---

Terrorist Training

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the activities of Al-Muhijiroon; [123661]

(2) what action he proposes to take in respect of the activities of Salina Security Services relating to British Islamic fundamentalists and firearms and explosives training in the United States; and if he will make a statement; [123666]

(3) if he will raise with the United States enforcement authorities the activities of Muhammed Jameel and Salina Security Services; and if he will make a statement; [123664]

25 May 2000 : Column: 632W

(4) if he will make a statement about links between Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, Sheikh Abu Hamza and Salina Security Services run by Muhammed Jameel; and if he will make a statement; [123663]

(5) if he will make a statement about the Internet advertisement, The Ultimate Jihad Challenge. [123665]

Mr. Straw: I have seen the recent report about alleged terrorist training of United Kingdom nationals overseas. The investigation of any illegal criminal activity is, of course, a matter for the police. I understand that they are aware of these latest allegations and are looking into them. The police meet with their United States counterparts on a regular basis to discuss matters relating to terrorism.

Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average cost to public funds of a drug abstinence order made under part III of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill; what estimate he has made of the number of orders that will be made annually; what estimate he has made of the number of other community orders that will include drug abstinence requirements; if magistrates courts will be able to make such an order; and if he will make a statement. [115823]

Mr. Straw [pursuant to his reply, 22 March 2000, c. 560W]: In referring to piloting the Drug Abstinence Order and Drug Abstinence Requirement, the correct estimate of numbers receiving either, should have been 225 each year. The figure of 3,500 offenders, included in my reply, is the estimate for national roll-out.

Institutional Racism

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments, non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies are institutionally racist; what criteria he uses to define institutional racism; and if he will make a statement. [121996]

Mr. Straw [pursuant to his reply, 12 May 2000, c. 519W]: The information contained in the third paragraph was incorrect. That paragraph of the reply should have read:

The Government are determined that the public sector should lead on race equality. The legislation currently going through Parliament will, when enacted, outlaw discrimination in public functions not currently covered by the Race Relations Act 1976, place a positive duty on all public authorities to promote race equality, and prove a key lever in tackling institutional racism.

Pensions (Part-timers)

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the maximum and minimum cost to police and fire service pension funds of the European Court of Justice's ruling on pensions for part-timers. [123265]

Mr. Rooker: I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to my Written Answer on 23 May 2000, Official Report, column 484W.

25 May 2000 : Column: 633W

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Serious Fraud Office

33. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions were pursued by the Serious Fraud Office in 1997 and 1998; what percentage of those resulted in convictions; and if he will make a statement. [122435]

The Solicitor-General: In the year 1997-98 the Serious Fraud Office obtained 37 convictions from the 39 defendants tried, a conviction rate of 94.9 per cent. In 1998-99, it obtained 34 convictions from the 42 defendants tried, a conviction rate of 81.0 per cent.

CPS

34. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps are being taken following the recent stress survey to ensure that the views of Crown Prosecution Service staff at all levels are taken into account as the reforms of the Crown Prosecution Service are implemented. [122436]

The Solicitor-General: CPS staff are being consulted on the findings of the staff survey and stress audit. An action plan is being drawn up by a steering group which includes Area staff and representatives of the main departmental trades unions. The action plan will be presented to the CPS Board shortly. The network of Area Sounding Boards will provide feedback from staff at all levels on the results of the survey and audit as well as on the wider reform programme. As I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) on 13 January 2000, Official Report, columns 420-21, the CPS has an extensive consultation programme in place which provides regular feedback from staff on progress with the reforms.

Travellers

35. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the Government's policy concerning the prosecution of offences arising from travellers' trespassing. [122437]

The Solicitor-General: The principles applied by the Crown Prosecution in relation to offences involving travellers trespassing, as with any other offence, are governed by the Code for Crown Prosecutors. In order to prosecute, a Crown Prosecutor must be satisfied that the evidential and public interest tests set out in the Code are met.

UK/Scotland Liaison

36. Mr. David Heath: To ask the Solicitor-General what arrangements he has for consultation with the Advocate-General before providing advice to the Government on matters which may affect both UK and Scottish legislation. [122439]

The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General, Advocate-General and I consult frequently on matters of mutual interest, such as matters which may affect legislation both in Scotland and England.

25 May 2000 : Column: 634W

Laptops

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Solicitor-General how many laptop computers used by Ministers, officials and special advisers in his Department have been (a) lost and (b) stolen since May 1997. [123740]

The Solicitor-General: No laptop computers used by Ministers, officials and special advisers in my Department have been either lost or stolen since May 1997.

Mr. Bernard Griffin

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Solicitor-General for what reason the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions dropped charges against Mr. Bernard Griffin. [123561]

The Solicitor-General: The Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland issued a direction of no prosecution in relation to charges brought against Mr. Griffin and his brother Mr. Kenneth Griffin because it was concluded that notwithstanding the provisions of section 13 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996 there was insufficient evidence to afford a reasonable prospect of conviction of either person for those offences.

The Department wrote to the solicitors acting for Mr. Griffin and his brother giving the reasons for the decision in general terms on 19 January 2000. Following a request for detailed reasons, the Department provided further information explaining the decision on 12 May 2000.

Road Accidents (Prosecutions)

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Solicitor-General how many drivers were prosecuted in the last five years for which figures are available in relation to fatal road accidents involving cyclists; and with what offences they were charged. [123588]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records in respect of specific offences. The information is held on individual case files and could only be obtained by examining every relevant file in each CPS office. The cost of this exercise would be prohibitive.

WALES

Opinion Research

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place copies of the results of all market and opinion research carried out by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, in the Library. [123816]

Mr. Paul Murphy: For the former Welsh Office for the period from May 1997 to the end of June 1999, this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost, as explained in the reply to the hon. Member's previous question on 6 July 1999, Official Report, column 505W.

The Wales Office does not have any agencies or non-departmental public bodies, and has not carried out any market or opinion research since it was established on 1 July 1999.

25 May 2000 : Column: 635W

Laptops

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many laptop computers used by Ministers, officials and special advisers in his Department have been (a) lost and (b) stolen since May 1997. [123746]

Mr. Paul Murphy: From May 1997 to 30 June the Welsh Office had (a) no recorded cases of lost laptop computers and (b) two reported thefts of laptop computers.

From 1 July 1999 to date, the Wales Office has not recorded any cases of either lost or stolen laptop computers.

---