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Poultry Farms

Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on the planning guidance currently issued to local authorities relating to the siting of new generation mobile chicken units on poultry farms. [16040]

Mr. Morley: We have had no recent discussions with DTLR on this subject. Guidance on temporary structures used for agriculture, including mobile poultry units, is contained within PPG7, Annexe C, paragraph 11.

DEFRA contributes to both national and regional planning guidance on a range of aspects. Through Government Offices, DEFRA provides technical advice to local planning authorities. This includes advice on giving farmers flexibility to adapt to changing animal welfare legislation. In doing so, local authorities are enabled to take due account of these aspects when they prepare their local development plans and assess individual planning applications.

22 Nov 2001 : Column: 438W

Farm Assurance Schemes

Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further steps her Department plans to take to promote public awareness of the red tractor symbol and related farm food assurance schemes. [16038]

Mr. Morley: The Government support the development of assurance schemes and the red tractor logo. We are grant aiding the development of assured food standards which was set up to act as an umbrella body for assurance schemes and licence the use of the red tractor logo.

Rural Payments Agency

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) promptness of the tasks carried out by the Rural Payments Agency; and if she will make a statement. [15810]

Mr. Morley: Following the launch of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) as an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 October 2001, the House was informed of the agency's Performance Targets on 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1247W. These cover a range of targets that reflect the efficiency and promptness of tasks undertaken by RPA. Copies of its Framework Document, Corporate Plan and Business Plan were placed in the Library of the House on 15 November 2001.

An Ownership Board was appointed, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Department. Other members include three independents and representatives of the devolved Administrations.

Within the objective of providing strategic direction and oversight to RPA, one of the four primary roles of the Ownership Board is to monitor regularly on behalf of the Secretary of State, the devolved Administrations and competent authority the performance of RPA against its targets.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Scottish Devolution

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is regarding consultations prior to the publication of proposals involving the transfer of powers to the Scottish Executive by (a) primary legislation and (b) Order in Council. [13824]

Mr. Blunkett: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 8 November 2001, Official Report, column 748W.

Osama bin Laden

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the extent of support for Osama bin Laden by (a) organised groups and (b) individuals within the United Kingdom. [13677]

22 Nov 2001 : Column: 439W

Mr. Blunkett: The estimate of support for Osama bin Laden by organised groups and individuals in the United Kingdom is an operational matter for the security service and the police, who attach a high priority to monitoring and countering any possible activities in the country by foreign extremists. Any credible information is fully investigated. An investigation which yields evidence that organisations or individuals are supporting terrorism will result in the appropriate action being taken.

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has collated on the extent to which the views and values of Osama bin Laden have been promoted in public within the United Kingdom since 1997. [16410]

Angela Eagle: The police and security forces closely monitor the activities of those who seek to promote the views of proscribed organisations. As head of al-Qaeda, an organisation proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, the views of Osama bin Laden, or those who advocate support for this organisation, fall into this category. The Metropolitan police are investigating a number of possible breaches of the provisions of the Terrorist Act 2000 as well as allegedly racially-inflammatory comments made after the terrorist attacks in the United States. Osama bin Laden's views have in any case, of course, long been in the public domain, and particularly since the events of 11 September.

The Government have proposed new laws on incitement to religious hatred which specifically address those who seek to stir up hatred against members of religious groups. No individual or group can be considered exempt from prosecution under these laws.

Immigration Applications

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applications received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are sent by recorded delivery; if those sent by recorded delivery are dealt with more expeditiously than those delivered by other means; and if he will make a statement. [17161]

Angela Eagle: About 90 per cent. of all immigration applications are posted by registered/recorded delivery.

Applications sent by registered/recorded delivery are not dealt with more expeditiously than those delivered by ordinary post. New applications are normally considered in order of receipt irrespective of the method of posting.

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is of keeping a person in an immigration detention establishment in England and Wales. [14941]

Angela Eagle: The average annual cost of detaining a person in an Immigration Service Detention Centre is currently £27,006.

Extremist Groups

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the activities and statements of Abu Abdullah of the Mosque of Piety, Leicester; and if he will make a statement; [14974]

22 Nov 2001 : Column: 440W

Mr. Blunkett: The police and the Security Service monitor closely the activities of all foreign extremists and organisations within the United Kingdom. Any credible information is fully investigated. An investigation which yields evidence that organisations or individuals are supporting terrorism will result in the appropriate action being taken.

Hirst v. United Kingdom

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government will introduce legislation to comply with the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in Hirst v. United Kingdom. [15675]

Beverley Hughes: There are no plans to introduce new legislation as there is nothing in the judgment to require this. Existing domestic legislation provides a flexible framework within which successive Parole Board reviews can be held so that the period between reviews in each case is decided on its merits, compatibly with Article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Appropriate guidance has already been issued following the earlier European Court of Human Rights judgment in the case of Oldham.

Further training will be provided to ensure that relevant Prison Service staff and Parole Board members are aware that the timing of reviews should be geared to the particular circumstances of each case, subject to the statutory maximum interval of two years which must only be set where this is justified in the individual circumstances.

Women Prisoners (Mother and Baby Units)

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if women received into (a) Holloway and (b) Brock Hill prisons are advised that they may apply for a place in a mother and baby unit. [15671]

Beverley Hughes: A process is in place to enable all women, sentenced or unsentenced, who are pregnant or have a child aged under 18 months to make an informed choice about applying for a place in a mother and baby unit.

Governors in all women's prisons must ensure that the reception process identifies all eligible women and provides them with the prisoners' handbook "All About Mother and Baby Units".

Governors in all women's prisons must appoint a named liaison officer who is responsible for providing the woman with any information she requires as well as assisting her with the application process.

22 Nov 2001 : Column: 441W

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women who already had babies and were sentenced or remanded to (a) Holloway and (b) Brock Hill prisons applied for a place in a mother and baby unit. [15670]

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not available centrally. Computer systems have recently been installed in each of the four mother and baby units and these will record that sort of information and transmit it to a central point. The staff concerned are being trained in its use and some inputting of new cases has begun.

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