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Search and Detention Powers
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what powers officers at the frontier of the common travel area of the United Kingdom and Ireland are entitled to (a) question, (b) examine the
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belongings of, (c) search the person of and (d) detain a citizen of the European Union or European Economic Area or their accompanying relatives. [86229]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
European Economic Area (EEA) nationals are normally admitted to the United Kingdom on production of a valid passport or identity card as
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evidence of nationality and identity, in accordance with Article 3(1) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Order 1994 and subject to Article 15(1) of the Order. Under Article 3(3) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Order 1994, a family member of an EEA national who is not himself an EEA national may in addition be required to hold an EEA family permit issued abroad.
Powers for immigration officers to question passengers arriving in the United Kingdom, whether they are citizens of the European Union, or European Economic Area, or their accompanying (third country) relatives, are contained in paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. Schedule 2 applies to the examination of European Economic Area (EEA) nationals in accordance with Article 20(2)(e) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Order 1994. Under paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, a person who is examined under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 may be searched, and his belongings examined, and that person may be detained under paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971.
The operation of immigration controls in the Republic of Ireland is a matter for the Irish authorities.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a draft of the Convention on the Fight Against Corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of member states of the European Union, (Cm 4266) published in April was first published; and what scrutiny of it is planned to be conducted in either House of Parliament. [86234]
Kate Hoey:
The Council of the European Union adopted the Convention on the Fight against Corruption Involving Officials of the European Communities or Officials of Member States of the European Union on 26 May 1997. It was first published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 25 June 1997.
Prior to its adoption by the Council, the Convention had been considered in draft and cleared from scrutiny by the House of Lords European Communities Committee.
The Government published the Convention on 16 April 1999 with an Explanatory Memorandum, as a Command Paper in the European Communities Series, and laid it for 21 sitting days in both Houses in accordance with the Ponsonby rule. Arrangements are under way for the United Kingdom to ratify the Convention by September. We expect to be among the first Member States to do so.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list in respect of the Convention on the Protection of the European Communities Financial Interests and subsequent protocols (i) the dates of promulgation and signature, (ii) the dates of draft and final publication in the United Kingdom, (iii) any relevant parliamentary proceedings and (iv) the dates of coming into force; [85679]
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Kate Hoey:
The Council of the European Union adopted and signed the Convention on the Protection of the European Communities' Financial Interests (the Fraud Convention) on 26 July 1995. The three protocols were adopted and signed on 27 September 1996, 29 November 1996 and 19 June 1997.
The Government published the Convention and its protocols on 16 May 1999 as Command Papers in the European Communities Series, and laid them for 21 sitting days in both Houses in accordance with the Ponsonby rule.
Prior to adoption the Convention and its protocols had been submitted for, and cleared from, parliamentary scrutiny.
The Convention will enter into force 90 days after the Secretary-General of the Council receives notice that it has been ratified by the last Member State of the European Union. The same rule applies to each of the protocols, except that they cannot enter into force before the Convention.
Following the recent commencement of Part I of the Criminal Justice Act 1993, which was brought into force on 1 June 1999, and of equivalent provisions of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, which were brought into force on the same date, no further changes to criminal law are needed in the United Kingdom in order to satisfy the requirements of the Convention and protocols. Arrangements are under way for the United Kingdom to ratify the Convention and protocols by September.
Mr. Sayeed:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers are currently deployed on witness protection duties in the Eltham Police Division. [86194]
Kate Hoey:
This is an operational matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. He tells me that in his view the information requested should not be published, in order to help maintain operational effectiveness.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place a copy of the European Presidency memorandum, Youth and Europe--Our Future, in the Library. [86365]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Copies of the German EU Presidency's memorandum have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress he is making with the Sure Start programme; when (a) the application
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for the second round of Sure Start bids will be announced and (b) the application brochures will be sent to local authorities; who can bid for Sure Start funding; and when the closing date is for the next round. [85670]
Ms Jowell:
Guidance inviting 60 areas of the country to apply for funding was published on 19 January. It was sent to key players across the country including local authorities. On 9 April, the Government announced the first 21 of these Sure Start programmes to be given funding. A further announcement concerning the others will be made soon.
The Government hope to announce the next round of applications in the autumn when Guidance will be sent to local authorities and other providers of services for young children.
Mr. Healey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, and place in the Library in machine-readable form, for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000 the revenue grants falling within the aggregate external finance, other than revenue support grant, allocated by his Department to (i) each local authority, (ii) in aggregate, to each class of local authority and (iii) in aggregate to England; and in the case of each local authority the total of such grants. [85757]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Details of the revenue grants within aggregate external finance other than revenue support grant for 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000, for each local education authority, each class of local authority and for England as a whole are given in tables that have been placed in the Library in both paper and machine-readable form. For Grants for Education Support and Training in 1997-98 and the Standards Fund in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 the figures shown in the tables include the grant made by the Department and the contribution made by the local education authority.
Mr. Healey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, and place in the Library in machine-readable form, for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000 the support for capital expenditure allocated by his Department (i) to each local authority, (ii) in aggregate to each class of local authority and (iii) in aggregate to England, showing each capital grant and borrowing approval separately, and the total of that support. [85758]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The information requested is shown in three tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library in both paper and machine-readable form.
Mr. Kaufman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he intends to reply to
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the letter dated 22 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. W. Jackson, 32 Westbourne Range. [86410]
Mr. Mudie:
A reply will be issued today.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in reducing the size of infant classes in South Gloucestershire. [86983]
Ms Estelle Morris:
During the debate on primary schools on 19 May 1999, Official Report, column 1035, I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) figures relating to infant class size reductions in South Gloucestershire. The correct figures show that the number of pupils in infant classes of over 30 fell from 3,391 in January 1998 to 1,387 in September 1998. The projected number of children in infant classes of over 30 for September 1999 is 326.
(2) what plans he has to amend the criminal law and procedures in respect of the Convention on the Protection of the European Communities' Financial Interests relating to international criminal fraud, and its protocols. [85680]
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