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21 Jul 1997 : Column: 385

Written Answers to Questions

Monday 21 July 1997

HOME DEPARTMENT

Young Offenders

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to introduce a fast-track approach to bringing young offenders to court. [7526]

Mr. Michael: The Government are committed to halving the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders and tackling delays throughout the youth justice system. We are taking immediate action to speed up proceedings against young offenders. My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has already written to the chairman of every youth panel in magistrates courts throughout England and Wales encouraging them to deal swiftly and effectively with persistent young offenders and to minimise the granting of adjournments. We intend to follow this up with good practice guidance to all relevant agencies. The Crime and Disorder Bill will also include reforms to the youth justice system designed to ensure that young offenders are dealt with more speedily.

European Convention on Human Rights

Mr. Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms he plans to establish for consultation on the incorporation of the European convention on human rights into (a) English and Welsh law, (b) Scots law and (c) Northern Irish law. [7527]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We published a consultation document on incorporation--"Bringing Rights Home"--in December 1996. We are now developing proposals for legislation in the light of the responses to that document and further discussions we have had since then. We will announce our conclusions in a White Paper later this year and are happy to consider any representations made in response to it.

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he intends to have the European convention on human rights introduced into United Kingdom law. [7529]

Mr. Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals to incorporate the European convention on human rights into domestic law. [7537]

Mr. O'Brien: We will introduce a Bill for this purpose in this Session of Parliament.

Coroners' Decisions

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the mechanisms for appeals against coroners' decisions; and if he will make a statement. [7535]

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Mr. George Howarth: Concerns have been expressed at the need to resort to the High Court for any review of a coroner's decision. This is one of a number of matters that we keep under review, but we have no present plans to change the legislation.

Debt Payment

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9529]

Mr. Straw: All Departments are required to pay their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of goods or service or a valid invoice where no such terms exist, whichever is the later. Information on payment performance for the current financial year is not immediately available, but I shall write to the hon. Member with the information as soon as possible. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996-97 in the autumn.

Alcohol

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to restrict the advertising and promotion of alcohol; [9216]

Mr. George Howarth: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan) on 16 July, Official Report, column 173, and to the letter I sent to all hon. Members on 17 July.

Firearms

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons section 7 of form A for use when surrendering items covered by the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 requires the person surrendering an item to agree to accept any payment rather than the sum specified in the compensation terms. [9670]

Mr. Michael: Payments will be made only in accordance with the terms of the compensation scheme as approved by Parliament. Valid claims under options A or B will result in the payments agreed in the scheme. The claim form asks claimants to declare that they will "accept any payment made in relation to any items claimed for under Options A or B as a settlement of" their "claim in relation to those items".

With a claim under these options, the claimant knows exactly the payment on offer. Signature of the declaration enables the firearms compensation section to pay claims immediately--at the time of acknowledgement--rather than having to send a further letter before payment can be agreed.

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be done with items surrendered under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 prior to the completion of the action being taken by owners in the European Court of Justice. [9668]

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Mr. Michael: With the exception of the items that are retained for police training purposes or acquired for public display in museums, all surrendered items will be destroyed. We are satisfied that the compensation scheme is in line with our obligations under European law and the disposal of surrendered items will proceed as described.

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if late payment of compensation under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 will attract interest. [9669]

Mr. Michael: Payments will be made under the published terms of the scheme. There is no provision to include interest as part of these payments, but payments will be made as swiftly as possible.

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what paperwork a handgun owner is required to complete when handing in to the police any item required to be surrendered under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [9671]

Mr. Michael: When making a claim for a handgun or accessories, applicants must complete and submit a claim form provided by their police force. Those submitting a claim under option C must attach documentary evidence as to the value of their items. Claimants must also produce their firearm certificate, temporary permit or certificate of registration as a firearms dealer and dealer's record of transactions, as appropriate. It will also be necessary to produce evidence of lawful ownership of the items as at 16 October 1996, as specified in the compensation scheme itself.

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be the legal owner of handguns handed in to the police under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [9667]

Mr. Michael: Items surrendered under the terms of the compensation and ex gratia schemes will become the property of the Secretary of State.

Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be tabling the draft compensation order for .22 calibre pistols and equipment. [9100]

Mr. Michael: Under the terms of clause 2 of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill there is no requirement for details of the compensation arrangements for small-calibre pistols and ancillary equipment to be tabled. Small-calibre pistol owners have already received details of the ex gratia scheme. As I informed the House during the debates on 9 June, copies of the scheme had been placed in the Library a few days beforehand. The scheme sets out the terms of payment for pistols and equipment that are surrendered voluntarily. It is intended that this ex gratia scheme will become the formal compensation scheme following the passing of the Bill. This, too, was explained fully to the House on 9 June.

Ethnic Minorities

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of employees, in each pay band, in the quangos for which his Department is responsible, are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [8950]

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Mr. Straw: From the available information, the breakdown of employees of Asian and Afro-Caribbean origin employed in the Home Office non-departmental public bodies is as follows:





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