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Air Guns
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for a public information campaign on the potential dangers posed by air guns. [51026]
Mr. Michael: Copies of a public information leaflet on air gun safety may be obtained from police firearms licensing departments or from the Home Office. We shall consider, in consultation with the police, shooting organisations and other interested bodies, whether this leaflet needs to be revised. We have no immediate plans for a further publicity campaign on this issue.
Most air gun shooters are responsible and law-abiding citizens, who pursue their hobby safely. Regrettably, a small minority of people misuse air guns. There are already laws to prevent air gun misuse and people breaking those laws can face severe penalties, including life imprisonment for the most serious offences.
Metropolitan Police
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Metropolitan Police has spent on the services of lobbying companies in (a) the last and (b) the current financial year; and which companies have been engaged. [51466]
Mr. Michael: The Commissioner tells me that the Metropolitan Police Service does not engage the services of lobbying companies, and has no plans to do so.
Crime (Care Homes)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the British Crime Survey excludes from their statistics crimes committed against people living in care homes; and if his Department has any plans to include such crimes in future. [51505]
Mr. Michael:
The British Crime Survey (BCS), conducted by the Home Office, is a survey of people living in private households in England and Wales. In its present format and structure, it would be impossible for it
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also to provide an adequate measure of offences committed against people who live in residential care homes without a major change to its format, structure and scope. A sample of care homes within the size of sample for BCS purposes would be too small to permit reliable analysis. For this reason we have concluded that it would require a specially designed survey. A feasibility study into a possible survey of communal establishments is being undertaken by Social Survey Division of the Office for National Statistics. As yet, no decision has been taken on the types of communal establishment this would cover, whether victimisation will be covered or the funding arrangements for such a survey.
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Comprehensive Spending Review, when he proposes to announce the details of the settlement for his Department. [51806]
Mr. Straw:
Tomorrow. At 3.30pm I will be publishing a research study entitled "Reducing offending: an assessment of research evidence on ways of dealing with offending behaviour", which will provide the evidential basis for my plans for tackling crime.
Llanllyfni Bypass
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what account his Department will take of the impact on the health and safety of local residents in determining whether to allow the Llanllyfni bypass to proceed. [50828]
Mr. Hain: The benefits of removing traffic from communities, and the resulting improvement in the safety and environment of local residents, is an integral part of the consideration of any road scheme, including the A487 Llanwnda to south of Llanllyfni improvement, which is currently subject to the Strategic Trunk Roads Review.
Food Sector
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his proposals for the development of the food sector in Wales. [51794]
Mr. Ron Davies: The markets for general agricultural products are competitive, and will become increasingly so. Wales needs premium products, which can command premium prices. We need much greater food processing in Wales, to add value to Wales's primary agricultural products. We need products with a strong brand image, and we must exploit as many niche markets as possible.
I have announced action today to develop industry-led action plans, setting clear priorities for the action that must be taken in the lamb and beef, dairy and organic sectors in the first instance.
As part of this, I am very concerned that work on promoting Welsh food, and work in supporting economic development in the food sector in Wales should go hand in hand. This is critical if there is to be coherent effective support for action by the industry. I have therefore decided to give the WDA a clear responsibility for supporting the development of the food industry in Wales.
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The WDA will work in close partnership with the Welsh Office Agriculture Department in facilitating the formulation of the industry-led action plans and it will lead in co-ordinating action in support of those plans. This new responsibility for the WDA will be a key part of the role that the new, all-Wales Agency will plan in promoting development in rural Wales. In giving the WDA this remit, I am endorsing the recommendations that the Welsh Affairs Committee, amongst others, have made to this effect.
In support of this, the Board of Welsh Food Promotions has agreed that work should transfer to the WDA at the start of October this year. WFP staff will be offered employment with the WDA, and the Company will subsequently be wound up. Our aim in this way is to sustain and build on WFP's achievements. I would like to pay particular thanks to Alun Evans, the Chairman of WFP, and his Board, for steering the Company through a difficult period.
Mr. Gareth Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when an appointment will be made to the post of Chairman of the new Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement. [51795]
Mr. Ron Davies:
I am very pleased to announce that Mr. David Rowe-Beddoe has accepted my offer of the post of Chairman of the new Agency following an open competition. This will take effect in the Autumn upon the merger of the WDA and the Development Board for Rural Wales (DBRW) and the Land Authority for Wales (LAW).
Mr. Rhodri Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the guidelines for determining the audit arrangements for trading subsidiaries of local authorities and the relevant definitions for not-for-profit companies financed in whole or in part by local authorities causing them to be regarded as (a) privately influenced and (b) public sector influenced. [51312]
Mr. Ron Davies:
The basic framework for classifying local authorities' interests in companies is set out in Part V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1985. Section 69 of the Act describes the circumstances which would lead to a company being one which is treated as "influenced" by a local authority.
The Local Authorities (Companies) Order 1995 (SI 1995 No. 849) includes requirements applicable to companies subject to the influence of local authorities within the meaning of the 1989 Act.
In March 1995, the Welsh Office issued an explanatory guide to local authorities' interests in companies. Paragraphs 10 and 11 of this guide provides general advice on private sector influenced companies and public sector influenced companies. The question of which category an influenced company falls into is one for local authorities to decide in conjunction with their auditors and legal advisers.
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Not all local authority trading subsidiaries are companies. Where such subsidiaries are not legally separate from the authority, auditors will be the same as that for the authority.
The Audit Commission is responsible for appointing auditors to local authorities in England and Wales. Appointed auditors should ensure that local authorities have complied with the provisions of the 1989 Act. This will include consideration of the classification of companies as well as other appropriate requirements. Auditors may also consider how local authorities have discharged their stewardship responsibilities in relation to transactions undertaken through the medium of a local authority company.
Audits of private sector or public sector influenced companies must be carried out by auditors registered under the Companies Acts, although the authority's auditor may seek assurance as to the adequacy of controls operated by the company to safeguard public funds.
In May 1996, the Audit Commission issued guidance to auditors on the audit approach to local authority companies in the form of Technical Release 11/96.
Copies of the Welsh Office guide to local authorities' interests in companies and of Technical Release 11/96 has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of 18 year olds leaving further education entered (a) full-time or part-time education, (b) job-related training, (c) employment without a training element and (d) unemployment in Scotland in each year since 1988. [48492]
Mr. Wilson
[holding answer 8 July 1998]: The information requested is not collected centrally.
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