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HOME DEPARTMENT

Accommodation Centres

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his powers (a) to make proposals for and (b) to select sites for an accommodation centre, with special reference to the provisions of part 2 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. [85452]

Beverley Hughes: Section 16 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 gives the Secretary of State power to arrange for the provision of premises for the accommodation of persons in accordance with part 2 of that Act. Nothing in part 2 of the Act limits the discretion of the Secretary of State in respect of the proposed sites for accommodation centres or in respect of which sites he may decide to submit planning notifications.

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Animal Experiments

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what animal experiments licensed by the Home Office have involved the feeding of genetically modified crop plants to farm animals and poultry since 1997; when the experiments took place and how many animals were involved; which genetically modified crops were used in the experiments; how long the experiments lasted; what their respective completion dates were; what their reference numbers were; and which experiments received public funding. [85070]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: A small number of studies looking at the nutritional value and safety of some genetically modified food-stuffs have been licensed by the Home Office under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. However, it is not departmental policy to give details which could identify where and by whom work licensed under the 1986 Act is undertaken. Other information requested is not readily available from departmental records and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Anti-social Behaviour

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to tackle anti-social behaviour. [82977]

Mr. Denham: We have already introduced measures to tackle anti-social behaviour including changes to increase the effectiveness of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) in the Police Reform Act 2002. We have increased police capacity by creating and funding community support officers and strengthening the powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices. We will build on this through the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill.

The Queen's speech outlined a new drive to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour—we will be producing a White Paper in the New Year and a bill to reinforce this drive.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forecasts have been made of the likely impact of new (a) licensing and (b) anti-social behaviour provisions in (i) the North West, and (ii) Burnley; and if he will make a statement. [83416]

Mr. Denham: The Licensing Bill, introduced to the House of Lords on 14 November, was accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment, and has been deposited in the Library. The expected impacts include reductions in binge drinking prior to fixed closing times and related drunkenness in the streets. A more gradual dispersal of consumers should also lead to a decrease in reports of nuisance and noise. We believe that these provisions will benefit people throughout the country.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Bill will build on existing provisions and fill gaps, where appropriate, to tackle anti-social behaviour—wherever it occurs.

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the prevalence of anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement. [83677]

Mr. Denham: The prevalence of anti-social behaviour is assessed using information from the British Crime Survey, which provides a measure of the public's

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perception of the level of disorder and anti-social behaviour in their area. The survey asks about problems caused by noisy neighbours or loud parties, teenagers hanging around on the streets, rubbish or litter lying around, vandalism and graffiti, racial attacks, drug dealing and people being drunk or rowdy.

Asylum Seeker Housing

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his reply of 3 December 2002, (ref 84175) on asylum seekers, how many asylum seekers have been housed by Clearsprings Management Ltd., broken down by local authority area; what fees have been paid per asylum seeker for their housing broken down by local authority; and what other contracted services Clearsprings Management Ltd. provides for his Department. [86208]

Beverley Hughes [holding answer 9 December 2002]: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has only one contract with Clearsprings Management Ltd. to provide accommodation for destitute asylum seekers. I am unable to give details about payments to Clearsprings under the terms of this contract since this information is commercial in confidence.

Statistics are currently not available on the number of asylum seekers placed by NASS in accommodation owned by individual accommodation providers. To provide these figures would involve a disproportionate cost.

Benefits Payments

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for (a) patterns and (b) levels of crime of the phased withdrawal of payable order books for payment of social security benefits, with particular reference to sources of finance for the purchase of illegal drugs. [84401]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 2 December 2002]: The Home Office has not made any assessment of the implications for patterns and levels of crime associated with this proposal. I understand that the Department for Work and Pensions monitors claims activity to inform counter-fraud activity and will look for any changes in patterns of behaviour during the rollout to direct payment.

Burrell Case

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 25 November, Official Report, column 98W, regarding the Burrell Case, when he was informed that the trial would collapse. [84621]

Hilary Benn: The right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary and Attorney General keep in close contact on a range of matters. This issue came up in the course of that regular contact.

Chelmsford Prison

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the approved number of places is at Chelmsford Prison; and how many prisoners are housed there; [86508]

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(2) what proposals he has to provide additional prison places in Essex. [86509]

Hilary Benn [holding answer 9 December 2002]: There are no immediate plans to build a new prison in Essex, or to increase the number of prison places in existing prisons in the area. The Prison Service is continually reviewing its estate, and it may be that such plans are considered at a future date.

On 29 November 2002, the operational capacity of Chelmsford Prison was 576. On the same day, the total population at the prison was 567.

Correspondence

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West of 5 November 2002, regarding airport security; and for what reason his reply has been delayed. [85875]

Mr. Denham: The hon. Member's letter was received in the Home Office on 19 November 2002. The correspondence was transferred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport (Alistair Darling) on 4 December 2002, who will be replying shortly.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of criminal injuries compensation budget for 2002–03 was allocated in the first six months of the financial year. [86163]

Hilary Benn: 51 per cent.

Criminal Justice

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish (a) Criminal Statistics England and Wales 2001 and (b) Prison Statistics England and Wales 2002. [84310]

Hilary Benn [holding answer 2 December 2002]: It is proposed to publish Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 2001 on 12 December

Prison Statistics for England and Wales 2002 is planned for publication in 2003.

Criminal Records Bureau

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which Indian cities the outsource of personnel of the Criminal Records Bureau is located. [84922]

Hilary Benn: There are no Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) personnel located in India. However, some data processing work relating to CRB disclosure applications has been outsourced by Capita to Hayes Plc and is undertaken at a site in Chennai, formerly known as Madras.

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed with the Chief Executive of the Criminal Records Bureau the performance of the Bureau; and if he will make a statement. [86059]

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Hilary Benn [holding answer 9 December 2002]: My noble Friend, Lord Falcolner of Thoroton, holds weekly meetings with the Chief Executive of the Criminal Records Bureau to discuss the operational performance of the Bureau. In addition to these meetings, the Chief Executive also provides Ministers with both weekly and monthly reports detailing the current operational situation.

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