| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Alcohol (Minors)
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to (a) reduce the consumption of alcopops, particularly by those under the age of 18, (b) persuade more retailers to stop stocking alcopops and (c) encourage voluntary changes of behaviour by the advertising and brewing industries in respect of alcopops. [6581]
Mr. George Howarth:
As chairman of the Ministerial Group on Alcopops, I have had urgent talks with the drinks industry and other interests about under-age drinking. I expect to make an announcement later this month.
3 Jul 1997 : Column: 239
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission a comparative study of the forms of electoral registration used (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas. [6023]
Mr. George Howarth
[holding answer 1 July 1997]: We have no immediate plans to do so but we will keep the matter under consideration.
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the factors underlying non-registration on the electoral roll; and if he will make a statement. [6018]
Mr. Howarth
[holding answer 1 July 1997]: Research commissioned by the Home Office after the 1991 Census indicated that a number of groups were less likely to register than others. These included people aged under 30, those living in private rented accommodation and inner city areas, people who changed addresses frequently, and members of ethnic minority communities. We are considering how best to publicise this autumn's canvass for electoral registration to encourage members of such groups to register.
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of numbers and percentage of people missing from electoral registers who are entitled to be registered (a) in total and (b) in the categories (i) those living in private rented accommodation, (ii) residents of inner London, (iii) 21 to 24-year-olds, (iv) attainers, (v) ethnic minorities, (vi) new commonwealth citizens, (vii) those who moved in the year before a general election, (viii) homeless people and (ix) disabled people. [6011]
Mr. Howarth
[holding answer 1 July 1997]: On (a), I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 2 June, Official Report, columns 90-92. On (b), the most recent material on which to base estimates for most of the categories listed is the study carried out after the last census by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on behalf of the Home Office and the Scottish Home and Health Department, entitled "Electoral registration in 1991". No information is available on homeless or disabled people.
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the turnout at the last general election as a percentage of those able to vote. [6009]
Mr. George Howarth
[holding answer 1 July 1997]: The turnout at the last general election has been reported in the media as around 71 per cent. Official figures provided by acting returning officers will be published in due course, together with information on election expenses.
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the electoral participation rates of (a) those living in private rented accommodation, (b) residents of inner London, (c) 21 to 24-year-olds, (d) attainers, (e) ethnic
3 Jul 1997 : Column: 240
minorities, (f) new commonwealth citizens, (g) those who moved in the year before a general election, (h) homeless people and (i) disabled people. [6012]
Mr. Howarth
[holding answer 1 July 1997]: No estimates have been made of the extent to which members of any of these groups take part in the electoral process. 521,083 attainers were included in the 1997 Electoral Register but information on the other categories listed in the question is not required by the electoral registration officers.
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take to ensure that (a) illegal immigrants and (b) overstayers in the United Kingdom who have children born and raised in the United Kingdom are not separated from their families by being deported. [5464]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The existence of children is always taken into account when considering whether a person should be deported or removed as an illegal entrant. Where, in the light of all the circumstances of the case, it is decided to proceed with deportation or removal, it is our practice to offer to meet the costs of departure for any dependants who wish to accompany the person abroad.
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to allow Abdul Onibiyo to re-enter the United Kingdom. [5465]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
It is open to any person to apply for an entry clearance for the purpose of seeking entry to the United Kingdom and a decision to refuse such a request, other than as a visitor, attracts a right of appeal to the independent Immigration Appeals Authority. The details of applications from individuals are normally treated in confidence unless the applicant initiates or consents to their disclosure.
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the time scale for the present review of detention of asylum seekers and immigration detainees. [5467]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The review is being conducted internally in the Home Office. We expect the results to be available by the autumn.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will reimburse local authorities in England and Wales for the loss of railings removed form council land during world war II. [5461]
Mr. Raynsford:
We have no plans to make such reimbursements.
3 Jul 1997 : Column: 241
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions through what mechanism regional development agencies will take into account environmental considerations. [5836]
Angela Eagle:
On 11 June the Government launched a wide ranging consultation on our proposals for regional development agencies in England. As we take forward these proposals in the light of the consultation, we will want to ensure that regional development agencies take proper account of environmental considerations.
Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce measures to assist councils to obtain the matched funding necessary to access ERDF grants. [6160]
Angela Eagle:
European Structural Funds, including the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), make an important contribution to economic development in the regions. The issues behind matched funding requirements for ERDF and the need for synergy between European and domestic regeneration programmes are being considered in the comprehensive review of regeneration expenditure in England now underway. However, as a net contributor to the EU budget, the UK also has an interest in ensuring that the best value for money is obtained from Structural Funds' expenditure. Requiring applicants to provide some level of matching funding gives them a strong incentive to produce projects which do represent good value for money and to make a real choice between competing priorities.
Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the impact of (i) recycling and (ii) burning secondary fuels; and if he will make a statement. [6245]
Angela Eagle:
My Department has not commissioned any research on these subjects. However, both the recovery of solvent waste to make fuel and the burning of secondary liquid fuels (SLF) are regulated by the Environment Agency under the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) regime. Each application for authorisation to burn SLF requires assessment of the likely environmental impacts. Details of these assessments must be placed in public registers in the relevant locality.
In addition, on 14 June, the Agency published the results of an extensive air monitoring study in the Clitheroe area of Lancashire. This study comprised emissions monitoring from industrial sites including Castle Cement's Ribblesdale cement works--which burns blended waste solvents together with traditional fuels--together with ambient air quality testing. The full results of the study have been forwarded to the Department of Health for evaluation.
The Environment Agency's response of 16 June to the House Environment Committee's report on the Environmental Impacts of Cement Manufacture also
3 Jul 1997 : Column: 242
commits it to carry out further research and to publish guidance in respect of appropriate disposal routes for waste solvents.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |