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Double Jeopardy Rule
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for changes to the double jeopardy rule to apply retrospectively; and if he will make a statement. [1498]
Mr. Keith Bradley: The Government's manifesto included a commitment to reform the double jeopardy rule in cases involving murder and we will do so when parliamentary time allows. Details of the legislation will be announced when any Bill is published.
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Sexual Offences
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the representations made to him during the period of public consultation on possible changes to the law on sexual offences. [2218]
Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 27 June 2001, Official Report, column 99W.
Mr. Cameron McArthur
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter of 31 May (Ref. 10266/1) from the hon. Member for Northavon regarding Mr. Cameron McArthur. [1790]
Beverley Hughes: I wrote to the hon. Member about Mr. McArthur on 27 June.
Prisons
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost was in the last year of a place in each prison in (a) the prison estate and (b) privately run establishments; and if he will make a statement. [2113]
Beverley Hughes: The average cost per place for each Prison Service and privately run establishment for the financial year 2000–01 is listed in the tables.
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| Prison name | Cost per place (cash) |
|---|---|
| Altcourse | 57,063 |
| Ashfield | 38,906 |
| Blakenhurst | 22,845 |
| Doncaster | 25,640 |
| Forest Bank | 28,637 |
| Lowdham Grange | 29,713 |
| Parc | 39,058 |
| The Wolds | 26,874 |
Buckley Hall prison returned to Prison Service management in June 2000. Rye Hill prison opened in January 2001 and is excluded because only part-year data are available. The data in the tables are not comparable with the Prison Service key performance indicators (KPI) cost per place because headquarters overheads are not included in the establishment figures. Public prisons' cost per place data are not comparable with private prisons' data as their cost includes an element of capital repayment. These data will shortly be published in the Prison Service annual report and accounts 2000–01.
Fire Alarms (Humberside)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of cases where fire alarms were present in dwellings on fire in 2000 they (a) raised the alarm, (b) operated but failed to raise the alarm and (c) failed to operate altogether in the Humberside fire authority area. [1470]
Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
The information relates to fires in dwellings where a smoke alarm was present that were attended by the Humberside local authority fire brigade in 1999. 2000 data are not yet available.
- In 38 per cent. of cases the smoke alarm operated and raised the alarm.
- In 15 per cent. of cases the smoke alarm operated but failed to raise the alarm.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
British Overseas Territories (Citizenship)
John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to introduce a bill granting British citizenship to the citizens of the British Overseas Territories; and if he will make a statement. [1784]
Mr. Bradshaw: The British Overseas Territories Bill, which will grant British citizenship to all British dependent territories citizens in qualifying territories, was given a First Reading in the House of Lords on 21 June. The Second Reading is scheduled for 10 July. The Bill was published on 22 June. Copies of the Bill, with explanatory notes, are available from the Libraries of both Houses.
Sudan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he or his Department has had recently with the Government of Sudan regarding the treatment of Sudanese Christians. [1355]
Mr. Bradshaw: We continue to be deeply concerned by the suffering of all in the Sudan, regardless of religious or ethnic background. Christians do have specific concerns, which we take up with the Government of Sudan bilaterally and through the EU. In recent weeks, our ambassador in Khartoum has discussed our concerns with a number of leading Sudanese politicians, including the Vice-President, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Religious Affairs and the Governor of Khartoum State. He has also held a meeting with Archbishop Marona, the leader of the Episcopal Church of Sudan. This is part of a continuing dialogue on a key issue for human rights, and peace, in Sudan. Church issues are also an important part of the agenda of the EU/Sudan political dialogue. In London, my officials keep in close touch with representatives of the British Churches with an interest in Sudanese affairs.
Nice Treaty
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if the Government will delay ratification of the Nice treaty until the Republic of Ireland can ratify the treaty; [2204]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the implications of the outcome of the Irish referendum on the future of the Nice treaty. [2208]
Peter Hain: I refer to the right hon. Gentleman to my answer of 28 June 2001, Official Report, column 167W.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the clauses in the treaty of Nice which are essential to EU enlargement. [2207]
Peter Hain: The Nice treaty as a whole is essential for enlargement. The enlarged EU we want cannot work effectively without the changes that Nice makes to the EU's institutions and procedures. All member states are agreed that Nice opens the way for enlargement, and that,
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with the entry into force of the treaty, the EU will have completed the institutional changes necessary for the accession of new member states.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the future of the Nice treaty of one member state's inability to ratify it. [2205]
Peter Hain: In order for the treaty of Nice to enter into force it must be ratified by all 15 member states in accordance with their constitutional requirements.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to hold a referendum on UK ratification of the Nice treaty following the Irish referendum. [2209]
Peter Hain: The treaty of Nice can come into force only if it is ratified by all member states in accordance with their own constitutional requirements. In the UK, this means that Parliament must pass legislation to amend the European Communities Act 1972. Parliament will decide whether or not to accept the Nice treaty, as it did for the Single European Act, Maastricht and Amsterdam.
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