| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Hillgrove Farm Cattery
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the treatment of cats at Hillgrove Farm, Oxfordshire. [87673]
Mr. George Howarth: I have received a number of letters via hon. Members and directly from members of the public; I have received a petition calling for the establishment to be closed; and I have answered a number of questions in this House on this subject.
The scientific community has also made its concerns known to me with regard to:
I understand that representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have visited the establishment, have seen the animals and have reviewed copies of some of the breeding records sent to them by members of the public. They have not made any formal representations to me on this issue.
Angela Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the latest annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee. [88129]
Mr. George Howarth:
I have placed the committee's annual report for 1998 in the Library today. I am grateful to the committee for its valuable work over the year and welcome this latest report. I wish the committee well in tackling the continuing agenda of work which the report identifies.
Mr. Hope:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish his proposals for updating the legislation on interception of communications. [88130]
22 Jun 1999 : Column: 351
Mr. Straw:
I announced last September that I had put in hand a comprehensive review of the interception regime and that a consultation document would be published in due course. The review is now complete and I am today publishing a consultation paper "Interception of Communications in the United Kingdom" in which our proposals are laid out in detail. A copy has been placed in the Library (copies are available in the Vote Office).
The extraordinary pace of change in the communications industry, particularly in the last decade, has revolutionised communications and brought benefits to us all. This new technology, however, brings new opportunities for criminals and terrorists, which they have been quick to exploit. The law has not kept pace with these developments. We need to bring our interception law up to date to ensure the continued success of this essential investigative tool.
There are also some areas in which we need to improve the protection offered to the individual. There is currently no basis in law, for example, for the interception of communications on private telephone networks. We intend to put such interception on a statutory footing for the first time. This will ensure that the privacy of those who use these networks is respected, and that they have a means of redress if their communications are intercepted unlawfully.
The Government are committed to building a safe, just and tolerant society. In the field of interception, there is a difficult balance to be struck. I believe our proposals strike the right balance and will be grateful for views on any of the proposals in the consultation paper.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which units of (a) the Army and (b) the Royal Irish Regiment were available for call out by Portadown RUC Sub-Division to assist with security problems between 11 p.m. on Saturday 26 April 1997 and 4 a.m. on Sunday 27 April 1997. [85500]
Mr. Ingram:
Soldiers from three Royal Irish and one Argyll and Southern Highlanders would have been the most immediately available for call out by Portadown RUC Sub-Division during the period in question. Military assistance was not requested, however, as sufficient police resources were available.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the progress of the Royal Ulster Constabulary investigation into the murder of Robert Hamill. [86272]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 8 June 1999]: The RUC interviewed a number of people suspected of being involved in the murder of Robert Hamill. Although charges against five were subsequently withdrawn at the direction of the DPP, a sixth man was convicted of affray and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The RUC have advised that all available lines of inquiry have been
22 Jun 1999 : Column: 352
pursued fully. Whilst the investigation remains open, further progress is dependent upon new information or evidence coming to light.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present role of the Chief Constable of Kent Constabulary in the police investigation into the murder of Rosemary Nelson. [86175]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 8 June 1999]: The Chief Constable of Kent continues to provide advice, when requested by Deputy Chief Constable Colin Port, who is directing and controlling the investigation. Mr. Port speaks to him on a regular basis.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the submissions to the Patten Commission that have been posted on the internet public service website for press releases. [87484]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 21 June 1999]: Publication of submissions to the independent Commission on Policing on the internet or otherwise is a matter for it and those making the submissions.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures she will take to encourage a public debate on the future of policing in Northern Ireland by means of the NIO internet public service website. [87485]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 21 June 1999]: The independent Commission on Policing has been established under the Good Friday Agreement
The e-mail address is: PolComm B @ belfast.org.uk
The Commission's report will be made available on the internet.
Mr. Donaldson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will provide details of the allocation to each college of further and higher education of the 600 additional full-time higher education places to be made available over the next two years. [87886]
Mr. McFall:
The additional 600 full-time higher education places over the next two academic years have been allocated to further education colleges as follows:
(i) the damage that could be caused to important medical and veterinary research should the establishment close; and
(ii) the increased welfare costs to cats if they have to be obtained from overseas sources.
"to make recommendations for future policing arrangements in Northern Ireland including means of encouraging widespread community support".
The Commission has consulted widely and has its own website at: www.belfast.org.uk
22 Jun 1999 : Column: 353
Omagh Bombing
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals have been charged with offences in connection with the bomb explosion in Omagh, County Tyrone on 15 August 1998. [87891]
Mr. Ingram: On 24 February, Colm Murphy was charged in the Republic of Ireland with membership of an illegal organisation and with conspiracy to cause an explosion between 13-16 August 1998. The RUC and Garda Siochana continue to co-operate fully in their painstaking investigations. I pay personal tribute to both police services for their complete dedication and tenacity in this investigation.
Ministerial Visits (RUC)
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the visits she has made to (a) RUC Headquarters and (b) RUC stations since she took office as Secretary of State stating the duration of each such visit; and if she will provide the same information in respect of each of the Ministers in her Department. [87597]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is as follows:
- (a) RUC Headquarters:
- Private office have details of two visits to RUC Headquarters; one by Mr. Ingram on 12 May 1997 which was scheduled to last 1 hour and one by Mr. Murphy which took place on 8 January 1998, lasting one hour.
22 Jun 1999 : Column: 354
Mr. McFall--Nil return
Lord Dubs--Nil return.
It should be noted that the durations shown have been taken from the programme schedules arranged prior to each visit, as opposed to exact times on the day (which are not readily available). Visits of this kind regularly exceed the arranged times.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |