HL Deb 12 May 2003 vol 648 cc8-9WA
Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty's Government

What was the number of (a) reported incidences of unlawful sex with minors; and (b) convictions for unlawful sex with minors in the years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2001. [HL2608]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)

The available information is contained in the table.

Figures for Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Office and those for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Office. new police radiocommunications system. The case arising from earlier representations made by the European Commission was closed after the Office of Government Commerce issued guidance to UK contracting authorities in June 2001 as suggested by the Commission.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government

What advice the Home Office took and from whom about the health and safety aspects of the TETRA communications system; and what systems are used by the other countries in the European Union for emergency services communications.[HL2622]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

The Home Office asked the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) to assess the health and safety aspects of the TETRA technology. A report was published by the NRPB's independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation in July 2001. The report concluded that, "Although areas of uncertainty remain about the biological effects of low level RF radiation in general, including modulated signals, current evidence suggests that it is unlikely that the special features of the signals from TETRA mobile terminals and repeaters pose a hazard to health".

Other countries in the European Union use a variety of systems for emergency communications. Like in the United Kingdom. older systems tend to be based on analogue technology, while more recent systems are digital. TETRA is the agreed European standard for emergency services radio communications. TETRA systems for emergency services are currently being implemented in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.