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Leicestershire LEA (Ethnic Minority Grants)
Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much section 11 funding was received by Leicestershire Local Education Authority in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; what plans he has for the future of Section 11 funding in the next financial year for Leicestershire Local Education Authority; and if he will make a statement. [83166]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The table shows the section 11 budget allocation to Leicestershire Local Education Authority in relation to each of the years shown:
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 2,480,992 |
| 1997-98 | 402,117 |
| 1998-99 | 412,571 |
Note:
Since 1 April 1997, as a result of local government reorganisation, the City of Leicester has had responsibility for section 11 grant provision within its own boundaries, leaving Leicestershire Local Education Authority with a reduced level of financial provision to cover the rest of the county.
Responsibility for funding such work was transferred, with effect from 1 April 1999, to the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) under a new Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant. Leicestershire has been notified by the DfEE that its allocation in respect of 1999-2000 under the new grant programme is £412,571. The DfEE will be consulting local education authorities about arrangements for setting allocations in relation to 2000-01 and subsequent years.
Public Entertainment Licences
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the regulation known as the two-in-the-bar rule for public entertainment licences; and if he will make a statement. [83295]
Mr. George Howarth: Under section 182 of the Licensing Act 1964, a public entertainment licence is not required for live music by up to two performers in any premises where a justices' licence authorising the sale of alcohol is in force. We have no immediate plans to bring forward amendments to this provision; but we are looking at the public entertainment licensing arrangements generally, to see whether any changes are needed.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average waiting time for the determination of an asylum application in (a) the most recent year for which figures are available and (b) the two most recent years. [83017]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Coleman) on 26 January 1999, Official Report, column 197, which gives the information requested.
Sexual Offenders
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people charged with a serious sexual offence were released on bail in the year to 31 March (a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [82912]
Mr. Boateng:
In 1997, 2,600 people charged with sexual offences were on bail when committed for trial at the Crown Court. Some sexual offences cover a broad spectrum of behaviour but committal to the Crown Court
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indicates that these were the more serious cases including, for example, the vast majority of rape cases. Information for 1998 will become available in the summer.
Mr. Garnier:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality
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Directorate will return the passports of Miss Inderlyn Irano and Benjamin William Fisher, the partner and son of Mr. A. Fisher, of Wigston, Leicestershire. [83094]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
I have asked for an investigation of this. The file suggests that the passports have been refused and we are asking the Post Office for a report, which will take two weeks. I will write to the hon. and learned Member.