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Written Answers
Monday, 15th May 2000.
Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Countess of Mar may expect a response to that part of her letter of 16 December 1999 to Lord Hunt of Kings Heath relating to diagnoses of Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy that he referred to the Welsh Office.[HL2437]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. I have however been informed that the Health Secretary for the National Assembly for Wales intends to reply to you in the very near future.
The Elgin Marbles
Lord Jenkins of Putney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, as suggested in a recent Economist leader, they will look again at the issue of returning the Elgin marbles to Greece.[HL2319]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government have no plans to reconsider their decision that the Parthenon sculptures should remain at the British Museum.
Bovine and Ovine Tissues: Use in Nutritional Supplements
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2 May (WA 162), whether their answer is a "Yes" or a "No".[HL2313]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): It is "No".
New-variant CJD
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2 May (WA 162), whether they would ask the permission of the individual concerned to release the information in question, since that individual has stated publicly that she would be happy for the information to be released.[HL2314]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: It remains inappropriate for the Government to publish details about individual cases.
On Track Crime Reduction Programme
Lord Brett asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will announce the areas that have been selected to participate in the On Track Crime Reduction Programme.[HL2480]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton): My right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Department (Mr Boateng) is pleased to announce today that 24 areas have been selected to participate in the On Track programme.
The On Track programme is a long-term crime reduction programme aimed at children between four and twelve years who are at risk of offending. It is a central element of the Government's Crime Reduction Programme's agenda on tackling the causes of crime. Eighty local authorities were invited last December to participate in the programme. The 24 areas have been selected from 76.
The objective will be to establish in each pilot area an enhanced range of evidenced-based preventive services. These will include family support training, home visiting, pre-school education, parent-school partnerships, family therapy and specialist interventions. There will be intensive inter-agency co-operation so that children at risk of offending are identified early and they and their families provided with consistent services through the child's development.
The following areas have been selected to participate in the programme:
- Bradford
- Brent
- Bristol
- Brighton and Hove
- Easington (Durham)
- Greenwich
- Haringey
- Kerrier (Cornwall)
- Luton
- Manchester
- Northampton (Northamptonshire)
- Oldham
- Portsmouth
- Rochdale
- Sandwell
- Scarborough (North Yorkshire)
- Sheffield
- Solihull
- Southwark
- St Edmundsbury (Suffolk)
- Sunderland
- Wirral
-
Wales:
- Bridgend
- Rhondda Cynon Taff
The On Track programme will establish an effective and cohesive programme of early prevention in these communities. It will have a real impact on youth crime in the areas concerned and provide valuable information on what works best in terms of early prevention.
Landmines Act 1998
Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What responsibility the Home Office has in respect of the Landmines Act 1998.[HL2479]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Following discussions between the departments concerned, the reply given by my right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Home Department (Mr Boateng) in another place (House of Commons Official Report, col. 443 on 20 May 1999), requires expansion. The Home Secretary has general ministerial responsibility for enforcement action under the Landmines Act 1998 taken by the police in England and Wales, with parallel responsibilities being exercised in Northern Ireland by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and in Scotland by the Scottish Ministers. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise also have enforcement responsibilities under the Act. In addition, the Foreign Secretary has responsibility for policy on the Ottawa Convention and for co-ordinating any amendments to the Landmines Act which may arise from amendments to the Ottawa Convention. Action may be taken under other provisions of the Act by the Secretaries of State for the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Attorney General and the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
Demonstrations in Central London, 1 May
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will publish in the Official Report a detailed timetable of events during the demonstrations in Central London on 1 May, showing the timing of each significant event, or act of criminal damage against property, and the timing of decisions made, and actions taken, by the police authorities during the day.[HL2291]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The timing of decisions and actions taken by the police are operational matters for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and are not matters in which Ministers would be involved.
I have enclosed a police chronology of both the main and smaller scale events which occurred on 1 May, but should emphasise that the times shown are approximate only.| Time | Location | Occurrence |
| 10.30 | Parliament Square, SW1 | First groups of demonstrators start to arrive for "guerilla gardening". |
| 10.30 | Hyde Park, SW1 | Around 400 cyclists and CHARM (Cyclists Have A Right to Move) supporters on foot gather as part of advertised "critical mass". |
| 11.00 | Hyde Park towards Parliament Square, SW1 | CHARM move off via Hyde Park Corner. Grosvenor Place and Birdcage Walk, to join "guerilla gardening" action in Parliament Square. Approximately 200 cyclists and 200 on foot. In possession of large portable canvas sheets to screen carriage of "guerilla gardening" implements. |
| 11.00 | Bond Street Underground Station W1 | Approximately 80 protesters gather to demonstrate in sympathy with persons prosecuted under Italian anti-terrorist laws. About 30 of this group move onto nearby Benetton shop for peaceful picket. Finishing at 1pm. Protesters move to Parliament Square. |
| 11.30 | Parliament Square, SW1 | Main mass of protesters gather for "guerilla gardening" action. Numbers rise to approximately 2,500. Turf is dug up from the centre of Square and relaid on roadway. Banners erected. |
| 12.25 | Parliament Square, SW1 | Police and public vehicles attacked by protesters. |
| 13.45 | Whitehall, SW1 | Led by samba band, approximately 1,000 people move into Whitehall from Parliament Square and demonstrate outside Downing Street. Some missiles thrown at police guarding the barriers to the premises. |
| 14.10 | Whitehall SW1 | Branch of McDonalds attacked by crowd of up to 80. Police Forward Intelligence Teams came under attack and withdrew, suffering some injuries. Serious damage done to premises. |
| 15.20 | Northumberland Avenue, SW1 | Police come under missile attack from approximately 1,000 protesters in Trafalgar Square. Further police serials move to contain crowds in the Square where they remain held. |
| 16.45 | Parliament Square, SW1 towards Millbank, Lambeth Bridge and Kennington Park | Approximately 500 protesters break through police lines and cross river at Lambeth Bridge, arming themselves with building materials as they went. Group attack BP Garage on route. Some vehicles damaged. |
| 18.00 | Kennington Park, SE11 | Large group of protesters congregate in park. Missiles attacks made on police serials bordering the park, sustained for about 30 minutes. |
| 18.20 | Trafalgar Square, W1 | Controlled dispersal of crowd commenced by police. Elements leave via Northumberland Avenue and make their way to The Strand. |
| 18.40 | The Strand, W1 | Approximately 150 protesters attack Rymans and Carphone Warehouse, as well as a number of vehicles, causing criminal damage. Police move in to contain. This group grows to about 400. |
| 19.00 | Charing Cross Police Station | Police vehicles attacked by crowds from The Strand. |
| 20.00 | The Strand, W1 | Police disperse crowd towards Waterloo Bridge. Some cars damaged on the Bridge. |
| 20.30 | Kennington Park | Last elements of crowd dispersed. |
| 20.58 | Bayliss Road, SE1 | Crowd from Waterloo Bridge held at bay by police and dispersed. |
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