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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
- 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
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
- 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
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.
| Offence description | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
| Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal | 49 | 30 | 27 | 41 | 8 |
| Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or animal | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| 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 16 | 199 | 209 | 184 | 176 | 137 |
| 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 years | 1,023 | 1,081 | 1,007 | 849 | 670 |
| Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 | 63 | 59 | 67 | 45 | 41 |
| Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 | 850 | 706 | 553 | 500 | 400 |
| Incest with girl under 13 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 11 | 8 |
| Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse | -- | 5 | -- | -- | -- |
| Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 | -- | 2 | 3 | 2 | -- |
| Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 1 |
| Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Gross indecency with boys | 41 | 46 | 56 | 49 | 28 |
| Gross indecency with girls | 40 | 52 | 45 | 36 | 30 |
| Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 18 |
(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.
(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.
(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.
Offence description 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal 300 329 294 345 125
Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or animal 24 27 15 21 6
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 16 522 457 432 449 400
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 years 2,138 2,005 1,896 2,036 1,797
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 155 112 97 88 77
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 254 254 189 202 195
Incest with girl under 13 80 50 52 41 22
Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse 1 2 2 5 3
Household permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 3 9 8 -- 4
Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution 2 -- -- 1 --
Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 20 24 13 27 11
Gross indecency with boys 117 131 102 87 62
Gross indecency with girls 122 130 155 129 109
Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children 40 46 42 40 53
Offence description 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal 168 163 136 135 86
Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or animal 26 17 20 16 14
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 16 351 363 293 324 339
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 years 1,469 1,331 1,205 1,355 1,446
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 105 83 76 64 81
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 223 218 170 205 203
Incest with girl under 13 68 52 51 35 21
Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse 3 3 2 4 5
Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 1 3 6 2 3
Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution 2 -- 1 -- 3
Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 8 12 6 9 6
Gross indecency with boys 91 99 80 77 56
Gross indecency with girls 128 129 123 112 99
Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children 39 44 37 27 44
Offence description 1991 1992 1993 1994
Lewd and libidinous practices 200 186 191 230
Defilement of a girl under 13 2 7 8 3
Defilement of a girl under 16 95 65 66 74
Causing or encouraging seduction of a girl under 16 -- -- -- --
Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children -- 6 -- 2
Offence description 1991 1992 1993 1994
Lewd and libidinous practices 160 154 159 182
Defilement of a girl under 13 2 7 8 3
Defilement of a girl under 16 91 57 53 67
Causing or encouraging seduction of a girl under 16 -- -- -- --
Taking or making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children -- 5 -- 2
Offence description 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Unlawful carnal knowledge (of girl under 14 and under 17, including attempts) 32 29 12 20 22
Gross indecency with children (including attempts and incitement) 13 12 7 11 9
Offence description 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Unlawful carnal knowledge (of girl under 14 and under 17, including attempts) 29 28 9 20 19
Gross indecency with children (including attempts and incitement) 12 10 4 7 8
Offence description 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Buggery (including attempts) 42 23 21 54 48
Rape (including attempts) 51 51 75 78 92
Indecent assault on male/female 313 373 501 558 739
Unlawful carnal knowledge of under 14 and under 17 year olds 115 147 154 191 260
Incest (including attempts) 24 28 17 22 11
Gross indecency with child 78 101 63 84 63
Other sexual offences 13 1 8 6 8
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