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Police
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have left Sussex constabulary in the last 12 months through (a) retirement, (b) early retirement, (c) injury and (d) other employment. [53298]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 29 April 2002]: In the period from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002, figures for Sussex were as follows:
- (a) Normal retirements—82
- (b) Early retirements (ill health)—11
- (c) Injury retirements—5
- (d) Transfers to other employment—13.
In addition, 77 officers left Sussex before retirement age with no transferral of pension rights to other employment.
Sirius Project
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the Sirius project; and what contingency plans his Department has for the project not being completed on schedule. [53483]
Angela Eagle: The information technology 2000 contract, placed with the Sirius consortium, provides the Home Office with information technology and related services. It has been providing the Department with information technology since 5 February 2001, and is
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expected to do so until February 2011. Business continuity plans are in place and kept under regular review.
Data Protection Act
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of each version of the internal guidance which have been drawn up by his Department since 1 January 1999 to assist staff in his Department to answer subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998. [53381]
Angela Eagle: No. Department-wide guidance has been issued on the handling of subject access requests, but advice has been issued within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and in the Prison Service, the two areas where most subject access requests are received. I am placing copies of the relevant guidance in the Library. In the case of the IND instructions certain sections have been edited for operational and security reasons.
Asylum Applications
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to accelerate the asylum application process; and what steps he has taken to ensure that the asylum application process is clearly understood by applicants. [53142]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 1 May 2002]: The measures set out in the White Paper "Secure Borders, Safe Haven" published in February 2002, and in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill are designed to accelerate the asylum process. The introduction of a managed system of induction, accommodation, reporting and removal centres will secure a seamless asylum process and maintain contact with applicants. The appeals system will be streamlined to minimise delay and cut down barriers to removal.
Asylum seekers will attend an induction centre for detailed briefing by the voluntary sector and the Home Office. A pilot induction centre opened in Dover in January 2002.
Racism and Xenophobia
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition of (a) racism and (b) xenophobia is used by his Department. [53961]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 2 May 2002]: The terms "racism" and "xenophobia" are not defined in the United Kingdom's domestic law. Our law deals with those who act on racism through, for example, racial discrimination or inciting racial hatred, behaviours which are defined in our legislation. Where these terms appear and are not defined, such as in Article 29 of the Treaty of European Union, in the view of United Kingdom Government the terms should be given their ordinary accepted meaning having regard to the context in which they are used. This is also the approach taken within the Home Office.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Coolants
Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what coolant will be used for the building services water chilling system for the new GCHQ building. [52045]
Mr. Straw: The consortium (Integrated Accommodation Services) building the new GCHQ accommodation are using the refrigerant HFC 134A to chill the water. This is a commercially available non-ozone depleting refrigerant.
Ministerial Training
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department on training by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52750]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 26 April 2002]: Nothing.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department on training in leadership skills for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52725]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 26 April 2002]: Since 1997 the FCO has spent £1,995,213 on the delivery of leadership skills and other management or job related training programmes.
The Secretary of State and current ministerial team have not attended the programmes provided by CMPS or the in house FCO programmes.
(33) Provided by London Business School 1997–2000
(34) Provided by International Training Service (ITS) 2000–02
(35) Provided by Ashridge 2000 to date
(36) Provided by Innermost 2000 to date
(37) Provided by Innermost 2001 to date
(38) Provided by in house speakers from the Senior Management Structure 1999 to date
(39) Provided by in house speakers from the Senior Management Structure 2001 to date
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Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department on voice coaching for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52720]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 26 April 2002]: Since 1997 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has spent £257,533 on the delivery of presentation and media skills training.
The FCO provides in-house training in Effective Speaking, Presentation Skills for Senior Grades, Presentation Skills for Occasional Speakers and Media Skills and Techniques for FCO Officials. The FCO employs professional training providers, via competitive tender, to deliver presentation and media skills training.
The Secretary of State and current ministerial team have not attended programmes provided by Centre for Management and Policy Studies or FCO in-house courses.
- Effective Speaking for Officers in Band B and above and Effective Speaking for Senior Grades
- Training provided by:
- Effective Speaking Ltd. 1997–99
- Crystal Media 1999 to date
- A two day course to help officers prepare presentations, improve their vocal technique and increase confidence and a one day course to help senior officers prepare a presentation, improve their vocal technique and take questions from the floor.
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- Cost per year:
- 2000–01: £84,490
- 2001–02 1 : £83,729
- Total: £168,219
- Effective Presentation Skills for Occasional Speakers
- Training provided by:
- Effective Speaking Ltd. 1997–2001
- Crystal Media 2001 to date
- A one or two day ad hoc course for individuals to help them prepare and deliver an effective presentation.
| Cost per year (£) | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | — |
| 1998–99 | 6,000 |
| 1999–2000 | 10,558 |
| 2000–01 | 7,231 |
| 2001–02 | 28,821 |
| Total | 52,610 |
Media skills: "BBC" In-House; Radio and Telephone Skills; TV, Radio and Telephone Skills (1997–2000) Media Skills and Techniques (2000 to date)
Training provided by:
FCO in-house trainers with ad hoc input from Crystal Media 1997 to date
Cost per year:
2000–01: £18,283
2001–02 1 : £18,421
Total: £36,704
Total costs: £257,533
1 No records available prior to 2000.
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