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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 3 December 1998
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Rural Areas (Access to Justice)
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Welsh Office is taking to increase access to justice for people living in rural areas in Wales. [61473]
Mr. Hoon: The Lord Chancellor's Department is proposing to create a Community Legal Service, which will improve access to good quality legal and advice services for those with the greatest need. This will be achieved by greater local planning of legal and advice services and co-ordination of funding through Community Legal Service Partnerships between local authorities, the Legal Aid Board and other significant funders. This will be particularly important to rural communities, as the inconsistent geographic coverage of legal and advice services impacts disproportionately in rural areas.
The Lord Chancellor's Department also wishes to see the facilities at some magistrates' courts improved where these may be substandard, but--as section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 sets out--decisions about the location and number of courthouses and offices are the responsibility of the relevant magistrates' courts committees in consultation with their paying authorities. The Lord Chancellor's Department will become involved only when a paying authority appeals against an MCC's determination.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will take steps to halt the closure of (a) magistrates' and (b) county council courts in the rural areas of Wales. [61474]
Mr. Hoon:
Magistrates' courts are locally managed by magistrates' courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Decisions concerning the location and number of magistrates' courts in their area are for the relevant magistrates' courts committee to determine. A local authority that contributes financially may appeal to the Lord Chancellor against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals is set out in section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. In the absence of an appeal, however, the Lord Chancellor plays no part in the process.
The Court Service is responsible for all civil and the higher criminal courts and is required constantly to monitor and review the viability of its court network. Factors taken into consideration include the role played by the court in providing a service to the public in that area, and the effect and implications of providing an alternative for its current users. The criteria for considering the case for and against closure as set out in the Departmental Accommodation Plan are: the condition of the existing accommodation; the availability of facilities; the frequency of judicial visits and waiting
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times; the facilities provided by the alternative court; and the capacity of that court to cater for the additional work; and distances and public transport considerations. In general, the Court service must look to improve services to an area overall.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current security classifications of the newsletters produced for the staff of (a) the Pay and Personnel Agency and (b) the Duke of York's Royal Military School; how often each newsletter is produced; and when each newsletter was first produced. [62043]
Mr. Spellar:
This is a matter for the Chief Executives of the agencies concerned. I have asked the Chief Executives to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from G. H. Wilson to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 3 December 1998:
Letter from Mike Rowe to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 3 December 1998:
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many series of research papers his Department produces; and what are the names of each of these series of research papers. [62041]
Mr. Spellar:
A very large number of research papers are produced by the staff of Ministry of Defence research establishments and most such papers are in the public domain and not classified. Publication of research papers is the individual responsibility of the research establishments and sectors within them. Details of series of research papers are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the procedures for enforcement of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, indicating the steps salvers should take to initiate enforcement action. [60864]
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Mr. Alan Howarth:
Responsibility for policing or prosecuting offences under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 lies with the relevant police force and the Crown Prosecution Service. My Department is happy to assist the police in any matters relating to the 1973 Act, whenever necessary. Steps are being taken to remind relevant police forces of their responsibilities under the 1973 Act, and of the designated wreck sites within their area of responsibility.
Any individual who suspects that illegal diving may be taking place on a designated wreck site should, in the first instance, contact their local police constabulary whose responsibility it is to take the necessary steps to investigate the allegations. My Department would also wish to be kept informed of such incidents and will provide advice as necessary.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about the actions of and communications between his Department and the Devon and Cornwall police in the week commencing 5 October 1998, regarding the designated site at Salcombe and the complaint made to them under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. [60865]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
My officials were in telephone contact with the Devon and Cornwall Police three times on Wednesday 7 October to discuss the situation on the Salcombe Cannon designated wreck site. As a result of the telephone conversation, a letter was faxed to the Police at 3.15pm on Wednesday 7 October, setting out the legal provisions of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. A copy of the licence for the site, detailing the individuals authorised to dive on it, was also faxed to the Police, at their request, on the afternoon of Wednesday 7 October. A further telephone call was made to the Police on Friday 9 October to obtain an update on the situation.
Mr. Ottaway:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will provide a breakdown of the running costs of the Royal Parks Agency (a) by area of responsibility and (b) by Royal Park in each year since 1993; [60973]
(3) how many people employed by the Royal Parks Agency in each year since 1993 were paid (a) £0 to £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £20,000, (c) £20,000 to £30,000, (d) £30,000 to £40,000, (e) £40,000 to £50,000 and (f) £50,000 and above. [60891]
Mr. Alan Howarth
[holding answer 27 November 1998]: Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Viviane Robertson to Mr. Richard Ottaway, dated 3 December 1998:
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I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about newsletters to staff as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School.
The current security classification of newsletters produced for the staff is "unclassified".
Newsletters were first produced for staff, parents and pupils in December 1992 and are produced once per school term. In addition Staff Bulletins have been in production at the school for many decades and these are produced once a week.
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about newsletters as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Pay & Personnel Agency.
The Agency produces an unclassified newsletter, the "NewsPayPer". It was first produced in July 1996 and there have been 9 quarterly issues since.
(2) how many people were employed by the Royal Parks Agency to maintain (a) Hyde Park and (b) Regent's Park in each year since 1993; [60892]
In the absence of the Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch, the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport has asked me to reply to your parliamentary questions concerning staffing levels and costs in the Royal Parks.
| 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyde Park | 325 | 363 | 379 | 399 | 313 |
| St. James's Park | 136 | 155 | 171 | 255 | 236 |
| Kensington Gardens | 122 | 111 | 114 | 134 | 110 |
| Regent's Park | 282 | 294 | 342 | 313 | 169 |
| Greenwich Park | 197 | 201 | 190 | 157 | 160 |
| Richmond Park | 290 | 363 | 322 | 327 | 335 |
| Bushy Park | 142 | 122 | 126 | 128 | 117 |
| Royal parks | 5,623 | 5,443 | 5,420 | 5,182 | 5,094 |
| Constabulary Headquarters | 1,308 | 1,510 | 1,428 | 1,730 | 1,500 |
Note:
These figures represent net running costs ie: less receipts. A further breakdown of Headquarters costs is not available
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, how many people were employed by the Royal parks Agency to maintain Hyde park and Regent's Park in each year since 1993.
From 1993-94 to 1996-97 the Agency employed 12 non- uniformed staff to maintain Hyde park and 8 staff to maintain Regent's park. Since 1997-98 these numbers have been reduced to 8 and 6 respectively. I regret we are unable to confirm the number of police officers in these two parks, as we do not keep historical records of numbers of police officers on a park by park basis.
To ask the Secretary of State of State for Culture Media and Sport, how many people employed by the Royal Parks Agency in each year since 1993 were paid in (a) £0 to £10,000, (b) 10,000 to £20,000, (c) £20,00 to £30,000, (d) £30,000 to £40,000, (e) £40,00 to £50,000 and (f) £50,000 and above.
| Salary band £ | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000-39,999 | n/a | 7 | 14 | 9 | 21 |
| 40,000-49,000 | n/a | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 50,000--above | n/a | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
We are unable to provide a breakdown of the numbers of staff paid in bands below £30,000.
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