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Racial Harassment
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make racial harassment and violence a specific offence; and if he will make a statement. [14437]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The Government intend to introduce new offences of racial harassment and violence in the Crime and Disorder Bill. These measures will send out a strong message to society that such crime is unacceptable and will be dealt with seriously by the courts. A consultation document setting out in detail the Government's proposals was issued on 2 October. We are now considering the responses.
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 287
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 July 1997, Official Report, column 98, what is the target date for completion of the review of strip searching procedures. [13087]
Ms Quin:
We expect the review to have been completed by the end of January 1998.
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue guidance to the police, Crown Prosecution Service and other relevant professional groups on dealing with cases of alleged crimes against people with learning difficulties; and if he will make a statement. [13736]
Mr. Michael
[holding answer 5 November 1997]: The Government are concerned about the plight of vulnerable witnesses, including those with learning difficulties, and believe that more needs to be done.
That is why on 13 June I announced an urgent, wide-ranging review of the way in which vulnerable or intimidated witnesses are treated by the criminal justice system with the aim of identifying measures to protect those likely to be subject to intimidation and to assist them and other adult vulnerable witnesses give their best evidence in court. This is being taken forward by an interdepartmental working group which includes representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service. The review will include consideration of the need to issue guidance to the police and others involved in the criminal justice system who may deal with cases of alleged crime against people with learning difficulties.
Work undertaken by the Crown Prosecution Service, headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the superintendence of the Attorney-General, with the police has considered ways to improve information which assists with the early identification of vulnerable witnesses or victims or those who may have special requirements.
A new edition of the Manual of Guidance for the preparation of police files was published in October 1997. It advises officers on the information they should report to prosecutors concerning the special needs of certain witnesses and the additional measures required when they attend court.
Previous guidance relating to mentally vulnerable witnesses issued to Crown Prosecution Service staff in January 1995 draws attention to the fact that victims are often selected by offenders because of their vulnerability. This would be a public interest factor in favour of prosecution. The guidance also warns against assumptions being made about the capabilities of mentally vulnerable witnesses and their ability to give a reliable and complete account of events and urges decisions to be based on the known abilities of individuals.
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 288
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the President of the Council (1) when she plans to establish the Commons Environmental Audit Committee; [14266]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
I will be tabling the motion to establish the Environmental Audit Committee very soon.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many exclusion orders remain in force; what number involve (a) republicans and (b) loyalists; and if she will make a statement on her policy regarding their use. [13019]
Mr. Ingram:
No exclusion orders have been renewed or issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State since May, and none for which she is responsible is currently in force.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils attend preparatory departments at voluntary grammar schools; if these pupils are entitled to bus passes; what is the cost of these pupils to public funds; what are the estimated staff redundancy costs of the closure of these preparatory schools; what is the estimated additional cost to public funds of the transfer of these pupils to maintained and controlled primary schools; and if she will make a statement about the future of voluntary preparatory schools. [13648]
Mr. Worthington:
At October 1996, enrolments in the preparatory departments of voluntary grammar schools were 2,193. Pupils in these preparatory departments are not eligible for transport assistance. In 1996-97 grant aid to the preparatory departments of voluntary grammar schools totalled £1,307,380. The Department of Education is presently seeking the views of relevant schools on the implications of reducing or terminating public funding to them. Until those consultations have been concluded it is not possible to forecast possible redundancy costs or the additional costs, if any, resulting from preparatory department pupils transferring to primary schools.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the suppliers to her Department who are owed outstanding amounts, indicating the amounts and the due date on which the account should have been settled. [13539]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 30 October 1997]: All Departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Such detailed information on payment performance for the current financial year could
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 289
be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Treasury will shortly be publishing a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996-97.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average time taken by her Department to give full answers to letters received from hon. Members. [13955]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding reply 4 November 1997]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to a similar question from my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 3 November 1997, Official Report, column 5.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the expenditure by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on (i) tax consultants and (ii) other external tax advice in (1) 1995-96, (2) 1996-97 and (3) 1997-98; and if she will make a statement. [13271]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 5 November 1997]: The information requested in respect of the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland Departments, their agencies and NDPBs for the years 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 is as follows:
(2) when she plans to move the establishment of the Environmental Audit Committee. [12720]
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Department | |||
| (i) Tax consultants | -- | 6,514 | 13,275 |
| (ii) Other | -- | -- | -- |
| Agencies | |||
| (i) Tax consultants | -- | -- | -- |
| (ii) Other | -- | -- | -- |
| NDPBs | |||
| (i) Tax consultants | 6,764 | 4,365 | 7,016 |
| (ii) Other | 11,298 | 20,128 | 21,619 |
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many RUC barracks are maintained in Northern Ireland; and if she will list those currently being planned, built, replaced, renovated, reinforced, upgraded or extended or to be closed. [13057]
Mr. Ingram: The RUC estate currently consists of 164 establishments. There is an on-going programme of maintenance, including work to comply with health and safety requirements.
Future requirements are currently being assessed against policing needs and availability of funding.
Border Crossings
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the blocked border crossings in Northern Ireland in September 1994 and
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 290
September 1997, indicating anticipated changes in the next six months providing there is no major change in the overall security context. [13060]
Mr. Ingram:
At the beginning of September 1994, 104 border crossing points were subject to closure orders which were all rescinded later that month and in October 1994 by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. A list has been attached.
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