24 Feb 1997 : Column: 1
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 24 February 1997
PRIME MINISTER
Scottish Grand Committee
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost to public funds of the attendance of (a) the Prime Minister, (b) the Deputy Prime Minister and (c) officials from the Cabinet Office at meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in Scotland since 1994; and if he will list the meetings of the Committee which (a) to (c) have attended indicating the cost of their attendance and the names of those who attended. [16560]
The Prime Minister: I attended the Scottish Grand Committee meeting on 5 July 1996 in Dumfries and had officials in attendance as necessary. Ministers attend Scottish Grand Committee meetings as part of their normal parliamentary duties and officials do so as part of their normal departmental duties. Expenditure falling to my Department has been limited to travelling costs.
No other Ministers from the Cabinet Office have had the opportunity to attend a Scottish Grand Committee meeting.
Business Appointment Rules
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Prime Minister when applications were received from the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) and Dame Pauline Neville-Jones under the business appointment rules; and when, and on what terms, approvals for their appointment to the Natwest bank were granted. [16948]
The Prime Minister: The right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) was not bound to seek the advice of my advisory committee on business appointments before joining the National Westminster bank in October 1995 because the guidelines on the acceptance of appointments outside Government for former Ministers did not come into effect until the start of the 1995-96 Session of Parliament.
Nevertheless, I understand that Mr. Hurd consulted the chairman of the advisory committee informally before taking up the appointment. Dame Pauline Neville-Jones applied for prior permission, in accordance with the rules on the acceptance of outside appointments by Crown servants, to accept a position with the National Westminster bank after retirement. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on the advice of the advisory committee on business appointments, approved Dame Pauline's application unconditionally on 24 June 1996.
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Sir Patrick Cormack:
To ask the Prime Minister if he has received the 1996 annual report of the intelligence and security committee in accordance with the Intelligence Services Act 1994. [17513]
The Prime Minister:
I have received the 1996 annual report of the intelligence and security committee and am presenting it to Parliament today. Copies are also being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. I am grateful to the committee for the valuable work it has undertaken in the preparation of the report. Certain portions of the report contained material which fell within the provisions of section 10 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994; accordingly, after consultation with the committee, these have been deleted from the published version.
Tamils
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Sri Lankan Tamils are in the United Kingdom having been granted political asylum;[16934]
- (2) how many Sri Lankan Tamils are currently seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom. [16904]
Mr. Kirkhope: The available information is for all Sri Lankan nationals; no distinction is made in statistical records between Tamils and other Sri Lankans.
During 1996, five nationals of Sri Lanka were granted asylum in the United Kingdom and a further 25 were refused asylum but granted exceptional leave to remain. Information on the number granted asylum in earlier years is given in table 3.1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin, "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom, 1995" issue 9/96, a copy of which is in the Library. Information regarding those granted exceptional leave in earlier years is given in table 3.2 of the same publication. It is not known how many of those granted either asylum or exceptional leave have remained in the United Kingdom.
As at 31 December 1996, an estimated 2,895 Sri Lankan asylum seekers were awaiting an initial decision on their asylum applications.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan Tamils, who are being held in (a) prison and (b) detention centres, are seeking political asylum; and if he will make a statement. [16933]
Mr. Kirkhope:
The available information on all Sri Lankan asylum seekers held in detention, under sole Immigration Acts powers, is given in the table. No distinction is made in statistical records between Tamils and other Sri Lankans.
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| Persons detained at | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category of person | Her Majesty's prison | Detention centre | Total |
| Port cases | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Persons subject to enforcement action(3) | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Total | 10 | 6 | 16 |
(1) Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act, 1971.
(2) Enforcement cases are as at 31 January and port cases are as at 3 February.
(3) Illegal entrants and persons subject to deportation action.
Electoral Fraud
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the penalties for electoral fraud where the offence involves the deprivation of a vulnerable elector of his or her vote.[17136]
Mr. Sackville: None. Legislation already provides for a range of penalties, up to a maximum of an unlimited fine or a term of imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
CS Gas
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date the Alsetex CS gas dispenser was approved by the police scientific and development branch at St. Albans for use by Home Office constabularies; and which alternative products were (a) tested and (b) approved; [16679]
- (2) what chemical is used as the solvent in the Alsetex CS gas dispenser approved by the police scientific and development branch. [16680]
Mr. Maclean: Decisions about the selection of police protective equipment are a matter for chief police officers. The Association of Police Chief Officers announced its choice of equipment marketed by SAE Alsetex for operational trials of CS sprays on 19 October 1995. It chose this equipment following advice from the police scientific and development branch about a variety of CS spray devices. The solvent used in the Alsetex equipment is methyl isobutyl ketone.
Firearms Administration Office
Sir Jerry Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the firearms administration office at New Scotland Yard is to close in 1997; and what steps are being taken to provide alternative arrangements to serve the public. [17450]
Mr. Maclean:
I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that firearms licensing functions currently discharged by the firearms licensing branch at New Scotland Yard will be devolved to each of the five areas of the Metropolitan police district on 1 April 1997. A small team will remain at New Scotland Yard with a policy development remit for firearms licensing.
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Sir Jerry Wiggin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct police forces that when a blood sample is taken after an accident and tested for alcohol that it should also be treated for drugs; and if he will make a statement. [17451]
Mr. Maclean:
No. The decision on what action to take in each case is a matter for the police officer concerned. In the case of an alleged offence under section 3A or 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a blood sample can be taken with the consent of a medical practitioner and be tested for drugs and alcohol.
Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date approaches were made to him by Belgian police authorities seeking assistance in their investigations of the Dai Ichi Kyoto insurance company; and what actions and on what dates were taken as a result. [17400]
Mr. Kirkhope:
It is not the Government's policy to comment on whether requests have been received from overseas authorities for assistance in criminal matters or on the execution of requests.
Sir Jerry Wiggin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received from the chief constable of Bedfordshire regarding the theft of large-calibre pistols from a police station in Luton, Bedfordshire; how many pistols were stolen; and on what date the theft occurred. [17448]
Mr. Maclean:
I understand from the chief constable of Bedfordshire that 23 guns which were the property of a former firearms dealer were taken from a store at Luton police station.
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