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Treaty of Amsterdam

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list each of the new responsibilities which he will assume when the signed Treaty of Amsterdam takes effect and for each (a) the likely effect on departmental staffing, (b) the bodies or persons in the European Union principally concerned and (c) the relevant section of that treaty and the consolidated treaties of the European Union and European Community. [80412]

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Mr. Chris Smith: We do not expect the Treaty of Amsterdam to result in any significant new responsibilities for this Department. The Department regularly reviews its staffing arrangements in relation to European Union business but has no plans to alter these specifically in relation to the Treaty.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day since May 1997; and what percentage of them received a substantive reply on that day. [80730]

Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 15 April 1999]: Between 1 May 1997 and 15 April 1999, a total of 828 named day parliamentary questions were tabled for answer by my Department. Of these, 26 per cent. (214) received a substantive reply on the day requested.

HOME DEPARTMENT

National Family and Parenting Institute

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the constitution for the National Family and Parenting Institute; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [80812]

Mr. Boateng: The Government announced the establishment of the Trustee Board of the National Family and Parenting Institute (NFPI) on 15 March 1999. The NFPI is an independent charity which will be supported by Government funding of £2 million over the next three years. The NFPI has just been incorporated as a company. As such, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the NFPI are a public document held at Companies House. I have requested that a copy be sent to the Library.

Body Piercing

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with local authorities concerning the body piercing of minors. [81422]

Mr. Boateng: In 1996, the then Government consulted on proposals affecting local authority control of skin piercing businesses. We have concluded that legislation which would give local authorities outside London powers to regulate cosmetic body piercing businesses, should be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time can be found. There has, however, been no consultation specifically relating to the body piercing of minors.

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will introduce legislation to prohibit body piercing of minors without their parents' or guardians' consent; [81424]

Mr. Boateng: Tattooing of children under the age of 18 is an offence under the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969. As regards the piercing of one person's body by another person, this could, in certain circumstances, be held to be an assault.

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When it comes to other forms of body piercing, the question of what is a valid consent is governed by common law. Whether an offence has been caused therefore depends on the circumstances of each particular case. The degree of competence that can be exercised by children will depend in each case on the relative maturity of the child concerned, as well as upon his or her age.

In English law, the age of majority is 18 years. If a person under the age of 18 is capable of understanding the nature of the act that is being done, he or she is capable of giving a valid consent to it unless Statute provides otherwise.

Other types of body piercing, however, are not necessarily subject to these provisions. For example, children under the age of 16 cannot consent to what would otherwise be an indecent assault; whether an indecent assault occurred would depend on the facts of the individual case. Any establishment offering certain types of body piercing would, therefore, need to satisfy themselves as to the age of their customer and that he/she was capable of giving a valid consent.

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning body piercing of minors. [81425]

Mr. Boateng: We have received a small number of letters from Members of Parliament and members of the general public asking us to give further consideration to the introduction of the new legislation.

Tattoos and Piercing

Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations govern the minimum age at which a person can (a) be tattooed, (b) have their ears pierced and (c) have other parts of the body pierced. [80860]

Mr. Boateng: Tattooing of children under the age of 18 is an offence under the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969. There are no specific regulations setting a specific minimum age for other forms of body piercing. The question of what is a valid consent is governed by common law. Whether an offence has been caused therefore depends on the circumstances of each particular case. The degree of competence that can be exercised by children will depend in each case on the relative maturity of the child concerned, as well as upon his or her age. The Courts have held that if a person under the age of 18 is capable of understanding the nature of the act that is being done, he or she is capable of giving a valid consent to it unless Statute provides otherwise.

Other types of body piercing, however, are not necessarily subject to these provisions. For example, children under the age of 16 cannot consent to what would otherwise be an indecent assault; whether an indecent assault occurred would depend on the facts of the individual case. Any establishment offering certain types of body piercing would therefore need to satisfy themselves as to the age of their customer and that he/she was capable of giving a valid consent.

Lorry Drivers

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has obtained regarding the legality of demonstrations by lorry drivers. [81599]

20 Apr 1999 : Column: 484

Mr. Boateng: None. The enforcement of road traffic and public order legislation is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. It is for them to enforce the law in the light of any action taken by lorry drivers.

Cleveland Police

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in Cleveland Police Force are under investigation in the Redwood inquiry; how many have been charged; and if he will make a statement. [81165]

Mr. Boateng: The "Redwood" inquiry is an on-going investigation and, for operational reasons, it would be inappropriate at this stage to make any further comment.

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of serving CID officers in Cleveland Police Force are under investigation in the Lancet inquiry in the boroughs of (a) Middlesbrough, (b) Stockton, (c) Langbaurgh and (d) Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement. [81164]

Mr. Boateng: Operation Lancet is currently investigating 31 Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers. Eight of the 31 are suspended from duty. The remaining 23 officers are currently serving as follows:






Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of the police operations which are directed towards disciplinary offences in the Cleveland Police. [80798]

Mr. Boateng: The identity of police operations directed towards disciplinary offences is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Cleveland, but it is well known that Operation Lancet is an inquiry into allegations of criminal and disciplinary offences against some Cleveland Police officers.

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are working on the (a) Lancet and (b) Redwood inquiries into Cleveland Police; and if he will make a statement. [80797]

Mr. Boateng: There are 21 police officers currently working on Operation Lancet. Three of those officers are from Northamptonshire Police. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 13 April 1999, Official Report, column 11.

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