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Written Answers
Thursday, 11th April 2002.
London Passport Office
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On what date the London Passport Office changed its location from Petty France; why post offices are still handing out passport application forms showing the Petty France address; and what steps they intend to take to end the consequent inconvenience to those who wish to visit the London Passport Office.[HL3405]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): The London Passport Office began issuing passports from Globe House in Eccleston Square, London SW1, on Monday 4 June 2001. After a phased transfer of all passport business, Clive House, Petty France, closed to the public on Friday 26 October.
Post Office Ltd was informed of the change of address at an early stage, the application form pack was reprinted and a leaflet was included to show the change of address. On cost grounds, all existing stock held by Post Office branches was not scrapped and it is possible that not all old stock has yet been exhausted. An option might have been to withdraw all application stock containing the Petty France address. But this would have been expensive and of little value in most of the United Kingdom as those in receipt of such forms would have had no intention of attending the London Passport Office.
However, all application form packs should contain a leaflet showing current fees and advising that personal attendance at a passport office is by appointment only. Customers telephoning the United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) 24-hour adviceline for an appointment are given directions to the office and advice on what they need to take.
In addition to the application form package and the adviceline, information on the relocation was available from the UKPS website and through UKPS publicity placed in local media such as the Evening Standard and London Metro. Post Office Ltd was briefed by UKPS on the response for its counter staff to give customers wishing to visit the London Passport Office—namely, that customers should contact the UKPS adviceline for an appointment and information.
Racial Profiling
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, and if so by what means, racial profiling is forbidden in the police service in the exercise of powers of arrest, stop and search and other law enforcement action. [HL3417]
Lord Rooker: The Government are opposed to "racial profiling", which can generally be described as the practice of police and other law enforcement officers relying on race, colour or ethnic origin as the basis for subjecting persons to investigatory activities or for determining whether an individual is engaged in criminal activity.
The Code of Practice (A) under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, which relates to stop and search, makes clear that a person's race, age or appearance cannot be used alone as a reason for searching that person. It also makes clear that reasonable suspicion cannot be based on generalisations or stereotypical images of certain groups or categories of people as more likely to be involved in criminal activity.
In addition, a police force in performing its public functions, including its enforcement functions, would need to be mindful of its obligations under the Race Relations Act 1976. These would include obligations resulting from the amendments made to the Race Relations Act 1976 by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
Mr Colin May
Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On what basis the Police Complaints Authority can justify a six-month inquiry period in relation to a case where the act of violence against the person complained of by Mr Colin May of Erith was captured on a video in its entirety and provided to the police at the commencement of the inquiry.[HL3463]
Lord Rooker: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police informs me that a total of 15 officers are to be interviewed for this investigation, many of whom were present at the incident. To date, 12 have been interviewed. Interviews with the other three have been arranged for the beginning of April. The Police Complaints Authority expects the investigation to be concluded by the end of April.
Police Complaints Authority: Audit
Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What audit arrangements exist, to which the public have access, in the case of the investigation costs of the Police Complaints Authority.[HL3472]
Lord Rooker: The Police Complaints Authority is audited internally by the Home Office Audit and Assurance Unit and externally by the National Audit Office every year. Its accounts and audit certificate are published in full within its annual report, which is laid before Parliament prior to the Summer Recess each year. Copies of the annual report and accounts can be obtained by the public from The Stationery Office.
The PCA supervises police investigations of the more serious complaints. However, the costs of the actual investigation are borne by the forces themselves and therefore would be submitted in the accounts of the relevant police authorities.
Yarl's Wood
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many people who were in detention in Yarl's Wood at the time of the recent fire there have since been deported; how many have been or are still detained in prison elsewhere without charge; what are the reasons in each of these categories; and what has been the Government's response to representations on these matters by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. [HL3525]
Lord Rooker: The immigration and asylum cases of those held at Yarl's Wood removal centre have continued to be processed in the normal way. If the conclusion is reached in such cases that the persons concerned have no basis of stay in this country, they will be removed. This point will already have been reached in some of the cases and the individuals concerned will have been removed from the United Kingdom. This will continue to be the case.
Detainees who are assessed to pose a control and security risk will be transferred from immigration removal centres to prison accommodation in line with established policy. This will include detainees held at Yarl's Wood at the time of the incident and individuals held at other removal centres.
Exact figures for the number of former Yarl's Wood detainees removed from the United Kingdom or held in prison accommodation could be obtained only by examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
UNHCR met with the Home Secretary on 7 March and raised a number of issues regarding detention including Yarl's Wood and the points raised will be considered.
Immigration Service Operational Enforcement Manual
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 19 March 2001 (WA 127), whether they will now publish the operational enforcement manual containing instructions for members of the Immigration Service.[HL3537]
Lord Rooker: It remains our intention to make the operational enforcement manual available on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website (www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk) in due course. However, I regret that other priorities have resulted in the work on this project being seriously delayed since the reply given by my noble friend Lord Bassam last year.
Terrorist Extradition Proceedings
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many terrorist extradition proceedings have been initiated since 1970; how many have been successful; and what nations they were being extradited from.[HL3542]
Lord Rooker: Reliable statistical information on extradition requests to other countries, with the exception of the Republic of Ireland, has been kept only since 1997. Details of requests made to the Republic of Ireland under the backing of warrants arrangements between our two countries are not held centrally. Extradition requests are based on specific offences, such as murder, which do not necessarily disclose whether an offence is of a terrorist nature. Statistics since 1970, therefore, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The available information in relation to extradition requests for terrorist offences is as follows.
Two fugitives were requested from the Netherlands, and surrendered, in 1999. Three fugitives were requested from Slovakia, and surrendered, in 2001.
Asylum Seekers: Utility Bills
Lord Beaumont of Whitley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What provision has been made for asylum seekers who are in receipt of vouchers to pay their utility bills; and what is the mechanism for payment. [HL3556]
Lord Rooker: Asylum seekers in the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation do not pay utility bills. The costs of their accommodation and any utilities are met centrally. Asylum seekers in receipt of subsistence only support (vouchers) from NASS do not receive any additional help to meet the costs of their accommodation or any associated bills.
Criminal Justice System Annual Report
Lord Davies of Coity asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to publish the criminal justice system annual report for 2000–01. [HL3723]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): My right honourable friend the Home Secretary, my noble and learned friend the Attorney-General and I will today be publishing jointly an annual report on the criminal justice system for England and Wales.
The document follows on the Criminal Justice System Strategic and Business Plan, published in May 2000.
Copies of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.
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