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Euro 2000
Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total costs were of policing the England v Scotland Euro 2000 play-offs match at Wembley on 17 November. [99528]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Metropolitan Police advise that the total cost for policing around Wembley Stadium and in Central London was £525,777. Policing costs inside the stadium were met by Wembley plc.
Officer Training
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to police officers on effecting an arrest on board a bus, and what factors must be taken into account by the arresting officers. [99605]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Police officer training is an operational matter for individual chief officers.
The Commissioner tells me that during Metropolitan police officers probationer continuation training, they receive a session on public transport disputes and legislation. This covers assaults on bus crews and the conduct of passengers. This complements training on issues such as the handling of assaults in public places, powers of arrest and public order offences.
Bus Routes (Crime)
Ms Abbott:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the past year and in what circumstances police have been called to deal with incidents on buses in the police district covering Hackney;
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on how many occasions police have made an arrest; and what offences were alleged to have been committed by those arrested. [99600]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that between 1 October 1998 and 1 October 1999, 283 allegations of crime on bus routes in Hackney borough were recorded. These break down as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Theft (from the person) | 116 |
| Theft (other) | 63 |
| Violence against the person | 51 |
| Robbery | 27 |
| Indecent Assault | 5 |
| Other offences | 21 |
The Commissioner tells me that statistics on the number of occasions the police have been called to deal with incidents on buses in Hackney borough, and related arrests, are not recorded specifically.
Human Fertilisation Act 1990
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been instigated under the Human Fertilisation Act 1990 on embryos experimented on in advance of 14 days. [99749]
Mr. Charles Clarke: From 1991 to 1998 inclusive, the Home Office court proceedings database shows no defendants proceeded against under the Act for this offence.
Marchioness Disaster
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and boats were available to the Metropolitan Police Thames Division (a) at the time of the Marchioness disaster and (b) in 1999. [99623]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that in 1989 there were 146 police officers attached to Thames Division, and 23 boats were deployed from five bases along the length of the River Thames. Today there are 89 police officers and 18 boats all operating out of central headquarters at Wapping, where activity is focused on river traffic monitoring, central London security patrol and emergency response. The fleet has been substantially modernised since 1989 and an additional two boats are due to be delivered before the end of the year. A more diverse range of specialist resources is also now available to Thames Division than in 1989, including digital marine radio, inflatable pathways and vessel tracking.
Yugoslavia
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK in 1998. [98565]
Mrs. Roche:
The number of nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia granted indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom in 1998 was 870. Other
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information on nationals from the former Yugoslavia was published in Table 6.1 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom, 1998", a copy of which is in the Library.
Mr. Randall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what staffing levels will be in operation in each of the police stations within the Metropolitan Police Service Hillingdon division on (a) 25 December, (b) 26 December, (c) 31 December, (d) 1 January 2000 and (e) 2 January 2000. [99610]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that planning is taking place to ensure there are sufficient officers on duty to meet the demands over the Millennium period. The planning process has taken into account the need to retain operational flexibility.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation of Part V of the Police Act 1997. [99597]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The project to set up the Criminal Records Bureau to implement Part V of the Police Act 1997 is being managed within the framework of a Public-Private Partnership. A business prospectus was issued on 8 October and a bidders conference was held on 14 October. Bids were received on 19 November and are under evaluation. I have been reviewing the timetable and delivery of the project and I shall announce the outcome shortly.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers over the problems caused by rogue burglar alarms in commercial properties. [100796]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
None. I am not aware of any representations to the Home Office on that matter.
Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reason no regulatory impact study of the financial and other effects of the Representation of the People Bill has been issued by his Department in advance of the publication of the Bill; [100673]
Mr. Greenway:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) business and (b) other organisations of proposals in the Representation of the People Bill to limit the commercial availability of the electoral register; and for what reason no regulatory impact statement has been produced. [100399]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien:
A regulatory impact statement relating to the Representation of the People Bill was placed in the Library on 18 November to coincide with the Bill's introduction.
Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that use of the full electoral register by commercial and charitable groups should become a criminal offence. [100675]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The Representation of the People Bill allows regulations to be made prescribing those persons who may purchase or be supplied with the full electoral register and for what purpose. Prohibitions or restrictions may be imposed as to the extent to which information from the full register may be used for purposes other than those for which it was supplied, and it can be made an offence to contravene those prohibitions or restrictions.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what position will be taken by the Government when the European Commission's proposal to transfer to the Commission competence over the implementing provisions of the Eurodac Regulations is discussed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 2 and 3 December. [100798]
Mrs. Roche:
A copy of an explanatory memorandum has been sent to the scrutiny committees setting out the Government's position on the draft regulation. A copy will be available in the Library of the House. On implementing powers, we will judge at the Council itself what is in the United Kingdom's best interests in the light of all the proposals then under discussion.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) of 24 November 1999, Official Report, column 125W, if he will place in the Library details of the options regarding passport fee levels which have been submitted for consideration. [100799]
Mrs. Roche:
The options for the levels of passport fees are a matter for internal discussion and deliberation between Passport Agency officials and Ministers.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long was the last request by Gurpal Virdi for postponement of the Metropolitan Police discipline hearing; how long the postponement was; and whose availability caused the extra delay. [100031]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that solicitors representing Sergeant Virdi sought an adjournment of the Metropolitan Police discipline hearing on or around 31 August 1999. The adjournment was sought to allow expert witnesses, acting for the defence, sufficient time to examine the evidence in the case.
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Both parties have agreed the hearing should now start on 7 February 2000.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will authorise Gurpal Virdi to meet the police inspectorate before the resolution of the outstanding employment and discipline hearings involving the Metropolitan Police Service; [100029]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
Whether Sergeant Virdi meets a member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) is a matter for them. I understand that HMIC, in order to avoid any suggestion of compromising proceedings, would not expect to meet a police officer engaged in disciplinary and employment tribunal proceedings until those proceedings, and any related appeals, were complete.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Metropolitan Police Service first received notice of the employment claim by Gurpal Virdi; and what the reasons have been for the delay in the tribunal hearing. [100030]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that the originating application for the employment tribunal in Sergeant Gurpal Virdi's case was presented on 28 June 1998. The Metropolitan Police Service served notice of its intention to contest the matter.
(2) when his Department intends to issue a regulatory impact study of the financial and other effects of the Representation of the People Bill; [100674]
(2) if he will authorise the police inspectorate to meet Gurpal Virdi before the resolution of the outstanding employment and discipline hearings involving the Metropolitan Police Service. [100028]
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