| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
21 May 2003 : Column 871W—continued
Prisons
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners at HMP Altcourse completed a cognitive behavioural therapy programme in 2001–02; and how the benefits of the programme were evaluated. [113430]
21 May 2003 : Column 872W
Paul Goggins: No cognitive behavioural therapy programmes were run at Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse in 2001–02. The first cognitive behavioural therapy programmes at Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse started in 2002–03.
Replica Firearms
Ms Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to reduce the (a) sale and (b) purchase of replica guns in the UK. [114079]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: It is difficult to devise a suitable working definition for the purposes of restricting the sale or purchase of replica firearms. We are, however, introducing in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill a new offence of having an imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
Sponsorship
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of his Department's projects have received sponsorship in the last financial year; who
21 May 2003 : Column 873W
the sponsor was in each case; what the nature of each project was; what time-period was covered by each project; what the total cost of each project was; how much money was involved in each sponsorship deal; and if he will make a statement. [112396]
Mr. Blunkett: Due to disproportionate costs we have been unable to obtain details of all sponsorship for the Home Office for 2002–03; however I am able to produce details of the major sponsorship projects undertaken.
21 May 2003 : Column 874W
Vehicle Crime Reduction Campaign
During the financial year 2002–03 Commercial partners provided sponsorship support to the Home Office Vehicle Crime Reduction (VCR) Communications Campaign by extending the key messages of the campaign to their own customers and staff. The activity was ongoing throughout the period. The total sponsorship was £1,752,564. Detailed information on sponsors is in the table:
| Name of sponsor | Sponsorshipvalue (£) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lycos | 37,000 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages, logo and promotions on internet |
| Tracker | 703,634 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages and logo on website, advertising, commercial literature and exhibition space |
| Stoplock/Saxon | 64,500 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages and logo on website, point of sale material and on tamper-proof car tax disks |
| Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders/Tracker/Stoplock | 17,000 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages and logo within exhibition visitor guide |
| RAC | 41,500 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages on prerecorded advice line, commercial literature and website |
| RAC Auto Windscreens | 425,430 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages and logo on point of sale material in retail outlets and at trade exhibitions. Promotion of VCR campaign messages in media activity |
| Retaina Group | 173,500 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages and logo on website, point of sale material, commercial literature and on security marking products |
| More Than | 176,000 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages and logo on advertising, customer correspondence and promotion of VCR campaign messages in media activity |
| NCP | 20,000 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages and logo on advertising, promotional items and signage within carparks |
| Auto Express | 35,000 | Provision of editorial space for VCR campaign messages |
| Vauxhall | 6,000 | Provision of editorial space for VCR campaign messages in customer magazine |
| Cornhill | 48,000 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages and logo on customer correspondence |
| Piaggio | 5,000 | Provision of space for VCR campaign messages and logo on after-sales customer promotional material |
The budgeted cost of the project was £5 million.
Student Crime Reduction Campaign
This was an initiative to raise awareness among students of their increased risk of being a victim of crime and to offer appropriate crime reduction advice. Activity took place in January 2003.
Sponsor: National Union of Students (NUS)
Provision of database of e-mail address of members of the NUS.
The total Home Office costs were £20,000 so including the value of sponsorship the overall cost was £35,000.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Footpaths
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department gives local authorities in relation to the adoption of footpaths. [112885]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
My Department has recently issued a Guidance Note to local authorities on the adoption of private streets and footpaths. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Local Government Finance
Ms Buck: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much (a) revenue support grant and (b) formula spending share/standard spending assessment was given to local authorities (i) in total and (ii) in each English region in (A) 2001–02, (B) 2002–03 and (C) 2003–04 (estimated). [113213]
Mr. Raynsford: Information on Formula Grant and Standard Spending Assessments/Formula Spending Shares is given in the following table. The total of Revenue Support Grant depends in part on early estimates of the National Non-Domestic Rate yield, which is particularly variable. The total of Formula Grant has been quoted instead, the total general funding provided to local authorities and the basis of the "floor and ceiling" limitations on grant changes. Formula Grant consists of Revenue Support Grant, National Non-Domestic Rates and Police Grant.
Note:
These data are not adjusted for changes in local authority functions.
21 May 2003 : Column 875W
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage increase was in (a) rate support and (b) NNDR to local authorities in 2003; what percentage of such increases will be taken up by (i) increases in national insurance, (ii) increased pension contributions, (iii) under funded public sector pay settlements and (iv) other duties and powers imposed but not funded by Government. [114545]
Mr. Raynsford: Under the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2003–04, Revenue Support Grant (RSG) increased by 15.3 per cent. and the National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) Distributable Amount decreased by 6.2 per cent. NNDR and RSG (along with Principal Formula Police Grant) are part of general grant which increased by 5.9 per cent. or £2.249 billion overall on a like for like basis.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimate the change in national insurance contributions will increase local authorities' pay costs on average by some £250 million. It is estimated that the 0.4 per cent. increase in employers contributions to the Teacher's Pension Scheme which local authorities have had to fund from within the 5.9 per cent. increase in general grant will add some £54 million to local authorities' revenue expenditure. These pressures add 0.73 per cent. to the 2002–03 adjusted baseline of £41.445 billion. If both are excluded, the increase in general grant would be 5.17 per cent. or £2.145 billion.
The Spending Review 2000 took into account the results of the 1998 Local Government Pension Scheme valuation exercise and the forthcoming 2004 valuation exercise will inform SR2004. Pay settlements for local government staff are a matter for local authorities and the pay review bodies. It is expected that awards which take into account the overall increase in funding available to councils while reflecting the need to recruit and retain staff.
The Government funds all new burdens placed on local authorities under the principle of New Burdens which requires Government to reimburse local authorities for any additional costs they face as a result of the imposition of new powers or duties. For example, the Spending Review made clear for the first time the burdens funded in the environmental, protective and cultural services and provided £82 million in year one for burdens such as the changes affecting the disposal of fridges. Following the Spending Review, we transferred funds into the settlement for burdens which could not be agreed at the time, such as an additional £50 million a year over the next three years for the implications for age-equalisation on the mandatory concessionary fares scheme.
21 May 2003 : Column 876W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |