| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
HOME DEPARTMENT
Huntingdon Life Sciences
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the results of the investigation into Huntingdon Life Sciences currently being undertaken by the Home Office Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate will be made public with particular reference to any action taken against members of staff found guilty of cruelty to animals. [8337]
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 261
Mr. George Howarth:
The personal licences of two individuals have been revoked. The police have charged these two individuals with offences under the Protection of Animals Act 1911.
We expect to issue a public statement about the outcome of the Home Office investigation and are currently seeking legal advice on its extent, nature and timing. Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prohibits the disclosure of information given in confidence and we must also avoid prejudicing the prosecutions being sought by the police.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences for experimentation on animals in the field of microsurgery have been applied for under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [8661]
Mr. George Howarth:
Twenty-four. Applications for microsurgical training are referred to the Animal Procedures Committee and are noted in the Committee's annual report.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the Animal Procedures Committee and their area of expertise. [8668]
| Age of expertise | |
|---|---|
| Professor Margaret Brazier | Law |
| Professor Ronald Anderson | Animal husbandry |
| Professor Margaret Boden | Philosophy and psychology |
| Professor Barry Bridges | Histology |
| Professor Fiona Broughton Pipkin | Perinatal physiology |
| Dr. David Christopher | Regulatory toxicology |
| Dr. Yvonne Cripps | Law |
| Professor Robin Dunbar | Primate behaviour |
| Professor Paul Flecknell | Comparative biology |
| Mr. John Gregory | Laboratory animal science |
| Professor Susan Iversen | Experimental psychology |
| Mrs. Judy MacArthur Clark | Veterinary science |
| Miss Cindy Milburn | Animal welfare |
| Dr. Iain Purchase | Toxicology |
| Dr. Jacqueline Southee | In-vitro toxicology |
| Professor Michael Spyer | Physiology |
| Dr. Anthony Suckling | Animal welfare |
| Professor John Turner | Evolutionary genetics |
| Mr. Les Ward | Animal welfare |
Perjury
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 July, Official Report, column 522, when he expects the police investigation into the alleged perjury of Jonathan Aitken in the discontinued libel action against The Guardian to be concluded. [8736]
Mr. Michael:
The Commissioner informs me that the investigation is being pursued as expeditiously as possible. When the investigation is complete, a report will be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service. This investigation is an operational matter for the Commissioner.
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 262
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the impact on farmers' incomes of a ban on foxhunting. [7286]
Mr. George Howarth:
A Private Member's Bill to ban hunting with hounds is currently before the House. This will provide the opportunity for Parliament to consider all the effects of a ban.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spends on biking press releases to (a) hon. Members and (b) other individuals or groups, each time his Department issues a press release; how many such press releases were issued by his Department (i) in the period 1 May to 1 July and (ii) in the period 1 Janaury to 1 March; and if he will review his Department's use of couriers to deliver press releases and investigate the possibility of using fax or e-mail. [8818]
Mr. Straw:
No Home Office press releases are sent out by courier. In the period of 1 May to 1 July, my Department issued 41 press releases. In the period 1 Janaury to 1 March the number was 55. The Home Office uses both electronic distribution and fax to deliver press releases speedily to the media. In addition, all releases are placed on the Internet.
Sir Nicholas Lyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with regard to Application Number 28186/94 Euan Sutherland v. United Kingdom concerning the age of consent for homosexuals, if the United Kingdom's case includes the contention that such matters are within the margin of appreciation of each member state; in the event of the Government being minded to settle the case, what steps will be taken to ensure that the United Kingdom's rights in this respect are protected; and if he will make a statement.[8995]
Mr. Michael:
The European Court of Human Rights recognises that states have a margin of appreciation in deciding, through a democratic process, how best to legislate in controversial areas. The Government welcome the Court's recognition of the importance of this doctrine in enabling countries to have distinctive, appropriate and fair controls that reflect genuine national differences. Social and moral questions, on which there can be widely differing opinions, will often fall within the margin of appreciation. In taking the view that the age of homosexual consent is a matter on which Parliament should decide what is appropriate for the United Kingdom, on the basis of a free vote, the Government again emphasise the importance of the margin of appreciation in such issues.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that responsibility for the investigation of major international crimes involving (a) foreign Governments and (b) state prosecutors in other countries is devolved to the Metropolitan police. [9022]
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 263
Mr. Michael:
The investigation of crime is primarily a matter for the police force in whose area the offence occurred. All chief officers may call for, and be asked to provide, assistance in such investigations, whether the offence was committed in this country or elsewhere. The Metropolitan police exceptionally takes the lead in providing assistance in respect of hostage situations involving British citizens abroad. As the present arrangements are tried and tested, I see no reason to change them.
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were lodged (a) at the point of entry, (b) in country and (c) in total, in each month since January 1996; and how many asylum applications were awaiting an initial decision as at the end of each month since January 1996.[9756]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The information requested is given in the table and takes into account recent upward revisions to the number of in-country asylum applications lodged between September 1996 and May 1997. Due to an error in the method of calculation, certain in-country applications were not recorded in the monthly totals during this period.
| Number of asylum applications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lodged at port | Lodged in-country | Total | Applications awaiting an initial decision(2) | |
| 1996 | ||||
| January | 1,070 | 2,240 | 3,310 | 69,765 |
| February | 975 | 1,880 | 2,850 | 69,160 |
| March | 985 | 2,160 | 3,145 | 69,165 |
| April | 760 | 1,310 | 2,070 | 67,730 |
| May | 740 | 1,010 | 1,755 | 66,400 |
| June | 805 | 925 | 1,730 | 64,700 |
| July | 835 | 1,680 | 2,515 | 63,265 |
| August | 905 | 1,230 | 2,140 | 62,000 |
| September | 1,205 | (3)980 | (3)2,185 | (3)60,455 |
| October | 1,270 | (3)1,540 | (3)2,810 | (3)58,970 |
| November | 1,180 | (3)1,270 | (3)2,450 | (3)57,415 |
| December | 1,710 | (3)975 | (3)2,685 | (3)57,405 |
| Total 1996 | 12,440 | (3)17,205 | (3)29,640 | n/a |
| 1997 | ||||
| January | 1,210 | (3)1,505 | (3)2,715 | (3)56,640 |
| February | 1,135 | (3)1,340 | (3)2,475 | (3)55,820 |
| March | 1,210 | (3)950 | (3)2,160 | (3)54,950 |
| April | 1,385 | (3)1,280 | (3)2,665 | (3)54,020 |
| May | 1,365 | (3)1,230 | (3)2,590 | (3)53,545 |
| Total 1997 (January to May) | 6,310 | (3)6,300 | (3)12,605 | n/a |
(1) Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5.
(2) Number of applications awaiting an initial decision as at end of month.
(3) Revised.
n/a = not applicable.
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 264
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |