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Confectionery (Toys)
Ms Stuart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which manufacturers of confectionery containing toys have provided instructions for action to be taken in the event of ingestion of such toys or their container; [73825]
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Dr. Howells:
I am not aware of any manufacturers providing medical advice on action to be taken in the event of toys being ingested. All toys supplied in the UK--no matter how they are packaged--must meet the safety requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995 which implement harmonised European requirements. Research undertaken by DTI has established that the main causes of choking involving children under three years of age are sweets, coins and food objects--none of which is required to be accompanied by medical advice.
DTI has had the issue of choking accidents involving young children under review for some time; has considered information published in various papers; has considered various comments received; and has commissioned research on accident data collected by the Home Accident Surveillance System. However, I would of course welcome any new data or results of research that consumer organisations may be aware of.
Ms Stuart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which reporting category in the HASS system specifically covers choking on, or ingestion of, toys placed by manufacturers inside confectionery; [73826]
Dr. Howells:
Injuries involving toys or parts of toys are recorded under category 21 of table 10 in the Home Accident Surveillance System report. Details of accidents, including case listings, can also be extracted from the database according to the accident mechanism, e.g. choking. The various ways in which HASS can be interrogated ensures that all the home accidents treated by the A&E departments of the participating hospitals can be accessed.
Data from HASS records are freely available on request to manufacturers, organisations and individuals with an interest in consumer safety. Comprehensive lists of those requesting information are not maintained.
Dr. Tony Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which (a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74461]
Mr. Straw:
No task forces or policy reviews established since May 1997 have had external members
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recruited by public advertisement. Most task forces and policy reviews are short-term, established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to take part in some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute to specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would be inappropriate and disproportionate.
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Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory non-departmental public bodies have come within the remit of the Commissioner of Public Appointments.
Consultation exercises were associated with the following task forces and policy reviews:
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(2) if he will consult consumer, safety and medical experts on the risks to children of choking on toys placed inside confectionery and the steps necessary to prevent it. [73827]
(2) which manufacturers of confectionery containing toys have asked his Department for product-specific case listings from the Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System. [73828]
| Review | Form of consultation |
|---|---|
| Review to Consider Permanent UK-Wide Counter Terrorism Legislation | Consultation document published 17 December 1998. |
| Interdepartmental Review of Police Pensions | Consultation document published on 31 March 1998. |
| Working Party on Electoral Procedures | Concerned the sale of the electoral register and not about the Working Party's remit as a whole. News release published on 3 August 1998 invited initial responses and is being followed up by meetings and correspondence with interested parties. |
| Review of Family Court Welfare | A joint consultation document from the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department and Department of Health was published in July 1998. |
| Review of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Abuse of Trust | Written public consultation in August/September 1998, supported by seminars. Further written consultation in January/February 1999. |
| Review of Immigration and Asylum Appeals | Consultation paper issued on 13 July 1998. |
| Review on Measures on Community Safety | Consultation paper published September 1997. |
| Prisons-Probation Review | Consultation paper issued 6 August 1998. |
| Review of Anti-Social Behaviour | Consultation paper issued September 1997. |
| Sex Offences Review | Consultation leaflet issued on 25 January 1999. |
| Interdepartmental Review of Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses | Views invited by letter and conference. The report of the Review's Working Group was published for consultation on 10 June 1998. |
| Review of Arrangements for Confiscation of Criminal Assets | Report issued for consultation in November 1998. |
| Working Group considering a possible new offence of misuse of public office | Expected to report later in 1999 via a consultation paper. |
| Task Force on Youth Justice | Draft guidance on establishing youth offending teams published for consultation in February 1998. |
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Decision 276/1999/EC
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what the nineteenth recital of Decision 276/1999/EC refers; and what is his Department's policy in respect of it. [75055]
Kate Hoey: The 19th recital states that the Community action plan on promoting safer use of the internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks should take account of the work accomplished in the field of justice and home affairs. The Government support this proposal, which closely follows our own approach to this issue.
Europol
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to make use of Council Act 1999/c26/01 of 3 November 1998 with regard to the supply and sharing of and access to Europol material; what data the United Kingdom have already supplied to (i) the Europol Agency and (ii) the Schengen authorities; for what reason storage is required under the Act; if Article 10.4 enables Europol to carry out intelligence assessments in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [75056]
Kate Hoey:
The Europol Convention entered into force on 1 October 1998. Europol has not yet, however, taken up the full range of its activities. There are two
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outstanding sets of implementing regulations yet to be agreed and two member states have yet to notify ratification of one of the protocols to the Convention.
Once Europol is fully up and running, our law enforcement agencies will, through the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), make full use of the criminal intelligence analysis facilities Europol offers. In the meantime, information exchange takes place between the NCIS and United Kingdom liaison officers based at Europol's predecessor the Europol Drugs Unit (EDU).
Article 2 of the Europol Convention sets out the objectives of Europol and Article 3 its tasks. Article 10 and related regulations, all of which have been deposited for scrutiny, set out the circumstances in which data will be collected, processed, used and exchanged. Europol will be able to store only data that are necessary to enable it to carry out its remit. In the case of personal data, prior permission will be needed from Europol's Management Board and from Europol's Independent Data Protection Authority before such data can be collected and stored in an analysis file.
The assessment of information and intelligence relating to serious criminal activity in the United Kingdom is the responsibility of NCIS.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the planned level of involvement of Europol in internal EU fraud investigations. [75054]
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Kate Hoey:
Europol's remit does not at present extend to fraud. As far as I am aware, no proposals have been made for Europol to become involved in internal European Union fraud investigations.
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures he has established to ensure that local crime and disorder strategies will be monitored, evaluated and audited for evidence of success; and if he will make a statement. [75247]
Mr. Boateng:
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires the responsible authorities--the police and local authorities--to review progress against objectives and targets set in their strategies so as to monitor effectiveness. My Department will continue to work with the Audit Commission, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and other key partners to support the local crime and disorder reduction partnerships in their vital work.
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