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Mr. Maclean : Information on discharges of radioactivity from Sellafield can be found in BNFL's "Annual Reports on Radioactive Discharges and Monitoring of the Environment", copies of which are in the Library of the House.
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The storage of radioactive waste on site is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.EC Waters Directives
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in implementing (a) the EC bathing waters directive, (b) the EC urban waste waters directive and (c) the EC shellfish waters directive ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : With respect to the bathing waters directive, I refer the honourable Member to the answer I gave the honourable Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 18 November 1992, Official Report, c 208. I recently announced the publication of draft implementing
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regulations and an accompanying guidance note for the EC urban waste water treatment directive. Copies of these, and of another consultation paper about the methodology for identifying sensitive areas under the directive, which was issued on 26 March, have been placed in the Library of the House. Twenty-nine waters have been designated under the shellfish waters directive in the United Kingdom. The National Rivers Authority monitors these waters in accordance with the directive's requirements.Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans the Government have to contribute towards the costs of implementing (a) the EC bathing waters directive, (b) the EC urban waste waters directive and (c) the shellfish waters directive, in the South West Water services area.
Mr. Maclean : The cost of these obligations falls to the privatised water companies, using the funds available to them.
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to seek EC permission to delay implementation of (a) the EC bathing waters directive, (b) the EC urban waste waters directive and (c) the EC shellfish waters directive.
Mr. Maclean : The time allowed for application to the European Commission for permission to delay implementation of the provisions of the bathing waters directive has expired. My Department will be drawing up an implementation programme for the urban waste water treatment directive, in accordance with its requirements, by the end of this year. There is no provision in the shellfish waters directive allowing member states to seek permission to delay implementation.
Uniform Business Rate
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment the Government have made of the impact of the introduction of the uniform business rate on bankruptcy levels in the south-west.
Mr. Robin Squire : We have made no such assessment. Bankruptcy may be caused by a variety of factors.
The business rate transitional arrangements helped those businesses most seriously affected by the 1990 reforms. Many businesses in the south-west benefited from the arrangements. These have already been improved by some £1,250 million as a result of the Non-Domestic Rating Act 1992, with a proposed further £560 million of assistance in this year's Budget.
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Biodiversity
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now arrange a meeting with his American counterpart to co- ordinate implementation of the priority elements of the biodiversity convention.
Mr. Maclean : My right hon. and learned Friend discussed the biodiversity convention with Vice President Gore and the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on his visit to the United States last month.
We were very pleased to hear that the United States now intends to sign the convention and we will continue to work with them to resolve our various concerns about the interpretation of some of its provisions with a view to achieving the objective of establishing the basis for ratification of the convention by the end of this year.
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
Mr. Spellar : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations are laid down for local authorities in respect of capital for the calculation of housing/council tax benefit ; and what is the rationale underlying the level of the implied return on capital.
Mr. Burt : I have been asked to reply.
Regulations provide that no account is taken of £3,000 or less and that there is no entitlement to housing/council tax benefit where capital exceeds £16,000.
Where capital exceeds £3,000 but is not more than £16,000 an income of £1 a week is assumed for each £250 or part of £250 above £3,000. The formula assumes no particular return on capital invested. It ensures that help is targeted on those who need it most, including those with modest amounts of capital.
Housing Management
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the management agreements to which he has, since 1 January 1992, given his consent under section 27 of the Housing Act 1985, which are not agreements with tenant management organisations, in each case giving the name of the local authority involved, the name of the estate or a description of the dwellings to which the agreement relates, the main management functions delegated and the identity of the managing agent.
Sir George Young [holding answer 27 April 1993] : Since 1 January 1992 I have given my consent to 15 management agreements made with organisations other than tenant management organisations under the provisions of section 27 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by section 10 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986. The details of these agreements is as follows :
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Local authority |Dwellings |Management functions |Managing agent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LB Camden |Scattered temporary properties |Rent collection, repairs |STL Ltd
|for use of homeless
LB Camden |Scattered temporary properties |Rent collection, repairs |Paddington Churches HA
|for use of homeless
LB Camden |Scattered temporary properties |Rent collection, repairs |West Hampstead HA
|for use of homeless
LB Camden |Scattered temporary properties |Rent collection, repairs |Notting Hill HA
|for use of homeless
Nottingham |Bilborough Frail Elderly Unit |Repairs, nominations, arrears, |Anchor HA
|rent collection
Leicester |Goscote House for student |Rent collection, repairs, |Leicester University
|accommodation |nominations
Newcastle |The Pines and The Beeches, |Arrears, rent collection |Newcastle College
|Cruddas Park for student
|accommodation
LB Wandsworth |Temporary properties for use of|Repairs, enforcement of |Threshold HA
|homeless: five dwellings |tenancy conditions, granting
|non-secure tenancies
LB Wandsworth |Five dwellings |Repairs, enforcement of |Threshold HA
|tenancy conditions, granting
|non-secure tenancies
LB Wandsworth |Four dwellings |Repairs, enforcement of |Threshold HA
|tenancy conditions, granting
|non-secure tenancies
LB Wandsworth |Four dwellings |Repairs, enforcement of |Threshold HA
|tenancy conditions, granting
|non-secure tenancies
LB Wandsworth |Three dwellings |Repairs, enforcement of |Threshold HA
|tenancy conditions, granting
|non-secure tenancies
LB Wandsworth |Two dwellings |Repairs, enforcement of |Threshold HA
|tenancy conditions, granting
|non-secure tenancies
LB Wandsworth |Three dwellings |Repairs, enforcement of |Threshold HA
|tenancy conditions, granting
|non-secure tenancies
LB Wandsworth |Nine dwellings |Repairs, enforcement of |Threshold HA
|tenancy conditions, granting
|non-secure tenancies
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Yugoslavia
Mr. Elletson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other United Nations Security Council members about an appropriate response to Croat aggression against Muslim civilians in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We are concerned at reports, some confirmed by British troops in Bosnia, of atrocities committed against Muslim civilians, allegedly by Bosnian Croats. The United Nations Security Council discussed the problem of Croat-Muslim fighting in the wake of the recent outbreaks of hostilities between these parties and adopted a statement on 21 April calling on both sides to desist. The EC presidency delivered a protest to President Tudjman on 23 April, and the situation in central Bosnia was most recently discussed at the EC Foreign Ministers' meeting at Hindsgavl on 25 April.
Mr. Elletson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Croatia about the attacks by HVO forces on Muslim civilians in and around Vitez, on 21 April.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We deplore the recent violence and support the efforts to halt it, notably by British forces and the EC monitoring mission on the ground, and Lord Owen in discussion with Croat and Muslim leaders. The EC presidency on behalf of the EC and member states delivered a strongly worded de marche to President Tudjman on 23 April about the renewed fighting between Croats and Muslims in central Bosnia, calling on the President to use his influence to bring about an end to the hostilities.
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Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure British forces in Bosnia and Croatia as part of the United Nations peacekeeping forces are given copies of the Blue Book handbook on peaceful settlement of disputes between states, provided by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs last year.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : A copy of this publication has been passed to the Ministry of Defence for onward transmission to the British forces serving with the United Nations protection force in former Yugoslavia.
Nuclear Accident, Siberia
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has sought from his Russian counterpart on the recent accident at the Tomsk-7 nuclear reprocessing plant in Siberia in regard to dispersal of radioactivity to the atmosphere ; and what response he has received.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Since the incident at Tomsk-7 Her Majesty's embassy in Moscow has remained in close touch with the appropriate Russian authorities who have been providing information in a timely manner. The Russian authorities have confirmed that action is being taken to decontaminate areas affected by the incident.
Cambodia
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations concerning an increase in funding to UN operations in Cambodia to enable an effective peace settlement, the clearance of land mines and the implementation of infrastructure reforms.
Mr. Goodlad : The costs of the UN operation in Cambodia were estimated to be $1.69 billion. This should be sufficient to enable the UN transitional authority in
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Cambodia to continue to operate until its mandate expires three months after the elections due to be held from 23 to 27 May. The international community has also pledged some $880 million for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Cambodia, much of which will be provided through UN agencies working in the country.Sudan
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the principal concerns of the Government about human rights in Sudan.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have many concerns. These include reports of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary detentions and instances of torture, and the plight of displaced persons. We are also concerned at the lack of progress towards a genuinely accountable form of government acceptable to all sections of Sudan, and at interference with fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of religion and expression.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the Christian churches operating in Sudan to the British Government about the conditions under which they operate in Sudan.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have had written and oral representations from the Anglican Church and other churches active in Sudan, both Protestant and Catholic, expressing concern at official harassment of Christian communities throughout the country. We are naturally concerned. We will keep in touch with the churches about ways of maintaining pressure on the Sudanese Government.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made about the safety of the Nuba people in Sudan ; and if the Government will make special representations to the United Nations that an international team should be sent to the Nuba mountains to find out what has been happening to the Nuba people.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We are deeply concerned by the accounts which have reached us over recent months of human rights abuses in the Nuba Hills. We trust that the Government of Sudan will give unhindered access to the special rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights so that he can investigate these reports.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what pressure he is putting on the combatants in the Sudanese civil war to reach a peaceful settlement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have urged all parties to the civil war to resolve Sudan's problems through negotiation. We welcome the Nigerian Government's success in reconvening peace talks between delegations of the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when it is expected that the special rapporteur to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights will start his work on Sudan.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : The special rapporteur will start his work as soon as possible after his appointment has been confirmed by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. We shall work for this decision to be made as soon as possible. Preliminary work has already begun at the centre of human rights in Geneva.
United Nations Peacekeeping Department
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to make a one-off additional donation to the United Nations peacekeeping department.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have no plans to make an additional cash donation to the United Nations department of peacekeeping operations. We are, however, providing 4 Army majors to the secretariat to assist with military aspects of planning and conducting peacekeeping operations, at no cost to the United Nations.
Iraq
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations and the Government of Iraq concerning the treatment and well-being of the marsh Arabs of southern Iraq.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We fully support United Nations Security Council resolution 688 which condemns the repression of the Iraqi civilian population throughout Iraq and demands an immedit representative at the United Nations reminded the United Nations Security Council sanctions review meeting on 29 March that the
"repression of the civilian population continues in many parts of Iraq, notably the south, where the draining of the marshes threatens an environmental as well as a human tragedy".
We have consistently called on Iraq to allow human rights monitors into the whole of the country, especially the south, to report on the situation there in accordance with the request of the United Nations special rapporteur on Iraq but to date Iraq has failed to comply with this request.
Kashmir
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's assessment of the latest situation in Kashmir in respect of human rights.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The state of human rights in Kashmir gives grounds for concern. During his recent visit to India, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised with the Indian Prime Minister the situation in Kashmir. Mr. Narasimha Rao reiterated his commitment to respect for human rights. He confirmed that he would be introducing legislation soon to set up an independent human rights commission, which he was determined would be effective. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister encouraged him to allow independent international human rights organisations and others to visit Kashmir.
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Korea
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the United Nations against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in response to Korea's withdrawal from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty ; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Douglas Hogg : On 8 April, the President of the United Nations Security Council issued a statement on North Korea which expressed concern at the situation, reaffirmed the importance of the non- proliferation treaty and of parties adhering to it, and encouraged the International Atomic Energy Agency to continue consultations with North Korea. The Security Council remains seized of the matter and discussions continue on how to resolve the situation.
Turkey
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of evidence of aerial bombing of Kurdish areas of Turkey and of the enforced evacuation of Kurdish villages, in Turkey.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The Kurdish Workers' party's (PKK) nine-year terrorist campaign in south-east Turkey constitutes a serious threat to security in the region.
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During that period there have been 6,000 deaths. The Turkish authorities have made no secret of the aerial bombardment of suspected positions of PKK terrorists. We are aware of allegations, which the Turkish Government deny, of forced evacuation of villages in south-east Turkey. We frequently make clear to the Turkish Government the importance we attach to combating terrorism within a legal framework and with full respect for human rights.Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish authorities in relation to rights of the Kurdish ethnic minority and progress towards a political solution on the issue.
Mr. Garel-Jones : We regularly raise with the Turkish authorities the human rights situation throughout Turkey, including the south-east of the country.
We welcome the recently improved security situation in south-east Turkey and the reported indefinite extension of the Kurdish Workers' party (PKK) ceasefire. We also welcome Mr. Demirel's statement that the state of emergency in the south-east will not be extended beyond its expiry on 19 July provided the present calm situation continues, and the announcement of steps aimed at increasing both investment in that part of the country and recognition of the Kurdish cultural identity.
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HOME DEPARTMENT
Fire Brigades
Dr. Moonie : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the fire brigade pay formula agreement will be honoured in 1993-94 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) on 22 April, at column 182.
Pet Animals Act 1951
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the Pet Animals Act 1951.
Mr. Charles Wardle : There are no plans at present to amend the Pet Animals Act 1951, as amended in 1983.
Nuclear Materials
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what involvement officials of his Department will have in the sub-committee established by Interpol at its special meeting in Lyons in January to draw up common reporting and recording standards of sensitive nuclear materials apprehended by European police forces.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Home Office officials will not be involved.
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department had at the meeting of Interpol held in Lyons in January on European police co-operation in combating the illegal imports and exports of nuclear materials to European countries.
Mr. Charles Wardle : No Home Office officials attended the Interpol meeting on illegal trafficking of radioactive substances.
Crime, Greater Manchester
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men have been convicted of offences which involved the use of a knife at courts covering the Greater Manchester area for each of the last three years.
Mr. Jack : Information available centrally, which is given in the table, relates only to the number of persons found guilty of possession of knives under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 and section 139, of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, for the years 1989 to 1991. It is not possible to distinguish centrally whether knives have been used for other offences, such as wounding. Information for 1992 is not yet available.
Number of male offenders who were found guilty of
offences of possession of knives in the
Greater Manchester Police Force Area 1989-1991
Males
Offence |1989 |1990 |1991
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carrying of offensive weapons without
lawful authority or excuse<1> |289 |246 |294
Carrying article with blade or point in
public place<2> |122 |115 |110
<1> Prevention of Crime Act 1953, section 1. May include a small number
of offences involving truncheons, etc.
<2> Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 139.
Court Documentation
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in table form the name and purpose of each document or item of paperwork which has to be completed by (a) the arresting officer, (b) the custody officer and (c) any other police officer or police civilian staff in England and Wales as part of the process from arrest to court decision where the accused (i) pleads guilty at a magistrates court to taking and driving away, (ii) pleads guilty at a magistrates court to burglary and (iii) pleads not guilty and is tried at a Crown court for burglary.
Mr. Charles Wardle : It is not possible to set out a table of paperwork. The number of documents that are required will vary according to the procedures of the police force concerned and the precise circumstances of the offence and of the alleged offender.
Prison Service (Director General)
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when criteria for assessing the performance-related part of the salary of the director general of the prison service will be determined ; and if they will be published.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : From 1 April, when the agency came into being, the performance of the director general will be assessed on the basis of both qualitative and quantitative measures. They will reflect the prison service's key targets, as set out in the agency's corporate and business plans, copies of which are in the Library. The details of the arrangements for assessing the performance of the director general will be settled shortly, but they are personal to him and I have no plans to publish them. His salary, including his performance bonus, will, however, be published in October 1994 in the agency's annual accounts, a copy of which will also be placed in the Library.
Asylum Seekers, Haslar Gaol
Ms Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently on hunger strike at Haslar gaol ; and what steps are being taken to end the strike and their detention.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : There are currently no detainees in Haslar prison who are refusing food. Persons detained at Haslar under powers contained in the Immigration Act 1971 are held pending resolution of their immigration status or pending removal. Every effort is made to resolve any obstacle to these objectives as soon as possible such as an application for asylum, an extant appeal or application for judicial review, or the need to obtain an appropriate travel document.
Appeals
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of cases and defendants for each year since 1971 where the original verdict of guilt was overturned on subsequent appeal.
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Mr. Jack : Information on the number of appeals against conviction by result has been published annually in the Command Paper "Criminal Statistics England and Wales". Table 6.7 of the 1980 publication gives requested data back to 1972. Similarly table 6.6 of the 1990 volume gives requested data back to 1981. Copies of these publications are available in the Library.
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1991 data will be published in the Home Office statistical bulletin "Criminal Appeals England and Wales, 1991"-- table 1 refers--issue 13/93 on 29 April 1993. A copy of which will also be placed in the Library.1992 data will not be available until the autumn of 1993.
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¤
Table 1
Appeals against conviction<1> disposed of, by court and result
England and Wales Number of
appellants
Year The Crown Court The Court of
Appeal
|Total Number of |Result |Total Number of |Result
|appellants |appellants
Conviction Conviction
quashed<2><3> quashed<3>
Crime Statistics
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that all police forces in England and Wales have a common system of recording and classifying crime statistics.
Mr. Jack : The police forces already have such a system, governed by detailed Home Office rules and instructions on classifying offences according to statute, counting offences and completing regular statistical returns. However, many of these rules have remained unchanged since 1980 and the large number of definitional and legislative changes that have occurred since then raises the risk of inconsistencies developing. My Department is currently looking at introducing revisions with the aim of eliminating such
inconsistencies and thus improving the quality of the crime statistics. As part of this process, each force, as well as representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers, have been consulted. I expect a set of proposals to be submitted for my consideration later this year.
Prison Services
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used for not disclosing information on the ground of commercial confidentiality for parliamentary questions asked about (a) the prison escort service in the east midlands and Humberside and
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(b) each contracted-out prison ; and what plans he has to alter the criteria (i) for questions relating to these contracts and (ii) for questions relating to future contracts.Mr. Peter Lloyd : For both the court escort service and prison management contracts, the non-disclosure of information on the ground of commercial confidentiality is intended to protect the purchasing authority's position in future tendering exercises by not making known to competitors the details of a winning bid, particularly staffing and fee details in the case of a service contract. For the future, there will be full disclosure and reporting of a range of performance data on all prisons, whether directly or privately managed. There will also be disclosure of total staffing levels, occupancy and a breakdown of staffing into main categories. Other information will be provided so long as it does not affect security or the rights of individuals or is not commercially sensitive. This will be in response to specific requests if the information is available or can be obtained at reasonable cost and, if necessary, after discussion with the service provider.
Lawyers (Offences)
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of (a) barristers and (b) solicitors convicted of (a) non-motoring criminal offences and (b) offences relating to the conduct of criminal proceedings in (i) 1971, (ii) 1981 and (iii) 1991.
Mr. Jack : The information is not available in the form requested.
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Side-handled Batons
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for a sample of police forces, including the west Yorkshire police, to conduct trials in the use of side-handled batons by trained police officers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : There are no plans to conduct such trials.
Bogus Marriages
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated by the Crown prosecution service during 1992 of persons suspected of being involved in bogus marriages.
The Attorney-General : I have been asked to reply.
The Crown prosecution service does not maintain records of its cases by reference to categories or type of offence.
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