| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Asylum Seekers
27. Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers entered the United Kingdom through Heathrow Airport in 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996. [103988]
Mrs. Roche: A total of 10,785 asylum applications were made at the four Heathrow Terminals in the period January to November 1999. This compares with 10,665 in 1998, 8,625 in 1997 and 8,520 in 1996.
28. Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to assist those granted asylum in the United Kingdom to integrate into British society. [103989]
Mrs. Roche:
A consultation paper was issued on 2 November 1999 which set out our proposals for the integration of refugees and those granted exceptional
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 298W
leave to remain based on partnership with everyone involved--the voluntary sector, local authorities and social services. Over 30 responses have been received and we will be considering the way forward in the light of those responses.
Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of asylum seekers who will be sent to locations in Scotland in 2000 and 2001. [103971]
Mrs. Roche:
It is too soon to say how many asylum seekers might be dispersed to Scotland. The number will depend on the extent to which accommodation can be provided in Scotland, and the number of asylum seekers seeking a full support package. We are in discussion with the Scottish Executive and a Scottish Consortium representing local authority interests in Scotland about these matters.
30. Mr. Paul Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the most recent crime figures for Kent. [103991]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The latest figures, covering the 12 months to September 1999, will be published tomorrow.
31. Mr. Miller:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the performance of Cheshire Police in reducing crime. [103992]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
Cheshire Police achieved a reduction in recorded crime of 26 per cent. over the period 1993-94 to 1998-99. The ratio of crimes to population in Cheshire also compares well with other forces. In partnership with local authorities and other agencies, the police are continuing that good work.
32. Mr. Derek Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the latest crime figures for Cheshire. [103993]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The latest figures, covering the 12 months to September 1999, will be published tomorrow.
33. Mr. Heppell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures is he taking to ensure that witnesses in magistrates courts are adequately protected. [103994]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
In February 1999, we asked Victim Support to replicate in magistrates courts the excellent support service for victims and witnesses they were already providing, with Home Office funding, at all Crown Court centres. The annual Home Office grant to Victim Support is being increased incrementally by 50 per cent. to £19 million to enable them to establish witness support services in all magistrates courts by April 2002.
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 299W
35. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received on his proposals to restrict the right to elect trial by jury; and if he will make a statement. [103996]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
There were 133 responses to the consultation paper, "Determining mode of trial in either-way cases". The Home Office has also received about 210 letters on this issue.
36. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been reported to him by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis in the case of WPC Yvonne Fletcher since the arrival of the UK's ambassador in Tripoli. [103997]
Mr. Straw:
None as yet, although the Metropolitan police intend to pursue their investigation into WPC Fletcher's murder vigorously. Our Ambassador in Tripoli has now taken up his post and this should help in that process. The Metropolitan police continue to expect full co-operation from the Libyan authorities.
37. Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of police forces which have had a real-terms fall in funding in the current financial year after the cost of police pensions is taken into account. [103998]
Mr. Straw:
Allocations of Government funding to police authorities are made on the basis of a needs-based formula, which takes into account projected pensions expenditure. As with most formulae, variations can occur from year to year, with some authorities doing relatively better than others.
Police authority "budget requirements" will increase by 3.1 per cent. in this financial year. On the basis of estimates provided by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the police service nationally could have an increase in net expenditure in this financial year of 5.9 per cent. taking account among other things of the use of reserves. It is for individual authorities to determine how best to manage their budgets. Prudent management of medical retirements can help police authorities to reduce pensions' costs and deploy more resources to front-line policing.
38. Mr. Darvill:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to improve access for the disabled to polling stations. [103999]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Guidance on national minimum access standards for disabled voters was issued in June 1999; new guidance on disabled access is being developed; grants are available for temporary ramps and polling screens; and, the Representation of the People Bill provides for the piloting of alternative voting arrangements at local elections to improve access to voting.
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 300W
39. Mr. Patrick Hall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what level of financial support from central Government have been made to Victim Support in each of the last five financial years. [104000]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The annual Home Office grant to Victim Support in the last five years is as follows:
| Financial year | Grant |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 10.817 |
| 1996-97 | 11.682 |
| 1997-98 | 12.682 |
| 1998-99 | 12.682 |
| 1999-2000 | 17.300 |
The grant is set to rise to £18.3 million in 2000-01 and to £19 million in 2001-02.
Weekend Voting
Mr. Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to establish pilot projects for voting at the weekend. [103973]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Representation of the People Bill, which has just completed its Committee stage, includes provisions to allow local authorities to pilot innovative electoral procedures, such as voting at the weekend.
Public Safety Radio Communications Service
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list on a force by force basis the estimated costs of implementing PSRCP [104376]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Most of the costs of implementing the Public Safety Radio Communications Service (PSRCS) are contained within annual charges for the core service. These will be met by central funding by means of deduction from total police grant provision and will be reduced by the £50 million subsidy I announced last September.
Individual forces will elect to take a range of services additional to the core service to meet their own requirements. From figures provided by forces we estimate that the cost of these non-core services will be around £30 million per annum for the police service nationally. The table provides the currently available estimates for the cost of non-core services to individual forces.
Forces will also need to purchase radio terminals, control room equipment and integration services. No force-specific estimates are available, but the Police Information Technology Organisation estimates that the total cost of these additional items for forces in England and Wales will be around £300 million in net present cost terms. This includes the cost of initial purchase and subsequent replacement over the life of the project but excludes the cost of the dedicated teams which each force will need to set up to manage implementation of the
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 301W
PSRCS. These costs need to be set against the expenditure which forces already incur in maintaining their existing radiocommunication systems.
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 302W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |