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23 Nov 2001 : Column: 483W

Written Answers to Questions

Friday 23 November 2001

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Bona Vacantia

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Solicitor-General what plans she has to reform the application of bona vacantia. [14669]

The Solicitor-General: As a result of my hon. Friend's question, I am looking at how bona vacantia is operated and will report back to him on any changes that may arise.

Bribery

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Solicitor-General how many United Kingdom citizens have been prosecuted in the United Kingdom in the last five years for offences of bribery committed abroad. [14670]

The Solicitor-General: No United Kingdom citizens have been prosecuted for offences in the UK of bribery committed abroad because current legislation does not allow it. It will, though, be possible to prosecute if the offences under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill become law.

Domestic Violence

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will report on recent progress with prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence. [14672]

The Solicitor-General: There is considerable and encouraging progress in prosecuting crimes of domestic violence. For the first time, next week the CPS will be issuing guidance to Crown prosecutors on domestic violence. That guidance will be published, and that will be the first time that any CPS guidance has been published. To support our prosecutors to do their work as well as possible, there will be a national network of domestic violence prosecutors. A new ministerial committee on domestic violence will co-ordinate work across Government.

Crown Prosecution Service

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the operation of the Crown Prosecution Service; and how it is affected by the location of magistrates courts. [14674]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service prosecutes cases which have been investigated by the police. The CPS is affected by the location of magistrates courts by the need to be located where the witnesses and victims can get to them, and they need to be accessible for the crown prosecutors and caseworkers who prosecute in them.

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Gamma-hydroxybutyrate

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Solicitor-General how many successful prosecutions there were in the last 12 months of people accused of rape who used GHB. [14675]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records showing case outcomes broken down to particular offences or types, nor is the information held centrally by the Home Office. I will ask my officials to keep me informed on any cases that involve this drug.

Child Sexual Abuse

Julie Morgan: To ask the Solicitor-General what the policy of the Crown Prosecution Service is in connection with allegations of child sexual abuse. [14668]

The Solicitor-General: The CPS applies the evidential and public interest tests set out in the code for Crown prosecutors in all cases referred to it by the police so that it can make fair and consistent prosecution decisions.

Children form a class of victims and witnesses to whom special care should be given. CPS policy in relation to child abuse cases has three key principles: expedition, sensitivity and fairness. Delay should be avoided in all cases involving a child victim or witness. Child witnesses should be afforded as much protection as necessary to enable them to give their evidence in a way that both maintains the quality of that evidence and minimises the trauma suffered by them. CPS policy emphasises that the best interests of the child should be the first, but not the final, consideration when assessing the public interest.

The CPS works together with other statutory agencies in accordance with the inter-agency guidance "Working Together to Safeguard Children".

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what discussions he has had with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over the decision that her contract is not to be renewed as a matter of course. [15549]

Mr. Kirkwood [holding answer 16 November 2001]: The Speaker had a private meeting with the commissioner on 16 October.

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what recent consultations he has had with the Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life regarding the duties of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; and if he will make a statement. [15513]

Mr. Kirkwood: [holding answer 16 November 2001]: None. Although the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was established as a result of the work of the Nolan committee, the House of Commons Commission does not see a need to consult the Committee on Standards in Public Life each time the post of

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commissioner is advertised. In any event, I understand that the Committee on Standards in Public Life does not concern itself with individual cases.

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the words were of the advertisement for the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards on each of the occasions on which applications have been sought. [15732]

Mr. Kirkwood: I have already placed in the Library a copy of the advertisement which appeared in the national press on Sunday 4 November 2001, in response to the hon. Member's previous question on 2 November 2001, Official Report, column 863W. Copies of the advertisements which appeared in 1995 and 1998 will be placed in the Library today.

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the previous Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was offered a renewal of his contract. [14935]

Mr. Kirkwood [holding answer 15 November 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Worthing, West (Peter Bottomley) on 2 November 2001, Official Report, column 864W.

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, on what the assessment of the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is based; and whether the issues have been discussed with the present holder. [15281]

Mr. Kirkwood: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 November 2001, Official Report, column 863W.

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what (a) written and (b) other sources of advice on best practice were relied on in agreeing (i) the terms of and (ii) the advertisement for the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [15279]

Mr. Kirkwood [holding answer 15 November 2001]: As in all such matters, the commission is advised in confidence by the Department of Finance and Administration and the Legal Services Office. In this case, it has also been advised by the recruitment consultants Saxton Bampfylde Hever plc.

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what representations have been received on the performance of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards from (a) hon. Members and (b) non-members; and if he will make a statement. [14932]

Mr. Kirkwood [holding answer 15 November 2001]: There have been no submissions to the Commission on the matter.

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what has been the average annual number of cases which the present Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has been investigating during her term of office. [14933]

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Mr. Kirkwood [holding answer 15 November 2001]: Over the past three years, complaints requiring assessment have averaged 120 a year. The commissioner completed an average of 14 full investigations a year, each resulting in a report to the Standards and Privileges Committee.

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason the new contract for the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards will involve fewer working days than the present contract. [14931]

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason (a) the hours required from and (b) the salary paid to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards are being reduced. [15535]

Mr. Kirkwood [holding answers 15 and 19 November 2001]: The Commission believes that three days per week should be adequate to conduct the duties of the post. This is the level of time commitment that was established for the first commissioner. The figure of three days is not set in stone, and will be discussed with the successful candidate for the post. Salary is commensurate with hours worked.

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when it was decided (a) to drop and (b) to reinstate the option of reappointment of the holder of the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards by mutual agreement. [15280]

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason the decision to offer the next Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards an extension to his or her contract by mutual agreement was not taken in respect of the present postholder. [15536]

Mr. Kirkwood [holding answers 15 and 19 November 2001]: There has been no such decision. As to the position of the present commissioner, I refer the hon. Member to my answer today to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (David Winnick), column 483W.

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason the Parliamentary Commissioner has not been offered an extension to her contract. [14934]

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason it was decided not to renew without the requirement for open competition the contract of the current postholder of the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [15534]

Mr. Kirkwood [holding answers 15 and 19 November 2001]: The appointment was made for a three-year term. Any extension or renewal would be a matter for agreement by both parties. The commission considered that a new appointment should be made following an open competition. The current commissioner is eligible to apply and may be appointed for a further three-year term if she applies for the post and is successful at the final short list stage.

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