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Mid Essex Hospital Trust
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated by the Mid Essex hospital trust at (a) Broomfield hospital and (b) St. John's hospital in its first year as a trust ; and what were the numbers treated in those hospitals each of the two previous years.
Mr. Sackville : The figures, which relate to finished consultant episodes in the general and acute specialities, are as follows :
|Number
----------------------
1990-91 |31,661
1991-92 |32,567
1992-93 |32,538
All figures are aggregates relating to the same grouping of hospitals in the trust ; it is not possible to give separate figures for Broomfield and St. John's because data on the individual hospitals are not available centrally.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Citizenship
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the principal rights conferred on British citizens by virtue of their citizenship.
Mr. Charles Wardle : British nationality legislation does not itself confer rights directly upon British citizens ; and there is no definitive list of such rights.
Relate
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the annual grant to Relate in each year since 1979 expressed in (a) cash terms and (b) 1993 values.
Mr. Jack : The Home Office grant in aid to Relate for each year from 1980-81 is set out below in cash terms and real terms using 1993-94 as the base year.
|Cash terms|Real terms
|£ |£
--------------------------------------------
1980-81 |555,000 |1,152,887
1981-82 |704,000 |1,333,611
1982-83 |750,000 |1,326,275
1983-84 |788,000 |1,331,839
1984-85 |827,460 |1,331,010
1985-86 |864,570 |1,318,717
1986-87 |890,500 |1,315,933
1987-88 |912,870 |1,278,715
1988-89 |935,910 |1,222,010
1989-90 |958,890 |1,174,790
1990-91 |1,006,840 |1,142,092
1991-92 |1,107,500 |1,177,782
1992-93 |1,511,400 |1,552,960
1993-94 |1,530,500 |1,530,500
In real terms there has been an increase of 32.75 per cent. in the grant over the period in question.
Gambling
Sir John Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent per head of the population on gambling in each year since 1988 ; and what is his estimate for each year to 1996.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : No estimate is readily available for the financial year 1988-89, and we have no forecasts for future years. Estimated figures for net consumer expenditure on gambling--amount staked less winnings--per head per annum in the four years from 1989-90 to 1992-93 inclusive are £58, £52, £54 and £55.
Seized Assets
Mr. Mudie : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by name, location and amount the projects which have shared in the £2.2 million distributed by the seized assets fund.
Mr. Jack : The projects which received a share of the £2.2 million in the seized assets fund during 1992-93 are listed in the table.
Scottish Office
|£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vehicle tracking equipment for Scottish crime squad (for use in operations against drug traffickers) |16,000
2. Surveillance vehicle for Scottish crime squad |25,000
3. Ferguslie Park partnership Paisley: one-year drug worker |20,000
4. Wester Hailes partnership Edinburgh: development of drug misuse educational project, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh |6,000
5. Equipment for drug reduction programme, Saughton prison, Edinburgh |25,000
6. Association of Nurses Against Substance Abuse: four-day summer school |6,000
7. Castlemilk partnership Glasgow; development of training course for Castlemilk families support group |23,000
8. Whitfield partnership Dundee: outreach worker for drugs project |23,000
9. Computer equipment for a drugs project to assist in the evaluation of effectiveness of drugs services |6,000
Scottish Office
|£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vehicle tracking equipment for Scottish crime squad (for use in operations against drug traffickers) |16,000
2. Surveillance vehicle for Scottish crime squad |25,000
3. Ferguslie Park partnership Paisley: one-year drug worker |20,000
4. Wester Hailes partnership Edinburgh: development of drug misuse educational project, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh |6,000
5. Equipment for drug reduction programme, Saughton prison, Edinburgh |25,000
6. Association of Nurses Against Substance Abuse: four-day summer school |6,000
7. Castlemilk partnership Glasgow; development of training course for Castlemilk families support group |23,000
8. Whitfield partnership Dundee: outreach worker for drugs project |23,000
9. Computer equipment for a drugs project to assist in the evaluation of effectiveness of drugs services |6,000
Scottish Office
|£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vehicle tracking equipment for Scottish crime squad (for use in operations against drug traffickers) |16,000
2. Surveillance vehicle for Scottish crime squad |25,000
3. Ferguslie Park partnership Paisley: one-year drug worker |20,000
4. Wester Hailes partnership Edinburgh: development of drug misuse educational project, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh |6,000
5. Equipment for drug reduction programme, Saughton prison, Edinburgh |25,000
6. Association of Nurses Against Substance Abuse: four-day summer school |6,000
7. Castlemilk partnership Glasgow; development of training course for Castlemilk families support group |23,000
8. Whitfield partnership Dundee: outreach worker for drugs project |23,000
9. Computer equipment for a drugs project to assist in the evaluation of effectiveness of drugs services |6,000
Scottish Office
|£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vehicle tracking equipment for Scottish crime squad (for use in operations against drug traffickers) |16,000
2. Surveillance vehicle for Scottish crime squad |25,000
3. Ferguslie Park partnership Paisley: one-year drug worker |20,000
4. Wester Hailes partnership Edinburgh: development of drug misuse educational project, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh |6,000
5. Equipment for drug reduction programme, Saughton prison, Edinburgh |25,000
6. Association of Nurses Against Substance Abuse: four-day summer school |6,000
7. Castlemilk partnership Glasgow; development of training course for Castlemilk families support group |23,000
8. Whitfield partnership Dundee: outreach worker for drugs project |23,000
9. Computer equipment for a drugs project to assist in the evaluation of effectiveness of drugs services |6,000
Scottish Office
|£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vehicle tracking equipment for Scottish crime squad (for use in operations against drug traffickers) |16,000
2. Surveillance vehicle for Scottish crime squad |25,000
3. Ferguslie Park partnership Paisley: one-year drug worker |20,000
4. Wester Hailes partnership Edinburgh: development of drug misuse educational project, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh |6,000
5. Equipment for drug reduction programme, Saughton prison, Edinburgh |25,000
6. Association of Nurses Against Substance Abuse: four-day summer school |6,000
7. Castlemilk partnership Glasgow; development of training course for Castlemilk families support group |23,000
8. Whitfield partnership Dundee: outreach worker for drugs project |23,000
9. Computer equipment for a drugs project to assist in the evaluation of effectiveness of drugs services |6,000
Scottish Office
|£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vehicle tracking equipment for Scottish crime squad (for use in operations against drug traffickers) |16,000
2. Surveillance vehicle for Scottish crime squad |25,000
3. Ferguslie Park partnership Paisley: one-year drug worker |20,000
4. Wester Hailes partnership Edinburgh: development of drug misuse educational project, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh |6,000
5. Equipment for drug reduction programme, Saughton prison, Edinburgh |25,000
6. Association of Nurses Against Substance Abuse: four-day summer school |6,000
7. Castlemilk partnership Glasgow; development of training course for Castlemilk families support group |23,000
8. Whitfield partnership Dundee: outreach worker for drugs project |23,000
9. Computer equipment for a drugs project to assist in the evaluation of effectiveness of drugs services |6,000
Scottish Office
|£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vehicle tracking equipment for Scottish crime squad (for use in operations against drug traffickers) |16,000
2. Surveillance vehicle for Scottish crime squad |25,000
3. Ferguslie Park partnership Paisley: one-year drug worker |20,000
4. Wester Hailes partnership Edinburgh: development of drug misuse educational project, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh |6,000
5. Equipment for drug reduction programme, Saughton prison, Edinburgh |25,000
6. Association of Nurses Against Substance Abuse: four-day summer school |6,000
7. Castlemilk partnership Glasgow; development of training course for Castlemilk families support group |23,000
8. Whitfield partnership Dundee: outreach worker for drugs project |23,000
9. Computer equipment for a drugs project to assist in the evaluation of effectiveness of drugs services |6,000
Scottish Office
|£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vehicle tracking equipment for Scottish crime squad (for use in operations against drug traffickers) |16,000
2. Surveillance vehicle for Scottish crime squad |25,000
3. Ferguslie Park partnership Paisley: one-year drug worker |20,000
4. Wester Hailes partnership Edinburgh: development of drug misuse educational project, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh |6,000
5. Equipment for drug reduction programme, Saughton prison, Edinburgh |25,000
6. Association of Nurses Against Substance Abuse: four-day summer school |6,000
7. Castlemilk partnership Glasgow; development of training course for Castlemilk families support group |23,000
8. Whitfield partnership Dundee: outreach worker for drugs project |23,000
9. Computer equipment for a drugs project to assist in the evaluation of effectiveness of drugs services |6,000
Mr.Mudie : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the £1 million allocated to the police from the siezed assets fund was spent.
Mr. Jack : The moneys allocated in 1992-93 to the central drugs fund from the seized assets fund were used to meet some of the additional costs of international drugs investigations by the police and HM Customs and Excise ; and to make reward payments to individuals who had assisted the enforcement agencies in their investigations.
Identity Cards
Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department last evaluated the merits of introducing universal photo identity cards in the United Kingdom ; and if he will publish the results.
Mr. Jack : The introduction of a compulsory identity card was last considered in depth in 1988-89, when the Government concluded that the benefits of issuing identification cards did not outweigh the disadvantages and costs of doing so. The Government's views were given to the House by the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Mr. Patten), on 10 February 1989, Official Report, columns 1299- 309.
Although the matter is kept under review, the position remains as stated then.
Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the results of his Department's examination of the present experience of the operation in (a) Belgium, (b) Greece, (c) Germany, (d) Spain and (e) France of their national identity card schemes.
Mr. Jack : Earlier reviews have studied overseas practice in respect of identity cards in detail. These showed that possession of a national identity card was mandatory in Belgium, Greece, Germany and Spain. It was mandatory to carry an identity card in Belgium and Greece. Identity cards were voluntary in France but very widely used. This remains the position.
In all these countries the police are empowered to require citizens to identify themselves, a process which
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possession of an identity card obviously simplifies. No such general power exists in this country, where the police may only demand identification on reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed.Emergency Warning System
Mr. Dowd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation's national emergency warning system is still operational ; and on what date he intends to have a new system fully operational.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation siren-based national air raid warning system was closed towards the end of last year. Alternative arrangements which are based on radio and television broadcasts exist. Studies are being carried out to see whether any enhancement of these facilities is required.
Mr. Dowd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home department what study has been made of the efficacy of the emergency national warning system in the Netherlands ; and what plans he has to introduce a similar system in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We are aware of the Netherlands system but have no plans to introduce similar arrangements here.
Data Protection
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home department if he will make a statement in relation to progress being made towards agreement on the proposed European Commission directive on data protection ; and if he will outline the areas where there is still disagreement between member states.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question from him on 31 March, Official Report, column 220.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the United Kingdom's position to exclude manual files containing personal information is impeding harmonisation of the United Kingdom data protection legislation with that of other member states of the European Community.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The exclusion of manual files from the Data Protection Act 1984 is no impediment to harmonisation of data protection legislation across the European Community at the level of the Council of Europe convention. With regard to the draft EC data protection directive, the position of manual data is only one of a range of issues needing to be resolved before a common position can be reached. While it would not be appropriate for me to disclose the negotiating position of individual member states, a number of other countries share the United Kingdom's concern about the proposed application of the directive to manual files.
Ecstasy
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seizures of the drug Ecstasy have occurred within the year from 1989 ; and what information he has on the percentage of seized Ecstasy which is domestically manufactured within the United Kingdom.
Column 205
Mr. Jack : Information on the number of seizures of MDA (Ecstasy) is given in the table.
|Number
---------------------
1989 |769
1990 |399
1991 |1,735
None of the seized drugs are thought to have been manufactured in the United Kingdom.
Witness Support Schemes
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been undertaken by his Department into the adoption of witness support schemes in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Jack : In association with a number of children's organisations in the voluntary sector, the Home Office and other Government Departments have helped to develop a "Child Witness Pack". This was published earlier this month. The pack builds on the major legislative reforms concerning the giving of evidence by children which were introduced by the Criminal Justice Acts of 1988 and 1991. The pack is intended to help children who may have to give evidence in court and their parents or carers.
The child evidence reforms are being independently monitored over two years to assess their effectiveness. We are considering whether additional monitoring may be required specifically in relation to the "Child Witness Pack".
A copy of the "Child Witness Pack" is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
In addition, the courts charter sets out service standards for the way all victims and witnesses are to be treated before and during any trial.
Bail Support Schemes
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been allocated to each local authority in Wales for bail support schemes for young people in each of the last three years.
Mr. Jack : I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 4 February to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael), columns 297-98 . No further bail support schemes have become operational in Wales under Home Office funding arrangements. An application from West Glamorgan social services is under consideration.
w many prisoners have died while being transported under Prison Service escort for each of the last five years.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tony Blair, dated 17 May 1993 : Deaths of prisoners under prison service escort
The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you directly
Column 206
in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of prisoners who have died while being transported under Prison Service escort in each of the last five years.I am glad to say that in fact no prisoners have died since 1988 while under escort provided by the Prison Service. This excludes any cases in which prisoners who were already very seriously ill or injured (for example, due to an attempted suicide in the prison) may have died in an ambulance or other escort vehicle on the way to an outside hospital. Checking precisely how many deaths have occurred in these circumstances would require an extensive search of records and would be at disproportionate cost.
You will of course be aware of the case of Mr. Ernest Hogg who was found unconscious in a cellular van while under escort by Group Four Escort Services and who later died in hospital. We in the Prison Service deeply regret Mr. Hogg's tragic death and I have ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances. Of course a full public inquiry will also take place in due course in the form of the Coroner's inquest.
Mr. Ernest Hogg
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the journey leading up to the death of Ernest Hogg while in Group 4 custody, including details of the route taken and the time when he was first discovered in an inebriated state.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tony Blair, dated 17 May 1993 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply directly to your Parliamentary Question about the death of Ernest Hogg.
Since a police investigation is underway into the circumstances of Mr. Hogg's death, and I understand that an inquest is to be held, it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage.
Safer City Projects
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the criteria that will be used to decide the location of the 20 new safer city projects announced on 7 January.
Mr. Jack : The new safer cities project will, as before, be based on London borough, metropolitan district or district council areas. For the first six projects, the criteria for selection include : high crime rates-- normally a chosen area would be expected to have significantly higher crime rates than the average for England and Wales :
the willingness of local agencies to participate in the programme ;
the area should be an urban priority area--excluding areas which have existing safer cities projects ;
the area should be targeted for other Government action. Account will also be taken of points made by local authorities and others who have written in support of their areas becoming safer cities.
Consideration is also being given to including a candidate for Wales.
For later projects, further appraisal will be given to the selection criteria.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total sum of money available (a) in this financial year and (b) in a full
Column 207
financial year to the 20 safer city projects announced on 7 January ; and what is the highest and lowest level of aid given to any individual project.Mr. Jack [holding answer 18 May 1993] : It is not possible to give precise figures until the tendering process for the second phase of the safer cities programme referred to in the statement which I placed in the Library of the House on 11 January, Official Report, columns 601-2, is complete.
Cardiff Prison
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the non-teaching functions which will be paid for in respect of Cardiff prison in a full year under the contract awarded to Bristol university and the number of staff hours under each heading in a full year, together with the total number of non-teaching hours allowed for ;
(2) if he will list the non-teaching functions paid for in respect of Cardiff prison in each of the past five years and the number of staff hours under each heading in each year, together with the total number of non- teaching hours in each year ;
(3) if he will list the subjects taught by the prison education service at Cardiff prison in each of the past five years and the total number of teacher hours provided in each subject in each year and the total number of teaching hours provided in each year at the prison ;
(4) if he will list the subjects that will be taught at Cardiff prison under the contract awarded to Bristol university, the number of teaching hours he estimates will be provided in respect of each subject in a full year and the total number of teaching hours that will be available at the prison in a full year ;
(5) what is the total cost of the prison education system for Cardiff prison under the contract awarded to Bristol university, and the proportion that will go to direct payment for teaching hours ; (6) if he will give for each of the last five years the total cost of the prison education service at Cardiff prison, and the proportion in each year of direct teaching hours.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Alun Michael, dated May 1993 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the provision of education services at HM Prison Cardiff. Not all of the information which you have sought is held by the Prison Service in the form requested. The information that is available is set out below and in the enclosed tables. Table A provides an outline of the non-teaching duties previously required at the prison and which will initially be required of the new contractor. These are only indicative since requirements change, depending on the needs of the prison population. The Prison Service requires that these duties are undertaken but does not specify the number of hours allocated to them.
Previously Local Education Authorities were reimbursed for the actual cost of providing teachers together with an additional 5 per cent. towards the cost of administration. The new contract prices will be based on teaching time (teacher contract hours). This unit of price includes all other costs.
Column 208
Details of proportional costs are not held but it is estimated that over the past five years some 25 per cent. of the cost of providing teachers has been for non-teaching duties.An indication of the subjects required at HM Prison Cardiff in 1993-94 year is set out in Table B, together with the teaching hours for each subject. The details may be subject to change during the course of the year dependent upon the on-going requirements of the prison. Subjects provided in the last five years are shown at Table C together with average teaching hours. The cost of that provision and annual teaching hours in each year are shown in Table D. The cost for 1993-94 under the new contract will be the product of the total number of teaching hours required (estimated to be 6,776) and the teacher contract hour price agreed with the contractor. The contract price will be determined in negotiations with the successful tenderer, in the light of the outcome of the appeal against the High Court judgment of 24 March in the case of Kenny and Woodroffe v . South Manchester College.
Table A
Non-teaching duties undertaken by education staff
Library management
Conducting inmate interviews
Preparing inmate records and reports
Curriculum development
Organising external courses
Examination administration
Marketing education
Administering education competitions--Koestler awards, etc Maintaining up- to-date inmate class lists
Attending establishment management meetings
Maintaining staff attendance records and preparing payment sheets Equipment purchase
Preparing inmate earnings
Undertaking extra curriculum activities
Sites of Special Scientific Interest within Renfrew District
Site |Other districts
|containing part of
|site
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barmufflock Dam
Boylestone Quarry
Castle Semple and Barr Lochs
Clochodrick Stone
Dargavel Burn |Inverclyde
Erskine Langbank |Inverclyde
Formakin
Glen Moss |Inverclyde
Lock Libo
Shovelboard
Waulkmill Glen |Glasgow and Eastwood
Sites of Special Scientific Interest within Renfrew District
Site |Other districts
|containing part of
|site
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barmufflock Dam
Boylestone Quarry
Castle Semple and Barr Lochs
Clochodrick Stone
Dargavel Burn |Inverclyde
Erskine Langbank |Inverclyde
Formakin
Glen Moss |Inverclyde
Lock Libo
Shovelboard
Waulkmill Glen |Glasgow and Eastwood
Sites of Special Scientific Interest within Renfrew District
Site |Other districts
|containing part of
|site
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barmufflock Dam
Boylestone Quarry
Castle Semple and Barr Lochs
Clochodrick Stone
Dargavel Burn |Inverclyde
Erskine Langbank |Inverclyde
Formakin
Glen Moss |Inverclyde
Lock Libo
Shovelboard
Waulkmill Glen |Glasgow and Eastwood
Sites of Special Scientific Interest within Renfrew District
Site |Other districts
|containing part of
|site
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barmufflock Dam
Boylestone Quarry
Castle Semple and Barr Lochs
Clochodrick Stone
Dargavel Burn |Inverclyde
Erskine Langbank |Inverclyde
Formakin
Glen Moss |Inverclyde
Lock Libo
Shovelboard
Waulkmill Glen |Glasgow and Eastwood
Tenders (Employment Protection)
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if future invitations to companies to tender for Home Office businesses will make it clear whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 apply.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : No. Invitations to tender will invite companies to make their own assessment of whether the regulations apply. The nature of their bid will determine whether they apply, and this cannot be determined in advance.
Unit Fines
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the failure of the unit fines system as implemented by his Department in England and Wales.
Mr. Jack : My right hon. and learned Friend concluded that it would be right to abolish the current unit fine system on the basis of experience of its working since its implementation on 1 October 1992. He took the view that under the maximum fine levels for magistrates courts approved by Parliament in the Criminal Justice Act 1991, the mechanistic application of the rules for fixing unit fines was producing results which were anomalous and disproportionate in certain cases and that the constraints
Column 210
of a statutory scheme had unacceptably limited the discretion of magistrates to impose fines which properly reflected all the circumstances of the particular case.Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the success of the unit fines system as implemented in the four pilot schemes.
Mr. Jack : I would refer the hon. Member to Home Office research and planning unit paper 59, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, which described and analysed the working of the four pilot schemes.
Forensic Science Service
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for reviewing the future of the Home Office Forensic Science Service.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The Home Office Forensic Science Service is now in its third year as an executive agency. During this period it has become more commercial, customer-focused and cost conscious and has improved its service to the criminal justice system as a whole. We are now undertaking a review on how best to build on this progress. The review will concentrate in particular on how to ensure the continuing independence and impartiality of the organisation and the high standards, scientific excellence and professionalism required of forensic science for criminal casework, while enabling it to operate in an increasingly business like way. It will also need to take account of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on criminal justice on the future development of forensic science. I hope to be able to report to the House on our conclusions before the summer recess.
Police Duties (Private Contractors)
Mr. Bendall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to permit police duties to be carried out by private contractors ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answer 17 May 1993] : There is no intention to contract out or place in private hands fundamental police duties which require the powers of a constable.
Hong Kong
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received a letter from Mr. Geoffrey F. Dowsett concerning the governorship of Hong Kong ; what reply he has sent ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answer 10 May 1993] : No trace can be found in either Home Office or Foreign and Commonwealth Office records of the letter referred to by the hon. Member. However, questions relating to the governorship of Hong Kong would normally be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Column 211
Voluntary Organisations
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the withdrawal of central funding on those voluntary organisations from which his Department has withdrawn such funding.
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