House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Nov 1996 (pt 2)

Sri Lanka

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of grant aid to Sri Lanka. [4303]

Dr. Liam Fox: We expect to spend nearly £8 million this financial year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Immigration Rules

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prohibited from entering the United Kingdom under paragraph 320 of the immigration rules in each year since 1979; and on what grounds. [3684]

Mr. Kirkhope: The statistics available on reasons for refusal relate only to passengers refused and removed at ports in the United Kingdom since 1988. Those reasons for refusal which are wholly or partly linked to paragraph 320 of the rules are given in the table. Corresponding information for earlier years and for entry clearance refusals is not available.

19 Nov 1996 : Column: 463

Passengers refused leave to enter and removed at United Kingdom ports for selected reasons for refusal

Main reason for refusal (as recorded in the statistics) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 (2)1993 (2)1994 (2)1995

Transit passenger--not satisfied able and intending to proceed at once to another country, and assured of entry there 679 698 528 884 1,474 1,293 962 941

Lack of returnability or inadequate entry facilities for country of ultimate destination--not allowed to proceed in transit 29 24 41 31 42 74 24 22

Work permit obtained by deception, or holder of forged, falsified or stolen permit 3 3 9 10 1 6 5 8

Medically undesirable 104 86 26 21 9 2 7 4

Convicted of extradition crime 79 74 83 51 40 22 12 8

Subject of deportation order 49 37 34 28 24 23 21 25

Exclusion conducive to the public good 243 393 631 888 808 886 269 241

No passport or acceptable identity document 415 463 621 732 817 1,068 1,789 1,584

Spurious passport and not qualified for entry 486 408 447 542 386 323 461 256

Lack of UK visa (other than for settlement)(1) 3,090 3,151 3,889 3,921 2,149 1,885 1,636 1,977

Claiming admission as returning resident but not qualified 54 57 55 59 40 31 37 21

Main reason for refusal (as recorded in the statistics)	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	(2)1993	(2)1994	(2)1995
Transit passenger--not satisfied able and intending to proceed at once to another country, and assured of entry there	679	698	528	884	1,474	1,293	962	941
Lack of returnability or inadequate entry facilities for country of ultimate destination--not allowed to proceed in transit	29	24	41	31	42	74	24	22
Work permit obtained by deception, or holder of forged, falsified or stolen permit	3	3	9	10	1	6	5	8
Medically undesirable	104	86	26	21	9	2	7	4
Convicted of extradition crime	79	74	83	51	40	22	12	8
Subject of deportation order	49	37	34	28	24	23	21	25
Exclusion conducive to the public good	243	393	631	888	808	886	269	241
No passport or acceptable identity document	415	463	621	732	817	1,068	1,789	1,584
Spurious passport and not qualified for entry	486	408	447	542	386	323	461	256
Lack of UK visa (other than for settlement)(1)	3,090	3,151	3,889	3,921	2,149	1,885	1,636	1,977
Claiming admission as returning resident but not qualified	54	57	55	59	40	31	37	21

(1) Including visa set aside on grounds of misrepresentation, forgery, failure to disclose facts or where a change of circumstances has removed the right of admission.

(2) Data are incomplete.

19 Nov 1996 : Column: 465

Battersea Fire Station

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will accept the decision of the London fire and civil defence authority not to retain a second fire appliance at Battersea fire station. [3976]

Mr. Sackville: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Lady O. Maitland) on 16 October 1996, Official Report, column 1008. I understand from the authority that no such decision has been taken.

Violent Videos

Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies have been (i) carried out and (ii) commissioned by his Department into the effectiveness of the enforcement of the current law on the availability of violent videos to children. [4464]

Mr. Sackville: We are aware of no studies directed specifically at the effectiveness of the enforcement of the current law on the availability of violent videos to children. However, last year my right hon. and learned Friend commissioned research by the university of Birmingham into the effects of videos on the behaviour of young offenders. The results of the research are expected to be published in October 1997.

Earlier this month, in view of the considerable public concern about the level of violence portrayed in videos, my right hon. and learned Friend asked the British Board of Film Classification for a report on the action the board is taking now to reduce the level of violence in videos; the steps it is taking to assess the level of public concern over the issue of violence in videos; and how, for the future, the board plans to adapt its processes and approach to continue properly to discharge its duties under the Video Recordings Act 1984. The report is expected next month.

Fire Service

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the land area of each fire authority in England is designated as C and D risk. [4398]

19 Nov 1996 : Column: 466

Mr. Sackville: Information on fire risk category areas is published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. The latest available figures can be found on page 8 of "Fire Service Statistics 1996", a copy of which is in the Library.

Mr. Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firefighters have lost their lives since 1990 when attending building fires in designated C and D risk areas. [4397]

Mr. Sackville: From 1 January 1990 to 13 November 1996, eight firefighters have died in fires that started in buildings in designated C or D risk areas in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which fire authorities in England currently provide a level of service in excess of the Home Office's recommended minimum standards of fire cover. [4399]

Mr. Sackville: This information is not collected centrally in the form requested. Statutory responsibility for the provision of an efficient fire service rests with individual fire authorities. It is for the authority to decide whether it wishes to provide fire cover at a level above the national recommended standards.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total expenditure for the last financial year by his Department on defending cases of habeas corpus for asylum seekers held in custody. [4671]

Mr. Kirkhope: The information requested is not available.

Ethnic Minorities

Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about future arrangements for (a) section 11 funding in Birmingham, (b) pupil support projects in Birmingham and (c) its Home Office grant. [5004]

Mr. Kirkhope: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 13 November 1996, Official Report, column 242.

19 Nov 1996 : Column: 467

European Court of Justice

Sir Ivan Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of the European Court of Justice in future third pillar conventions; and what conclusions the Government have reached regarding the role of the court in relation to the conventions on the protection of the European Communities' financial interests and on the use of information technology for customs purposes. [5171]

Mr. Howard: The Government's policy on the role of the European Court of Justice in respect of conventions negotiated under the third pillar of the treaty on European Union is to consider each case on its merits. But we and our European Union partners recognised in agreeing to the protocol to the Europol convention that the best way forward in that case lay in a flexible formula under which member states could choose whether to make a declaration that they were prepared to accept the jurisdiction of the court to give preliminary rulings as to the interpretation of the convention on the basis of references by their national courts. As regards the role of the ECJ in the conventions on the protection of the European Communities' financial interests and on the use of information technology for customs purposes, the Government have concluded that they can agree to a flexible solution on similar lines to that in the Europol convention protocol.

Accordingly, we shall signal our agreement to the draft protocols for this purpose prepared by the Irish presidency, which would enable member states to make a declaration accepting ECJ jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings as to the interpretation of these conventions on the basis of references by national courts. We shall make it clear that it would not be the United Kingdom's intention to make such a declaration in respect of our own courts.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Refurbishment Costs

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, Official Report, column 220, if he will (a) set out the objectives and (b) estimate the total individual costs of (i) the second phase of the overhaul of carriage gates, (ii) the external painting and roof repairs at Norman Shaw North, (iii) the repairs carried out to the supporting structure of the Prince's Chamber ceiling, (iv) provision of improved storage in the Library cellars, (v) an improved sales counter at the Speaker's bookstall, (vi) the new pulpit on the main committee corridor and (vii) other projects. [4704]

Sir Raymond Powell: The policy objectives and forecast in-year costs relating to work in the House of Commons are as follows:

19 Nov 1996 : Column: 468

Project Objective In-year cost to the House £ In-year cost total £

(i) Second phase of overhaul of carriage gates I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 7 November 1996, Official Report, column 607.

(ii) External painting and roof repairs at Norman Shaw North To maintain the roof and exterior paintwork 175,000 175,000

(iii) The Prince's Chamber is administered by the House of Lords, for which I have no responsibility.

(iv) Provision of improved storage in the Library To provide improved storage and meet health and safety requirements 40,000 40,000

(v) Improved sales counter at Speaker's bookstall To improve facilities for Members and their visitors 16,000 16,000

(vi) New pulpit on main Committee Corridor To provide a more effective working area for staff and include access for IT facilities 16,200 27,000

(vii) Other projects My Committee's policy objective is to achieve exemplary standards of maintenance by carrying out appropriate conservation, maintenance and improvements having regard to health, safety, energy conservation, environmental issues and the historic fabric

Project	Objective	In-year cost to the House £	In-year cost total £
(i) Second phase of overhaul of carriage gates	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 7 November 1996, Official Report, column 607.
(ii) External painting and roof repairs at Norman Shaw North	To maintain the roof and exterior paintwork	175,000	175,000
(iii) The Prince's Chamber is administered by the House of Lords, for which I have no responsibility.
(iv) Provision of improved storage in the Library	To provide improved storage and meet health and safety requirements	40,000	40,000
(v) Improved sales counter at Speaker's bookstall	To improve facilities for Members and their visitors	16,000	16,000
(vi) New pulpit on main Committee Corridor	To provide a more effective working area for staff and include access for IT facilities	16,200	27,000
(vii) Other projects	My Committee's policy objective is to achieve exemplary standards of maintenance by carrying out appropriate conservation, maintenance and improvements having regard to health, safety, energy conservation, environmental issues and the historic fabric

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