To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions when his (a) Chief of Staff and (b) Chief Press Secretary formed part of the official party accompanying him on overseas visits, indicating the costs; and if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 8 December 1998, Official Report, column 143, to include the period from the end of October 1998 to the end of February 1999. [76816]

My Chief Press Secretary has accompanied me on all my overseas visits except three. My Chief of Staff has accompanied me on approximately a third. The costs of all officials, including my Chief Press Secretary and Chief of Staff, who accompany me on overseas visits are accounted for within the total costs of my overseas visits provided in previous answers.For the period 1 May 1997 to 3 March 1999, members of the policy unit have travelled overseas on official business on 44 occasions. The average cost of their official travel was approximately £600 per person.All visits have been made in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code.

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with representatives of the United States Government on genetically modified organisms since 31 July 1998; and if he will give the dates of these discussions. [80107]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer 1 gave to him on 3 November 1998, Official Report, columns 471–72.

To ask the Prime Minister what sorts of unforeseen circumstances were envisaged when adding that caveat to his statement that the United Kingdom will not join the Euro Zone during the present Parliament. [80165]

In his statement to the House of Commons in October 1997, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out five economic tests which will have to be met before any decision to join a successful single currency can be taken. Applying the economic tests, the Government believe there is no realistic prospect of the UK economy having demonstrated, before the end of this Parliament, convergence which is sustainable and settled. Barring any fundamental and unforeseen change in economic circumstances, making a decision, during this Parliament, to join is not realistic.

To ask the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for advising the Cabinet on whether the five economic tests for the United Kingdom participation in EMU have been met; and what consultation in respect of that advice will be undertaken. [80175]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has responsibility for United Kingdom policy on European Community monetary and economic issues. The final decision on whether or not the UK should join the single currency is for the British people in a referendum.

To ask the Prime Minister what staff have been tasked to monitor progress in passing the five economic tests for joining the euro. [80147]

HM Treasury is the department responsible for economic and monetary union issues.

To ask the Prime Minister what regulations or conventions exist to provide for the maintenance of political neutrality by European Commissioners in speeches targeted at a national audience in an area of domestic controversy. [80164]

Commissioners must act in accordance with the Community Treaties. They are required by Article 157 of the Treaty establishing the European Community to be completely independent in the performance of their duties. As such, they are not allowed to take instructions from any Government or from any other body, and must refrain from any action incompatible with their duties.

To ask the Prime Minister when (a) he and (b) representatives from his office, next plan to meet representatives of (i) the European Movement and (ii) the Federal Trust. [80146]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Sir R. Body) on 19 October 1998, Official Report, column 917.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he received from Garvaghy Road Residents Chairman, Mr. Brendan McKenna, on police protection for the solicitor, Mrs. Rosemary Nelson; and what action he took in response. [80233]

None.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 1999, Official Report, column 228, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer's oral statement of 27 October 1997, Official Report, columns 583–88, if he will set out the constitutional and political implications of the United Kingdom joining the European single currency. [80247]

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his statement to the House of Commons in October 1997, the determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is whether the economic case for the UK joining is clear and unambiguous.The October 1997 statement acknowledged that to share a common monetary policy with other states does represent a major pooling of economic sovereignty. It also stated that, if the economic benefits are clear and unambiguous, there is no constitutional bar to British membership of EMU.

To ask the Attorney-General how many cases of child abuse in respect of children aged (a) zero to four years, (b) four to six years and (c) six to 10 years have been forwarded by police forces to the CPS in the last five years; and of those how many (i) have been dropped by the CPS and (ii) were prosecuted in court. [80088]

The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records in respect of specific offences. The information requested could be obtained only by examining each relevant file in every CPS office, at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for incidents of incitement to racial hatred which took place in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998. [79875]

There have been no prosecutions or convictions for offences of racial hatred located in the Borough of Hammersmith or Fulham in either 1997 or 1998.

To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) black and (b) Asian people work in his private office. [79774]

Information relating to ethnicity is not usually given where numbers are small enough to enable identification of individuals. However, the staff in my private office have consented to the provision of this information. None of the three members of staff at present in my private office is Black or Asian.

To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities have been appointed as CPS chief crown prosecutors to date. [79779]

Of the 42 Chief Crown Prosecutors and 3 Assistant Chief Crown Prosecutors for London whose appointments were recently announced, 8 are women and 1 has self-declared as being from an ethnic minority. 4 of those appointed did not complete the Ethnic Minority Self-Declaration form.

To ask the Attorney-General what the procedure is for inquiring into leaks of confidential Crown Prosecution Service papers. [79840]

Crown Prosecution Service security policy requires that all suspected leaks be reported to the Departmental Security Officer. Suspected leaks are then investigated by the CPS rapidly and thoroughly.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will investigate the leak of the internal Crown Prosecution Service report into the police investigation of electoral malpractice in east and north-east London; and if he will make a statement. [79839]

The Crown Prosecution Service is currently undertaking an inquiry into an alleged leak.

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 2, on freemasons, what plans he has to publish the register of lawyers declaring their masonic status; and if he will make a statement. [79810]

The position remains as stated in my answer of 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 2, that the CPS is considering the format of a register in conjunction with the Departments affected by the Government's policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin, at 1 March, of (a) his Private Office, (b) Government special advisers, (c) his policy unit and (d) staff in total. [78498]

A voluntary self-classification system is used to record the ethnic origin of staff in the Home Office. For my Private Office¹ the breakdown of staff by ethnic origin on 22 March is set out in the table. As the numbers of staff with ethnic minority origins within Private Office are small, only a percentage of staff are shown to protect the privacy of individuals (in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Civil Service Ethnic Monitoring Code of Practice).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many international warrants for arrest and extradition are held by Interpol for citizens of the United Kingdom. [78794]

I am advised by the National Criminal Intelligence Service that there are currently in circulation 107 Interpol notices in respect of persons who are United Kingdom citizens by birth. This is a figure for notices issued by Interpol bureaux world-wide, under what is known as the Red Notice procedure. In some countries, not including the United Kingdom, a Red Notice may serve as a provisional warrant of arrest for extradition purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the procedures by which (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the citizen concerned are notified of international warrants for arrest and extradition held by Interpol in respect of UK citizens. [78791]

This is an operational matter as between Interpol bureaux world-wide. There is no procedure whereby Her Majesty's Government are notified that a United Kingdom citizen is the subject of an Interpol notice. The person concerned will become aware of the fact if and when he is located and arrested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone lines exist at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices in Croydon. [79303]

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate Croydon has 377 telephone lines; these are:

265 telephone lines which can take incoming calls

25 telephone lines reserved for members of the public making general immigration inquiries or inquiries about progress of a particular case

5 telephone lines for requests for an Application Form

10 lines for inquiries from employers about Immigration Law

12 lines giving recorded information about the more common type of inquiry

60 telephone lines which are reserved for outgoing calls

5,500 telephone extensions which can be directly dialled from outside.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone operators work at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices in Croydon. [79302]

There are currently fifty-nine officers dealing with telephone inquiries received in the Integrated Casework Directorate based in Croydon. However, approximately 25 per cent. of an operator's time is spent on written work and therefore away from the telephone. In addition, the Croydon estate has two operators who deal with non casework telephone traffic.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to tackle the backlog of work at Lunar House; and over what period. [80395]

I have set up a task team of senior officials and Siemens Business Services to determine the measures necessary to improve services substantially and to tackle the backlog of cases. Steps already taken include special exercises to target priority cases such as work permit applications, changes in procedures that will result in higher productivity, and increased staffing. Levels of service to the public are gradually being restored and improved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has made to (a) United Kingdom, (b) European Union and (c) other international business organisations regarding clandestine entrants seeking to enter the United Kingdom through consignments; [78612](2) what advice he has given to United Kingdom businesses concerned in the consignment of goods to the United Kingdom through European Union ports of embarkation about the prevention of clandestine entrants. [78613]

[holding answer 29 March 1999]: I have had a number of meetings with representatives of the road haulage industry and officials meet regularly with this group and with representatives of shipping and air transport companies. I understand that the transportation companies in their turn have discussions with their customers. There has been little, if any, direct contact between the Home Office and individual businesses regarding the problems of clandestine entrants; and we have not made any separate representations or issued separate advice to those bodies, beyond the representations and advice given to hauliers and other transportation companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which clandestine entrants change vehicles during ferry crossings. [78614]

[holding answer 29 March 1999]: Neither the Immigration Service nor the major ferry operator at Dover has presented any evidence that would support the suggestion that clandestine entrants change vehicles during ferry crossings. It would be difficult for would-be clandestine entrants to leave one vehicle and enter another on a well-lit car ferry deck monitored by Closed Circuit Television cameras without being seen, and the individuals concerned would gain no advantage by doing so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to lorry drivers and the road haulage industry as to (a) how to deal with clandestine entrants discovered in vehicles on entry to the United Kingdom and (b) the physical risk to drivers in such circumstances. [78610]

[holding answer 29 March 1999]: The advice given to date relates to safeguards to prevent would-be illegal entrants from securing entry in the first place. Where a driver discovers people in his vehicle whom he suspects may have entered the country illegally, he should inform the police or the local immigration office.I welcome the fact that the Freight Transport Association has issued guidance to its members. The Immigration Service will be working closely with the FTA and the Road Haulage Association to develop the proposed Code of Practice. In doing so, they will draw on the FI'A' s helpful advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to ferry operators in the last 12 months on improving security to prevent clandestine entrants gaining access to the United Kingdom; and if he will list the measure taken as a result. [78611]

[holding answer 29 March 1999]: Immigration Service staff are in regular contact with the major ferry operators arriving at Dover. Following discussions about clandestine immigration through Belgian ports, a number of changes have been made to port security procedures at Ostend and Zeebrugge. These include increased police patrols on access roads, night patrols in the port area and systematic loading checks. I understand that ferry operators have also met the Calais Chamber of Commerce to discuss improving security at that port.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he received from voluntary organisations requesting exemption from charges to finance the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement. [79533]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) on 30 March 1999, Official Report, columns 608–09.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 105, if he will list those police forces where contingency reserves are lower than the level recommended by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy; and if he will make a statement. [79425]

A list of forces with unallocated reserves or balances below the 2.0 per cent. minimum level recommended by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) is set out as listed. Published figures on police authority reserves relate to a specific point in time and may not give any indication about future commitments. The list reflects the position as at 31 March 1998. The CIPFA advice to police authorities on reserves and balances was issued in December 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (a) how many local authorities had applied to introduce a local child curfew and (b) were undertaking local consultation on introducing a local child curfew at the latest date for which the information is available. [79426]

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 16 March 1999, Official Report, column 590.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) assaults on staff by inmates, including those resulting in staff being referred for medical treatment and those leading to criminal charges, (b) assaults on trainees by other trainees and (c) incidents of concerted indiscipline, there have been by young persons at the Medway Secure Training Centre since his answer of 9 November 1999, Official Report, column 43; and if he will make a statement. [79427]

In the period from 9 November to end February, the contractor has recorded a total of 18 assaults on staff by trainees. All staff involved were seen by medical staff as a matter of course. 17 assaults on trainees by other trainees have been recorded. None of the incidents led to criminal charges. Two incidents of concerted indiscipline have been recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many trainees there currently are at the Medway Secure Training Centre. [79377]

As of 31 March, there were 30 young people at the Medway Secure Training Centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have resigned or been dismissed from the Medway Secure Training Centre since his answer of 9 November 1998, Official Report, column 43; and if he will make a statement. [79428]

There have been 10 resignations since 9 November, two of whom have since successfully applied for reinstatement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress on implementing at the Medway Secure Training Centre each of the recommendations of the Social Services Inspectorate report. [79376]

Progress against the agreed action plan is being monitored closely. Measures have already been taken to address the most urgent problems including the introduction of a new staffing structure to strengthen management of the centre, and to improve operational procedures. A programme of refurbishment work is underway, and new staff have been recruited. The Social Services Inspectorate will undertake a further inspection shortly to evaluate progress against the action plan, and the effectiveness of the action already taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the current number of staff at the Medway Secure Training Centre is the full complement. [79429]

The current number of staff at Medway is 109.5. The agreed staff complement of 100.5 is subject to further review in the light of the Social Services Inspectorate report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if further contract payments have been reduced since his answer of 9 November 1998, Official Report, column 43, to reflect performance points accumulated in the recent periods at the Medway Secure Training Centre; and if he will make a statement. [79430]

At the end of the second and third quarters, contract payments were reduced by £14,730 and £22,691 respectively, reflecting performance points accumulated by the contractor in those periods.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to transfer to private companies functions currently undertaken by police officers. [79380]

The Government have no such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department will take if police forces fail to make the target 2 per cent. year on year efficiency gains; and if he will make a statement. [79375]

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 21 July 1998, Official Report, column 915, that the police would receive an extra £ 1.24 billion over the next three years. Part of the additional funding for the second and third years will be dependent on forces achieving the target of 2 per cent. efficiency improvements a year set by the Comprehensive Spending Review. The arrangements we have put in place for the Home Office to monitor and review police efficiency plans jointly with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Audit Commission will give forces every opportunity to demonstrate that they are meeting this target, and that the resources released have been reinvested to improve delivery of frontline national and local policing priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the deadline for each local crime and disorder audit to be submitted to his Department; if he will list those authorities which have submitted an audit; how many audits have been referred back to local authorities by his Department for further work; what representations he has received concerning the audits; and if he will make a statement. [79378]

There is no provision in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requiring the local crime and disorder reduction partnerships to submit their audits and strategies to my Department for approval. The Act requires that strategies be formulated by 1 April 1999 and published locally. My Department will continue to work with the Audit Commission, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and other key partners to support the local partnerships in their work and to monitor their effectiveness. I am impressed by what I have seen of their determination to carry out their tasks in an effective and timely manner, but, if there are indications that particular partnerships are failing to exercise their functions under the Act, the Home Secretary is empowered to ask them for a report on their progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of (a) immigration officers and (b) other immigration staff who will be employed in dealing with leave to enter in each of the next five years. [78648]

[holding answer 29 March 1999]: None. The number of staff likely to be dealing with leave to enter over the next five years will depend upon a variety of factors, such as the extent of any growth in international passenger traffic as well as the impact of the measures set out in the White Paper 'Fairer, Faster And Firmer—A Modern Approach To Immigration And Asylum' designed to improve the operation of the on-entry control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what charges have been made by the Lancet inquiry against the officer whose name has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement. [79412]

I have not been sent any names of officers by the Operation Lancet inquiry. No police officers have been charged with offences as a result of Operation Lancet Inquiry to date, but the inquiry is continuing and I understand that a number of possible criminal and disciplinary matters are still under investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the serving CID officers in Cleveland Police Force are under investigation in the Lancet inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [79409]

31 Cleveland CID Officers are under investigation in Operation Lancet. Of these, 8 are suspended, which equates to 4 per cent. of the Force CID strength. The other 23 CID officers have not been suspended and continue to perform their daily duties. The duties of the suspended officers are being undertaken by other officers to ensure that the operational effectiveness of the CID is maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of person hours devoted to date to the Lancet inquiry regarding alleged police corruption in Cleveland; and if he will make a statement. [79410]

The information requested on the number of person hours devoted to the Operation Lancet Inquiry is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 March 1999, Official Report, column 173, on the Lancet inquiry, if he will provide a breakdown of the costs of the inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [79588]

The breakdown of costs is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of that part of the Lancet inquiry known as the Redwood inquiry in terms of costs and number of police officers involved; and if he will make a statement. [79590]

The "Redwood" inquiry is an on-going investigation and, for operational reasons, it would not be appropriate at this stage to make any further comment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the special inquiry taking place in the Cleveland police force. [79589]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him on 23 March 1999, Official Report, column 173.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those taking part in the projects described in Motor Projects in England and Wales Research Findings No. 81 were offenders in (a) 1993 and (b) 1999. [79339]

Research Findings No. 81, 'Motor Projects in England and Wales', examined two-year reconvictions for offenders sentenced to Probation run Motor Projects between the end of 1989 and 1993. No information is available centrally on what proportions of those were offenders in 1999. Of those in the sample, 433 (40 per cent.) were sentenced in 1993.Overall, Research Findings No. 81 showed that nearly 80 per cent. of offenders were reconvicted for an offence within two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the projects included in the research base described in Motor Projects in England and Wales Research Findings No. 81 still operate. [79395]

Research Findings No. 81, "Motor Projects in England and Wales", examined 42 projects. Current information is available on only 21 of these projects which were jointly managed by probation services in partnership with other bodies. Of these 21, the following are still operating: West Yorkshire: "BUMPY" ProjectWest Sussex: "Car Offenders Project" (now "Responsible Drivers")Shropshire: "Drive" ProjectInner London: "Ilderton Motor Project"Somerset: "Mendip Motor Project" (now "Somerset Motor Project")Greater Manchester: "STOP" ProjectOxfordshire: "TRAX" Motor ProjectBuckinghamshire: "Wheel-right"Nottingham: "Wheelbase".We are making inquiries about the other 21 projects and I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed agreement on the remote approach to satellite network interceptions at the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council of 12 March; which country objected; on what grounds; and what is the Government's policy on this issue. [79490]

The remote access approach would enable member states to maintain an interception capability against serious criminals using satellite telephones on their territory. There would be no need to seek the technical assistance of the member state with the ground station in individual cases.Italy, which hosts the first satellite ground station in the European Union, took the view at the Council that the member state with the satellite ground station should be given a guarantee that the intercepting member state would protect its constitutional principles and national security when using the remote access approach.The Government share the view of other member states that there is no substantive role for the member state with the ground station in the remote access approach. The Government have explained their position to the European Scrutiny Committees in their Explanatory Memorandum of 3 March 1999 on Council document 6195–99. A copy is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the contents of the papers he intends to present to the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council on (a) mutual recognition of court decisions and judgments and (b) access to justice in civil matters. [79422]

The United Kingdom's discussion paper on the mutual recognition of court decisions and judgments in criminal matters was submitted to the Article K4 Committee of the European Union on 29 March. It follows up the initiative of the United Kingdom Presidency at the Cardiff European Council, the conclusions of which called on the Council to identify the scope for greater mutual recognition of decisions of each other's courts. The paper and an Explanatory Memorandum were deposited for scrutiny on 31 March and a copy of each has been placed in the Library.The aim of the initiative is to develop a regime where each state recognises as valid certain pre and post conviction decisions of another member state's judicial authorities with the minimum of formality. Recognition would be given even though the decision has been taken under different laws and rules. The discussion paper develops this idea by setting out the current obstacles to judicial co-operation, current measures to improve judicial co-operation and suggestions on how mutual recognition could contribute towards the long-term development of judicial co-operation in the European Union.Mutual recognition of all court decisions is unlikely to be achievable in the near future, but the paper envisages a work programme that identifies short to medium term objectives as well as long term goals, and the preparatory work needed in order to achieve them. The paper proposes that such a programme should include an examination of the following possible proposals: the enforcement of sanctions following criminal convictions; the possibility of dispensing with formal letters of request and dual criminality requirements for mutual legal assistance; the possible abolition of grounds for refusing extradition such as the political offence exception, dual criminality and restrictions of the extradition of member states' own nationals; the possibility of fast track extradition through mutual recognition of arrest warrants and convictions, or a new "Eurowarrant" system; and the possible mutual recognition of orders or warrants concerning assets or evidence.The key underlying concept behind the paper is the principle that member states of the European Union should be able to have full confidence in each other's legal systems. Progress towards mutual recognition may therefore depend on agreeing common minimum standards and safeguards, for example on the treatment of suspects in custody and procedures for ensuring that the standards and safeguards are actually applied.The issue of access to justice in civil matters falls within the ministerial responsibility of the Lord Chancellor. The paper is still in preparation, but it is intended that it will invite the member states to consider ways of making it easier for people from one European Union country to bring litigation in another, making use of the other member state's legal system. Notwithstanding the Brussels Convention, the costs of such litigation often make it uneconomic to pursue small and medium sized claims and there is clear evidence that the perceived difficulty in obtaining redress if things go wrong is a major deterrent to buying goods abroad. It is, therefore, a significant obstacle to the proper functioning of the internal market.This initiative follows up a conference on resolving small claims across borders, hosted by the Lord Chancellor's Department during the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union last year, and other initiatives already adopted by the Community including the Action Plan on Consumers' Access to Justice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Latvian citizens entered the UK in each of the last five years; how many were refused entry to the United Kingdom; and if he will list the reasons for refusal. [79688]

Latvians were not separately identified in immigration statistics prior to 1998, when 21,800 passengers were admitted and 340 were refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom. 280 of the latter were not considered to be genuinely seeking entry as visitors, nearly 20 had unsatisfactory arrangements or non-genuine intentions for entry as students and over 40 were refused for various other reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list, including names and dates, of all meetings that (a) he, (b) his officials, (c) his advisers and (d) his PPS have held during (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999 with people who work for political lobbying firms or for businesses that are members of the Public Relations Consultants Association. [79647]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 168. The requirements of the Ministerial Code also apply to Parliamentary Private Secretaries when attending any meetings in an official or semi-official capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what will be the legal status of the proposed CitizenCard; on what basis the cost of the scheme was agreed; and what plans he has to restrict future increases in the cost of obtaining a CitizenCard; [79636](2) if the police will accept the proposed CitizenCard as a legal document; and what arrangements will be made to enable retailers to check the validity of the document.[79637]

CitizenCard is an industry sponsored proof of age scheme which was launched on 15 February. The Government have welcomed it but its operation is a matter for the promoters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of basic training for police officers relates to mental illness; and what proportion of that training is about the Mental Health Act 1983. [79673]

I understand that probationers in both the Metropolitan Police and other forces in England and Wales receive formal training on mental illness amounting to a total of about half a day during the course of their probationer training. In both cases, this training is supplemented by practical role play exercises which can be used to reinforce learning. In addition, a considerable time is devoted to vulnerable witnesses and arrested persons during the course of lessons on the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Codes of Practice and interviewing.It is also open to forces and Metropolitan Police areas to provide additional training on this subject if there is a particular need for it locally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people from (i) black and (ii) other ethnic minorities were detained by the police under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in 1998; [79676](2) how many people were detained by the police under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in 1998; [79675](3) what change there was in the amount of police time spent dealing with mentally disordered people over the five years from 1993 to 1998; [79686](4) how many injuries occurred to

The information requested about police activity in respect of mentally disordered people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 is not collected centrally. The Self-Defence and Restraint Committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers is currently revising its manual on "conflict resolution" and it is expected that this will contain guidance regarding the restraint of people known to have mental illness. I have been advised that this will be issued later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) desirability and (b) practicality of making the installation of smoke alarms in domestic dwellings mandatory; and what steps he is taking to encourage the installation of smoke alarms in domestic dwellings. [79608]

Smoke alarms make a significant contribution to the protection of life and property from fire and I believe it is desirable for every household to have at least one smoke detector. Promoting the need to have a properly maintained smoke alarm is a centre piece of our new strategy to reduce dwelling fire deaths by 20 per cent. by 2003. The Home Office ran a major campaign with the fire service on this theme at the start of the year. I also announced last December a £14 million investment in a new National Community Fire Safety Centre which is intended to help deliver the reduction in fire deaths in the home.Since 1992, Buildings Regulations have required all new dwellings in England and Wales to have a smoke alarm installed. This move, together with our wider publicity and educational efforts, has helped to raise smoke alarm ownership levels in all households to 82 per cent. However, ownership levels are much lower in those households which are actually having most fires and we are focusing on how to get the smoke alarm message to the hard to reach groups.The possibility of introducing a mandatory requirement on all households was considered by the Community Fire Safety Task Force whose 1997 report,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if officials in his Department prepared an assessment of the responses to the White Paper on immigration and asylum. [79710]

Home Office officials provided advice about the responses to the White Paper for consideration by Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences have been granted for rifles since the commencement of the compensation scheme for handguns. [79635]

The Firearm Certificate Statistics only differentiate firearm certificates and shotgun certificates. There is no centrally kept record of the type(s) of firearm kept on individual certificates. I can say that in the year ending 31 December 1997 (the latest year for which figures are available) 6,800 new firearm certificates were granted. This compares to an annual average of some 10,860 for the previous five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compensation payments of what average value have been made in respect of handguns to date. [79684]

Compensation payments averaging £334.89 have been made in respect of 114,195 guns surrendered under Options A and B of the scheme for large-calibre handguns. Corresponding figures for payments under Option C of the scheme are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average amount of time per week spent in purposeful activity by young offenders, in each unit, at Feltham Young Offenders Unit, in each of the last three years. [80020]

At Feltham, records of purposeful activity are not compiled by individual unit, but the figures can be broken down by sections of the population. For 1996–97 and 1997–98, figures can be provided for remand, convicted, therapeutic and new arrivals. For 1998–99, the categories are convicted, remand-short stay, health care centre and segregation/ Waite (anti-bullying) Unit. Purposeful activity is defined as work (including cleaning), education, physical education and church services. The figures are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on conditions at Feltham Young Offenders Unit. [79882]

There has not been a marked decline in conditions at Feltham as suggested in the recent report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. It is accepted that progress has been slow in improving conditions in some areas, although there have been many improvements since the Chief Inspector's last visit. The general cleanliness of the establishment can and will be improved, but there is a problem in only a minority of areas within the prison. New cleaning schedules and arrangements for inspection have now been introduced to ensure that cleaning takes place.The problems experienced at Feltham are due mainly to the population pressures being experienced across the prison estate and the industrial relations climate at Feltham. There have also been difficulties in recruiting staff. Remedial action is being taken in an attempt to improve recruitment at Feltham, and hence regime provision. Ten new officers are due to start training in April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average amount of time per day that young offenders were locked in their cells, in each unit, at Feltham Young Offenders Unit, in each of the last three years. [80019]

The Prison Service records time out of cell for purposeful activity (work, education and church services) and association. There is no record of other absences from cells, for example for meals, visits and court appearances.At Feltham, records of time out of cell are not compiled by individual unit, but the figures can be broken down by sections of the population. For 1996–97 and 1997–98, figures can be provided for remand, convicted, therapeutic and new arrivals. For 1998–99, the categories are convicted, remand/short stay, health care centre and segregation/Waite (anti-bullying) Unit. The figures are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take following the publication of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' report on Feltham Young Offenders Unit; and if he will make a statement. [79881]

On receipt of the Chief Inspector's report, the Director General of the Prison Service established a taskforce to remedy the shortcomings which had been identified. The taskforce, led by a senior governor, has charted a plan for improvement which will be implemented over the next six months.Already, additional finance has been allocated for urgent capital spending, and major refurbishment work will start in the next financial year. More immediate improvements to cleaning schedules and mattress and blanket provision are already in hand, and additional work and education for approximately 80 prisoners will be brought on stream in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by Treaty Article, those elements of the Amsterdam Treaty in which, during the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council of 12 March, he indicated a willingness to participate. [80150]

At the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 12 March, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary indicated that the United Kingdom was interested in developing co-operation with European Union partners on asylum and civil judicial co-operation, as well as in immigration policy and co-operation against illegal immigration. Such co-operation would be subject to the conditions laid down in the Protocol on the Position of the United Kingdom and Ireland and would take place only where there was no conflict with the maintenance of our frontier controls. The relevant Articles are Articles 61 to 69 of Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam.My right hon. Friend also indicated the United Kingdom's intention to continue to play a full role in law enforcement and criminal judicial co-operation and, in accordance with the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union, to seek participation in the Schengen acquis in the areas of police and criminal judicial co-operation, including the Schengen Information System. The legal basis for the Schengen acquis within the European Union Treaties has not yet been decided but the areas of police and criminal judicial co-operation are broadly covered by Articles 29-42 of the Treaty on European Union, as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the reduction in the number of animals required for procedures, for the last year for which figures are available, as a result of the use of alternatives to animal testing. [80097]

It is not possible to make such an estimate primarily because the use of non-animal tests is not regulated under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and we are not, therefore, in a position to collect data on the use of these alternatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ban the LD50 animal test. [80136]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 3 December 1998, Official Report, column 110.Whilst we await the deletion of the LD50 test from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's guidelines, we will authorise the LD50 test only where the applicant can demonstrate a regulatory requirement to use this test rather than an alternative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions have the non-animal alternative skin corrosivity tests been used for the purposes of testing household products since their validation by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods in 1997; [80133](2) on how many occasions has the non-animal alternative photoirritation test been used for the purposes of testing household products since their validation in 1997. [80134]

The use of non-animal tests is not regulated under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and we are not, therefore, in a position to collect data on the use of these alternatives.The use of animals in such tests will be allowed only if the applicant can demonstrate a regulatory requirement to use the animal test rather than an alternative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the definition of household product used by his Department for the purposes of the statistics relating to scientific procedures on living animals. [80135]

There is no definition of household product in United Kingdom law or European Directives. The only formal guidance given to licence holders in collating figures for the annual statistics is that contained in the notes accompanying the annual "Return of procedures by project" form (published as Appendix C to the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals", Great Britain, 1997). This instructs licence holders to use a particular code to record procedures carried out for a toxicological or other safety-related purpose (including efficacy, quality control, or other regulatory purpose) for substances "used in the household".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the animal tests to judge the safety of household products, listed in Table 10a of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain 1997 were (a) photoirritation tests, (b) skin corrosivity tests, (c) LD50 tests and (d) fixed-dose procedure tests; and on which species of animal these tests were carried out in 1997; [80130](2) on how many occasions in 1997 fixed-dose procedure tests on animals were used as replacements for LD50 tests

The information collected during the annual statistics collection exercise cannot be broken down in this way. For example: LD50, fixed-dose procedure and other tests can be returned as acute quantitative lethal toxicity tests. Similarly, photoirritation and skin corrosivity tests might be recorded under either tests for skin irritation or tests for skin sensitisation.Although the United Kingdom already demands a level of statistical reporting beyond the requirements of the European Directive 86/609 and European Convention ETS 123 (and beyond that required by other member states), the figures for 1999, to be published in 2000, will be further refined to distinguish LD50 tests from other acute quantitative lethal toxicity tests.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the animal tests for household products were for (a) finished household products and (b) ingredients for household products, in 1997. [80132]

In returning data for the annual statistics on animal use, licensees are not required to distinguish between finished household product testing and the testing of ingredients intended for household products.The Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals for 1997 show that 2,026 procedures were carried out for the testing of "substances used in the household" (both ingredients and finished products) for toxicology or other safety/efficacy evaluation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ethnic minority police officers are currently stationed at (a) Hammersmith and (b) Fulham police stations. [79871]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that as at 31 March 1999 there were 11 ethnic minority police officers stationed at Hammersmith Police Station and 6 at Fulham Police Station.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of stop and search were recorded for (a) 1997 and (b) 1998 by (i) Hammersmith and (ii) Fulham police stations; and how many of these led to arrest for each of the years. [79873]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has provided the following information:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racially motivated assaults were recorded for (a) 1997 and (b) 1998 by(i) Hammersmith and (ii) Fulham police stations. [79872]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that in the calendar year 1997 there were 6 racially motivated assaults recorded in Hammersmith Division and 4 in Fulham Division. In the calendar year 1998, 53 racially motivated assaults were recorded in Hammersmith Division and 22 in Fulham Division.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of incitement to racial hatred were (a) reported, (b) investigated and (c) the subject of arrest in (i) Hammersmith and (ii) Fulham police stations in (1) 1997 and (2) 1998. [79874]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has provided the following information about cases of incitement to racial hatred:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many coroners are (a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities, (c) medical practitioners or former medical practitioners, (d) solicitors or former solicitors and (e) barristers or former barristers; how many coroners there are in total; and if he will make a statement. [79802]

According to the latest available information, there are some 137 coroners, of whom seven are women, and 15 are, or have been, medical practitioners. No information is held centrally either on the number of appointments from within the ethnic minority communities or on the number of coroners who are by origin solicitors or barristers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long the Criminal Cases Review Commission has been considering the case of Mr. John Kamara. [80155]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave her on 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 124.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps the Criminal Cases Review Commission has taken to make progress on the case of Mr. John Kamara since 22 February; [80154](2) when the Criminal Cases Review Commission expects to make a decision on whether to refer the case of Mr. John Kamara to the Court of Appeal. [80153]

I understand from the Criminal Cases Review Commission that the consideration of Mr. Kamara's case by a committee of three Commission members, which was due to take place last month, has had to be postponed until later this month for operational reasons. The case committee may decide either whether or not to refer the case to the Court of Appeal or that further investigation is required.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide financial support to (a) rape crisis centres and (b) women's refuges in the UK. [79900]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Taunton (Jackie Ballard) on 30 March 1999, Official Report, columns 601–02.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have taken place in the past 10 years in the proportion of prisoners suffering from (a) hepatitis, (b) HIV/AIDS and (c) TB. [80250]

Complete information is not available in the form requested. The information given in the table has been collated from a number of databases held centrally, based on returns from prison establishments. The table shows new cases of hepatitis B and tuberculosis in England and Wales for 1988–89 and 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow needle exchanges in prison. [80249]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 728.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review homicide law as it relates to victims of domestic violence who kill partners who have abused them. [80183]

No. The law on murder can already respond with flexibility to the particular circumstances of domestic violence victims. Self-defence is a complete defence to a charge of murder which if successful, results in the acquittal of the defendant. Provocation is a partial defence to murder, which reduces the offence to manslaughter. The other partial defence to murder, that of diminished responsibility, is also successfully pleaded in some domestic homicide cases. In such cases, the onus is on the prosecution to prove beyond all reasonable doubt the absence of, for example, provocation or self-defence on the part of the defendant.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 31, on Prison Deaths (Notification), if the Follow Up To Deaths In Custody document includes (i) guidance on the timescale and (ii) a maximum delay for the notification of relatives following the death of a patient in hospital. [80565]

Next of kin should be notified as soon as possible following a death in prison custody. Because individual circumstances may differ, the Prison Service Order does not set minimum or maximum timescales. The same principles apply if a prisoner dies in an outside hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining British Summer Time throughout the year. [79921]

The issues remain very much as set out in the previous Government's 1989 Green Paper "Summer Time—A Consultation Document". The responses revealed marked divergences of opinion. We will continue to listen to all sides of the argument, but have no current plans to publish a fresh analysis or to propose changing the present summer time arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the effect on (a) the number of accidents and (b) mortality rates if British Summer Time were to be maintained throughout the year. [79922]

I periodically receive representations from hon. Members, members of the public and interests groups in favour of continuous British summer time or Central European Time. They generally argue that lighter evenings would reduce road deaths and injuries overall.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter of 3 February from the hon. Member for Aylesbury concerning his constituents Mr. and Mrs. Sutton and the Liverpool Nationality Office. [79837]

I sent a reply to the hon. Member on 7 April. I regret the delay in responding.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 1999, Official Report, column 299, if he has requested UK participation in aspects of the Schengen Agreement under Article 4 of the Protocol. [80108]

A formal application for participation under Article 4 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union can be made only once the Treaty of Amsterdam comes into force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has for tighter regulation of charity fund-raising; and if he will make a statement; [80185](2) what discussions he has had with the Charity Commissioners regarding bogus fund-raisers; and if he will make a statement; [80186]

The Home Office works closely with the Charity Commission and all Government Departments on matters relating to the charitable sector.The police already have the power to seize anything that is evidence of an offence. The decision on whether such property should be confiscated is a matter for the courts under section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and section 43 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973.Under the Charities Act 1993 the Charity Commission can investigate when it appears that funds raised on charitable trusts may be at risk. The Commission can, and does, freeze bank accounts and appoint new trustees where this is necessary.The Commission also works closely with the police and local authorities to ensure, as far as possible, that money donated by members of the public is used for the purposes intended by the donors. It also seeks to raise the public's awareness of the problems posed by bogus fund-raising, and gives advice on how people may donate safely. Prosecutions are a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions have been achieved in cases of child abuse in respect of children aged (i) zero to four years, (ii) four to six years and (iii) six to 10 years, in each of the last five years. [80087]

Those who abuse children can be charged with a number of offences. However, some of these offences, such as assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault, are mostly used to prosecute those who attack and injure adults and it is not possible to identify child victims from the overall statistics. The table shows the statistics for those offences where it is possible to identify a child victim. No further age breakdown is available centrally.