| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND
THE REGIONS
Waste Incineration
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that small incinerators, used for the cremation of pets at pet cemeteries, will not become illegal when the EU Waste Incineration Directive is implemented; and if he will make a statement. [120720]
Mr. Hill: The proposed Waste Incineration Directive is now in the last stages of negotiations. It will not, however, affect existing incinerators for five years, and we are looking at implementation options which will minimise the burden on small animal incinerators, including pet crematoria, while ensuring that there are appropriate environmental safeguards.
RMT Union
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what discussions he has had with the leader of the RMT Union in the last 12 months; [120721]
- (2) how many meetings with officials of the RMT Union he has had in the last 12 months; [120722]
(3) how many RMT receptions and events he has attended in the last 12 months. [120724]
Mr. Hill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Mr. Loughton) on 16 March 2000, Official Report, columns 335-36W.
4 May 2000 : Column: 202W
Aircraft Airworthiness Directives
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which categories of aircraft are covered by Civil Aviation Authority airworthiness directives issued via the Authority. [120759]
Mr. Mullin: The purpose of airworthiness directives is to specify actions which are necessary to ensure the continuing airworthiness of particular aircraft. An airworthiness directive will normally apply to a specific type of aircraft.
Airworthiness directives will normally be issued by the State which is responsible for the design of an aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority requires all aircraft on the UK register to comply with airworthiness directives issued by the State of Design. In addition, the CAA may issue airworthiness directives relating to any UK registered aircraft if they believe it necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.
Ordnance Survey
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what performance targets have been set for the Ordnance Survey Department and Executive Agency in 2000-01. [121081]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The following performance targets have been set for Ordnance Survey in 2000-01:
1. To achieve a revenue target of £82.3 million (excluding the National Interest Mapping Service Agreement).
2. To achieve a return on sales of not less than 5 per cent. (excluding the National Interest Mapping Service Agreement).
3. To ensure that, by 31 March 2001, at least 99.5 per cent. of existing major detail is surveyed and available to customers.
4. To despatch 92 per cent. of small scale product ordered within three working days.
5. OS will achieve efficiency savings across activities associated with collecting and maintaining the data held within the National Topographic Database, producing and distributing products/services to customers and all other associated support activities. The long-term target is to achieve an efficiency gain of 6 per cent. over the period April 2000 to March 2004. The target for 2000-01 is 1.5 per cent.
6. OS recognises the importance of developing its website at www.ordnancesurvey .gov.uk to become the focus for electronic interaction with its customers and public. We intend that by improving the electronic services available for public and specialist users we will increase the number of visits to the Ordnance Survey website, compared with the last half of 1999-2000 by at least 100 per cent. by 31 March 2001.
These targets, some of which are being increased, are closely associated with the key Corporate Aims of Ordnance Survey and demonstrate the Agency's continuing commitment to customers and to improved value for money for all its stakeholders.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers entered Britain on the Eurostar service in each of the last 36 months. [119989]
4 May 2000 : Column: 203W
Mrs. Roche: Over the last 36 months there have been a total of 9,180 port asylum applications at Waterloo, and 165 at Ashford in Kent, which is also served by Eurostar. A month by month breakdown is provided in the table.
Figures are rounded to the nearest five. An asterisk means less than two.
| Month | Number of port asylum applications at Waterloo | Number of port asylum applicants at Ashford |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | ||
| April | 170 | 5 |
| May | 160 | * |
| June | 180 | 5 |
| July | 280 | 5 |
| August | 425 | * |
| September | 160 | * |
| October | 150 | 5 |
| November | 120 | * |
| December | 200 | * |
| 1998 | ||
| January | 215 | 5 |
| February | 210 | 5 |
| March | 220 | 5 |
| April | 215 | 5 |
| May | 185 | * |
| June | 335 | 5 |
| July | 250 | 5 |
| August | 340 | * |
| September | 200 | 5 |
| October | 200 | * |
| November | 225 | 5 |
| December | 285 | 5 |
| 1999 | ||
| January | 245 | 5 |
| February | 270 | * |
| March | 265 | * |
| April | 285 | 5 |
| May | 445 | 15 |
| June | 600 | 20 |
| July | 520 | 10 |
| August | 215 | 10 |
| September | 175 | 5 |
| October | 190 | * |
| November | 160 | 5 |
| December | 270 | 10 |
| 2000 | ||
| January | 225 | 5 |
| February | 285 | 5 |
| March | 305 | 5 |
| Total | 9,180 | 165 |
4 May 2000 : Column: 204W
Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have entered the UK through the port of Immingham since May 1997; and what were their countries of origin. [119407]
Mrs. Roche: Since May 1997 there have been no asylum applications lodged by passengers arriving at Immingham. However, the breakdown of those who entered the port of Immingham illegally and subsequently sought asylum is shown in the table.
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000(3) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | -- | -- | 46 | 24 | 70 |
| Bhutan | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 |
| China | -- | -- | 15 | 18 | 33 |
| Ethiopia | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 2 |
| India | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Iran | -- | -- | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Yugoslavia (Kosovo) | 8 | 11 | 112 | 19 | 150 |
| Nepal | -- | -- | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Pakistan | -- | -- | 4 | -- | 4 |
| Romania | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 |
| Sri Lanka | -- | 13 | 47 | 19 | 79 |
| Turkey | -- | -- | 11 | 24 | 35 |
| Total | 8 | 24 | 243 | 112 | 387 |
(3) To 16 April
Homosexual Malaysian Nationals (Deportation)
Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on deporting Malaysian nationals who are known by the Malaysian authorities to be homosexual. [120749]
Mrs. Roche: Any application by a Malaysian national to enter or remain in the United Kingdom is considered on its individual merits, taking account of the Immigration Rules including the terms of any concessions, information and advice about conditions in Malaysia, and an assessment of any potential risk to the individual.
Prison Adjudications
Sir Peter Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the offences and punishments imposed at adjudications in HM Prisons Ashwell, Camp Hill and Everthorpe from March 1999 to March 2000 or the latest 12 month period available. [120624]
Mr. Boateng: The information requested is given in the tables.
4 May 2000 : Column: 203W
4 May 2000 : Column: 205W
4 May 2000 : Column: 205W
4 May 2000 : Column: 207W
4 May 2000 : Column: 207W
4 May 2000 : Column: 209W
4 May 2000 : Column: 209W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |