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William Beausire

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Solicitor-General what reports he has received concerning the disappearance of William Beausire in Santiago in 1974; and what requests he has received for a private prosecution. [106029]

The Solicitor-General: Solicitors acting for a number of individuals applied for Law Officer consent to prosecute Senator Pinochet for offences of torture and hostage taking. The papers included reference to William Beausire. On 11 February 1999, the then Attorney- General considered the application and took advice from Treasury Counsel. The solicitors were advised that consent to prosecute was declined. The basis of that decision is that the relevant legislation is not retrospective and the material supplied by the solicitors in support of the application provided insufficient admissible evidence to justify a prosecution.

SCOTLAND

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the number of asylum seekers and refugees seeking places in Scotland. [104808]

Dr. Reid: At present, local authorities in Scotland give support to between about 150 and 200 new asylum seekers each year.

In addition, in 1999, 349 refugees from Kosovo came to Scotland under the Kosovo Humanitarian Evacuation Programme.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Switchboard

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee when the delays in connecting hon. Members to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other Government Departments via the House switchboard will be remedied; what the cause is of the delays; and when the House authorities became aware of the problem. [106053]

Mr. Allan: This is an operational matter falling within the remit of the Head of Telecommunications. I have therefore asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member.

20 Jan 2000 : Column: 545W

HOME DEPARTMENT

Correspondence

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 November 1999, Official Report, column 179W, for what reason he has failed to fulfil the undertaking to reply shortly to the letters dated 4 August, 10 September and 14 October, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Cleveland Savory. [104466]

Mr. Straw: I am sorry for the delay in replying to my right hon. Friend. I am looking into the matter and will write to him this week.

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 21 September, 27 October and 2 December 1999 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Ahmed Said Mohammed Aderi. [104455]

Mrs. Roche: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend on 17 January 2000. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 21 September, 27 October and 2 December 1999 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Muhidin Abdul Rahman. [104454]

Mrs. Roche: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 19 January 2000. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 21 September, 27 October and 2 December 1999 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. N. Askander. [104456]

Mrs. Roche: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend on 17 January 2000. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 30 November on behalf of his constituent, Mrs. Djukic. [105921]

Mrs. Roche: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to the right hon. Member on 18 January 2000.

Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 25 November on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Reeves. [105924]

Mr. Charles Clarke: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary replied to the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire's letter of 25 November 1999 on 14 January 2000.

20 Jan 2000 : Column: 546W

Fathers

Ms Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Government have made of the impact of fathers' involvement in childrearing on the behaviour and attainment of their sons and daughters; and if he will make a statement. [104876]

Mr. Boateng: There is strong evidence that fathers play a critical role in bringing up children. Boys who have no contact with their fathers are more likely to underachieve at school. Supporting fathers is an important part of the Government's family policy. We have also provided fathers with the right to parental leave, and those in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit and some other benefits will receive income support while taking the leave to make it a viable prospect for all parents. Under the Family Support Grants programme, a number of voluntary organisations have been funded to develop work specifically with fathers.

Police

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police authority in England the percentage of net expenditure in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99 which was funded by (i) council tax, (ii) police grant and (iii) other grants. [105258]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The information requested on council tax and police grant, which has been compiled from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's Police Statistics, is set out in the table. Information on the percentage of net expenditure funded by other grants is not readily available.

Percentage of English police force net expenditure met by council tax, Home Office police specific grant and other sources, 1996-97 to 1998-99

Council taxHome Office police specific grantOther sources
1996-97
Avon and Somerset14.850.834.4
Bedfordshire14.950.934.2
Cambridgeshire15.751.333.0
Cheshire16.052.631.4
City of Londonn/a48.6n/a
Cleveland9.950.339.7
Cumbria14.450.535.2
Derbyshire14.751.334.0
Devon and Cornwall16.151.232.7
Dorset22.147.930.0
Durham11.452.735.9
Essex17.450.332.3
Gloucestershire15.250.234.6
Greater Manchester10.050.439.6
Hampshire16.351.032.8
Hertfordshire17.851.031.2
Humberside11.751.936.4
Kent15.851.133.1
Lancashire12.150.637.2
Leicestershire13.651.035.3
Lincolnshire21.148.530.3
Merseyside10.650.938.5
Metropolitan Police8.350.341.4
Norfolk15.450.634.0
Northamptonshire20.749.529.8
Northumbria10.050.539.5
North Yorkshire17.752.130.1
Nottinghamshire12.150.937.0
South Yorkshire10.851.737.5
Staffordshire14.550.634.8
Suffolk16.250.932.9
Surrey17.049.333.7
Sussex17.250.332.5
Thames Valley17.950.531.6
Warwickshire17.051.831.1
West Mercia17.050.632.4
West Midlands10.151.038.9
West Yorkshire10.449.240.5
Wiltshire17.450.731.9
Total12.350.637.1

20 Jan 2000 : Column: 547W

Council taxHome Office police specific grantOther sources
1997-98
Avon and Somerset16.952.131.0
Bedfordshire16.551.432.1
Cambridgeshire17.250.332.6
Cheshire16.749.134.2
City of Londonn/a47.5n/a
Cleveland11.449.738.9
Cumbria15.248.736.1
Derbyshire16.050.333.7
Devon and Cornwall17.150.932.0
Dorset23.948.527.6
Durham12.148.639.3
Essex18.950.630.5
Gloucestershire17.451.830.8
Greater Manchester11.449.838.7
Hampshire17.850.132.1
Hertfordshire19.351.029.6
Humberside12.849.937.2
Kent16.648.634.8
Lancashire13.649.536.9
Leicestershire14.849.935.2
Lincolnshire20.546.533.0
Merseyside12.250.737.1
Metropolitan Police9.453.736.9
Norfolk16.748.734.7
Northamptonshire21.246.832.1
Northumbria11.149.039.9
North Yorkshire18.449.831.8
Nottinghamshire12.449.038.6
South Yorkshire11.647.840.6
Staffordshire16.351.931.8
Suffolk17.850.032.2
Surrey16.649.334.1
Sussex18.749.731.6
Thames Valley19.549.730.8
Warwickshire18.250.431.4
West Mercia18.549.532.0
West Midlands11.148.740.3
West Yorkshire11.547.041.4
Wiltshire20.153.026.8
Total13.550.635.8

20 Jan 2000 : Column: 548W

Council taxHome Office police specific grantOther sources
1998-99
Avon and Somerset17.051.631.4
Bedfordshire16.950.632.6
Cambridgeshire15.450.434.3
Cheshire17.350.332.4
City of Londonn/a42.9n/a
Cleveland9.551.339.2
Cumbria18.847.034.3
Derbyshire17.250.032.8
Devon and Cornwall15.851.732.4
Dorset25.847.626.6
Durham11.353.635.1
Essex22.150.127.8
Gloucestershire18.548.633.0
Greater Manchester12.052.835.2
Hampshire16.952.131.0
Hertfordshire21.449.229.4
Humberside12.250.337.5
Kent15.652.332.1
Lancashire13.250.636.2
Leicestershire16.949.333.7
Lincolnshire23.545.730.8
Merseyside12.249.638.2
Metropolitan Police11.954.333.8
Norfolk17.751.530.8
Northamptonshire20.748.131.2
Northumbria9.851.039.2
North Yorkshire17.351.431.3
Nottinghamshire13.149.437.4
South Yorkshire11.850.637.6
Staffordshire20.549.030.5
Suffolk17.851.430.8
Surrey24.744.530.8
Sussex18.251.530.3
Thames Valley19.053.627.4
Warwickshire21.350.428.3
West Mercia18.847.833.4
West Midlands10.151.638.3
West Yorkshire11.751.436.9
Wiltshire20.047.232.8
Total13.749.037.3

Source:

1996/97-1998/99: CIPFA Police Statistics Actuals


20 Jan 2000 : Column: 547W

Police force net expenditure, and percentage met by council tax, Home Office police specific grant and other sources, 1996-97 to 1998-99
£000

1996-97 1997-98
Council taxHome Office police specific grantOtherNet expenditureCouncil taxHome Office police specific grantOtherNet expenditure
Avon and Somerset22,44377,27952,365152,08725,83979,56447,270152,673
Bedfordshire8,43328,81119,38356,6279,64330,10218,82558,570
Cambridgeshire10,23633,35621,43265,02411,800n/an/a68,681
Cheshire15,07249,50029,60594,17717,32251,10335,580104,005
City of Londonn/a27,832n/a57,317n/a27,476n/a57,893
Cleveland7,25036,80129,05773,1088,58737,52329,31675,426
Cumbria8,16828,68919,99956,8569,36530,03822,30661,709
Derbyshire13,33346,35630,73190,42015,27648,09032,27595,641
Devon and Cornwall24,19277,02549,175150,39226,60279,04749,786155,435
Dorset14,98332,47420,37467,83116,68433,80419,23969,727
Durham7,77835,82824,42968,0359,08736,51329,56675,166
Dyfed-Powys7,90124,24115,72747,8698,24425,19817,51050,952
Essex26,27576,16148,976151,41229,81779,69447,976157,487
Gloucestershire8,87429,31620,23058,42010,22330,37118,03958,633
Greater Manchester34,075171,881135,214341,17040,354176,078136,887353,319
Gwent8,19331,33418,21557,7428,66732,42323,50864,598
Hampshire28,13488,06956,642172,84532,13490,61658,041180,791
Hertfordshire15,79245,30527,76688,86317,97147,46527,57593,011
Humberside11,65351,74636,32099,71913,62253,03439,564106,220
Kent25,47782,58453,564161,62528,90984,67360,629174,211
Lancashire19,63881,98460,243161,86522,98283,76862,525169,275
Leicestershire12,64947,39032,81492,85314,65249,33634,80198,789
Lincolnshire12,99929,84818,66161,50813,54430,78821,85266,184
Merseyside23,345112,58985,238221,17227,390113,66083,277224,327
Metropolitan Police139,075846,762697,3441,683,181157,930900,345618,3421,676,617
Norfolk11,66638,20425,67775,54713,36339,05327,80680,222
Northamptonshire12,25729,32117,67459,25213,67230,21820,71564,605
Northumbria18,64494,04673,720186,41021,63095,65677,806195,092
North Wales10,69534,68122,89068,26611,24035,69623,98470,920
North Yorkshire11,88534,96120,19667,04213,20035,79622,84471,840
Nottinghamshire13,77557,77742,039113,59114,95359,07046,533120,556
South Wales18,36275,24753,849147,45819,49177,73262,188159,411
South Yorkshire16,36678,00956,574150,94919,21479,34667,467166,027
Staffordshire15,65854,61137,563107,83218,00357,20035,061110,264
Suffolk9,89231,03320,03860,96311,32731,85820,49163,676
Surrey14,52842,09028,72785,34515,12644,80831,04290,976
Sussex25,87075,76448,992150,62629,40078,41549,816157,631
Thames Valley36,051101,65863,688201,39741,006104,63164,696210,333
Warwickshire8,11124,72514,85047,6869,27025,72516,00851,003
West Mercia17,39751,63233,049102,07819,95853,34234,488107,788
West Midlands34,210172,343131,439337,99239,829175,339144,961360,129
West Yorkshire27,479130,447107,307265,23332,458132,526116,761281,745
Wiltshire10,44230,42819,12359,99311,77831,04315,71458,535
Total819,2563,350,1382,420,8996,619,778931,5623,438,1632,413,0706,870,093

20 Jan 2000 : Column: 549W

20 Jan 2000 : Column: 549W

£000

1998-99 1999-2000
Council taxHome Office police specific grantOtherNet expenditureNet expenditure
Avon and Somerset27,68083,92751,119162,726174,424
Bedfordshire10,41631,23620,12661,77864,027
Cambridgeshire11,28636,97425,17273,43275,363
Cheshire18,57353,82134,699107,093111,094
City of Londonn/a25,909n/a60,35058,719
Cleveland7,73441,73131,83081,29585,397
Cumbria11,73029,36021,44262,53264,693
Derbyshire17,23850,02632,800100,064107,035
Devon and Cornwall26,35286,03553,943166,330173,649
Dorset18,83834,83819,44173,11777,749
Durham8,42740,02326,22374,67380,712
Dyfed-Powys10,21226,04113,78750,04056,143
Essex34,67678,59143,555156,822171,590
Gloucestershire11,60430,53720,72162,86265,933
Greater Manchester42,558186,858124,755354,171387,256
Gwent9,68334,26523,70767,65571,414
Hampshire31,48197,23957,941186,661196,955
Hertfordshire20,33146,77127,96695,068102,361
Humberside13,76256,62942,180112,571114,306
Kent27,47391,74256,362175,577186,225
Lancashire23,37089,72564,215177,310182,679
Leicestershire17,41950,70834,663102,790106,279
Lincolnshire15,64530,48420,53566,66469,970
Merseyside29,259119,15691,852240,267249,522
Metropolitan Police204,132931,431580,8621,716,4251,840,245
Norfolk14,23641,51224,79580,54386,870
Northamptonshire13,85932,26620,93267,05770,432
Northumbria20,187104,63880,445205,270213,010
North Wales13,61237,43421,43572,48180,505
North Yorkshire13,02038,76423,56075,34478,085
Nottinghamshire16,68062,79947,539127,018130,173
South Wales22,39482,24356,301160,938169,968
South Yorkshire19,72684,51062,923167,159173,933
Staffordshire23,86156,92435,446116,231127,472
Suffolk11,78633,94320,36766,09670,538
Surrey22,61240,65028,16391,425100,375
Sussex29,40683,39949,042161,847165,804
Thames Valley39,878112,35757,440209,675232,729
Warwickshire11,08026,19614,73952,01556,157
West Mercia21,38254,35438,019113,755116,490
West Midlands37,194190,208141,206368,608380,971
West Yorkshire32,569142,946102,479277,994288,865
Wiltshire13,79232,48122,53868,81169,715
Total1,027,1533,641,6812,367,2657,070,6877,485,832

Source:

1996-97 and 1998-99--CIPFA Police Statistics Actuals


20 Jan 2000 : Column: 551W

20 Jan 2000 : Column: 551W


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