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Begging (Children)

Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with local authorities on their interpretation of the definition of child in need contained in section 17(1) of the Children Act 1989, in respect of babies and children involved in begging; and what plans he has to establish national guidelines on this issue. [122373]

Mr. Charles Clarke: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has had no discussion with local authorities on their interpretation of the definition of "child in need" contained in section 17(1) of the Children Act 1989, in respect of babies and children involved in begging. The most objectionable aspects of begging are already covered by the criminal law. Where there are child protection concerns, local authorities have a statutory duty under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 to make inquiries where they have reasonable cause for concern that a child may need protection.

The law has always made clear how unacceptable it is to use children for the purposes of begging. It is there to be enforced as and when the situation requires it.

22 May 2000 : Column: 370W

Prison Officers (Retirement Age)

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will raise the maximum retirement age for prison officers from 60 to 65 years. [122523]

Mr. Boateng: In the light of the Home Office review of age retirement policy, the Prison Service is reviewing the age retirement of prison officers and other related grades. It is intended that this review will be completed within the next few months.

Wheelclampers

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many wheelclampers working on private land have been prosecuted since 1990; [122519]

(2) what powers of arrest will be given to the police in respect of wheelclampers who operate without licences granted under the proposed Private Security Regulations. [122520]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Wheelclamping on private land is not a criminal offence, although there have been civil actions. Information on such actions is not collected centrally. The number of criminal offences committed by wheelclampers during their work on private land is not available, as the Home Office Proceedings Database does not identify the employment status of a defendant.

We will be introducing proposals to regulate wheelclampers as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Nicholas Tucker

Mr. Woolas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Criminal Cases Review Commission to report on the case of Nicholas Tucker. [122506]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I understand that an application for review of Nicholas Tucker's case was submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in January 1999. The Commission has determined that the case will require an extensive review. Mr. Tucker has not presented any special factors that would justify giving his application priority, and it is therefore awaiting allocation to a caseworker, on the basis of date order of receipt. The Commission expects to begin the review within 12 months. The Commission will continue to communicate directly with Mr. Tucker or his representatives.

Gammahydroxybutyrate

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Scientific Committee of the European Monitoring Centre on Drug and Drug Addiction to complete its formal risk assessment of the drug gammahydroxybutyrate. [122584]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Further to my replies to my hon. Friend on 10 May 2000, Official Report, column 405W, and to my hon. Friend the Member for South Swindon (Ms Drown) on 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 95W, I can report that the European Union Horizontal Drugs Working Group considered a report on gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) from the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addition (EMCDDA) at its meeting on 12 April.

22 May 2000 : Column: 371W

The decision was taken at that meeting to refer GHB to the Scientific Committee of EMCDDA for a formal risk assessment under the Joint Action adopted by the Council of the European Union regarding the information exchange, risk assessment and control of new synthetic drugs. The risk assessment is expected to be completed by early to mid October.

Rape

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Metropolitan police research initiative into drug-assisted rape to be concluded and a report published. [122585]

Mr. Charles Clarke: This research into drug assisted sexual assault is sponsored by the Home Office through the Policing and Reducing Crime Unit under the Police Research Award Scheme.

The research is complete and a launch by the Metropolitan Police Service is scheduled for 21 June 2000.

Police Stations (Staffing)

Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) uniformed and (b) civilian staffing levels were in operation in each of the police stations within the Metropolitan Police Service Hillingdon Division for each shift on (i) 30 April, (ii) 1 May, (iii) 2 May and (iv) 3 May. [122823]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that uniform police officers on duty have responsibility for the whole borough and not specific stations. Furthermore, not all civil staff operate shifts. The information in the table, provided by the Commissioner, shows the number of uniform officers and civil staff deployed in Hillingdon Division for the period 30 April to 3 May:

	Inspector	Sergeant	Constable	Civilian staff
30 April
Early turn	1	5	18	4
Late turn	1	5	22	6
Night duty	1	6	26	6
1 May(15)
Early turn	1	6	30	5
Late turn	1	8	38	5
Night duty	1	5	30	4
2 May
Early turn	1	6	25	5
Late turn	1	7	27	4
Night duty	1	6	26	3
3 May
Early turn	1	7	25	7
Late turn	1	5	24	3
Night duty	1	6	26	3

(15) The figures for 1 May include an additional shift brought on duty in response to central requirements to provide a reserve of aid, if needed, for the May Day demonstration. These were deployed for local policing in Hillingdon only.

22 May 2000 : Column: 372W

Prisoners (Medical Records)

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that when prisoners are transferred from one prison to another, their medical records are transferred at the same time. [123099]

Mr. Boateng: The Prison Service standard on health services for prisoners, issued on 5 October 1999, required establishments to have written and observed guidelines which set out the procedures for reception, transfer and discharge and include means of ensuring information on continuing care is conveyed to other establishments on transfer. The documentation required to achieve continuity of care is expected to include prisoners' health and treatment records.

Immigration Services Commissioner

Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the appointment of the Immigration Services Commissioner. [123519]

Mr. Straw: I am pleased to announce that Mr. John Scampion has agreed to serve as the Immigration Services Commissioner and Mrs. Linda Allan has agreed to serve as the Deputy Immigration Services Commissioner. Mr. Scampion will be appointed from 22 May and Mrs. Allan from 5 June. Mr. Scampion is currently the Social Fund Commissioner for Great Britain and Northern Ireland and a member of the Data Protection Tribunal. Mrs. Allan is a member of the Police Complaints Authority.

Metropolitan Police (Special Constables)

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there were in the Metropolitan police area on 1 May; and if he will make a statement. [121532]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me there were 758 special constables serving with the Metropolitan police on 1 May.

Correspondence

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South will receive a reply to his letter of 13 April to the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), concerning Mrs. Alexandra Wieringa. [123067]

Mrs. Roche: Unfortunately, my hon. Friend's correspondence was not received in my Department. His office has now kindly provided a copy and I replied on 18 May.

Police Terms and Conditions

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the terms and conditions available to police officers of each rank from police constable to chief constable who have completed 30 years of service. [123107]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The Police Regulations 1995 (as amended) set out terms and conditions of service for police officers of all ranks, regardless of length of service.

22 May 2000 : Column: 373W

The Police Pensions Regulations 1987 (as amended) set out the circumstances in which a regular policeman can retire with a policeman's ordinary pension.

Officers below Association of Chief Police (ACPO) rank are entitled to retire on completion of 25 years' pensionable service if they give the police authority a month's written notice of the intention to retire--or such shorter notice as may be accepted by the authority.

Officers of ACPO rank are entitled to retire on completion of 25 years' pensionable service if they have attained the age of 55 and give the police authority three months' written notice of the intention to retire; on completion of at least 25 years' pensionable service, regardless of age, if they are subject to a fixed term contract that is not, or cannot, be extended; or if the police authority otherwise decide to permit retirement before age 60. The full text of Regulation B1 of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 (as amended) is as follows:

An ordinary police pension is generally not payable until age 50 unless an officer has completed 30 years' pensionable service. Maximum pension benefits under the Police Pension Scheme are payable on completion of 30 years' pensionable service.

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