| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Prison Tenders
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2000, Official Report, columns 456-57W, on prison tenders, what conclusion was reached in respect of the application of the rules governing business appointments to the former Prison Service Director of Security; what advice was given by the Cabinet Office in relation to the former Director of Security; and if he will make a statement. [109888]
Mr. Boateng: The matter is still under consideration.
Royal Parks (Trading Bill)
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers the Metropolitan Police have used in the last 30 years, which are still in force and which replicate the powers contained in the Royal Parks (Trading) Bill in respect of highways and public areas adjacent to St. James's Park; and if he will make a statement. [109392]
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 418W
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that the powers under which his officers deal with illegal traders operating in areas adjacent to St. James's Park are those contained in the City of Westminster Act 1999. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has informed me that the Royal Parks (Trading) Bill will provide the Royal Parks Constabulary and the Metropolitan police with similar powers in the Royal Parks.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of those prisoners released to date under the home detention curfew scheme, how many convicted of drugs offences were convicted of (a) unlawful supply and (b) possession with intent to supply unlawfully, for each type of controlled drug; and what was the average sentence (i) received and (ii) served in each case. [109592]
Mr. Boateng
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: Of those prisoners released up to 7 February 2000 under the Home Detention Curfew scheme, 876 were convicted of drugs supply and 1,138 were convicted of drugs possession with intent to supply. Information is not held centrally about the type of controlled drug in respect of these convictions.
The average sentence received for drugs supply was 21.7 months, and the average time spent in custody before release on Home Detention Curfew was 9.2 months. The average sentence received for possession with intent was 20.1 months, and the average time spent in custody before release on Home Detention Curfew was 8.4 months.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people holding his Department's licences to perform experiments on animals are employed in the NHS. [109519]
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 419W
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The most recent figures available record 11 National Health Service (NHS) hospitals as holding Certificates of Designation under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 with a total of 307 personal licence holders at these hospitals.
A further three Certificates of Designation are held by public health laboratories, with a total of 53 personal licence holders at these establishments.
Our records are not held in a way which allows us to confirm whether these personal licence holders are employed in the NHS. Similarly, they do not show whether personal licence holders, working in other designated establishments, are NHS employees.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 May
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 420W
1997 he has used his powers to instruct immigration officers to disapply, and in respect of how many persons (a) any part of the immigration rules, (b) any of the restrictions in paragraph 320 of the immigration rules and (c) the restrictions in sub-paragraph 18 of paragraph 320 of the immigration rules. [107030]
Mr. Straw
[holding answer 27 January 2000]: Under paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 the power of the Secretary of State to give instructions to Immigration Officers is limited to instructions which are not inconsistent with the Immigration Rules. In addition, the Secretary of State may give advice to Immigration Officers which they would take into account when exercising their power to grant or refuse leave to enter outside the Immigration Rules. No record is kept of the number of occasions on which such instructions or advice are given and this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost, but I can personally recall only two occasions where I have given a specific instruction under paragraph 1(3).
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 421W
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 349W, what restrictions were placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by his Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108206]
Ms Quin:
The Department's approach to the release of research information was set out in the reply to the hon. Member on 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 349W. This approach applies equally to discussion of findings with journalists both before and after publication of results.
Mr. Sawford:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was available for the United Kingdom from the European Union for the Beef Special Premium Scheme in each year from 1990. [108481]
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 422W
Ms Quin:
The Beef Special Premium Scheme was introduced in 1993. Payments are fully funded, but claims are restricted by a UK regional ceiling of 1,419,811 for bulls and first premium payment on steers; there is no ceiling on the second premium payment for steers. The payments made in the UK since the Scheme started are:
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 100,876,973 |
| 1994 | 129,572,732 |
| 1995 | 161,402,817 |
| 1996 | 179,175,135 |
| 1997 | 179,117,456 |
| 1998 | 169,699,784 |
| 1999(40) | 153,273,789 |
(40) Forecast
Mr. Sawford: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many claims under the Beef Special Premium Scheme were rejected in each year from 1990 broken down by each Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regional office. [108482]
Ms Quin:
The present Beef Special Premium Scheme was introduced in 1993. The table shows the information requested.
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 421W
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglia (Cambridge) | 154 | 147 | 142 | 168 | 163 | 55 | 120 |
| Northern (Carlisle) | 228 | 62 | 81 | 144 | 158 | 108 | 96 |
| East Midlands (Nottingham) | 319 | 230 | 243 | 282 | 263 | 195 | 138 |
| South East (Reading) | 448 | 381 | 303 | 279 | 279 | 144 | 128 |
| Wessex (Bristol) | 801 | 411 | 288 | 275 | 314 | 168 | 71 |
| North Mercia (Crewe) | 242 | 205 | 322 | 530 | 343 | 222 | 102 |
| South West (Exeter) | 120 | 45 | 93 | 70 | 75 | 80 | 131 |
| North East (Northallerton) | 370 | 321 | 359 | 245 | 296 | 245 | 168 |
| South Mercia (Worcester) | 266 | 221 | 163 | 271 | 220 | 144 | 150 |
| Totals | 2,948 | 2,023 | 1,994 | 2,264 | 2,111 | 1,361 | 1,104 |
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 421W
Baby Foods
Ms Shipley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will lower the advised sugar content included in his guidance on packaged baby food. [108584]
Ms Quin: MAFF has not issued advice on the sugar content of packaged baby foods as statutory controls are laid down in the Processed Cereal Based Foods and Baby Foods for Infants and Young Children Regulations 1997. These Regulations implement European rules and any amendments would need to be agreed at Community level.
Farmer Incomes
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have sources of income from part-time employment in addition to farming. [108782]
Ms Quin:
For farmers and spouses on full-time farms in England, it is estimated that around 20 per cent. had income from employment or self-employment outside the farm in 1998-99.
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 422W
Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has requested meat-purchasing Government agencies to buy British pigmeat or only pigmeat produced to standards of animal welfare equivalent to those of the United Kingdom. [108733]
Ms Quin:
In respect of pigmeat, we have sought to persuade public authorities that buying to British welfare and other standards (eg meat and bonemeal-free feed regimes) offers good value and meets the needs of their "customers". To back up this message, my right hon. Friend the Minister has written to a number of Government Departments and to local councils and health authorities in England to emphasise the importance of sourcing to British standards.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |