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Disabled People
Mr. Berry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amounts in his Department's budget for 1998-99 can be attributed to spending on disabled people; and what proportion this represents of total departmental spending. [71287]
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Mr. Straw:
It is not possible to identify the amounts in my Department's budget which can be specifically attributed to spending on people with disabilities. Such spending is contained within wider budgets allocated to different parts of my Department.
Mr. Cawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the progress of the investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police into the road accidents on the A38 near Ashburton in December 1998 involving the South Devon Hunt. [71590]
Mr. Boateng:
I understand from the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary that the investigation into the two accidents is nearing completion and that they will be writing to those involved in the near future.
Maria Eagle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions have been brought and (b) convictions have been secured against individuals in connection with protests against establishments holding a mink-keeping licence in the last five years. [71312]
Mr. Boateng:
Protesters would not be prosecuted unless they were committing an offence, for example, aggravated trespass, criminal damage, or breach of the peace, or breaking conditions which may be imposed on processions and assemblies by the police under the Public Order Act 1986. The Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not identify the circumstances of an offence to the detail required.
Mrs. Ellman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the operation of the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and if he will make a statement. [71359]
Kate Hoey:
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's view on the performance and effectiveness of the Commission was set out in a recent note for the Home Affairs Select Committee, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
Mrs. Ellman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long the Criminal Cases Review Commission has been considering the case of Mr. John Kamara; and when he expects them to reach a decision. [71360]
Kate Hoey:
I understand that the Commission began work on Mr. Kamara's application in July 1997, and that the case is due to be considered next month by a case committee of three Commission members, which may either decide whether or not to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, or that further investigation is required.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of trespass onto private property have resulted in prosecution in each of the past 10 years. [71526]
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Mr. Boateng:
Information given in the table is for criminal prosecutions under sections 61 and 68 to 71 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
| Offence description | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S61 Power to remove trespassers on land | 4 | 4 | 15 |
| S68 Offence of aggravated trespass | 111 | 359 | 160 |
| S69 Powers to remove persons committing or participating in aggravated trespass | 15 | 27 | 25 |
| S70(pt)(31) Take part in prohibited assembly | -- | -- | -- |
| S70(pt)(31) Inciting another to take part in a prohibited assembly | 2 | 2 | -- |
| S70(pt)(31) Inciting another to take part in a prohibited trespassory assembly | 1 | 2 | -- |
| S71(32) Ignoring a directive not to proceed in the direction of the assembly (trespassory) | -- | 1 | -- |
(31) As added to Part II S14A and 14B of Public Order Act 1986
(32) As added to Part II S14C of Public Order Act 1986
Road Policing
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions he is taking to ensure greater consistency among police forces in road policing. [71479]
Mr. Boateng: In the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, we provided the means to tackle local road policing issues. In August 1998 we set new overarching aims and objectives for the police. The importance of road policing is emphasised in both the objective of improving road safety and the objective of reducing crime and the fear of crime. In November, in his letter to forces about his new development priorities, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary specifically emphasised the importance of road policing.
The recent thematic inspection of road policing by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary concluded that not enough attention had previously been given to road policing and its recommendations seek the proper integration of the function which would lead to greater consistency of approach across forces.
National Insurance Numbers and Passports
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate how many illegally obtained (a) National Insurance numbers and (b) UK passports are currently held by non-UK nationals. [71097]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
There are no figures available on illegally obtained United Kingdom passports currently in the possession of non-United Kingdom nationals. The Passport Agency keeps records of the numbers of fraudulent passport applications detected. The level of abuse detected in 1998 was 1,368 applications, amounting to under 0.03 per cent. of total passport issues. The vast majority of these abuses related to fraudulent applications detected before a passport was issued.
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The Home Office has no responsibility for National Insurance numbers; but the Department of Social Security has indicated that they have no figures relating to non-United Kingdom nationals and illegally obtained National Insurance numbers.
Mr. McLoughlin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many speed cameras are situated in each county police force area. [71438]
Mr. Boateng:
This information is not available centrally. The enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for each individual chief officer and they decide whether to deploy such technology in the light of their local conditions and policing priorities.
Mr. Syms:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cyclists have been convicted of riding on pedestrian footpaths in (a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998. [71550]
Mr. Boateng:
Available information for the years 1995 to 1997 (latest available) is given in the table. 1998 data will begin to become available in the Spring of this year.
| Disposal | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cautioned | 204 | 268 | 270 |
| Convicted | 282 | 383 | 594 |
(33) Offences under Highways Act 1835 S72 (as amended by Local Government Act 1888 s85(1); the Statute Law Revision (no2) Act 1888; Highways Act 1959 Sch25; Criminal Justice Act 1967 3rd Sch; Criminal Justice Act 1982 ss39 and 46 and Sch3); Metropolitan Police Act 1839 s54(7), and Bylaws.
Au Pairs
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter his Department's recommendation of £35 to £40 as a reasonable weekly allowance for au pairs working a maximum of 25 hours under rule 88 of the Immigration Rules. [71735]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1999, c. 654]: Work undertaken by nationals living in the United Kingdom under the au pair scheme will not be subject to the National Minimum Wage provisions. The recommended weekly allowance will be kept under review.
Drugs and Driving
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of driving while under the influence of illegal drugs. [69111]
Mr. Boateng:
We are working closely with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and Association of Chief Police Officers. The Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch is researching into the possible development of roadside drugs screening technology and we support the Association of Chief Police Officers in its work to ensure that officers have the appropriate training to enforce the
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current legislation as effectively as possible. We will consider possible changes in legislation in the light of the results of the DETR research into the incidence of drugs in road fatalities.
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