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Superstores
Ms Kingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires were attended by rescue services in single storey uncompartmentalised warehouse style superstores of (a) over 2,000 square metres and (b) over 4,000 square metres in (i) 1990 to 1995, (ii) 1996, (iii) 1997 and (iv) 1998 to date. [57675]
Mr. George Howarth: The information requested is not available centrally.
Probation Service
Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reform the Probation Service; and if he will make a statement. [57392]
Mr. George Howarth: Our proposals for modernising the probation services of England and Wales are set out in the consultation document "Joining Forces to Protect the Public", which was published on 6 August this year. The consultation will conclude on 27 November. Also relevant are our proposals set out in the consultation paper "Support Services in Family Proceedings--Future Organisation of Court Welfare Services", which was published on 30 July. This consultation will conclude on 13 November. Copies of both consultation documents are available in the Library. In both cases, there will be no decisions taken until all the responses have been carefully considered.
Senator Pinochet
Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he was first informed that an international warrant for the arrest of Senator Pinochet had been issued; and who informed him. [57413]
Mr. Straw: I was told by my office during the evening of Friday 16 October.
Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those people who consulted him or his officials about the diplomatic status of Senator Pinochet prior to the senator's arrest. [57427]
Mr. Straw: Neither I nor my officials were consulted about Senator Pinochet's diplomatic status.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his officials were informed that
3 Nov 1998 : Column: 506
Senator Pinochet had entered the United Kingdom on his current visit. [57396]
Mr. Straw:
An immigration officer granted Senator Pinochet leave to enter the United Kingdom on 22 September 1998. Officials elsewhere in the Home Office were only alerted to Senator Pinochet's presence on 14 October.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Spanish authorities about the extradition of Senator Pinochet; and when. [57411]
Mr. Straw:
I received no such representations.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made about the Security Service through the Security Service tribunal relating to telephone taps, letter intercepts and close surveillance in each of the last five years; and how many of the complaints made in each of those years has been upheld. [57913]
Mr. Straw:
The available information regarding complaints about the Security Service made to the Security Service Tribunal is published in the Annual Reports of the Security Service Commissioner. The numbers are as follows:
| Year | Number of complaints received |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 36 |
| 1994 | 42 |
| 1995 | 21 |
| 1996 | 34 |
| 1997 | 45 |
| Year | Number of complaints received |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 11 |
| 1994 | 19 |
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 1997 | 14 |
| Year | Number of complaints received |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 41 |
| 1994 | 37 |
| 1995 | 64 |
| 1996 | 52 |
| 1997 | 79 |
3 Nov 1998 : Column: 507
No determination in favour of a complainant has been made by either Tribunal.
Channel Islands
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the result of the review of the financial legislation in Crown dependencies announced on 20 January, with particular reference to the Channel Islands. [57754]
Mr. George Howarth: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 26 October 1998, Official Report, column 4.
Asylum Seekers
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to estimate future numbers of refugees and asylum seekers; what plans he is making for their reception; and if he will make a statement. [57684]
Kate Hoey: It is impossible to predict with any degree of accuracy what the future numbers of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom will be. The flow depends on a number of factors, reflecting conflicts, political instability and migratory pressures around the world. We are however looking at recent trends and also looking to make judgments on how the measures announced in the White Paper will affect the number of asylum applications. The results of our analysis will be available shortly.
The Government's plans to introduce a new support system for asylum seekers are set out in chapter 8 of the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer--a modern approach to immigration and asylum" (CM 4018).
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further (a) policy and (b) financial responses are being considered to deal with problems on the South Coast, arising from the influx of asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [58207]
Kate Hoey:
Asylum seekers who register their application when they arrive in this country may be eligible for income support. In-country applicants may be eligible for support under the National Assistance Act 1948 or (in the case of children) under the terms of the Children Act 1989. In the latter case, the obligation to provide support falls on the local authority.
I am aware of the pressures being faced by a small number of local authorities in coping with the recent influx of asylum seekers. I have, therefore, encouraged the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of London Government (ALG) to develop a
3 Nov 1998 : Column: 508
clearing house arrangement which will enable asylum seekers to be dispersed on a fair and equitable basis around the country. I am aware of the financial disincentives in the current grant arrangements by which local authorities recover part of their costs in providing a support to asylum seekers. Provided the LGA and the ALG can introduce a workable system for the support of asylum seekers, the Government propose to change the grant arrangements for this year to enable local authorities to be paid on the basis of unit costs which are realistic but challenging.
For the longer term, the Government plan to introduce a new support system for asylum seekers as set out in chapter 8 of the White Paper, "Fairer, Faster and Firmer--A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum" (Cm 4018).
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the steps taken by the nuclear industry to ensure that it is fully millennium-compliant. [57762]
Mr. Battle:
All UK nuclear operators have initiated major programmes of work to address potential problems associated with the century date change issue. Those aspects of these programmes that address potential safety concerns are being monitored closely by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE is satisfied with the actions being taken. If the HSE were not satisfied it could make use of its extensive powers to require nuclear site licensees to undertake any safety-related actions it considered necessary. Operators anticipate that all essential work will be completed by mid-1999. Systems will be re-tested thoroughly to provide confirmation that remedial action taken to rectify any safety problems that are identified has been effective. Contingency plans will also be in place for the critical dates as a precaution against unforeseen threats to safety.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the contribution to the United Kingdom economy of the marine sector in terms of (a) its share of national value added and (b) employment. [57088]
Mr. Battle:
There is no standard definition of the marine sector. Furthermore, some of the industries which might reasonably be included, such as marine equipment, are not available from official statistics, usually because they are not separately identified within the Standard Industrial Classification. However, the following information is available
(12) Excludes self employment
Source:
Office for National Statistics: input/output tables, Annual Employment Survey
3 Nov 1998 : Column: 509
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