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Internet Betting
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans have been made by the Tote to establish an Internet-based betting centre offshore. [106705]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Pluto (Alderney) Limited, in which the Tote is a minority partner, has obtained a licence to operate an electronic betting site in Alderney; further steps remain under consideration.
25 Jan 2000 : Column: 219W
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of drug use have been detected in prisons for each year since 1997. [106580]
Mr. Boateng:
The table gives figures on the number of samples that have tested positive for drugs under the mandatory drug testing programme for each financial year since 1997. The figures include the results of both random and targeted testing.
| Number of mandatory drug test samples testing positive | |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 20,346 |
| 1998-99 | 19,318 |
| 1999-2000(24) | 11,658 |
(24) Year to date figures, April-November 1999
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 23 September, 11 November and 16 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Munir Alam. [106836]
Mrs. Roche: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, wrote to my right hon. Friend today. I am sorry for the delay in replying.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 28 September, 11 November and 16 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Muzzamil Hussain. [106835]
Mr. Boateng: I offer unreserved apologies to my right hon. Friend for the failure to reply on time to his letters of 28 September, 11 November and 16 December with regard to Muzzamil Hussain a prisoner currently in Sudbury prison. Performance of this kind in relation to correspondence from hon. Members is, of course, unacceptable and I have taken steps to ensure that the circumstances of this particular case are not repeated.
In keeping with the sentiments expressed by my right hon. Friend in his correspondence, the prisoner concerned was released from Wealdstun prison on 28 September on compassionate grounds and again on 29 September 1999 to enable him to attend his father's funeral.
Alexander Schweidler
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what investigation his Department has undertaken into the war-time activities of Alexander Schweidler; [106828]
- (2) when Alexander Schweidler received UK citizenship; and if he will review the information given in the application for naturalisation; [106827]
(3) what police investigations have taken place in relation to Alexander Schweidler under the War Crimes Act 1991; and if he will make a statement. [106829]
Mr. Straw:
Mr. Schweidler was granted British citizenship in 1964. I understand that he died on 24 January. His case was one of just under 400 cases involving allegations of offences under the War Crimes Act 1991
25 Jan 2000 : Column: 220W
investigated by the Metropolitan police service War Crimes Unit during the 1990s. Police investigations into allegations against Mr. Schweidler started in 1994. I understand there was insufficient evidence to support a prosecution. There have been no investigations separate to these.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with respect to the draft of the Data Protection (Crown Appointments) Order 1999, for what reasons it is proposed to make personal data about the Provost of Eton, the Poet Laureate and the Astronomer Royal subject to an exemption. [106060]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The Order exempts from the subject information provisions personal data processed for the purposes of assessing any person's suitability for certain offices. Like the other positions cited in the draft Order, these are Crown appointments. They typically involve communications between the Sovereign and the Prime Minister and involve information and judgments on individuals, often provided in confidence by third parties.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with respect to the draft of the Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 1999, for what reasons each exemption is necessary; if he will provide examples illustrating the distinction between public interest and substantial public interest wherever the latter term is used in the Order; what discussions he had on paragraph 5 of the Order with those authorities responsible for advising the Government on matters relating to genetics; and if he has notified the European Commission of the effect of the Order. [106058]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Each provision in the Schedule to the draft order is necessary to permit the processing of sensitive personal data in connection with the purpose or function referred to in the paragraph. Without such an order the first data protection principle in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998 would prohibit the processing. As required by article 8.4 of the European Commission Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC), the processing may be carried out only if it is in the substantial public interest. There is no express reference to the substantial public interest in paragraphs in the Schedule to the draft order where the categories of processing described are considered always to be in the substantial public interest. Where there is such a reference, this is required to meet the requirements of article 8.4, as the general category of processing described may otherwise include some processing which may not be in the substantial public interest. The draft order has been prepared following a public consultation exercise and discussions with many organisations which process sensitive data and with the Data Protection Registrar. The Government have not expressly sought the views of genetics advisory bodies. The Government do not intend to inform the European Commission of the provision made in the draft order prior to it being considered by Parliament.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals are being considered by his Department to help sustain and develop the viability of rural and urban sub-post offices. [105864]
25 Jan 2000 : Column: 221W
Mr. Straw:
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Competitiveness on 20 January 2000, Official Report, column 520W.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant an amnesty to Mr. Ronnie Biggs on grounds of the state of his health to enable him to return to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [106073]
Mr. Boateng:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to grant any form of "amnesty" to Mr. Ronnie Biggs.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees in the police are in the salary bands (a) less than £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £12,500, (c) £12,500 to £15,000, (d) £15,000 to £17,500, (e) £17,500 to £20,000, (f) £20,000 to £22,500, (g) £22,500 to £25,000, (h) £25,000 to £30,000, (i) £30,000 to £35,000, (j) £35,000 to £40,000, (k) £40,000 to £45,000, (l) £45,000 to £50,000, (m) £50,000 to £55,000, (n) £55,000 to £60,000 and (o) more than £60,000. [106049]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
Information is not held centrally on the numbers of police officers and police support staff paid within these specific salary bands. It is possible, however, to give the numbers of police officers serving in each rank, using figures correct at 31 March 1999, together with the range of salaries in each rank effective from 1 September 1999. The salary ranges given are for officers serving in provincial forces; officers serving in London receive additional allowances. The salary figures do not include overtime (where applicable) or other allowances.
As at 31 March 1999 the total number of police officers (including those at the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad) was 125,417 comprising:
51 at Chief Constable rank on a salary of £73,617 or above.
157 at Assistant Chief Constable rank on a salary range of £61,428 to £74,040.
1,241 at Superintendent rank on a salary range of £43,143 to £53,556.
6,039 at Inspector and 1,651 at Chief Inspector rank on a salary range of £32,862 to £39,687.
19,039 at Sergeant rank on a salary range of £25,407 to £29,634.
97,239 at Constable rank on a salary range of £16,635 to £26,325.
As at 31 March 1999 there were 53,031 full-time equivalent civilian police support staff (excluding traffic wardens). There is no centrally held data on the gradings and salaries of these staff.
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