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Tariffs
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the tariffs for (a) Eddie Butler, (b) Hugh Doherty, (c) Harry Duggan and (d) Ire O'Connell. [25479]
Ms Quin: Following careful consideration of all the facts, and the representations made on behalf of Joseph O'Connell in December 1997, whole life tariffs have been set for these four mandatory life sentence prisoners. The decisions and the reasons for them were disclosed to the men on 30 January.
Asylum Seekers (Algeria)
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were received from Algerian nationals in each month since October; and, of these, how many have had their applications (a) granted, (b) refused but been allowed to remain and (c) refused and been removed from Britain. [27438]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The information requested is given in the following table.
4 Feb 1998 : Column: 721
| Applications for asylum | Grants of asylum | Grants of exceptional leave to remain | Refused asylum and exceptional leave to remain | Removals and voluntary departures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 1997 | 85 | 30 | -- | 10 | 10 |
| November 1997 | 65 | 5 | 5 | 15 | * |
| December 1997 | 105 | 20 | -- | 15 | 5 |
| Total | 255 | 55 | 5 | 40 | 15 |
(12) Information of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
(13) Applications and decisions on asylum applications may not relate to the same cases within each period.
(14) Figures rounded to the nearest five with *=1 or 2.
(15) All figures are provisional.
4 Feb 1998 : Column: 721
Crime (Rural Areas)
Mr. Pond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on trends in crime in rural areas; and what measures the Government are taking to tackle crime in rural areas. [27120]
Mr. Michael: According to the most recent research--the 1996 British Crime Survey--rural communities are at considerably less risk of burglary, vehicle-related theft, vandalism and contact crime. 3.9 per cent. of homes in rural areas were burgled in 1995 compared to 6.3 per cent. in urban areas and 10.3 per cent. in inner cities. In addition, there is less fear of crime. 15.2 per cent. said they were worried about being burgled, compared with 23 per cent. living in urban areas and 32 per cent. living in inner cities. Despite their older age profile, those surveyed said they felt safer on their local streets. 23 per cent. said they felt fairly or very unsafe walking alone after dark, compared to 33 per cent. in urban areas and 45 per cent. of inner city dwellers.
We recognise that rural areas can suffer the twin problems of a less obvious police presence and longer response times to emergency calls. The most effective way to deal with rural crime is for the police and local community to work together in partnership.
4 Feb 1998 : Column: 722
The Crime and Disorder Bill will provide for new statutory duties for local authorities and the police to create an effective results-orientated framework for local action to tackle local problems. The nature of these problems will vary significantly from one area to another, and it is the Government's intention to allow maximum flexibility to reflect this. Rural areas, in common with urban and inner city areas, will benefit from this approach.
Mr. Fitzpatrick:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will release the report of the investigation compiled as a result of the Operation Countryman exercise. [26749]
Mr. Michael:
Operation Countryman was an investigation into allegations of corruption, made in 1978, against officers in the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police. The investigating officer was from Dorset Constabulary. Investigating officers' reports are as a class regarded by the courts as subject to public interest immunity. Separately, we are considering issues of discipline in the light of the recent report by the Home Affairs Select Committee.