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Delivery Unit
Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the purpose of the Delivery Unit is; and what its aims, objectives and workplan are for (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [15885]
The Prime Minister: I am replying to this question as it relates to matters for which I am responsible.
The purpose of the Delivery Unit is to ensure that the Government achieve their delivery priorities during this Parliament across the key areas of public service: health, education, crime and asylum and transport.
- i. report regularly to me on progress towards achievement of these priorities;
- ii. help in holding the public service Departments to account through the established PSX monitoring process to make sure that they meet their agreed PSA targets;
- iii. ensure that, within departmental spending limits set in the spending review, problems of delivery are solved as rapidly as possible when they emerge;
- iv. sustain the Government's focus on the key objectives over time.
Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the material published in relation to the work of the Delivery Unit; what his policy is in respect of the publication of such material; and if he will make a statement on the public accountability of this unit. [15882]
The Prime Minister: I am replying to this question as it relates to matters for which I am responsible.
The Delivery Unit has not yet published any material. The unit reports to me and is under the day-to-day supervision of Lord Macdonald, the Minister for the Cabinet Office. It is headed by my Chief Adviser on Delivery, Professor Michael Barber.
Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget is for the Delivery Unit in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and how many (i) officials and (ii) special advisers are in this unit. [15881]
The Prime Minister: I am replying to this question as it relates to matters for which I am responsible.
The budget for the Delivery Unit is still being finalised.
At 1 September 2001, there were 12 civil servants in the unit, and no special advisers.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Prisons
15. Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on improving liaison between the prison education service and the University for Industry. [13354]
19 Nov 2001 : Column: 84W
Beverley Hughes: The project to pilot Learndirect in a small number of prison establishments is now under way. Learndirect is an 'e' learning network created by the University for Industry; it is a secure on-line learning programme that brings learning to the learner.
21. Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the future of HM Prisons Downview and High Down. [13360]
Beverley Hughes: HM Prison Downview, which was formerly a training prison for category C males, was re-roled in September 2001 to take female convicted prisoners. The Director General of the Prison Service considered this was necessary to enable the Prison Service to deal with the rise in the number of female prisoners. The Director General is currently considering whether Downview should also hold female remand prisoners.
HM Prison High Down is a local prison which holds male prisoners including category A remand prisoners. The Prison Service continually keeps the use of the estate under review. Changes in the prison population may require establishments to change function, including High Down.
Antisocial Behaviour
16. Mr. Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to monitor the performance of antisocial behaviour orders. [13355]
Mr. Denham: During the passage through Parliament of the Crime and Disorder Bill the Government gave an undertaking to Parliament that they would review the effectiveness of antisocial behaviour orders two years after their introduction. This review will soon be completed and we are aiming to publish its findings in due course.
Police (Havering)
17. Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police numbers in Havering in each of the last four years. [13356]
Angela Eagle: The Commissioner tells me that in December 1997 there were 334 full time equivalent police officers in Havering. The figure for December 1998 was 326; for December 1999 it was 327; and for December 2000 it was 297. The figure for September 2001 was 326.
These numbers are specifically for policing Havering. In addition, the borough benefits from central and specialist services such as the territorial support group, traffic officers and specialist crime units, which are not budgeted for at borough level.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in police numbers in Havering since May 1997. [11655]
Mr. Denham: The information has been provided by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis and is set out in the table. These numbers are specifically for policing Havering. In addition, the borough benefits from central and specialist services such as the territorial support group, traffic officers and specialist crime units, which are not budgeted for at borough level.
19 Nov 2001 : Column: 85W
| Year | Police officers in Havering(35) |
|---|---|
| June 1997 | 326 |
| December 1997 | 334 |
| December 1998 | 326 |
| December 1999 | 327 |
| December 2000 | 297 |
| September 2001 | 326 |
(35) Full time equivalents
Violent Crime
18. David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on trends in violent crime since 1995. [13357]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The British Crime Survey shows that violent crime reached its peak in 1995. Since then, there have been steady falls: down 17 per cent. by 1997, a further 4 per cent. by 1999, and a substantial further fall of 19 per cent. by 2000. Much of the explanation lies in the adoption of a strategic approach to tackling violent crime which emphasises the need for effective policing and punishment, as well as policies to root out the conditions which can engender violent crime, and better support for victims. We are determined to secure further reductions in violent crime in the coming years.
Off-road Motor Bikes
19. Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he plans to bring forward to enable the police to curb the illegal use of off-road motor bikes. [13358]
Angela Eagle: A number of existing powers already address this problem. Where there are particular local difficulties we would expect appropriate action to be taken within the local crime and disorder strategy. We have set in hand research on unlicensed driving and motor cycle riding, and we shall consider carefully any further measures it recommends.
Policing (Bromley)
20. Mr. Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about policing in the London borough of Bromley. [13359]
Mr. Denham: I have regular discussions with the commissioner about policing issues. The resources deployed to individual boroughs is an operational matter for the commissioner.
CCTV
22. Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to make further announcements on developing more CCTV in local communities; and if he will make a statement. [13361]
Mr. Denham: A potential £170 million will be spent funding 686 schemes under the crime reduction programme CCTV initiative.
We are now 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.
19 Nov 2001 : Column: 86W
26. Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities in the north-west of England have been unsuccessful in bidding for his Department's funds for CCTV schemes. [13365]
Mr. Blunkett: Under the crime reduction programme CCTV initiative, the following local authorities in the north-west of England, as part of their local crime and disorder reduction partnerships, submitted unsuccessful bids. (Those marked with an asterisk also submitted successful bids):
- Allerdale
Blackburn and Darwen
Blackpool
Bolton*
Burnley
Carlisle*
Cheshire
Chester*
Crewe and Nantwich*
Copeland*
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Fylde
Halton*
Hyndburn
Knowsley*
Lancashire
Liverpool*
Macclesfield*
Manchester*
Oldham*
Pendle and Burnley
Rochdale*
Rossendale
Salford*
Sefton*
South Ribble
Stockport
Tameside*
Trafford
Vale Royal*
Warrington
Wigan*.
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