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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 3 May 1995
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Bernard Manning
Mr. Soley: To ask the Attorney-General whether he will consider instituting proceedings under section 18 of the Public Order Act 1986 against (a) Bernard Manning and (b) the organisers of the Haydock Park police social event on Friday 10 March. [21314]
The Attorney-General: The question of prosecution does not arise unless there has first been a criminal investigation. It is the function of the police to investigate alleged criminal offences and the hon. Member should place any evidence which he considers discloses an offence in the hands of the relevant chief officer of police.
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Attorney-General if he will obtain from Granada Television a transcript of the recent address by the comedian Bernard Manning at a social event organised by members of the Greater Manchester police with a view to considering a prosecution for incitement to racial hatred; and if he will make a statement. [21304]
The Attorney-General: No. The investigation of any criminal offence which is alleged to have been committed is the function of the police.
If the hon. Member has reason to believe that an offence has been committed he should report the matter to the police.
Barings Bank
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Attorney-General what investigation are being undertaken in regard to those executives at Barings responsible for the criminal offence mentioned by the Governor of the Bank of England in his oral evidence to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee hearing of 5 April. [21133]
The Attorney-General: I understand that the hon. Member has in mind a possible contravention of section 38(9) of the Banking Act 1987. Such offences are normally investigated and prosecuted by the Bank of England.
The wider inquiries by the director of the Serious Fraud Office into the affairs of Barings bank continue. If information comes to light during those inquiries relevant to possible offences contrary to section 38 then that information will be made available to the Bank of England.
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Director of Public Prosecutions to report on his investigation into Mr. Nick Leeson. [21134]
The Attorney-General: It is the director of the Serious Fraud Office rather than the Director of Public Prosecutions who is investigating matters relating to
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Barings bank. It is too soon to say when the inquiry will be complete.LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department of those people who sought asylum in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available, were refused asylum, and were subsequently refused an appeal, how many were given leave to appeal to the Immigration appeal tribunal; and, of these (a) how many were allowed by the Immigration appeal tribunal and (b) how many were remitted for a further hearing before a special adjudicator. [21283]
Mr. John M. Taylor: In 1994, 355 asylum appellants were granted leave to appeal to the immigration appeal tribunal. Of these, (a) eight appeals were allowed by the immigration appeal tribunal and (b) 192 were remitted for a fresh hearing before a special adjudicator.
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department of those people who sought asylum in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available and were refused asylum, how many (a) gave notice of appeal, (b) were certified by the Secretary of State as being manifestly unfounded and (c) had their appeals determined; and, of these, how many applications which were certified by the Secretary of State as being without foundation were allowed by a special adjudicator. [21310]
Mr. John M. Taylor: (a) In 1994, the immigration appellate authorities received 6,045 asylum appeals; (b) of these, 872 were certified by the Secretary of State to be claims without foundation under the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993; (c) approximately 2,400 cases were determined in 1994. Figures are not available as to how many "without foundation" appeals were successful during that year but will be available for cases dealt with thereafter.
Immigration
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in the last year for which figures are available, of all immigration--non-asylum--appeals which were refused, how many were given leave to appeal to the immigration appeal tribunal; and of these (a) how many were allowed by the immigration appeal tribunal and (b) how many were remitted for a further hearing before an adjudicator. [21281]
Mr. John M. Taylor: In 1994, 977 applications for leave to appeal were granted; of these 253 appeals were allowed and 418 were remitted for a fresh hearing before an adjudicator.
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many substantive immigration appeals were (a) heard and (b) allowed in each of the hearing centres in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available in each of the following categories: (i) spouses, (ii) fiance (s), (iii) children, (iv) dependant relatives other than children and (v) long-term students. [21282]
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Mr. John M. Taylor: (a) The number of substantive appeals heard in each of the hearing centres in 1994 is set out in the following table. The immigration appellate authorities do not hold figures for the categories referred to.
|Appeals |Appeals
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanet House, London |5,700 |3,283
Hatton Cross, Middlesex, Cardiff and Belfast |4,428 |2,058
Birmingham |2,360 |1,440
Manchester |1,782 |619
Leeds |1,357 |513
Glasgow |391 |89
(b) In 1994, 3,657 appeals were allowed. The number of appeals allowed was as follows for each of the following categories:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) Husbands |568
(ii) Wives/Children/Other Dependant Relatives |479
(iii) Fiances |86
(iv) Fiancees |31
(v) Long-term students |Figures not available
Figures are not available to provide a breakdown of appeals by individual hearing centre.
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in the last year for which figures are available, how many listed immigration appeals were adjourned (a) once and (b) more than once; how many adjournments were granted at the request of the applicant; and how many on the notice of the court. [21280]
Mr. John M. Taylor: The immigration appellate authorities do not maintain a separate record of those cases which have been adjourned and the information sought could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, by going through the individual records for all cases heard during the year.
Court Delays, London
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average delay in waiting for court cases in London (a) in Crown courts and (b) in magistrates courts calculated from the charging by police of an alleged offender. [21896]
Mr. John M. Taylor: In the magistrates courts the average time taken in London in 1994, for indictable-triable either-way offences from charge or summons to first listing was 25 days and the average time taken from first listing to completion was 54 days.
In relation to the Crown courts, the question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.
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Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 1 May 1995:The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about the waiting time for criminal court cases in London.
I should explain that I cannot provide information on Magistrates' Courts, which are not part of the Court Service; I understand that the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department will respond separately with the information you requested.
So far as the Crown Court is concerned, waiting times are measured from the date the defendant is first committed from the Magistrates Court to the date the defendant enters a guilty plea to all charges or the jury is sworn in at the trial. For the 3 months ending 31 March 1995, the average waiting time in the London Crown Courts was 15.37 weeks.
Statute of Westminster
Mr. Mackinley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to consult other countries under section 2 of the Statute of Westminster 1931 before bringing forward proposals to amend the Regency Act 1937. [22004]
Mr. John M. Taylor: It is the Government's policy to consult as appropriate before introducing legislation.
Legislative Repeal Bills
Mr. Mackinley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the criteria by which the Law Commission and the Joint Committee on Consolidation, &c. Bills consider items for inclusion in Statute Law (Repeals) Bills. [22005]
Mr. John M. Taylor: The criteria are set out in section 3(1) of the Law Commissions Act 1965 and in the standing orders of both Houses of Parliament.
Mr. Mackinley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will referfor consideration to the Law Commission His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936 for possiblerepeal. [22096]
Mr. John M. Taylor: That is not my intention.
ENVIRONMENT
Air Pollution
Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect slow moving heavy duty vehicles have on air pollution. [21671]
Mr. Atkins: The table illustrates that slow moving traffic emits more carbon monoxide--CO--and non methane volatile organic compound--NMVOC- -than faster moving traffic. However, the latter emit more oxides of nitrogen--NOx.
Emission factors for road transport (g/km)
Vehicle type |Small HGV (<16|Large HGV (>16
|litres) |litres)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Urban (Average 15-20 mph)
CO |6.00 |7.30
NOx |12.60 |16.95
NMVOC |6.412 |6.78
Rural Dual (Average 40-50 mph)
CO |2.90 |3.70
NOx |16.05 |20.04
NMVOC |3.21 |3.21
Motorway (Average 60 mph)
CO |2.90 |3.10
NOx |16.05 |20.04
NMVOC |3.21 |3.21
Source:
UK emissions of air pollutants-Gillham et al, Warren Spring Laboratory
Report Number: LR 961.
Wildlife Conservation
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many warning letters his Department has issued where offences in apparent contravention of wildlife law have been disclosed in the last five years. [21830]
Sir Paul Beresford: It would not be in the interests of bird conservation to publish the detailed information sought by the hon. Member about potential wildlife offences dealt with by my Department. Such information could be of use to those evading or intending to evade the controls. I will write to the hon. Member.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Channon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to announce his proposals for local government tax before the end of July; and if he will make a statement. [21812]
Mr. Curry: As usual, proposals for the 1996 97 local government finance settlement will be announced soon after the Chancellor has made his Budget statement. Levels of council tax will depend upon Budget decisions taken by local authorities.
River Inspections
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often the National Rivers Authority has taken action to enforce the provisions of abstraction licences granted under the Water Acts of 1963 and 1989; and if he will make a statement. [21987]
Mr. Atkins: The information conveniently available shows the following action:
|Enforcement |Formal cautions or
Year |inspections |prosecutions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993-94 |18,470 |19
1994-95 |19,925 |25
Inspections may also result in advice or informal warning.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often the National Rivers Authority reviews current abstraction licences granted under the Water Acts of 1963 and 1989; and if he will make a statement. [21988]
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Mr. Atkins: The information requested is shown on page 102 of the National Rivers Authority's annual report and accounts for 1993 94. A total of 18,470 abstraction licences out of a total 48,189 were inspected in 1993 94. A table showing actual and forecast inspections from 1989 90 to 1997 98 is also given on page 43 in the National Rivers Authority's corporate plan for 1994 95.
CITES
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made concerning enforcement issues following the ninth conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [21829]
Sir Paul Beresford: For actions taken by the United Kingdom concerning CITES enforcement issues, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 March 1995, Official Report , column 736 .
Protected Birds
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) pursuant to his answer of 22 March, Official Report , columns 226-27 , what means are employed for checking for previous convictions from applicants; [21877]
(2) how many potential offences his Department identified and pursued as a result of monitoring national trade journals prior to November 1994, relating to the sale of birds listed in appendix I of CITES and annexe CI of EC regulation 3626 82; [21870]
(3) what factors led to nine of the 26 potential sales offences being passed to the police; [21871]
(4) how many specimens of Livingstone's Turaco were advertised for sale during the period that his Department has been monitoring the trade journals; [21872]
(5) how many times information has been followed up by the Department's wildlife inspectorate, when doubt concerning an application has been raised; [21875]
(6) how many times premises have been inspected to ensure that any conditions attached to sales exemptions have been met; [21876] (7) when the first police officer was designated as an authorised person under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulation 1985. [21883]
Sir Paul Beresford [holding answer 2 March 1995]: It would not be in the interests of bird conservation to publish the detailed information sought by the hon. Member about potential wildlife offences dealt with by my Department. Such information could be of use to those evading or intending to evade the controls. I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 22 March, Official Report , column 226 , when his Department intends to register the bird species listed in CITES appendix I and annexe CI of EC regulation 3626/82, that are not currently required to be registered and ringed if kept in captivity. [21873]
Sir Paul Beresford [holding answer 2 May 1995]: Following our review of the secondary controls on
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wildlife, we have invited our scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, to advise on the criteria for listing the species which must be ringed and registered with the Department, by the middle of next year.The agreed criteria will be used to carry out the first review of schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The results should be submitted to my Department by December 1997. We shall consider, in the light of this, whether any additions or deletions to the species listed in schedule 4 are necessary.
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 22 March, Official Report , column 226 , what proposals he has to ensure that individual birds of significant conservation concern advertised for sale can be uniquely identified. [21874]
Sir Paul Beresford: [holding answer 2 May 1995] : We shall continue to ensure that sales exemptions are issued only when we are satisfied that there are no significant risks to the conservation of the species concerned. The enforcement working group, which I announced on 20 December in my reply to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson), Official Report , columns 1115-16 , will be looking at the current arrangements for the marking of specimens, and considering whether any changes are required.
British Gas (Sites Redevelopment)
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites owned by British Gas where (a) discussions regarding grant aid have occurred, (b) grant aid has been formally applied for and (c) grant aid has been approved in order to redevelop the sites giving, in each case, the amount of aid involved and including grant aid from his Department, urban development corporations and any other relevant publicly funded bodies. [20410]
Sir Paul Beresford: The Department and the regeneration bodies it supports have allocated grant for the redevelopment of sites owned by British Gas in the following instances:
Project |Programme |Amount of grant
|£ million
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pleck Gasworks |Walsall City Challenge|1.385
Pride Park (with |Derby Pride Ltd |12.8 (paid to Derby
ABBT and British |(City Challenge) |City Council)
Rail Property Board)
Windsor Street |Birmingham |0.2
Reclamation |Heartlands
|Development
|Corporation
Grand Islan |Central Manchester |4.4
|Development
|Corporation
Leeds City Office |Leeds Developmen |0.5
Park |Corporation
In addition, there have been discussions on possible projects at Foleshill gasworks, Coventry; West Dyke road, Redcar; Redditch gasworks; Greenwich peninsula; Ladbroke grove, north Kensington; and Crawford street, Birmingham.
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TRANSPORT
Road Casualties
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new proposals he has further to reduce road casualties. [22222]
Mr. Norris: We are continuing to implement the measures which I described to the hon. Member in my reply of 19 December 1994, Official Report column 873 .
Woolwich Rail Tunnel
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the proposed Woolwich rail tunnel; if he will hold a public consultation; and when he expects to make a decision. [22371]
Mr. Norris: I am aware of the hon. Member's support for the Woolwich rail tunnel project and have discussed it in the past both with him and local representatives.
Railtrack, British Rail, London Transport and the London Docklands development corporation are currently working to define and develop the outline scheme. I understand that they intend to consult publicly on this work at an appropriate stage, and I look forward to seeing the results. The scheme is also likely to be included in the Government office for London's forthcoming consultation on river crossings in east London.
Woolwich Metro
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the importance of the proposed Woolwich metro to the east Thames gateway strategy. [22372]
Mr. Norris: The proposals are at an early stage. But, as indicated in the draft Thames gateway planning framework, the metro concept could assist regeneration by extending potential labour markets.
East London River Crossing
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to issue a consultation document on the proposed east London river crossing; what will be the period for consultation; and when he expects to make a decision. [22373]
Mr. Norris: I hope to publish shortly a consultation document on a range of options for river crossings on the Thames east of Tower bridge. I envisage a consultation period of three months. The timing of any subsequent decisions will depend on the outcome of the consultation.
M25
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the full costs of the Rendel, Palmer and Tritton study into the M25, and further studies arising from that. [21580]
Mr. Watts: The cost of the Rendel, Palmer and Tritton study, published in 1989, was £321,000, excluding VAT. Following publication in 1990 of the M25 action plan, the Department of Transport's response to public comments on the RPT report, five studies were commissioned. These investigated possible improvements to junctions and
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options for additional capacity on the M25. The total cost of these studies was £4.682 million, excluding VAT.As a result of the studies, the agency has carried forward the design for widening nearly 88 miles or 80 per cent. of the M25 to dual four lanes. Construction works have been completed or are in progress on 13 miles of the M25, with works on a further 12 miles due to start in June of this year. Comments from the public on proposals for widening are currently being considered on another 34 miles of the M25.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what basis he is assessing projected traffic growth on the M25 beyond 2010; [21582]
(2) what proposals he has to reassess national traffic forecasts in respect of the M25 in the light of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment; and if he will make a statement. [21576]
Mr. Watts: The assessment of traffic growth up to and beyond 2010 will be based on the Department of Transport's national road traffic forecasts, taking into account local traffic forecasts which reflect local growth in population and car ownership.
The proposals will be assessed to see if the changes in traffic looked at by the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment in its recently published report are likely to be significant. An assessment summarising the technical and economic analysis of the scheme, including traffic projections, will be published at the same time as the environmental statement.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out his timetable for new traffic management arrangements between junctions 12 and 16 on the M25. [21581]
Mr. Watts: A traffic management pilot project with the use of variable speed limits and camera enforcement will start on the motorway shortly. It uses automatic sensors to monitor traffic flows and activates signals to reduce speeds at congested times. This builds on to a longer term programme for introducing automatic incident detection systems on the motorway network.
Equal Opportunities
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21466]
Mr. Norris: The Department of Transport has been actively pursuing the civil service programmes for action on race, women and disability, and was one of the first Departments to produce a joint action plan covering all three areas.
Particular emphasis has been given to developing training and complaints procedures and to making it easier for disabled people and for women with family commitments to work in the Department.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he hopes to achieve in his Department over the next three months to push forward the declaration signed in October 1994 at the Vienna conference in preparation for the fourth UN conference on women; and
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if he will agree to incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21468]Mr. Norris: The Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the fourth UN world conference on women. DOT has taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so. In accordance with the terms of the Command Paper, "The Civil Service Taking Forward Continuity and Change", the Department will publish information on equal opportunities in annual reports from 1995 96.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21465]
Mr. Norris: I have overall responsibility for equal opportunities issues within the Department of Transport.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21467]
Mr. Norris: Department of Transport policy, in line with guidelines issued in 1992 by the ministerial group on women's issues, is that policy proposals should ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable sex or race discrimination does not occur and that similar principles apply to people with disabilities, older people or ex-offenders. This scrutiny is part of a continuous and routine process, as part of policy advice to Ministers.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Cable Television
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to monitor the behaviour of cable television operators by central Government. [20718]
Mr. Ian Taylor: My officials monitor the behaviour of cable operators through a continuous assessment of statistical evidence, through discussions with operators, and by handling individual complaints. Broadcast entertainment is subject to normal Independent Television Commission licensing and content requirements.
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