House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 May 2001 (pt 23)

Correspondence

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to answer the letters to him dated 11 April and 2 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. S. Anjum. [160967]

Mr. Straw: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 10 May.

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to answer the letter to him dated 26 March from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to the Dahem family. [160969]

Mr. Straw: I will write to my right hon. Friend shortly.

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to answer the letter to him dated 10 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mujibur Rahman. [160966]

Mr. Straw: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 9 May.

Crime Reduction Programme

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the initiatives (a) under way and (b) planned as part of his Crime Reduction Programme, indicating the objectives, expected duration and cost to public funds of each initiative. [159017]

Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 26 April 2001]: The Crime Reduction Programme (CRP) is the biggest single investment in an evidence-based approach to crime reduction which has ever taken place in any country. Knowledge gained will contribute to reversing the long-term growth rate in crime and ensuring we are achieving the greatest impact for the money spent. Projects which are successful will form the basis of future mainstream programmes; those which are not will be dropped.

All of the initiatives in the table are under way; no new initiatives are planned as part of the Crime Reduction Programme. CRP projects are of differing duration, but all CRP initiatives are due to finish by 31 March 2002 although some will, exceptionally and with prior approval, be completed in 2002-03.

Crime Reduction Programme

£ million

Initiative Objective Actual expenditure for 1999-2000 Provisional final expenditure for 2000-01 Forecast expenditure for 2001-02

Reducing Burglary To reduce burglary nationally by targeting areas with worst domestic burglary problems 2.1 9.2 18.5

Locks for the over-60s To improve security for low-income pensioners in high crime areas 0 0.9 3.0

Summer Schemes To engage in constructive activities 13 to 17-years-olds in high crime neighbourhoods 0 1.9 1.7

Prostitution--What Works To find out what works in reducing crime/disorder associated with prostitution 0 0.04 1.0

Targeted Policing To help develop problem oriented approach to local crime/disorder problems 0.5 9.4 18.6

'On Track' Long-term initiative aimed at children at risk of getting involved in crime 0.2 5.0 ⁽³⁰⁾0

Vehicle Crime Publicity To increase motorists' awareness of vehicle security issues 0 8.0 ⁽³¹⁾0

Treatment of Offenders To develop effective practice on what reduces re-offending 2.3 7.8 8.2

Drug Arrest Referrals Development of arrest referral schemes to impact upon drug-related offending 0.3 8.8 10.5

Schools Intervention To integrate schools' management of pupils' behaviour and reduction in truancies and exclusions 0.2 6.1 5.4

Violence Against Women To develop and implement local strategies for reducing domestic violence and rape/sexual assault by known perpetrators 0.09 2.0 7.1

Vehicle Crime To help prevent stolen vehicles being given new identity and reduce number of cars stolen for resale 0 0.5 2.6

Youth Inclusion Multiple intervention package for most at risk 13 to 16-year-olds in deprived neighbourhoods 0 2.75 2.75

Sentencing Practices To maximise impact of sentences on crime reduction 0.3 0.9 3.2

Neighbourhood Wardens To pump-prime new and existing warden schemes 0 0.9 3.0

Design Against Crime To increase crime resistance of new products, designs and systems 0.6 0.5 1.1

Arson Control Forum To contribute to 30 per cent. reduction in number of deliberate fires by 31 March 2009 0 0.1 ⁽³¹⁾0

Offenders Index To provide a criminal career database on the offender population 0.075 0.2 0

Suzy Lamplugh Trust To support the establishment of a Centre for Personal Safety 0 0.2 0.3

CCTV Initiative Capital funding of CCTV projects 0 23.4 101.3

Rape Crisis Federation To support and develop rape crisis groups 0 0 0.4

Toolkits Production of toolkits to assist partnerships in crime reduction work 0 0.1 0.4

Total 6.7 88.7 189.05

				£ million
Initiative	Objective	Actual expenditure for 1999-2000	Provisional final expenditure for 2000-01	Forecast expenditure for 2001-02
Reducing Burglary	To reduce burglary nationally by targeting areas with worst domestic burglary problems	2.1	9.2	18.5

Locks for the over-60s	To improve security for low-income pensioners in high crime areas	0	0.9	3.0

Summer Schemes	To engage in constructive activities 13 to 17-years-olds in high crime neighbourhoods	0	1.9	1.7

Prostitution--What Works	To find out what works in reducing crime/disorder associated with prostitution	0	0.04	1.0

Targeted Policing	To help develop problem oriented approach to local crime/disorder problems	0.5	9.4	18.6

'On Track'	Long-term initiative aimed at children at risk of getting involved in crime	0.2	5.0	⁽³⁰⁾0

Vehicle Crime Publicity	To increase motorists' awareness of vehicle security issues	0	8.0	⁽³¹⁾0

Treatment of Offenders	To develop effective practice on what reduces re-offending	2.3	7.8	8.2

Drug Arrest Referrals	Development of arrest referral schemes to impact upon drug-related offending	0.3	8.8	10.5

Schools Intervention	To integrate schools' management of pupils' behaviour and reduction in truancies and exclusions	0.2	6.1	5.4

Violence Against Women	To develop and implement local strategies for reducing domestic violence and rape/sexual assault by known perpetrators	0.09	2.0	7.1

Vehicle Crime	To help prevent stolen vehicles being given new identity and reduce number of cars stolen for resale	0	0.5	2.6

Youth Inclusion	Multiple intervention package for most at risk 13 to 16-year-olds in deprived neighbourhoods	0	2.75	2.75

Sentencing Practices	To maximise impact of sentences on crime reduction	0.3	0.9	3.2

Neighbourhood Wardens	To pump-prime new and existing warden schemes	0	0.9	3.0

Design Against Crime	To increase crime resistance of new products, designs and systems	0.6	0.5	1.1

Arson Control Forum	To contribute to 30 per cent. reduction in number of deliberate fires by 31 March 2009	0	0.1	⁽³¹⁾0

Offenders Index	To provide a criminal career database on the offender population	0.075	0.2	0

Suzy Lamplugh Trust	To support the establishment of a Centre for Personal Safety	0	0.2	0.3

CCTV Initiative	Capital funding of CCTV projects	0	23.4	101.3

Rape Crisis Federation	To support and develop rape crisis groups	0	0	0.4

Toolkits	Production of toolkits to assist partnerships in crime reduction work	0	0.1	0.4

Total		6.7	88.7	189.05

⁽³⁰⁾ Responsibility for funding 'On Track' transferred to DfEE's Children's Fund with effect from 1 April 2001

⁽³¹⁾ No longer funded by Crime Reduction Programme

10 May 2001 : Column: 339W

Lord Birt

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Lord Birt met representatives of (a) Victim Support and (b) other victims' organisations in his capacity as the Government's adviser on crime. [158256]

10 May 2001 : Column: 340W

Mr. Straw: I understand that Lord Birt met representatives of Victim Support on 30 January 2001 and that he met representatives of Crime Concern on 30 January and the National Association of Care and Resettlement of Offenders on 14 February 2001.

10 May 2001 : Column: 341W

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criminal justice organisations Lord Birt has met in his capacity as the Government's adviser on crime; and when. [158257]

Mr. Straw: I understand that over the months since his appointment in July 2000 Lord Birt has met the following organisations involved in criminal justice and crime reduction:

Home Office

Lord Chancellor's Department

Crown Prosecution Service

HM Customs and Excise

Department for Education and Employment

Youth Justice Board

Association of Chief Police Officers

UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator

Social Exclusion Unit

Northumbria Police

Sunderland Youth Offending Team

Nottingham County Council; Nottingham Sure Start; Youth Offending Team

10 May 2001 : Column: 342W

Aylesbury Youth Offender Institution

HM Prison Brixton

National Criminal Intelligence Service

National Crime Squad

Parole Board for England and Wales

National Probation Service

Victim Support

National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

Crime Concern.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Lord Birt met representatives of (a) ACPO, (b) the Police Superintendents' Association and (c) the Police Federation in his capacity as the Government's adviser on crime. [158258]

Mr. Straw: I understand that Lord Birt met the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers on 19 December 2000.

10 May 2001 : Column: 341W

10 May 2001 : Column: 343W

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Peter Bleach

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has received to the letter which he sent to the Indian Government about the imprisonment of Peter Bleach; and if he will make a statement. [158444]

Mr. Wilson: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not yet received a reply to his letter of 4 December 2000 to the Indian Government asking for Peter Bleach to be released on the grounds of fair and equal treatment with his co-convicted who have already been released. He sent a reminder on 29 January. Our High Commissioner in New Delhi has followed up the Foreign Secretary's request with key players in the Indian Government. My noble Friend Baroness Scotland, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, called in the Indian High Commissioner on 7 March to remind him of the Foreign Secretary's request. I also raised the case with the Indian High Commissioner on 22 March.

EU Secret Documents

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards classification of EU documents graded as Top Secret. [158753]

Mr. Vaz: EU security regulations provide for classification of EU documents graded as Top Secret and set out the rationale for doing so. It is right that where institutions of the European Union hold information that is Top Secret, they should handle that information with appropriate care as provided for in the relevant security regulations.

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