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Carryduff Police Station
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there are any proposals to close the police station in Carryduff, County Down or to reduce the number of policemen based in Carryduff PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) station; and what they see as the future of policing in Carryduff.[HL5095]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: I have been advised by the Acting Chief Constable that although there were proposals for the closure of Carryduff earlier this year, these plans were repealed following the conclusion of a public consultation exercise. As such, there are now no current plans to close Carryduff station or to decrease the number of officers serving Castlereagh District Command Unit, which covers the Carryduff area. The Government remain committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure that the police service operates effectively, however, the future of policing in Carryduff is an operational matter and as such is the responsibility of the Chief Constable in consultation with the Policing Board.
House of Lords: Old Palace Yard
Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked the Chairman of Committees:
- Whether he will make representations to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner with a view to ensuring that at times of Divisions in the House of Lords police officers on duty in the Old Palace Yard area provide the same assistance to Members of the House crossing the road to vote, as is afforded to Members of the House of Commons by police officers in the New Palace Yard area when Divisions are held in that House.[HL5353]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Tordoff): The primary duty of the police officers on duty in Old Palace Yard and at Carriage Gates in New Palace Yard is to ensure that entrances to the Palace are kept secure. In addition, officers on duty at Carriage Gates are instructed to assist Members of the House of Commons to cross Bridge Street when Divisions are held in that House. This is because the lights at the junction of Bridge Street and Parliament Street are traffic controlled, and pedestrians may have to wait for well over a minute to cross the road safely. The risk of accidents is correspondingly heightened. In contrast, the Abingdon Street crossing in Old Palace Yard is pedestrian controlled, and waiting times are no more than 15 to 30 seconds. When the existing dog-leg is replaced in the autumn, the crossing will be significantly safer and less time-consuming. I will also undertake to discuss with the police what further assistance can be given to Members.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked the Chairman of Committees:
- What the plans are for the forthcoming road improvement works for Old Palace Yard, and on the crossing arrangements in Abingdon Street.[HL5352]
The Chairman of Committees: The Old Palace Yard project (part of the World Squares for All project) is due to be completed by 14 October 2002. Phase 3, which will take place over the Summer Recess, involves the resurfacing of the carriageway. As part of the work, the pedestrian crossing opposite 7 Old Palace Yard will be simplified, a straight crossing replacing the present dog-leg. Work on the crossing will be carried out and paid for by Westminster City Council, following representations made by the Parliamentary Estates Directorate.
Montserrat
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in the light of delays in constructing the airport and seaport in Montserrat, they will provide the additional funds needed to maintain the level of budgetary aid until 2005.[HL5097]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): Subject to our normal processes of resource allocation and review, we plan to make available over £47 million for Montserrat during the period 2002–03 to 2005–06. This includes provision for airport development and improving port facilities. Budgetary aid levels are agreed jointly with the Montserrat Government on an annual basis, taking account of essential needs and the level of total available resources.
Criminal Records Bureau: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
Lord Haskel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Criminal Records Bureau intends to publish its annual report and accounts for 2001–02.[HL5426]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The Criminal Records Bureau annual report and accounts for 2001–02 has been published today, and I am pleased to say that copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
UK Passport Service: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
Lord Gordon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the UK Passport Service intends to publish its annual report and accounts for 2001–02.[HL5427]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The UK Passport Service annual report and accounts 2001–02 has been published today and I am pleased to say that copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.
Prison Service: Environmental Performance
Lord Evans of Parkside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress the Prison Service has made in the past year towards improving its environmental performance.[HL5428]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Prison Service continues to make progress in this area. During the past year there have been a number of achievements as regards biodiversity, energy efficiency, procurement, transport and waste management. These are described in the service's second annual environmental report which is published today, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
In introducing a formal greening operations policy in March 2002, the Director-General of the Prison Service made clear his own personal commitment to improving the environmental performance of the service. A challenging programme of work in line with that commitment, and detailed in the report, has been set for the current year.
Prison Service: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
Lord Evans of Parkside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will report on the performance of Her Majesty's Prison Services in 2001–02.[HL5429]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I am pleased to report that the Prison Service's annual report and accounts for 2001–02 has today been published. Copies have today been placed in the Library.
Women's Organisations: Consultation on Legislation
Baroness Thomas of Walliswood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In respect of the Home Office, the Department for Education and Skills, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Scotland Office and the Northern Ireland Office, which women's organisations have been consulted over proposed legislation by each department during the 2000–01 and 2001–02 Sessions; and whether their responses have been published.[HL4451]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin): This information is not held centrally within government departments and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departments are however encouraged to follow the Cabinet Office's Code of Practice on Written Consultations, which is intended to make consultations more effective by opening up decision-making to as wide a range of people and organisations as possible.
Baroness Thomas of Walliswood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In respect of the Home Office, the Department for Education and Skills, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Scotland Office and the Northern Ireland Office, what was the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by each department since June 1997; and, in each case, whether the outcome has been put out to consultation or published.[HL4452]
Lord Filkin: Details regarding gender impact assessments are not generally held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Baroness Thomas of Walliswood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In respect of the Home Office, the Department for Education and Skills, The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Scotland Office and the Northern Ireland Office, whether each Secretary of State has established a baseline for policy appraisal against which to measure progress on equal treatment; and what progress has been achieved.[HL4454]
Lord Filkin: In 1998, the Home Office, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Cabinet Office Women's Unit issued Policy Appraisal for Equal Treatment (PAFET) guidelines to all government departments. PAFET covers the responsibility officials have for assessing how their work is likely to affect different groups and to take action to ensure that this is taken into account from the beginning of the policy process and its evaluation.
In addition, as a result of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, listed public bodies are now required to consult on the potential impact of new policies, and to monitor existing policies, to ensure that there is no differential and adverse impact on people from minority ethnic communities.
Government departments have responsibility for a wide range of policies and a single baseline for policy appraisal would not be universally appropriate.
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