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EU (Freedom, Security and Justice)
Sir John Stanley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the subject areas where the Dutch presidency have proposed replacing unanimity with qualified majority voting in
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Freedom, Security and Justice (SN 539/97 c 40); and the numbers of the articles and paragraphs in which these proposals are made. [1973]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The Treaty draft on an "area of freedom, security and justice" proposes a period of 3 years following the entry into force of the Treaty, during which unanimity should continue to apply to all subject areas currently covered by unanimity. On the expiry of this period, qualified majority voting would be extended to the following areas currently covered by unanimity:
| Subject | Article | Paragraph |
|---|---|---|
| Internal borders | B | 1 |
| External borders | B | 2a |
| Issuing of short term visas | B | 2b (ii) and (iv) |
| Freedom of travel within the EU for third country nationals | B | 3 |
| Asylum policy and procedures | C | 1 |
| Temporary protection for displaced persons | C | 2a |
| Illegal immigration and illegal residence | C | 3b |
| Judicial co-operation in civil matters having cross-border implications | E | -- |
| Administrative co-operation in areas covered by new Title | F | -- |
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the subject areas to which the Dutch presidency have proposed extending the co-decision procedure in Freedom, Security and Justice (SN 539/97 c 40); and the numbers of the articles and paragraphs in which these proposals are made. [1974]
Mr. Henderson: The draft Treaty text on an "area of freedom, security and justice" proposes a period of 3 years following the entry into force of the Treaty, during which consultation with the European Parliament, rather than co-decision, should continue to apply. The presidency continues to leave open the question of whether, on the expiry of this period, co-decision should apply to certain provisions of the Title.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Contact Sports
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to ban those identified as bearing the 4 gene from participating professionally in contact sports; and if he will make a statement. [2119]
Mr. Banks: None. I am aware of the concern about the APO 4 allele, which is sometimes associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. I am not aware of evidence which could justify banning those who have the APO 4 allele from participating professionally in contact sports, even were there powers to do so.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to introduce mandatory genetic screening for those involved in contact sports to identify fighters genetically predisposed to suffer brain damage; and if he will make a statement. [2118]
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Mr. Banks:
None, although this is a very interesting question. However, I believe that the utmost attention must be paid to all sports where risk is a factor, and my Department encourages all governing bodies of sport to have the appropriate medical and safety regulations in place.
Mr. Cummings:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proportion of income to the national lottery is generated in the Northern region. [2146]
Mr. Banks:
Figures on the proportion of income to the national lottery by region are not held by my Department and are an operational matter for Camelot Group plc. I have therefore asked the Director-General of the national lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to my hon. Friend, placing copies of his response in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he next plans to meet representatives of the Football Association to discuss racism in amateur football; and if he will make a statement. [2091]
Mr. Banks:
I intend to meet the Football Association again in the near future to discuss many issues of importance to the game, including racism in football. This Government are determined to stamp out racism at all levels of the game.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage and how many documents in 1996 he estimates were (a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of, and (g) otherwise unaccounted for. [2512]
Mr. Tom Clarke
[holding answer 11 June 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on 11 June 1997, Official Report, columns 450-51.
Parental Responsibility Orders
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many parental responsibility orders have been made; and how many parental responsibility agreements have been registered each year in England and Wales since the implementation of the Children Act 1989. [2155]
Mr. Hoon:
The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. David Kidney, dated 12 June 1997:
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of parental responsibility orders made and parental responsibility agreements registered each year in England and Wales since the implementation of the Children Act 1989.
(These figures are for county court, High Court and Family proceeding court private law Children Act cases).
Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement about the proposed closure of (a) Monmouth and (b) Chepstow Magistrates courts. [2380]
Mr. Hoon:
Magistrates courts are provided by the local paying authority for the use of the magistrates courts committee (MCC). Decisions concerning the future of any magistrates court are for the relevant MCC to determine.
The Lord Chancellor is involved in a dispute over a magistrates court only when there is an appeal by a contributing local authority against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals to set out in section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979. In the absence of an appeal the Lord Chancellor has no locus in the matter.
Decisions relating to (a) Monmouth and (b) Chepstow Magistrates Courts remain an issue for local management.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the increase in the use by United Kingdom companies of court injunctions as a means of preventing criticism; what guidance he has given the courts on the use of injunctions in such a way; and if he will place a copy of such guidance in the Library. [2790]
Mr. Hoon:
It is for the court in each case to determine whether an injunction would be the appropriate remedy.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to use his powers under section 1 of the Damages Act 1996 to set a rate of return for use in personal injury claims. [2556]
Mr. Hoon:
It is important that this power is used in a way which supports the interests of all parties. The Lord Chancellor will take note of the outcome of
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Wells v. Wells, Thomas v. Brighton Health Authority and Page v. Sheerness Steel, which have been granted leave of appeal in the House of Lords. He will consult interested parties before exercising the power.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to bring into force section 10 of the Civil Evidence Act 1995. [2555]
Mr. Hoon:
The Lord Chancellor will bring into force section 10 of the Civil Evidence Act following the outcome of Wells v. Wells, Thomas v. Brighton Health Authority and Page v. Sheerness Steel, which have been granted leave of appeal in the House of Lords, and consultation with interested parties on the use of particular discount rates for calculating awards in personal injury claims.
The Children Act 1989 came into force in October 1991. The information you requested has therefore been collected since then and is as follows:
Parental responsibility orders made Parental responsibility agreements registered
1991 (October to December) 175 263
1992 2,492 2,951
1993 3,377 4,422
1994 3,893 5,506
1995 4,483 3,594
1996 5,687 3,586
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