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16 May 2003 : Column 495W—continued
Russia
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Government of Russia on the human rights of ethnic minorities. [112711]
Mr. MacShane: We regularly raise the issue of racial discrimination with the Russian authorities who have acknowledged that racism and extremism is a problem in Russia. Most recently during our bilateral Human Rights talks in September 2002 and March 2003, which included discussion of the situation of Chechens and Meskhetian Turks.
Syria
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) he, (b) one of his ministerial colleagues and (c) a delegation from his Department last visited Syria; what discussions took place; and if he will make a statement. [113291]
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Syrian authorities on (a) bilateral relations and (b) the Middle East. [113462]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not visited Syria during his term in office. He last spoke to Syrian Foreign Minister Shara'a on 11 April 2003, when their discussion focussed on Iraq and the Arab/Israel dispute. The Foreign Secretary also looked forward to building on bilateral relations. My meeting with President Al-Assad in Damascus, on 14 April 2003, focussed on the same issues. The UK remains committed to a policy of constructive and, where necessary, critical engagement with Syria. This allows us to support reform while maintaining a robust
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dialogue on issues of concern including her attitude to Iraq, support for Palestinian rejectionist groups, WMD and human rights.
Turkey
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Turkey's progress on meeting the criteria for EU membership as defined by the European Council in Copenhagen in 1993 on (a) human rights, (b) treatment of minorities and (c) the role of the army in political life. [113142]
Mr. MacShane: The European Commission's 2002 Regular Report on Turkey, published last October, described the progress that Turkey had made towards complying with the Copenhagen political criteria. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary agreed on a revised Accession Partnership for Turkey setting out priorities for reform, at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 14 April 2003. The Turkish Government continue to pass significant legislative reform packages and show the political determination for which they were praised at the Copenhagen European Council. A sixth legislative reform package has been announced and will be deposited in the Turkish Parliament soon. We continue to strongly support Turkey's EU candidature both bilaterally through our UK/Turkey Action Plan, and as part of the EU.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Children Act
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2003, Official Report, column 351W, on Command Paper 5778, which parts of the Children Act 1989 are failing to be implemented effectively in his Department as set out in paragraph 2.22 of Command Paper 5778. [112183]
Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
Paragraph 2.22 of Command Paper 5778 does not state that the Children Act 1989 is not being implemented effectively, and neither is it meant to imply that this is the case.
As the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Hilary Benn) noted in the answer that he gave on 29 April 2003, Official Report, column 351–52W, the Children Act is a shared responsibility across Government and our aim, as set out in the Command Paper, is to increase the range of family support provisions that can be made available through the Children Act, as part of our response to tackling anti-social behaviour.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on advising asylum seekers (a) at first interview and (b) later on other alternative applications open to them including an application to work in the UK. [113607]
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Beverley Hughes [holding answer 15 May 2003]: It would not be appropriate to provide an asylum seeker with advice on any other applications they may wish to make at this stage. The Immigration Rules attach an entry clearance requirement to a number of categories of leave. Similarly, there will often be a requirement, where the period of leave is not in a category leading to settlement, that the applicant is willing to leave the United Kingdom at the expiry of the period of leave, which a person who has applied for asylum is unlikely to do.
Asylum seekers are not able to apply for work in the United Kingdom. Employers must seek work permits for individuals, and asylum seekers are not permitted to take up employment.
Child Prisoners
Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the children in Stoke Heath prison are subject to (a) section 20 and (b) a full care order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989; [113178]
- (2) how many of the children in Parc prison are subject to (a) section 20 and (b) a full care order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989; [113179]
(3) how many of the children in (a) Brockhill, (b) Brinsford, (c) Wetherby, (d) Lancaster Farms, (e) New Hall and (f) Onley prisons are subject to (i) section 20 and (ii) a full care order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989; [113195]
(4) how many of the children in (a) Ashfield, (b) Styal, (c) Thorn Cross, (d) Werrington, (e) Huntercombe, (f) Holloway, (g) Hollesley Bay and Warren Hill, (h) Hindley, (i) Feltham, (j) Eastwood Park, (k) Castington and (l) Bullwood Hall prisons are subject to (i) section 20 and (ii) a full care order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989. [113191]
Paul Goggins: The Prison Service does not hold information on the numbers of children and young people in each of its establishments who are subject to section 31 of the Children Act 1989 or who are accommodated by a local authority under section 20 of the Act before being received into custody. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department of Health collects aggregate figures annually for those subject to section 31 care orders and as of 31 March 2002 (the latest date for which figures are currently available) the Prison Service was accommodating 130 such children and young people.
Criminal Injuries Compensation
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for compensation were submitted to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many applications for compensation were rejected in each year. [111095]
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Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows.
| Financialyear | Applications received | Applications rejected | Awards made | Total resolutions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 78,651 | 32,762 | 39,038 | 71,800 |
| 1999–2000 | 78,742 | 33,312 | 37,553 | 70,865 |
| 2000–01 | 76,501 | 30,451 | 34,343 | 64,794 |
| 2001–02 | 78,202 | 31,938 | 37,103 | 69,041 |
| 2002–03 | 70,722 | 34,883 | 40,131 | 75,014 |
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) advise that these figures relate to cases resolved under the tariff-based scheme without an appeal.
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the running costs were of the (a) Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and (b) Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel; and how much each body awarded in each of the last five years. [111342]
Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows.
| Financialyear | CICA running costs | CICAP running costs | Total value of awards made by CICA under tariff scheme | Total value of awards made by CICAP under tariff scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 22.49 | 2.45 | 107.39 | 3.55 |
| 1999–2000 | 19.62 | 3.85 | 108.29 | 6.91 |
| 2000–01 | 22.01 | 5.99 | 100.03 | 10.39 |
| 2001–02 | 23.18 | 6.62 | 113.54 | 11.88 |
| 2002–03 | 24.20 | 5.68 | 141.37 | 14.68 |
CICA advise that the figures in the table show the total value of awards for which acceptances were recorded in the year.
Criminal Justice IT Systems
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 24 March 2003, Official Report, column 23W, on criminal justice IT systems, when he expects the criminal justice system IT delivery plan to be presented to ministers; and when the electronic progress report will be available on the criminal justice IT website. [113076]
Mr. Wills: The Cabinet CJS (IT) sub-Committee has now approved the Criminal Justice System delivery plan subject to officials reviewing elements of the programme costs. Once this has been completed the electronic progress report will be published on the Criminal Justice Information Technology (CJIT) website (www.cjit.gov.uk) in the summer. I will write to the hon. Member at this time.
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