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Crown Dependencies: Financial Regulation Review
Lord Hacking asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will report on the Edwards review of financial regulation in the Crown Dependencies.[HL3924]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The United Kingdom Government and the authorities in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man welcome Andrew Edwards' report on financial regulation, which has been laid before Parliament today. Copies of the report are being placed in the Library and the Printed Paper Office. The report, which has been produced in consultation with the Islands, contains detailed accounts of the legislation and regulatory arrangements on Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man respectively. It confirms that the arrangements in place conform in large measure to the internationally accepted standards of financial regulation.
The report also concludes that there are a number of changes which could raise standards still further, both in the United Kingdom itself and in the Crown Dependencies. In many cases, these conclusions are in line with policies which are already being developed. The United Kingdom Government and the Island authorities have agreed to meet in January 1999 to begin the task of examining systematically the conclusions of the Edwards report and the plans of action being drawn up by the Islands and the United Kingdom in response to those conclusions. This programme will include new arrangements, under my chairmanship, for all the parties to meet jointly on a regular basis to take stock of progress. These meetings will take place alternately in London and in one of the Crown Dependencies.
The United Kingdom and the Island authorities believe that the Edwards review and the follow-up
action on its conclusions should further strengthen effective financial regulation in the Islands and, in so doing, contribute to the long-term health of the Island economies.Voluntary Sector in Wales: Compact with Government
Lord Brooks of Tremorfa asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When an announcement will be made about the compact between the Government and the voluntary sector in Wales.[HL3919]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The compact between the Government and the voluntary sector in Wales was published on Wednesday 18 November. Copies of the document have been placed in the Library.
Books under Prison Rule 16
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will give a list of the books approved by the Secretary of State under Prison Rule 16, as available for prisoners undergoing cellular confinement.[HL3873]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The following books are approved by the Secretary of State under Prison Rule 16:
- Church of England
- Holy Bible Authorised Version,
- Holy Bible Good News,
- Alternative Service Book,
- Morning and Evening Prayer and Order for the Holy Communion,
- Mission Praise: Words Only,
- Mission Praise: Music Only.
- Roman Catholic
- Simple Prayer Book,
- Shorter Morning and Evening Prayer from the Divine Office,
- New Jerusalem Pocket Bible,
- Celebrational Hymnal for Everyone: Music Version Volume 1,
- Celebrational Hymnal for Everyone: Music Version Volume 2,
- Celebrational Hymnal for Everyone: Words Only.
- Methodist
- Sunday Services,
- Hymns and Psalms A Methodist and Ecumenical Hymn Book: Music Only,
- Hymns and Psalms A Methodist and Ecumenical Hymn Book: Words Only.
- Sikh
- Sacred Nit Nem.
- Hindu
- Bhagavad Gita.
- Muslim
- The Meaning of the Glorious Koran/Quran,
- The Holy Koran/Quran.
- Buddhist
- Buddha Daily Readings.
- Jewish
- Tanekh--The Holy Scriptures,
- Authorised Daily Prayer Book.
- Christian
- Where Are You Going: (On the right track with Jesus),
- Inside Faith,
- What's The Point?
- Discovering Prayer,
- God Help Us.
Immigration Detainees: Prison Service Places
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many places have been offered to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office by the Prison Service for Immigration Act detainees.[HL3875]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Prison Service provides 500 places for immigration detainees predominantly at Haslar, Rochester and Holloway.
The Immigration Service is discussing with the Prison Service how it might help to deliver the Government's commitment to hold immigration detainees in discrete centres separate from prisoners. The possibility of further Prison Service sites being developed as immigration detention centres is being considered but no places have been offered to the Immigration Service at present.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many Immigration Act detainees were held in each of the prisons or detention centres in use for this purpose on 30 September.[HL3876]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The available information relating to persons held in detention solely
under Immigration Act powers as at 30 September 1998 by place of detention is given in the table.| Location | Total Detainees |
| Immigration detention centres | |
| Campsfield | 182 |
| Dover Harbour | 20 |
| Harmondsworth | 63 |
| Heathrow's Queen's Building | 14 |
| Longport | 8 |
| Manchester Airport | 11 |
| Tinsley House | 143 |
| Prison establishments | |
| Aberdeen | 3 |
| Belmarsh | 11 |
| Birmingham | 5 |
| Blakenhurst | 2 |
| Bristol | 2 |
| Brixton | 6 |
| Canterbury | 6 |
| Chelmsford | 3 |
| Doncaster | 4 |
| Dorchester | 2 |
| Elmley | 2 |
| Edinburgh | 3 |
| Feltham | 3 |
| Greenock | 8 |
| Haslar | 133 |
| High Down | 24 |
| Highpoint | 3 |
| Holloway | 24 |
| Holme House | 3 |
| Leeds | 6 |
| Leicester | 2 |
| Lewes | 3 |
| Liverpool | 3 |
| Magilligan | 7 |
| Manchester | 5 |
| Norwich | 5 |
| Pentonville | 7 |
| Rochester | 181 |
| Wandsworth | 9 |
| Winchester | 2 |
| Wormwood Scrubs | 20 |
| Other prison establishments | 4 |
| Total | 938 |
(1) Excluding persons detained in police cells.
Lord Swinfen asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The working group has held a total of 14 meetings: three of the full group,
acting as a steering group, and 11 of the various sub-groups set up to take forward particular aspects of the work. It produced a consultation document which was initially sent out to 116 organisations. In addition, the group has consulted various organisations which subsequently expressed interest and a number of individuals, including Peers and Members of Parliament, also received the consultation letter. Members of the working group have met a number of organisations informally and the group will be holding two seminars at the end of the month to involve a number of organisations from the voluntary, private and business sectors.
The group expects to report its conclusions and recommendations to Ministers at the end of the year; we would expect to make public the recommendations shortly after this.
Lord Onslow of Woking asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The inspector's report was received in February 1998. The decision will be announced as soon as possible.
Baroness Anelay of St. Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: There is little evidence that the use of quat is having, or is capable of having, harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem in the United Kingdom, the criterion for controlling drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The publication Quat use in London does not alter that assessment, and we have no plans to bring the plant under the controls of the Act, but we will keep it under review.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The available information relating to those currently detained under Immigration Act powers by stage of application and immigration status is given in the table. The figures relate to the end of October 1998.
(2) Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
(3) These figures are approximate because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period.
(4) After entry figures obtained at 30 October 1998. Port figures obtained at 2 November 1998.
(5) Includes those persons awaiting the result of a further appeal/other challenge or awaiting removal pending documentation.
(a) How many meetings there have been of the Inter-departmental Working Group on Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Abuse of Trust;
(b) how many organisations the group has consulted;
(c) how many organisations the group has met; and
(d) when they expect the final recommendations of the group to be published.[HL3851]
When the report of the inspector's inquiry on the River Wye Navigation Order was received; and when the results of the inquiry will be announced.[HL3911]
Whether they have reconsidered their view on the criminalisation of Quat use as a consequence of publication of the Home Office Drugs Prevention Initiative Research Paper 26 Quat use in London.[HL3880]
Further to the Written Answer by Michael O'Brien, Minister of State, Home Office, on 30 March (HC Deb, WA 388), whether they will provide a breakdown of the numbers of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by stage of application and immigration status at the time of detention at the most recent convenient date.[HL3882]
Stage of application Port Illegal Entrants Subject to Deportation action Total
Awaiting initial decision 157 285 6 448
Awaiting result of appeal 95 49 15 159
Awaiting result of further challenge or documentation for removal(5) 60 77 12 149
Total 312 411 33 756
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