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Representation of the People
Ms Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he will lay regulations to bring into force section 6 of the Representation of the People Act 2000; [140876]
- (2) when he will lay regulations to bring into force section 1(2) of the Representation of the People Act 2000. [140877]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The regulations are available in draft form on the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk) and comments are invited. I intend to lay them so that they come into force on 16 February 2001, immediately after the new electoral registers are published and in good time for the local elections to be held in May 2001.
Convicted Ex-servicemen
Ms Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ex-servicemen have been convicted of a criminal offence in the last five years; and how many of these have been homeless. [141218]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not identify offenders to the detail required.
Police Cautions
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cautions were given by the police to offenders (a) in Gloucestershire and (b) in England and Wales, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what percentage of the total number of crimes committed these figures represent; and if he will make a statement. [141124]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Information, taken from the Home Office Cautions Database, on the number of offenders cautioned by the police (a) in Gloucestershire and (b) in England and Wales for the last five years for which figures are available, and the percentage of crimes recorded by the police which were dealt with by a caution is given in the table. Offenders may have been cautioned for more than one offence.
(60) Offenders may be cautioned for more than one offence.
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30 Nov 2000 : Column: 931W
| Percentages | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | England and Wales | |
| 1995 | 4 | 4 |
| 1996 | 3 | 3 |
| 1997 | 4 | 4 |
| 1998-99 | 5 | 5 |
| 1999-2000 | 5 | 4 |
Traffic Wardens
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have transferred duties previously undertaken by traffic wardens to local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [140979]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The information requested is not held centrally.
Mrs. Farmer
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he will make a decision on the application to remain in the UK from Mrs. Farmer of Babbacombe Road, Torquay, Ref D 259977. [141103]
Mrs. Roche: Mrs. Farmer's application will be considered under policies currently the subject of Judicial Review in the case of Isiko, which was heard by the Court of Appeal on 23 November. As soon as the judgment has been handed down and examined, consideration of Mrs. Farmer's application will proceed without delay.
Cannabis
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what volumes of (a) cannabis and (b) skunk cannabis have been seized in each of the last 10 years. [140860]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Drug seizure returns do not usually distinguish 'skunk' from other types of herbal cannabis. Cannabis is classified into four categories--herbal, liquid (oil), resin, and plants. Information for the quantities of cannabis seized in the United Kingdom for the last 10 years for which data are available is given in the table. This is taken from the Home Office Bulletin on Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics.
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 932W
| Herbal (kgs.) | Plants (no.) | Resin (kgs.) | Liquid (kgs.) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 6,780.9 | 6,263 | 52,577.9 | 10.4 |
| 1990 | 9,337.5 | 34,299 | 21,549.5 | 1.6 |
| 1991 | 9,525.1 | 8,896 | 22,676.0 | 2.5 |
| 1992 | 11,391.1 | 11,839 | 39,705.3 | 6.8 |
| 1993 | 11,976.0 | 40,589 | 41,584.8 | 13.2 |
| 1994 | 11,578.9 | 57,846 | 51,430.1 | 11.8 |
| 1995 | 13,871.5 | 94,202 | 44,607.0 | 5.6 |
| 1996 | 34,189.1 | 116,218 | 66,936.7 | 17.5 |
| 1997 | 31,120.2 | 114,988 | 118,849.2 | 26.6 |
| 1998 | 21,659.5 | 71,970 | 85,822.9 | 7.4 |
Source:
Drugs Research Unit, Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
Drug Convictions
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the prison population has been imprisoned in each of the last 10 years as a result of crimes committed to support the use of (a) heroin, (b) tobacco, (c) cocaine and (d) cannabis. [140859]
Mr. Boateng: The information requested is not available. No statistics are collated centrally on offences committed to support the use of illegal drugs and tobacco. However, information on persons who have been convicted of drug offences is contained in the Home Office Bulletin on Drug Seizure and Offenders, a copy of which is in the Library. Reference was made in a written answer on 27 November 2000, Official Report, column 441W, to the hon. Member about information bearing on the relationship between drug use and crime that is becoming available through Home Office's programme of interviewing and drug testing arrestees.
Home Detention Curfew Scheme
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if prisoners serving their sentences on the home detention curfew scheme are disqualified from (a) voting at and (b) standing in elections; and if he will make a statement. [140878]
Mr. Boateng: Prisoners who are released on home detention curfew are eligible to vote in all elections and to stand for election to the House of Commons, the National Assembly for Wales and the European Parliament. They are disqualified from standing for membership of a local authority in England and Wales if they have been convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than three months in the five years preceding the date of the election.
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 933W
Bingo
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will propose legislation to remove limits on the level of prizes and the frequency of games for linked and multiple bingo games in the Gaming Act 1968; [141070]
- (2) if he will propose legislation to remove limits on added prize money from the Gaming Act 1968; [141072]
(3) if he will propose legislation to extend the term of a bingo club licence from one year to three years; [141076]
(4) if he will introduce legislation to simplify the system of charges in the Gaming Act 1968; [141071]
(5) if he will introduce legislation to remove existing restrictions on bingo; [141075]
(6) if he will introduce legislation to remove the 24 hour time limit before new members can play bingo. [141069]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I announced on 6 November 2000 that the Government were publishing a consultation document on proposals to deregulate certain aspects of the bingo industry. Our paper makes three proposals. It suggests abolishing the current requirement for licensed bingo clubs to notify the licensing authority of changes in their charges to players 14 days in advance; allowing clubs to have a mixture of jackpot and lower prize gaming machines; and amending the law on multiple bingo so that it can offer more than one national, regional and house prize.
The consultation period for these proposals ends on 16 February 2001. Subject to comments received, the Government plan to lay a draft Order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 to give effect to them, for scrutiny by Parliament.
Earlier this year, we amended the statutory regulations which govern the charges which licensed bingo clubs may make to their players. This change has considerably simplified these arrangements.
In February this year, we announced an overall review of the controls on gambling in Great Britain. The review, chaired by Sir Alan Budd, is proceeding and it will report to the Home Secretary next summer. Aside from our proposed Order under the 1994 Act the Government have no plans to make any other changes to the Gaming Acts as they relate to licensed bingo prior to receiving this report.
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