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Jury Trial
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, in how many and what percentage of either-way cases (a) magistrates declined jurisdiction, (b) defendants consented to magistrates' jurisdiction and (c) defendants elected for jury trial; and if he will make a statement. [99791]
Mr. Straw: The information requested is being prepared; I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it becomes available, and place a copy in the Library.
Community Sentences
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many offenders who breached a community sentence were subject to re-sentencing, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement; [99808]
- (2) how many combination orders were made by (a) magistrates' courts and (b) Crown courts, by gender and by age group, during the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [99795]
(3) how many people breached community sentences in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [99807]
(4) how many combination orders made by (a) magistrates' courts and (b) Crown courts, were breached, by gender and by age group, during the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [99796]
Mr. Straw:
The available information given in the tables is taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database which covers defendants proceeded against in court for breaching a community sentence.
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| Males | Females | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 16-17 | 18-20 | 21 and over | All ages | 16-17 | 18-20 | 21 and over | All ages |
| 1996 | 304 | 1,566 | 3,416 | 5,286 | 11 | 76 | 326 | 413 |
| 1997 | 391 | 1,962 | 4,543 | 6,896 | 21 | 85 | 404 | 510 |
| 1998 | 237 | 1,310 | 3,014 | 4,561 | 27 | 93 | 340 | 460 |
Note:
Breach data does not include information on the original sentencing court (i.e. magistrates' or Crown Court)
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| Year | |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 24,882 |
| 1997 | 27,179 |
| 1998 | 27,250 |
Note:
Data on the number of offenders who had their sentences revoked and were re sentenced for the original offence are not readily available.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what options are open to the courts to respond to a breach of community sentence; and if he will make a statement. [99806]
Mr. Boateng: Where the courts find that an offender has breached the requirements of his community sentence they may: impose a fine not exceeding £1,000; or make a community service order, subject to certain restrictions on the aggregate hours; or, in respect of offenders under the age of 21 and subject to a probation order or offenders under the age of 16 subject to curfew orders, make an attendance centre order; or revoke the order and re-sentence for the original offence.
Immigration Service
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his timetable for the secondary legislation he plans to introduce following the enactment of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; and if he will make a statement. [99794]
Mrs. Roche: We intend to phase implementation of the Act over the next 12 to 18 months. In doing so, we will give priority to the provisions, including the relevant order-making powers, relating to the new asylum support arrangements and to the civil penalty for clandestine entrants. Following consultation earlier this year, the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999 have already been laid before Parliament. Further secondary legislation will be introduced when necessary and, whenever possible, will be subject to consultation with interested parties.
Harassment
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people made complaints to the police under the Protection from Harassment Act 1996, between September 1998 and the last month for which figures are available; how many of those complaints resulted in (a) a prosecution and
26 Nov 1999 : Column: 246W
(b) a conviction; what were the sentencing outcomes under sections II and IV of the Act; and if he will make a statement. [99802]
Mr. Straw:
Available data from the Home Office Cautions and Court Proceedings Databases, covering the period from September 1998 to March 1999 inclusive, are given in the table. Provisional data for the second quarter of this year will not be available until December.
| Offence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Offence of harassment (7) | Putting people in fear of violence (8) | |
| Number of persons cautioned | 558 | 105 |
| Proceeded against in magistrates courts | 2,919 | 888 |
| All courts | ||
| Found guilty | 1,444 | 287 |
| Sentenced | 1,444 | 286 |
| Absolute or conditional discharge | 527 | 48 |
| Fined | 310 | 36 |
| Community sentence | 375 | 113 |
| Immediate custody | 156 | 74 |
| Other | 76 | 15 |
(6) Provisional data
(7) Section 2
(8) Section 4
Information Technology Projects
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the definition of project running costs as referred to in the list of information technology projects placed in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [100171]
Mr. Straw: The definition of project running costs referred to in the list varies with the nature of the project.
Normally, running costs might be expected to include the costs of activities associated with the delivery of a project or the letting of a contract: for example the costs arising from the procurement process, the cost of expert advisers, the costs arising from project management and the support staff required to perform these activities.
Asylum Seekers
Ms Osborne:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with regard to the dispersal of asylum seekers to Scotland. [100190]
26 Nov 1999 : Column: 247W
Mrs. Roche:
In preparation for commencement next year of the new support arrangements, Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, officials in my Department have been discussing with officials in the Scottish Executive, local authorities, the voluntary sector and potential accommodation providers, arrangements for the dispersal of asylum seekers to Scotland. These discussions have included bilateral meetings and a seminar held on 21 September in Glasgow, which focused on the provision of accommodation. The precise arrangements for dispersal remain subject to further consideration and consultation.
Departmental Transport
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years. [99146]
Jacqui Smith: Ministers, when travelling on official business, may use a private care instead of an official car and claim mileage allowance in the same circumstances and on the same terms as civil servants in the Minister's Department.
| pence per mile | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine size | Up to 4,000 miles | Over 4,000 miles |
| DfEE | ||
| Up to 1500cc | 35 | 20 |
| 1501cc+ | 45 | 25 |
| Employment Service | ||
| Unified Mileage Rate: 34 pence per mile | ||
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