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Green Ministers

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates his Department's Green Minister attended meetings of the Green Ministers' Committee during the current Session of Parliament; on what dates subsequent meetings are planned to take place; and if he will make a statement. [4814]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 18 July 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 17 July 2001, Official Report, column 165W.

Sexual Offences Review

Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to implement the recommendations of the Sexual Offender Review Group; and if he will make a statement. [4888]

Beverley Hughes: I have arranged that the report of the review of Part One of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 will be published for consultation during the week beginning 30 July. I will place a copy of the report in the Library.

Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he plans to publish the Government's response to the Sexual Offences Review; [5381]

(2) if he will publish a list of those who have responded to the consultation on the Sexual Offences Review; and how many responses he has received to the consultation. [5378]

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 27 June 2001, Official Report, column 99W. We received responses from a wide range of organisations and individuals. A detailed breakdown is not possible without incurring disproportionate cost, as some of those who responded did not want their identity disclosed.

As soon as we have considered all the responses in detail in relation to the 62 recommendations contained in Volume 1 of "Setting the Boundaries" we will be making an announcement of our conclusions.

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Ministerial Duties

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each week from Monday 23 July to Monday 8 October which departmental Ministers will be on duty (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in London. [4900]

Mr. Blunkett: It is not normal practice of Government to publish the daily ministerial duty roster. This Department will ensure that it has sufficient cover through the summer recess in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.

National Black Police Association/Superintendent Dizaei

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if surveillance of Dr. Dizaei included telephone conversations on private and public telecommunication systems in connection with his position as adviser to the National Black Police Association; [1921]

(2) how many of the phone intercepts of Dr. Dizaei carried out between September 1999 and October 2000 were of private conversations unrelated to Dr. Dizaei's work as a police officer; [1922]

(3) if phone interceptions were carried out and transcribed while (a) Dr. Dizaei was giving advice to black officers taking proceedings against the Metropolitan police service and (b) Dr. Dizaei was discussing such cases with the lawyers involved. [1923]

Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the practice in relation to calls made by Superintendent Dizaei (prior to 2 October 2000, when Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 came into force) was that all calls on the Metropolitan police service telephone network were recorded. Those which related to his role as National Black Police Association Legal Adviser were not transcribed and not passed to the team that is investigating his conduct.

Of the calls recorded during the period between September 1999 and October 2000, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that 899 calls appear to be unrelated to Superintendent Dizaei's duties as a police officer.

In relation to interception of communications, which comes under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and its predecessor, the Interception of Communications Act 1985, it has been the policy of successive Governments to neither confirm nor deny whether interception has taken place in any specific case.

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis (a) the accounts of the National Black Police Association were disclosed to the Metropolitan Police and (b) his Department agreed with the Metropolitan Police Service not to allow the National Black Police Association to examine its own accounts. [1924]

Mr. Denham: For the purposes of its investigation into Superintendent Ali Dizaei, the Metropolitan Police asked to examine Home Office documents recording payments of public funds to the National Black Police Association. The Metropolitan Police asked Home Office officials not

19 Jul 2001 : Column: 346W

to disclose the documents to the National Black Police Association. Having examined the documents more fully, however, the Metropolitan Police withdrew its request. The National Black Police Association has since had access to the documents.

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has followed the formal complaint made by the National Black Police Association against the Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair, DAC Hayman and Superintendent Norman on 13 May over their conduct in investigating Dr. Dizaei. [1926]

Mr. Denham: The chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) informs me that the Authority is dealing with the allegations against Mr. Blair and Mr. Hayman in accordance with Regulation 7 of the Police (Conduct) (Senior Officers) Regulations 1999. A specialist adviser, who has sought clarification of the misconduct alleged by the National Black Police Association (NBPA), is tasked to report back to a sub-committee of the MPA on all three officers, as soon as possible, following the completion of his inquiries. The sub-committee will then consider what action should be taken under the Regulations.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is the appropriate disciplinary authority for the allegation against Superintendent Norman. The Commissioner informs me that he will also await the specialist adviser's report before considering what action should be taken under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 1999.

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on who is accountable for the Metropolitan Police service investigations into Dr Ali Dizaei and Chief Inspector Leroy Logan MBE. [4351]

Mr. Denham: Under the Police Act 1996, the Metropolitan Police are under the direction and control of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, which includes the handling of disciplinary investigations.

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the investigation into Dr. Dizaei has been to date including (a) salaries of police officers and support staff, (b) cost of other individuals involved, (c) use of technical equipment, (d) cost of facilities and administration and (e) expenses including overtime and travelling. [1925]

Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that to quantify these costs could be done only at disproportionate cost. It should be noted, however, that the majority of these costs are 'opportunity costs' (that is work carried out in the normal course of an officer's duties), and not additionally incurred. The Commissioner also informs me that the annual budgetary allocation to the Internal Investigations Command of the MPS is £16,646,564.

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are working on the investigation of Dr. Dizaei. [1927]

Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the number of officers engaged in this investigation has varied between eight and 29 at any one time.

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Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many statements relating to the investigation of Dr. Dizaei have been taken to date and what proportion of those statements, excluding those from police staff, were taken from the visible ethnic minorities. [1928]

Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me 803 statements have been taken from 305 different individuals. 33 per cent. of people providing statements are not connected with the Police Service. 53 per cent. of those people are from visible ethnic minorities.

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many superintendents within the Metropolitan Police in the last five years have received surveillance at the level of that carried out in the investigation of Superintendent Dizaei. [1929]

Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that since the inauguration of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Anti-corruption Squad in January 1998, other officers of Superintending rank have been subject to similar surveillance to that carried out in the investigation of Superintendent Dizaei. It is the policy of the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards not to discuss specific numbers of investigations.

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