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CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidelines are issued to magistrates on the consequences of a youth breaking an antisocial behaviour order. [178470]

Mr. Leslie: A sentencing guideline for a breach of an ASBO has been produced for use in the Adult court by the Magistrate's Court Sentencing Guidelines Working Party. However, due to the specific legislative and other considerations applicable when dealing with youths, these guidelines cannot be readily applied within the youth court.

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 provided for the creation of the recently formed Sentencing Guidelines Council, and it will fall to them to determine in due course, whether Youth court guidelines should be provided. The Judicial Studies Board (JSB) is planning to undertake a review of its Youth Court Bench Book during this financial year and will consider whether information and guidance on the breach of an ASBO could be included.

Statutory responsibility for the training of magistrates currently rests with the 42 independent Magistrates Courts' Committees (MCCs). The JSB has provided training materials to MCCs on ASBOs, which encourage through case studies, discussion of the issues arising in sentencing on the breach of orders, including those in the Youth court. In addition, in February 2004, the JSB advised MCCs that it expected every magistrate to receive a minimum of two hours face to face training on ASBOs by the end of this financial year.

In court lay magistrates sit with their justices' clerk or a legal adviser. The justices' clerk has a statutory duty to provide advice to the magistrates on questions of law, practice and procedure. This will include advice on applying any case law and relevant Court of Appeal judgments when making decisions on sentence.
 
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Fixed-Term Parliaments

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Secretary of State has considered, as part of the Government's programme of constitutional reform, the introduction of fixed-term parliaments; and if he will make a statement. [178720]

Mr. Leslie: No.

Judges (Ethnic Minorities)

Tom Cox: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) men and (b) women from ethnic minorities sit as judges in the High Court. [178686]

Mr. Leslie: There are at present no High Court judges who declare themselves as from minority ethnic communities.

Opinion Polls

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what (a) regulations and (b) code of standards govern the opinion polling industry. [178184]

Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply.

The Data Protection Act 1998 applies to market research and opinion polling. Professionally conducted market research and opinion polling should be carried out in accordance with the Code of Conduct and Guidelines of the Market Research Society.

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Department is taking to ensure standards of accuracy and integrity in opinion polling. [178185]

Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply.

These are matters for the industry's professional body, the Market Research Society, to address in the first instance.

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans his Department has to undertake an investigation into the methods used by polling organisations to gather, use and present information. [178186]

Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply.

The Department has no such plans.

DEFENCE

1958 Nuclear Tests

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on the retrieval and assessment of the radiation from badges worn by participants in the Technical Services Forward Group during the nuclear tests in August and September 1958; and if he will make a statement. [178576]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 14 June 2004]: The Ministry of Defence has received one representation on this issue in the last six months, which was a letter on
 
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6 January 2004 from my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) on behalf of one of his constituents.

Afghanistan

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the work of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. [178146]

Mr. Ingram: Under the terms of the United Nations' Security Council Resolution 1510, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) continues to assist the Afghan Transitional Authority in maintaining security in Afghanistan, and the United Nations and other international civilian organizations engaged in humanitarian and reconstruction work. Work is in hand in NATO to expand the ISAF across Afghanistan.

Alvis plc

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assurances General Dynamics has given regarding the continuance of (a) Alvis plc's UK-based and (b) Alvis Hagglund's development and production programmes and capabilities; [177780]

(2) what light and medium armour capabilities are produced by General Dynamics Corporation and its subsidiaries; what discussions have been held with General Dynamics concerning Alvis plc's Future Rapid Effects System activities; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications of the Office of Fair Trading's investigation into the proposed takeover of Alvis plc by General Dynamics Corporation. [177892]

Mr. Ingram: General Dynamics Corporation (GDC) and its subsidiaries produce a full suite of light and medium armour capabilities. Since the GDC offer to acquire Alvis plc was announced there have been several high-level discussions between the Ministry of Defence and GDC. These discussions covered both Alvis plc and the Future Rapid Effects System programme. On 3 June 2004 the Alvis plc Board recommended to its shareholders their acceptance of an offer from BAE Systems to acquire the company. GDC subsequently announced on 4 June 2004 that it would not revise its offer. The GDC offer for Alvis plc formally lapsed on 7 June 2004.

Army Medal Office

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to delay the closure of the Army Medal Office until the end of the 2006–07 financial year. [178994]

Mr. Caplin: No. I am convinced that the investment of effort now to modernise medals delivery through the formation of a Joint Medal Office linked to the new Joint Personnel Administration system, will be to the ultimate benefit of veterans, and serving personnel.

Commonwealth War Graves

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) the Israeli
 
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Government and (b) the Palestinian authority regarding the protection of Commonwealth war graves. [178584]

Mr. Caplin: Neither my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, nor the Secretary of State for Defence has had discussions on this subject with the Israeli Government. However, the Consul-General in Jerusalem has raised the vandalism of the Commonwealth War Graves at Gaza War Cemetery on Sunday 9 May with the Palestinian authority, which has undertaken to investigate.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission views the recent vandalism at Gaza War Cemetery as an isolated incident. Officials at local level within the Israeli Government and the Palestinian authority have given the Commission assurances that there is continuing respect for their cemeteries among the local population.

Defence Medical Services

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances service personnel who have had private medical treatment or diagnosis owing to delays in receiving such treatment and diagnosis from the Defence Medical Services will be refunded the cost of such treatment. [170006]

Mr. Caplin: The Defence Medical Services are responsible for the provision of clinical care to military personnel. Secondary care for military personnel is usually provided through routine treatment within the national health service unless there are operational reasons to do otherwise. In such cases, accelerated access to diagnosis and treatment can be provided at NHS hospitals that host the Ministry of Defence Hospital Units. An initial decision on the most appropriate care pathway is made at the time of referral, and is reviewed once the diagnosis is confirmed. Occasionally, use is made of private healthcare providers to enable Service personnel to be returned to operational fitness quickly if it is anticipated that treatment within the NHS would fail to meet an urgent operational requirement. However, no financial provision is made for reimbursing the cost of diagnosis and treatment if individuals choose to seek private medical care.

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