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Mr. Peter Morrison : Renewable energy technologies are at an early stage of development and there is great uncertainty about future projections. No estimates are available for the 1990s. Longer term estimates for 2025 have been published in Energy Paper 55, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

British Coal

Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his intervention of 4 December 1989, Official Report, column 41, what was the value of British Coal on 31 March 1990.

Mr. Wakeham : The value of British Coal as at 31 March 1990 will depend on a detailed assessment of the earnings potential of each mine over its remaining life. I expect this work to be completed by late summer. I cannot prejudge in the meantime what this final figure will be. I have, however, satisfied myself that under any likely scenario over half the Corporation's collieries are likely to show a negative cash flow over their remaining lives, and that this will lead to the write-off of at least half the industry's £4 billion fixed assets. On this basis, and taking into account the losses incurred in 1989-90 and earlier years, I have in accordance with section 1(3)(b) of the Coal Industry Act 1990, paid British Coal an interim sum of £3 billion in deficiency grant. This sum was paid on 29 March 1990 and allowed an immediate and corresponding repayment of outstanding debt.

UKAEA

Mr. Arbuthnot : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the chairmanship of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Mr. Wakeham : I have today appointed Mr. John Maltby as part-time chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority from 1 July 1990 in succession to Mr. John Collier. This appointment is for three years.

Dr. Brian Eyre's appointment as a full-time member of the UKAEA which was due to expire on 31 July 1992 will now expire on 30 April 1995. The UKAEA has appointed Dr. Eyre as chief executive and deputy chairman.


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ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Fraud

Mr. Gorst : To ask the Attorney-General what is the practice of the prosecution authorities in cases of fraud involving sums of money in excess of £1 million ; what is the Director of Public Prosecution's policy where culprits are over the age of 67 years ; what consideration is given to the length of time a crime has remained undetected ; and what consideration is being given to the implications for prosecution policy in respect of the War Crimes Bill of these policies.

The Attorney-General : The principles set out in the code for Crown prosecutors promulgated by the Director of Public Prosecutions under section 10 of the Prosecution Offences Act 1985, govern all decisions taken by the Crown prosecution service including those relating to alleged fraud. First, the evidence must be sufficient to afford a realistic prospect of conviction ; second, the circumstances must be such that the public interest requires a prosecution.

The factors referred to in the hon. Members question are relevant to assessment of the public interest which can arise only if the evidential criterion is satisfied. The sum involved goes directly to the seriousness of the offence which, together with any aggravating features, for example, persistence or breach of trust, must be balanced against other factors militating against prosecution such as advanced age. So far as time elapsing since the commission of a crime is concerned, the Crown prosecution service is slow to prosecute if the last offence was committed three or more years before the probable date of trial, unless, despite its staleness, an immediate custodial sentence of some length is likely to be imposed. Less regard will be paid to staleness, however, if it is contributed to by the accused himself, the complexity of this case has necessitated lengthy police investigation or the particular characteristics of the offence have themselves contributed to the delay in its coming to light. Generally, the graver the allegation the less significance will be attached to the element of staleness.

If Parliament enacts the War Crimes Bill currently before it, the same principles will apply to the offences made justiciable by that legislation.

Mr. Gorst : To ask the Attorney-General what progress has been made in the investigations into allegations of a £1 million fraud by Mr. Alex Swern and Mr. Laurence Rosen ; whether the police have now completed their investigations ; when a decision with regard to prosecution will be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions ; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General : A report relating to the case to which the hon. Member refers was submitted to the Crown prosecution service on 30 March 1990. Having considered the report and had the benefit of advice from counsel, the Crown prosecution service concluded that the criteria set out in the code for Crown prosecutors were not satisfied. The Metropolitan police were advised that no proceedings should be instituted against either proposed defendant.


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PO John Black, RN

Mr. Latham : To ask the Attorney-General when he anticipates that he will be heard by the court on his application for a fresh inquest into the death of Petty Officer John Black, RN in Spain in December 1983 ; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General : The case is in the warned list for hearing during the current law term, but no date has yet been fixed for the hearing. I will write to my hon. Friend informing him of the hearing date as soon as it is fixed.

Social Security Commissioners

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Attorney-General what is the average delay between a social security commissioner's oral hearing and notification of the decision to the claimant ; and how much of this is ascribable to administrative delay.

The Attorney-General : The average time taken between the oral hearing by a commissioner and the despatch of the decision to the parties for the quarter ending March 1990 was 105 days, of which it is estimated that the time taken in processing decisions by administrative staff, including typists, was 50 days.

The Lord Chancellor's Department and the Office of the Social Security Commissioners are actively considering ways of reducing delay in this area.

Lottery Tickets

Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given by the Crown prosecution service to initiating proceedings in relation to the posting of lottery tickets to the United Kingdom from West German state and institutional lottery groups ; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General : No such case can be identified within the Crown prosecution service from the information that is given. If the hon. Gentleman will write to me setting out more details about the alleged offence, I will cause further inquiries to be made.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Poland

Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 26 April, Official Report , column 282-83 , how many companies have taken advantage of the investment protection and promotion agreement which exists for Poland ; and what is the value of such contracts.

Mr. Waldegrave : This information is not held centrally, since companies are not obliged to notify the Government in order to benefit from the existence of an IPPA.

Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth dated 25 April, what plans exist to increase the £150,000 currently made available by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the scholarships and awards scheme to enable Polish students to study in Britain.


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Mr. Sainsbury : We are looking at ways of increasing the overall provision for students from eastern Europe, including Poland, to study in the United Kingdom under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and awards scheme.

Vietnamese Boat People

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people refused refugee status by the Hong Kong authorities have been accepted by the UNHCR under its own mandate.

Mr. Maude : The UNHCR has chosen to exercise its mandate on behalf of 106 refugees so far. This is less than 1 per cent. of cases decided by the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the refugee status review board (RSRB).

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the reasons why refugee status review boards sit in closed private session when reviewing cases of Vietnamese boat people refused refugee status.

Mr. Maude : The refugee status review board (RSRB) perform an administrative rather than a judicial function. It replaces a function originally performed by the Executive Council which also sits in closed private sessions during its deliberations. Although the refugee status review board make its final decisions in private session, a representative of the UNHCR is allowed to be present when a board interviews an asylum seeker. UNHCR and its operating partner, the agency for volunteer service (AVS), also have the opportunity to make representations on individual cases, before the final decision is taken, at their weekly meeting with the chairman of the board.

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide for Vietnamese boat people's legal representatives to be allowed to attend screening interviews and sessions of the refugee status review boards.

Mr. Maude : The purpose of the screening interview is to record and assess the facts relating to an asylum seeker's claim to refugee status. The presence of a legal representative would serve little purpose in this context. The refugee status review board does invite UNHCR legal counsellors to be present during its interviews and a copy of the record is made available for comment.

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide for a legal adviser to be assigned to each Vietnamese boat person applying for refugee status before screening.

Mr. Maude : The provision for legal services to asylum seekers is not the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government. Under the statement of understanding agreed between UNHCR and the Hong Kong Government in September 1988, UNHCR accepted responsibility for providing legal advice to asylum seekers at all stages of the screening and review procedures. Legal aid is not available in Hong Kong except in the High Court and the district court.

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the figures for


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the number of cases regarding the refusal of refugee status to Vietnamese boat peope by refugee status review boards that have been decided (a) unanimously or (b) by a majority.

Mr. Maude : An application for review of a negative decision can be rejected only if all members of the review panel decide that the review should not be allowed. If one member of the panel decides in favour of the asylum seeker, the director of immigration's decision will be overturned. Any decision against the asylum seeker must therefore be unanimous.

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that Vietnamese boat people awaiting screening for refugee status receive a written description of the nature and conduct of the process in Vietnamese before interview.

Mr. Maude : Under paragraph 6 of the comprehensive plan of action agreed at the UN conference in Geneva last June, provision of information about screening is the responsibility of UNHCR. They have distributed in all centres an information book describing the status determination procedures.

Refugee Law

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the UNHCR, the Law Society and the Bar Association regarding the possibility of lawyers from outside Hong Kong with expertise in refugee law being allowed to practise in Hong Kong.

Mr. Maude : UNHCR employs lawyers from outside Hong Kong as full- time legal counsellors to monitor the screening procedures. In addition, UNHCR provides individual legal representation at the review stage through its operating partner the agency for voluntary services (AVS). The AVS has, with the approval of the Law Society, been allowed to recruit lawyers from outside Hong Kong for this purpose.

Hong Kong

Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people have escaped from Hong Kong detention camps ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maude [holding answer 4 May 1990] : In 1989, 2,033 Vietnamese boat people escaped from the camps. The figure so far this year is 2, 254. In most cases, the motive for escaping is to visit relatives in other camps or often simply to walk about Hong Kong, rather than to try to escape from the territory. Most of those who escape are returned to their camps.

Ivory

Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current size of ivory stocks in Hong Kong ; and on what date it was assessed.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The current size of commercial ivory stocks in Hong Kong was 472 tonnes (to the nearest tonne) as at 21 April 1990.


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Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 5 April, Official Report, column 765, if he will state the amount of ivory involved in each of the recent seizures ; from whom it was seized ; and what was the country of origin of the ivory and the current whereabouts of the ivory together with his proposals for its disposal.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The following seizures of ivory were made by the special task force of the Customs and Excise Department in Hong Kong between 1 June 1989 and 22 March 1990 :


Quantity (kg)                                                                Seized from                           Country of                                                                 

                                                                                                                  |Export                                                                     

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

58.9                                  |raw ivory                            |Kim Ki Woo                           |Korea                                                                      

15                                    |raw ivory (powder)                   |Au Kin Choi                          |China                                                                      

8.5                                   |raw ivory                            |Tsai Shin Sheng                      |Taiwan                                                                     

11.7                                  |worked ivory                         |Abandoned by Choi Don-soo            |Korea                                                                      

7.55                                  |worked ivory                         |Lau Ming Hei                         |Thailand                                                                   

0.2                                   |worked ivory                         |Yue Hwa Chinese Product Emporium Ltd.|Japan                                                                      

2.9                                   |worked ivory                         |Lam Kin Pui                          |Taiwan                                                                     

7.19                                  |raw ivory                            |Kwong Fat Cheung Ivory and Mahjong   |Japan                                                                      

700                                   |raw ivory                            |Pei Lei Lai Kai                      |Singapore                                                                  

15.5                                  |mammoth ivory                        |Lee Chor Mui                         |Japan                                                                      

2.3                                   |worked ivory                         |Andrew Stephen Yuen                  |Thailand                                                                   

100                                   |worked ivory                         |Sun Hung Ngai Trading Company        |USA                                                                        

55                                    |worked ivory                         |Wong Wing Shing                      |Spain                                                                      

4                                     |worked ivory                         |Unclaimed baggage                    |France                                                                     

26.3                                  |worked ivory                         |Art of Sea Ivory Company             |China                                                                      

3.1                                   |worked ivory                         |Liu Shih Haiao                       |Taiwan                                                                     

3.8                                   |worked ivory                         |Shih Shia Loon                       |Taiwan                                                                     

1.3                                   |worked ivory                         |Fang Tsu Chick                       |Thailand                                                                   

2.5                                   |worked ivory                         |Chang Lin Kuei Chuo                  |Taiwan                                                                     

17.5                                  |worked ivory                         |Left by Transit Passenger            |Thailand                                                                   

The confiscated ivory is kept in the Hong Kong Government stores. The Hong Kong Government have no plans at present to dispose of the confiscated items.

Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 5 April, Official Report, column 765, if he will state (a) the period covered from 26 February during which 35 kg of ivory was exported from Hong Kong, (b) how much ivory has been exported since that date ; and to which countries it was exported.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The period covered was from 26 February to 30 March 1990. The Hong Kong CITES management authority has not been notified of any ivory exports since 30 March 1990.

Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is going to happen to the 116 tonnes of ivory currently held in Hong Kong without CITES documentation.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The owners may continue to keep the ivory under possession licence or to dispose of it locally. But export licences will not be issued for any exports.

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to apply isotope analysis to ivory stocks in Hong Kong to ascertain their place of origin.


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Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 23 April 1990] : We do not propose to take a view on whether to apply isotope analysis to ivory stocks in Hong Kong until the technique has been properly evaluated. As my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, stated in his reply of 13 November to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), the proposals concerning this technique were not discussed in any of the formal sessions at the CITES conference in October 1989. But we will study any information which may be forthcoming about these techniques in consultation with our scientific advisers.

Endangered Species

Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 5 April, Official Report, column 764, if he will give details of the items which led to 92 prosecutions being initiated by the Hong Kong authorities.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 23 April 1990] : Ninety-two prosecutions were initiated by the Hong Kong authorities in the second half of 1989 as a result of confiscation of the following items :


Item                  |Amount                           

--------------------------------------------------------

Monkey                |2 hd                             

                                                        

Slow Loris            |8 hd                             

                                                        

Musk Deer             |6 pc pod                         

                      |10.2 g grain                     

                                                        

Ivory:                                                  

  Raw ivory           |769.9 kg                         

  Worked ivory        |123.62 kg                        

                                                        

Rhino Horn            |20 kg                            

                                                        

Felidas (cat family):                                   

  (a)Stuffed specimen |1 hd                             

  (b)Live             |2 hd                             

  (c)Skins            |226 pc                           

                                                        

Pangolin:                                               

  (a)Live             |2 hd                             

  (b)Scale            |0.68 kg                          

  (c)Meat             |5.4 kg                           

  (d)Meat and scale   |1.4 kg and 20 pc                 

                                                        

Cetacean spp Meat     |0.4 kg                           

                                                        

Owl:                                                    

  (a)Dead             |1 hd                             

  (b)Live             |6 hd                             

                                                        

Birds of prey:                                          

  (a)Stuffed specimen |3 hd                             

  (b)Live             |2 hd                             

                                                        

Parrots               |64 hd                            

                                                        

Yellow Tortoise       |11 hd                            

                                                        

Sea turtle:                                             

  (a)Stuffed specimen |13 hd                            

  (b)Egg              |40 pc                            

  (c)Shell            |1 pc                             

                                                        

Lizards:                                                

  (a)Live             |1 hd                             

  (b)Skins            |8,231 pc                         

                                                        

Crocodile Meat        |0.79 kg                          

                                                        

Python Skin           |15 pc                            

                                                        

Giant Salamander      |6 hd                             

                                                        

Asiatic Bony Tongue   |21 tails                         

                                                        

Coral                 |15 pc                            

                                                        

Giant Clam            |14 pc                            

Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to determine the location, number and frequency of restaurant inspections in Hong Kong to ensure that no rare and endangered species of animals and plants are offered for sale as food ; and what information he has on the number of restaurants in Hong Kong.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The criteria used to determine the location, number and frequence of restaurant inspections in Hong Kong, for the purpose of ensuring that no rare and endangered species of animals and plants are offered for sale as food, include known black spots, reports and intelligence from various sources and the type of restaurant and menu served. Random checks are made as a deterrent. There are approximately 7,400 restaurants in Hong Kong.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Immigration

Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overstayers were deported in the latest available year where evidence has been brought forward that they were in stable marriages to British citizens with the right of abode.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the results of the police and immigration officers' investigation carried out at weddings being held on 21 April at (a) Hackney and (b) Walthamstow and (i) how many people were detained, (ii) how many have since been charged and (iii) with what offence.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : In a joint Metropolitan police/immigration service operation on 21 April, eight persons were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to contravene the Immigration Act 1971. Three persons were arrested at Hackney register office ; four in a simultaneous visit to an address in Walthamstow ; and one further arrest was made at a separate address later that day.

Three of those arrested were subsequently released without charge and two persons have been given bail to return to the police station on 15 May. Three persons have been charged with conspiracy to contravene the Immigration Act 1971 contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (as amended)--two remanded in custody, the third released on bail.


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Television Licences

Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received over the past 12 months about concessionary television licences for retirement pensioners and disabled people.

Mr. Mellor : In the year ending 21 March 1990 we received four petitions and 696 letters calling for reduced price or free television licences for pensioners or disabled people. A total of 385 of the letters were cyclostyled, and clearly sent as part of a local campaign. Of the rest 139 were from hon. Members, and three of the petitions were submitted through them.

Police Houses

Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police houses are vacant in (a) Cardiff and (b) South Glamorgan ; and what proportion this is of the total police housing stock in (a) the city and (b) the county.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : This information is not held centrally, but I understand from the South Wales constabulary that there are currently 11 vacant police houses in south Glamorgan which represent 14 per cent. of the total police housing stock in the county. Six of these vacant police houses are in Cardiff and represent 11 per cent. of the total police housing stock in the city.

Strangeways Prison

Mr. Litherland : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of Strangeways prison, Manchester.

Mr. Waddington : As I said on 3 May in exchanges following the question from my hon. Friend the member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox), an assessment of the structural damage to the wings at Manchester is being made. When it is completed, we shall review the various options for the prison's future. I can see the attractions, and the importance to the staff, of bringing at least part of the prison back into use as soon as possible.

Mr. Litherland : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the costs of policing the Strangeways riot will be met fully by central Government.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : The Greater Manchester police authority has asked for a meeting to discuss the financial implications of policing the Strangeways disturbance. We will listen carefully to its points but any request for special assistance would have to be judged against the normal criteria of exceptional and unforeseen expenditure of a scale that threatens the efficiency of the force.

Mr. Litherland : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the governor of Strangeways prison, Manchester was given every facility necessary to quell the riot at that prison.

Mr. Waddington : Considerable support was afforded to the governor of Manchester under contingency arrangements. The available support will be among the matters which Lord Justice Woolf's inquiry will address.


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Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations took place in the first 24 hours of the riot at Strangeways prison about the use of force.

Mr. Mellor [holding answer 30 April 1990] : The Governor of Manchester prison, the acting regional director and the deputy director general of the prison service were in frequent consultation about the tactics to be adopted in dealing with the disturbance.

Detentions (Manchester Airport)

Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give figures for the number of people arriving at Manchester airport over the last three months who have been detained.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : A total of 22 people who arrived at Manchester airport during the first three months of this year were detained for one or more nights.

Deportations

Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of deportations of permanent residents arising out of criminal convictions in England and Wales in the last six months ; and if he will give the proportion of those which were not recommended by the courts.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : In the second six months of 1989, a total of 164 persons were removed from the United Kingdom under the deportation process on the recommendation of a court following conviction for a criminal offence (section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1971). A further 32 were deported on the ground that deportation was conducive to the public good following a criminal conviction (section 3(5)(b)). Separate information is not readily available for those who were settled in the United Kingdom.

Football Licensing Authority

Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken towards establishing the Football Licensing Authority.

Mr. John Patten : Responsibility for the establishment of the Football Licensing Authority has been transferred to the Home Office. My right hon. and learned Friend made a commencement order under the Football Spectators Act 1989 on 21 March providing for the Football Licensing Authority to be set up from 1 June 1990.

Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the chairman and members of the Football Licensing Authority will be appointed.

Mr. John Patten : Appointments to the Football Licensing Authority will be made as soon as possible.

Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what date has been set for the commencement of operation of the Football Licensing Authority.

Mr. John Patten : The Football Licensing Authority will begin its operation as soon as possible.


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Lottery Tickets (Germany)

Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions he has raised with the West German authorities the practice of sending lottery tickets from Germany to the United Kingdom in breach of the Lotteries and Amusements Act ; what assurances he has had on each occasion ; and what action he now proposes in light of the continued posting of such tickets to United Kingdom citizens from West German state and institutional lottery groups.

Mr. John Patten : At our request, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office last year initiated exchanges with authorities in the Federal Republic of West Germany about the postal promotion here of two lotteries based in West Germany, contrary to the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976, and these exchanges are continuing. Most recently, the director of each lottery has undertaken to draw to the notice of its agents that the mass promotion of the lottery in another country where that is unlawful is contrary to the rules under which the agents operate.

Together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we will consider what other effective action may be taken if the mass postal promotion of these lotteries continues. The promotion here of these and other foreign lotteries is already inhibited by steps which have been taken domestically. Among these is that HM Customs and Excise have impounded, for subsequent destruction, very substantial quantities of promotional material for them.

Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement providing guidance to United Kingdom citizens about the appropriate action to take with lottery tickets sent to them by West German state and institutional lotteries and about the legal position over the sale of such tickets in the United Kingdom.

Mr. John Patten : The promotion or conduct of public foreign lotteries in Great Britain is unlawful under the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976. It is not an offence under the Act to purchase tickets in such lotteries. But the Act defines a range of activities connected with unlawful lotteries which are themselves unlawful. These activities include the bringing into Great Britain of foreign lottery material ; its sale, distribution or advertisement in this country ; and the sending or attempted sending out of money or other valuables received in connection with such a lottery. Together, where appropriate, with the Gaming Board for Great Britain, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we take action to prevent or curtail the promotion of foreign lotteries contrary to the Act.

We already explain this in reply to correspondence from Members of Parliament and of the public who write to us about the unlawful promotion here, by post, of foreign lotteries, including some based in West Germany.

Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987

Mr. Maclennan (Caithness and Sutherland) : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20th April, Official Report, column 1030, what were the departure points of those passengers without proper documentation which led to airlines being fined under the carriers' liability legislation since its introduction in March 1987.


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Mr. Peter Lloyd : Information before 1 July 1989 is not readily available. In the last six months of that year airline passengers giving rise to charges under the Carriers' Liability Act arrived in the United Kingdom from almost 200 primary ports of embarkation. I will write to the hon. Member enclosing the full list. Listed are the 42 airports from which more than 50 such passengers departed for the United Kingdom.

Bombay

New York

Paris

Jedda

Moscow

Lagos

Nairobi

Colombo

Frankfurt

Cairo

Mogadishu

Tehran

Dubai

Hong Kong

Singapore

Amsterdam

Los Angeles

Lusaka

Istanbul

Delhi

Abu Dhabi

Bangkok

Accra

Dhaka

Zurich

Brussels

Geneva

Toronto

Addis Ababa

Copenhagen

Madras

Larnaca

Bahrain

Warsaw

Rome

Karachi

Budapest

Johannesburg

Stockholm

Riyadh

Manila

Muscat


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