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3 Jun 2003 : Column 130W—continued
Crown Prosecution Service
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General, what assessment she has made of the effect of the proposals in the draft text prepared by the Convention on the Future of Europe on the operation of the Crown Prosecution Service. [115018]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 22 May 2003]: The draft Constitutional Treaty aims to modernise and simplify the existing Treaties into a single, readable text. In most cases, there will be no change to the substance: the current Treaties already provide for police and judicial co-operation at EU level. Europol and Eurojust have already been established and are already making a significant contribution to the fight against transitional serious crime and terrorism. The draft proposals recommend the creation of a European Public prosecutor. The UK opposes this. Prosecution should remain the responsibility of the Member State.
The UK will not sign up to anything which is not in its interest. The new Treaty can only be agreed by Heads of Government at an IGC by unanimity.
Richard Ottaway: To ask the Solicitor-General, if she will make a statement on the administrative efficiency of the Crown Prosecution Service in London. [115020]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 22 May 2003]: The Croydon CPS Criminal Justice Unit dealt with 12,860 last year and achieved a conviction rate of 97.0 per cent. of those cases that went to trial.
I am also aware that continuing efforts are made to improve performance and procedures if any deficiencies are found.
Departmental Creche Facilities
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Solicitor-General what creche facilities are provided by the Attorney-General's Office; and at what cost. [104288]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 25 March 2003]:
None of the Departments for which the Attorney-General holds ministerial responsibility provide creche facilities. However, the Treasury Solicitor's Department has a contract through the Cabinet Office, with Childcare Enterprises Ltd. This company provides a
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holiday play scheme to which Treasury Solicitor's staff can apply at a cost, currently, of £30 per day. Half the cost is subsequently met by the Department. In the current financial year, 2002–03, seven staff have used the play scheme service, at a cost to the Department of £1,476.00.
Fraud
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Solicitor-General when she next expects to meet representatives of small firms to discuss ways of preventing fraud. [115019]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 22 May 2003]: On 5 March 2003 I met with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and representatives of the SFO and CPS.
Although no further meeting is formally scheduled, the SFO and CPS would readily assist the FSB with any queries they may have. The SFO already has good links with the FSB and following the meeting better links were developed with the CPS. I continue to work with the CPS, SFO, small business organisations and colleagues in the DTI to combat fraud on business.
Local Criminal Justice Boards
Mr. McCabe: To ask the Solicitor-General, what contribution Local Criminal Justice Boards are making to the Criminal Justice System. [115017]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 22 May 2003]: Local Criminal Justice Boards are taking forward at a local level the task of improving the effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System through closer co-operation between the different agencies.
The Boards consist of the Chief Officers of Police, Probation Service, Crown Prosecution Service and Courts together with senior representatives from the Prison Service and Youth Offending teams. They were established on 1 April and have made rapid progress by establishing co-ordinated plans for bringing more cases to justice. They will also evolve plans to increase public confidence.
Market Testing
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Solicitor-General what the estimated level of saving is to the Department from the use of market testing in 2002–03. [107773]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 9 April 2003]:
The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office, Treasury Solicitor's Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate have not conducted any formal market testing activity within the period 2002–03.
Goods and services provided externally are normally acquired through competitive procurement. All contracts are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money in all departments.
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Mental Health
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Solicitor-General how many sick days were lost in the last year by her department through staff mental health problems. [112068]
The Solicitor-General: In respect of those departments for which the Attorney-General holds ministerial responsibility, the information is as follows:
Over the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002 the number of days lost was 11,207.
Over the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002 the number of days lost was 508.
Treasury Solicitor's Department—including the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate:
Over the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 the number of days lost was 392.
In compiling these figures the widest definition to mental health problems was adopted so as to include stress, tension, nerves, emotional upset etc.
National Insurance
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Solicitor General what the cost will be to public funds in 2003–04 of the rise in national insurance contributions on the salary bill of her Department. [107892]
The Solicitor-General [holding reply answer 10 April 2003]:
On the basis of current salary levels the cost to public funds, for the financial year 2003–04, due to the rise in national insurance contributions is forecast to be:
| Cost to public funds in 2003–04 of rise in NI contributions on the salary bill of the Solicitor-General's Department | |
|---|---|
| Crown Prosecution Service | 2,700,000 |
| Serious Fraud Office | 54,000 |
| Treasury Solicitor's Department (including Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate) | 197,508 |
Part-time Workers
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Solicitor General what assessment she has made of the impact of the Part-time Workers Directive on staff in the Department. [109282]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 28 April 2003]:
The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate currently have no part-time staff.
The Crown Prosecution Service complies with the Part-Time Workers Directive by ensuring that part-time workers are not treated less favourably than full-time workers, and that staff at all levels are able to apply to work part-time. In addition to part-time work, other
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complementary schemes such as job-sharing, part-year working and compressed hours are available to staff at all levels.
The Serious Fraud Office has a very small number of employees who work less than full-time hours—part-time staff make up less than 3 per cent. of the total number of employees. The Part-time Workers Directive has therefore had a minimal impact on this Department.
Part-time staff enjoy the same terms and conditions of employment as their full-time equivalents. Salary, together with entitlement to annual leave and public and privilege holidays, are calculated on a pro-rata basis. Access to training, development and promotion opportunities are afforded to part-time staff in the same way as for full- time members of staff.
As at 1 April 2003 there were 44 part-time employees in the Treasury Solicitor's Department representing 6.8 per cent. of total staff in post.
Jobs in the Treasury Solicitor's Department are advertised on the basis that they will be open to part-time workers, unless otherwise stated due to the nature of the work. The impact on business terms should therefore be minimal but in terms of staff satisfaction should be beneficial.
Press Office
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Solicitor-General how many people are employed in her Department's press office; and how many were employed on 2 May 1997. [108406]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 14 April 2003]:The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers has one press officer who also acts as Private Secretary. This is the same number as in May 1997. The Press Officer also provides services to the Treasury Solicitor's Department which does not have its own Press Officer and did not have one in 1997.
There are 10 people employed in the Crown Prosecution Service Press Office. This is the same number as in May 1997.
The Press and Information Office at the Serious Fraud Office currently has three members of staff. On 2 May 1997, it employed four members of staff.
HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has no dedicated Press Officer. Casework Inspectors and the Chief Inspector handle press enquiries as part of their routine duties. HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate did not exist in May 1997.
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