To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when and in which newspapers the advisory committee for Doncaster advertised for applicants for positions as magistrates; and if he will publish the advertisement. [9903]

The Lord Chancellor's advisory committee for Doncaster placed advertisements in the Doncaster Free Press, South Yorkshire Times and Doncaster Star on 25 May 1995. The text of the advertisement is shown. In addition 20,000 leaflets were delivered with the Doncaster Courier on 21 July 1995.COULD YOU SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE?

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he estimates the cost will be to the local police constabulary of policing the site of the Newbury bypass. [9343]

Policing of the bypass site is a joint operation between Thames Valley police and Hampshire constabulary.Estimated total policing costs in 1995–96 have been assessed by Thames Valley police as £1.525 million and by Hampshire constabulary as £478,000. This includes the costs of officers who would otherwise be on duty elsewhere in the force areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps Her Majesty's Government are presently taking to examine the conviction in Sweden of Bengt Bolin under Sweden's extra-territorial law on sex offences against children; [9672](2) when Her Majesty's Government expect to be able to make a statement on the implications of the Bengt Bolin case in Sweden for future United Kingdom legislation on child sex offences committed aborad. [9673]

My officials have obtained from the Swedish authorities various documents concerning the Bolin case, including transcripts of the court proceedings. The Swedish chief prosecutor gave a presentation about this case to an Interpol working group in November last year, and Home Office officials who attended the presentation spoke to him about the case. My officials have also recently met a representative from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs to discuss this matter. In addition, a meeting is being arranged with the Thai prosecutor who was involved in the Bolin case.The information so far received suggests that there would have been difficulties in securing a conviction in this country on the basis of the evidence presented to the Swedish court. The United Kingdom could, however, unlike Sweden, have extradited a British offender in similar circumstances. We remain of the view that this is the best approach, and have not been persuaded by the experience of the Swedes that extra-territorial jurisdiction would be helpful in dealing with British tourists who commit offences overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what responsibilities the police have for checking the suitability of applicants to be school bus drivers; [10185](2) if applicants for school bus driving positions are always checked by the police against a central criminal database; [10186](3) how many applicants for school bus driving vacancies were checked against the central criminal database in 1995. [10187]

The police have responsibility for carrying out criminal record checks on applicants for jobs in the statutory sector if the applicant will have a substantial level of regular unsupervised access to children, particularly if such access is on a one-to-one basis in an isolated setting. The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office have agreed guidance on which groups should be eligible for checks and this is set out in Home Office circulars. School bus drivers are listed as one of the groups which should not normally be subject to checks as it is assumed that, for most journeys, they will be transporting large numbers of children with a teacher or parent also present. If a bus driver is likely to be transporting a child or small number of children on a regular basis without a teacher or parent being present, the police have discretion to carry out a check.If the police are satisfied that a check is justified, the applicant will be checked both against Phoenix, the national criminal record database, and local police records. No statistics are kept on the number of applicants for jobs as school bus drivers who have been checked.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the duration of the hard arrests trial programme; what areas of equipment, policy or training were involved; and what was the budget of the programme; [10249](2) what research his Department has carried out since 1987 on the operation, safety or use of electronic shock equipment. [10248]

I assume that the hon. Member's interest relates to the issue of electronic shock equipment. Neither my Department nor the police service has any knowledge of "the hard arrest trial programme" or of any other programme in this area.Chief officers of police, with their police authorities, are responsible for deciding what equipment to obtain for their officers, either for testing or for introduction. A number of forces have obtained electro-shock equipment for use against ferocious dogs and training in their use would have been undertaken at the local level. The cost of training was met from existing resources. As I have made clear previously, no force has obtained any form of this equipment for use against people.In 1990 the Forensic Science Service published a theoretical assessment of the effects of electric shock weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued to police

Police force	Specials1	Regulars2	Percentage3	Population (000's)4	Specials per 5 thousand population5
Avon and Somerset	676	2,986	22.6	1,456	2.3
Bedfordshire	196	1,116	17.6	543	1.8
Cambridgeshire	264	1,254	21.1	688	1.9
Cheshire	269	1,950	13.8	976	1.4
City of London	81	859	9.3	5	81.0
Cleveland	204	1,429	14.3	560	1.8
Cumbria	221	1,143	19.3	490	2.3
Derbyshire	440	1,762	25.0	954	2.3
Devon and Cornwall	1,079	2,871	37,6	1,530	1.9
Dorset	230	1,272	18.1	672	1.7
Durham	192	1,376	14.1	608	1.6
Dyfed-Powys	304	977	31.1	473	3.2
Essex	548	2,897	18.9	1,497	1.8
Gloucestershire	330	1,141	28.9	550	3.0
Greater Manchester	749	7,026	10.7	2,578	1.5
Gwent	129	1,006	12.8	462	1.4

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic accidents involving police patrol vehicles were reported for the years 1994 and 1995; and how many police officers or civilians sustained serious or fatal injuries in such accidents. [10408]

The latest information which is available centrally, in respect of police forces in England and Wales, is for the year 1993, and is shown. The information on injuries relates to those where death or serious injury has arisen in the course of either police pursuits or responses to emergency calls.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of special constables in each police force in England, indicating in each case the ratio of specials to full-time officers and to the population of the force area. [10631]

The following table, which is broken down by police force area, shows:

the number of special constables in post on 30 September 1995¹;

the number of regular officers in post on 30 September 1995²;

the proportion of regular officers the number of special constables notionally represents (disregarding discrepancies in hours of duty³:

the population of each force area according to the latest available estimates from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (mid-1994)⁴; and

the number of special constables per 5,000 population⁵.

Many special constables perform about four hours' duty a week.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete the review of the law relating to the bribery of hon. Members referred to in the Government's response to the first report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Cm 2931. [10559]

The Government are committed to the consolidation of the corruption statutes, and have welcomed the opportunity to clarify the position of hon. Members as part of that exercise. I cannot say at this stage when a conclusion might be reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reconsidered requests for tape recording immigration and asylum interviews at ports of entry and at the Home Office. [10478]

We have no plans to allow asylum and immigration interviews at ports of entry or the Home Office to be tape recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of juvenile offenders subject to a supervision order reoffend within two years of the making of the order. [10863]

The latest available information relates to a sample of those sentenced for standard list offences during three separate weeks of 1991.Eighty per cent. of those aged under 17 when sentenced to a supervision order were reconvicted within two years of the making of the order. This reconviction rate includes only reconvictions for standard list offences and relates only to offenders sentenced for such offences—standard list offences consist of all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences. The reconviction rate is based on a sample 275 offenders.Reconviction rates will be influenced by criminal histories and types of offences committed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of juvenile offenders who receive custodial sentences reoffend within two years of release. [10864]

The latest available information relates to prisoners discharged from Prison Service establishments during 1992.Eighty-nine per cent. of those aged under 17 when sentenced to custody were reconvicted within two years of release from prison. This reconviction rate includes only reconvictions for standard list offences—these consist of all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences.Reconviction rates will be influenced by criminal histories and type of offences committed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs are currently being held under the dangerous dogs legislation. [11263]

There are presently 81 dogs held in police custody in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. No dogs are currently being held by the police under other dog legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs have been destroyed under the dangerous dogs legislation to date. [11249]

Information on the number of dogs destroyed under the dangerous dogs legislation is not collected in the form requested.However, during 1992, 1993 and 1994, a total of 781 people were convicted either of offences under section 1 of the 1991 Act or of aggravated offences under section 3. In each of these cases, the court would have had no option but to order the destruction of the dog concerned. The figure quoted is thus likely to be close to the actual number of dogs put down under the Act over that period.Corresponding figures for 1995 are likely to be available in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what international research and co-operation, his Department has been involved concerning the introduction of new technologies to combat crime; and if he will make a statement. [9889]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: The Home Office police scientific development branch has memoranda of understanding with the Dutch Ministry of Justice, the Bundeskriminalamt in Germany and the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the United States of America with a view to collaborating in the research, development, evaluation and operational use of law enforcement technologies. Further MOUs are under discussion with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Drug Enforcement Administration and the New South Wales police. PSDB is also a member of the working group on international technology support and participates in numerous international specialist crime-related conferences. My Department is also working with the European Committee for Standardisation to develop a European standard for vehicle tracking devices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library all information held by his Department concerning the effectiveness of installed closed circuit television on preventing crime; and if he will make a statement. [9890]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: My Department has published a number of research papers looking at various aspects of closed circuit television effectiveness as part of its series of crime prevention unit papers and the successor series of crime detection and prevention papers. The most recent of these—published on 29 December 1995—is paper No. 68—"CCTV in Town Centres: Three Case Studies". Copies of all these papers are held in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total central Government expenditure to date on crime prevention closed circuit television schemes; and if he will make a statement. [9891]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: Approximately £800,000 has been allocated to 56 crime prevention projects featuring closed circuit television since 1989 under the safer cities programme. In addition, £5 million was awarded to 106 CCTV schemes in last year's CCTV challenge competition. The current CCTV challenge competition will provide a further £15 million for CCTV in 1996–97. Information about CCTV projects funded by other Government programmes is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what international co-operation and research the United Kingdom Government have been involved concerning the operation of a national DNA database; and if he will make a statement. [9892]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Forensic Science Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost of launching and operating the national DNA database; and if he will make a statement. [9893]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: The total cost of launching the national DNA database and the cost of its first year of operation, 1995–96, are forecast to be £3.2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to reduce crime against retail premises; and if he will make a statement. [10244]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: There are many measures in place to reduce retail crime. The retail action group, an associate group of the Home Office crime prevention agency board, has produced booklets for retailers on preventing burglary, robbery, and violence to staff; further guidance on the prevention of customer theft, and external fraud, and on making an arrest will be published later this year. The group is also looking at ways of identifying and promulgating best practice, and considering the uses of technology in crime prevention.The use of closed circuit television can make a significant contribution to reducing crime against retail premises, especially when it forms part of a package of crime prevention measures. The Home Office has helped to spread the use of CCTV through the publication of guidance on its use, and through last year's CCTV challenge competition in which the majority of successful bids were from partnerships which wished to install security cameras in shopping centres and high streets in town centres around the country. A further CCTV competition in which £15 million will be available is to be held this year, and it is likely that shopping areas will again be major beneficiaries.The British Retail Consortium is making a valuable contribution through the programme of work being pursued by the retail crime initiative. This initiative, which aims to develop the retail perspective in inter-agency crime prevention initiatives, is an important and valuable way of raising the general awareness of retail and town centre crime and of encouraging retailers to work together to beat crime.The projects carried forward by local partnerships, business and shop watch schemes, ring round schemes, police advice on the part that building design can play in preventing crime, as well as the numerous individual police force initiatives being pursued across the country all contribute to retail crime prevention. The safer cities programme has also funded a number of schemes aimed at improving the security of retail premises.The recently published Home Office commercial victimisation survey singles out for the first time the effect of crime on commercial victims, and we are continuing to analyse the data collected so that retailers, the police and others can target their crime prevention initiatives to best effect.The Home Office was represented on the Health and Safety Executive committee which last year published guidance for employers on the prevention of violence to retail staff in the workplace; and we also contributed to the funding of a non-profit-making video for retailers on the prevention of customer theft, which was produced by Compass Vision Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the policing costs associated with the annual conferences of the (a) Liberal Democrats, (b) Conservative and (c) Labour parties; and what amounts were claimed by each party from central funds for security costs. [10246]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: I understand from the forces involved that the latest estimated additional costs of policing the 1995 party conferences are:

(a) Liberal Democrats (Strathclyde Police)—Nil

(b) Conservative (Lancashire Constabulary)—£1 million

(c) Labour (Sussex Police)—£29.029

Finalised claims for security costs incurred by the political parties at these conferences have not yet been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what co-ordinated action police forces are taking to provide adequate mechanisms for rough sleepers and similar vulnerable people to report physical attacks. [9971]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: The Government's consultation paper "Rough Sleepers Initiative: Future Plans" makes it clear that the police aim to provide the same quality of service to the homeless as to all other victims of crime, and in doing so should have regard to the special needs and vulnerability of homeless people. It is for individual chief officers, though, to decide the most suitable approach locally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9751]

[holding answer 17 January 1996]: Arrangements for the procurement of mobile telephones in my Department are devolved to executive agencies and dispersed business units and no central records are kept. I am aware of agreements for four individual mobile telephones which have been terminated. The cost to my Department was about £145. The companies involved were Cellcom and People's Phone.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) killings and (b) woundings have taken place in Toxteth over the past year to the most recent available date; and if he will make a statement. [10467]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10955]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: The amount spent on external consultants in the tendering process since the introduction of private finance initiative is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10956]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: The information requested is not separately recorded.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how often the Committee on the Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy has met. [10022]

"Questions of Procedure for Ministers" makes it clear that information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet or Cabinet Committees is not normally made public.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes have taken place in his responsibilities over the last four years; and what impact this has had on the running costs of his Department. [10023]

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's ministerial responsibilities in December 1992 were as follows:

The discharge on a day-to-day basis of the responsibilities of Minister for the Civil Service; overseeing progress and development of the citizens charter initiative, the next steps programme, the efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service and the market-testing programme; responsibility for the Office of Science and Technology which, in addition to responsibility for Government policy on science and technology, is responsible for the research councils; and ministerial responsibility for Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

These responsibilities were carried out by the Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service and Science. The estimated annual running costs associated with these responsibilities in 1992–93 was £96 million.On 1 April 1993 financial provision for the Prime Minister's Office, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, support to the Whips and minor other functions were transferred to the Cabinet Office "other services" vote. This reduced the OPSS annual running costs by £15.5 million.

Cabinet Office
£
	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
Aberdeen Press and Journal	2,132	3,686	2,694	—	—
Ambulance UK	—	—	453	453	—
Andover Advertiser	—	—	892	—	—
Assessment	—	—	2,425	—	—
B A News	—	—	1,152	4,064	—
Banbury Guardian	—	—	677	—	—
Bath (and West Evening) Chronicle	—	497	—	—	—
Bedfordshire Times	—	—	1,405	—	—
Belfast Irish News	900	476	1,143	—	—
Belfast Telegraph	4,777	6,155	5,233	355	—
Birmingham Evening Mail	—	2,262	3,700	—	—
Bracknell News	—	—	874	—	—
Bournemouth Evening Echo	—	751	—	—	—
Braintree and Witham Times	—	416	999	—	—
Brighton Evening Argus	—	—	2,000	—	—
Bristol Evening Post	—	2,498	—	—	—
Bromley Borough News	—	371	—	—	—
Bucks Free Press	—	—	972	—	—

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the expenditure of his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on newspaper advertising by title for each year since 1990–91; and what estimate he has made for 1995–96 based on expenditure to date and existing plans. [6571]

Details of expenditure on newspaper advertising and other promotional materials and activities by the Cabinet Office, including the Prime Minister's Office, and the Office of Public Service were as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if Government Departments may sell spare information technology capacities to other Departments; and if he will make a statement. [10680]

Computer systems need to be installed with sufficient capacity to meet peak work loads and, as a consequence, Departments may have spare processing capacity outside these peak periods.Departments are encouraged to make the most efficient and effective use of their information technology resources. Where economic quantities of spare computing capacity can be identified, this may be sold to other Department so long as the normal technical, security and financial controls are met.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees; [10957](2) what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction

As yet, nil.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the mobile phones which have been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years have been cloned; and on what dates. [11009]

In the Cabinet Office the following phones were cloned:

• Four telephones in January 1994;
• One telephone in October 1995 and,
• One telephone in June 1995.

None of the mobile phones purchased by the Central Office of Information in the last eight years has been cloned.Her Majesty's Stationery Office does not hold this information centrally and it could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the outcome of the prior options stage of the financial management and policy review of the Royal Commission on the historical monuments of England; and if she will make a statement. [11819]

The overall conclusion of the prior options report was that maintaining the central functions of the royal commission is a necessary national task, and that the RCHME is best placed to carry out this work. I have accepted this recommendation and confirm that the RCHME will continue to carry out its role as the national body of survey and record of the historic environment, as defined in its royal warrant. A copy of the prior options report has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what progress has been made with compiling a comprehensive inventory of the furniture in the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement. [10839]

The inventory of historic furniture was completed in late 1995. More than 7,500 pieces were identified on the parliamentary estate. These were numbered and photographed and the descriptions recorded on a computer database. The inventory is currently being edited and will provide an important tool for the management and conservation of these valuable assets.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on official hospitality by agencies associated with his Department in 1993–94, 1994–95 and projected for 1995–96. [9089]

[holding answer 15 January 1996]: Expenditure by agencies associated with Her Majesty's Treasury on official hospitality is included in the running costs published for each agency.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 13 December, Official Report, column 636, on hospitality spending by his Department in 1994–95 and 1995–96, if the figures included spending by his Department's agencies. [9090]

[holding answer 15 January 1996]: No. The figures were for the central Treasury only.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many steam-powered road vehicles over 25 years old were liable for road tax in the financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and the first six months of the financial year 1995–96. [10627]

There were 340 steam-propelled vehicles over 25 years old liable for road tax at the end of 1994, the only year for which figures are currently available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was raised from road tax sources on steam-powered vehicles over 25 years old in the financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and the first six months of the financial year 1995–96. [10625]

Figures are currently available only for calendar year 1994. Total revenue raised in 1994 for steam-powered vehicles over 25 years old was £15,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the cities in which regional agents who monitor the economy for the Bank of England are based in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales. [10429]