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Firearms
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving the use of firearms have been recorded for each of the last five years where the offender was (a) under 10, (b) 10, (c) 11, (d) 12, (e) 13, (f) 14, (g) 15, (h) 16 and (i) 17 years. [7248]
Mr. Denham: This information is not collected centrally.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to restrict the (a) sale, (b) possession and (c) use of air guns and rifles. [7246]
Mr. Denham: There are already laws which govern the circumstances in which air weapons can be sold, possessed or used. We believe that much can be done to tackle air weapon misuse through the enforcement of these laws and through public education on the safe and responsible handling of these firearms. We have asked the Firearms Consultative Committee to consider how best to take this forward and to consider whether there are any other measures which might usefully be taken to guard against misuse.
GM Animals
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason no data is collected in respect of (a) deaths occurring prior to birth during the production of genetically modified animals and (b) the stage of foetal development at which failures occur. [8002]
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Angela Eagle: The production of genetically modified animals (as well as their use in experiments or other scientific procedures) is controlled under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The production and use of such animals allows new areas of medical and other scientific research to be explored; provides the potential for investigating a wide variety of conditions including cancer, cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis; and allows the quality of the science in many areas of research and testing to be improved.
Table 3 of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2000 (Cm 5244) provides comprehensive data on scientific procedures by species of animal, primary purpose (including breeding) and genetic status. Paragraph 12 of the Introductory Notes to the statistics explains that details of procedures on animals in foetal, larval or embryonic form are collected but not enumerated because it may be impracticable in some cases to count such procedures.
Foetal deaths in the species that are commonly genetically modified are difficult or impossible to enumerate as a result of resorption of the foetal material and there may be no outward sign that this has happened. It may never have been established that the animal was pregnant, it will not have been known how many embryos were conceived, nor how many reached halfway through gestation. It would not therefore be feasible to collect the information in question. Embryonic forms do not become protected animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 until they are beyond halfway through gestation.
Dr. Ali Dizaei
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on developments in the investigation of Dr. Ali Dizaei, including its costs. [7151]
Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the investigation is still active and on-going.
Illegal Immigrants
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of illegal immigrants employed in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [7211]
Angela Eagle: No such estimate has been made in the last five years or previously of the numbers of those involved in illegal employment. The Home Office will shortly be commissioning research to obtain information about the size and characteristics of the illegal population.
The Government are, however, determined to tackle the criminal gangs who are trading in human misery. Last year a multi-agency task force, chaired by the National Crime Squad, was created and is leading the United Kingdom's response to this problem.
Digital Television (Prisons)
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what expenditure has been
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(a) incurred to date and (b) budgeted for in (i) monthly and (ii) quarterly subscriptions for digital television in prisoners' cells; [7495]
- (2) what expenditure has been (a) incurred to date and (b) is projected during the next year on installation of in-cell digital TV services for convicted prisoners; [7497]
(3) how many convicted prisoners have access to (a) ITV digital and (b) other digital TV services in their own cells. [7496]
Beverley Hughes: The policy of the Prison Service is that prisoners should have access only to the five analogue terrestrial television channels in their cells.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants have been dispersed to the borough of Trafford in each of the last five years. [7208]
Angela Eagle: Asylum seekers were not dispersed centrally before April 2000.
Information recorded by National Asylum Support Service (NASS) shows that as at the end of July 2001, 50 1 asylum seekers, including dependants, were being supported in NASS accommodation in Trafford after dispersal.
- 1 Figure rounded to the nearest 10.
Enforcements (Immigrants)
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many enforcements were made on immigrants in each month from May; what the nationalities of those removed was; how many of those removed were asylum seekers; to which countries they were sent; on which airlines they were removed; and how many were removed by charter flights. [7683]
Angela Eagle: Enforcement action relates to the removal of people who have entered the United Kingdom, either legally or illegally. It does not include cases dealt with "on-entry".
Information for the period requested is not available. The most recent information was published in the "Control of Immigration Bulletin, United Kingdom 2000" on 24 August 2001. This shows that 8,370 persons had been removed of whom 3,540 had sought asylum at some stage. This figure excludes dependants, but includes persons leaving under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme.
More recent information shows that during the second quarter of 2001, 1,500 persons who had sought asylum at some stage either left the United Kingdom or were removed after enforcement action had been initiated. This figure includes dependants and persons leaving under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme. Corresponding information on non-asylum removals is not, at present, available for the period.
I regret that information on the nationality, destination and flight details is not available.
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Asylum Voucher System
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish his review of the operation of the asylum voucher system; and if he will make a statement. [7629]
Angela Eagle: The Home Secretary intends to report on the reviews of the voucher and dispersal schemes when he announces his proposals about immigration and asylum policy later this month.
Immigrant Detainees
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained under immigration rules at the end of (a) July, (b) August and (c) September; what the nationalities of those detained is; what the location of those detained is; and how many have been detained more than (i) two, (ii) three, (iii) four and (iv) five months. [7684]
Angela Eagle: The latest available information on the number of persons detained under Immigration Act powers relates to 30 June 2001; the location, nationality and length of detention of persons detained as at this date is given in the tables. Of the total, 245 persons are being detained under dual Immigration and other powers.
| Location | Immigration Act detainees as at 30 June 2001(29) |
|---|---|
| Armley | 10 |
| Belmarsh | 50 |
| Brixton | 15 |
| Campsfield House | 185 |
| Cardiff | 45 |
| Dover Harbour | 5 |
| Harmondsworth | 80 |
| Haslar | 155 |
| High Down | 45 |
| Holme House | 55 |
| Lindholme | 110 |
| Liverpool | 85 |
| Longport | 10 |
| Manchester Airport | 15 |
| Rochester | 180 |
| The Mount | 10 |
| The Verne | 10 |
| Tinsley House | 125 |
| Wandsworth | 55 |
| Winchester | 45 |
| Wormwood Scrubs | 25 |
| Other prison establishments(30) | 180 |
| Oakington Reception Centre | 265 |
| Total | 1,760 |
(29) Figures rounded to the nearest five, and exclude persons detained in police cells. Figures include 245 persons who are recorded as being detained under dual immigration and other powers.
(30) Other prison establishments with five or fewer detainees.
(31) Figures rounded to the nearest five, and exclude persons detained in police cells. Figures include 245 persons who are recorded as being detained under dual immigration and other powers.
(32) Other nationalities with five or fewer detainees.
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| Length of detention(33) | Immigration Act detainees as at 30 June 2001(34) |
|---|---|
| More than 2 months | 660 |
| of which, more than 3 months | 475 |
| of which, more than 4 months | 380 |
| of which, more than 5 months | 300 |
(33) Relates to current period of detention; where persons have been transferred to and subsequently from the Oakington Reception Centre, excludes time in detention prior to transfer from Oakington.
(34) Figures rounded to the nearest five, and exclude persons detained in police cells and the Oakington Reception Centre. Figures include 130 persons who are recorded as being detained under dual immigration and other powers.
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