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Police Reform

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his proposals for the future role of police constables. [9720]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 24 October 2001]: The Government will publish later this year a White Paper setting out their proposals for reform of the police service. The reforms will further enhance the professionalism of constables, ensure that they are well trained, well equipped and appropriately rewarded and enjoy strong leadership and effective management.

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his proposals for the use of non-police personnel for policing tasks. [9721]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 24 October 2001]: The police reform process is considering ways in which police support staff might carry out certain functions currently undertaken by police officers, for example, some tasks in the custody suite.

Security Situation (Funding)

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the

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Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about extra funding to cover the present security situation; and if he will make a statement. [9725]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 24 October 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has met the Commissioner and the Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) on several occasions, during which policing the light of the security situation since 11 September has been discussed.

Operational policing is a matter for the Commissioner and it is for the Authority and the Commissioner to decide how best to manage individual issues within the Authority's budget. However, my right hon. Friend does appreciate the impact of the additional resources that the Commissioner and the MPA are providing to counter the increased risks to security, and is considering with them the financial implications.

Closed Circuit Television

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra funds are available for the extension of CCTV programmes in (a) town centres and (b) urban areas. [8444]

Mr. Denham: Under Round 2 of the Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Initiative, 142 town centre schemes have been allocated funding to date, with a further eight still under consideration. Of these, 80 are extensions to existing CCTV schemes.

130 urban area schemes have been allocated funding to date, with a further 13 still under consideration. Of these, 13 are extensions to existing CCTV schemes.

There will be no further opportunities to apply for CCTV funding under this initiative. We are considering how best to build on the lessons of the Crime Reduction Programme in developing new crime reduction initiatives that could provide future funding for CCTV.

Criminal Records Bureau

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Records Bureau will start operating; on what date it was planned to start operating; what the reasons are for the delay; and if he will make a statement. [8452]

Mr. Denham: The establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has long been recognised as a complex and challenging project. This was acknowledged in the report of the Home Affairs Committee published on 28 March, which also perceived that the crucial consideration should be to ensure that the service that the CRB will provide is both robust and effective, rather than aim for a particular date to begin operating.

The registration process began on 1 May. The target date for commencing the issue of Standard and Enhanced Disclosures has been kept under review as the project has progressed. Latterly, the target date was November. But, in the light of an independent review, it has been decided to add two further stages prior to the commencement of live operations. These will enable the CRB's disclosure service to be rigorously tested in a simulated operational environment, in order to provide added confidence in the bureau's state of preparedness to begin delivering a high standard of service.

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It remains the intention to introduce the service on a phased basis. Subject to the testing outlined, it is expected that the CRB will start processing applications at the beginning of March 2002 in respect of cases which are subject to police checks under present arrangements; and all other applications for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures at the beginning of April.

Special Constables (West Midlands)

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables (a) were recruited to and (b) left the West Midlands force in each of the last five years. [9620]

Mr. Denham: The recruitment and wastage figures for West Midlands special constabulary for the period March 1997-March 2001 are set out in the table.

	Recruitment	Wastage
1997	398	350
1998	213	243
1999	145	206
2000	115	116
2001	120	150

Source:

Figures supplied by Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate

Home Office funded research into the premature wastage of special constables, completed last year, found that the primary reasons for leaving were often external to the service. However, the research identified some underlying management factors contributing to the decision to resign.

Recommendations aimed at reducing the wastage included making improvements to: the flexibility of duties and hours offered; the management structure within which specials operate; the quality of training provided locally; and to local efforts to monitor and prevent wastage.

The Government are committed to increasing the special constabulary and as part of the police reform process we are looking at radical improvements in the management, welfare and deployment of special constables.

Sporting Events (Fireworks)

Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make it a criminal offence for members of the crowd at sporting events to set off fireworks; and if he will make a statement. [9481]

Mr. Denham: The police already possess extensive powers for tackling the setting off of fireworks at sporting events, including powers under the Public Order Act 1986. This matter was examined as part of a recent review of cricket disorder when it was decided not to extend football-related legislation to other sporting events, none of which have comparable disorder problems.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those under antisocial behaviour orders have breached the terms of the orders since the commencement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [9488]

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Mr. Denham: An estimate of the percentage of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) which have been breached will be included in the review of ASBOs which we are aiming to publish in due course.

Gatwick Airport

Mr. Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from Sussex police concerning budgetary implications of additional policing requirements at Gatwick Airport; and if he will make a statement. [9091]

Mr. Denham: I have not received any representations. Gatwick Airport is a designated airport under the provisions of the Aviation Security Act 1982. As such the policing arrangements are subject to agreement between the Sussex police and Gatwick Airport Ltd.

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Hijacking (Stansted)

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the passengers from the plane hijacked from Afghanistan to Stansted who were neither charged in relation to the hijacking nor are family members of those charged, and who made claims for asylum (a) have had decisions made on their claims, (b) have had their claims accepted or been granted exceptional leave to remain, (c) are still waiting for decisions on their claims or (d) are being held in detention. [8731]

Angela Eagle: 39 passengers, who were neither charged in relation to the hijacking nor are family members of those charged, claimed asylum. All 39 have had decisions made on their claims for asylum. Four have been granted asylum (plus 13 dependants) and 35 (plus five dependants) have had their applications refused. None of those refused asylum are being held in detention.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Teacher Vacancies Survey

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will publish the results of the telephone survey about vacancies conducted by her Department during September. [8404]

Mr. Timms: The results of the DfES sample telephone survey have been published. I refer the hon. Member to my response issued today to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green). The results of the survey are also available on my Department's website: www.dfes.gov.uk.

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