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NORTHERN IRELAND
Integrated Education
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he proposes to offer opportunities for integrated education ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram : The Government remain committed to maximising the opportunities for parents to opt for integrated schools for their children. Support and advice is available from the NI Council for Integrated Education to any group from the community who wish to establish an integrated school, with the Integrated Education Fund providing assistance with early capital costs. The Department of Education provides 100 per cent. recurrent funding for new schools from day one, and 100 per cent. capital grants as soon as a school's viability is confirmed.
Column 354
These measures have enabled rapid growth in the number of integrated schools : there are now 21 schools with a combined enrolment of some 4,000 pupils.Commercial and Industrial Development
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on commercial and industrial development in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Atkins : After law and order, strengthening the economy is the second highest priority of the Government in Northern Ireland. Our economic development strategy aims to achieve higher levels of employment opportunities. This depends on Northern Ireland industry becoming internationally competitive and the economic development agencies have been working towards this aim by encouraging inward investment and by helping with activities which will improve business performance.
The annual report of the Industrial Development Board (IDB), published in September, recorded a year of considerable achievement for the organisation. There were 10 new inward investment projects offering almost 2,000 new jobs--IDB's second most successful year ever. Several of these projects, including Texmaco and Seagate Technology, will not only create employment but also introduce new products and technologies to Northern Ireland. In addition 2,800 new jobs were created during 1992-93 in IDB client companies which received financial assistance towards investment projects in 59 established companies with the aim of improving their international competitiveness.
The Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU), the small business agency, also had a successful year in 1992-93. During the year there was a net increase in employment of 1,020 in LEDU client companies, a significant reversal of the previous year's results which showed a net decrease in employment of 650. There was also a marked rise in activity levels across the range of LEDU's activities, including 3, 716 individuals receiving enterprise training and 1,429 new business start ups.
During 1992-93 the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU) played a significant role in the development of Northern Ireland's research and development capabilities through the provision of a range of financial and other support to industry. Particular emphasis was placed on encouraging collaboration between industry, government and other organisations engaged in research.
Development in the commercial sector continues to be buoyant and numerous projects have been started or completed in the last year. Major projects completed include developments in Belfast such as a 10-screen multiplex cinema and associated multi-storey car park, and a number of significant office developments including a major development in the Laganside area, which will be a priority area for commercial development over the next 15 years. In Londonderry a £10 million development known as Quayside has recently been completed. Projects currently under way in Belfast include further development of sites within Laganside, together with prestige office developments on other sites. In Londonderry work has started on a £65 million retail and office development to be known as Foyleside.
Column 355
Ambulance Service
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what way journey times by ambulance between Larne and the new Antrim hospitals have been recorded ; and what is the estimated journey time by ambulance for patients between Larne and the Antrim hospital.
Mr. Ancram : The Northern health and social services board has carried out "trial runs" using three different methods, to calculate the travel time from Larne to the Antrim hospital site.
The first method involved an ambulance travelling at high speed on a normal day but without the use of the emergency blue light. The recorded time was 20 minutes. The second method involved travelling by car at normal speed and on a normal day. The time recorded was 25 minutes. The third method involved using a computer model which simulated a journey by ambulance in poor travel conditions. The time calculated was also 25 minutes.
The board estimates that in a real emergency, even in rush-hour traffic, the journey could be completed by ambulance in approximately 20 minutes. In normal traffic conditions a reduction of three of four minutes in that time would be possible.
Religious Tolerance
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage religious tolerance in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Ancram : The Government are committed to ensuring that there is full equality of opportunity and equity of treatment for all sections of the Northern Ireland community and that every opportunity is taken to encourage greater contact between the communities, thereby increasing mutual understanding and acceptance of cultural diversity. Over the past four years the Government have facilitated a wide range of measures to encourage better community relations and has committed more than £23 million towards community relations programmes in Northern Ireland, including over £7 million in this financial year. From September 1993 all pupils of compulsory school age are required to be taught two cross- community themes--education for mutual understanding, and cultural heritage --which are intended to foster greater understanding and improved relationships between people of different cultural traditions.
Democratic Structures
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop further democratic structures in Northern Ireland.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : The Government would like to see greater responsibility for the affairs of Northern Ireland exercised by locally elected representatives, under a system attracting wide support across the entire community. I continue to believe that the best hope of achieving this lies in the talks process involving the British and Irish Governments and the four main constitutional parties in Northern Ireland. The Government are actively engaged in discussions aimed at taking this process forward.
Column 356
Community Psychiatric Nurses
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the level of knowledge, skill and experience of community psychiatric nurses in promoting and maintaining mental health in the community in deciding whether to include them as eligible as approved applicants for compulsory admission to a psychiatric hospital in the proposed amendments to the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.
Mr. Ancram : There are no proposals at present to amend the substance of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 and no consideration is currently being given to include community psychiatric nurses as persons who may make application for assessment under the compulsory admission to hospital procedures contained in the order.
Official Hospitality
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 20 October, Official Report, column 235 , if he will state the reason for the increase in entertainment costs in his Department from 1991-92 to 1992-93.
Sir John Wheeler : The previously published figures on hospitality in 1991-92 related only to the Department of Finance and Personnel. The total amount spent on official hospitality in that year by all the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office was £559,220.
Out-of-school Child Care
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what department in Northern Ireland is to be responsible for the allocation of the out-of-school grants as agreed by the Department of Employment ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) if he will publish the amount of money to be made available to Northern Ireland for child care provision under the out-of-school child care grant ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : It is not always possible for grants available from GB Departments to be immediately replicated by Northern Ireland Departments. The out-of-school child care grant has not been extended to Northern Ireland. The possibility of introducing a scheme of this kind is currently being examined by an inter-departmental group which will advise Ministers. If it is decided that a scheme is feasible or can be funded, then a decision will be made about assigning departmental responsibility for it.
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision is made for grants to those organisations and individuals who organise out-of-school arrangements in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : In the health and personal social services field, funding of local day care projects is the responsibility of the four area health and social services boards. These projects are aimed at looking after children who might be at risk of being harmed or becoming delinquent. Support
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can be provided on a once only basis towards a project's start-up costs and for equipment, and on a recurring basis towards annual running costs. In addition, the Department of Health and Social Services can support the central administrative expenditure of regional voluntary child care organisations whose work advances the Department's strategic objectives.Security Statistics
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the security statistics for 1992 are now available, together with details of persons charged with terrorist-type offences and convictions for scheduled offences for the year.
Sir John Wheeler : Security statistics for 1992 are as follows. Statistics for earlier years can be obtained from the Library.
Table 3
Convictions and sentences for scheduled offences tried on indictment at Belfast Crown Court
1992
Custodial
sentences
(January-December
1992)
Offences |Persons convicted|Non-custodial |Young offenders |Less than 5 years|5 years and less |7 years and less |10 years and less|15 years and less|20 years and over|Detained S.O.S. |Life
|sentence |centre/training |than 7 years |than 10 years |than 15 years |than 20 years
|school
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murder |7 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |7
Aiding and abetting murder |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3
Attempted murder |7 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |1 |3 |0 |0
Conspiracy to murder |9 |0 |0 |1 |0 |1 |2 |2 |3 |0 |0
Assault<1> |3 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm |8 |7 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent |18 |2 |5 |1 |3 |5 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0
Wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Kidnapping and false imprisonment |4 |1 |0 |0 |1 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Arson |12 |8 |1 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Petrol bomb offences |7 |6 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Hijacking |19 |8 |4 |5 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Robbery |120 |34 |21 |33 |16 |8 |8 |0 |0 |0 |0
Burglary (aggravated) |10 |4 |2 |2 |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0
Blackmail |2 |0 |0 |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Impeding apprehension |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Membership |4 |4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possessing items for terrorist purposes |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Causing a bomb hoax |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Withholding information |4 |3 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Recording information |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of information useful to terrorists |8 |3 |0 |2 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Making property available |13 |5 |0 |5 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Withholding information about an arrestable offence |18 |17 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Carrying firearm with intent |3 |1 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances |6 |5 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of firearm with intent |27 |6 |2 |7 |3 |4 |3 |1 |1 |0 |0
Explosives offences |24 |2 |2 |0 |4 |5 |8 |2 |1 |0 |0
Intimidation |2 |0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Threats to kill |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Handling<1> |4 |1 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Theft<1> |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Breach of suspended sentence |1 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Making or receiving contributions |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |354 |131 |37 |73 |37 |26 |26 |6 |8 |0 |10
Notes:
1. Non-scheduled offences (<1>) are included in table 3 where a defendant and/or co-defendants were charged with scheduled offences, and where the charge was reduced' (e.g. from robbery to handling stolen goods), or where a defendant pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
2. Breach of suspended sentences are included where the orders were made on scheduled offences. They are also included where the breach of conditions for non-scheduled offences are heard along with other scheduled offences.
3. Where a person has been convicted of more than one offence, only that offence which received the longest sentence is recorded in the statistics.
Table 3
Convictions and sentences for scheduled offences tried on indictment at Belfast Crown Court
1992
Custodial
sentences
(January-December
1992)
Offences |Persons convicted|Non-custodial |Young offenders |Less than 5 years|5 years and less |7 years and less |10 years and less|15 years and less|20 years and over|Detained S.O.S. |Life
|sentence |centre/training |than 7 years |than 10 years |than 15 years |than 20 years
|school
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murder |7 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |7
Aiding and abetting murder |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3
Attempted murder |7 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |1 |3 |0 |0
Conspiracy to murder |9 |0 |0 |1 |0 |1 |2 |2 |3 |0 |0
Assault<1> |3 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm |8 |7 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent |18 |2 |5 |1 |3 |5 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0
Wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Kidnapping and false imprisonment |4 |1 |0 |0 |1 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Arson |12 |8 |1 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Petrol bomb offences |7 |6 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Hijacking |19 |8 |4 |5 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Robbery |120 |34 |21 |33 |16 |8 |8 |0 |0 |0 |0
Burglary (aggravated) |10 |4 |2 |2 |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0
Blackmail |2 |0 |0 |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Impeding apprehension |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Membership |4 |4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possessing items for terrorist purposes |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Causing a bomb hoax |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Withholding information |4 |3 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Recording information |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of information useful to terrorists |8 |3 |0 |2 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Making property available |13 |5 |0 |5 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Withholding information about an arrestable offence |18 |17 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Carrying firearm with intent |3 |1 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances |6 |5 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of firearm with intent |27 |6 |2 |7 |3 |4 |3 |1 |1 |0 |0
Explosives offences |24 |2 |2 |0 |4 |5 |8 |2 |1 |0 |0
Intimidation |2 |0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Threats to kill |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Handling<1> |4 |1 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Theft<1> |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Breach of suspended sentence |1 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Making or receiving contributions |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |354 |131 |37 |73 |37 |26 |26 |6 |8 |0 |10
Notes:
1. Non-scheduled offences (<1>) are included in table 3 where a defendant and/or co-defendants were charged with scheduled offences, and where the charge was reduced' (e.g. from robbery to handling stolen goods), or where a defendant pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
2. Breach of suspended sentences are included where the orders were made on scheduled offences. They are also included where the breach of conditions for non-scheduled offences are heard along with other scheduled offences.
3. Where a person has been convicted of more than one offence, only that offence which received the longest sentence is recorded in the statistics.
Table 3
Convictions and sentences for scheduled offences tried on indictment at Belfast Crown Court
1992
Custodial
sentences
(January-December
1992)
Offences |Persons convicted|Non-custodial |Young offenders |Less than 5 years|5 years and less |7 years and less |10 years and less|15 years and less|20 years and over|Detained S.O.S. |Life
|sentence |centre/training |than 7 years |than 10 years |than 15 years |than 20 years
|school
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murder |7 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |7
Aiding and abetting murder |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3
Attempted murder |7 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |1 |3 |0 |0
Conspiracy to murder |9 |0 |0 |1 |0 |1 |2 |2 |3 |0 |0
Assault<1> |3 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm |8 |7 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent |18 |2 |5 |1 |3 |5 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0
Wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Kidnapping and false imprisonment |4 |1 |0 |0 |1 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Arson |12 |8 |1 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Petrol bomb offences |7 |6 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Hijacking |19 |8 |4 |5 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Robbery |120 |34 |21 |33 |16 |8 |8 |0 |0 |0 |0
Burglary (aggravated) |10 |4 |2 |2 |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0
Blackmail |2 |0 |0 |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Impeding apprehension |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Membership |4 |4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possessing items for terrorist purposes |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Causing a bomb hoax |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Withholding information |4 |3 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Recording information |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of information useful to terrorists |8 |3 |0 |2 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Making property available |13 |5 |0 |5 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Withholding information about an arrestable offence |18 |17 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Carrying firearm with intent |3 |1 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances |6 |5 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of firearm with intent |27 |6 |2 |7 |3 |4 |3 |1 |1 |0 |0
Explosives offences |24 |2 |2 |0 |4 |5 |8 |2 |1 |0 |0
Intimidation |2 |0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Threats to kill |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Handling<1> |4 |1 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Theft<1> |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Breach of suspended sentence |1 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Making or receiving contributions |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |354 |131 |37 |73 |37 |26 |26 |6 |8 |0 |10
Notes:
1. Non-scheduled offences (<1>) are included in table 3 where a defendant and/or co-defendants were charged with scheduled offences, and where the charge was reduced' (e.g. from robbery to handling stolen goods), or where a defendant pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
2. Breach of suspended sentences are included where the orders were made on scheduled offences. They are also included where the breach of conditions for non-scheduled offences are heard along with other scheduled offences.
3. Where a person has been convicted of more than one offence, only that offence which received the longest sentence is recorded in the statistics.
Column 357
Table 3
Convictions and sentences for scheduled offences tried on indictment at Belfast Crown Court
1992
Custodial
sentences
(January-December
1992)
Offences |Persons convicted|Non-custodial |Young offenders |Less than 5 years|5 years and less |7 years and less |10 years and less|15 years and less|20 years and over|Detained S.O.S. |Life
|sentence |centre/training |than 7 years |than 10 years |than 15 years |than 20 years
|school
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murder |7 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |7
Aiding and abetting murder |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3
Attempted murder |7 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |1 |3 |0 |0
Conspiracy to murder |9 |0 |0 |1 |0 |1 |2 |2 |3 |0 |0
Assault<1> |3 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm |8 |7 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent |18 |2 |5 |1 |3 |5 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0
Wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Kidnapping and false imprisonment |4 |1 |0 |0 |1 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Arson |12 |8 |1 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Petrol bomb offences |7 |6 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Hijacking |19 |8 |4 |5 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Robbery |120 |34 |21 |33 |16 |8 |8 |0 |0 |0 |0
Burglary (aggravated) |10 |4 |2 |2 |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0
Blackmail |2 |0 |0 |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Impeding apprehension |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Membership |4 |4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possessing items for terrorist purposes |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Causing a bomb hoax |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Withholding information |4 |3 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Recording information |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of information useful to terrorists |8 |3 |0 |2 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Making property available |13 |5 |0 |5 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Withholding information about an arrestable offence |18 |17 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Carrying firearm with intent |3 |1 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances |6 |5 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Possession of firearm with intent |27 |6 |2 |7 |3 |4 |3 |1 |1 |0 |0
Explosives offences |24 |2 |2 |0 |4 |5 |8 |2 |1 |0 |0
Intimidation |2 |0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Threats to kill |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Handling<1> |4 |1 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Theft<1> |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Breach of suspended sentence |1 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Making or receiving contributions |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |354 |131 |37 |73 |37 |26 |26 |6 |8 |0 |10
Notes:
1. Non-scheduled offences (<1>) are included in table 3 where a defendant and/or co-defendants were charged with scheduled offences, and where the charge was reduced' (e.g. from robbery to handling stolen goods), or where a defendant pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
2. Breach of suspended sentences are included where the orders were made on scheduled offences. They are also included where the breach of conditions for non-scheduled offences are heard along with other scheduled offences.
3. Where a person has been convicted of more than one offence, only that offence which received the longest sentence is recorded in the statistics.
Authorised Investigators
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the statutory code of practice in respect of authorised investigators to come into operation.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : Yesterday I laid before Parliament the draft code of practice in connection with the exercise by authorised investigators of the powers conferred by schedule 5 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991, as I am required to do by paragraph 7(3) of that schedule. I intend also to make an Order which will bring the code into operation from midnight on 31 December 1993. This short delay is to enable authorised investigators and those who may have to advise persons to be interviewed by them to acquaint themselves with the provisions of the draft code before it comes into operation.
The draft code provides guidance to authorised investigators on how they should exercise their powers and contains a number of valuable stafeguards for those who may be interviewed by them.
Column 360
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Chamber (Live Feed)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list all those organisations and individuals (a) within and (b) outside the precincts of the Palace of Westminster who currently receive the live feed from the Chamber of the House of Commons.
Mr. Newton : Within the Palace of Westminster and its outbuildings, the following organisations or individuals receive a clean television feed from the Chamber : Madam Speaker ; the Speaker's Secretary ; the Chairman of Ways and Means ; the Prime Minister ; the Leader of the Opposition ; the Leader of the House ; the shadow Leader of the House ; the Leader of the Liberal Democrats ; the Whips Offices of the Government, the Official Opposition and the Liberal Democrats ; the Supervisor of Parliamentary Broadcasting ; and the Press Gallery, within which some individual broadcasters have made their own separate arrangements.
In addition, the Votes and Proceedings Office and the Committee Office at No. 7 Millbank receive a clean sound feed. The Editor and Deputy Editor of the Official Report enjoy a similar facility, as does the Hansard training division at No. 7 Millbank.
Column 361
Outside the House, a number of Government Departments have arranged through the Central Office of Information to take a clean television feed. In addition, all the main broadcasters within the United Kingdom--the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and BSkyB--are entitled under the terms of the first report of Session 1988-89 of the Select Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House to receive the cle has access to a live feed for the production of still photographs, for which purpose it has been licensed by Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit Ltd., PARBUL.There are a further 25 organisations, mainly in broadcasting or the press, which are already authorised to take a clean sound feed and which on the basis of a policy decision by the Select Committee, are also entitled, without the need to seek separate permission, to take a clean television feed if they wish. I understand that very few of these organisations have in fact exercised their right to receive the television feed, although precise information about their identity is not readily available since, as indicated, they do not need the approval of the Select Committee to do so. The full list of 25 is as follows :
British Forces Broadcasting Service
Manx Radio
South Africa Broadcasting Corporation
National Public Radio (USA)
Radio stations affiliated to the National Association of Hospital Broadcasting Organisations
Scandinavian Broadcasting (Danish (DR), Finnish (YLE), Norwegian and Swedish radio and television)
Voice of America
Falkland Islands Broadcasting
Associated Press Ltd.
IBS News Ltd.
Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Basildon
London Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (who are authorised to supply the feed to national newspapers)
Israel Broadcasting Authority
Norddeutscher Rundfunk Hamburg
Westdeutscher Rundfunk Ko"ln
Deutsche Welle, Ko"ln
Wall Street Journal London Bureau
Reuters Ltd.
Sound Productions (Overseas Promotions) Ltd.
TV Asahi
Christian Science Monitor
Tolerate Europe/Gulf
Bank of England
New York Times London Bureau
The supply of a clean sound feed has also been authorised to BBC Audiocall, TIM Ltd. and IRN for the purpose of providing a premium rate live telephone relay of proceedings.
Sittings of the House
Mr. Allen : To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress he has made in preparing proposals for the House on the hours of sitting arising from the report from the Select Committee on Sittings of the House.
Mr. Newton : I have met the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) since the House reassembled to consider how best we might make further progress in taking forward the proposals from the report.
Column 362
EC Visits
Mr. Allen : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members used the new facility in the last financial year to visit Brussels or Strasbourg on parliamentary business.
Mr. Newton : During the financial year ended 31 March 1993, a total of 88 Members claimed expenses under the terms of the Resolution of the House of 6 December 1991, in respect of visits to European Community institutions.
Sixty-one Members claimed for a visit to Brussels, 26 for a visit to Strasbourg and one for a visit to Luxembourg.
Members' Rooms
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how many hon. Members have single rooms (a) in total and (b) by party.
Mr. Ray Powell : Four hundred and forty-five hon. Members have single rooms as follows : 243 Conservatives, 185 Labour, 10 Liberal Democrats, 2 Scottish National party, 2 Ulster Unionist party, 2 Plaid Cymru, 1 Ulster Popular Unionist party. These figures include office holders' rooms.
Receptions
Mr. Illsley : To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee how many receptions have taken place at the House sponsored by (a) Conservative hon. Members and (b) hon. Members of other parties since 9 April 1992 ; and for what organisations in each case.
Mr. Colin Shepherd : It is not the practice to disclose details of bookings made by Members.
Catering Facilities
Mr. Cox : To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley), of 22 October, Official Report , columns 347-8, if he will seek to arrange for the impending review of private dining facilities to consider a requirement that hon. Members sponsoring functions in the House should confirm to the Director of Catering Services that they have checked the bona fides of any organisation for which they have agreed to sponsor a function.
Mr. Colin Shepherd : The impending review of private dining facilities will include consideration of the existing regulations.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Gambling
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the revenues raised from, and the total turnover of, gambling and gaming, including pools, gaming machines, bingo, casinos, on- course betting, off-course betting and lotteries in each year since 1989 ; and what is his Department's analysis of the changes in these statistics.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Information relating to the revenue raised from betting and gaming is contained in tables J1-J3 of the annual reports of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, copies of which are in the Library.
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Reliable information on total turnover from the various forms of betting and gaming is not collected centrally.Prisoners
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 27 October, Official Report, column 640, if he will break down into categories the 51 per cent. of all prisoners in Britain not convicted of violence against the person, robbery or for a sexual offence.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. Lewis to Mr. David Alton, dated November 1993 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question pursuant to my Answer of 27 October, asking for a breakdown into categories of the 51 per cent. of all prisoners convicted of non-violent offences i.e. offences other than violence against the person, robbery or sexual offences.
The information you have requested is given in the attached table.
Population<1> held in Prison Service establishments in
England and Wales under sentence on 30 June 1993
Offence Group |Percentage of the
|sentenced prison
|population
-------------------------------------------------------------
Burglary |16
Theft and handling |10
Fraud and forgery |3
Drugs |11
Other offences |11
All non-violent offences |51
<1> Provisional figures. Excludes those committed in default
of payment of a fine and those for whom no offence is
recorded.
Overseas Domestic Servants
Mr. Spellar : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures Her Majesty's Government are proposing in order to prevent abuse and exploitation of domestic servants from overseas.
Mr. Charles Wardle : We introduced in May 1991 tighter controls on the arrangements whereby in certain circumstances domestic servants from abroad may accompany their employer to the United Kingdom. These arrangements are kept under review but there are no plans at present to introduce further measures.
British Summer Time
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of British summer time.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We expect to bring our consideration of policy on future summer time arrangements to a conclusion soon. We shall take into account the possible outcomes of negotiations on the recent draft 7th EC directive on the start and end dates of summer time, including its proposal that from 1997 all member states should adopt the October end date currently used in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
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Police Cautions
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cautions were issued each year since 1990 in the Peterlee sub-division.
Mr. Maclean : Information collected centrally shows only the police force area in which a caution is given. The table gives cautioning data for the Durham constabulary for 1990 to 1992--which is provisional. 1993 information will not be available until autumn 1994.
Number of offenders cautioned in Durham police force area by type of offence 1990, 1991 and
1992<1>
Type of offence |1990 |1991 |<1>1992
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indictable |1,235 |1,152 |1,377
Summary (excluding motoring) |766 |704 |688
|------- |------- |-------
Total |2,001 |1,856 |2,065
<1> Provisional.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what additional resources will be made available to the police service as a whole, and for each police force area, to implement the draft circular on cautioning ;
(2) how many additional police officers he estimates will be needed to implement the draft circular on cautioning ;
(3) what additional resources will be made available to the Crown Prosecution Service to implement the draft circular on cautioning ; (4) what will be the cost to the legal aid budget of the draft circular on cautioning ;
(5) what is his estimate of the additional workload for the Crown Prosecution Service of his draft circular on cautioning ; (6) what is his estimate of the additional workload for the police service as a whole, and for each police force, of his draft circular on cautioning ;
(7) how many extra staff he estimates will be needed by the Crown Prosecution Service to implement the draft circular on cautioning.
Mr. Maclean : The resource implications of the new draft guidance are still being examined while consultation is in progress, but since it is not expected to do more than return the number of cautions to the level that was current in 1991, I do not expect significant additional resources to be required.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his estimate of the impact on the average length of time from charge or summons to completion of a case in the youth court of his announcement on cautioning ;
(2) what is his estimate of the number of additional prosecutions which will result from his draft guidance on cautioning ; (3) what is his estimate of the impact on the average length of time from first appearance of a case in a youth court to completion of his announcement on cautioning ;
(4) what is his estimate of the number of additional cases that will be dealt with (a) in the youth court, (b) in magistrates courts and (c) in the Crown court as a result of his draft circular on cautioning.
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