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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Ministerial Transport
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last used the railway service in connection with her official duties; what station she left from and what was the destination; and whether it is her intention to make greater use of the railways in future. [28099]
Ms Hewitt: I last used the railway service on official business on Monday 10 December 2001, departing from Euston travelling to Luton Parkway.
All the arrangements for my official travel are made in line with the guidance set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code, and accompanying guidance document "Travel by Ministers", using the most efficient and cost effective mode of transport, and bearing in mind security considerations.
Information and Consultation Directive
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received regarding the information and consultation directive. [30165]
Alan Johnson: There is considerable interest in the information and consultation directive and the Department frequently receives inquiries and representations about it. The directive is expected to be adopted shortly and we will be consulting fully and widely on how best to implement it in this country.
Electronic Signatures
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress on implementing the European electronic signatures directive. [31314]
Ms Hewitt: Further to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 610W, I can now announce that the discussion document referred to in that answer is now being issued and copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
This clearly has not happened as quickly as I had hoped when my hon. Friend the Minister for E-Commerce and Competitiveness replied to my hon. Friend. This delay has been occasioned by developments in the Government's
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approach to updating the law to facilitate electronic communications referred to in my hon. Friend the Minister for E-Commerce and Competitiveness' reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 971W.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Justice and Home Affairs Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 14 January 2002, Official Report, columns 89–92W, concerning the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 6 and 7 December 2001, which were the member states with parliamentary scrutiny reserves on (a) the Framework Decision on combating terrorism and (b) the council decision establishing Eurojust. [28792]
Angela Eagle: Ireland, Denmark and Sweden had, and continue to have, parliamentary scrutiny reservations on the Framework Decision on combating terrorism which was provisionally agreed at the council, and on which the European Parliament is being reconsulted. My previous reply, based on information supplied by the Council Secretariat and included the council's own press statement reporting the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 6–7 December 2001, stated that four member states had parliamentary scrutiny reservations on the Council Decision establishing Eurojust, on which the council reached political agreement. The Council Secretariat have subsequently stated that only Denmark and Sweden maintained parliamentary reservations on this measure at the council.
In both cases, the United Kingdom lifted its parliamentary scrutiny reservation at the Council following clearance by both Houses.
Departmental Spending Review
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to appraise the environmental implications of its Spending Review submission to the Treasury. [29011]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 21 January 2002]: The Department is currently collating its bid for the 2002 Spending Review. The environmental implications of the bid will be outlined in a report on sustainable development, which will be submitted to the Treasury with the final version of the bid.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what way sustainable development objectives are reflected in his Department's bids for the 2002 Spending Review. [27508]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 16 January 2002]: The Department is currently collating its bid for the 2002 Spending Review. The impact of each bid upon sustainable development indicators is being assessed, and alternatives are being considered to eliminate or reduce any negative impact. A report on the sustainable development aspect of the bid will be produced, in accordance with Treasury requirements, which will detail the social, economic and environmental implications of the final version of the Department's SR2002 bid.
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Environmental Appraisals
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many environmental appraisals have been published by his Department since 1 January 2001; and if he will list the last four. [29008]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 21 January 2002]: No environmental appraisals have been published by my Department since 1 January 2001.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures his Department has to ensure environmental appraisals are undertaken prior to (a) administrative and (b) policy decisions being made. [29010]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 21 January 2002]: In taking important administrative and policy decisions environmental considerations are taken into account. For example:
- Where relevant goods and services are procured, prospective suppliers are asked to include an assessment of the major environmental impacts of the contract, as part of the tendering and evaluation process; and
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methods (BREEAM) assessments are undertaken for new buildings and for the major refurbishment of existing buildings within the Department's estate;
A section on environmental appraisals is included within the Department's Policy Checklist;
The Ministerial website states that policy submissions should include a section on environmental considerations.
Fear of Crime
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to reduce the fear of crime in (a) London and (b) the London borough of Havering; and if he will make a statement. [29472]
Mr. Denham: It is a key priority of the Government to reduce crime and the fear of crime through effective law enforcement and partnership working. The British Crime Survey shows that fear of crime generally has been declining since 1998. There are a large number of different programmes operating throughout London and in specific boroughs of London aimed at reducing crime, and it is the Government's policy wherever possible to ensure that they also effectively reduce the fear of crime to include programmes aimed at reducing street robbery, violence at licensed premises and on public transport, and racist attacks and harassment; it would not be practicable to list all relevant programmes currently operating in London.
There are a number of relevant initiatives being carried out in Havering under the Home Office's Crime Reduction Programme. Among them is the targeted Policing Initiative Project aimed at understanding and responding to hate crime; this initiative is still at an early stage of development and has an allocated funding of £287,000 for a 22-month period. Funds have also been
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allocated for Neighbourhood Wardens; one of the objectives of this scheme is to reduce fear of crime by five per cent. by March 2003. £466,583 has been provided to facilitate new and replacement Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the borough, as a result of which over 1,000 crimes are expected to be prevented in the first three years of operation. Funds have also been allocated to tackle drugs problems in the borough, including allowing for higher visibility policing. In addition to these schemes and initiatives 3,000 local people are to be surveyed for their views on fear of crime and their personal priorities for crime reduction. This information will be used to inform decisions on priorities for the Crime Reduction Strategy for Havering.
Either-way Cases
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of either-way cases defendants elected for jury trial in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [29647]
The Solicitor-General: I have been asked to respond to this question, and would refer the hon. Member to the figures and the statement given in reply to his related question.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in (a) how many and (b) what percentage of either-way cases (i) magistrates declined jurisdiction, (ii) defendants consented to magistrates jurisdiction and (iii) defendants elected for jury trial in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [29648]
The Solicitor-General: I have been asked to respond to this question.
The following table, drawn from Crown Prosecution Service records, shows the number and proportion of defendants in either-way cases who were committed to the Crown court at their own election or on magistrates direction. No separate record is maintained of cases in which defendants consented to magistrates jurisdiction.
These figures show a steady decline in the proportion of either-way cases reaching the Crown court by way of defendant election up to 1997–98, followed by a period of relative stability over the last four years, when these proceedings remained in the region of 29–32 per cent. of all either-way cases.
The Government are committed to achieving improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System and is considering Sir Robin Auld's recommendations contained in his "Review of the Criminal Courts" which include removal of the right to elect jury trial and the introduction of an intermediate tribunal. The Government have been actively seeking the views of stakeholders on these and other recommendations contained in the "Review" and will take decisions following the conclusion of the consultation process at the end of January.
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| 1991–92 | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02(15) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defendant elections | 35,584 | 32,865 | 25,249 | 26,612 | 24,768 | 21,472 | 21,653 | 18,391 | 18,572 | 16,351 | 7,605 |
| as percentage of either cases | 36.5 | 37.5 | 35.0 | 34.2 | 33.1 | 30.5 | 27.9 | 29.4 | 31.7 | 29.6 | 30.5 |
| Magistrates directions | 61,867 | 54,738 | 46,954 | 51,181 | 50,158 | 49,026 | 56,069 | 44,269 | 40,097 | 38,914 | 17,350 |
| as percentage of either cases | 63.5 | 62.5 | 65.0 | 65.8 | 66.9 | 69.5 | 72.1 | 70.6 | 68.3 | 70.4 | 69.5 |
| Total either-way cases | 97,451 | 87,603 | 72,203 | 77,793 | 74,926 | 70,498 | 77,722 | 62,660 | 58,669 | 55,265 | 24,955 |
(15) April to September
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