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Animals (Scientific Procedures)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 6 November 1997, Official Report, column 284, if he will list the numbers and nature of experiments carried out in 1996 where animals were used to test and develop means of protecting United Kingdom service personnel against terrorist and battlefield weapons. [15952]
Mr. George Howarth:
This information is not collected centrally by the Home Office. Licensees are not required in their annual statistical returns to specify whether procedures are for the purpose of protecting or treating service personnel. Military medicine is not a separate category of permissible work under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The numbers of animals in question may be recorded in the 1996 annual statistics variously under the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
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disease; the advance of biological science; the modification of physiological function; and protection of the environment.
Mr. Sutcliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides have taken place at Armley gaol, Leeds, over the last 10 years. [16089]
Ms Quin:
The number of deaths at Leeds prison over the last ten years where the Coroner's verdict was suicide is given.
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 4 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
There have been two self-inflicted deaths at Leeds prison as at 13 November 1997. The Coroner's inquests into both have yet to be held.
Criminal Injuries Compensation
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to review the figures set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Tariff; and if he will make a statement; [15320]
- (2) what plans he has to revise the terms and operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [15321]
Mr. Michael: Public expenditure on victims of crime is currently under review as part of the Government's wider comprehensive spending review launched earlier this year. Amongst other things, the review is looking at expenditure on the criminal injuries compensation scheme, as well as on other victims' programmes. The Government will consider whether changes to the compensation scheme might be appropriate in the light of the findings of the spending review.
EU Conventions
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to place before Parliament proposals for approval of the draft conventions on (i) driver disqualification and (ii) mutual assistance on criminal matters; and what steps have been taken to consult other bodies or interests concerned in respect of each convention. [15572]
Ms Quin:
It is not possible to give an estimate of when negotiations on the draft Convention on driving disqualifications will be completed, as a number of issues remain to be resolved. Home Office and Department of Transport officials have been collaborating in work on the draft Convention, which will be deposited for scrutiny shortly.
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Under the European Union Action Plan to combat organised crime, approved by the Amsterdam Council, the target date for completion of the draft Convention on mutual legal assistance is not later than mid-1998. The Home Office regularly consults other departments and agencies on the draft Convention. The text was deposited for scrutiny on 3 October 1996. A substantially revised and expanded version was sent to the scrutiny committees on 24 July this year and a further updated text was sent to them on 28 October.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 1997, Official Report, columns 74-6, concerning the operation of a convention concerning corruption and officials of the European Union and member states; and when and by what means parliamentary approval was given to the convention. [15574]
Ms Quin:
The Convention was agreed by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 26 May 1997. It has not yet been ratified by any member state.
Prior to ratification by the United Kingdom, the Convention will be laid before Parliament for at least 21 sitting days in accordance with the Ponsonby Rule. I regret that the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 1 July 1997, Official Report, columns 74-6, incorrectly stated that no further Parliamentary proceedings are required in order to ratify the Convention. I apologise for that error.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 1997, Official Report, columns 74-6, in respect of the Fraud Convention of the European Community, when he expects to lay an Order under Section 78(3) of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 before each House of Parliament; and what subsequent procedure it will be subject to. [15568]
Ms Quin:
We hope to lay an Order by the middle of 1998. This will put the United Kingdom in a position to ratify the Convention. At that point, the Convention will be laid before Parliament in accordance with the normal procedure.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 1997, Official Report, columns 74-6, when the Europol Convention acquired legal status in the United Kingdom; on what date the subsequent protocol giving optional powers to the European Court was placed (a) before the Government and (b) approved by Parliament; and where the text of the Protocol is publicly available. [15571]
Mr. Michael:
The Europol Convention was signed in July 1995 and ratified by the United Kingdom on 10 December 1996. It will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiry of a three month period after the last member state has ratified it.
The Protocol to the Convention concerning the Court of Justice of the European Communities was signed in July 1996, laid before Parliament on 11 November 1996 and ratified on 10 December 1996. The text of the Protocol was published as Command Paper Number 3465.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the Eurostar route to and from the Continent
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is secure against misuse by illegal immigrants and those wishing to bring illegal drugs into the United Kingdom.[14205]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Foreign nationals travelling on Eurostar services are subject to examination by United Kingdom Immigration Officers. We liaise with French and Belgian authorities to ensure that this control is effective, and are currently examining with Eurostar and French authorities the issue of permanent document checks in Paris. The French authorities are assisting with random checks at the moment. These were introduced at the request of this Government because under the system we inherited there were no checks at all in Paris. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise operate checks for drugs on Eurostar passengers at Ashford and Waterloo terminals. These checks are based on intelligence, information and risk-testing analysis.
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the contracts to (a) manage and (b) build and manage, prisons under the private finance initiative have been let to Group 4 Securitas or consortia including Group 4 Securitas; which of those contracts was awarded after competition in response to the lowest cost bid; and if he will make a statement. [13725]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: Group 4 Securitas manages Her Majesty's Prison Wolds and Her Majesty's Prison Buckley Hall, and is part of the consortium awarded the contract to design, construct, manage and finance Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse under the private finance initiative. These contracts were decided on the basis of the bid and offered best value for money, having taken account of criteria relating to quality and confidence in deliverability.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if companies attending Milipol at Le Bourget in France on 24 to 27 November will receive any Government support. [14964]
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