HC Deb 26 January 1998 vol 305 cc48-9W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the terms of reference of the review of the system of financial regulation in the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands enable it to recommend changes in the law of these territories by means other than legislation in Tynwald and the States. [25413]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

It is not part of the terms of reference for the reviewer to recommend changes in the Island law. The review is basically a mapping exercise to establish clearly with the Islands how the Islands' current laws and regulatory systems operate in practice.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had with the Isle of Man government and with the authorities in Jersey and in Guernsey before his announcement on 20 January of a review of the financial legislation in Crown dependencies. [25415]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Official letters from the Director of the Constitutional and Community Policy Directorate of the Home Office were sent on 19 January to the Chief Secretary to the Isle of Man Government, the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey and the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey (copied to the Bailiff of Jersey in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor) telling them about the review and giving its proposed terms of reference.

Shortly before this, Home Office officials had informed the Lieutenant Governors of Guernsey and the Isle of Man, and the Bailiff of Jersey informally and in confidence about the review so that they could brief themselves in advance of the official notification.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who has been appointed by the government of the Isle of Man and the authorities in the Channel Islands to participate alongside Mr. Andrew Edwards in the review of financial regulation in the Crown dependencies; and if their status in the conduct of that review will be the same as that of Mr. Edwards. [25414]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Mr. Edwards has been engaged as a consultant to conduct the review of financial legislation and regulatory systems in the Crown dependencies. The Island authorities will arrange for him to see all the officials and practitioners in each Island who can be of assistance to him. They have not appointed any particular person to work with him.

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
Licence to deal in game
Volume 1,825 1,718 1,538 1,384 1,626
Value (£) 7,300 6,872 6,152 5,536 6,504
Licence to kill game
Volume 38,161 37,331 26,938 22,872 28,039
Value (£) 199,768 196,184 143,774 118,946 146,842
Total
Volume 39,986 39,049 28,476 24,256 29,665
Value (£) 207,068 203,056 149,926 124,482 153,346

Note:

The licence to kill game includes gamekeeper's licence.

Source:

Post Office Counters Ltd.

I will write to the hon. Member separately on the question of the administration costs of the game licensing system.