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Immigration

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest position regarding restoring a right of appeal for those refused entry clearance for visiting the United Kingdom. [13200]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Our manifesto commits us to providing a streamlined system of appeals for visitors denied a visa. We are examining the options for doing this.

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to the concessionary arrangements outside the immigration rules of 13 October; if he will define a relationship akin to marriage with a person of either sex, and specify the criteria to be used to establish such a relationship. [13348]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: A relationship akin to marriage is one which is similar in its nature to a marriage in that it involves a committed relationship which can be demonstrated by evidence such as joint commitments, financial or otherwise. In order to benefit under the new concession, an unmarried couple will need to demonstrate, among other matters, that they are legally unable to marry; that they have been living together for four years or more; that they intend to live together permanently; that any previous marriage or similar relationship has permanently broken down and that they will be able to maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds.

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of the current serving prison population lacks entry clearance certificates; [13343]

(2) how many persons were convicted of or pleaded guilty to indictable offences who lacked entry clearance certificates; how many of these were recommended for deportation by the courts; and how many have been deported in each of the last four years. [13341]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I regret that the information is not held on the relevant computer databases but the great majority of prisoners will not have entry clearance certificates and do not require them.

Police Constables

Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police constables were in post (a) in May 1992 and (b) in May 1997. [13318]

Mr. Michael: At the end of April 1992, there were 95,810 constables in England and Wales. By the end of March 1997, the latest date for which figures are

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available, this had increased by 2,322 to 98,132. Between March 1996 and March 1997, overall police numbers fell by 469 to 127,158.

Licensing Hours

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received to allow extensions of licensing hours where the provision of liquor is ancillary to performances of live music. [13311]

Mr. George Howarth: Licensing law already provides for extensions of licensing hours as an ancillary to live music. We are considering representations received from the restaurant and entertainments industries to relax some of the restrictions on the grant of such extensions.

Surveillance Systems

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many chief officer authorisations by (a) the police, and (b) HM Customs and Excise and (c) both, of intrusive surveillance operations were made which affected Sussex for the most recent year for which figures are available. [13355]

Mr. Michael: Figures on the total number of authorisations of intrusive surveillance operations are not collected centrally but a review undertaken to inform parliamentary debate of part III of the Police Act 1997 estimated that there were around 2,550 chief officer authorisations by police and Customs in the United Kingdom in 1996.

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the terms of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 to cover interception of telephone communication other than by a physical tap. [13223]

Mr. Straw: The Interception of Communications Act 1985 applies to the intentional interception of communications in the course of their transmission by means of a public telecommunications system however the interception is effected. It is not therefore necessary to consider an amendment of the kind proposed by my hon. Friend.

Deportation

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his policy in relation to deportation is the same for those aged under 60 years as it is for those aged over 60 years. [13347]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The age of 60 is not of itself significant. Each case is considered on its individual merits. This means that all relevant factors, including the age of the person, will be taken into account when deciding whether deportation is appropriate. The general policy of the previous Government was not to remove those aged 65 or more. I am examining all aspects of this issue as part of our general review of immigration and asylum policy.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum appeals are currently outstanding. [13344]

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Mr. Mike O'Brien: As at 30 September 1997, an estimated 26,500 asylum appeals, excluding dependants, were awaiting determination.

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of persons who have sought asylum in the United Kingdom in the last five years, and give the proportion whose whereabouts are known to the authorities. [13349]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: During the period 1 January 1993 to 30 September 1997, approximately 153,000 asylum applications, excluding dependants, were lodged in the United Kingdom. I regret that the other information requested is not available.

Prison Population

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the prison population has been in each of the last six months. [13342]

Ms Quin: The information requested is given in the table.

Population in prisons in England and Wales on the last day of the month, April to September 1997

On last day of month	Number
April	60,131
May	60,335
June	61,467
July	62,324
August	61,940
September	62,652

Mr. Shayler

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which friends and associates of Mr. Shayler were questioned by the police; when the questioning occurred; and what were the reasons for it. [13424]

Mr. Straw: This investigation is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I understand from the commissioner that inquiries are proceeding and the Metropolitan police will report in the normal way to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that Mr. Shayler will be arrested if he returns to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [13527]

Mr. Straw: This is not a matter for me but for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I understand from the commissioner that the Metropolitan police would like to interview Mr. Shayler in connection with a possible offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1989.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

International Whaling Commission

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the members of the British delegation to the annual meeting of the International

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Whaling Commission, and identify (a) their qualifications, (b) their other paid or voluntary employment and (c) their other current appointments. [12929]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 27 October 1997]: The members of the official UK delegation to the International Whaling Commission and current appointments were as follows:

Mr. C. I. Llewelyn: (UK Commissioner, MAFF, Fisheries Division II)

Mr. R. W. Bowman: (Alternate Commissioner, MAFF, Fisheries Division II)

Mrs. F. A. Walters: (MAFF, Fisheries Division II)

Miss S. Jeyabalan: (MAFF, Fisheries Division II)

Dr. J. T. Addison: (MAFF, Fisheries Scientist (CEFAS))

Mr. I. G. Muchmore: (DETR, Global Wildlife Division)

Mr. M. G. Whatley: (FCO, Environment, Science and Energy Department)

Professor P. W. Birnie: (Visiting Fellow at London School of Economics)

Ms H. McLachlan: (Senior Scientific Officer, RSPCA)

Mr. C. Stroud: (Campaigns Director, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society).

None had other paid or voluntary employment.

The following also acted at technical advisers to the UK delegation at the humane killing working group:

Mr. K. Meldrum: (former Chief Veterinary Officer, MAFF)

Mr. M. Cooke: (Veterinary Adviser)

Mr. W. Swann: (Head of Veterinary Department, RSPCA).

For reasons of confidentiality I am unable to provide further details of qualifications or other paid or voluntary employment.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage the International Whaling Commission to ban the use of the electric lance at its annual meeting; and if he will make a statement. [12928]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 27 October 1997]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Ms Shipley) on 28 October 1997, Official Report, columns 789-92.

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