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Mobile Phones

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with (a) telecoms companies and (b) mobile phone manufacturers concerning the redesigning of mobile phones to make inadvertent 999 calls less likely. [10391]

Mr. Denham: The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have been working together to address the issue of inadvertent silent 999 calls from mobile phones.

British Telecom and Cable and Wireless carry all emergency 999–112 calls. Following a successful trial with the Metropolitan police, ACPO have arranged for British Telecom and Cable and Wireless to route all silent 999 calls for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland through a switch that engages a recorded message. This message states that the emergency services have been called, but that no voice connection has been detected, and that the number "5" on the keypad should be pressed twice if the emergency services are required.

This service came into effect nationally on 1 October 2001 and will remove silent calls that were previously routed to police command and control rooms throughout the country. These accounted for approximately 20 per cent. of all 999 calls and their removal will improve the efficiency of control rooms and their ability to deal with genuine emergency calls.

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Oftel are currently working with manufacturers to improve the design of mobile phones to reduce problems. These changes should be introduced from 2003 onwards. Interim solutions are being sought from manufacturers to provide specific key protection around the "9" and "1" keys to prevent accidental activation.

Communications Data Access

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to allow law enforcement agencies access to all communications data of every UK telephone and Internet user; and if he will make a statement. [15186]

Mr. Blunkett: Access to communications data may be sought only for specified purposes (including, for example, investigation of crime) under the Data Protection Act 1998 or the Telecommunications Act 1984. It may additionally be supplied in obedience to court orders.

Chapter II of Part I of The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) will provide a more regulated structure for access requests and create a system of safeguards.

A test of necessity (for example in the interests of national security or for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime) must be met before any communications data are obtained under Chapter II. An authorising officer must also consider the conduct involved in obtaining the communications data to be proportionate to what it seeks to achieve.

The use of powers to access data will be subject to oversight by the Interception Commissioner.

Security Appeals Tribunal

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to respond to the decision of the National Security Appeals Tribunal, dated 1 October, in respect of the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) and MI5; and if he will make a statement. [15276]

Mr. Blunkett: I expect by the end of November to have decided on a course of action in response to the determination of the National Security Panel of the Information Tribunal on the appeal by the hon. Member for Lewes against a Data Protection Act 1998 national security exemption certificate covering the security service.

Protection of Badgers Act

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to change the way in which offences committed under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 are recorded by the Criminal Records Office. [12692]

Mr. Denham: In common with all other offence provisions which carry the possibility of imprisonment, convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings under sections 1(1) and (3), 2 and 3 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 are recordable by police forces on the Police National Computer. These include offences of wilfully killing, injuring or taking a badger, cruelly ill-treating a

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badger, and intentionally or recklessly interfering with a badger sett. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Firearms Act

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set a minimum age requirement for (a) possession of and (b) use of weapons under (i) section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 and (ii) section 2 of the Firearms Act 1968. [7247]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 15 October 2001]: As indicated in the Government's response to the Home Affairs Select Committee's (HAC) second report on Controls over Firearms, we do not believe there is a need for a minimum age limit for the possession and use of a firearm providing that young people below a certain age are under proper adult supervision. The present legal position is complex, and different age limits apply to different types of firearms according to the circumstances in which they are used and the degree of supervision. We have therefore asked the Firearms Consultative Committee to look at this issue in the context of the Government's response to the HAC and to advise on the detailed implications of any changes.

National Asylum Support Service

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities he has to conduct independent investigations into the National Asylum Support Service's monitoring of the contracts it has awarded in relation to accommodation and support for asylum seekers. [10824]

Angela Eagle: The work of the contract management staff of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is overseen by the Head of Procurement who reports to the Director, NASS. The service is an integral part of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office and its work is subject to the normal management, audit and complaints procedures of that Directorate.

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints were submitted to the National Asylum Support Service in its recent investigation into management and support service at Landmark and Inn on the Park in Everton, Liverpool. [10989]

Angela Eagle: Twelve such complaints from asylum seekers were received during the investigation.

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the results of his Department's recent investigation into management and support services at Landmark and Inn on the Park in Everton, Liverpool. [10974]

Angela Eagle: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) investigation was internal and there are no plans to publish a report.

Terrorism Act

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made for the review of the Terrorism Act 2000; and how observations from (a) interested persons and (b) organisations may be submitted for consideration. [15789]

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Mr. Blunkett: I am pleased to say that Lord Carlile of Berriew QC has accepted my invitation to carry out the annual review of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Written observations about the operation of the Act should be submitted to Lord Carlile, c/o 6 Floor, West Wing, Home Office, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT by 31 December 2001.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Public-private Partnerships

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the projects in her Department which have been considered as potential public-private partnerships since 1997 which have not been undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value than the public-private partnership proposed; and if she will make a statement. [13452]

Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 607W.

There have been no projects considered by my Department and the Royal Parks Agency as potential public-private partnerships which have not been undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value than the public-private partnership proposed.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Recycling

10. Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the level of usage of recycled materials as a proportion of the volume collected in the last 12 months. [13073]

Mr. Meacher: In 1999–2000, 11 per cent. of municipal waste in England and Wales was collected for recycling or composting. The Department does not hold information on the level of usage of materials as a proportion of the amounts collected for recycling.

37. Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to involve the public in decisions on waste recycling and disposal; and if she will make a statement. [13101]

Mr. Meacher: Both waste recycling and disposal are covered by statutory performance standards set using the Best Value regime which requires that local authorities' services are subject to regular reviews which must involve consultation with local people.

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