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Agricultural Biotechnology
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money his Department has spent supporting the research and development of agricultural biotechnology since 1 May 1997. [72068]
Mr. Meale: The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has not spent any money supporting the research and development of agricultural biotechnology since 1 May 1997.
DETR-funded research has however been conducted to assess the risks and potential impact of genetically modified organisms on the environment. The annual budget for such work is of the order of £500,000.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Siemens Business Services
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what compensation his Department has (a) requested and (b) received from Siemens plc following delays to the development of a new casework system by Siemens for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [70907]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate Casework Programme is a privately financed business change programme supplied by Siemens Business Services (SBS). Although development of the full Information Technology application has been delayed, many elements of the Programme, and much new Information Technology, have been delivered.
Some payments are made to SBS for services provided and milestones achieved, but SBS's earnings depend mainly on casework productivity improvements. The programme delay means that productivity has not improved as fast as expected.
A commercial agreement has also been negotiated with SBS for changes to the contractual payments to reflect the delay in full implementation.
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The payments made to SBS up to the end of 1998 were 4.5 million less than the contract target levels. SBS's earnings will continue to be depressed until the full Information Technology is delivered and productivity and output increase.
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the last date for which figures are available, how many former employees of his Department have taken new employment with companies involved in the provision of private sector criminal justice services which have contracts with his Department; if he will list
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those former employees by their position in his Department and their current position; and if he will make a statement. [71928]
Mr. Straw:
The Home Office does not maintain comprehensive records on the employment destinations of members of staff who leave the Department. Subject to the constraints of the Business Appointment Rules, staff are free to seek and take employment outside the Civil Service without the need to seek permission. We are aware of 12 applications within the last two years under the rules, by staff managed by the Prison Service, for permission to work in the private sector. In the same period, elsewhere in the Department, applications were received from two former members of staff for permission to provide advice to private companies, one in connection with a project outside the United Kingdom.
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| Grade | Position in Department | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Governor 1 | Her Majesty's Prison Wormwood Scrubs | PPS |
| Governor 1 | Prisons Inspectorate | Group 4 |
| Governor 1 | Her Majesty's Prison Full Sutton | PPS |
| Governor 2 | Standards Audit | Group 4 |
| Governor 2 | Her Majesty's Prison Bristol | Securicor |
| Governor 2 | Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution Aylesbury | PPS |
| Governor 2 | Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution New Hall | UKDS |
| Governor 3 | Her Majesty's Prison Gloucester | PPS |
| Senior Civil Service | Area Manager | PPS |
| Grade 7 | Education Training Adviser, Prison Service | Strode College |
| Grade 7 | Education Training Adviser, Prison Service | NESCOTT |
| Grade 7 | Education Training Adviser, Prison Service | Matthew Boulton College |
| Senior Civil Service | Director (Enforcement), Immigration Service | Group 4 Securitas |
| Grade 7 | Police Science and Technology Unit | Forensic Alliance |
23 Feb 1999 : Column: 209
Colchester Young Offenders Institute
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisional conclusions from the research of Dr Kate Painter into the experimental regime at Colchester Young Offenders Institute are available; and if he will publish them. [72607]
Mr. George Howarth: No conclusions will be drawn from the research into the experimental regime at Colchester until all the data have been collected and analysed. It is our intention to publish the final research report.
Prison Officers
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the rules are concerning the rights of prison officers employed in prisons in England and Wales to take in cigarettes, alcohol, food and other items for prison inmates; and if he will make a statement; [72546]
- (2) what private outside purchases paid for by the prisoners are being approved and made by prison officers at prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [72547]
Mr. George Howarth:
All items provided to prisoners must be provided through the prison shop or the catering department only. No other external shopping on behalf of any prisoner is allowed, but the Governor may authorise shopping for ethnic minority goods where these would not otherwise be available.
23 Feb 1999 : Column: 210
Ms Southworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve services for victims of crime and witnesses; and if he will make a statement. [73168]
Mr. Straw:
The Government are committed to improving the position of victims and witnesses within the criminal justice system. We are increasing very substantially our annual grant to Victim Support to enable them to establish in magistrates' courts a support service for victims, witnesses and other court users to complement the highly successful service they have already established at all Crown Court centres. Up to an additional £2.8 million a year will be provided for this purpose in 1999-2000, rising to up to £4.5 million in 2001-02.
We shall also be providing an additional £1.8 million a year from 1999-2000 onwards to enable Victim Support further to develop their community based schemes and the support services provided at the Crown Court.
By 2001-02, therefore, our grant to Victim Support will have risen to some £19 million a year, an increase of 50 per cent. over the current figure of £12.7 million. This substantial injection of new money will enable Victim Support to provide a more complete and seamless service for victims and witnesses, from the reporting of the offence through to the conclusion of the case in the courts and, as appropriate, beyond.
23 Feb 1999 : Column: 211
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the recent date set for the publication of a Freedom of Information Bill has been postponed. [72241]
Mr. Straw:
Freedom of Information is a complex subject. There have been a great number of detailed issues to resolve before the Government could publish their draft Bill. It is essential to take the time to get this detail right so as to provide for an effective and workable Freedom of Information Act.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases sent to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to date (a) have been dealt with, (b) are under consideration and (c) are awaiting consideration. [70852]
Kate Hoey:
I understand that, at the end of January, the Criminal Cases Review Commission had completed 701 cases, had 482 under active review, and 1,055 awaiting review.
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 holding a mink-keeping licence or employed by the holder of such a licence for offences related to that activity in the last five years. [71313]
Mr. Morley:
I have been asked to reply.
Two prosecutions have been brought by this Department in the last five years against the categories of defendant identified. Both were for animal welfare offences. One conviction was secured. The second case has yet to be concluded.
10. Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last held discussions with representatives of the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland on the development of the Scottish economy. [70829]
Mrs. Liddell:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend the Minister with responsibilities for business and industry meet regularly with CBI Scotland. My noble Friend last met senior officials of CBI Scotland on 26 October.
From 1 July this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
12. Mr. Salmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met Scottish Enterprise to discuss the Scottish economy. [70831]
Mr. Dewar:
I meet the Chairman, Chief Executive and Members of Scottish Enterprise regularly to discuss a range of issues relating to the Scottish economy, most recently on 2 November. My noble Friend the Minister with responsibilities for business and industry meets the
23 Feb 1999 : Column: 212
Chairman and Chief Executive on at least a monthly basis to discuss a range of issues relating to the Scottish economy.
From 1 July this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
14. Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland to discuss the economy in Scotland. [70833]
Mrs. Liddell:
Both my right hon. Friend and the Minister with responsibility for business and industry discuss economic matters with CBI Scotland from time to time. Arrangements for my right hon. Friend's next meeting have yet to be made, but the Minister with responsibility for business and industry is due to attend a CBI Scotland event on 12 March.
From 1 July this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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