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19 Mar 1997 : Column: 595

Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 19 March 1997

HOME DEPARTMENT

Metropolitan Police

Mr. Congdon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Metropolitan Police Committee's advice on proposed objectives for the Metropolitan police in 1997-98. [21370]

Mr. Howard: Following consultation with the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Committee and the Commissioner, I have approved the following objectives for the Metropolitan police in 1997-98:


These objectives and details of how to address the Government's key objectives for policing are set out in the "Metropolitan Police Policing Plan 1997-98" which the Commissioner is issuing with my approval. I will be sending copies to all hon. Members whose constituencies fall wholly or partly within the Metropolitan police district and arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

Mr. Deva: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary on complaints and discipline in the Metropolitan police. [21392]

Mr. Maclean: I have today placed in the Library a note of the recommendations from the report, together with the Commissioner's responses and the police authority responses, which take into account the advice my right hon. and learned Friend and I have received from the Metropolitan Police Committee.

Asylum

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers from Saudi Arabia have been granted (a) refugee status, (b) exceptional leave to remain and (c) permanent residence in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years by year of arrival. [20930]

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Mr. Kirkhope: During the period 1987 to 1996, a total of 10 nationals of Saudi Arabia were granted asylum, or refused asylum but granted exceptional leave, in the United Kingdom. During the same period, fewer than 10 Saudi nationals, previously granted asylum or exceptional leave, were accepted for settlement--this excludes any such persons subsequently accepted for settlement on non-asylum related grounds.

A full breakdown of the above, by the year of arrival in the United Kingdom, is not available.

Public Bodies

Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open Government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20940]

Mr. Howard: The information requested is as follows:


In addition, consideration is being given to the possibility of including all executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.



    (b) Scrutiny by the Audit Commission

None (the Audit Commission has responsibility only for local government).



    (c) Scrutiny by the National Audit Office
    Commission for Racial Equality
    Criminal Cases Review Commission
    Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
    Data Protection Registrar
    Gaming Board for Great Britain
    Parole Board
    Police Complaints Authority
    (d) Statutory provisions for Open Government

The following executive NDPBs are required by statute to publish annual reports:


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Those NDPBs which are subject to scrutiny by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are also subject to the code of practice on open government, and other NDPBs are being asked to develop codes of practice on similar lines.



    (e) Performance Indicators

Home Office NDPBs are encouraged by the relevant sponsoring unit to develop and publish performance indicators and associated targets wherever possible.



    (f) Provisions under the Citizen's Charter

Those executive NDPBs which offer a service to the public are encouraged to adopt the principles set out in the citizens charter and to publicise how these are being reflected in their working arrangements--for instance, the Commission for Racial Equality has published a statement of charter standards and the Gaming Board has published customer service targets in its annual report.

Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests; and if this is in each case (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [20906]

Mr. Howard: The information requested is as follows:


The Commission for Racial Equality keeps copies of the Commissioners' monthly meetings, which are available to the public. (voluntary arrangement)



    (d) Publication of the agendas of meetings

The Commission for Racial Equality keeps copies of the Commissioners' monthly meetings, which are available to the public. (voluntary arrangement)

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    (e) Publication of registers of members' interests

The Police Complaints Authority and Horserace Betting Levy Board have registers of members' interests which are currently not published. The Commission for Racial Equality voluntarily publishes a register of its members' interests in its annual report.

In addition, the Gaming Board plans to set up a register and the Horserace Totalisator Board are considering this issue.

Firearms

Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the disposal of weapons banned under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [20693]

Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 18 March 1997]: The majority of the lawfully held weapons which will become banned under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 will be destroyed by the police in accordance with local police arrangements. Some weapons which are compatible with current police firearms standards may be retained for police training purposes, others of particular interest may be taken into local museum collections.

Category A Prisoners

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a category A inmate awaiting determination of extradition proceedings can be held or apply to be held in Northern Ireland. [20367]

Miss Widdecombe: No. The Extradition Act 1989 makes no provision for a separate jurisdiction for Northern Ireland. Under section 9 of the Extradition Act, the court of committal can only remand a person in custody to a prison in England and Wales.

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