Previous Section Index Home Page


Departmental Expenditure Limits

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes to the Departmental Expenditure Limit and administration costs limit within his responsibility. [1794]

Mr. Blunkett: Supplementary to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL), which covers Request for Resources 1 (Building a safe, just and tolerant society) and Request for Resources 2 (Protecting the

28 Jun 2001 : Column: 124W

public by holding prisoners in decent conditions and reducing re-offending after release), will be increased by £72,762,000 from £9,714,633,000 to £9,787,395,000. The administration costs limit will be reduced by £1,391,000 from £2,599,850,000 to £2,598,459,000.

The changes are the net effect of the following transfers: £297,000 from the Invest to Save Budget to deliver web orientated modular substance misuse training for communities and professionals; £700,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund to extend the existing chipping of goods scheme to a further three demonstrator

28 Jun 2001 : Column: 125W

projects; £8,900,000 from the DEL Reserve to combat organised crime involving trafficking of Class A drugs and people trafficking; £3,600,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund to purchase scanning equipment for the detection of people seeking to enter the United Kingdom illegally by clandestine means; £3,200,000 from the DEL Reserve to meet the costs of publicity for the 2001 parliamentary election; £5,000,000 to the Department for Education and Skills for the provision of education to young offenders in custody; £1,391,000 to the Department for Education and Skills for the provision of education to young offenders in custody; £1,391,000 to the Department for Education and Skills for the transfer of education services' staff and other changes to the Prisoners Learning and Skills Partnership; the reclassification of £15,656,000 receipts from the Youth Justice Board as Annually Managed Expenditure; and £46,800,000 from the DEL Reserve for non-Voted expenditure on the 2001 parliamentary election.

The reduction of the Department's administration costs limit is the effect of the transfer of £1,391,000 to the Department for Education and Skills for the transfer of education services' staff and other changes to the Prisoners Learning and Skills partnership.

These changes will be offset by transfers or a charge to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Deaths in Custody

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths were recorded (a) in prison, (b) in young offender establishments and (c) in other places of custody in each of the last 10 years; how many in each category were suicides; and how many deaths in custody in each of the last 10 years have resulted in disciplinary proceedings being brought against custodial officers. [1585]

Beverley Hughes: I shall write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

Mr. Satpal Ram

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant permission for Mr. Satpal Ram, of HMP Wellingborough, to visit his mother in hospital each day. [1172]

28 Jun 2001 : Column: 126W

Beverley Hughes: All applications for temporary release or escorted absences for prisoners to visit sick relatives are carefully and sympathetically considered. Mr. Satpal Ram--a life sentence prisoner now at Littlehey prison--has been allowed escorted visits to his mother on a number of occasions. The Governor of Littlehey will keep this under review and allow visits as appropriate.

Asylum Seekers

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the situation of asylum seekers Mr. and Mrs. Eric Moussavou, placed in the Palace Hotel, Southend on 16 May 2000 by the London Borough of Barnet; and for what reason letters from their solicitors, to his Department on 6 February and 23 May have not been replied to. [1095]

Angela Eagle: Mr. Eric Moussavou applied for asylum "in country" in May 2000 and will therefore be supported by his local authority under the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999. Local authorities providing support to asylum seekers may choose to disperse the asylum seeker under the voluntary dispersal arrangements which came into effect on 6 December 1999.

The delay in the consideration of Mr. Moussavou's asylum application and in replying to his solicitors' letters of 6 February 2001 and 23 May 2001 are regrettable. Unfortunately, the applicant's papers were incorrectly filed. In view of the consequent delay in processing his asylum claim, arrangements will be made to invite the applicant to attend an interview at the earliest opportunity.

Departmental Responsibilities

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff from each directorate in his Department are to be transferred to other Departments as a result of the transfer of responsibilities to other Departments. [240]

Mr. Blunkett [holding answer 25 June 2001]: The responsibilities and numbers of staff transferred are set out in the table. Some minor adjustments to the staffing numbers may arise as a result of the final arrangements agreed between my Department and the other departments involved.

28 Jun 2001 : Column: 125W

Number
Responsibility changesFromToHQ DirectorateInOut
Work permitsFormerly Department of Education and EmploymentHome OfficeImmigration and Nationality Directorate2550
UK Anti-drugs Co-ordinationCabinet OfficeHome OfficePolicing and Crime Reduction Group300
Liquor licensingHome OfficeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate/Legal Adviser's Branch06
Gambling and HorseracingHome OfficeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate09
Planning for the Queen's Golden JubileeHome OfficeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate010
Functions relating to film and video licensing(9)Home OfficeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportCriminal Policy Group00
Fire ServicesHome OfficeDepartment for Transport, Local Government and the RegionsFire and Emergency Planning Directorate/Research Development and statistics Directorate0144
Fire Service College, Home Office Agency0188
Contingency/Emergency planning (except Chair of Civil Contingency Committee)Home OfficeUnified in Cabinet Office with Home Secretary remaining Chair of the Civil Contingencies CommitteeFire and Emergency Planning Directorate071
Byelaws Home OfficeDepartment for Transport, Local Government and the RegionsConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate03
Electoral LawHome OfficeDepartment for Transport, Local Government and the RegionsConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate06
Open Government, Freedom of Information, Data protection and Developing policy on National Identity cardsHome OfficeLord Chancellor's DepartmentConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate/Legal Adviser's Branch014
Channel Islands/Isle of Man, Royal and Church matters, Hereditary Peers and Lord LieutenantsHome OfficeLord Chancellor's DepartmentConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate020
Human RightsHome OfficeLord Chancellor's DepartmentConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate05
Animal WelfareHome OfficeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate02
Sunday trading, Summer time, Easter(9)Home OfficeDepartment of Trade and IndustryConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate 00
Total285478

(9) No transfer of staff as there was less than one full-time person working on these functions


28 Jun 2001 : Column: 127W

28 Jun 2001 : Column: 127W

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the areas of responsibility that have (a) been transferred from his Department to other Departments and (b) been transferred to his Department from other Departments since 8 June. [246]

28 Jun 2001 : Column: 128W

Mr. Blunkett [holding answer 25 June 2001]: The responsibilities and numbers of staff transferred are set out in the table. Some minor adjustments to the staffing numbers may arise as a result of the final arrangements agreed between my Department and the other Departments involved.

28 Jun 2001 : Column: 127W

Number
Responsibility changesFromTo HO DirectorateInOut
Work permitsFormerly Department of Education and EmploymentHome OfficeImmigration and Nationality Directorate2550
UK Anti-drugs Co-ordinationCabinet OfficeHome OfficePolicing and Crime Reduction Group300
Liquor licensingHome OfficeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate/Legal Adviser's Branch06
Gambling and HorseracingHome OfficeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate09
Planning for the Queen's Golden JubileeHome OfficeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate010
Functions relating to film and video licensing(10)Home OfficeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportCriminal Policy Group00
Fire ServicesHome OfficeDepartment for Transport, Local Government and the RegionsFire and Emergency Planning Directorate/Research Development and Statistics Directorate0144
Fire Service College, Home Office Agency0188
Contingency/Emergency planning (except Chair of Civil Contingency Committee)Home OfficeUnified in Cabinet Office with Home Secretary remaining Chair of the Civil Contingencies CommitteeFire and Emergency Planning Directorate071
Byelaws Home OfficeDepartment for Transport Local Government and the RegionsConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate03
Electoral LawHome OfficeDepartment for Transport, Local Government and the RegionsConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate06
Open Government, Freedom of Information, Data protection and Developing policy on National Identity cardsHome OfficeLord Chancellor's DepartmentConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate/Legal Adviser's Branch014
Channel Islands/Isle of Man, Royal and Church matters, Hereditary Peers and Lord LieutenantsHome OfficeLord Chancellor's DepartmentConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate020
Human RightsHome OfficeLord Chancellor's DepartmentConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate05
Animal WelfareHome OfficeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate02
Sunday trading, Summer time, Easter(10)Home OfficeDepartment of Trade and IndustryConstitutional and Community Policy Directorate00
Totals285478

(10) No transfer of staff as there was less than one full time person working on these functions.


28 Jun 2001 : Column: 129W

28 Jun 2001 : Column: 129W


Next Section Index Home Page