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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 24 November 1999
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Crown Prosecution Service
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement regarding the Code for Crown Prosecutors. [99859]
The Solicitor-General: The Code for Crown Prosecutors is issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions as required by section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. It is an important public document. It sets out the fundamental principles to be applied by Crown Prosecutors when deciding whether or not an individual should be prosecuted and, if a prosecution is to follow, what charges should be preferred. By applying the Code casework, decisions can be made fairly, consistently and independently. The current edition of the Code was published in June 1994.
Sir Iain Glidewell's review of the Crown Prosecution Service recommended an amendment of the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The current edition of the Code at paragraph 6.2 reads in part:
The Crown Prosecution Service, with appropriate consultation, is to review the Code for Crown Prosecutors to take account of the Human Rights Act 1998. Formal amendment to the Code, in accordance with the Glidewell recommendation, will be made when the Code is reissued after this review.
Mr. Willetts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if households comprising pensioners
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aged over 75 years living with adults of below pension age will be eligible for the free television licence announced in the pre-Budget statement. [99396]
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for the development of children's radio. [99215]
Janet Anderson:
Decisions on programme content are for the broadcasters. However, Government policy is to ensure that both public service and independent broadcasters provide a range of high quality radio services which meet consumer needs. Under its Charter and Agreement, the BBC is committed to provide original programmes for children and young people as well as information, education and entertainment programmes which are of interest across the community. Similarly, it is open to independent radio licensees, regulated by the Radio Authority under the Broadcasting Acts, to offer programme formats which address the specific requirements of children and young people.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government's policy is regarding the introduction of admission charges at new national museums and galleries. [99172]
Mr. Alan Howarth
[holding answer 22 November 1999]: Decisions on admission charges at new branches of national museums are principally a matter for the Trustees of the institution concerned. The Government encourage free entry where that is appropriate and affordable.
Mr. Ian Stewart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which hospices have received National Lottery funding; and how many bids each of them had previously submitted for National Lottery funding. [99382]
Kate Hoey:
According to the latest information from the distributors, a total of 88 lottery awards have been made to 75 hospices across the United Kingdom. The 75 successful grant recipient organisations submitted a total of 143 applications between them. These grant awards were made by the National Lottery Charities Board and the Arts Council of England. Details of the successful grant recipient organisations are as follows:
"In cases of any seriousness, a prosecution will usually take place unless there are public interest factors tending against prosecution which clearly outweigh those tending in favour."
The Glidewell report concluded that the Code test should be applied in the same way to all cases, whatever their degree of seriousness. The report was concerned that the Code as drafted, if read literally, might incorrectly result in the Code being applied differently to cases which are not so serious. The Glidewell report therefore recommended that the words
"In cases of any seriousness"
be removed from the relevant paragraph.
That recommendation has been accepted. On 26 August, the Crown Prosecution Service issued to CPS staff a notice putting that recommendation into immediate effect.
(i) National Lottery Charities Board: 81 awards worth £20,000,893 (see attached details)
(ii) Arts Council of England
| £ | |
|---|---|
| North Northumberland Day Hospice | 5,000 |
| Wakefield Hospice | 4,540 |
| The Princess Alice Hospice | 2,250 |
| Beaumont House Hospice | 3,000 |
| St. Cuthbert's Hospice | 4,500 |
| Woodlands Hospice | 4,600 |
| Children's Hospice for the Eastern Region | 4,132 |
| Total | 28,022 |
None of the above seven successful organisations had previously applied for Lottery funding.
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Lottery funding for organisations which support Hospices
In addition, the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) and the Millennium Commission have each awarded one Lottery grant to organisations which support hospices. The ACW
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awarded a grant worth £5,000 to "Voices for the Hospice", and the Millennium Commission awarded £1,348,708 to "Help the Hospices Millennium Awards" scheme. The latter is a UK-wide scheme which will offer 400 Awards to develop and enhance the skills and abilities of both existing, and new, volunteers involved in any sphere of the Hospice movement.
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