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Anti-social Behaviour

25. Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to registered social landlords with regard to the making of anti-social behaviour orders. [130346]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The new guidance booklet, "Anti-Social Behaviour Orders: Guidance on drawing up Local ASBO Protocols", which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary launched on 28 June, gives advice on partnership working which should assist registered social landlords and other bodies in the consultation process leading up to an ASBO application. A copy of the guidance is in the Library.

29. Mr. Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for on-the-spot fines to curb anti-social behaviour. [130350]

Mr. Charles Clarke: On-the-spot fines are not currently available as a penalty for a criminal offence in England and Wales. The Government take the problems posed by anti-social behaviour very seriously and are considering what new means of dealing with this type of behaviour are necessary.

Marsham Street

26. Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the three tower blocks in Marsham street. [130347]

Mr. Straw: The future of the Marsham street site rests on the outcome of a public private partnership project to provide modern offices for Home Office and Prison Service staff. Bids from two private sector consortia are being evaluated and I expect to announce the outcome shortly.

Police Manpower

27. Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the correlation between the number of police officers in a police area and the level of crime. [130348]

30. Mrs. Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the correlation between the number of police officers in a police area and the level of crime. [130351]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright) on 13 July 2000, Official Report, columns 668-74W. This presented an assessment by my Department of the relationship between changes in police numbers and crime rates at police force level over the last few years. It showed that at level of individual forces, there seems little obvious link between performance and police numbers.

28. Mr. David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received about the adequacy of police numbers in rural areas. [130349]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I have received a number of reports expressing concern about police numbers or the adequacy of police services in rural areas.

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Under the Police Act 1996, it is for Chief Constables to determine the number of police officers in their force from within their available resources, but the Government recognise the importance of ensuring that forces have the funding for sufficient officers to provide an effective service.

Rural areas will benefit from the Crime Fighting Fund, which will provide for an additional 9,000 officers over and above those whom forces planned to recruit in the three years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03.

In addition, £15 million was made available through the Budget, for assistance specifically to police forces in rural areas this year. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Miller) on 20 July 2000, Official Report, columns 320-21W.

Racially Aggravated Offences

31. Mr. Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the racially aggravated offences introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [130352]

Mr. Charles Clarke: This is the subject of a research project commissioned by the Home Office. Results are expected towards the end of this year and a report will be published early next year. The research is designed to look in detail at the operation of the legislation and the extent to which it is being used. It includes questionnaire surveys of key personnel in the police, Crown Prosecution Service and courts, in-depth interviews in five local areas and a thorough analysis of the available statistics.

Rural Policing

32. Dr. George Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to help improve the effectiveness of police forces serving rural communities. [130353]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Rural areas will benefit from the Crime Fighting Fund, part of which will be used to provide funding for 9,000 officers over and above the number forces in England and Wales have already planned to recruit in the period 2000-03.

In addition, £15 million was made available through the Budget for assistance specifically to police forces in rural areas this year. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston, (Mr. Miller), on 20 July 2000, Official Report columns 320-21W.

Public Safety Radio Communications

33. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from police forces about the public safety radio Communications project. [130354]

Mr. Charles Clarke: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have discussed the Public Safety Radio Communications Project with representatives of the

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Association of Chief Police Officers and with individual chief officers on several occasions. A number of forces have raised the question of affordability of the project. I refer the hon. Member, to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's Statement on 19 July 2000, Official Report, columns 376-91.

Referendum Campaigns

35. Mr. Day: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the Government's role during referendum campaigns. [130356]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 12 May 2000, Official Report, column 520W.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

36. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been released from prison on the Home Detention Curfew Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [130357]

Mr. Boateng: As of 30 June, a total of 23,052 prisoners had been placed on the Home Detention Curfew Scheme since the scheme began on 28 January 1999.

Victim Support

37. Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much financial support from central Government has been made available to victim support in each of the last five financial years. [130358]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. McWalter) on 26 June 2000, Official Report, columns 383-84W.

Licensing Laws

38. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about his proposals to amend the licensing laws. [130359]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: On launching the White Paper on 10 April this year, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary told the House that it would be helpful to have responses to the White Paper proposals by 31 July. Since then, up to 12 July, hon. Members had written 143 times on behalf of constituents. In addition, representations had been received from 271 members of the public; 65 licensing justices; 55 local authorities; 19 petrol stations; 11 businesses within the hospitality and leisure industry; nine residents associations; eight passenger boat companies; seven church organisations; six non-profit making registered clubs; two solicitors; one police authority; and one fire authority. A full analysis of these replies and any others received after 12 July will not be completed until after the closing date of 31 July.

Land (Illegal Occupation)

40. Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his proposals for amending the laws relating to illegal occupation of land. [130361]

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Mr. Charles Clarke: There are no plans for changes to legislation at present. We are considering, in consultation with the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what changes are necessary to the current joint guidance on unauthorised camping, to clarify it and ensure there are no misconceptions arising from the use of the term "toleration". We expect to make an announcement shortly.

Association of Chief Police Officers

Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers to discuss measures to combat crime. [130340]

Mr. Charles Clarke: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary had a bilateral meeting with Sir John Evans, Chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers on 21 June.

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