views on those passages of the Kuala Lumpur statement with which we disagreed and on how we see the way forward. At previous meetings of the Commonwealth Heads of Government I have expressed publicly Britain's views on matters which have arisen in discussion.
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Correspondence
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of letters from hon. Members to her received a reply (a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years.
The Prime Minister : This information is not held centrally and could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Crime Screening
11. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations from the public concerning the Metropolitan police crime screening ratios policy.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Representations about crime screening have been received in the course of consultation meetings which my right hon. Friend had earlier this year with London Conservative Members of Parliament and the London local authority associations.
Crime Prevention (West Cornwall)
13. Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to help prevent crime in west Cornwall ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten : We have a crime reduction strategy that applies to all parts of England and Wales. Central to this strategy is the involvement of the local community in crime prevention activity. Crime Concern was launched to support such activity and our national publicity campaign will continue to provide further advice to the public on ways in which they can reduce crime. In west Cornwall, I am pleased to report that there are now 100 neighbourhood watch schemes where 18 months ago there were none. Young people, too, are co-operating with the police. Youth crime prevention panels have been set up in Hayle with the assistance of schools liaison officers. The police and community of west Cornwall are enthusiastically working together to prevent crime.
Dogs
14. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he intends to take to control the dog population in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Following the passage of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 I believe that effective steps have been taken to control the problem of dangerous dogs. The Act greatly improves the effectiveness of the courts' power to order the destruction of dangerous dogs and increases maximum penalties for offences.
Right to Silence
15. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to implement the proposals contained in the recent Home Office report on the right to silence ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. John Patten : We are waiting for comments, which are requested by 25 January, before reaching a final view.
West Midlands Serious Crimes Squad
16. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands on the decision to disband the serious crimes squad ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hurd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Reid).
34. Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the recent decision to disband the West Midlands serious crimes squad, he will review convictions for serious crimes based wholly or mainly on confessions obtained from people in the custody of the West Midlands police.
47. Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chief constable of the West Midlands ; and what matters were discussed.
65. Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the recent decision to disband the West Midlands serious crimes squad, he will review all convictions for serious crimes based wholly or mainly on confessions obtained in the custody of the West Midlands police.
66. Mr. Jim Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands on the decision to disband the serious crimes squad ; and if he will make a statement.
69. Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands on the decision to disband the serious crimes squad ; and if he will make a statement.
70. Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands on the decision to disband the serious crimes squad ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Members to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Reid).
19. Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings, in the light of recent evidence that officers of the West Midlands serious crimes squad have been forging confessions.
55. Mr. Grocott : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings, in the light of recent evidence that officers of the West Midlands serious crimes squad have been forging confessions.
Mr. Hurd : I referred this case to the Court of Appeal on 20 January 1987 and after a thorough investigation by the Devon and Cornwall police, the court heard the case in November and December 1987. In its judgment, announced in January 1988, the court concluded that it had no doubt that the convictions were safe and satisfactory.
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I am always ready to consider new evidence or other information which has not been before the courts and which appears to cast doubt on the safety of the conviction. We are in close touch with the Police Complaints Authority about the investigations into the allegations made about the West Midlands serious crime squad. If relevant information came to light in the course of the investigation, I should as I stated in the House on 19 October consider whether there were grounds to justify my further intervention in this or any other case.Street Drinking
17. Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report on Government initiatives to curb drinking in the street.
Mr. John Patten : The experimental byelaw, which prohibits the consumption of alcohol in designated public places, is now in force in seven areas. The operation of the byelaw is being closely monitored by participating local authorities, the police and the Home Office. The results so far are encouraging. The byelaw has maintained its initial popularity and continues to be generally complied with. There have been 10 prosecutions, with 11 pending.
Special Constables
18. Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables were appointed during the first half of 1988.
Mr. Hurd : On 31 December 1988 there were 15,778 special constables in England and Wales (10,578 men and 5,210 women). On 30 June 1989 there were 15,625 (10,465 men and 5,160 women). Statistics relating to appointments are not held centrally.
32. Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables now serve in police forces in England and Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) earlier today.
Immigrants
20. Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the number of immigrants allowed to enter Britain ; and what are the figures for each of the previous five years.
Mr. Renton : In the 12 months ending 30 June 1989, a total of 50, 200 persons were accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom. The corresponding figures for previous years were 53,500 in 1983, 51,000 in 1984, 55,400 in 1985, 47,800 in 1986, 46,000 in 1987 and 49,300 in 1988.
Neighbourhood Watch
21. Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes now exist in West Mercia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten : I understand from the West Mercia constabulary that at the end of September 1989 there were
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2,928 schemes in West Mercia, covering approximately 73,000 households. This is an increase of 859 schemes compared with the position reported 12 months previously.29. Mr. Gerald Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes now exist in Staffordshire ; and if he will make a statement.
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