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6 Mar 2003 : Column 1166W—continued
Legal Aid Budget
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the Legal Aid budget was in 1996; and what the budget is this year. [95481]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I apologise for the delay in replying. For the financial year 1996–97, provision for Legal Aid was £1,456 million; provision for this financial year (2002–03) is £1,871 million.
Legal Services
Mr. Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much has been spent on publicly funded legal services in each year from 1989–90 to 2003–04 (planned), in real terms at 2000–01 prices; and if she will make a statement. [99828]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The figures requested, covering the period from 1989–90 to 2002–03, are shown in the table in real terms at 2000–01 prices. Plans for 2003–04 are not yet finalised. Expenditure options are being considered in the light of the Department's Spending Review settlement.
(5) Estimated.
The implementation of the Access to Justice Act has brought a measure of control to civil public funding and enabled the private sector to support money claims, thereby leaving public funding to help tackle social exclusion and support families. The increase in criminal public funding contributes towards the Government's agenda for tackling crime and improving confidence in the criminal justice system.
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Magistrates Courts
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the success of warrant enforcement by the magistrates courts committees since 1 April 2001. [99873]
Yvette Cooper: There are wide variations in the performance of the magistrates courts committees (MCCs). Some are very successful while the performance of others is completely unacceptable.
The MCCs are independent bodies, however, the new Performance Contracts, which are being set for next year, will enable each MCC to receive extra resources conditional on their improved performance and that their future plans are credible and achievable.
My Department is currently in the process of encouraging the sharing of good practice among the MCC community. The poorer performing MCCs are getting increased support and have met with Ministers to discuss their concerns and future plans.
There are new provisions in the Courts Bill including new powers to improve fine enforcement and the Unified Administration which will introduce a proper performance management framework to address unacceptable performance.
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the procedure for the collection of outstanding fines imposed by magistrates' courts. [99872]
Yvette Cooper: On 1 April 2001, MCCs took on formal responsibility from police forces for executing all fines and breach warrants. MCCs employ a variety of approaches to enforce fines and other payments. They may employ their own civilian enforcement officers, contract work out to approved enforcement agencies, contract work back to the local police force or use a combination of these methods. Some MCCs also use private bailiffs, as meets their local needs.
Motor Injury Claims
Mr. Watts: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor will
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introduce legislation to set a minimum limit for disability suffered before court actions arising from motor injury claims may be proceeded with. [100305]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Government have no plans to introduce legislation in this area.
Special Advisers/Press Officers
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers were employed (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) on a contract basis by her Department in (A) 2001–02 and (B) 2002–03. [97946]
Ms Rosie Winterton [pursuant to the answer, 13 February 2003, Official Report, c. 978W]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 20W. The Lord Chancellor's Department has one special adviser who was employed full-time during 2001–02 and 2002–03.
All press officers were employed full-time during 2001–02 and 2002–03. The Lord Chancellor's Department has not employed any press officers on a part-time or contract basis.
Unpaid Fines
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will issue guidance to magistrates courts committees on the recovery of outstanding fines imposed by magistrates courts. [100336]
Yvette Cooper: Guidance on the enforcement of financial penalties was issued in 1996 (amended in 1997) and a revised version issued in 2001 following the transfer of responsibility of warrant execution. The guidance is currently being updated and consolidated.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Commonwealth Games
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessments have been made of the economic and social impact of the 2002 Commonwealth Games on (a) the city of Manchester and (b) the UK. [100341]
Mr. Caborn: A full economic and social impact assessment of the 2002 Commonwealth Games was commissioned by Manchester city council. The study was undertaken by Cambridge Policy Consultants (CPC) and identified the impact of the Games at a range of spatial levels—East Manchester, North West and the UK.
The full report and executive summary was published in April 2002, and was made available to all key partners. The executive summary was publicly available, and the full report was available by request. The executive summary was then revised post-Games by CPC to assess the robustness of their original analysis. The revised summary was made available in October 2002. Work is under-way on the development of an
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evaluation framework which will continue to measure the legacy of the Games. I will arrange for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.
The Public Sector Funders and Manchester 2002 defined the following shared objectives in relation to the Games:
- To position the UK as a Centre of International Sport, and to demonstrate the UK's ability to host a major international sporting event. To view the games as one means of strengthening sports participation at all levels
To strengthen the economic and social capacity of the City/Region, recognising the importance of capturing maximum benefits to justify the significant capital investment in facilities
To advance policies for greater social inclusion, promotion of diversity, access to sport and volunteering
To showcase Britain internationally and to raise the profile of the Commonwealth
This full published report can be viewed on the DCMS website at www.culture.gov.uk.
National Lottery
Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in increasing Lottery funds allocated to coalfield areas. [100291]
Mr. Caborn: The Government have encouraged Lottery distributors to work with each other and with local organisations and agencies to increase the capacity within coalfield areas to produce successful Lottery applications. In addition, a number of coalfield areas are benefiting from the Fair Share Initiative launched in June 2001. Prior to the Lottery reforms in August 1998, the amount awarded per capita to coalfield areas was approximately 45 per cent. of the amount awarded to Great Britain on a per capita basis since the Lottery's inception. This figure had increased to 62 per cent. by November 2002.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list Lottery grants awarded to projects connected with (a) mental health among young people and (b) combating antisocial behaviour. [100773]
Mr. Caborn: Lottery distributors have funded a range of projects connected with mental health among young people and combating anti-social behaviour. For example, the New Opportunities Fund Healthy Living Centres programme has made awards worth over £204 million to 257 projects in England. Of these, 75 per cent. stated on their application forms that they would be undertaking work to promote good mental health. A significant number of these schemes are also working with young people.
The New Opportunities Fund has made £38.75 million available to its Activities for Young People programme, which has opened up opportunities for school leavers who are at risk of social exclusion. The
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Fund has also awarded £8.8 million to the Youth Justice Board to run projects engaging young people most at risk of offending through a diverse range of activities.
The Community Fund has estimated that, over the last 12 months, it has made 94 grants totalling £7,699,694 to projects aimed at young people with mental health issues, and 60 grants totalling £6,203,333 to projects aimed at combating anti-social behaviour among young people.
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