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Written Answers
Wednesday, 25 February 2004.
Police Service of Northern Ireland: Relevant Non-conviction Information
Baroness Blood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On how many occasions the Police Service of Northern Ireland disclosed relevant non-conviction information following a Pre-Employment Consultancy Service check in each of the years 2001, 2002 and 2003.[HL1182]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): The Chief Constable has informed me that relevant non-conviction information was supplied to the Pre-Employment Consultancy Service on approximately three occasions in 2001, three occasions in 2002 and four occasions in 2003.
(NB. This does not include other checks which the PSNI conducts including those for the education boards).
Baroness Blood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether all relevant non-conviction information relating to the protection of children has been back-recorded to the Police Service of Northern Ireland Integrated Criminal Intelligence System.[HL1184]
Baroness Amos: The Chief Constable has informed me that relevant non-conviction information has been analysed on a daily basis since January 1999 and where appropriate, it has been recorded on the Police Service of Northern Ireland Integrated Criminal Intelligence System.
Poultry Imports
Lord Rotherwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any poultry products from countries from which imports are banned have been seized in the United Kingdom over the last four months.[HL1317]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Imports of poultry products from all countries outside the EU were prohibited with effect from 1 January 2003 apart from (a) commercial consignments which are from those countries which have establishments approved to export poultry to the EU and which are introduced to the United Kingdom via a border inspection post, and (b) small quantities for personal consumption which may be imported from a limited number of the European countries that are not members of the EU.
With effect from 23 January 2004, imports of all poultry products from Thailand were prohibited in the light of the outbreak of avian influenza (A) as this was a country from which imports were previously allowed from approved establishments.
The information requested is not available, as HM Customs and Excise central seizure records do not require poultry products to be identified separately from other white meats.
Government Information Technology Projects
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the eight most common causes of failure in respect of government information technology projects referred to recently by Peter Gershon, head of the Office of Government Commerce; and [HL1347]
What specific responsibilities Ministers have in the form of recently introduced mandatory checklist, to avoid failure of "mission-critical" information technology projects. [HL1348]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The information requested is listed in the Centre of Excellence Information Pack v3.0 on the OGC website http://www.ogc.gov.uk.
Railway Rolling Stock
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In the light of allegations of oligopoly pricing in the provision of rolling stock to the railway industry, whether they will consider leasing outside the present three rolling stock companies.[HL1355]
Lord Davies of Oldham: There is no legal or structural requirement for train operating companies to acquire their rolling stock through one of the rolling stock companies.
Museums: Funding
Lord Harrison asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their response to the Goodison report: Securing the best for our Museums: Private giving and Government support.[HL1362]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government will carefully consider Sir Nicholas Goodison's recommendations ahead of Budget 2004 and as part of the 2004 spending review.
Constitutional Reform
Lord Strathclyde asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Statement which the Lord Chancellor made on 26 January (HL Deb, col. 12) on constitutional reform and judicial independence
- reflects a compromise negotiated between Privy Counsellors on Privy Council terms and binding in honour on all those who gave it their assent; and whether it will be subject to alteration by Parliament if circumstances change.[HL1003]
The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The Statement reflects proposals on constitutional reform agreed between the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and myself. Its purpose was to inform Parliament of the agreed proposed transfers and the rationale for the decisions, and provide an opportunity for debate and comments which will be considered before any final proposals are put forward in legislation. It will be for Parliament to consider that legislation.
Fire and Rescue Authorities: Risk Management Plans
Lord Howie of Troon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the national 1985 standards of fire cover will be withdrawn and replaced by fire cover arrangements based upon individual integrated risk management plans drawn up by the fire authorities in England and Wales; and who will be responsible for ensuring that the new fire cover arrangements are as efficient and effective as the 1985 standards.[HL1369]
The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker): The recommended standards of fire cover will be superseded from 1 April 2004 when fire and rescue authorities implement their first agreed integrated risk management plans. These plans will detail locally determined response standards on the basis of authorities' assessment of risks to the community.
Fire and rescue authorities have responsibility for making provision for fire fighting purposes to efficiently meet all normal requirements.
The Audit Commission will be responsible for assessing performance and will introduce a new inspection regime for the Fire and Rescue Service in co-operation with the Fire Service Inspectorate.
Computer Hackers: Sentencing
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they respond to the call from Len Hynds of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit for reform of sentencing policy in respect of hackers breaking into computer systems.[HL1346]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): We believe that the current sentencing framework provides the courts with the flexibility to pass robust and appropriate sentences that reflect the full range of circumstances in each case.
Changes will however be made to Section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to increase the penalty threshold, to allow for the effective punishment of all acts undertaken by hackers and others in committing this offence. This and other changes to the Act will be bought forward when parliamentary time allows.
Terrorist Offences: Arrests
Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many of those arrested in November and December 2003 on suspicion of terrorist offences had at some point applied for asylum in the United Kingdom.[HL1392]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A total of 43 people were arrested in November and December 2003 on suspicion of terrorist offences. Of these, 12 have been positively identified as current or former asylum seekers.
Afghan Hijackers: Immigration Status
Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many of the Afghans who landed at Stansted Airport in February 2000 in a hijacked aircraft are still in Britain; and what their immigration status is now.[HL1393]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Of the 170 people on the hijacked plane, 89 have returned (voluntarily) to Afghanistan and 22, including 13 dependants, have been granted asylum.
The remaining 59 are still in the UK, most pending completion of appeals or legal processes of one kind or another. Of this 59, the accused hijackers and their families comprise 34 people. Nine of the hijackers were convicted and imprisoned until recently. In the case of these nine hijackers their convictions have now been oveturned by the Court of Appeal. Action will be taken to remove them once it is clear that there is no legal or other barrier to their removal.
Midwifery Students
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many student midwives there were in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available; and for each of those academic years:
(a) how many student midwives were in receipt of a bursary; and
(b) what was the total cost to public funds of bursaries to student midwives.[HL1129]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): Information on the whole-time equivalent pre-registration midwifery student population in each year since 1998–99, the first available year, and the available information on the number and cost of bursaries to midwifery students are shown in the tables.
Notes:
(1) Extrapolated from existing data that are unreliable due to boundary changes.
(2) Planned and subject to change.
Source:
Finance and Workforce Information Returns.
1. Due to the phased take-up of Midwifery students, Student Grants Unit (SGU) are only able to provide comparable data for academic years 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04. (Prior to academic year 2001–02 the administation of NHS Bursaries was the joint responsibility of SGU and the Higher Education Institutions).
2. Figures for 2003–04 relate only for the 5 month period September 2003 to January 2004 only, so do not include a cohort of students.
3. Figures do not include the shortened 2nd registration programme (who need to be a registered nurse to undertake the programme) or midwives on secondment as these would not attract a bursary.
Diploma Degree
1998–99 1,283 642
1999–2000 1,498 738
2000–01 1,537 957
2001–02(1) 1,611 1,225
2002–03(2) 1,632 1,579
2003–04(2) 2,059 2,045
2001–02 2002–03 2003–04
Degree Diploma Total Degree Diploma Total Degree Diploma Total
Number of Students 1,397 1,348 2,745 1,647 1,515 3,162 1,785 1,581 3,366
Amount Awarded £5,085,620 £7,740,142 £12,825,762 £6,532,824 £9,040,312 £15,573,136 £7,478,963 £9,937,008 £17,415,970
Amount Paid £5,034,305 £7,504,971 £12,539,276 £6,418,088 £8,394,751 £14,812,839 £3,108,505 £4,118,150 £7,226,655
Average Award £3,640 £5,742 £4,672 £3,966 £5,967 £4,925 £4,190 £6,285 £5,174
Average Paid £3,604 £5,567 £4,568 £3,897 £5,541 £4,685 £1,741 £2,605 £2,147
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