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Written Answers
Thursday, 3rd September 1998
Firearms Legislation
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether it is their intention to introduce further controls, by changes to licensing or otherwise, in respect of the possession and use of (a) firearms,
(b) shotguns, (c) air weapons, in the next Session of Parliament, and in particular whether they intend to do so by means of either a Firearms Bill or an amendment to some other Bill.[HL 3235]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn): The Government have no plans at present to introduce any further legislation on firearms controls. The existing controls will, however, be kept under close scrutiny to see whether other measures are needed to safeguard the public.
Firearms Control Measures
Lord Burton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether Mr Graham Widdecombe of the Home Office Operational Police Policy Unit has a brief which includes the further curtailment or abolition of the private ownership and use of firearms, shotguns
- or air weapons in any or all parts of the United Kingdom.[HL 3243]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Part of the brief of the Operational Policing Policy Unit is to ensure that statutory controls on firearms are in line with Ministers' objectives. The Government have indicated that they have no plans at present to introduce any further legislation on firearms. However, we will keep under close scrutiny all existing controls to see whether other measures are needed to safeguard the public.
Asylum Applications and Appeal Outcomes
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many people were refused asylum in England and Wales in each year since 1990; how many of these in each year were subsequently granted (a) refugee status or (b) exceptional leave to remain; and what percentages these figures represent of those refused asylum in the year concerned; and [HL 3139]
How many asylum appeals were withdrawn because the Home Office conceded the case in each year since 1990.[HL 3140]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The available information regarding asylum applications refused, 1990 to 1997, and asylum adjudicator appeal outcomes, 1994 to 1997 is given in the table. I regret that equivalent information on asylum appeals prior to 1994, appeals withdrawn because the Home Office conceded the case and grants of asylum or exceptional leave following an initial refusal, could only be obtained through the examination of individual case files and, therefore, at disproportionate cost.
| Year(2) | Total initial asylum refusals | Total Adjudicator asylum appeals allowed(3) | Total Adjudicator asylum appeals dismissed | Total Adjudicator asylum appeals withdrawn |
| 1990 | 705 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1991 | 3,380 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1992 | 18,465 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1993 | 10,690 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1994 | 16,500 | 105 | 1,935 | 260 |
| 1995 | 21,300 | 230 | 5,565 | 1,035 |
| 1996 | 31,670 | 515 | 10,785 | 2,360 |
| 1997 | 28,945 | 1,180 | 18,145 | 1,720 |
(1) Refusal decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.
(2) Figures rounded to the nearest 5,--indicates figures not available.
(3) Appeal outcomes do not necessarily relate to refusal decisions in the same period.
(4) Estimates based on information collected by the Asylum Directorate.
Baroness Williams of Crosby asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, if an asylum seeker claims that he or she has been tortured, additional time beyond the five days laid down in the White Paper on Immigration and Asylum will
3 Sept 1998 : Column WA2
- be allowed to enable a full medical examination to sustain, or otherwise, this claim.[HL 3246]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The normal time limit for the submission of further material by an asylum applicant following interview may be extended where there are exceptional circumstances, and such circumstances could, depending on the case, include the need to obtain a medical report.
Disabled Prisoners: Facilities
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What facilities for disabled prisoners have been incorporated in the new blocks brought into operation since 1 May 1997 or under construction as at 31 July 1998; and whether, pending the issue of a new
Prison Service Order giving further guidance on the management of prisoners with physical, sensory or mental disabilities, they will re-examine current building projects with a view to ensuring maximum flexibility of use for prisoners with disabilities. [HL 3221]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The new houseblocks are a standard modular design which incorporates external access for wheelchairs. However, the cell doors are not wide enough for a wheelchair and there are no specific facilities for disabled prisoners provided in the cells. The feasibility of modifying the standard houseblock design to include a small number of cells designed for disabled prisoners is being investigated and, if this proves successful, the option would be available in appropriate circumstances.
Where current building projects are not contractually committed, consideration is being given in appropriate cases to meeting the needs of disabled prisoners in the light of the facilities already available at the particular establishment.
Prison Rules
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will incorporate the European Prison Rules in any future revision of the Prison Rules for England and Wales.[HL3222]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: There are no plans to incorporate the European Prison Rules in the Prison Rules for England and Wales.
Prisoners: Cases of Ill Treatment
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many cases of ill treatment of prisoners were drawn to the attention of the Secretary of State by Boards of Visitors under Prison Rule 94 in each of the years 1993 to 1997 inclusive and in 1998 to the latest convenient date.[HL3223]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The information requested is not recorded centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Refugee Legal Centre: Funding
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What information they have received from the Refugee Legal Centre about the number of cases they are having to turn away because of a lack of resources; whether, in the interests of ensuring that fewer cases are dealt with by unscrupulous or incompetent immigration practitioners, they will increase the centre's resources; and what comparison they have made of the cost of representation by the centre and other practitioners.[HL3226]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Refugee Legal Centre have advised us that, because of a lack of resources, they will have to turn away in excess of 2,500 appellants in this financial year. We have increased the centre's core funding by 3 per cent. for 1998-99 to £3.2 million. Funding levels for future years have yet to be decided. We have made no comparison between the cost of representation by the centre and other practitioners.
Rough Sleeping in Westminster
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 27 July (WA 152), whether they will give in full "several reasons" that they believe make "the areas around Victoria Street and Westminster Cathedral ... popular with rough sleepers, unlike the areas around Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey".[HL3148]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that rough sleepers favour the areas around Westminster Cathedral and Victoria Street for the following reasons:
- Rough sleepers tend to congregate and frequent "traditional" rough sleeping areas, which include Westminster Cathedral and Victoria Street;
- Traditional areas are served by outreach workers from the various charities and voluntary organisations who provide advice and practical assistance, such as clothing, bedding, medical aid and nightly food runs;
- The areas around Westminster Cathedral and Victoria Street have a wide variety of shops and food outlets, some of which have extended opening hours;
- Victoria Street has many shops and doorways with covered entrances. These are a good source of warmth and shelter for those sleeping rough; and
- Rough sleepers feel that it is a safe and relatively crime-free area.
Rough sleepers do not favour the areas around Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace for the following reasons:
- These areas are not "traditional" areas for rough sleepers and so do not offer the same level of support from outreach workers; and
- Both areas are isolated and lonely at night.
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