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Immigration Rules
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will repeal paragraph 297(e) and (f) of the Immigration rules. [93519]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: There are no plans to do so.
Carer Policy BDI 2/95
Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reviewed the carer policy BDI 2/95. [93451]
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 280
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Yes. Details of the revised policy are set out in the Immigration Directorates' Instructions, a copy of which is in the Library, and is also available on the internet.
Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 1998, Official Report, column 427, on what criteria decisions to waive fines under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 are made. [93449]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The criteria for waiving charges are contained in Appendix A of the publication entitled "Charging Procedures. A Guide for Carriers", commonly known as the "Green Guide", a copy of which is in the Library. In addition, charges are normally waived in respect of passengers arriving without documents from stations with Approved Gate Check (AGC) Status. The criteria for AGC status are contained in section 7 of the "Green Guide". Charges are also waived in respect of inadequately documented passengers who are granted full refugee status in accordance with the 1951 United Nations Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees, as described in section 5 of the "Green Guide". Charges are also not imposed where a false document is produced unless the falsity of the document is reasonably apparent nor where a carrier is able to show that the required documents were produced to them when the passenger embarked for the United Kingdom.
Mr. Stringer:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many tendered ballot papers were issued in (a) the 1997 General Election, (b) the 1999 European Election and (c) the 1999 and 1998 local elections. [93216]
Mr. George Howarth:
In Great Britain, lists of tendered votes issued at general elections are retained by the Clerk of the Crown and, unless ordered by the House of Commons or the High Court, are destroyed after 12 months. Lists compiled at the European Parliamentary elections are retained by the local returning officer for 12 months and lists compiled at local elections are retained by the proper officer of the authority for six months and then, unless directed by order, respectively, of the High Court, or a county court or election court, are destroyed. The lists of tendered votes for the 1997 and 1998 elections are thus no longer available but those for the 1999 elections are available locally for inspection.
In Northern Ireland, where figures are kept centrally, 77 tendered votes were issued at the 1997 general election and 40 at the 1999 European Parliamentary election. No ordinary local elections were held there in 1998 or 1999.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussion he (a) has had (b) intends to have with animal welfare groups about the disposal of hounds used for hunting, following the introduction of a ban on hunting; [93488]
(3) if he will publish a list of the petitions submitted to his Department in each of the last two years; [93468]
(4) what representations he has received since May 1997 about hunting. [93470]
Mr. George Howarth:
Representations have been received from hon. Members, members of the public and various organisations which support or oppose hunting. These include two Parliamentary petitions between May and December 1997, two in 1998 and 30 in 1999.
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No meetings have taken place between Home Office Ministers and either representative associations or animal welfare groups concerning the disposal of hounds. There are currently no plans for such meetings to be staged, nor have there been any such approaches for meetings.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his estimate of the number of hounds used for hunting; [93525]
(3) what assessment he has made of the extent to which a ban on hunting will comply with the right of peaceful assembly provided for by the European Convention on Human Rights; [93474]
(4) what assessment he has made of the effects on equine businesses of a ban on hunting; [93490]
(5) what assessment he has made of the impact of a ban on hunting on the British horse racing industry; [93476]
(6) what assessment he has made of the effects on the rural economy of a ban on hunting; [93491]
(7) if legislation to criminalise hunting will include provision to allow the use of hounds or terriers to follow up wild mammals injured by firearms; [93479]
(8) if he plans to establish a close season for fox control, following the introduction of a ban on hunting; [93482]
(9) what measures he intends to take to deal with the problem of mange in foxes, following the introduction of a ban on hunting; [93477]
(10) what measures he intends to take to encourage landowners to maintain the conservation activities currently undertaken by local hunts; [93467]
(11) what measures he will take to ensure that there is sufficient support available to farmers for the control of pest populations following the introduction of a ban on hunting. [93486]
Mr. George Howarth:
We are actively considering ways of taking forward the issue of hunting and assessing the effects of any ban. The right of peaceful assembly will be taken into account, along with any exceptions and wider implications.
Various estimates of the number of horses and hounds used for hunting have been provided by organisations which support or oppose hunting.
Mr. Coleman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims from residents living in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for (a) incapacity benefit, (b) income support and (c) disability living allowance were received in each calendar month of this year; how many were (i) agreed and (ii) refused; and if he will make a statement. [92105]
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Mr. Bayley:
The administration of benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
(2) what discussions he (a) has had and (b) intends to have with associations representing those whose livelihoods depend on hunting; [93473]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of horses used for hunting in this country; and what is his assessment of the impact on these animals of a ban on hunting; [93485]
| IB claims received | IB claims awarded | IB claims refused | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ealing District | |||
| January 1999 | 470 | 114 | 316 |
| February 1999 | 581 | 161 | 356 |
| March 1999 | 593 | 132 | 377 |
| April 1999 | 418 | -- | -- |
| May 1999 | 426 | 118 | 290 |
| June 1999 | 502 | 126 | 391 |
| Palace District | |||
| January 1999 | 440 | 76 | 271 |
| February 1999 | 526 | 61 | 292 |
| March 1999 | 552 | 98 | 297 |
| April 1999 | 455 | -- | -- |
| May 1999 | 423 | 91 | 266 |
| June 1999 | 453 | 151 | 352 |
| IS claims received | IS claims awarded | IS claims refused | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ealing District | |||
| January 1999 | 931 | 736 | 268 |
| February 1999 | 1,138 | 840 | 342 |
| March 1999 | 1,136 | 780 | 347 |
| April 1999 | 1,118 | 865 | 300 |
| May 1999 | 1,028 | 775 | 292 |
| June 1999 | 1,091 | 804 | 268 |
| Palace District | |||
| January 1999 | 1,203 | 776 | 348 |
| February 1999 | 1,252 | 802 | 384 |
| March 1999 | 1,395 | 972 | 427 |
| April 1999 | 1,188 | 849 | 310 |
| May 1999 | 1,085 | 772 | 277 |
| June 1999 | 1,154 | 804 | 272 |
Notes:
1. The Palace District comprises of the offices of Crystal Palace, Dulwich, Fulham, Kensington and Peckham.
2. The Ealing District comprises of the offices of Ealing, Acton, Notting Hill and Southall.
3. Figures for IB awards and refusals in April 1999 are not available because a system report was not received by DSS Analytical Services Division and it has not been possible to obtain a reprint.
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 284
| DLA claims received | DLA claims awarded | DLA claims refused | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutton DBC | |||
| January 1999 | 3,227 | 1,748 | 1,849 |
| February 1999 | 3,753 | 1,707 | 1,883 |
| March 1999 | 4,751 | 1,933 | 2,164 |
| April 1999 | 3,914 | 1,930 | 2,124 |
| May 1999 | 3,613 | 1,627 | 1,823 |
| June 1999 | 3,916 | 1,828 | 1,787 |
Notes:
1. Sutton DBC covers a large part of South East England, including the whole of Hammersmith and Fulham.
2. Data relative to specific geographical areas is not routinely kept.
3. As at 31 May 1998 there were 4,338 people resident in Hammersmith and Fulham in receipt of DLA. Figures for May 1999 are not yet available.
4. The number of claims on which a decision is issued in a monthly period may not equate to the number of claims received. This is because a number of uncleared claims may have been carried forward form a previous statistical period. The information is provisional and may be subject to change.
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