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Police Houses

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2002, Official Report, column 846W, on police houses, in what circumstances such an officer who remained a tenant from the present day until July 2002 would not enjoy a right to buy at that date. [31563]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 30 January 2002]: Those Metropolitan police service tenants who became secure tenants as a result of amendments to the Housing Act 1985 made by the Greater London Authority Act 1999, will acquire a right to buy once they have occupied the property for two years, ie at July 2002.

If the officer was not a secure tenant (under the Housing Act 1985) in July 2002, the right to buy would not arise.

We propose in the Police Reform Bill to remove the Metropolitan police authority from the secure tenancy regime, while ensuring that any secure tenant who has acquired the right to buy at the time of Royal Assent of the Bill will have a three month period of grace to exercise that right.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that the Metropolitan police service intends to write to those tenants affected to give early notification of the provisions of the Bill.

Community Sentences

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions about the non-production of medical certificates when there is a failure to comply with a community sentence on health grounds. [32238]

Beverley Hughes: My officials met representatives of the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office deregulation unit last year to discuss this issue. Work is in progress examining various ways in which to validate offenders' claims of unfitness to attend community sentence appointments through ill health.

Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act

Mr. Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made in 2002 under the terms of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. [29854]

Beverley Hughes: None. I would like to inform my hon. Friend that there has been no exercises of the powers of arrest in 2002 as of yesterday under the terms of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, but eight people were detained in 2001 under Part 4 of the Act.

4 Feb 2002 : Column 682W

Afghan Hijackers

Mr. Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the hijackers of the Afghan jet which landed at Stansted airport (a) have been deported and (b) remain in the UK. [31399]

Angela Eagle: None of those recently convicted of hijacking the Afghan jet which landed at Stansted airport have been deported. All those convicted have made asylum applications. For those who have been given long sentences, decisions on their immigration status, including the question of deportation from the United Kingdom, will be taken towards the end of those sentences: the situation in Afghanistan could change significantly by the time they are released and a decision taken now might not be relevant in two years time. The applications of those who received shorter sentences, two of whom have now been released, are under consideration now.

Nine convicted hijackers remain in the United Kingdom. One suspected hijacker was too ill to stand trial: a medical report is awaited.

Household Burglaries

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many household burglaries there were by region, expressed as (a) a percentage and (b) the total number, ranked in descending order according to percentage figures for the latest year for which figures are available. [30586]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 30 January 2002]: The requested information is given in the table.

Burglary in a dwelling: offences by region⁽⁷⁾, England and Wales

Region	Percentage of England and Wales total	Offences recorded	Offences per 100,000 population
London	17.4	70,217	964
North-west	17.3	69,826	1,015
Yorkshire and the Humber	14.5	58,561	1,160
West midlands	11.5	46,362	869
South-east	10.1	40,662	503
East midlands	8.1	32,711	780
South-west	6.9	27,792	563
East of England	5.7	22,983	424
North-east	5.4	21,720	841
Wales	3.0	12,150	414
England and Wales		402,984	765

⁽⁷⁾ 12 months ending March 2001

Asylum and Immigration Cases

Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the processing of (a) asylum and (b) immigration cases. [29858]

Angela Eagle: In his statement on 29 October 2001, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set out a substantial package of measures to overhaul our immigration and asylum policy. We will shortly be publishing a White Paper containing details of the Government's proposals for a comprehensive approach to asylum, immigration and nationality in order to improve the processing of cases.

4 Feb 2002 : Column 683W

DEFENCE

European Capabilities

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which of the expert panels taking work forward on the Helsinki Headline Goal the UK will chair; and if he will make a statement. [31619]

Mr. Hoon: The European Capabilities Action Plan working groups will not be fully established until the middle of February. Discussions are under way to determine the composition of each group. The UK has indicated that it wishes to be fully involved in this initiative and would be willing to take the lead in co-ordinating the work in some capability areas.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the Helsinki Headline Goal will be contributed to by non-EU countries; what negotiations have taken place to secure such contributions; and if he will make a statement. [31618]

Mr. Hoon: The Helsinki Headline Goal is a target for EU member states, although additional contributions to the improvement of European capabilities from non-EU countries have been welcomed. These contributions have been offered voluntarily by the countries concerned.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to pursue bilateral arrangements along the lines of the UK/Netherlands Amphibious force with other European countries; and if he will make a statement. [31620]

Mr. Hoon: The UK/Netherlands Amphibious Force has been very successful. For some time we have been considering whether similar approaches elsewhere could bring benefits. The working groups being formed to address the remaining Helsinki Headline Goal capability shortfalls provide a suitable context in which to consider such initiatives.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are being pledged to meet the Helsinki Headline Goal; and if he will make a statement. [32131]

Mr. Hoon: The UK has identified a range of forces as a possible contribution towards the Helsinki Headline Goal. This includes a pool of 20,000 ground troops, from which a maximum of 12,500 could be deployed at any one time. Maritime and air forces have also been identified. The scale and type of forces committed to a particular operation would be decided by the Government according to the circumstances at the time.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the gaps in capability to meet the Helsinki Headline Goal; and if he will make a statement. [32130]

Mr. Hoon: Offers from EU member states have so far met 104 of the 144 capability requirements that underpin the Headline Goal. Approximately half of the remaining shortfalls are considered to be militarily significant. Member states are currently forming working groups under the European Capabilities Action Plan to address these areas.

4 Feb 2002 : Column 684W

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the maximum geographical range of EU-led operations with existing strategic airlift capability; and if he will make a statement. [33021]

Mr. Hoon: The decision to undertake an operation would be based on an assessment of a number of factors, including the feasibility of delivering and sustaining the required scale of forces at the necessary range. The EU member states recognise that strategic mobility is likely to be an important aspect of any military operation and are working to improve their capabilities in this area.

Salaries

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the defence budget is represented by salaries; what the total sum is for (a) the uniformed services and (b) his Department's civilian employees; and what the percentage of both is paid out in (i) Scotland and (ii) overseas. [32451]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 1 February 2002]: Information on salaries for the current financial year is provided in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 2001–02 to 2003–04—Ministry of Defence" (Cm 5109) and in the Ministry of Defence Departmental Performance Report (Cm 5290). Copies of these documents are available in the Library of the House.

Information on the percentage of salaries paid in Scotland and overseas is not immediately available. I will write to the hon. Member.

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