House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 15 Jun 2000 (pt 16)

Alcohol Licences (River Boats)

Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Thames river boats operate open-ticket party events where alcohol is served; and how many open-ticket party events were held on Thames river boats in (a) 1999, (b) 1995 and (c) 1990. [125445]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: This information is not collected, and is not readily available.

Fire Service

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he will end the consultation period on the document entitled, "The Future of Fire Service Control Rooms and Communication"; [125721]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The management summary of the Fire Service Communications and Control Rooms Study was circulated to the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council immediately prior to its meeting on 16 May 2000. The summary and the full report will be discussed at its meeting on 19 July. The Council is the statutory body appointed under section 29 of the Fire Services Act 1947 to advise the Secretary of State, on fire service matters. Current membership includes the following fire service representative bodies; the Local Government Association, the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association, the Fire Brigades Union and the Retained Firefighters' Union.

Best Value authorities are required to carry out reviews of all their functions over a period of five years from April 2000. To help fire authorities make the most of opportunities for improved efficiency through greater collaboration, a common timetable has been set in the Local Government (Best Value) Performance Plans and Reviews Order 1999 (SI 1999 No. 3251) in respect of fire authorities for the review of particular functions, including communications and control in year one (2000-01). The aim of the above study is to provide advice for authorities on how best to meet their future mobile communications and control room requirements.

Fire authorities in England and Wales have been invited to consider the findings of the study and to take these into account in conducting the Best Value reviews of their control and communications functions in accordance with SI 1999 No. 3251. The relevant fire service circular (No 8/2000) was issued on 10 May to fire authorities and brigades and to other bodies with an interest in fire service matters. A copy of the circular is in the Library.

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Gammahydroxybutyrate

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Metropolitan Police Service's programme of research into drug-assisted sexual assault, with particular reference to the classification of gammahydroxybutyrate. [126014]

Mr. Charles Clarke: This research is being carried out by the Metropolitan Police Service with funding from the Home Office under the Police Research Award Scheme.

I understand that the report has not yet been released and is due to be launched by the Metropolitan Police Service on 21 June 2000.

CABINET OFFICE

Anti-drugs Strategy

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what has been the total spending on anti-drugs strategies during each of the last 10 years; and what proportion in each of those years was spent on (a) drug enforcement measures and (b) rehabilitation. [125997]

Mr. Ian McCartney: The first UK drugs strategy "Tackling Drugs Together" was launched in May 1995 and allocated £8.8 million over three years to Drug Action Teams, £5.9 million on schools drug education for 1995-96, and £1 million in the same year for services for young people at an early stage of drug misuse. For the present strategy, "Tackling Drugs To Build A Better Britain", the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review settlement provided an additional £217 million of resources for three years, of which £70.5 million (32.4 per cent.) was allocated for new treatment services in communities, and £60 million (27.6 per cent.) for treatment services in prisons. No extra resources were allocated for enforcement. The overall aim of the Government's present anti-drugs strategy is to shift the emphasis away from dealing with the consequences of the drugs problem towards positive investment in preventing and targeting it, and Government drug-related expenditure will reflect this over the length of the strategy.

Public Sector Ombudsman

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the review of the Public Sector Ombudsman in England. [126311]

Mr. Stringer: As part of our programme of modernisation, the Government have reviewed the organisation and operation of the Public Sector Ombudsmen in England. Underlying this review was a recognition of the need to ease public access and improve efficiency in dealing with complaints across different sectors. The review was published on 13 April 2000, Official Report, column 241W.

While the review was well received, it was always our intention to consult widely on the outcome of the review. We want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to comment on the review's recommendations

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which, if implemented in full, will radically reform the ombudsmen system in England. That is why we have today published a consultation paper inviting comments on the review and on any other aspect of the organisation or operation of the Public Sector Ombudsmen in England. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Libraries of the House and in the Vote Office.

The Government recognise and value the contribution made by everyone involved in the work of the ombudsmen. We also recognise the significant contribution made by the ombudsmen themselves in helping public bodies maintain and improve the standards of service they offer. The challenge now is to consider how to strengthen that contribution and ensure that all public bodies provide a first class service to all citizens.

Better Government for Older People

Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the report of the Better Government for Older People programme will be published. [126312]

Mr. Ian McCartney: "All Our Futures", the report of the Better Government for Older People programme, is being published today. Copies are being placed in the Libraries of the House.

The Government are committed to better policy making and more responsive public services as part of the "Modernising Government" agenda. The recommendations of the Better Government for Older People programme, a unique partnership between central and local government, the voluntary sector and the academic world, provide new evidence of how to combat age discrimination, better engage with older people, improve decision-making, better meet older people's needs and promote a strategic and joined-up approach to an ageing population. The Inter-Ministerial Group on Older People will now consider the recommendations carefully with a view to early action and a full response.

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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Judges

Mr. Woolas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor has completed the review of the guidance which is given to judges on outside activities and interests. [126775]

Mr. Lock: Yes. Copies of the revised guidance to be used in future have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The Lord Chancellor is satisfied that the substance of the existing guidance, which is long standing, remains basically sound. It is necessarily of a general kind, for application in individual circumstances. The Lord Chancellor is satisfied that it strikes an appropriate balance in discouraging activities or interests which may be seen to undermine judicial impartiality, or conflict with judicial office, without being unduly restrictive. He has at the same time made a number of detailed changes in the text and added a statement of general principles. The new guidance will be kept under review in the light of experience. The general guidance on outside activities and interests is separate from any question of conflict of interest arising in individual cases on which the Court of Appeal recently gave further authoritative guidance in its judgment in the case of Lockbail (UK) Ltd. v. Bayfield Properties Ltd.

Child Contact Centres

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements will be made for the funding of child contact centres after the Family Court Welfare Service is replaced by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. [125954]

Jane Kennedy: As part of the arrangements for establishing CAFCASS, funds, including partnership funding for contact centres will transfer from the probation service. The Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill provides for CAFCASS to have grant making powers to continue such work.

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