| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Lay Visitors
Ms Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) lay visitors to police
8 Mar 2001 : Column: 322W
stations and (b) members of lay observers' panels in England and Wales were aged (i) under 30, (ii) between 30 and 40, (iii) between 40 and 50, (iv) between 50 and 60 and (v) over 60 years in each of the past five years. [152592]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Information is not collected centrally about the proportion of lay visitors within each given category.
As at 1 March 2001 there are no lay observers under 30 years of age. 2 per cent. are aged between 30 and 40; 8 per cent. between 40 and 50; 25 per cent. between 50 and 60; and the remaining 65 per cent. are over 60 years of age. Historical data about the composition of the lay observers panels are not kept and it is not possible to provide information in respect of the years 1997 to 2000.
Ms Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of places on schemes for lay visitors to visit police stations are not filled; [152590]
- (2) what the (a) gender and (b) ethnic breakdown was of lay visitors to police stations in England and Wales in each of the last five years. [152591]
Mr. Charles Clarke: This information is not collected centrally. Updated Home Office guidance to police authorities on the organisation and operation of lay visiting schemes will be issued shortly and strengthened administrative arrangements should enable better monitoring and record keeping.
Lay Observers
Ms Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of places on lay observers' panels are not filled; [152593]
- (2) what the (a) gender and (b) ethnic breakdown is for members of lay observers' panels in England and Wales in each of the past five years. [152594]
Mr. Charles Clarke: As at 1 March 2001 the eight Lay Observers Panels covering all of England and Wales had a total of 169 members. There were also 12 vacancies.
The membership comprises 122 males and 47 females. 10 Lay Observers are from the minority ethnic communities. Of these eight are of Afro/Caribbean background and the remaining two are Asian.
Historical data about the composition of the Lay Observers Panels are not kept and it is not possible to provide information in respect of the years 1997 to 2000.
Crown Court Trials
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the results of trials in the Crown court where the defendant made a plea of not guilty to all counts, for each of the last five years for which figures are available. [152692]
Mr. Lock: I have been asked to reply.
Figures showing the results of trials where the defendant made a plea of not guilty to all counts are set out in the table.
8 Mar 2001 : Column: 323W
| 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquitted | |||||
| Discharged by judge | 6,232 | 6,844 | 8,404 | 8,800 | 9,563 |
| Directed acquittal | 2,469 | 2,455 | 2,517 | 2,490 | 2,404 |
| Jury acquittal | 5,466 | 5,812 | 5,815 | 5,663 | 5,588 |
| Total acquittals | 14,167 | 15,111 | 16,736 | 16,953 | 17,555 |
| Convicted | |||||
| Changed plea to guilty | 212 | 143 | 157 | 126 | 115 |
| Unanimous verdict | 7,944 | 7,908 | 7,482 | 7,029 | 6,714 |
| 1 dissentient | 827 | 826 | 727 | 777 | 696 |
| 2 dissentients | 1,274 | 1,282 | 1,202 | 1,157 | 1,195 |
| Total convictions | 10,257 | 10,159 | 9,568 | 9,089 | 8,720 |
HEALTH
Correspondence
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 13 December 1999, acknowledged on 16 December 1999 (Ref. POH(2)5303/85) faxed to his Department on 20 November 2000, on the subject of midwives' pay. [150565]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 15 February 2001]: A reply to the hon. Member's letter was sent on 2 March 2001.
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the hon. Member for Ludlow's letters of 27 July 2000, 11 November 2000 and 6 December 2000. [150870]
8 Mar 2001 : Column: 324W
Mr. Denham [holding answer 26 February 2001]: A reply to the hon. Member's letter was sent on 5 March 2001.
Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of 4 December 2000, 3 January 2001, 1 February 2001 and 1 March 2001, relating to her constituent, Mrs. M. Childs of Hoddesdon. [152746]
Mr. Hutton: I replied to the hon. Member's letter of 4 December 2000 on 22 January 2001.
Tinnitus
Ms Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department is giving to the establishment of a UK tinnitus research centre; and if he will make a statement. [152151]
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to set up a tinnitus research centre. [152157]
Mr. Hutton: The Department was asked for advice concerning sources of support for a tinnitus research unit in July 2000. Given the emphasis of the proposal on identifying neuronal and molecular changes and translation research the Department advised that the researchers involved should approach the Medical Research Council (MRC) with this proposal. The MRC is the main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease and it receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry.
Radiographers
Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for radiographers in each health authority. [152499]
Mr. Denham: The information requested is shown in the table.
8 Mar 2001 : Column: 323W
(21) Posts that had been vacant for three months or more as at 31 March of each year
(22) Denotes less than 5 or greater than zero
Notes:
1. Figures are whole-time equivalents rounded to the nearest 10
2. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts
Source:
Department of Health 2000 Vacancies survey
8 Mar 2001 : Column: 327W
8 Mar 2001 : Column: 327W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |