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Passport Agency (Northern Ireland)
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of the Passport Agency in Northern Ireland in relation to the use of the name of the city and county of Londonderry. [5639]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: It is the policy of the Passport Agency in Northern Ireland to issue passports showing the place of birth as either Londonderry or Derry, depending on which has been used by the applicant on the application form. The county in which an applicant is born is not recorded on passports.
Mr. Jonathan Aitken
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and of which rank are currently assigned to investigate the alleged offences of Mr. Jonathan Aitken. [6058]
Mr. Michael:
The Commissioner informs me that a senior detective from the Specialist Operations Department at New Scotland Yard has been appointed to investigate the allegation. Other detectives will assist the inquiry. They will be selected on the basis of the skills they bring to the task, and not according to their rank.
1 Jul 1997 : Column: 78
Mr. Todd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to announce changes to the handling of asylum applications from nationals of Sierra Leone. [6546]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
In view of the current situation in Sierra Leone, we have decided to declare that that country has undergone such a fundamental change in circumstances that we would not normally order the return of a person to that country for the time being. The effect is that a Sierra Leonean national who entered the United Kingdom previously and applies for asylum within three months of this declaration being made, becomes eligible to claim social security benefits while their application is considered by my Department. No decisions will be made on asylum applications made by Sierra Leonean nationals until the situation stabilises.
Mr. Todd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to implement part IV of the Police Act 1997. [6547]
Mr. Michael:
We intend to bring part IV of the Police Act 1997, which establishes the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) as an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), into force in two stages. In the autumn, we shall appoint the board of PITO and confer on it the necessary powers to bring to fruition the preparations required to establish the NDPB. The board will then take on its statutory functions in respect of police information technology and procurement with effect from 1 April 1998. PITO's new status will bring the police service into the heart of decision making and lead to the improved delivery of cost-effective and timely information technology systems.
PITO was set up in April 1996 on an interim basis as part of the Home Office. We are today publishing the organisation's first annual report, copies of which are available in the Library.
Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to establish a rolling electoral register; and if he will make a statement.[5048]
Mr. George Howarth:
We are examining this issue carefully.
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter the guidance issued to electoral registration officers; and if he will make a statement. [6022]
Mr. Howarth:
Guidance is issued regularly to electoral registration officers on all aspects of electoral registration as this is required. Written guidance was last issued to electoral registration officers and acting returning officers in England and Wales on 19 June.
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will (a) assess the (i) advantages and (ii) disadvantages and (b) estimate the costs of introducing a rolling electoral registration system. [6024]
1 Jul 1997 : Column: 79
Mr. Howarth:
We are examining this issue carefully and will look at the points mentioned by my hon. Friend.
Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he plans to take to ensure that persons requiring a postal vote at elections are properly informed about the availability of postal votes and proxy voting and have time to complete the relevant forms. [5049]
Mr. George Howarth:
Absent voting facilities were publicised at the general election through a television campaign and advertisements in the national press. We are currently reviewing the effectiveness of this publicity. The closing dates for absent vote applications were recently relaxed as set out in the Representation of the People (Amendment) Regulations 1997.
Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons forms for infirm elderly and disabled persons requiring a postal or proxy vote were not available at some electoral registration offices prior to the 1997 general election. [5050]
Mr. Howarth:
I understand that in the Wakefield area, just before the general election, application forms for an absent vote for an indefinite period were not available. Electors affected by this were provided with alternative application forms so that they could obtain an absent vote for the elections on 1 May. They were subsequently supplied with application forms to give them absent votes for an indefinite period.
1 Jul 1997 : Column: 80
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the numbers of disabled people who failed to vote at the last general election due to their inability to gain access to polling stations; and if he will make a statement. [6014]
Mr. George Howarth:
Information on the number of disabled people who could not vote in person at the general election because they could not gain access to a polling station is not collected centrally. District and London borough councils are statutorily required to designate as polling places, so far as is reasonable and practicable, only places which are accessible to the disabled. Acting returning officers may apply to the Home Office for grants towards the cost of providing temporary ramps where it is not possible for them to use a building for the purpose of a polling place which affords easy access for the disabled. Grants are also available for specially adapted polling screens for use by the disabled.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions have been recorded under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in each year since 1992, broken down by local authority in (i) England and (ii) Wales; and if he will make a statement. [5706]
Mr. Michael:
I have been asked to reply.
Information on the number of people arrested for specific offences is not collected centrally.
Available court proceedings data, by police force area, are given in the table. 1996 information will be available in the autumn.
1 Jul 1997 : Column: 79
(1) Offences of cruelty to badgers and special protection for badgers and their setts.
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(2) Offence of failing to give up dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified (Powers of court where dog used or present at commission of offence under Sections 1, 2 or 3 of the Act).
Pros = Prosecutions, Con = Convictions.
1 Jul 1997 : Column: 81
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