House of Commons
Monday 30 November 1998
The House met at half-past Two o'clock
PRAYERS
[Madam Speaker in the Chair]
Oral Answers to Questions
HOME DEPARTMENT
The Secretary of State was asked--
Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
1. Yvette Cooper (Pontefract and Castleford): If he will make a statement on the pilots for drug treatment and testing orders. [61087]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. George Howarth): Pilots of drug testing and treatment orders are taking place in Croydon, Gloucestershire and Merseyside. The first order was made in Croydon on 17 November. We shall evaluate the pilots thoroughly before national implementation.
Yvette Cooper: I know that my hon. Friend has visited Pontefract and Wakefield drug court, which is pioneering a new approach to getting offenders off drugs. Will he join me in congratulating those who set up the programme, including the sponsor Marks and Spencer, Euromed, the local health authority and the police? Is he aware that the drug court is under threat just because of a six-month shortfall in funding? Given that it would be tragic to lose such a programme when we should be expanding its work across the country, will he consider any way in which the Government can help to make sure that the drug court does not go under?
Mr. Howarth: As my hon. Friend rightly said, I have visited the drug court. I understand that it is in discussion with local agencies to try to resolve the difficulties that she described, and the matter is essentially a local one. Talks are well under way and there is no cause for panic. It is a worthwhile venture, and I hope that the talks will be brought to a successful conclusion so that the good work already started can be continued.
Domestic Violence
2. Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough): What steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of violence in the home. [61089]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Kate Hoey): We are taking forward a range of measures to achieve that, in collaboration with
a number of colleagues across Departments. In particular, we have made it clear that we expect the local crime and disorder audits being carried out under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to address domestic violence, and we are working on a cross-departmental awareness campaign for England and Wales, to be launched in the new year.
Helen Jackson: Every day last year in Sheffield, a woman had to be rehoused, having lost her home because of domestic violence. Three quarters of cases reported to the police also involved children. We must recognise that far more than double that number experience violence in the home, but do not report it. I congratulate the Government on making violence against women one of the key points in the recent policy document "Delivering for Women". However, what practical steps is the Minister taking to ensure that homes are safe places for women and children, and not safe havens for violent criminals as they currently appear to be?
Kate Hoey: I thank my hon. Friend for that question. She may be aware that research has been commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department of Health, the Department of Social Security and the women's unit to look into the accommodation and support services available to those who suffer domestic violence. The research includes a survey of refuges and a comprehensive view of provision by local authorities. It will be completed late next year.
Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham): How many local authorities and police forces have set up domestic violence units? Will the Minister confirm that none of those units is expected to close as a result of resources being devoted to other laudable anti-crime and disorder initiatives that are flowing from recent legislation?
Kate Hoey: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would like an exact answer to his question and I am prepared to write to him as I do not have the precise information here.
Mrs. Helen Brinton (Peterborough): Does the Minister agree that 400 women's refuges in England and 45 in Wales are not enough to help victims of domestic violence? Does she agree that we really need tougher sentencing in the courts so that the people who commit the crimes do not get away with it?
Kate Hoey: As my hon. Friend knows, the Government treat crimes of violence committed in the home very seriously. Those crimes damage the family and society as a whole, and we are determined that they will be taken seriously. The review that I have mentioned is also considering long-term arrangements to achieve a fair balance between demands on housing benefits and other sources of funding. That may mean that local authorities will find that the cost of providing refuges, which may be more initially, results in savings in the long term. We do not want resources to be a reason why women--or men--have nowhere to which to flee if they are in danger.
Mr. Edward Garnier (Harborough): One problem, which the hon. Lady may already know of, is that men and, particularly, women who suffer domestic violence
withdraw their complaints when they get near or arrive at the court stage. What can she do to assist such people in maintaining their complaints all the way to a verdict?
Kate Hoey: The hon. and learned Gentleman is right. He will welcome the new criminal justice measures in the Queen's Speech, which will help vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, including those who have suffered and survived domestic violence.
Child Protection
3. Ms Helen Southworth (Warrington, South): How he intends to take forward the proposals to safeguard children by creating a comprehensive single access point for police and other record checks in staff recruitment; and if he will make a statement. [61090]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Kate Hoey): The interdepartmental working group that we set up to look at that matter is due to make its main recommendations by the end of the year. Subject to our consideration of its proposals, we then expect the group to take forward the detailed work that will be needed to give effect to its recommendations.
Ms Southworth: My hon. Friend is to be congratulated on that response. She is aware of considerable concern in my constituency, and across to north Wales, about the fact that we have all failed to protect children from abuse by predatory adults. Can she assure me that the one-stop shop will proceed rapidly, that it will contain comprehensive information and that clear instructions will be issued on when it should be used in the recruitment and selection of staff and voluntary workers, so that we can make a better job of protecting children from violent, dangerous people who attempt to obtain a position of power and authority over them?
Kate Hoey: I thank my hon. Friend and I know how much work she has put into that important issue. It is likely that we will recommend a one-stop shop, because the group's emerging recommendations envisage a central access point for three sources of information: criminal records; list 99, which is held by the Department for Education and Employment; and the consultancy index, which is held by the Department of Health. The front-runner at the moment for the central access point is the criminal records agency, which we are hoping to get up and running within two years from the date of the formal announcement.
Mr. Shaun Woodward (Witney): Is the Minister aware of the stories in the Oxford Mail reporting that thousands of people with convictions for sex offences live in the Thames valley area? The head of the local family protection unit says that only 150 former sex offenders are monitored and registered by the police. What assurances can the Minister give my constituents in Oxfordshire and the people who are worried about the large number of former paedophiles in Oxford that they will be adequately protected?
Kate Hoey: The hon. Gentleman will be aware that I have not seen that newspaper's reports and the serious allegations that it contains. As I understand it, we know
about some 98 per cent. of offenders, but I am sure that the local police take the matter seriously. I will look into it.
Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East): I have written to the Home Office on several occasions querying the length of time that it takes to perform checks in the Greater Manchester area through the police. The delays are seriously damaging such schemes as the mentoring scheme run by the Bolton lads and girls club, which is intended to keep young people out of trouble. Can my hon. Friend assure the House that any new scheme will be quicker than existing schemes?
Kate Hoey: Clearly, if we are to make improvements, we want to speed up the checks. I do not have direct responsibility for the speed with which checks are made, but I am happy to look into the issue and report back.
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