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Police (Sick Days)
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress made by police forces since 1997 in reducing sick days per officer; and if he will make a statement. [130714]
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Mr. Charles Clarke: The average number of days taken on sick leave per police officer in England and Wales has reduced over the last three years, as given in the table. The figures for 1999-2000 are not yet available.
| Average number of days | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 12.5 |
| 1997-98 | 12.7 |
| 1998-99 | 11.7 |
The Comprehensive Spending Review set police a two per cent. year on year efficiency target, including the reduction of sickness absence in police forces in England and Wales and nearly all forces now have targets to reduce sickness absence as part of their efficiency plans.
Police Budgets
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down the police funding statistics used to calculate the statement in the Government's Annual report 1999-2000 that police budgets have risen on average by 3.6 per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [131367]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The figures requested are given in the table.
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(1) Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and the Metropolitan police were subject to boundary changes
Source:
English forces--Forces returns from DETR
Welsh forces--Forces returns from the Welsh Assembly
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Immigration Advisers
Mr. Darvill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress the Immigration Service Commissioner has made in establishing the scheme of regulation for immigration advisers and service providers; and if he will make a statement. [131481]
Mrs. Roche: As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Miller) on 22 May 2000, Official Report, column 370W, the Immigration Services Commissioner took up post on that date. The Commissioner is in the process of consulting widely within the advice sector in order to formulate the rules and standards which will govern the regulatory scheme. The Commissioner expects to have published the documents required by Part V of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and to be ready to consider exemptions and applications for registration from 30 October 2000. We expect the full regulatory scheme to come into force in April 2001.
Animal Procedures Committee
Mr. Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the latest annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee. [131482]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have today placed a copy of the Animal Procedures Committee's annual report for 1999 in the Library. I welcome the progress the Committee has made on its extensive programme of work.
Hieratic Disqualification
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will seek an early legislative opportunity to relieve priests of the Church of England
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and the Roman Catholic Church from disqualification as hon. Members of the House; and if he will make a statement; [130663]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the disqualification of priests of the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church from membership of the House with the United Kingdom's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. [130664]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The disqualification of priests from standing or acting as Members of Parliament was the subject of a Private Member's Bill in June 1999. Since this measure was lost, we have been sounding out opinion of the relevant churches in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, there is no immediate prospect of legislation being brought forward by the Government.
The question of compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights would be a matter for those bringing forward a relevant Bill.
Blue Travel Documents
Ms Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to the French Government about allowing blue travel documents to be accepted at French ports. [129561]
Mrs. Roche: We are not aware of any difficulties for those using 1951 Convention travel documents (blue) when travelling to France and have not, therefore, had cause to discuss this with the French authorities. However, we are aware that a number of European Union partners will no longer accept the Certificate of Identity (CID) issued by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. This is a brown travel document issued to
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certain foreign nationals, other than refugees, who are resident in the United Kingdom and cannot obtain a national passport on which to travel. This type of document is not issued under international convention but has been widely accepted for travel in the past. It is for the authorities of each country to decide whether they will accept the CID as a valid form of travel document. However, my officials are in discussion with colleagues in the various European Union countries in order to identify their particular concerns and if possible provide any reassurance which might encourage them to accept the CID for travel.
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Police Pay
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a pay-weighting scheme for police officers in the South East of England; and what recent representations have been made to him on this matter. [131066]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. St. Aubyn) during the debate on the Policing of London on 23 June 2000, Official Report, columns 563-64.