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Written Answers

Tuesday, 21st January 1997.

Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What is their response to the comments of the Northern Ireland Probation Board on the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Baroness Denton of Wakefield): The comments of the Northern Ireland Probation Board on the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 were addressed by my right honourable friend the member for Westminster North during the debate on this order in another place on 10th December 1996, and also in his reply of 14th January 1997 to your letter of 30th December 1996.

Hot and Cold Water Taps: Safety

Lord Balfour of Inchrye asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What, if any, guidelines exist to encourage standardisation of the installation of hot and cold water taps for use by the general public to protect the safety of children and visually impaired people, and what information they have about accidents arising from any lack of standardisation.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers): There are no specific guidelines to encourage standardisation of the installation of hot and cold water taps for use of the general public to protect the safety of children and the visually impaired.

No specific data are available on scalds from water taps, but data from the Department of Trade and Industry home accidents surveillance system database shows that there are approximately 530 accidents per year involving burns and scalds to children of 15 and under in bathrooms. The data do not indicate how many of these, if any, result from a lack of standardisation of taps. No data are available for such accidents involving the visually impaired.

Scottish Prison Service: Penal Lexicon

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Why the Scottish Prison Service has refused to provide the Penal Lexicon for publication on their web site, given that the material it contains is freely available to all other information media; and whether they can explain how, as the Scottish Prison Service claims, the provision of information to the penal lexicon now could inhibit plans the Scottish Prison

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    Service may have to develop their own web site at an unspecified future date.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (The Earl of Lindsay): The subject of the Question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to write to the Noble Lord.

Letter to Lord Avebury from the Chief Executive, Scottish Prison Service, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, dated 21st January 1997.

The Earl of Lindsay has asked me to reply to your Question about the provision of information to the penal lexicon for publication on their web site.

A great deal of information about the Scottish Prison Service is already made available to the public. We are considering establishing a web site for the Scottish Prison Service. That would probably be a more appropriate way of using the Internet than through a third party.

However, we are keeping the position about making information available to the penal lexicon for publication on their web site under review in the light of experience in England and Wales.

Great Lakes Region: Committee Report

Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What action they are taking on the findings of the interdepartmental committee established to examine the alleged export of arms from the United Kingdom to the Great Lakes Region of Africa; and

    What is the outcome of their inquiry into the allegations that a British firm improperly exported arms to the Great Lakes region of Africa, and what action they are taking.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey): Following media reports linking British companies to the supply of arms in contravention of UN embargoes to Rwandan extremists in Zaire, the Government announced on 19th November that they had established an interdepartmental committee to examine rigorously the UK's procedures in relation to trafficking in arms and to determine whether there had been a gap in controls, and if so what action needed to be taken. The committee's terms of reference were given to the House in a Written Answer from the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on 11th December.

The committee's report was submitted on 17th December. It notes that Customs investigators are seeking to establish whether there have been any illegal acts coming within the United Kingdom's jurisdiction. It would not be appropriate to comment further on Customs and Excise investigations at this stage.

The UN arms embargo on Rwanda was not implemented in the Crown dependencies, and there was also a delay in its implementation in the dependent territories. The gap in controls, which the report notes

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was a narrow one, has already been put right as recommended by the committee. Consideration is also being given to whether the precise terms of the existing Orders in Council implementing the UN arms embargo against Rwanda are adequate.

The committee reached four main conclusions. First, that there had been a lack of consistency in implementing embargoes in the UK, its dependent territories, and the Crown dependencies. Second, that there were no structured arrangements for ensuring the timely and accurate imposition of embargoes. Third, there was a need for greater clarity and transparency on the scope of the embargoes. And finally, under current UK legislation, trafficking could only be prohibited in relation to binding UN arms embargoes.

The committee recommended that: (a) The UN arms embargoes against Rwanda, Somalia and Liberia should be implemented in the Crown dependencies as soon as possible. The necessary orders were made on 19th December. (b) All future binding UN arms embargoes should be applied promptly in the UK and in Crown dependencies and the dependent territories, in accordance with HMG's international obligations. (c) As a matter of policy, all other arms embargoes should be applied promptly in the UK, the Crown dependencies and the dependent territories, in consultation with the dependent territories concerned. (d) An interdepartmental committee, chaired by the cabinet office, should co-ordinate the introduction, application, amendment and lifting of all arms embargoes, including their scope and announcement. (e) This committee should also consider the preparation of a public document, which would set out the basis and scope of all current arms embargoes and which would be kept up-to-date. (f) It should be determined, as a matter or priority, whether the precise terms of the Orders in Council implementing the UN arms embargo against Rwanda are adequate and any necessary remedial action taken. (g) A considered assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of primary legislation to prohibit arms trafficking, taking account of the factors identified in this report, should be conducted as part of the current Government review of strategic export controls.

The Government have endorsed the committee's report, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House, and will be implementing its recommendations.

Geneva Conventions: Protocols 1 and 2

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

    When they propose to ratify Protocols 1 and 2 to the Geneva conventions, and what are the reasons for

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    the delay, since the Royal Assent was given to the Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Act on 14th July 1995.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We have made clear our intention to ratify the additional protocols. The domestic legislation is now in place. Ratification has been deferred in order to resolve some outstanding issues in the context of the requests to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the legality of nuclear weapons. Our objective remains to ratify the Additional Protocols as soon as we can.

Former Yugoslavia: Aid

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether a conference of donor states, including the United Kingdom, has agreed to an aid package worth £1 billion over five years to the Republika Srpska, without securing the co-operation of the Bosnian Serb authorities in the arrest of alleged war criminals for whom arrest warrants have been issued by the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and how they reconcile this treatment with the decision of the London peace implementation conference "to increase the pressure on those not complying with arrest warrants".

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: Donor states met in Brussels on 9th-10th January to exchange information on reconstruction needs for 1997. No decisions were taken on aid packages. The World Bank and the European Union plan to convene the next pledging conference on 4th March. This will take into account the conclusions of the London conference on conditionality.

Sexual Offences against Minors

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

    In each of the last five years, how many persons have been charged in the United Kingdom with sexual offences against minors, and how many have been convicted.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch): The available information is given in the tables below.

Data are given separately for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In England and Wales detailed information on the number of persons charged is not collected centrally. The available information given shows cautions, prosecutions and convictions from 1991 to 1995, the latest available. It is not possible to identify all offences where the victim is aged under 16 years.

In Scotland the available information given shows persons proceeded against and persons with charges proved. Offences are not included where the age of the victim is not clear from the nature of the charge (for

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example, common law offences of rape, indecent assault, shameless indecency, etc.). Data for 1995 are not yet available.

In Northern Ireland detailed figures on the number of persons charged or cautioned are not available. The information given, from 1991 to 1995, shows the number of persons prosecuted and convicted for certain sexual offences where the victims are known to be aged under 17 years. Offences such as inciting a girl under 16 to commit incest and causing a girl under 17 to become a prostitute cannot be identified separately. A table is also given showing the number of victims, recorded by the police, of sexual offences aged under 17 years.

Table A: Number of persons cautioned for sexual offences involving children under 16, England and Wales 1991-1995
England and Wales

Offence description19911992199319941995
Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal493027418
Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or animal58861
Buggery by a male of a male under 16(1)--------2
Buggery by a male of a female under 16(1)--------1
Indecent assault on a male person under 16199209184176137
Rape on a female aged under 16(1)--------5
Rape of a male aged under 16(1)----------
Attempted rape of a female aged under 16(1)--------2
Attempted rape of a male aged under 16(1)----------
Indecent assault on a female person under 16 years1,0231,0811,007849670
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 136359674541
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16850706553500400
Incest with girl under 13131219118
Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse--5------
Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16--232--
Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution--1----1
Abduction of unmarried girl under 1633352
Gross indecency with boys4146564928
Gross indecency with girls4052453630
Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children10107618

(1) Buggery and attempted buggery offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec 143.

(1) Rape and attempted rape offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec 1 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec 142.

-- = Not available.


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Table B: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts for sexual offences involving children under 16, England and Wales 1991-1995
England and Wales

Offence description19911992199319941995
Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal300329294345125
Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or animal242715216
Buggery by a male of a male under 16(1)--------48
Buggery by a male of a female under 16(1)--------25
Indecent assault on a male person under 16522457432449400
Rape on a female aged under 16(1)--------336
Rape of a male aged under 16(1)--------18
Attempted rape of a female aged under 16(1)--------32
Attempted rape of a male aged under 16(1)----------
Indecent assault on a female person under 16 years2,1382,0051,8962,0361,797
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13155112978877
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16254254189202195
Incest with girl under 138050524122
Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse12253
Household permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16398--4
Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution2----1--
Abduction of unmarried girl under 162024132711
Gross indecency with boys1171311028762
Gross indecency with girls122130155129109
Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children4046424053

(1) Buggery and attempted buggery offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec 143.

(1) Rape and attempted rape offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec 1 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec 142.

-- = Not available.


Table C: Number of persons convicted(1) at all courts for sexual offences involving children under 16, England and Wales 1991-1995
England and Wales

Offence description19911992199319941995
Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal16816313613586
Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or animal2617201614
Buggery by a male of a male under 16(1)--------29
Buggery by a male of a female under 16(1)--------7
Indecent assault on a male person under 16351363293324339
Rape on a female aged under 16(1)--------113
Rape of a male aged under 16(1)--------2
Attempted rape of a female aged under 16(1)--------21
Attempted rape of a male aged under 16(1)--------2
Indecent assault on a female person under 16 years1,4691,3311,2051,3551,446
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 1310583766481
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16223218170205203
Incest with girl under 136852513521
Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse33245
Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 1613623
Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution2--1--3
Abduction of unmarried girl under 16812696
Gross indecency with boys9199807756
Gross indecency with girls12812912311299
Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children3944372744

(1) Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences.

(1) Buggery and attempted buggery offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec 143.

(1) Rape and attempted rape offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec 1 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec 142.

-- = Not available.


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Table D: Persons proceeded against in Scotland where the main crime is a sexual offence against a child 1991-94
Scotland

Offence description1991199219931994
Lewd and libidinous practices200186191230
Defilement of a girl under 132783
Defilement of a girl under 1695656674
Causing or encouraging seduction of a girl under 16--------
Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children--6--2


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Table E: Persons with a charge proved in Scotland where the main crime is a sexual offence against a child 1991-1994
Scotland

Offence description1991199219931994
Lewd and libidinous practices160154159182
Defilement of a girl under 132783
Defilement of a girl under 1691575367
Causing or encouraging seduction of a girl under 16--------
Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children--5--2

Table F: Persons proceeded against in Northern Ireland for sexual offences involving children, 1991-1995
Northern Ireland

Offence description19911992199319941995
Unlawful carnal knowledge (of girl under 14 and under 17, including attempts)3229122022
Gross indecency with children (including attempts and incitement)13127119

Table G: Persons found guilty in Northern Ireland for sexual offences involving children, 1991-1995
Northern Ireland

Offence description19911992199319941995
Unlawful carnal knowledge (of girl under 14 and under 17, including attempts)292892019
Gross indecency with children (including attempts and incitement)1210478

Table H: Number of victims of sexual offences, aged under 17 years, recorded by the police in Northern Ireland 1991-1995
Northern Ireland

Offence description19911992199319941995
Buggery (including attempts)4223215448
Rape (including attempts)5151757892
Indecent assault on male/female313373501558739
Unlawful carnal knowledge of under 14 and under 17 year olds115147154191260
Incest (including attempts)2428172211
Gross indecency with child78101638463
Other sexual offences131868

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