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Off-course Betting Shops

Mr. Page: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bookmaking companies currently operate off-course betting shops in the United Kingdom. [12305]

Mr. Howarth: An estimated 1,793 off-course bookmaking companies currently operate in the United Kingdom.

Primary Purpose Rule

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has received regarding the changes made in the primary purpose rule on 5 June. [12346]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: There has been much support for the abolition on 5 June of the primary purpose rule.

Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing changes in the primary purpose rule. [11657]

Mr. O'Brien: The primary purpose rule was abolished on 5 June. A review of outstanding appeal cases has now been completed.

Huntingdon Life Sciences

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the revocation of the certificate of designation at Huntingdon Life Sciences involves both the company's sites; [12307]

(2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newark (Ms Jones) of 24 July, Official Report, column 680, if the baboons at Huntingdon Life Sciences are wild caught; [12465]

(3) how many project licences have been revoked at Huntingdon Life Sciences as a result of the Home Office investigation; [12296]

(4) what problems relating to the care, treatment and handling of animals at Huntingdon Life Sciences were found in animal departments other than the dog toxicology unit as a result of his Department's investigation. [12464]

Mr. George Howarth: I have written to the hon. Member.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon.

27 Oct 1997 : Column: 744

Member for Newark (Ms Jones) of 24 July, Official Report, column 68, what are the 16 stringent conditions his Department has set Huntingdon Life Sciences. [12466]

Mr. Howarth: The 16 conditions were:

(i) That a report be submitted to the Home Office setting out what changes have been introduced to the line management for and the responsibilities of the proposed certificate holder, to ensure that these arrangements do not compromise animal welfare.


(ii) That the applicant for a new certificate of designation has successfully completed module 1 of a Home Office accredited training course.


(iii) That summary findings of the Department of Health good laboratory practice scrutiny be disclosed by the establishment to the Home Office with confirmation that any process problems have been corrected.


(iv) That a written submission be made outlining how each of the standard conditions attached to all certificates of designation would be effectively and fully implemented.


(v) That adequate provision has been made for regular and effective means of communication between those entrusted with responsibilities under the Act.


(vi) That the applicant be required to satisfy the Home Office that line management arrangements for all animal care staff are effective. Specifically:


(a) that line managers are qualified by experience or training and informed of their responsibilities and the need for welfare related problems to be notified to an appropriate level within the company;


(b) that only trained and competent staff are entrusted with responsibility for the care and welfare of animals;


(c) that measures are in place to ensure that the certificate holder will be properly informed of conditions and practices within the designated areas.


(vii) That the applicant demonstrates that the staff appraisal reporting system for animal care staff ensures that concerns relating to animal welfare are properly identified and resolved and makes provision for periodic assessment that basic competencies have been maintained.


(viii) That the applicant supplies the Home Office with a general "process map" with overviews of the methods and resources to be used to ensure that reduction, refinement and replacement are adequately addressed in the design of animal studies performed at the establishment.


(ix) That, for new studies, a system is in place which ensures that adequate numbers of appropriately trained and licensed technical staff will be available.


(x) That a system is established to determine the nature, frequency and duration of visits by the named veterinary surgeon to the designated areas.


(xi) That a suitable named person for the dog facility is nominated.


(xii) That the applicant submits an enforceable code of conduct for the control of dogs, coupled with an effective means of reporting misconduct to an appropriate level within the organisation. This should be accompanied by evidence that all dog unit animal care staff have received appropriate training.


(xiii) That the applicant demonstrates that systems are in place to ensure that staff training in the handling and care of dogs ensures that structured training is delivered, that competence is demonstrably assessed and that only competent persons are entrusted with responsibility for animals' health and welfare.

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(xiv) That the applicant submits standard operating procedures and protocols for the dog facilities relating to the housing, husbandry, care, restraint and performance of regulated procedures, with evidence that staff have successfully completed appropriate, structured training. This should include:


(a) a protocol for the group exercising of dogs which specifies the minimum daily exercise period per dog, defines the minimum amount of staff time to be used to socialise with the dogs and identifies the type of area provided for the exercise to take place:


(b) protocols for the restraint of dogs to enable intravenous dosing and sampling and the proper production of haemostasis thereafter. Evidence should be supplied that animal care staff have been appropriately trained or re-trained.


(xv) That the company has determined by internal benchmarking the principles which will determine and minimise the daily period for which pair-housed dogs will be held singly.


(xvi) That the applicant details any other measures which have or will be taken to provide environmental enrichment and a better quality of life for animals.

The company has now met these conditions and a new certificate of designation was issued on 29 September.

Identity Cards

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Association of Convenience Stores concerning a proposal for mandatory identity cards for young people; what response he has given; and if he will make a statement. [12289]

Mr. George Howarth: The Association's chief executive wrote to my right hon. Friend on 27 May asking the Government to introduce compulsory identity cards to assist retailers in determining the age of customers. I discussed this proposal with representatives of the association at a meeting on 18 June.

I subsequently wrote to the chief executive on 17 July, sending him a copy of the statement issued that day by the ministerial group on alcopops, which set out the Government's position on identity cards in the context of the Government's initiative on alcohol misuse by young people.

The statement made clear that the Government are considering the issues raised by national identity cards, but that these go wider than questions relating to sales of products to those under age. In any event, the introduction of national identity cards would require legislation and would not represent a short-term solution to concerns about the sale of alcohol to young people.

The statement welcomed the commitment of the association and other retail and liquor industry interests to expanding the existing Portman Group proof of age card scheme to tackle sales of alcohol to the under-18s.

I have just received a further letter from the association, which I am considering.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to publish a consultation document regarding the introduction of an identity card scheme. [12844]

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Mr. George Howarth: We have no present plans to issue such a document.

North Yorkshire Police

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assist with the provision of radio communications for North Yorkshire police. [12338]

Mr. Michael: The police information technology organisation in the Home Office has provided assistance and advice to North Yorkshire police on its radio communications planning, prior to the implementation of the next generation of digital radio communications systems from 1999 onwards. This advice and assistance will continue.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average times for processing criminal injuries compensation claims. [12515]

Mr. Michael: Claims under the criminal injuries compensation scheme vary greatly in their complexity. The straightforward ones may be determined in a matter of weeks, but those in which there are evidential difficulties or where the medical diagnosis or prognosis is uncertain may take several years to bring to a conclusion. Some will also be subject to an appeal. There is accordingly no meaningful average time for processing all cases. However, the victims charter sets a standard of 12 months from receipt of a claim to the issue of a first decision. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advises that, under the new tariff-based scheme, that standard has been met in 90 per cent. of claims received on or after 1 April 1996.

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