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Romanian Orphans Trust
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the Charity Commission took no action following their investigation of the financial affairs of the Romanian Orphans Trust in 1998. [112929]
Mr. Boateng: After a comprehensive review of the Romanian Orphanage Trust's activities and administration, following allegations of financial impropriety in 1998, the Charity Commission concluded there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations. The Commission decided that, while the charity was having to operate in extremely difficult circumstances, charitable funds were protected and proper safeguards and management controls were in place.
The Charity Commission has been in contact with the charity about new allegations which have recently come to light and is evaluating them carefully. Commission Investigation officers will continue to seek to ensure that charitable funds are used appropriately and properly.
Essex Constabulary
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) police officers and (b) constables there will be in (i) the Colchester Division and (ii) the Tendering Division of the Essex Constabulary on 31 March; and what were the equivalent figures for the same date in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; [113108]
6 Mar 2000 : Column: 554W
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The information has been provided by the Chief Constable of Essex. I understand that the force is only able to provide figures as at 1 March for each year for the number of officers in the Colchester and Tendering Divisions. These are set out in the tables.
Ministers have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their forces within the resources that are available. It is not, therefore, possible for us to estimate how many officers Essex would have had if the boundary changes had been implemented in earlier years. I understand from the Chief Constable that for 2000-01 it is estimated that the Essex Police will have 2,995 police officers (115 more than on 1 March 2000) following the boundary changes on 1 April; 2,307 out of this total will be constables (90 more than on 1 March 2000).
I understand from the Chief Constable that the reduction in police numbers in Colchester and Tendering Divisions is a result of centralisation of the force information room and
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the civilianisation of non-operational police posts. This has contributed to an increase in the number of operational officers that are available.
(2) how many (a) police officers and (b) constables there will be in the Essex Constabulary at the time when the new boundaries for the Metropolitan police come into force; and if he will provide the equivalent figures for the same enlarged area for 31 March in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [113111]
| Year (as at 1 March) | Total police numbers | Constable numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 185 | 146 |
| 1998 | 187 | 147 |
| 1999 | 179 | 141 |
| 2000 | 167 | 128 |
| Year (as at 1 March) | Total police numbers | Constable numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 199 | 152 |
| 1998 | 195 | 151 |
| 1999 | 202 | 156 |
| 2000 | 175 | 136 |
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what areas are to be transferred from the Metropolitan Police to the Essex Police. [113106]
Mr. Charles Clarke: On 1 April 2000, the responsibility for policing the part of Epping Forest District currently policed by the Metropolitan Police Service will transfer to the Essex Police. This area is defined in legislation as the parish of Waltham Abbey and the area of the former urban district of Chigwell. It includes Waltham Abbey, Chigwell, Loughton and Buckhurst Hill.
Anti-social Behaviour Orders
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been applied for in each police force area in (a) England and (b) Wales; and if he will make a statement. [113134]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I refer to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 824W.
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has held with local authorities about increasing the use of anti-social behaviour orders. [113125]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
On 15 October 1999, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to the Chief Executive of each local authority about the provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, including the anti-social behaviour order, to tackle problems caused by unruly behaviour. An action group was subsequently established, involving representatives of local authorities and others, to consider issues relating to the use of anti-social behaviour orders. That group is now arranging a series of 10 regional seminars. The seminars will be held over the next few weeks and will provide an opportunity to share good practice, based on the rising number of successful applications for anti-social behaviour orders, and to consult on the terms of a model agreement, or protocol, which local partnerships can use as a basis for effective co-operation in tackling anti-social behaviour.
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Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost to public funds of his Department's current recruitment advertising campaign for (a) press officers and (b) internal communications advisers; and if he will make a statement. [113208]
Mr. Straw:
The total cost of current press officer recruitment advertising is approximately £31,700, including VAT. The Government Information and Communication Service has funded this advertising centrally, as the appointed press officers will be members of the Service and the recruitment process is likely to provide candidates for other Government press offices. There has been no cost to the Home Office. The total cost of advertising for internal communication advisers is £26,555 plus VAT. In addition, Capita RAS has charged the Home Office £15,300 plus VAT for its recruitment services, which include sifting and preparing interview panel facilities for the internal communication posts.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and the Weald of 29 February on pilot projects of alternative voting methods, (a) for what reasons (i) the Local government Association and (ii) journalists were informed of his provisional decisions, and why he imposed no restriction on publication before Parliament had been informed, (b) why he chose not to inform Parliament of his provisional decisions, (c) if he expects his final decisions on the projects to differ from his provisional decisions, and (d) if he will list the journalists whom he informed of his provisional decisions on 15 February; and if he will make a statement. [113279]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The information was made available to journalists and the Local Government Association because they requested it.
No statement was made to Parliament as my decisions were only provisional. Final decisions will not be made until after the Representation of the People Bill has received Royal Assent, at which point Parliament will be informed of them.
One journalist from "The Independent" newspaper was given the information on 15 February. Others were given it, on request, later in that week.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to increase the size of his Department's Press Office; what will be the cost of those plans; and if he will make a statement. [113207]
Mr. Straw:
I refer the right hon. Member to the replies I gave her on 2 March 2000, Official Report, columns 384-85W.
Dr. Ladyman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome to date of the policy of dispersal of refugees. [99707]
6 Mar 2000 : Column: 557W
Mrs. Roche
[pursuant to her reply, 6 December 1999, c. 379-80W]: I propose to bring in the new support arrangements on Monday 3 April 2000 for asylum seekers who make their applications at a port of entry from that date. The entitlement of new port applicants to cash, social security and housing benefits will thereupon cease; in-country applicants do not have this entitlement.
Those who apply for asylum from that date and who are then detained at Oakington reception centre whether their application is port or in-country will go onto the new support arrangements.
I shall also make arrangements for asylum seekers who claim asylum and support from 3 April in Scotland or Northern Ireland and who are eligible for support to come on to the new support arrangements.
It is my intention to bring the new support arrangements on stream as soon as possible for other asylum seekers who make in-country applications for asylum in England and Wales and for those in England and Wales who claim asylum at their port of entry prior to 3 April 2000 who receive a negative decision and who then go on to appeal. Until then, responsibility for providing support will continue under the terms of Schedule 9 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
The new support arrangements comprehensively change the system by which asylum seekers are supported. A phased implementation of the kind described in this answer is the sensible course, drawing on the lessons from previous experience in implementing major change. The arrangements have been tested in simulated trials. Bringing port applicants on to the scheme first will enable the National Asylum Support Service to deal with any teething difficulties before rolling out the scheme fully.
The new support arrangements provide that asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute may be supported by the National Asylum Support Service. Support will consist of the provision of accommodation on a no-choice basis in cluster areas in the United Kingdom. Essential living needs will be met either in kind
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or by the provision of vouchers. There will also be a cash voucher valued at £10 per person per week which can be exchanged for cash.
The scheme is intended fully to meet the United Kingdom's international obligations in relation to those who are genuinely fleeing persecution while, at the same time, deterring those who are seeking to evade immigration control by using the asylum process.
During the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, we gave an undertaking that new asylum applications from families with children would not be brought on to the new support arrangements in April 2000 unless we are satisfied that the targets of delivering most initial asylum decisions within two months and most appeals in a further four months could be met in such cases.