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Laboratory Animals
Mr. Mellor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 with particular reference to its proposals for (a) reductions in the number of animals used in laboratories and (b) a reduction in the suffering of laboratory animals. [12820]
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Mr. Sackville:
The animal procedures committee will review the working of the Act and offer advice to my right hon. and learned Friend. I expect that the review will consider the impact the Act has had both on the number of animals used in scientific procedures and on the extent of animal suffering.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the ages at which people may play on AWP machines in different categories of establishment; what representations he has received for standardisation of age; and if he will make a statement. [12852]
Mr. Kirkhope:
The playing of amusement-with-prizes machines in current use is not subject to any statutory age restriction. Amusement arcade operators who are members of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association--BACTA--operate a voluntary police whereby persons under 16 are not allowed in inland arcades and local school children of any age are not allowed in seaside arcades during school hours.
The Government have received representations from the amusement arcades action group. United Kingdom forum on young people and gambling and Dr. Sue Fisher at the university of Plymouth that all AWP machines should be subject to a statutory age limit of 18; and from the National Council on Gambling that all AWP machines should be confined to adult premises.
The draft Deregulation (Gaming Machines and Betting Office Facilities) Order provides for a machine with a £10 cash prize. Persons under 18 would not be allowed access to these machines in arcades. The machines would also be permitted in betting shops, where there is a statutory prohibition on access by persons under 18, and in liquor licensed premises and licensed bingo clubs, which are essentially adult environments.
Ms Jowell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women's prisons do not currently meet (a) fire compliance standards and (b) statutory and safety standards; and how much must be spent to bring each prison into compliance with those standards. [11494]
Miss Widdecombe
[holding answer 31 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 2 February 1996:
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Mr. Alex Carlile:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimate of the number of people involved in the illegal drugs market in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [12726]
Mr. Sackville
[holding answer 1 February 1996]: Since drug dealing is an illegal and, therefore, clandestine activity it is not possible to produce a reliable estimate of the number of people involved.
The number of offenders found guilty, cautioned or dealt with by compounding for drug offences is contained in table 1.1 of "Statistics of Drugs Seizures and Offenders Dealt with, United Kingdom, 1994", a copy of which is in the Library.
Mr. Madden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons Paul Norney was not informed that he was required to appear before the Parole Board when his parole was last considered; for what reasons he was not asked to appear before the Parole Board in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland; when his parole is to be considered; and if he will make a statement. [12949]
(3) what factors led the Parole Board to require Stephen Nordone, Noel Gibson and Sean Kinsella to remain in Britain for three months after their release; and if he will make a statement. [12952]
Miss Widdecombe
[holding answer 1 February 1996]: These matters are the responsibility of the Parole Board. I have asked the chairman of the Parole Board to write to the hon. Member and I will place a copy of his reply in the Library.
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Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the helplines, or schemes which include a helpline service, for which his Department provides any funding, stating which are (a) independent organisations, (b) run by his Department or agencies of
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his Department or (c) of another classification; however many calls each received in each of the last five years; and how much money each received from his Department in each of the last five years. [9800]
Mr. Horam
[pursuant to his reply, 22 January 1996 c.13-14]: I regret that there was an error in the table provided. A correct version is now listed.
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The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many womens' prisons do not currently meet (a) fire compliance standards and (b) statutory and safety standards; and how much must be spent to bring each prison into compliance with those standards.
All prisons are subject to statutory standards set by the Fire Precautions Act 1971, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Food Safety Act 1990. These Acts are enforced by the Crown Premises Inspection Group of HM Fire Service Inspectorate, the Health and Safety Executive and local authority environmental health departments.
Inspectors have the authority to inspect and issue Crown Improvement and Prohibition Notices should any failures be discovered which are deemed to be a risk to health, safety or hygiene. No such notices have been served on a women's prison within the last three years.
In addition, all prisons are inspected by the Fire Safety Section of the Prison Service and the Home Office Health and Safety Services. Reports of the visits are sent to the governors and area managers concerned, who are required to deal promptly with any shortcomings discovered.
All female prisons, except Drake Hall, have had a full fire inspection within the last three years. Recommendations for improvements were made at each establishment. Drake Hall has been visited during its rebuilding programme and recommendations have been incorporated into all the living accommodation.
During the last two years, all the female prisons have been visited by the Home Office Health and Safety Service. In some cases minor faults were discovered in the fabric of the buildings, but in the majority of cases improvements to management systems were needed.
The cost of making improvements to the fabric of a prison is normally contained within the prisons maintenance budgets and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
(2) what factors led to Brendan Bond being refused parole by the Parole Board; and if he will make a statement. [12951]
| Description | Run by | Number of calls | Cost £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Donor Line | Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health | 78,516 (April-December 1995) | 33,074 |
| Drinkline | Drinkline (non-profit making limited company) | 44,000 (October 1993-January 1996) | 516,000 (DH funding for 1993-94--1995-96) |
| Health Information Service | NHS--regionally provided service | 920,136 (April 1992-December 1995) | 7,772,745 (April 1992-March 1996 Includes all costs associated with establishing the service and in initially publicising its availability) |
| Health Literature Line (including the Organ Donor Line) | Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health | 255,885 (April-December 1995) | 108,026 |
| National AIDS Helpline and National Drugs Helpline | Network Scotland Ltd. (independent company contracted by the Department of Health) | 386,953 (April-December 1995) | 1,569,000 (estimated total 1995-96 cost) |
| National AIDS Helpline | Broadcasting Support Services and Network Scotland (contracted by the Department of Health) | 4,200,514 (January 1990-December 1994) | 6,038,000 |
| Sexwise Helpline | Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health | 784,016 (April-December 1995) | 366,854 |
| Committee Safety Medicines Freephone | Medicines Control Agency | 1,977 (January 1994-December 1995) | 7,510 (calls costs only) |
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