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Violent Videos
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a review into the effectiveness of the enforcement of the current law on the availability of violent videos to children. [1208]
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Mr. Sackville: The Video Recordings Act 1984 makes it a criminal offence to supply an unclassified video, subject to certain limited exemptions, or to supply a video in breach of the classification certificate issued by the British Board of Film Classification--BBFC.
The operation of the Act is kept under careful review. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 increased the maximum penalties for supplying unclassified videos--to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine--and for supplying a video in breach of its classification--to six months in prison and/or a £5,000 fines. The 1994 Act also increased the powers of trading standards officers in investigating video offences, and amended the Video Recordings Act 1984 to lay down statutory classification criteria which the BBFC must take into account.
Prisons
Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those prisons and detention centres (a) built, and (b) managed under the private sector. [54]
Miss Widdecombe: The management of four prisons is contracted out to the private sector: they are Blakenhurst, Buckley Hall, Doncaster and Wolds. The private sector has not completed building any new prisons. It is currently building two prisons under the design, construct, manage and finance--DCMF--initiative at Fazakerley and at Bridgend. The third DCMF contract, for Lowdham Grange prison, is expected to be signed imminently.
The management of three immigration detention centres is contracted out to the private sector: they are Campsfield house, Harmondsworth and a smaller, temporary facility at Gatwick airport. The fourth immigration centre, Tinsley house, was constructed by and is managed by the private sector.
Ethnic Minorities Education
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to local authorities regarding bids for section 11 grants after March 1997. [149]
Mr. Kirkhope: We have under active consideration the position regarding further section 11 funding from next April onwards. Although we are not yet in a position to make an announcement, I expect to be able to do so shortly.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Nuclear Power Stations
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the undiscounted value of post-operational advanced gas-cooled reactor liabilities for each privatised nuclear station which are not covered by the segregated fund; and what are the arrangements for BE to meet these liabilities. [233]
Mr. Lang: The value of British Energy's liabilities as at 31 March 1996 are listed on page 85 and the projected pattern of payments are listed on page 100 of the prospectus for the sale of British Energy, copies of which are in the Library of the House. The segregated fund
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covers all of stages 1 to 3 of decommissioning, excluding defuelling, at all of British Energy's station sites. British Energy will meet those liabilities not covered by the segregated fund as part of its day-to-day operating costs.
Radiocommunications Agency
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when the final phase of building work for staff was completed in New Kings Beem house; what is the estimated cost of the work undertaken; and if he will make a statement; [1540]
- (2) when the Radiocommunications Agency will be relocated to South Oxey from New Kings Beem house; and what are the proposed costs involved in relocating; [1541]
(3) if the structural survey has been completed on South Quay 3; if he will place a copy of the document in the Library; and if he will make a statement; [1542]
(4) what are the consequences to staff and business customers of the proposed reorganisation of the Radiocommunications Agency; and if he will make a statement; [1544]
(5) if adequate facilities are provided for the Radiocommunications Agency trade union side in accordance with his departmental facilities agreement. [1545]
Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 1 November 1996]: These are day-to-day operational matters for the Radiocommunications Agency and I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Simon Hughes, dated 4 November 1996:
The Minister for Science and Technology has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question, concerning the reorganisation in progress within my Agency.
Question: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if adequate facilities are provided for the Radiocommunications Agency trade union side in accordance with his departmental facilities agreement.
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Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what research he has (a) commissioned or (b) evaluated on the health risks associated with electro-magnetic radiation being emitted from household appliances; and if he will make a statement; [1596]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
My Department has not commissioned or evaluated research into the health risks associated with electro-magnetic radiation from household appliances, nor have we received representations concerning safety other than in relation to microwave ovens.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 (SI1994/3260) lay down requirements for the safety of household electrical appliances, implementing the low voltage directive (73/23/EEC), and include a requirement that radiation which would cause a danger must not be produced. The European electrotechnical standards body, CENELEC, has produced standards controlling radiation from appliances such as microwave ovens and sunbeds but has not found it necessary to specify requirements for other appliances.
Mr. Ian McCartney:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the laboratories that are accredited by the national measurement accreditation service for the purposes of asbestos sampling. [1439]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
Responsibility for the accreditation of laboratories was transferred in 1995 from DTI to the United Kingdom Accreditation Service--UKAS--an independent body which operates under a memorandum of understanding with the Government. I am informed by UKAS that over 30 laboratories are currently accredited for asbestos sampling. I have written to the hon. Member enclosing the addresses and other details concerning these laboratories.
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Mr. Milburn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the costs of the business breakfast tours to be undertaken by Ministers. [1957]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 1 November 1996]: The costs will depend on the number and size of the events.
Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Simon Hughes, dated 4 November 1996:
The purpose of the planned re-organisation within the Radiocommunications Agency is to:
(i) enhance customer focus and service;
(ii) give greater responsibility to managers within a 'flatter' organisation;
(iii) ensure the Agency's limited resources are targeted to the maximum effect in facilitating a particularly dynamic area of the UK economy.
The staff of the Agency are fully involved in a consultative process ensuring the detail of the planning and implementation of the re-organisation are carried through to the best effect. The re-organisation will both improve the Agency's already good customer service and enhance the quality of work and job satisfaction for staff.
I have been asked to answer the question you raised on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency.
The Radiocommunications Agency does abide by the terms of the departmental facilities agreement.
Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Simon Hughes, dated 4 November 1996:
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency of the DTI to your recent questions relating to New King's Beam House (NKBH) and South Quay Three (SQ3).
Practical Completion for the work carried out on NKBH was achieved on 5 August 1996. The cost of the work inclusive of professional fees was £2.5 million.
I understand that the Landlord has completed the structural survey on SQ3 and will in due course be forwarding a copy of the report to the Agency. As it is the Landlord's document, the Agency will not be placing a copy in the library.
If the repairs are carried out on schedule, the Agency should relocate back to SQ3 in 1999. Under the terms of the lease, the Landlord warrants the performance of the building and therefore his insurance will bear the repair costs. RA's relocation costs for the return to SQ3 should be limited to the cost of furniture removal. It is too early to accurately estimate these costs.
(2) what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the safety levels for electro-magnetic radiation emitted from household appliances such as (a) vacuum cleaners, (b) irons, (c) fridges and (d) microwaves; and if he will make a statement. [2044]
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