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Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the construction industry regarding the private finance initiative. [8263]
Sir Paul Beresford: Ministers meet the construction industry regularly to discuss a wide variety of topics including the private finance initiative. On 12 October the industry submitted a helpful paper to the Government on the operation of the initiative. A copy of this paper has been placed in the Library of the House. My right hon. Friend and ministerial colleagues discussed this with the industry in November. Subsequently, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury issued an action plan for the PFI which responded to a number of industry's points. A copy of this has also been placed in the Library of the House. The Government are continuing their dialogue on the PFI with representative bodies from the construction industry.
Coal Mining
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that a firm of independent consultants carry out and complete an environmental assessment on both sides of the lower Derwent valley on the effects of coal mining, before permission is granted for any initial bore exploratory tunnels in that region; and if he will make a statement. [8429]
Sir Paul Beresford: No. It is for the mineral planning authority in the first instance to decide whether they require an environmental assessment for this particular planning application. Environmental assessment is required for development which would be likely to have significant effects on the environment. My Department does not consider that the proposal for exploratory tunnels in the Derwent valley area would have such an effect.
EU Environment Council
Mr. Dunn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 18 December 1995. [8967]
Mr. Gummer: Together with my noble Friend the Earl of Lindsay, I represented the UK at the Environment Council in Brussels on 18 December.
Common positions were reached on a directive amending directive 85/337 on environmental impact assessment and on a directive amending the emission standards for light vans with effect from October this year. In both cases, earlier concerns expressed by the United Kingdom about these proposals were met by revised proposals which were acceptable.
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In responding to a Commission report explaining its proposed postponement and amendment of the regulations on leghold traps, I expressed serious disappointment at the Commission's proposals to postpone and amend the EC leghold traps regulation, and pressed for much tougher action to demonstrate the Community's commitment to bringing an end to the use of leghold traps worldwide.
The Council gave unanimous support to a statement by the United Kingdom calling on the Commission to make more rapid progress with the Community eco-labelling scheme.
Council conclusions were agreed on coastal policy, water policy, acidification, climate change and biodiversity. These will usefully help to shape more detailed discussions in the coming year.
The Council also took note of progress of the proposed directive on biocides. This, too, will continue to be discussed under the Italian presidency.
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Acess Committee for England. [3010]
Mr. Burt:
I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on Monday 18 December 1995, Official Report, columns 944-45.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a compensation scheme for loss of earnings and hardship for remand prisoners who are acquitted. [3522]
Mr. Kirkhope:
Such a case would not fall within the statutory provision for compensation for miscarriages of justice. However, in accordance with the policy set out by my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) on 29 November 1995, columns 691-92, we are prepared to pay compensation on an ex gratia basis to people who have spent a period in custody, following a conviction or charge, where we are satisfied that this has resulted from serious public default by a member of a police force or of some other public authority, or where there are other exceptional circumstances.
Mr. Michael:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded in each London borough by the Metropolitan police within each category of crime in the year to June 1995; how many incidents of theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle and of theft from a motor vehicle were recorded in each borough; how many of the burglaries recorded in each borough were in a dwelling; and how many were in another building. [7439]
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Mr. Maclean:
The information requested is contained in tables provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, copies of which are available in the Library.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those people arrested for drug offences in each of the last three years were (a) cautioned, (b) fined and (c) convicted; and of those convicted how many were given (i) community service sentences and (ii) terms of imprisonment. [7713]
Mr. Maclean:
As detailed information on arrests is not collected centrally prosecution data have been included in the table.
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cautions | 27,594 | 35,098 | 44,350 |
| Magistrates courts | |||
| Prosecutions | 28,302 | 27,081 | 34,605 |
| All courts | |||
| Convictions | 22,677 | 21,897 | 27,796 |
| of which sentenced to | |||
| Fine | 11,928 | 11,139 | 14,517 |
| Community sentence(1) | 2,614 | 3,319 | 4,376 |
| Immediate custody(2) | 3,676 | 3,599 | 4,028 |
(1) Includes probation, supervision, attendance, community service and combination orders.
(2) Includes young offender institution and unsuspended imprisonment.
Criminal Justice Act 1993
Mr. Hutton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to lay an order bringing part I of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 into operation. [7744]
Mr. Maclean: As I said in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) on 19 July 1995, Official Report, column 1440, we are considering the practicalities of bringing into force the provisions of part I of the Criminal Justice Act 1993.
Life Prisoners
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to delegating authority to release prisoners imprisoned for life for murder; and if he will make a statement. [7950]
Mr. Maclean: Section 35 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 provides that the Secretary of State may release a mandatory life sentence prisoner if recommended to do so by the parole board, and after consulting the Lord Chief Justice and, if available, the trial judge. The Home Secretary normally takes such decisions personally. The Government have no plans to change these arrangements.
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Police Stations
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to collect information centrally and on an annual basis on the number of police stations which have (a) opened, (b) closed and (c) had their opening hours curtailed. [8123]
Mr. Maclean: No. These are operational matters for chief constables, in consultation with their police authorities where appropriate.
Mr. Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to police authorities to include in their annual policing plan proposals for the closure or curtailment of opening hours of police stations. [8124]
Crime (Merseyside)
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional funding he will make available to the police authority on Merseyside to combat violent crime. [8137]
Mr. Maclean: The overall effect of the Government's funding proposals for Merseyside police authority would be to provide a total spending power of £226.7 million in 1996-97, an increase of £8.14 million or 3.7 per cent. over 1995-96. It is for the chief constable to decide how to allocate his resources.
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