TNAG-1525-FCO40-2089-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 96

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Written Answers

7 MARCH 1986

(40 how many siblings of Vietnamese refugees settled in the United Kingdom have applied, or in respect of whom application has been made, for family reunification in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many have been granted admission; and if he will make a statement;

(5) how many children of Vietnamese refugees settled in the United Kingdom have applied, or in respect of whom application has been made, for family reunification in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many have been granted admission; and if he will make a statement;

Mr. Waddington: I'regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Best asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Vietnamese persons who have close relatives living in the United Kingdom have applied, or in respect of whom application has been made, for family reunification in the period of the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many have been allowed to come to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a

statement.

Mr. Waddington: In 1985 applications in respect of about 950 persons were received. In the same period applications (not necessarily relating to the same cases) were accepted in respect of 230 family members and refused of 600. These figures include a small number of Laotions and Kampucheans.

Crossbows

Mr. Murphy asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has recived seeking the introduction of regulations to control the ownership and use of crossbows; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw: Since January 1985 we have received 43 letters about crossbows from hon. Members, 31 from members of the public and one from the Association of District Councils. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) on 3 February at column 5.

Data Protection

Mr. Lilley asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps have been taken to inform holders of data bases of the requirement to register under the Data Protection Act;

(2) what steps have been taken to public the procedure by which holders of data bases should register under the Data Protection Act.

Mr. Waddington: The Data Protection Registrar commissioned a national advertising campaign about the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984 at the end of last year, and a further campaign is to be launched shortly aimed at reminding those affected by the Act that they must register their data holdings by 11 May. In addition, the Registrar and members of his staff have given many talks to business organisations and others about the

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Act's provisions. The Registrar has issued a number of booklets about the requirements of the Act which are available free of charge.

Mr. Lilley asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to inform associations, clubs and societies of any circumstances under which they might be required to register data bases under the Data Protection Act.

Mr. Waddington: The publicity campaigns com- missioned by the Data Protection Registrar have been aimed at all data users who might be affected by the Data Protection Act 1984, including associations, clubs and societies. The Registrar has also given guidance to representative bodies in the voluntary sector.

Mr. Lilley asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to issue any guidance to Members of Parliament relating to the implications of the Data Protection Act for the keeping of records on computers relating to their constituents.

Mr. Waddington: No; but the general advice issued by the Data Protection Registrar will, I think, be found helpful to Members, and I understand that an article on the subject, written after consultation with the Registrar, is to appear in The House Magazine.

Dogs (Model Byelaws)

Mr. Wheeler asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report on the progress of the pilot project to test the effectiveness of model byelaws designed to reduce the problem of dogs fouling in public places; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor: On 2 September byelaws came into force in four local authority areas which make it an offence for a person in charge of a dog in parks, footpaths and other designated areas to fail to remove any faeces deposited by the dog. The local authorities are the London borough of Barking and Dagenham, Gosport borough council, North- West Leicestershire district council and Rochester upon Medway city council. Indications so far are that the level of compliance by dog owners in these areas has been high and in consequence parks and so on are noticeably very much cleaner. Towards the end of this year we shall assess the effectiveness of the scheme overall and whether the byelaws should be offered as models for adoption by other local authorities.

New Prisons

Mr. Madden asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans exist for building new prisons; when these establishments will receive their first prisoners; if he proposes to build any new prisons in west Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor: The new prison building programme consists of 16 projects, of which three have already been completed. The following table indicates when these establishments are expected to receive their first inmates.

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