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External Frontiers Convention
Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals have emerged from within (a) the Council of Ministers and (b) the Justice and Home Affairs Council to resolve disputes between member states with regard to the draft convention on external borders. [2827]
Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 27 November 1995]: At its meeting on 23 November the Justice and Home Affairs Council received a progress report on the state of discussions on the draft external frontiers convention. The report recorded the presidency's hope that outstanding issues could be resolved as soon as possible. A copy of the progress report is being placed in the Library.
Nigerian Criminals
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the national criminal intelligence service has to conduct an inquiry into the flow of currency between Nigeria and Britain. [2810]
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Mr. Maclean [holding answer on 27 November 1995]: None. The national criminal intelligence service is already aware of the threat to the United Kingdom posed by some Nigerian criminals and monitors the situation on a regular basis.
Asylum and Immigration
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he held, and from which bodies he sought information, opinions and advice about asylum and immigration problems. [2538]
Mr. Kirkhope [holding answer 27 November 1995]: We discuss these matters regularly with a wide range of organisations.
Ethnic Minority Business Group
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often the ethnic minority business advisory group meets; when it last met; who are its members; and what issues it is currently pursuing. [1936]
Mr. Kirkhope [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The ethnic minority business advisory group last met on 20 September 1994. It was formally disbanded in September 1995. Its membership consisted of ethnic minority business agencies, representatives of mainstream businesses and organisations, and Government Departments.
Oleoresin Capsicum
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the police or Prison Service are considering oleoresin capsicum as a possible chemical incapacitant for use in their operations; [2369]
- (2) what (a) biomedical and (b) other technical testing of the chemical agent oleoresin capsicum have recently been carried out by the police scientific development branch, with particular reference to the effects of the agents when dispersed as an aerosol spray; with what results; and what further testing or trials of OC currently are taking place or planned; [2368]
(3) what recent (a) biomedical or (b) other technical testing of the chemical agent oleoresin capsicum has recently been carried out by his Department; and with what results. [2317]
Mr. Maclean: The Home Office police scientific development branch has reviewed all the available information about the effects of incapacitant products containing oleoresin capsicum. In addition, research commissioned by my right hon. and learned Friend has been undertaken into the possible carcinogenic effects of oleoresin capsicum's main incapacitating ingredient, capsaicin. That research indicates that capsaicin is not a genotoxic carcinogen.
My right hon. and learned Friend has, however, concluded, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, that currently too little is known about oleoresin capsicum's effects on health for it to be considered for use by the police in this country.
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Further work has been undertaken to determine methods of analysing oleoresin capsicum products. The Home Office police scientific development branch will continue to review any relevant research undertaken elsewhere.
The Prison Service has no proposals to use products containing oleoresin capsicum at this time.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the rules governing the recommendations for gallantry awards to police officers, with particular reference to the circumstances in which a lesser award may be made than the one for which a recommendation has been made. [2237]
Mr. Maclean:
There are four categories of civilian gallantry award which may be made to police officers:
There are three main factors which must be evident in the actions taken. Firstly, the act of bravery must be carried out in the knowledge of the risk. Secondly the act must show persistence in the face of danger and, thirdly, there must have been a degree of choice in taking positive action. A lesser award will be made than the one recommended if the circumstances of the case do not merit a higher award.
Mr. Hain:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is taking to investigate allegations by the Princess of Wales that her telephone calls were illegally intercepted. [2366]
Mr. Maclean:
I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no such formal complaint has been received.
Mr. Chris Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by substance the total volume of illegal drugs seized by law enforcement agencies in Britain annually since 1984. [2124]
Mr. Maclean:
The information requested is contained in tables 2.4 and 2.5 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Statistics of drug seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1993", a copy of which is in the Library.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total sums spent by law enforcement agencies in Britain in detecting and seizing illegal drugs annually since 1984 in constant prices. [2122]
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Mr. Maclean:
This information is not available. The sums spent on tackling drug trafficking cannot be separated from expenditure on other aspects of law enforcement.
Mr. Chris Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate and list by substance the total volume of illegal drugs available for sale in Britain annually since 1984. [2123]
Mr. Maclean:
Since drug misuse is a clandestine activity, it is impossible to estimate the volume of controlled drugs which is circulating illegally.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued to chief constables in England and Wales regarding the outsourcing and privatisation of police support functions. [2128]
Mr. Maclean:
It is the Government's policy to introduce the benefits of the market place to police support functions by extending compulsory competitive tendering to these areas. In support of this policy, the Home Office issued guidance earlier this year on the cleaning of police buildings, 19 April, on police legal services--2 March on police construction-related and property services--2 March, and on police personnel service--9 November.
Mr. Michael Spicer:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the current policy of putting back the clocks by one hour at the end of the summer. [2130]
Mr. Kirkhope:
This system of operating without summer time and keeping the clocks on Greenwich mean time plus one hour throughout the year was tried between 1968 and 1971. We have no plans to revert to it.
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Mr Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many cases from Doncaster prison the prisons ombudsman has reported: and if he will make a statement. [2274]
Miss Widdecombe:
Since the prisons ombudsman began to take complaints from prisoners on 24 October 1994 he has received 26 complaints from Doncaster. Twenty of these were ineligible--19 because the prison has not exhausted the internal request complaint system and one because it came from a third party. The eligibility of two cases is currently being considered. Investigations have taken place into the remaining three complaints and in one of these cases the complaint was upheld. This case involved property stolen from a prisoner's cell, apparently as a result of a design fault in the cell windows at Doncaster. The prison ombudsman recommended that the prisoner involved should receive compensation for the loss and the Prison Service accepted this recommendation.
(i) of the highest order (George cross)
The category for which a case may be considered depends on the circumstances of the case and partly upon the risk of death to the person being nominated.
(ii) of an extremely high order (George medal)
(iii) of a high order (Queen's gallantry medal)
(iv) not up to the foregoing standards, but entailing risk to life and meriting recognition (Queen's commendation for bravery or the Queen's commendation for bravery in the air)
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