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Second Passport Holders

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of British nationals in possession of a second, foreign passport. [5447]

Mr. Kirkhope: United Kingdom passports are issued to British citizens, including those who have been naturalised, British dependent territories citizens, British nationals (overseas), British overseas citizens, British subjects and British protected persons. In some cases, passports may be issued to persons who also hold the nationality of another country but information about dual nationality and second passports is not collected.

Private Security Firms

Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the European regulations which preclude the Home Department excluding from Home Office contracts private security firms which are not members of self-regulatory bodies. [138]

Mr. Howard: The European Community procurement directives lay down criteria to be followed in the award of Government contracts. All three directives for works, for supplies and for services contain provisions to ensure fair treatment and to prevent discrimination in the selection of Government contractors.

In the case of private security service contracts, article 3(2) of the European Community services directives, 92/50/EEC applies. This states that

"Contracting authorities shall ensure that there is no discrimination between different service providers".

The exclusion of a tenderer who was not a member of a voluntary self-regulatory body would discriminate against those who, for whatever reason, were unable, or unwilling to join such a body. Membership of such a body would not, in itself, indicate the ability of the tenderer satisfactorily to perform the service and there are other non-discriminatory means of ensuring that they can do so, for example by requiring them to demonstrate in their tender the necessary experience or technical ability to perform the contract.

Illegal Entrants (Employment)

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employers were convicted

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of employing an illegal entrant to the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; what was the average fine imposed on such employers; how many employers were found not guilty; and how such illegal employment was detected. [2760]

Mr. Kirkhope [holding answer 28 November 1995]: It is not an offence under current legislation for an employer to employ an illegal entrant.

Deregulation

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the statement of the Secretary of State for Environment of 21 November, Official Report, column 454, if he will make it his policy to review past legislation in respect of additional burdens imposed by regulations implementing European directives. [5067]

Mr. Howard [holding answer 11 December 1995]: It is my Department's policy not to make regulations implementing European directives which add to the burdens imposed by such directives. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Mr. MacLaughlan (War Pension)

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how long Mr. MacLaughlan of Newcastle has waited for a war pension appeal hearing, appeal ref. 94/3544/A; why his appeal hearings for October and December 1995 were cancelled; what factors have led to the delay in holding a further hearing; and when he can expect his appeal to be heard. [5490]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: Mr. MacLaughlan appealed against his interim assessment to the War Pensions Agency on 2 June 1992. The appeal papers were received by the pensions appeal tribunals on 8 November 1994. Due to an unexpected and unprecedented growth in appeals, waiting times have lengthened and although measures have been put in hand to accommodate the sustained increase, it is unlikely that Mr. MacLaughlan's appeal will be heard until February or March 1996. No record can be found of an earlier date having been allocated and cancelled.

Court Service Accountability

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to ensure that companies successful in bidding for contracts for support work in the Court Service will maintain the accountability of the present system. [4718]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: 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.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 13 December 1995:

The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about how private companies bidding to carry out support work for the Court Service will maintain the accountability of the present system.

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Any contractor to the Court Service will be required to deliver services to the specified standard. The Court Service will retain full control of its polices and strategies.

Probate Offices

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the public of the closure of probate offices in respect of access to the facilities offered by these officers. [4733]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: 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.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 13 December 1995:

The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the impact of the proposed closure of probate officers.
The recommendation that a number of Probate Sub-Registries and Probate Offices should close follows a review of the locations in England and Wales where a probate service is offered to personal applicants. This review considered, amongst other things, the effect of closure on travelling distances and the cost for individuals applying for probate.
Both local and national consultation on the proposals is currently taking place and consideration will be given to the comments received before I send a recommendation to the Parliamentary Secretary and Lord Chancellor.

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what savings he estimates will accure from the closure of probate offices. [4721]

Mr. Evans: 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.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Barry Sheerman dated 13 December 1995:

The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the savings that will accrue from the proposed closure of probate offices.
Closure of the Probate Sub-Registries would result in savings of accommodation staff and other associated running costs.
Similarly, closure of Probate Offices (caller offices used for the purpose of interviewing personal applicants only) would result in savings of ad hoc accommodation costs and reduce the amount of court staff time spent travelling to Probate Offices.
Overall savings would be approximately £400,000 per annum.

Magistrates Bench (Doncaster)

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he plans to take in respect of the political imbalance of the Doncaster bench. [4485]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: The Lord Chancellor, through his advisory committee for Doncaster, will continue to encourage applications from suitable people who would improve the political balance on the bench. The advisory committee has undertaken a number of initiatives,

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including press advertising, in the recruitment round which has just been completed and will be asked to repeat these initiatives. The Lord Chancellor would be grateful for any encouragement that the hon. Member can give to applicants locally.

Private Finance Initiative

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment his Department has made of the effect on confidentiality of the private finance initiative for the Court Service. [4720]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: Any contractor will have to satisfy the Lord Chancellor's Department that confidentiality will be protected.

Court Service (Computer Systems)

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what professional advice his Department has sought regarding the computer systems of the Court Service. [4718]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: 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.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 13 December 1995:

The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the professional computer advice sought by the Court Service.

The Court Service has obtained professional advice from a wide range of consultants and expert I.T. contractors, as appropriate, in the development of all its computer systems.

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