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Mr. Curry : Days-at-sea conditions will be attached to the licences of all British registered fishing vessels of over 10 m in length, regardless of ownership.
Sea Fish Conservation Bill
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were his estimates of the cost of enforcing and administering the Sea Fish Conservation Bill before the Bill was introduced ; and what they are now.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 2 February, column 133.
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Set-aside Land
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what area of agricultural land in Nottinghamshire is set aside under the common agricultural policy ; and what is its annual value.
Mr. Curry : A total of 777 hectares of land are currently set aside in Nottinghamshire under the five-year set-aside scheme at an annual cost of around £146,000. Information on the land set aside under the new arable area payments scheme will not be available until growers have to declare the area later this year.
Drainage Authorities
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how set-aside land is treated in the investment appraisal carried out by a drainage authority when seeking central Government grant aid ;
(2) which crops and livestock products are excluded from consideration as a cost or benefit in the investment appraisal carried out by a drainage authority when seeking central Government grant aid on the grounds that there are no net national costs or benefits due to supply control mechanisms.
Mr. Curry : The Ministry plans to publish next month revised and updated project appraisal guidelines on the investment appraisal of flood defence and coast protection capital works. The guidelines will contain specific instructions to drainage authorities covering these issues. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what guidance is given to drainage authorities on the maintenance of the original protection or drainage standard beyond the design life of an earlier scheme ;
(2) what guidance is given to drainage authorities on the maintenance of previously grant-aided works where within the design life of the scheme (a) land use changes have occurred that mean that greater economic benefits could be gained by no longer maintaining that scheme and (b) damage to a site of acknowledged environmental interest is occurring through continuing to maintain that scheme.
Mr. Curry : Maintenance work is essential to the sound management of flood defences and is the responsibility of local flood defence and land drainage authorities. The Ministry does not issue separate guidance on the economic appraisal of maintenance, as opposed to capital, work, but authorities are expected to achieve value for money by keeping their maintenance programmes under review throughout the design life of defences and beyond if they remain sustainable. The Ministry intends to produce guidance on post-project evaluation of defences for authorities later this year.
The Ministry's publication "Conservation Guidelines for Drainage Authorities" advises that authorities should consult the statutory conservation bodies annually and in advance on their maintenance programmes for the following year. A separate Ministry guide, "Environmental Procedures for Inland Flood Defence Works", published last December jointly with English Nature and the National Rivers Authority, advises that the impact of defences on the environment should be
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audited and that mitigating action may be required if the environmental or engineering objectives have not been achieved.Set-aside Land
Mr. Cox : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of rotational set- aside.
Mr. Curry : The Ministry has an ongoing programme of monitoring and research on the environmental effects of set-aside, including changes in botanical composition and impact on wildlife habitats, weeds, diseases, pests and nitrate leaching. We were able to draw on this and on advice from environmental organisations in establishing the rules for management of rotational set-aside under the new EC arable scheme last year. It is as yet too early to assess the impact of the rotational set-aside arrangements, which were introduced only last autumn, but we will be carrying out a full evaluation of both these and the non-rotational set-aside arrangements which are due to be introduced from this autumn.
SCOTLAND
Hospitals
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss (a) bed closures, (b) cancelled operating lists and (c) hospitals running out of money before the end of the financial year.
Mr. Stewart : Although my right hon. Friend meets representatives from the British Medical Association from time to time, he has no immediate plans for a further meeting at present.
Heritage Sites
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional resources he will make available to Scottish Heritage to assist in the emergency preservation of architectural sites on the coasts of the Western Isles, Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles following the storms in January.
Sir Hector Monro : Although these storms did considerable damage, they were but one episode in a continuing problem which Historic Scotland is already addressing by monitoring, survey and excavation. I am satisfied that Historic Scotland has the resources it needs to continue this work.
Legal Aid
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on his proposed changes to eligibility for civil legal aid and advice and assistance.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has carefully considered the various representations he has received on the proposals to change the eligibility criteria for legal aid in Scotland as set out in my reply of 16 November 1992 to my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Robertson), Official Report, Vol. 214, col. 64.
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Given the distinctive features of the Scottish legal system and in particular the interface between advice and assistance and full civil and criminal legal aid, my right hon. Friend has decided to retain a contributory band of advice and assistance. Those on income support or family credit or with a weekly disposable income of less than £61 will be eligible for free advice and assistance. Those whose weekly disosable income falls between £61 and £147 will receive advice and assistance subject to the payment of a contribution on a sliding scale set by reference to the level of the applicant's disposable income. The retention of contributory advice and assistance will ensure that those on moderate incomes above income support level will continue to benefit from advice and assistance.We intend to proceed with the changes to eligibility for civil legal aid as announced. The current eligibility criteria for criminal legal aid will remain unchanged.
These changes will ensure the achievement of our objective that reasonable access to legal aid continues to be provided for the most needy. Planned expenditure on legal aid is expected to rise by 40 per cent. over the next three years and more people than ever before are expected to be granted legal aid.
My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State has today written to all Scottish Members of Parliament explaining the revised proposals in more detail.
Greenock Prison
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if there is to be a fatal accident inquiry concerning the recent death of a prisoner in Her Majesty's prison, Greenock ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 February 1993] : A fatal accident inquiry will be held into the death on 13 January 1993 of a prisoner in HM prison, Greenock although no date has yet been fixed. It would be improper to comment on the circumstances of the death until after the conclusion of the fatal accident inquiry.
Wood Products
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been for each year since 1979 (a) the cost of importing wood products and (b) the proportion of the total import costs represented by this figure.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 9 February 1993] : I have been asked to reply.
The information is given in the following table.
|(a) Cost of |(b) Proportion of
|importing wood |total visible
|products<1> |imports
|£ million |per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |1,411 |3.0
1980 |1,282 |2.6
1981 |1,343 |2.7
1982 |1,435 |2.5
1983 |1,922 |2.9
1984 |2,119 |2.7
1985 |2,050 |2.4
1986 |2,306 |2.7
1987 |2,665 |2.8
1988 |3,004 |2.8
1989 |3,141 |2.6
1990 |3,109 |2.5
1991 |2,562 |2.2
<1>Wood products are defined as the principal products of class 46 less
group 466 of the Standard Industrial Classification.
Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the domestic consumption of wood products each year since 1979.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 9 February 1993] : I have been asked to reply.
The available information is given in the following table. Comparable data for the years 1979 to 1981 are not available.
Domestic consumption of wood
products
|£ billion
------------------------------
1982 |5.4
1983 |6.5
1984 |7.2
1985 |7.5
1986 |8.2
1987 |9.5
1988 |11.1
1989 |11.4
1990 |11.1
1991 |10.3
Note: Wood products are
defined as the principal
products of class 46 less
group 466 of the Standard
Industrial Classification.
Source: Business Monitors,
PAS series: Central
Statistical Office.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Falkland Islands
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands continental shelf.
Mr. Garel-Jones : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 16 February 1993, at column 119.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has provided a letter of comfort to the Falkland Islands Government in respect of the seismic survey activity in the Falkland Islands continental shelf of Geco-Prakla and Spectrum Energy and Information Technology Ltd ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 10 February 1993, at column 618.
Thailand
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government have urged the Government of Thailand to bring to justice those who are responsible for aiding or facilitating forced prostitution of women and children in that country, including both locals and foreign tourists who engage the services of child and other forced prostitutes.
Mr. Goodlad : Her Majesty's ambassador in Bangkok recently raised our concern about the problem of forced
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prostitution in Thailand, particularly of children, with the Thai Government. We will continue to encourage Thailand to take effective measures to tackle the problem.Somalia and Kenya
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the Minister for Overseas Development to Somalia and Kenya.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : In Somalia, my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development had discussions in Mogadishu, Baidoa and Hargeisa on the future prospects for relief and rehabilitation. She met key United Nations and United States officials engaged in "Operation Restore Hope" and representatives of British non-governmental organisations.
In Kenya, Baroness Chalker discussed political and economic issues with President Moi and other Kenyan leaders. She also visited a drought-affected district in the north-east to see relief and rehabilitation work.
Angola
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the MPLA in Angola regarding the detention and alleged maltreatment of UNITA officials and supporters.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Our embassy in Luanda has regularly raised this issue with the Angolan Government, and has taken it up with President dos Santos. The treatment and future of all detainees, including those held by UNITA, is one of several questions which can only be resolved by dialogue between the two parties. We have urged both sides to meet as a matter of urgency to continue the talks begun in Addis Ababa on 27 January.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Tools (Developing World)
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much, in cash terms and as a percentage of the ODA budget, has been spent by the ODA in each of the last five years on tools for distribution to the developing world ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The supply of appropriate technology, including hand tools, forms an important part of many aid projects, both those we support directly and those managed by non-governmental organisations. Data about spending on hand tools are not collated centrally.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the total budget of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the British contribution by financial year since its formation.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The European bank for reconstruction and development was inaugurated in April 1991. The information is as follows :
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|Budget (ecu million)
---------------------------------------------------------------
1991 |106.2
1992 |111.2
1993 |139.9
Members of the bank do not contribute directly to the budget ; rather, they contribute to the bank's operating capital in direct proportion to their shareholding. The British shareholding is 8.5 per cent. worth 851.75 mecu, with a paid-in element of 30 per cent. over five years. Half is paid in cash and half in non-negotiable non-interest bearing promissory notes which are drawn down over three years. To date British capital subscription payments have been :
Capital subscription Financial year |£stg million --------------------------------------------- 1991-92 |21.6 1992-93 |31.8
As host country to the European bank for reconstruction and development, the British Government have additionally provided a grant of £40 million over three years to assist the European bank for reconstruction and development with the costs of establishing itself in London. This grant will be drawn down as follows :
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United Kingdom grant Financial year |£stg million --------------------------------------------- 1991-92 |12.5 1992-93 |15.0 1993-94 |12.5
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all of the countries eligible to borrow from the European bank for reconstruction and development, giving (a) the date on which they became eligible, (b) the total borrowed in each subsequent financial year to the latest available date and (c) any repayments made by financial year.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The table shows the value of loans and investments signed by the European bank for reconstruction and development for 60 projects in its countries of operation in the last two financial years together with the amounts disbursed.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are not full members of the EBRD as yet. Membership procedures are currently under way for the following.
Czech Republic
Slovak Republic
Croatia
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Know-how Fund
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the countries covered by the know- how fund, giving (a) the date on
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which they became eligible for assistance and (b) the total spend for each subsequent financial year to the latest available.Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The know-how fund was launched in June 1989. The date on which countries became eligible for assistance and expenditure for these in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 are as follows.
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Countries |Date eligible for |1989-90 (£000) |1990-91 (£000) |1991-92 (£000)
|assistance
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poland |June 1989 |2,000 |10,900 |10,700
Hungary |October 1989 |- |1,600 |6,300
CSFR |April 1990 |n/a |2,000 |6,600
Ex GDR |April to October 1990|n/a |500 |n/a
Bulgaria |February 1991 |n/a |- |1,200
Romania |May 1991 |n/a |n/a |1,200
Slovenia |July 1992 |n/a |n/a |n/a
Albania |July 1992 |n/a |n/a |n/a
Estonia |November 1990 |n/a |- |10
Latvia |November 1990 |n/a |- |-
Lithuania |November 1990 |n/a |- |15
Kazakhstan |November 1990 |n/a |- |10
Uzbekistan |November 1990 |n/a |- |-
Armenia |November 1990 |n/a |- |-
Azerbaijan |November 1990 |n/a |- |-
Georgia |November 1990 |n/a |- |-
Belarus |November 1990 |n/a |- |-
Ukraine |November 1990 |n/a |- |100
Russia |November 1990 |n/a |1 |26,623
Total spending on all know-how fund programmes for 1992-93 will not be available until later this year.
Narmada Dam, India
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many people have been displaced by the Narmada dam project in India to date ; and how many have been resettled ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the mechanism for payment of compensation to each displaced person in connection with the Narmada dam project, India ; and what information he has on the relative differentials in compensation to people displaced in Gujarat and in Madhya Pradesh ;
(3) how much land each person displaced by the Narmada dam project and canal network receives ; how many hectares of land have been allocated for displaced people ; and if he will list the districts to which displaced people have been and will be located.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 4 February 1993] : A total of 5, 500 families in Gujarat and Maharashtra have
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been resettled to date. Compensation mechanisms have been established, but compensation formulae differ from state to state depending on eligibility criteria. About 11,300 hectares of land have been allocated so far to those who have been displaced. My noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will write to the hon. Member in more detail about his questions ; copies of her letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.HOME DEPARTMENT
Police (Sick Leave)
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 February, Official Report, columns 126-28, if he will give the figures for days lost in each police force in England and Wales due to (a) assault-related sick leave and (b) sick leave not due to assaults in 1990 and 1991 expressed as an average per officer employed in the force at these dates.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information requested is as follows.
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Force |Average days |Average days |Average days |Average days
|sickness per |sickness per |sickness per |sickness per
|officer due to |officer non-assault|officer due to |officer non-assault
|assault 1990 |1990 |assault 1991 |1991
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |0.46 |9.71 |0.27 |9.89
Bedfordshire |0.55 |12.39 |0.76 |11.66
Cambridgeshire |0.18 |12.24 |0.48 |10.10
Cheshire |0.59 |10.04 |0.49 |11.82
City of London |0.05 |12.55 |0.01 |10.93
Cleveland |0.49 |19.01 |0.41 |15.83
Cumbria |0.14 |11.15 |0.30 |10.25
Derbyshire |0.37 |10.67 |0.67 |13.69
Devon and Cornwall |0.30 |9.19 |0.34 |9.78
Dorset |0.32 |7.27 |0.25 |10.72
Durham |0.87 |10.77 |0.82 |11.48
Dyfed Powys |0.66 |10.37 |0.24 |11.44
Essex |0.22 |12.42 |0.16 |11.28
Gloucestershire |0.22 |9.98 |0.29 |11.18
Greater Manchester |0.53 |13.69 |0.52 |12.46
Gwent |0.33 |10.60 |0.13 |13.68
Hampshire |0.69 |9.79 |0.29 |13.58
Hertfordshire |0.39 |13.06 |0.38 |13.49
Humberside |0.45 |13.13 |0.42 |9.96
Kent |0.18 |9.67 |0.06 |6.69
Lancashire |0.43 |15.97 |0.75 |14.81
Leicestershire |0.36 |13.22 |0.37 |13.52
Lincolnshire |0.56 |13.02 |0.63 |14.36
Merseyside |0.87 |16.09 |0.93 |18.93
Norfolk |0.27 |12.42 |0.11 |10.79
North Wales |0.47 |13.24 |0.60 |16.46
North Yorkshire |0.20 |11.64 |0.30 |13.71
Northamptonshire |0.12 |12.40 |0.06 |13.21
Northumbria |1.22 |9.07 |1.15 |8.75
Nottinghamshire |0.56 |11.54 |0.46 |11.54
South Wales |0.78 |13.11 |0.91 |14.92
South Yorkshire |0.43 |11.73 |0.20 |12.25
Staffordshire |0.51 |14.45 |0.50 |15.98
Suffolk |0.37 |7.44 |0.28 |7.19
Surrey |0.49 |8.83 |0.38 |11.10
Sussex |0.34 |9.76 |0.58 |13.11
Thames Valley |0.31 |6.97 |0.20 |9.60
Warwickshire |0.43 |11.81 |0.27 |13.78
West Mercia |0.24 |12.08 |0.20 |12.76
West Midlands |0.00 |7.09 |0.19 |9.37
West Yorkshire |0.46 |10.42 |0.56 |12.02
Wiltshire |0.39 |8.50 |0.33 |7.67
Metropolitan police |0.27 |12.39 |0.37 |10.91
Calculated using authorised strength figures for 31 December 1990 and 1991
Police Funding
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to change the revenue grant system for police forces in England and Wales to one based on the allocation of grant on assessment of relative need.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My right hon. and learned Friend is considering a range of issues connected with the police service, including future funding arrangements. How grant is allocated is clearly one aspect of this. He will announce his conclusions on funding in due course.
Wolds Prison
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of governor grade at the Wolds prison were previously employed at governor grade in the public prison sector.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : A contracted-out prison is run by a director, not a governor. The director and the head of custody at Wolds remand prison were formerly employed by HM prison service in governor grades.
Police, North Wales
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received relating to the establishment figure for the north Wales police ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My right hon. and learned Friend has received in the last 12 months six letters from hon. Members. My right hon. and noble Friend met a delegation last June to hear views about policing in Anglesey.
The establishment of the North Wales police was increased in April 1992 by 17 officers, bringing the establishment of the force up to 1, 369. In common with other forces, North Wales has not had an increase approved for 1993-94.
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Blakenhurst Prison
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Blakenhurst prison to open.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 21 January, at column 330.
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the newly appointed governor and deputy governor of Blakenhurst prison were earlier employed at governor grade in the public prison sector.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : A contracted-out prison is run by a director not a governor. The director and deputy director of Blakenhurst prison were formerly employed by Her Majesty's prison service.
Police Numbers
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 29 January, Official Report, column 862-63, if he will give the percentage of total employees in each police force in England and Wales in 1981 and 1991 that the figures for civilian staff represent.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information requested is set out in the table.
Civilian strength in England and
Wales as at 31 December
Civilian staff
Percentage of
total police
service employees
Force |1981 |1991
-------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |19.1 |22.8
Bedfordshire |22.8 |26.2
Cambridgeshire |21.6 |26.7
Cheshire |18.5 |21.5
Cleveland |14.9 |22.7
Cumbria |18.9 |25.4
Derbyshire |28.3 |22.2
Devon and Cornwall |23.1 |26.5
Dorset |21.0 |30.3
Durham |26.5 |27.9
Dyfed Powys |17.6 |20.9
Essex |21.6 |26.8
Gloucestershire |17.0 |23.8
Greater Manchester |17.9 |24.5
Gwent |18.2 |23.4
Hampshire |19.2 |24.6
Hertfordshire |19.5 |24.7
Humberside |20.7 |25.1
Kent |23.3 |25.1
Lancashire |21.8 |25.5
Leicestershire |19.9 |27.2
Lincolnshire |22.0 |27.6
Merseyside |18.2 |25.4
Norfolk |17.5 |23.8
Northamptonshire |20.5 |26.6
Northumbria |20.0 |25.6
North Wales |20.0 |24.8
North Yorkshire |19.8 |24.1
Nottinghamshire |20.5 |23.2
South Wales |21.6 |25.6
South Yorkshire |18.1 |23.0
Staffordshire |22.9 |25.5
Suffolk |23.2 |29.4
Surrey |18.4 |25.2
Sussex |20.2 |23.4
Thames Valley |24.0 |27.5
Warwickshire |16.8 |24.3
West Mercia |21.9 |29.4
West Midlands |18.2 |24.8
West Yorkshire |20.1 |26.3
Wiltshire |19.8 |28.1
City of London |25.0 |26.7
Metropolitan |35.6 |33.4
Total |24.1 |27.3
Chief Constables (Tendering)
188. Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances he would seek an independent inquiry into aspects of tendering procedures undertaken by chief constables.
Mr. Charles Wardle : In exceptional circumstances my right hon. and learned Friend may choose to exercise his residual power under section 32 of the Police Act 1964 to cause a local inquiry to be held. Anyone who believes that a police authority or a chief constable has acted improperly or unlawfully may bring legal action against them in the same way as they would against any other body.
Data Protection
189. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which EC countries have enacted legislation based on the requirements of the Council of Europe convention on data protection, and have also applied the convention to manual files or have included requirements for obtaining the prior consent of data subjects to the use of their personal information.
Mr. Charles Wardle : All EC countries with the exception of Greece have enacted legislation which meets the requirements of the Council of Europe convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data. I understand that in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal, the legislation applies to manual files, as well as to computer files, either as a general rule or in some specific circumstances. I also understand that in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain the data subject's consent is required in relation to the use either of all data or of sensitive data.
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DNA Profiles
190. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation which would give a DNA profile the same status as a fingerprint for the purpose of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 ; what consideration he has given to the comments on DNA profiles made by the Data Protection Registrar in his 1992 annual report ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 29 October 1992, at column 765.
British Overseas Citizens
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his Department's policy on the deportation or removal of British overseas citizens remaining in the United Kingdom as overstayers ;
(2) what instructions his Department has issued to immigration officials since 1974 specifically on the deportation or removal of British overseas citizens.
Mr. Charles Wardle : British overseas citizens are subject to immigration control and the provisions of the immigration rules in the same way as any other national. I am not aware that any instructions relating specifically to the deportation or removal of British overseas citizens have been issued to immigration officials since 1974.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notices of intention to deport have been issued since 1974 under the 1971 Act on British overseas citizens who remained in the United Kingdom as overstayers ; and how many of those British overseas citizens issued with notices of intention to deport have been deported or removed from the United Kingdom since 1974.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Between 1987-91 no notices of intention to deport were served on British overseas citizens. In 1992, five notices of intention to deport were served on British overseas citizens of which four were for overstaying ; so far one of these has made a supervised departure. This information is not readily available before 1987 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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