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Expo '92
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has received for the future use of the British trade pavilion used at the Expo '92 exhibition in Seville ; and what decisions he has taken.
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Mr. Needham : Negotiations are now at an advanced stage with a private sector buyer for sale of the United Kingdom's Expo '92 pavilion. Subject to a satisfactory outcome, the purchaser intends to dismantle the pavilion and relocate it in the United Kingdom. It is hoped to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion by the end of March 1993.
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent communications he has received from HHL Publishing regarding its participation at the British pavilion at the Expo '92 exhibition in Seville.
Mr. Needham : Solicitors representing HHL Publishing wrote on 27 November 1992 about various aspects and received a detailed response to all points on 18 December.
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent communications he has received from Farrow and Humphreys Ltd., in regard to services provided to the British pavilion at the Expo '92 exhibition in Seville.
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Mr. Needham : Farrow and Humphreys Ltd. wrote on 13 January concerning the loss incurred in supplying the company that ran the pavilion shop, which is now in voluntary liquidation. I replied on 31 January.
Republic of China
Mr. Parry : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the total exports and imports between the United Kingdom and the Republic of China in each of the last three years.
Mr. Needham : Information on United Kingdom visible trade is published in the "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom" which is available in the Library of the House.
Insolvency Service
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Insolvency Service expects to complete its review of its funding and fee charging policy.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The review is nearing completion and I will make known my conclusions in due course when I have had an opportunity to consider all the issues.
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish the accounts of the Insolvency Service for 1991-92.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The statement of receipts and payments of the Insolvency Service's account for 1991-92 is expected to be published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office on 24 February.
Steel
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to hold discussions with (a) the Luxembourg Government and (b) the European Commission concerning state aids to Messrs. Arbed, steel producers, of Luxembourg and its subsidiaries.
Mr. Sainsbury : My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has no plans at present to hold discussions with the Luxembourg Government. Arbed has made applications for research grants which are permitted under the ECSC state aid code, and these have been discussed between member states and the Commission. However, if evidence exists to suggest that Arbed is benefiting from illegal subsidies, the Government will pursue the matter vigorously with the Commission.
Quangos
Mr. Sproat : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all those non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible which have the power to compel individuals, firms, companies or other institutions to carry out their instructions at the expense of the individuals, firms, companies or other institutions, and also to charge fees for the cost to the non-departmental public bodies of assessing the work which needed to be done.
Mr. Eggar : The Hearing Aid Council is the only non-departmental public body for which my Department is responsible which has these powers.
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Digital Audio Broadcasting
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to promote the introduction of digital audio broadcasting in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heseltine : Digital audio broadcasting--DAB--is recognised as a very important development in sound broadcasting, and I am anxious to ensure that its benefits and opportunities are made available in this country. I am therefore establishing a United Kingdom DAB forum to co- ordinate and promote plans for the introduction of DAB in this country and to liaise with those with similar interests in other countries, particularly elsewhere in Europe.
Participants will include broadcasters, equipment manufacturers, retailers, service providers and other interested parties. The aim is to enhance the potential benefit for United Kingdom industry and ensure that British people will be able to enjoy the benefits of DAB, including high-quality reception in cars and on portable receivers, and additional services that the new technology will make possible. My officials will continue their efforts to secure sufficient radio spectrum for the first terrestrial DAB transmissions to begin when the first receivers become available, which is expected to be around 1995.
Ammonium Nitrate
Mr. Matthew Banks : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to prevent the dumping in the United Kingdom of low- quality ammonium nitrate by the former eastern bloc countries ; and if he will ensure that imported ammonium nitrate is bagged and labelled correctly.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 11 February 1993] : Anti-dumping action is a matter for the European Commission, which is currently investigating a complaint by the Fertiliser Manufacturers Association that ammonium nitrate is being dumped in the United Kingdom by certain republics of the former Soviet Union. The Government have urged the Commission to complete its investigation quickly and will consider carefully any proposals for anti-dumping measures which the Commission then makes. As regards bagging and labelling of dangerous substances such as ammonium nitrate, imports must comply with the relevant United Kingdom legislation and inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for checking on this during visits to ports.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the weekly budget allocation per prison inmate for breakfast, lunch, tea and supper on 1 January 1973, 1 January 1983 and 1 January 1993 ; and what account is taken of inflation in uprating the allowance.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : There is no weekly budget allocation per inmate for food. Inmates are fed to a predetermined dietary scale which provides them with a set quantity of food and is therefore not affected by inflation. The items
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on this scale are either purchased from centrally negotiated call-off contracts or provided by Prison Service farms and gardens group.Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons which have contracted out their catering functions ; what arrangements have been made for monitoring the carrying out of the contract ; and what system is in place to respond to complaints about the service provided.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The catering function is contracted out in the following prisons :
Belmarsh
Bullingdon
Downview
Highdown
Holme House
Woodhill
Lancaster Farms
Prison Service area catering managers inspect and report on technical standards in all prisons. This includes monitoring contract caterers for their compliance with the contract. Contractors are responsible to governors for the satisfactory overall performance of the contract.
The system for dealing with complaints about the service provided by a contract caterer is the same as for prisons with an in-house catering service.
Wolds Prison
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names and previous employment of (a) the governor and deputy governor of Wolds remand prison, (b) the governor and deputy governor of Blakenhurst prison and (c) the director and assistant director of Group 4 Court Escort Services Ltd.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : A contracted-out prison is run by a director not a governor. The director of Wolds remand prison is Mr. Stephen Twinn. Wolds has no deputy director, but the head of custody is Mr. David McDonnell. The director of Blakenhurst is Mr. David Brooke, and the deputy director will be Mr. Bernard Higgins, who has yet to take up post. All were formerly members of HM Prison Service. Immediately prior to taking up his post at Blakenhurst, Mr. Brooke was on secondment to HM inspectorate of prisons. The director of Group 4 Court Services Ltd. in the east midlands and Humberside is Mr. Michael Hirst. There is no assistant director, but the two senior controllers are Mr. Ken Tuckwood and Mr. David Adams. All are former police officers.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the absconding of a man on remand at the Wolds on 9 February ; and if he will institute an inquiry.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : On 9 February a prisoner escaped from Hull royal infirmary where he had been taken, under escort, from Wolds remand prison. He was re-arrested by the police during the night of 10 February.
The contractor's staff are carrying out a full inquiry into the causes of the escape. I have also instructed the controller to initiate an inquiry into matters connected with the escape.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Group 4 pays for the cost of providing gas, electricity and water at the Wolds remand prison.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd : No, but these are met from within the £6.9 million estimated cost of running the prison published on Budget day last year. Because Wolds is of a unique design, it was not possible to set benchmark levels of energy and water consumption for inclusion in the contract, but the contractor's efficient use of public utilities is monitored by the Home Office controller based at the prison who is assisted by the Home Office energy efficiency unit. Once energy consumption for the Wolds buildings over a full year has been established, it is intended to amend the contract so that the cost of public utilities becomes the contractor's responsibility.
Court Escort Service
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the contracting out of the court escort service.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Invitations to tender for the contracting out of the court escort service in the Metropolitan police district are to be issued later this year. Subject to the tenders received demonstrating value for money, it is intended that contracted-out operations should commence in 1994. Next year, it is expected that tenders will be sought for three contract areas outside London, with the aim that the service should begin in those areas in 1995. It has not yet been decided which three areas will be covered.
Metropolitan Police
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total cost to public funds of the Metropolitan police in 1993-94 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : As police authority for the metropolis, I have approved estimates which provide for net revenue expenditure of £1, 597,684 million in 1993-94. There will be a cash limit on current expenditure of £1,555,397 million. This is an increase of 5.2 per cent. on the budget estimate for 1992-93. Capital expenditure is subject to separate control.
I have also approved the issue of a precept of £128.15 per property in band D of the council tax valuation bands for Metropolitan police purposes.
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the applicability of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 has had on the time taken for the market testing of Strangeways prison.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The original deadline for receiving bids for the operating contract of Her Majesty's prison Manchester was 18 January 1993. This has been extended while we consider the implications of applying the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. No new deadline has yet been set.
Winston Silcott
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what examination he has given to the new evidence in the case of Winston Silcott presented to him on 16 June 1992 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : Following representations made to my right hon. and learned Friend on 16 June 1992 about Mr.
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Silcott's conviction for the murder of Mr. Smith, the Metropolitan police were asked to make inquiries. These have since been extended to take account of further representations received on 27 October 1992 and 25 January 1993. My right hon. and learned Friend will give further consideration to the case once the police inquiries have been completed.Squatting
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when legislative proposals will be brought forward on the squatting of residential property.
Mr. Jack : I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 3 February, at column 203.
MFV Pescado
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions the salvage of the MFV Pescado has been attempted ; and what is now the earliest expected date for raising the MFV Pescado.
Mr. Charles Wardle : There has been no attempt to raise the Pescado for the past two months because of bad weather conditions. A further attempt will be made as soon as the tide and weather conditions are synchronised in such a way that a lift would be possible.
Immigration
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were detained by immigration officers on seeking to exit from the United Kingdom for a period in excess of one hour over the past 12 months ; and what reasons were given for the detention.
Mr. Charles Wardle : This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Hanson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of immigrants to, and emigrants from, the United Kingdom for each year for the period 1980 to 1992.
Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answer 15 February 1993] : For a description of the available information on migration to and from the United Kingdom, and data for 1991, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my
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right hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) on 15 February at columns 19-20 . Data for 1980-90 are given in table 2.1 of the 1989 and 1990 issues of the OPCS publication "International Migration", copies of which are in the Library. Data for 1992 are not yet available.Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the responsibilities and activities of the group of co-ordinators on the free movement of persons referred to in the report of the immigration and nationality department 1991-92.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The co-ordinators' group is a group of senior officials set up by the European Council in 1988 to co-ordinate member states' action relating to the free movement of persons. It also has direct oversight of the work of the horizontal group on data processing, which is looking at the creation of a European information system for the exchange of information of inadmissible aliens, missing persons, stolen vehicles and other goods. The group also has a remit from the Maastricht European Council to plan for the implementation of title VI of the treaty on European union. It reports direct to the European Council.
Drugs, Northumbria
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to prevent the flow of drugs into Northumbria.
Mr. Jack : Drug dealers and traffickers are the subject of investigations by the Northumbria police drug squad and by No. 2 regional crime squad, in liaison with Her Majesty's Customs, and supported by the drugs division of the National Criminal Intelligence Service. Additionally, divisional officers are trained to recognise and deal with drug problems at street level. The outcome in 1992 was a significant increase over 1991 in the number of arrests for drug-related offences in the Blyth area. Northumbria police also give regular briefings on drugs to teachers to assist in informing children of the dangers of drug misuse.
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convictions in the Northumbrian police area involving under 18-year-olds and in total were for drug-related offences in each year since 1982.
Mr. Jack : The information is given in the table.
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Number and percentage of persons convicted of indictable drug offences and all
indictable offences in the Northumbrian police force area by age
1982 to 1991
Aged 10 and under All ages
18
Year Indictable drug Total indiIndictable drug Total indictable
offences offences (offences offences (=100 per
cent.) cent.)
|Number |per cent.|Number |Number |per cent.|Number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982 |3 |0.1 |4,098 |121 |1.0 |12,037
1983 |- |- |3,698 |82 |0.7 |11,830
1984 |2 |0.1 |3,572 |111 |1.0 |11,599
1985 |5 |0.2 |3,282 |118 |1.1 |10,621
1986 |1 |0.0 |2,528 |90 |1.0 |8,985
1987 |2 |0.1 |2,449 |115 |1.3 |9,076
1988 |3 |0.1 |2,253 |86 |1.0 |8,880
1989 |3 |0.2 |1,702 |113 |1.4 |7,815
1990 |10 |0.6 |1,642 |132 |1.7 |7,760
1991<1> |12 |0.8 |1,557 |137 |1.7 |7,991
<1> Provisional.
Category A Prisoners
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates in prisons in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland who were held as category A prisoners on 1 January 1992 were removed from this category during 1992.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : During 1992, 56 category A inmates in England and Wales were downgraded to category B following review by the category A committee.
The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland respectively.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women who were held in prisons in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland were category A prisoners during 1992.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : On 31 December 1992, there were 554 male and four female category A prisoners in prison custody in England and Wales. The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland respectively.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often the status of an inmate being held as a category A prisoner in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland is reviewed.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : In England and Wales the security category of category A prisoners is liable to review at any time in the light of security or other information. Usually a category A prisoner is held in the category on a provisional basis until conviction and sentence, when the case is put to the category A committee for formal review. Cases are reviewed at least annually thereafter.
The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland respectively.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the longest period of time an inmate at present being held in prison in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland has been in category A status as at 1 February.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Twenty-six years in England and Wales. The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland respectively.
Bosnian Refugees
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are being applied in selecting areas for resettlement of Bosnian refugees once they leave reception centres.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The areas selected will be those where support can be made available from refugee and other voluntary organisations, and where there is suitable accommodation.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he expects to spend in the next six,
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12 and 18 months on resettlement programmes associated with Bosnian refugees ; and how much local authorities will be expected to pay.Mr. Charles Wardle : Firm forecasts are not yet possible and depend on how quickly the international organisations are able to arrange the arrival of further groups from Bosnian detention camps and the tracing of their dependants. The proposed settlement of the Bosnians in various parts of the country seeks to avoid imposing undue burdens on individual local authorities.
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the destinations and the arrangements for catering for the Bosnian and other former Yugoslav refugees admitted to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The areas provisionally identified for the resettlement of both former detainees and their dependants accepted by the Government at the request of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are listed in the table. The Government are providing funds to the Refugee Council and the British Red Cross to find suitable housing and to provide support to the Bosnian families in conjunction with refugee and other voluntary organisations in the areas concerned.
Provisional resettlement areas
The West Midlands
The East Midlands/East Anglia
The North
The North-East
Central Scotland
London
Immigration Rules
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the immigration rules which prescribe that a person wishing to set up a business in the United Kingdom must leave the United Kingdom to make the application as part of the exercise in looking at regulations which unnecessarily inhibit business.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to set aside the entry clearance requirement for non-EC nationals wishing to establish themselves in business or self-employment in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to modify the immigration rules so that under the European Community's association agreements with Czechoslovakia, Hungry and Poland self-employed persons from those countries who own and direct their own businesses will be free to establish themselves in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My right hon. and learned Friend is considering what changes will need to be made to the immigration rules in order to comply with the provisions in the EC association agreements with Hungary and Poland on the establishment of their nationals in this country once the agreements come into force.
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