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Prison Boards of Visitors
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what organisations were consulted about changes in the retirement age and the limitation to term of office of prison boards of visitors; for what reasons these proposals were not included in the recent review of the board of visitors system; and what representations he has received on this matter. [25220]
Miss Widdecombe: In deciding to amend the policy on appointments to boards of visitors, I noted that a number of members of boards felt that requiring all members to retire at the next triennial review following their 70th birthday did not reflect the fact that many people are well able to carry on voluntary work beyond their 70th birthday and are keen to do so.
On the other hand, it would be inappropriate for any member to be able to serve indefinitely and thus prevent an influx of new members from time to time. It is generally the case in public appointments that reappointment is not automatic and should not be repeated an indefinite number of times. In particular, members of boards of visitors in Northern Ireland have a limit of 12 years on their length of service. However, in view of the larger scale and greater numbers involved in boards of visitors in England and Wales, it seemed reasonable to set a higher limit of 15 years. This limit thus replaces the retirement age which has been abolished.
The review advisory group which considered and reported in May last year focused more on recruitment of new members and the day-to-day work of members of boards rather than on the question of length of service. Although my right hon. and learned Friend endorsed the recommendations of the report, this cannot prevent Ministers from considering other changes when and if it is deemed appropriate and necessary to do so.
The new policy was first announced to the National Advisory Council for Boards of Visitors and, following representations from that committee, I agreed to phase the new measures in. I have received a number of letters from boards and individual members whose comments I have noted.
22 Apr 1996 : Column: 5
Mr. Spearing:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account he has taken, or will take, when considering the adequacy of fire appliance coverage in the area of and adjacent to that of the London Docklands development corporation of the planned industrial and business development up to the year 2000. [25542]
Mr. Sackville:
Statutory responsibility for the provision of an efficient fire service is a matter for the fire authority concerned. Any fire authority wishing to reduce the operational capacity of its brigade, including the number of fire appliances, must seek the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947. His practice is to grant approval only where he is satisfied that the nationally recommended standards of fire cover will be maintained. The position would be considered by reference to the category of fire risk of the area as it stood at the time of the application. In the event of future property development, it would be up to the fire authority to take account of the new circumstances. Her Majesty's inspectorate of fire service monitors performance in meeting the standards of fire cover as part of the annual inspection process.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Criminal Cases Review Commission will be set up; and if he will make a statement. [25567]
Mr. Kirkhope:
The Criminal Cases Review Commission is expected to start work later this year. The chairman designate is Sir Frederick Crawford and the posts of other members of the commission will be advertised shortly.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new proposals he has to set limits on the spending on national campaigns by parties in general elections. [26277]
Mr. Sackville:
We have no such proposals.
Mr. Madden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he plans to place completed home country briefs on (a) Somalia, (b) India and (c) Pakistan in the Library; and if he will make a statement; [26235]
Mr. Kirkhope:
As indicated previously, our aim is to finalise these reports as soon as is practicable. We will then make them available to those concerned with the asylum appeals system and place them in the Library.
22 Apr 1996 : Column: 6
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made during 1994-95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25957]
Mr. Howard:
The readily available information is as follows: in 1994-95, 13 appointments were made to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" from names supplied by the public appointments unit. These were:
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of a home country brief on Somalia referred to by a Home Office presenting officer at a hearing in Manchester last year and which was shown to a representative attending the hearing; and if he will make a statement. [26243]
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Parole Board | 4 |
| Metropolitan Police Committee | 5 |
| Advisory Board for Restricted Patients | 1 |
| Animal Procedures Committee | 1 |
| Police Complaints Authority | 2 |
Prevention of Terrorism Legislation
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of people held for (a) 48 hours or under and (b) over 48 hours under the provisions of the prevention of terrorism legislation for each year since 1974. [19069]
Mr. Howard [pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1996, c. 200]: An amended and extended table of the figures given for Northern Ireland is given.
| In Northern Ireland | Under 48 hours | Over 48 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1974(2) | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | 3 | 5 |
| 1976 | 44 | 202 |
| 1977 | 39 | 123 |
| 1978 | 7 | 144 |
| 1979 | 36 | 126 |
| 1980 | 36 | 186 |
| 1981 | 94 | 401 |
| 1982 | 189 | 639 |
| 1983 | 447 | 728 |
| 1984 | 375 | 533 |
| 1985 | 381 | 557 |
| 1986 | 825 | 484 |
| 1987 | 1,008 | 451 |
| 1988 | 1,175 | 542 |
| 1989 | 1,053 | 530 |
| 1990 | 1,089 | 460 |
| 1991 | 1,109 | 571 |
| 1992 | 1,354 | 441 |
| 1993 | 1,186 | 455 |
| 1994 | 1,119 | 384 |
| 1995 | 431 | 12 |
(2) From 29 November.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his
22 Apr 1996 : Column: 7
Department were made during 1994-95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25951]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Two appointments were made to the Legal Aid Board during 1994-95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit. They were:
John Crosby: Appointed 5 April 1994
Colin George: Appointed 3 May 1994.
Divorce Leaflet
Mr. Patten: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many copies were printed and what was the cost of production of the leaflet entitled "I Want to Get a Divorce-What Do I Do" published by the Lord Chancellor's Department (D184), in the most recent year for which figures are available. [25980]
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 M. D. Huebner to Mr. John Patten, dated 22 April 1996:
Mr. Patten:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will publish a companion leaflet to "I Want To Get a Divorce-What Do I Do?" entitled "I Want To Try To Stay Married-What Do I Do?" [26018]
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the guidance leaflet entitled "I want to get a divorce-what do I do?".
73,425 leaflets were printed and distributed to the courts in 1995 at a cost of approximately £10,495.
Mr. Evans: My Department and the Court Service will be considering what information should be available in the light of the provisions of the Family Law Bill, particularly the proposed information meeting. This will include information about marriage counselling and marriage support services. Consideration of what information and services can best assist people who want to remain married also forms part of the work of the interdepartmental working party on marriage.
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