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Listening Devices and Confessionals
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the police have, in recent years, placed listening devices in confessionals.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch): Extensive enquiries by the police have identified no cases where listening devices have been placed in confessionals.
Asylum Seekers
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many asylum seekers are currently being detained; and
How many asylum seekers had been detained for a year or more at the end of 1996.
Baroness Blatch: As at 11th December 1996, a total of 754 persons, who had sought asylum at some stage, were detained, of whom 30 had been in detention for a year or more.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have plans to reduce the average period of detention for asylum seekers.
Baroness Blatch: Detention for asylum seekers is used only very sparingly, and for the shortest possible periods. Detention is often extended as a result of factors beyond our control--for example, legal action taken on behalf of detainees or the provision of documents from receiving countries.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are satisfied that their proposal to detain asylum seekers on a ship in Portland Harbour will comply with the principles adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1988 for the Protection of All Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment.
Baroness Blatch: The Government have no present plans to use a ship for the detention of asylum seekers.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the reasons for detaining asylum seekers and how they ensure that such detention is used sparingly.
Baroness Blatch: The Immigration Service only uses detention where there is no alternative and where there are good grounds for believing that the person will not comply with any conditions of temporary admission. At any one time, only about 1 per cent. of asylum seekers are held in detention and the great majority of these will have had their applications refused. The new Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 strengthens asylum procedures so that unfounded asylum claims and appeals can be determined more quickly.
Each person's detention is subject to regular review at increasingly senior levels within the Immigration Service. In addition, under the provisions contained in the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, all detainees, with certain limited exceptions, may now apply to the independent appellate authorities for bail. Detention may also be challenged in the courts.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the conditions in which asylum seekers are being detained at Rochester Prison and for how long each of them has been detained.
Baroness Blatch: Immigration detainees are held within the Detainee Centre at Rochester Prison. This comprises two dedicated separate wings. There are excellent physical education and library facilities, and all detainees have the opportunity for work or education and free association. All the varying dietary requirements are catered for. There is a well equipped hospital wing and detainees have access to medical care comparable to that which would be provided by a general practitioner to a member of the public.
As of 3rd February, 174 detainees were held in Rochester Detainees Centre, of whom 139 are asylum seekers. The breakdown of the duration of their detention under immigration powers is:
- Less than 1 month: 31
1-2 months: 17
2-3 months: 20
3-6 months: 27
6-12 months: 35
12 months or more: 9
Prisons: Census of Religious Affiliation
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Prison Service will conduct the annual census of religious affiliation in prisons for 1997 and when the results will be published.
Baroness Blatch: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply.
Letter to Lord Avebury from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt.
Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the 1997 census of religious affiliation.
The Annual Census of Religious Affiliation in prison for 1997 will be conducted in March and the results will be published as soon as possible after the information is obtained.
Prison Rules and Young Offender Institution Rules: Consolidated Edition
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much it cost to print and post copies of the consolidated Prison Rules and Young Offenders Institution Rules, and whether this expenditure would have been avoided if this and other public domain documents were made available on the Internet.
Baroness Blatch: The consolidated versions of the Prison Rules 1964 and the Young Offender Institution Rules 1988 were printed and distributed as Prison Service Instruction 4/1997 issued on 16th January 1997 at a cost of £3,373.98.
The availability of these documents on the Internet would not have reduced the overall cost of production or distribution.
Income Tax Thresholds
Lord Harris of High Cross asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What would be the cost to the Exchequer of raising the threshold for income tax on a married couple with two teenage children to (a) £200 a week, and (b) average adult earnings in manufacturing industry.
The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish): The estimated full year cost at 1997-98 income levels of allowing married couples with two or more children age 11 to 16 to have one personal allowance of £200 a week is £0.6 billion. An allowance of £401.40 per week, which is the estimated average full time male earnings in manufacturing industry in 1997-98, is estimated to cost £1.9 billion.
These estimates have been calculated on the basis that the personal allowance is given to the husband in the first instance and the wife gets no allowance. However, if the husband is unable to use all of his allowance then he is able to transfer the unused allowance to his wife. The married couple will still be able to claim the married couple's allowance.
It is not possible to identify teenage children, because the exact age of the child is not known; instead children are grouped according to a range of ages 0-4, 5-10 and 11-16.
"Britannia"
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Government of the day announced that the present Royal Yacht "Britannia" was to be constructed, where the announcement was made and by which Minister.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe): The decision to build "Britannia" was announced by means of a press notice issued by the Admiralty on 8th October 1951, although provision for a Royal Yacht in place of the "Victoria and Albert III" was first announced by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Stanhope, in the Statement to Accompany Navy Estimates on 23rd February 1939.
Longer Term Road Schemes
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will publish in the Official Report, the table showing details of the longer-term road schemes which were withdrawn on 26th November 1996, as set out in a letter dated 6th January 1997 from Viscount Goschen in reply to an earlier written Question from Lord Marlesford, and whether they will at the same time give their estimate of the amount of public money spent on each scheme up to 26th November.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen): This information has now been compiled and a list appears below of the schemes withdrawn showing the estimated total cost and expenditure to December 1996 on each. About 38 per cent. of the expenditure relates to the acquisition costs of land and property which will be programmed for disposal.
| Route | Scheme | Cost £ million* | Stage Reached | Expenditure to end December 1996 £ million |
| Western Orbital Route, Hereford & Worcester, Staffordshire | 615.0 | PRA | ||
| M1 | J28-31 Widening, Derbyshire, Rotherham MB | 233.0 | PE | 0.9 |
| M1 | J25-28 Imp (Phase 2: Widening), Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire | 195.7 | PC | 1.2 |
| M1 | J21A-23A Widening (Phase 2), Leicestershire | 84.5 | PE | 1.6 |
| M1 | J21-21A Widening (Phase 2), Leicestershire | 85.1 | PE | 0.5 |
| M1 | J19-21 Widening, Leicestershire | 155.9 | PE | 2.4 |
| M1 | J14-19 Widening, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire | 299.5 | PE | 8.3 |
| M3 | J2-3 Widening, Surrey | 71.6 | PC | 1.9 |
| M3 | J3-4 Widening, Surrey | 48.4 | PC | Included in M3 J2-3 |
| M4 | J8/9-10 Widening, Berkshire | 52.0 | PC | 8.7 |
| M4 | J10-12 Widening, Berkshire | 161.1 | PE | Included in M4 J8/9-10 |
| M4 | J12-15 Widening, Berkshire, Wiltshire | 290.1 | PE | 2.0 |
| M4 | J18-20 Widening & M5 J15-J17 Widening, Avon | 54.8 | PE | 1.1 |
| M5 | J29-30 Imp, Devon | 29.5 | PE | <0.1 |
| M5 | J1 & 2 Imp, Sandwell MB + | 7.8 | PE | <0.1 |
| M6 | J19-20 Widening, Cheshire | 43.2 | PC | 1.7 |
| M6 | J9 & 10 Imp, Walsall MB + | 15.5 | PE | Included in M5 J1-2 imp |
| M6 | J2-4 Widening, Warwickshire, Coventry MB, Solihull MB | 100.4 | PC | 1.8 |
| M6 | M1-J2 Widening, Leicestershire, Warwickshire | 69.3 | PE | Included in M6 J2-4 |
| M11 | J9-14 Widening, Cambridgeshire, Essex | 67.3 | PE | 2.4 |
| M20 | J3-5 Widening, Kent | 39.9 | PI | 37.8 |
| M23 | J9-10 Widening, Surrey, West Sussex | 7.4 | PE | <0.1 |
| M25 | J3-5 Widening, Kent | 117.3 | PE | <0.1 |
| M25 | J5-7 Widening, Kent, Surrey | 104.0 | OP | 3.6 |
| M25 | J19-23 Widening, Hertfordshire | 114.6 | PE | 2.0 |
| M25 | J23-26 Widening, Hertfordshire, Essex | 107.3 | PE | 3.8 |
| M25 | J26-28 Widening, Essex | 138.0 | PE | 0.7 |
| M25 | J30-31 Imp, Essex | 57.1 | PE | 0.3 |
| M27 | J11-12 Widening, Hampshire | 58.7 | PE | <0.1 |
| M27 | J4-11 Widening, Hampshire | 142.4 | PE | <0.1 |
| M40 | J3-4 Widening & J4 Imp, Buckinghamshire | 103.6 | PC | 4.5 |
| M42 | J1-3A Widening, Warwickshire, Hereford & Worcester | 268.4 | PC | 6.0 |
| M62 | J21-24 Widening, Rochdale MB, Calderdale MB, Kirklees MB | 183.6 | PRA | 2.9 |
| M62 | J18-21 Widening, Rochdale MB | 150.7 | PRA | Included in M62, J21-24 |
| M62 | J6-7 Widening, Knowsley MB | 6.2 | PRA | 1.1 |
| -- | M4-A4 Link Hounslow, LB Ealing, LB Hounslow | 30.3 | PE | 0.5 |
| A1(M) | Leeming-Scotch Corner, N Yorkshire | 74.8 | OM | 2.9 |
| A1(M) | Dishforth-Leeming, N Yorkshire | 88.7 | OP | 3.7 |
| A1(M) | Tuxford-Blyth, Nottinghamshire | 127.4 | PE | 1.5 |
| A1(M) | Newark-Tuxford, Nottinghamshire | 197.2 | PE | Included in A1(M) Tuxforth to Blyth |
| A1(M) | Stamford-Newark, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire | 288.4 | PE | Included in A1(M) Tuxforth to Blyth |
| A1(M) | Stamford Bypass, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire | 51.6 | PC | 0.6 |
| A1(M) | Peterborough-Stamford, Cambridgeshire | 105.9 | PC | Included in A1(M) Stamford Bypass |
| A1(M) | Baldock-Alconbury, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire | 224.2 | PC | 2.4 |
| A1(M) | J9-10 Widening, Hertfordshire | 51.3 | PE | 1.3 |
| A1(M) | J4-6 Widening, Hertfordshire | 39.2 | PE | 9.2 |
| A1(M) | J1-4 Widening, Hertfordshire | 176.6 | PE | Included in A1(M) J4-6 |
| A1(M) | Wetherby Bypass, Leeds MB + | 26.6 | PC | 0.3 |
| A1(M) | Bramham-Wetherby, Leeds MB + | 7.2 | PC | 0.2 |
| A1 | Morpeth-Lanehead Imp, Northumberland + | 21.9 | PE | <0.1 |
| A1 | Blyth GSJ, Nottinghamshire + | 16.0 | PE | <0.1 |
| A1 | Five Lanes End GSJ, Nottinghamshire + | 16.0 | PE | 0.2 |
| A1 | Markham Moor GSJ, Nottinghamshire + | 16.0 | PE | <0.1 |
| A5 | Nesscliffe Bypass, Shropshire | 13.8 | PI | 1.5 |
| A5 | Weeford-Fazeley Imp, Staffordshire | 18.6 | PRA | 0.4 |
| A6 | Disley & High Lane Bypass, Stockport MB, Cheshire, Derbyshire | 97.2 | PRA | 5.9 |
| A6 | Kibworth Bypass, Leicestershire | 15.3 | PC | 0.4 |
| A6 | Bedford Western Bypass A6-A428 Link, Bedfordshire | 5.1 | PRA | 0.5 |
| A10 | Wadesmill High Cross-Colliers End Bypass, Hertfordshire | 20.4 | PI | 2.5 |
| A12 | Wrentham Bypass, Suffolk | 3.8 | PC | <0.1 |
| A12 | Yoxford Bypass, Suffolk | 5.7 | PE | <0.1 |
| A12 | Wickham Market--Saxmundham Imp, Suffolk | 19.2 | PI | 1.6 |
| A12 | Martlesham--Wickham Market Imp, Suffolk | 14.8 | PE | 0.3 |
| A12 | Hatfield Peverel--Marks Tey Imp, Essex | 90.0 | PE | 0.9 |
| A12 | M25 J28--Chelmsford Imp, Essex | 67.8 | PE | 0.4 |
| A14 | Quarries Cross GSJ, Suffolk + | 4.6 | PE | <0.1 |
| A14 | M11-A10 Widening, Cambridgeshire + | 33.0 | PE | 1.4 |
| A21 | Kippings Cross--Lamberhurst Imp, Kent | 27.2 | PRA | 2.6 |
| A23 | Handcross--Warninglid Imp, W Sussex | 14.3 | PI | 1.6 |
| A27 | Lewes--Polegate Imp, E Sussex | 26.0 | PRA | Now split into three schemes |
| A27 | Worthing--Lancing Imp, W Sussex + | 151.2 | PI | 36.7 |
| A30 | Temple--Higher Carblake Imp, Cornwall | 10.0 | PE | <0.1 |
| A30 | Zelah--Chiverton Imp, Cornwall | 17.7 | PE | <0.1 |
| A30 | St Erth--Newtown Imp, Cornwall | 18.5 | PRA | 1.1 |
| A35 | Chideock/Morecombelake Bypass, Dorset | 29.1 | OM | 6.8 |
| A36 | Beckington--East of Bath Imp, Avon | 119.9 | PRA | 2.6 |
| A36 | Wylye--Codford Imp, Wiltshire | 7.9 | PE | <0.1 |
| A38 | Stoketon Cross--Trerulefoot, Cornwall | 84.8 | PRA | 1.5 |
| A38 | Dobwalls--Bodmin Imp, Cornwall | 26.0 | PRA | 2.7 |
| A46 | Alcester--Stratford Imp, Warwickshire | 11.3 | PI | 0.9 |
| A47 | Acle Straight Imp, Norfolk | 23.0 | PE | 0.6 |
| A47 | Blofield Acle Imp, Norfolk | 4.8 | PRA | 0.3 |
| A47 | North Tuddenham--Easton Imp, Norfolk | 19.2 | PE | 0.2 |
| A47 | Little Fransham Bypass, Norfolk | 10.1 | PE | <0.1 |
| A47 | Middleton & East Winch Bypass, Norfolk | 19.3 | PE | <0.1 |
| A47 | Wisbech Bypass A1101 Junction Imp, Norfolk | 5.1 | PE | <0.1 |
| A47 | Tilney--Kings Lynn Imp & A47/A17 GSJ, Norfolk | 10.6 | PE | <0.1 |
| A49/A51 | Calverley--Tiverton Bypass, Cheshire | 26.1 | PE | <0.1 |
| A51 | Littleton Bypass, Cheshire | 12.0 | PE | 0.1 |
| A52 | Saxondale--Grantham Imp, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire | 54.6 | PRA | 1.7 |
| A52 | Radcliffe-on-Trent Bypass, Nottinghamshire | 23.9 | PRA | Included in A52 Saxondale-Grantham Imp |
| A65 | Coniston Cold Bypass, N Yorkshire | 6.6 | PRA | 0.3 |
| A69 | Warwick Bridge Bypass, Cumbria | 16.4 | PE | <0.1 |
| A102 | Blackwall 3rd Crossing, LB Greenwich, LB Tower Hamlets ++ | 179.4 | PC | 4.4 |
| A120 | Braintree--Marks Tey Imp, Essex | 58.2 | PE | 0.7 |
| A259 | Dymchurch--M20 J11 Imp, Kent | 19.2 | PI | 2.5 |
| A259 | St Mary's Bay & Dymchurch Bypass, Kent | 28.0 | PI | 1.9 |
| A259 | New Romney Bypass, Kent | 10.3 | PI | 0.8 |
| A259 | Rye Bypass, E Sussex | 39.5 | PRA | 2.7 |
| A259 | Winchelsea Bypass, E Sussex | 17.5 | PRA | 1.0 |
| A259 | Guestling Thorn & Icklesham Bypass, E Sussex | 18.8 | PRA | 1.6 |
| A303 | Amesbury--Berwick Down Imp, Wiltshire + | 38.8 | PC | 1.9 |
| A380 | Kingskerswell Bypass, Devon | 60.0 | PRA | 1.7 |
| A406 | East London River Crossing, LB Greenwich, LB Newham ++ | 415.8 | OM | 32.4 |
| A419 | Blunsdon Bypass, Wiltshire | 16.3 | PRA | 0.9 |
| A435 | Studley Bypass, Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester | 70.4 | OM | 4.8 |
| A449/A456 | Kidderminster, Blakedown & Hagley Bypass, Staffordshire, H&W | 159.6 | OM | 3.5 |
| A590 | Ulverston--Dalton Bypass, Cumbria | 17.3 | PC | <0.1 |
| A650 | Shipley Eastern Bypass, Bradford | 26.2 | PRA | 1.7 |
| A5225 | Wigan--Westhoughton Bypass, Bolton, Wigan | 150.9 | PI | 9.6 |
*= Costs include Works, Land and preparation costs @RCPI125.
+= Schemes formerly in the main programme.
++= Withdrawn as a public sector scheme; replaced by potential private sector PFI project.
Stage Codes:-
PE=Programme Entry.
PC=Public Consultation.
PRA=Preferred Route Announced.
OP=Order Publication.
PI=Public Inquiry.
OM=Orders Made.
SOW=Start of Works.