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Security Service Files
Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the report of the Advisory Council on Public Records on their review of the criteria used by the Security Service in deciding whether to retain files on grounds of historical interest. [69601]
Mr. Straw:
On 29 July 1998, Official Report, columns 251-54, I announced to the House that, with the approval of the Lord Chancellor, I had invited the Advisory Council on Public Records to review the criteria which the Security Service employs to select files for permanent preservation on grounds of historical interest. The Chairman of the Council, the Master of the Rolls, accepted the invitation and submitted the Council's report to me on 21 December.
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The Council's Report concludes with the following recommendations:
Having consulted the Director General of the Security Service, I have decided to accept that Council's recommendations in full. Additionally, and in response to an observation elsewhere in the report, officials of the Public Record Office with the necessary security clearance will, in future, be invited to examine files which have been earmarked for destruction following review by the Security Service. This will provide a useful measure of external scrutiny of the selection process.
I am most grateful to the Advisory Council for undertaking this valuable review, and for its helpful and constructive recommendations. I am placing a copy of the Report in the Library.
Mr. Corbett:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what educational publicity campaign he plans, at what cost, to inform electors of the proportional voting system to be used to elect United Kingdom members of the European Parliament in June. [69033]
Mr. George Howarth:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Mr. Williams) on 18 January 1999, Official Report, column 327.
Mr. Rooney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many school crossing patrol positions there are in England and Wales; and how many vacancies there are. [68814]
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Mr. Boateng:
I understand from the Local Government Management Board that in 1996, the most recent year for which a figure is available, there were 18,786 school crossing patrol wardens in England and Wales. Information on the number of vacancies is not collected centrally.
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria used in assessments of prisons in England and Wales for the awarding of a Charter Mark; and if he will make a statement. [68952]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
I have been asked to reply.
The criteria used in assessment of prisons in England and Wales for the award of a Charter Mark are the same as are used in assessing all other public sector applications. For the 1998 assessment process these criteria were:
For all applicants the assessment process includes checking with sponsoring Departments, regulatory bodies, statutory user groups and other relevant bodies to ensure that any shortcomings or service failures are known and taken into account. The particular circumstances, including statutory obligations, of each applicant are also taken into account.
Applicants are required to submit a written application supported with evidence. The written application is assessed independently by two different assessors followed by a visit from one or more assessors who review the service on site, examine any additional evidence and meet a cross-section of users. For a prison, users would include the prisoners themselves, Prison Visitors and relatives of prisoners.
The decision to award a Charter Mark is made by an independent panel of judges.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times he or his junior Ministers, or predecessors in the post, have paid official visits to (a) the Czech Republic, (b) Poland, (c) Hungary, (d) Slovenia, (e) Estonia and (f) Cyprus since May 1997; and what was the purpose of each visit. [67700]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 27 January 1999]: Since May 1997 DTI Ministers have made the following visits to Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
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1. The following criteria should be added to those which currently guide the selection of files of historical interest:
i. Organisations and individuals on which security action was required but which were not of great significance nationally or internationally at the time when the action took place.
Selection should be carried out to show the geographical, national and social range of individuals and organisations with which the Service had dealings. Full details of this criterion to be developed within the operational selection policy.
ii. Events with which the Service had an active involvement but which were neither newsworthy at the time nor historically significant if considered in isolation.
Selection should be carried out in order to reflect both developments in the Service's own activities and policies and the social, economic and political context within which the Service operated. Full details of this criterion to be developed within the operational selection policy.
iii. A sample taken from all files on individuals on whom, after initial investigation, no security action was taken and from the files on individuals not selected under other criteria.
At a minimum this should be a sample of one out of 100 of such files. The details of the sampling method should be considered as part of the development of an operational selection policy. The taking of a sample is dependent on the preservation of all means of reference.
iv. All policy and subject files, other than those of an ephemeral nature.
v. All registers and other means of reference to policy files and to files on subjects, organisations and individuals.
2. The Security Service should work with the Public Record Office to develop an operational selection policy based on the criteria as amended, for completion in 2000-01.
1. Performance standards
2. Information and openness
3. Consultation and choice
4. Courtesy and helpfulness
5. Putting things right
6. Value for money
7. User satisfaction
8. Improvements in service quality
9. Planned improvements and innovations.
| Ministerial visit | Purpose of visit |
|---|---|
| December 1997 | |
| Hungary | Trade Promotion |
| Czech Republic | Trade Promotion |
| Poland | Trade Promotion |
| January 1998 | |
| Czech Republic | Trade Policy |
| Hungary | Trade Promotion |
| September 1998 | |
| Poland | Address a Seminar on Entrepreneurship and meeting with the Polish Minister for the Economy |
There have been no visits to Slovenia, Estonia or Cyprus.
BAT Industries and Rothmans International
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the regulatory procedures which must now be followed in respect of the proposed merger between BAT Industries and Rothmans International. [67949]
Dr. Howells: It will be necessary to determine whether this proposed merger falls for consideration by the European Commission under the EC Merger Regulation, or by the UK authorities under the Fair Trading Act 1973. If it falls to the EC Merger Regulation it is for the parties to notify the European Commission. The UK plays a formal role in the Commission's assessment process. If it falls to the UK authorities my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry would decide whether or not to refer it to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the light of the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading. Each case is considered on its own merits.
Export Licences (Records)
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for how long a British company or agency which has supplied military, security or police equipment which has been exempted from export licence requirements is required to maintain records of such transfers. [68303]
Dr. Howells: Export of controlled military and paramilitary goods is subject to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, made under the provisions of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939. The 1939 Act does not bind the Crown. In addition, a number of international organisations have had immunity from export prohibitions conferred upon them by means of Orders in Council made under the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act 1968. The Government and those immune international organisations are under no legal obligation to maintain records of their exports.
No other agencies or companies are exempt from the provisions of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994.
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