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19 Sept 2002 : Column 38W—continued
Volunteers
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether volunteers are entitled to receive criminal records checks free of charge; and what assessment has been made of the charges made by umbrella bodies to volunteers wishing to receive checks through the Criminal Records Bureau. [72476]
Hilary Benn [holding answer 23 July 2002]: It was announced in February last year that Standard and Enhanced Disclosures would be issued free by the Criminal Records Bureau in the case of volunteers.
Estimates by a number of organisations as to the level of costs charged by countersigning bodies—whether by an organisation—acting on its own behalf or an umbrella body countersigning applications at the request of others—have varied very considerably, depending upon a range of factors including the size of the organisation and the number of applications to be processed. In guidance for umbrella bodies, the Bureau has urged that any charges made for providing the service should be kept to a minimum. Organisations wishing to use an umbrella body are advised to enquire about, and to compare, any such charges.
We have been determined that all those wishing to access the Criminal Records Bureau's (CRB's) service should have ready means of access. Up to 16 July, a total of 917 umbrella bodies had been registered by the Criminal Records Bureau. Of those, 442 have agreed to act as "open" umbrella bodies to provide this service for bodies outside their own circle or sector), of which 65 are voluntary bodies. Voluntary organisations needing to find an umbrella body should access the CRB's website www.disclosure.gov.uk which has an umbrella body search facility, or contact the CRB direct on 0870 90 90 811. Organisations are continuing to apply for registration, and the number of umbrella bodies will increase. We are actively exploring means of developing the network further.
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Charities
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance and advice his Department provides to charities having difficulty obtaining public liability insurance after 11 September 2001. [72015]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 24 July 2002]: I am aware of the problems being experienced by charities, especially those in the voluntary and community sector, as a result of the volatility in the insurance market since 11 September 2001. It is deeply worrying that small groups of volunteers who are making a real contribution to their communities are being faced with such difficulty.
The Active Community Unit in the Home Office is advising charities in the voluntary and community sector to contact, in the first instance, two organisations who have been successful in negotiating public liability insurance for their membership. Additionally, the Active Community Unit is holding discussions with interested parties from the voluntary and community sector, other interested government departments, the Charity Finance Directors' Group and the insurance industry, to see what more can be done. An exploratory meeting to focus on this issue took place on Wednesday 24 July.
Anti-Semitism
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to (a) monitor and (b) arrest and convict those involved in (i) distributing anti-semitic material and (ii) anti-semitic activity against people and property; and if he will make a statement. [73006]
Beverley Hughes: The police and Jewish bodies continue to work closely to safeguard Jewish people and property. The Government are in close touch with the Community Security Trust of the British Board of Deputies, which provides up-to-date details of anti-Semitic activity in the United Kingdom, such as assaults and criminal damage. Home Office officials have also met leading representatives of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) in order to discuss the recent increase in anti-Semitic activity within University campuses.
The Government are fully committed to tackling anti-Semitism and racism generally wherever it occurs. Under Part III of the Public Order Act 1986 it is an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent or likelihood to stir up racial hatred. The offence covers inflammatory comments made in public or in the media as well as the distribution of printed material. The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 increased the maximum penalty for incitement to racial hatred from two to seven years' imprisonment. Additionally, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 introduced nine new racially aggravated offences, including assault and criminal damage, for which the maximum penalties available to the courts are substantially increased if it can be shown that there was evidence of racial hostility to the offences.
The investigation of possible breaches of these laws is an operational matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. We would therefore urge anyone who believes these laws to have been breached to report the matter to the police.
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Charitable Status
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those organisations which have had charitable status withdrawn since June 2001, stating the reasons in each case. [72766]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 24 July 2002]: This is a matter for the Charity Commission, as the Government Department that registers charities in England and Wales. The Chief Charity Commissioner will write to the hon. Member concerning charities in England and Wales and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
Police Numbers (London)
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on recent levels of crime in areas where police have been taken away to deal with security in London. [28936]
Mr. Denham: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 22 July 2002, Official Report, column 830W.
Civil Servants
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out for each Civil Service grade within his Department the (a) total number of staff employed and (b) the number aged (i) 16 to 25, (ii) 26 to 35, (iii) 36 to 45, (iv) 46 to 60 and (v) over the age of 60 years. [32888]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 6 February 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 April 2002, Official Report, column 1160W.
Secondments
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the names of staff who have been seconded to his department from the private sector since May 1997, indicating (a) the names of the organisation from which each has come, (b) their responsibilities and Civil Service grades within his Department, (c) the organisation responsible for paying their salary and (d) the start and dates of their secondment. (35835)
Hilary Benn [holding answer 12 February 2002]: Secondments are part of the Interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange provides opportunities for civil servants to learn new skills, widen their experience and develop ideas. It also brings in skills and experiences from other sectors.
Available information from the periods in question is listed in the table. Information for 2001–02 is not yet available.
19 Sept 2002 : Column 41W
| Number of Staff | Name of Organisation | Home Office Dept | Grade and Responsibilities | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PWC | Home Office | ||
| (London) | Grade 7 | 4/8/99 to | ||
| 3/8/2000 | ||||
| 1 | Capita Ras | Home Office | ||
| (London) | Senior Civil Service | |||
| 1/10/99 to | ||||
| 30/9/01 | ||||
| 1 | British Telecom | Home Office | ||
| (London) | Grade 6 | 18/10/99 to | ||
| 30/9/01 |
| Number of Staff | Name of Organisation | Home Office Dept | Grade and Responsibilities | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Lewis | Immigration | ||
| & Nationality | Grade 7, | |||
| Team Leader | ||||
| for Asylum | ||||
| Support Unit | Not available | |||
| 1 | Lloyds TSB | Immigration | ||
| & Nationality | Not available | 1 year | ||
| 2 | Not available | Home Office (London) | Not available | Not available |
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff were employed by his Department on secondment from non-govenmental organisations in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001. [45226]
Hilary Benn: Secondments are part of the Interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange provides opportunities for civil servants to learn new skills, widen their experience and develop ideas. It also brings in skills and experiences from other sectors.
For the periods in question, the numbers of staff seconded from non-governmental organisations to the home department are set out in the table. Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.
| Non-Governmental Organisations | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of staff | 30 | 21 |
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff were employed
19 Sept 2002 : Column 42W
by his Department on secondment from the private sector in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001. [45272]
Hilary Benn: Secondments are part of the Interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange provides opportunities for civil servants to learn new skills, widen their experience and develop ideas. It also brings in skills and experiences from other sectors.
During 1999–2000, three private sector staff are recorded as having been seconded to the home department, with a further four in 2000–01. Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.
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