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23 Oct 2002 : Column 369W—continued
Illegal Drugs
Mr. Bellingham: ''To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he next expects to meet representatives of the security forces to discuss measures to combat the illegal drugs trade. [74023]
Jane Kennedy: I can confirm that the Organised Crime Task Force, which I chair, next meets on 29 October. Representatives of the security forces will be in attendance and I can inform you that in the second
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annual threat assessment and strategy of the OCTF, which was launched on 23 May one of the areas for action is the illegal drugs trade.
Northern Ireland is not threatened by the illegal drug trade to the same degree as other parts of the UK or the Western world and it is the aim of the Government to keep it that way.
Electoral Fraud and Voter Intimidation
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures he is taking to combat electoral fraud and voter intimidation. [74024]
Desmond Browne: It is the Government's intention that all the provisions of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 will be in place in time for the scheduled Northern Ireland Assembly election on 1 May 2003.
The Act requires a canvass form and an application for voter registration to be signed by, and to include the date of birth and national insurance number (or a statement that he/she does not have a national insurance number) of, each of the persons to whom the form or application relates. The annual canvass, currently underway, is being conducted on the basis of these requirements.
In addition, by the time of the next scheduled Assembly election it remains the Government's target that all voters will have to produce a form of photographic ID from the list of specified documents acceptable as proof of identity at the polling station. The photographic electoral identity card provided for by the Act will be required for by those voters who do not have a passport, photo driving licence or a Senior SmartPass (issued under the Northern Ireland Concessionary fares scheme for use from 1 May 2002). The electoral identity card will be issued to all those electors who require one following the publication of the electoral register on 1 December.
Electoral Fraud
Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures to combat electoral fraud will be in place in time for the scheduled Northern Ireland Assembly election on 1 May 2003. [74273]
Desmond Browne: It is the Government's intention that all the provisions of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 will be in place in time for the scheduled Northern Ireland Assembly election on 1 May 2003. The annual canvass, currently under way, is being conducted on the basis of the requirements laid down by the Act. The next scheduled Assembly election will also remain our target for the removal of all forms of non-photographic ID from the list of specified documents acceptable as proof of identity at the polling station.
Security
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, If he will make a statement on the security situation since 24 July. [74025]
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Jane Kennedy: The Government abhor the hate-inspired violence which predominated in the interface areas of North and East Belfast during the summer months. Police were repeatedly attacked with blast bombs, petrol bombs, acid bombs, bricks and other missiles. They also came under live gunfire from both communities. However, the security forces established a high profile on both sides of the community and the adoption of a number of physical security measures and the introduction of CCTV have brought a measure of calm to these troubled areas.
Budget
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much of the 2002–03 budget for the Northern Ireland Office is earmarked for policing. [74026]
Jane Kennedy: The DEL (Departmental Expenditure Limit) for the NIO for 2002–03 is as follows:
| Resource DEL | #1,068,689,000 |
|---|---|
| Capital DEL | #55,494,000 |
| #1,124,183,000 |
The following is earmarked for policing*:
| Resource | #592,159,000 |
|---|---|
| Capital | #19,907,000 |
| #612,066,000 |
Note
(*This is for direct policing only—these figures do not include Patten redundancy and non-redundancy money)
Human Rights Commission
Mr. Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will submits its third annual report as required by paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 7 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. [77014]
Desmond Browne: I have today laid before Parliament the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's third Annual Report.
PRIME MINISTER
Palestine
David Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister if he will state Her Majesty's Government's policy towards a viable and sovereign Palestinian state in the occupied territories; and what recent discussion he has had with President Bush on this issue. [76307]
The Prime Minister: By this year's end, we must have revived final status negotiations and they must have explicitly as their aims: an Israeli state free from terror, recognised by the Arab world, and a viable Palestinian state based on the boundaries of 1967. I have had several recent conversations with President Bush on this issue. We share the aim, set out in his statement on 24 June, of
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a final status agreement within three years. We will continue to work closely and urgently with the US, EU, UN, Russia and regional States to realise this goal.
Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe
Mr. Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Prime Minister what changes there are in the composition of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe. [77264]
The Prime Minister: The hon. Member for Congleton (Mrs. Winterton) replaces the hon. Member for Mid Sussex (Mr. Soames) as a full member of the Delegation.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Malins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the circumstances in which asylum applicants from abroad will be entitled to advice from lawyers who would be publicly funded to travel abroad to take instructions and give advice. [75417]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Lawyers in England and Wales wanting to travel abroad to see the client in person need the prior authority of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) if they wish to claim the expense from public funds.
The LSC would only authorise expenditure in exceptional circumstances—if an interview was absolutely necessary, and there was no reasonable alternative such as communication by telephone, post, fax or video link. Sponsors, relatives or friends of a client based in the UK could also be used as a channel for instructions. Lawyers abroad could also be used as agents and paid out of public funds. In most cases where asylum applicants have been removed, the client would have been able to discuss his or her case in detail with a legal adviser before removal.
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will publish the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service's annual report and accounts 2001–02. [77265]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) has published its Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02 today. Copies of the Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02 have been placed in the libraries of both Houses. Further copies may be obtained from the Stationery Office.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
School Census
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if (a) pupils and (b) the parents of pupils can access information gathered by the Pupil Level Annual School Census. [73755]
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Mr. Miliband: Pupils, or in certain circumstances their parents, can obtain a copy of their record in the National Pupil Database which combines information from the Pupil Level Annual Schools Census with details of their Key Stage results and, in future, examination results. Some aspects of the arrangements, including how the role of the parents as opposed to the pupil may vary for pupils of different ages, are still being considered.
Advertising
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money her Department has spent on advertising in the Guardian in (a) the current and (b) the past financial year. [75629]
Stephen Twigg: Departmental spend on advertising in the Guardian for the periods specified are as follows:
- 2001–2002 = #334,062.93
- 2002–2003 (to end Sept) = #79,429.
The Department uses national press advertising, including the Guardian, for a variety of reasons, including informational or publicity purposes and for internal and external recruitment exercises.
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