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Kosovan Refugees

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans he has to house Kosovan refugees in British seaside resorts; and if he will make a statement. [80906]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government's priority remains to ensure that as far as possible, Kosovan refugees receive protection in the region so that they can return easily to their homes when it is safe for them to do so. However, contingency planning is well in hand if the United Kingdom needs to receive a programme of refugees from Kosovo.

We have no specific plans to house refugees in British seaside resorts, but are looking at accommodation throughout the United Kingdom that could be used for reception centres where refugees could be cared for prior to moving into more permanent accommodation.

Sergeant Virdi

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was (a) the time when (i) inappropriate material relating to Sergeant Virdi's case was created on the police computer system and (ii) Sergeant Virdi was recorded as acting as custody officer at Acton early on 24 December 1997, (b) the time when Sergeant Virdi was first (i) interviewed, (ii) cautioned, (iii) arrested, (iv) first and (v) last put under surveillance, (c) the time when inappropriate material was created on the police computer system in January 1998, and which officers were (i) interviewed, (ii) cautioned, (iii) arrested and (iv) put under surveillance; whether he received a report on the investigation and recording of the racial attack in 15 March 1998 in which Sergeant Virdi was an arresting officer; when and why Sergeant Virdi was reprimanded for maintaining his interest in the police activity relating to the racial attack; on which occasions Sergeant Virdi's senior officers used any independent element in investigating the events and complaints; what were the numbers and ranks of police officers involved in searching Sergeant Virdi's home on 15 April 1998, and the time taken in the search; what was the normal purpose and use of a POLSA search; and when and how material from Sergeant Virdi's locker at Hanwell was taken to the police station safe at Ealing. [80631]

20 Apr 1999 : Column: 489

Kate Hoey: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that disciplinary proceedings are still being considered in relation to Sergeant Virdi. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment: on the points (a)(i); (a)(ii); (c); (c)(i); (c)(ii); (c)(iii); (c)(iv); on the occasions when Sergeant Virdi's senior officers used any independent element in investigating the events and complaints: or on the numbers and ranks of police officers conducting the search of Sergeant Virdi's home on 15 April 1998.

In relation to points (b)(i); (b)(ii); (b)(iii); (b)(iv); and (b)(v), the Commissioner tells me that Sergeant Virdi was first interviewed at 1.39 pm on 17 April 1998, arrested and cautioned at 10.53 am on 15 April 1998, and put under surveillance on 15 April 1998.

The Home Secretary is not routinely informed of racial attacks and was not informed of the attack in Ealing Division. The Commissioner informs me that Sergeant Virdi has not been reprimanded in relation to this incident.

The Commissioner tells me that a POLSA search is one conducted by a team of officers specifically trained to national standards. POLSA teams have a role in counter- terrorist searches and undertake evidence gathering in searches in support of major investigations.

The Commissioner has confirmed that property was taken from Sergeant Virdi's locker at Hanwell Police Station and placed in the safe at Ealing Police Station. This has been reported as a theft by Sergeant Virdi and is under investigation. As at 15 April, it has not been established who moved the property and when it was moved.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kosovans have appealed for asylum in the United Kingdom per month since 1 January 1998. [80448]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The available information given in the table relates to applications for asylum submitted from nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. To break this down into the number of Kosovans could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

Asylum applications (1) received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1998 and 1999, by month, nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

	Number
January 1998	270
February 1998	270
March 1998	280
April 1998	385
May 1998	315
June 1998	680
July 1998	845
August 1998	905
September 1998	870
October 1998	1,160
November 1998	735
December 1998	675
January 1999	710
February 1999	550
Total	8,650

(1) Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5

20 Apr 1999 : Column: 490

Immigration

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of applicants' passports held at the Immigration and Nationality Department awaiting a decision; what arrangements he will make for temporary travel documents to be issued for those whose applications are delayed as a result of reorganisation at IND; and what proposals he has for offering compensation to those who are disadvantaged as a result of the delays. [76615]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [pursuant to his reply, 18 March 1999, c. 720-22]: There are approximately 139,000 cases awaiting action in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, of which approximately 22,000 contain passports. Travel Documents will be issued only to people who have valid leave to remain in the United Kingdom. It is, therefore, not possible to issue documents where an application for leave remains outstanding, although passports will be returned to applicants where they need to travel. Compensation will be paid only in cases of maladministration where the costs are reasonable and have been actually and necessarily incurred; each case will be treated on its merits.

TREASURY

Environmental Appraisals

Mr. Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to paragraph 5.81 in Budget 99 (HC 298), what detailed procedures will be followed to undertake the environmental appraisals. [81396]

Ms Hewitt: The procedures to be followed when undertaking environmental appraisals are set out in Government guidance on "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, 1998). These guidelines make clear that a policy should be subject to a full environmental appraisal when it is likely to have a significant effect on the environment, and that the level of resources devoted to each appraisal should be proportionate to the policy or programme.

This guidance applies equally to the Budget measures, and it is the approach used when evaluating the numerous options which are considered in preparation for the Budget.

Financial Services Authority

Mr. Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional income and staff required by the Financial Services Authority if it assumes regulatory responsibility for loans secured on land as (a) first mortgages within the scope of the Council of Mortgage Lenders Code, (b) other loans secured on land with a value over £25,000 and (c) consumer credit loans with a value below £25,000. [81591]

Ms Hewitt: I have asked the Financial Services Authority to carry out this analysis and will take it into account in the review, to be carried out later this year, of whether mortgage advice should be regulated.

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VAT Rules

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the procedure by which Customs and Excise informs businesses of changes to the VAT rules; and if he will make a statement. [81590]

Ms Hewitt: Customs and Excise use a variety of ways to inform business of changes to the VAT rules. In all cases, changes are notified by VAT Notes, which are sent to all VAT registered businesses. Changes which stem from the Budget are announced in Customs and Excise Budget Notices, available from local VAT offices on Budget Day, after the Chancellor has sat down. Other changes are notified to businesses by Business Briefs, also available from local VAT offices and issued to subscribers. All these publications are also available on the Internet.

National Insurance Contributions

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what systems are in place to enable his Department to notify self-employed people paying National Insurance contributions by direct debit, that those payments are not being received. [80934]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 16 April 1999]: The Department is not aware of any occasions where payments by direct debit, from self-employed customers, have not been received.

On those occasions when the Department, as a result of problems, has been unable to collect National Insurance Contributions from Self Employed Customers, it has identified and written to all those affected.

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