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Vandalism and Graffiti
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were prosecuted for criminal damage in the UK in 2000–01; and what proportion of these relate to acts of vandalism; [23415]
- (2) how many people were prosecuted for committing acts of graffiti in 2000–01; [23555]
(3) what proportion of people convicted for (a) acts of vandalism or (b) graffiti in 2000–01 received conditional discharges. [23414]
Mr. Denham: The information held centrally on the Home Office's Court Proceedings Database giving the number of people prosecuted for all criminal damage offences, the number convicted and the proportion convicted given a conditional discharge in England and Wales during 2000 is given in the table. Data for 2001 are not yet available.
The statistics collected centrally do not include the circumstances of the offence so that offences of vandalism, or offences of committing acts of graffiti, cannot be distinguished from other offences of criminal damage.
Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Total proceeded against | 57,833 |
| Total convicted | 38,226 |
| Total sentenced | 38,067 |
| of which: | |
| Total sentenced to a conditional discharge | 12,585 |
(31) Includes both indictable and summary offences of criminal damage, including arson, criminal damage endangering life and threat etc. to commit criminal damage.
(32) Estimates made for Staffordshire police force, who were only able to submit 2000 data for a sample of weeks, have been included in the totals shown in this table.
Note:
All data are given on a principal offence basis.
Polygamous Marriages
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many polygamous marriages there are in the UK. [24428]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 8 January 2002]: We do not collect information on the number of households where there is more than one wife. However, bigamy is a criminal offence under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. This legislation covers all marriages which take place in England, Wales or Northern Ireland or by United
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Kingdom citizens abroad. The number of defendants proceeded against in England and Wales in 2000 for bigamy is given in the table.
| Number proceeded against | Number found guilty | |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 14 | 10 |
| Female | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 17 | 12 |
Moreover, even if a couple has the legal capacity to enter into a polygamous marriage overseas and the marriage is valid in the country where it is celebrated, the Immigration Act 1988 prevents a person from bringing more than one spouse to settle with him or her in the United Kingdom.
Immigration (South Africans)
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) white and (b) black South African citizens have emigrated to Britain in each year since 1988. [25120]
Angela Eagle: The table provides statistics on the total number of South Africans granted settlement in the United Kingdom in each year from 1988 to 2000. I regret that an ethnic breakdown of these statistics is not available.
| Number of persons | |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 870 |
| 1989 | 730 |
| 1990 | 850 |
| 1991 | 1,050 |
| 1992 | 890 |
| 1993 | 1,100 |
| 1994 | 1,260 |
| 1995 | 1,300 |
| 1996 | 1,040 |
| 1997 | 1,290 |
| 1998 | 2,260 |
| 1999 | 2,950 |
| 2000 | 4,300 |
Note:
Data rounded to the nearest 10
Speeding (Buckingham)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines were levied for speeding in the constituency of Buckingham in each year since 1997; and what was the total sum raised. [22655]
Mr. Denham: Available information on the number of fixed penalties issued and fines imposed at court is shown in the table.
(33) PSA—Petty Sessional Area
(34) 'Estimate' based on £40 fixed penalty charge from 1995 to 1999
(35) Not applicable
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Special Constables
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to pay special constables; and if such payment will be tax free. [24568]
Mr. Denham: The Government have made it clear in the White Paper "Policing a New Century—A Blueprint for Reform" that we are considering a number of options to improve both the recruitment and retention of special constables.
Animal Welfare
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for animal cruelty there were in each year since 1990. [24904]
Angela Eagle: The numbers of scientific procedures on living animals started in each year from 1990 to 2000 inclusive, broken down by species of animal and the various purposes or types of procedures are given in tables contained within the annual publication "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain", copies of which are in the Library. Figures for 2001 will be published in 2002.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Census Website
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to review the e-strategy of the Public Record Office following experience with the 1901 Census website. [26524]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Public Record Office is currently reviewing its e-business strategy as part of the annual corporate planning process. The draft corporate plans are submitted to the Lord Chancellor.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost to public funds was of setting-up and providing systems to support the 1901 Census website. [26503]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The cost to the Public Record Office since 1998 of the 1901 Census Online Project has been £1.2 million. The bulk of the project is funded by the PRO's business partner QinetiQ Ltd., using independent finance, and is intended to be self-financing.
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Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which contractors were responsible for the construction and operation of the 1901 Census website. [26505]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The contractor responsible for the construction and operation of the 1901 Census website is QinetiQ Ltd., supported by its sub-contractors Amey IT Services and Sopheon UK Ltd. Amey IT Services sub-contracted Internet Service Provision to BTIgnite.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the planned capacity of the 1901 Census website; what has been the actual level of demand from the public; and if she will make a statement. [26525]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The planned capacity was calculated by benchmarking with other existing family history sites and then raised. The site was then constructed to allow for 1 million users, with provision to cope with peak demand of 1.2 million users, in any 24-hour period. Prior to the site being closed on 7 January 2002 to enable enhancements to be carried out, it is estimated that the maximum demand it experienced was approximately 1.2 million users per hour.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make a statement on the reasons for the closure of the 1901 Census website; and when she expects it to re-open. [26502]
Ms Rosie Winterton: From its launch on 2 January 2002 the site was subject to levels of demands that were unprecedented in volume and intensity. Many users were prevented from accessing the service. So that enhancements could be introduced, the site was, therefore, temporarily closed to general internet access on 7 January 2002 with the exception of access at the Family Records Centre, at the Kew site of the PRO and at a number of local public libraries and archive services. General internet access will be re-introduced gradually as these enhancements are achieved.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if the 1901 Census is accessible on-line (a) from the Family Records Centre and (b) from other specific locations. [26504]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The 1901 Census is at present available online at the Family Records Centre in Islington, at the Kew site of the PRO, and at a number of local public library and archive services. This access, although limited, is feasible while enhancements are made to the site.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when contracts for the construction, support and operation of the 1901 Census website were (a) offered for tender and (b) awarded. [26506]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The PRO placed a notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC), seeking expressions of interest on 6 November 1998. Following the tender process, the contract was awarded and signed by the PRO and QinetiQ Ltd. (formerly the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency) on 19 January 2000.
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