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Lord Chancellor: Judicial Sittings

Lord Rawlinson of Ewell asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): I did not sit in a judicial capacity on any occasion during the calendar year 2000.

Metropolitan Police: Sickness

The Earl of Listowel asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton): The Metropolitan Police Service has informed me that the average number of days sick per officer for the financial years 1991-92 to 1999-2000 were as shown in the table. The Metropolitan Police have no centrally collated record of average days sick per officer before 1991-92. However, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary holds statistics for the calendar year 1990 which show that the average number of days sick per officer in that year for the Metropolitan Police Service was 12.7.

Metropolitan Police Service

YearAverage days sick per officer
1991-9212.2
1992-9312.1
1993-9412.7
1994-9514.1
1995-9613.6
1996-9714.4
1997-9814.7
1998-9910.9
1999-20009.4

13 Feb 2001 : Column WA34

Oakington Detention Centre

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What investigations they have conducted into allegations that Chinese women passing through Oakington Detention Centre are recruited into the sex trade on being granted temporary admission; and why they have not answered letters on this subject from Cambridge Oakington Concern dated 1 November and 18 December 2000.[HL623]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: It is to be regretted that the Home Office failed to respond promptly to correspondence from Dr Louise Pirouet of Cambridge Oakington Concern and I apologise for this failure. The matter has been raised with the appropriate sections, and will be addressed as a matter of urgency.

I am assured that investigations are currently under way regarding the very serious allegations put forward by Cambridge Oakington Concern, though it would be prejudicial to speculate on the outcome of any enquiries at this stage.

Emergency Planning: Review

Baroness Lockwood asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What action they intend to take following the agreement made at the Leeds Castle meeting of the Central Local Partnership concerning the review of emergency planning.[HL732]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister proposed that the arrangements for emergency planning in England and Wales be reviewed and we have set up a steering group to take forward this review. It will identify strengths and weaknesses in the current arrangements for emergency planning; suggest ways in which the community preparedness for emergencies can be enhanced; consult widely with stakeholders and provide advice to Ministers on the result of the consultation.



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