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Written Answers
Wednesday, 5th February 1997.
PHOENIX
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list the proposed functions of the PHOENIX computer based system, indicating in respect of each function the date on which it has, or is expected to, come into operation; and
Whether they will give the date on which the PHOENIX computer based system was first announced and the cost of it to public funds so far, and what expenditure of public funds on it is projected for each of the next three years; and
Whether they will indicate the ministerial responsibility and outline the project management arrangements for the PHOENIX computer based system and list those firms who have to date been given contracts in connection with it.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch): PHOENIX is the national criminal record database on the Police National Computer. Its development was announced in reply to a Question in the House of Commons on 22nd October 1991. The Home Office managed the PHOENIX project using PRINCE (projects in controlled environments) project management principles. The database came into operation in May 1995.
New functions planned include an interface with the new National Automated Fingerprint Identification Service (NAFIS) and an enhanced searching capability, known as QUEST. These are expected to be available by the end of 1997-1998. Future developments under consideration are the inclusion of details of firearms certificate holders and the provision of links between PHOENIX and the prisons, probation service and the rest of the criminal justice system.
By the end of 1996-1997 the cost of PHOENIX, including enhancements, will be £29 million. Future expenditure will be determined as decisions on new functions are reached. On current plans, projected expenditure on developing the Police National Computer Service, including new functions, is expected to be:
- 1997-1998: £3.4 million
- 1998-1999: £3.7 million
- 1999-2000: £3.1 million
- Hoskyns
- Harvey Consultants
- World Quality Systems
- Data Sciences
- PCL Group
- SEMA Group
- TRW
Asylum Seekers: Detention at Rochester Prison
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are their reasons for detaining asylum seekers at Rochester Prison.
Baroness Blatch: The Prison Service has, until the opening of Tinsley House last year, provided the majority of places for immigration detainees. Rochester currently provides about 20 per cent. of the total number of places for immigration detainees, including for detainees who require a greater level of supervision, control or medical oversight than can be provided in Immigration Service accommodation.
Racism and Xenophobia: EU Monitoring Centre
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why they have blocked the establishment of a European Union centre to monitor racism and xenophobia.
Baroness Blatch: The Government have not blocked the establishment of a European Union monitoring centre on racism and xenophobia. We have agreed to it in principle. Negotiations are taking place on the proper basis for it.
Prisoners: In-cell Television
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their policy with regard to access by prisoners to in-cell television.
Baroness Blatch: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced on 16th October 1995 his rejection of General Sir John Learmont's recommendation that in cell-television should be widely available. Withdrawal of existing in-cell televisions must be carried out in a fair and orderly way and with due regard for maintaining order and control. Operational judgments will be made as to the best time to withdraw the limited number of in-cell televisions in use.
Associations of Chief Police Officers
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the composition of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland); and
How the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) are financed.
Baroness Blatch: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) of England, Wales and Northern Ireland is the professional association for those officers in the rank of assistant chief constable, deputy chief constable and chief constable, and the equivalent ranks in the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police. The Chief Police Officers' Staff Association (CPOSA) represents officers in these ranks on all staff association matters. ACPO is financed by membership subscriptions and by a contribution from the common police services' budget, and CPOSA is financed by contributions from police authorities and from income from holding conferences and other similar events.
The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland represents police officers in the rank of assistant chief constable, assistant chief constable designated to deputise for the chief constable and chief constable. The association is financed by membership subscriptions and by a contribution from the common police services' budget.
Single Currency
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish's reply of 14th January 1997 (WA 27), how they, as part of the Council of Ministers, will use the joint reports of the Commission and the EMI to judge whether member states,"fulfil the necessary conditions for admittance to a single currency"; and whether the Council's decisions will require unanimity.
The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish): The Commission and EMI reports will, in accordance with Article 109j(1), report on the achievement by each member state of a "high degree of sustainable convergence". The Government believe that, if EMU is to go ahead, it is important that sustainable convergence is achieved. They will make a judgment as to which member states meet the necessary conditions for adopting the single currency on that basis.
The Council's decisions under Article 109j(2) will be by qualified majority.
British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce: Foreign Shareholdings Limit
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce have asked them to abolish the limits they imposed on foreign shareholdings in the companies when the two groups were privatised, and, if so, in favour of what foreign investors.
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser of Carmyllie): Both British Aerospace plc and Rolls-Royce plc have asked Her Majesty's Government to remove the limit on their
foreign shareholdings. The companies believe that this limit restricts their ability to perform competitively in international markets. We are considering their request.Advertising Hoardings
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are satisfied that local authorities should grant themselves planning permission for the erection of advertising hoardings when the same local authorities will receive revenue from the use of such sites.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers): Under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992, local authorities cannot grant themselves express consent for the display of advertisements, including hoardings, unless they are required for their statutory functions. Where an authority wishes to obtain a consent otherwise, a formal application must be made to the Secretary of State for the Environment in accordance with the provisions of regulation II of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992.
Scarman Trust
Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress the Charity Commissioners are making with their inquiries into the Scarman Trust, formerly the Charter 88 Trust.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Lord Inglewood): I understand that Charity Commission staff have obtained and considered a range of the Scarman Trust's publications and have had discussions with its trustees about its activities. The publications and activities are now being assessed in relation to charity law.
Broadcasting: Complaints from Foreign Embassies
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In what terms they reply to complaints from foreign embassies about the context of broadcasts of any kind from the United Kingdom and whether they will consider framing a general statement to respond to such complaints.
Lord Inglewood: Broadcasters which come within United Kingdom jurisdiction are subject to its established regulatory frameworks, within which they have editorial independence. Complaints about the content of broadcasts are a matter for the broadcasters concerned and the regulatory authorities. Any complaints to Her Majesty's Government from foreign embassies about such matters would therefore be
referred to the appropriate authority, whether the BBC, the Independent Television Commission or the Radio Authority. If there had been a breach of the broadcasting regulations, they would take the appropriate enforcement action. The Government would respond to the relevant embassy in the light of the regulators' comments. Given the individual nature of complaints, each is handled on its merits and a general statement would not be appropriate.
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