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Dangerous Dogs
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were brought (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully under (i) the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and (ii) the Dogs Act 1871, broken down by police authority, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [57]
Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.
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The following table contains the readily available information from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database.
It shows, for 1997, 1998 and 1999, the number of defendants proceeded against and those found guilty of offences under the Dogs Act 1871 and the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in England and Wales by police force area.
Information for 2000 is not yet available.
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Source:
Crime and Criminal Justice Unit, Home Office
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DEFENCE
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
Rosemary McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the private-public partnership for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. [1701]
Mr. Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement I made in the House on 24 July 2000, Official Report, columns 778-79, about our decision to implement the Core Competence model for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) public-private partnership. Under Core Competence, around three quarters of the current DERA organisation will be turned into a company with the registered name of QinetiQ plc. For strategic reasons, the remainder, known as the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), will be retained within the Ministry of Defence to carry out functions that could not appropriately be transferred to the private sector.
Since the announcement in July, work has focused on achieving the legal separation of DERA into the two entities: QinetiQ and Dstl. This work has included the enactment of secondary legislation as outlined in Statutory Instrument 1246/2001 (made on 28 March 2001). This instrument will result in DERA being renamed Dstl and net assets attributable to QinetiQ being removed from the Trading Fund and transferred to the new company.
Subject to final legal drafting and contractual negotiations, I intend to vest QinetiQ plc with its assets and liabilities with effect from 1 July 2001. At that point, QinetiQ will remain a wholly Government-owned plc. Thereafter work will continue on preparation for its eventual sale.
Plastic Baton Rounds
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the change of specification was that led to the decision not to publish the October 1999 report of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council on the injury potential of the L21A1 plastic baton round at the 1-metre minimum range of engagement. [1097]
Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar), on
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11 May 2001, Official Report, column 417W, and to paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Statement of Defence Scientific Advisory Council placed in the Library of the House on 2 April 2001.
Pensions (Politically Sensitive Cases)
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason war pensions assessors were issued with guidance to discuss cases with political sensitivities with an executive case worker. [364]
Dr. Moonie: War pension is awarded for disablement causally linked to service. The intent of the guidance issued to assessors is to explain that some contended service links are relatively straightforward but that others are more complex, requiring careful consideration and perhaps some discussion with an expert caseworker who is a particularly experienced medical adviser. It is accepted that the wording of this guidance was open to misunderstanding and it has now been amended.
Leslie John Douglas
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the investigation into the shooting of Leslie John Douglas on 13 June 2000; and what actions he has taken subsequently. [1038]
Dr. Moonie: The investigation into the shooting of Leslie John Douglas is not yet complete. The Special Investigations Branch (SIB) of the Royal Military Police are, however, nearing completion of their inquiries although they still have to carry out a number of interviews and produce their final report. It is in everyone's interests that the investigations are completed and that they are thorough. The Ministry of Defence will continue to keep the Douglas family informed of developments.
Porton Down
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's officials are employed to conduct the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down announced on 1 May; from which branches of his Department these officials are drawn; and what the total budget is for the survey. [990]
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Dr. Moonie: The historical survey is currently being undertaken by a Principal (Grade B2) working for the Gulf Veterans Illness Unit. The historical survey is financed through the Gulf Veterans Illnesses Unit and has no fixed budget.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aspect of the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down, announced on 1 May will be conducted in public. [1002]
Dr. Moonie: The historical survey of the Porton Down volunteer programme will gather information from available documentary source material and recollections from former volunteers. The survey is expected to report in the summer of 2002 and the findings will be published.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence from the Medical Research Council confirming that the Council is looking at the feasibility of carrying out an independent epidemiological study of Porton Down volunteers. [988]
Dr. Moonie: The Medical Research Council has agreed that an epidemiological study of Porton Down Veterans is feasible. Confirmation of this can be found in the advertisements placed by the Medical Research Council in the scientific press on 21 and 23 June 2001, inviting expressions of interest from the research community.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel who took part in experiments at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down, have been referred to the Medical Assessment Programme since 21 November 2000; and how many of these have been seen by the Medical Assessment Programme. [999]
Dr. Moonie: During the period 21 November 2000 to 27 June 2001, 78 former Porton Down volunteers have been referred to the Medical Assessment Programme. Of this number, 49 have been seen.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates officials from his Department and the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down, held meetings with the Medical Research Council since 5 April, regarding its advice on an independent epidemiological study for Porton Down volunteers. [1005]
Dr. Moonie: A working meeting took place on 30 May 2001 between one member of Ministry of Defence staff and one member of the Medical Research Council staff at which practical details relating to an independent epidemiological study of Porton Down Volunteers were discussed.
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