25 Oct 1996 : Column: 11
Written Answers to Questions
Friday 25 October 1996
TRANSPORT
Air Traffic Control
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to proceed with the privatisation of National Air Traffic Services. [954]
Sir George Young: Air traffic control services provide a vital cover for the growing air transportation industry. Their standards are, and must be, of the highest. The national air traffic services face continuing demands for additional investment in the latest and most sophisticated equipment. The Government believe that these demands can most effectively be met in the private sector, freed from the constraints of public expenditure controls.
The Government therefore intends to bring forward legislation to privatise NATS early in a new Parliament. To this end, we will be developing proposals, taking account of work done previously, in consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority and other interested parties, with a view to publishing a draft bill as soon as possible in 1997.
Air Bags
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has undertaken into dangers to children arising from air bags fitted to cars. [22]
Mr. Bowis: None. This Department is already fully aware of the danger posed by air bags to children in rear-facing child seats.
Heavy Goods Vehicles (Safety)
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has carried out on products that ensure that wheels do not come off heavy goods vehicles. [60]
NORTHERN IRELAND
Watercourse Management Division
Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing the watercourse management division of the Department of Agriculture as a next steps agency. [1057]
Mr. Ancram:
The watercourse management division of the Department of Agriculture has been established as an executive agency from 1 October 1996. It will be known as the Rivers Agency.
25 Oct 1996 : Column: 12
Copies of the framework document which sets out the terms within which the agency will operate, will be placed in the Library, along with its first corporate and business plan.
I have set a number of key performance targets for the agency to achieve in its first six months. These are as follows:
To construct or refurbish 1.4 km of urban flood defences.
To increase the length of designated sea defences having appropriate standards of protection to 27 per cent.
To accommodate increased storm run-off from 448 hectares of development land.
To replace/refurbish 38 per cent. of dangerous culverts identified at 1 October 1996.
To complete maintenance works on 330 km of urban watercourses and 1,020 km of rural watercourses.
To extend or provide new water recreation facilities at 17 sites throughout Northern Ireland.
To issue substantive replies to 75 per cent. of written enquiries within 15 working days of receipt.
To respond to 100 per cent. of schedule 6 applications within three months.
To aim to have all navigation locks operable for at least 90 per cent. of the period.
To maintain expenditure within allocated cash limits.
To achieve at least 4 per cent. efficiency savings in the 1996-97 financial year.
To commission a scoping study on the feasibility of introducing private finance in capital works.
To implement phase 1 of the development of management information systems and databases to establish unit costs for protecting land from flooding and maintaining drainage benefit to agricultural land.
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
Mr. Richards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action has been taken to implement the conclusions and recommendations of the 1994 financial management and policy review report of the Cardiff Bay development corporation. [1008]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The Department and the corporation have jointly considered the conclusions and recommendations of the report. Action taken in response to the report has brought about improvements in the running and administration of the corporation, clarified its accountability and improved the working relationship between the Department and the corporation.
Copies of the formal account of the action taken in response to each conclusion and recommendation, have been placed in the Library of the House.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Low Level Offenders
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses he has received commenting on the consultation paper "Alternative Penalties for Fine Defaulters and Low Level Offenders". [957]
25 Oct 1996 : Column: 13
Mr. Howard:
Of the 31 responses to the paper, 30 were from organisations and individuals with a direct interest in the criminal justice system.
There was overall support for the wider use of community penalties as proposed in the consultation paper. Seventy-seven per cent. of respondents supported community service and 58 per cent. supported curfew orders for fine default. Sixty-one per cent. supported community service and 51 per cent. curfew orders for persistent low level offenders.
I have considered the responses carefully in finalising the details of the proposals which are included in the Crime (Sentences) Bill, published today.
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses he has received commenting on the sentencing proposals set out in the White Paper "Protecting the Public". [958]
Mr. Howard:
We have received responses from 189 members of the public and from 90 organisations and other individuals with a direct interest in the criminal justice system. The sentencing proposals were widely welcomed by the public. Overall, 139 responses from the public, 74 per cent., expressed full support and a further 13, 7 per cent., qualified support. A range of views were expressed by those other individuals and organisations who commented on the proposals. There was support from police associations. There was criticism from the judiciary about the principle of mandatory sentences in particular, and a number of responses expressed concern about how the proposals would operate in practice.
I have considered the responses carefully in finalising the details of the proposals which are included in the Crime (Sentences) Bill, published today.
Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses he has received commenting on the proposals set out in the consultation paper "Mentally Disordered Offenders: Sentencing and Discharge Arrangements". [955]
Mr. Howard:
We have received 182 responses to the consultation paper, many of which expressed the views of organisations rather than individuals.
One hundred and two respondents, 56 per cent., expressed support for the principle of the proposal to introduce a hospital direction disposal for mentally disordered offenders. Twenty-four of these wished the power to be available only to those diagnosed as suffering from psychopathic disorder.
The responses revealed strong support for the proposal to extend the maximum duration of the interim hospital order. There was broad support for our proposals in relation to discharge and subsequent supervision of mentally disordered offenders.
I have considered the responses carefully in finalising the detail of the proposals which are included in the Crime (Sentences) Bill, published today.
25 Oct 1996 : Column: 14
Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses he has received commenting on the proposals in the consultation paper "Sentencing and Supervision of Sex Offenders". [956]
Mr. Howard:
We have received 238 formal responses to the consultation paper. In general, there was strong support for all the proposals canvassed. Not all respondents commented on all five proposals outlined in the consultation paper. Of those who did, 94 per cent. were in favour of extended supervision for convicted sex offenders released from prison; 82 per cent. were in favour of DNA testing of convicted sex offenders still serving a prison sentence who have not already been DNA tested; 87 per cent. supported a requirement for convicted sex offenders to notify the police of their address and any subsequent change thereto; 87 per cent. also supported the proposal to make it an offence for convicted sex offenders who seek employment with children; and 91 per cent. supported the proposal for a supervised access regime for victim statements and photographs in sex cases.
I have considered all these responses carefully. The Crime (Sentences) Bill, published today, contains provision for the extended supervision of sex offenders after their release from custody. I will also be bringing forward proposals to require paedophiles and other serious sex offenders to notify changes of address to the police.
Other proposals for legislation will be brought forward when suitable opportunities arise.
Mr. Allen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham North's letter of 17 October on the sale of drugs by Nottingham bouncers. [403]
Mr. Maclean:
A reply will be sent shortly.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |