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Police Helicopters
Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 May
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2000, Official Report, column 62W, on police helicopters, and his letter of 18 May, what is the total cost of the air package; and what items it covers. [124658]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The total contract cost to South Wales Police for the air support package is £542,988 for the financial year 2000-01. The contract is placed with Veritair Ltd. and covers the costs of the provision of a role-equipped helicopter, maintenance, fuel, four pilots, pilot training and base facilities.
Hunting with Dogs
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 May 2000, Official Report, column 217W, on hunting with dogs, what steps the Government plan to take to assist the passage through both Houses of Parliament of a Private Members' Bill designed to secure a ban on hunting with dogs. [124074]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The precise steps which may be needed in terms of Government time and assistance to secure the opportunity of a free vote on a hunting Bill will depend upon the circumstances at the time. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has already indicated our broad approach on it.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 27 April 1999 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [124118]
Mr. Straw: During the period 27 April 1999 to the end of March 2000, special advisers in this Department have not travelled overseas in an official capacity.
2 Marsham Street
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purposes the former Environment Department building in Marsham street is now used. [124241]
Mr. Straw: Pursuant to my reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Sir M. Spicer) of 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 391W, the only occupier of this otherwise vacant building is a temporary shelter for the homeless, currently scheduled to close on 31 July. Other casual issues are permitted on a short term basis from time to time.
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost of maintaining the former Environment Department offices in Marsham street. [124239]
Mr. Straw: Pursuant to my reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Sir M. Spicer) of 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 391W, the budgeted figure for the financial year 2000-01 is £392,000 excluding VAT.
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the future of the former Environment Department offices in Marsham street. [124238]
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Mr. Straw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh) on 20 January 2000, Official Report, column 558W.
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated value of the former Environment Department site in Marsham Street. [124240]
Mr. Straw: The site belongs to Property Advisers Civil Estate (PACE). As it is the subject of disposal action through my Department's Central London Accommodation Strategy disclosure of the current valuation could be prejudicial until the sale is completed.
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Crime (Greater Manchester)
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data he has collated on recent crime trends in respect of (a) Greater Manchester and (b) the centre of Manchester for (i) robbery, (ii) theft from persons, (iii) theft from cars, (iv) theft of cars, (v) total crime, (vi) violent crime and (vii) sexual assaults. [123800]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The latest available data on crime trends in the centre of Manchester and Greater Manchester compare the periods April 1998 to September 1998 and April 1999 to September 1999 and are shown in the table.
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| North and South Manchester | Greater Manchester | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998 | 1 April 1999 to 30 September 1999 | Percentage change | 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998 | 1 April 1999 to 30 September 1999 | Percentage change | |
| Total crime | 45,676 | 46,954 | 2.8 | 182,433 | 185,955 | 1.9 |
| Violent crime | 7,009 | 8,540 | 21.8 | 23,114 | 26,428 | 14.3 |
| Violence against the person | 4,897 | 6,142 | 25.4 | 18,368 | 21,039 | 14.5 |
| Robbery | 1,781 | 2,022 | 13.5 | 3,611 | 4,095 | 13.4 |
| Sexual offences | 331 | 376 | 13.6 | 1,135 | 1,294 | 14.0 |
| Theft from the person | 1,044 | 1,099 | 5.3 | 2,232 | 2,266 | 1.5 |
| Theft from a vehicle | 5,706 | 5,105 | -10.5 | 23,477 | 22,317 | -4.9 |
| Theft/unauthorised taking of a vehicle | 4,653 | 4,599 | -1.2 | 19,237 | 19,698 | 2.4 |
Notes:
Violent crime comprises violence against the person, robbery and sexual offences.
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Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with Greater Manchester Police on the setting of operational targets with respect to (a) crimes of violence and (b) overall crime. [123801]
Mr. Charles Clarke: All police authorities in England and Wales have been provided with statutory guidance under the Best Value regime (Section 5 of the Local Government Act 1999) which requires that specific five year targets should be set by all police authorities for domestic burglary and for vehicle crime. In addition, five police authorities, including Greater Manchester, are required to set a target for robbery. The targets are a matter for individual police authorities and those set by each police authority are contained in their Best Value Performance Plan which they were required to publish before 31 March 2000.
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The five year targets set by the Greater Manchester Police Authority are:
- to reduce domestic burglary by 25 per cent.;
- to reduce vehicle crime by 34 per cent.; and
- to reduce robbery by 10 per cent.
Pedlars Act 1871
Dr. Brand: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the outcome of his review of the Pedlars Act 1871. [123582]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Home Office has considered the scope for reforming street trading and pedlars legislation in the light of the previous Government's deregulation reviews. We intend to discuss shortly with interested parties the deregulatory possibilities for street trading. Reform or repeal of the Pedlars Acts would, we believe, require primary legislation. We are ready to listen to views on pedlars but have no present plans to change the law.