TNAG-2132-FCO40-3047-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 83

27

Written Answers

8 MAY 1990

Written Answers

28

Item

Python Skin

Giant Salamander

Amount

15 pc

6 hd

Asiatic Bony Tongue

Coral

21 tails

15 pc

Giant Clam

14 pc

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to determine the location, number and frequency of restaurant inspections in Hong Kong to ensure that no rare and endangered species of animals and plants are offered for sale as food; and what information he has on the number of restaurants in Hong Kong.

Mr. Waidegrave (holding answer 23 April 1990]: The criteria used to determine the location, number and frequence of restaurant inspections in Hong Kong, for the purpose of ensuring that no rare and endangered species of animais and plants are offered for sale as food, include known black spots. reports and intelligence from various sources and the type of restaurant and menu served. Random checks are made as a deterrent. There are approximately 7,400 restaurants in Hong Kong.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Immigration

Mr. Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overstayers were deported in the latest available year where evidence has been brought forward that they were in stable marriages to British citizens with the right of abode.

Mr. Peter Lloyd: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the results of the police and immigration officers investigation carried out at weddings being held on 21 April at a Hackney and (b) Walthamstow and (1) how many people were detained. (ii) how many have since been charged and (iii) with what offence.

Mr. Peter Lloyd: In a joint Metropolitan police: immigration service operation on 21 April. eight persons were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to contravene the Immigration Act 1971. Three persons were arrested at Hackney register of: four in a simultaneous visit to an address in Walthamstow; and one further arrest was made at a separate address later that day.

Three of those arrested were subsequently released without charge and two persons have been given bail to return to the police station on 15 May. Three persons have been charged with conspiracy to contravene the Immigration Act 1971 contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (as amended)-two remanded in custody, the third released on bail.

Television Licences

Mr. Canavan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received over the past 12 months about concessionary television licences for retirement pensioners and disabled peopic.

Mr. Mellor: In the year ending 21 March 1990 we received four petitions and 696 letters calling for reduced price or free television licences for pensioners or disabled people. A total of 385 of the letters were cyclostyled, and clearly sent as part of a local campaign. Of the rest 139 were from hon. Members, and three of the petitions were submitted through them.

Police Houses

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police houses are vacant in (a) Cardiff and (b) South Glamorgan; and what proportion this is of the total police housing stock in (a) the city and (b) the county.

Mr. Peter Lloyd: This information is not held centrally, but I understand from the South Wales constabulary that there are currently 11 vacant police houses in south Glamorgan which represent 14 per cent. of the total police housing stock in the county. Six of these vacant police houses are in Cardiff and represent 11 per cent. of the total police housing stock in the city.

Strangeways Prison

Mr. Litherland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of Strangeways prison, Manchester.

Mr. Waddington: As I said on 3 May in exchanges following the question from my hon. Friend the member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox), an assessment of the structural damage to the wings at Manchester is being made. When it is completed. we shall review the various options for the prison's future. I can see the attractions, and the importance to the staff, of bringing at least part of the prison back into use as soon as possible.

Mr. Litherland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the costs of policing the Strangeways riot will be met fully by central Government.

Mr. Peter Lloyd: The Greater Manchester police authenty has asked for a meeting to discuss the financial implications of policing the Strangeways disturbance. We will listen carefully to its points but any request for special assistance would have to be judged against the normal critema of exceptional and unforeseen expenditure of a scale that threatens the efficiency of the force.

Mr. Litherland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the governor of Strangeways prison, Manchester was given every facility necessary to quell the riot at that prison.

Mr. Waddington: Considerable support was afforded to the governor of Manchester under contingency arrange- ments. The available support will be among the matters which Lord Justice Woolf's inquiry will address.

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