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16 Sept 2003 : Column 664W—continued
Criminal Trials
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid to witnesses in criminal proceedings in each of the last 10 years. [127659]
The Solicitor-General: I have been asked to reply.
The following table shows the amounts paid to prosecution witnesses in each of the last six years. It is not possible to provide figures for the last 10 years as records have only been kept consistently since 1996 following the introduction of a new accounting system. The figures are broken down between expert witness fees, foreign witness expenses and ordinary and professional witness allowances.
Allowances paid to expert witnesses are discretionary. Guidance is provided to staff when paying expert witness fees. Rates of payment for ordinary witness allowances which include loss of earnings, travel and subsistence and, where appropriate, overnight, overnight allowances, are prescribed by the Crown Prosecution Service (Witnesses' allowances) Regulations 1988 which set out maximum rates payable.
All rates are reviewed annually and any increases in the rates set out in the Regulation are approved by HM Treasury.
| Expert witness fees | Foreign witness expenses | Ordinary/professional witness allowances | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 3,482,667 | 463,670 | 7,124,681 | 11,071,018 |
| 1998–99 | 3,790,877 | 458,976 | 6,744,345 | 10,994,198 |
| 1999–2000 | 4,039,521 | 479,969 | 6,306,982 | 10,826,472 |
| 2000–01 | 4,331,570 | 449,355 | 6,491,143 | 11,272,068 |
| 2001–02 | 4,664,002 | 375,687 | 6,573,290 | 11,612,979 |
| 2002–03 | 5,067,840 | 436,840 | 6,644,757 | 12,149,437 |
Disruptive Youngsters
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to ensure that children under 16 are not on the streets very late at night; and what measures are in place to allow the police to remove disruptive young children from the streets at night. [128096]
Ms Blears: The Anti-social Behaviour Bill currently before Parliament gives the police a power to return young people under 16 who are unsupervised in public places after 9pm to their homes. The power will only be available in areas designated in advance by a senior officer as an area where anti-social behaviour is a significant and persistent problem and where members of the public have been intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed by groups.
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The local child curfew scheme introduced in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 allows a local authority or police force (after confirmation by the Secretary of State) to set up a scheme banning children and young people under 16 from being in a public place during specified hours. The police have a power to take home a child found in contravention of a curfew under this scheme.
DNA Profiles
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK citizens have their DNA profiles stored in his Department's database; and what the number of additions was in each of the last four months for which figures are available. [129478]
Ms Blears: There were 2,052,018 DNA records relating to individuals at 31 August 2003. Information is not available about the nationality of individuals whose profiles are held.
The number of profiles added each month for the last four months has been as follows: May 36,839; June 34,503; July 42,138; August 35,459.
Domestic Violence
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to monitor the performance of police forces in giving support to victims of domestic violence. [127279]
Ms Blears: The Government are determined that effective action should be taken to deal with domestic violence.
Police performance is currently monitored via the collection of data relating to the percentage of arrests made where an arrestable offence has been committed. For the future, police performance on domestic violence will be monitored through the inclusion of domestic violence as an indicator within the Police Performance Assessment Framework.
In addition HMIC/CPSi are currently undertaking a thematic review of domestic violence which will provide a detailed insight into current police performance on domestic violence. We will consider the recommendations of that review very carefully.
Ellie Baker
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the progress of the investigation into Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker since 15 July; [129655]
- (2) how many complaints were made against Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker by other police officers prior to 1 October 2002; [129656]
(3) if he will make a statement on the support services available to Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker since the commencement of investigations into allegations against her; [129664]
(4) if he will list the allegations made against Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker. [129665]
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Ms Blears: [holding answer 15 September 2003]: My officials have requested this information from the West Midlands Police. Once it has been received I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Extradition Treaties
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) membership of the International Court of Justice and (b) compliance with the Human Rights Act are criteria applied in determining with which countries the UK agrees extradition treaties are based; and if he will make a statement. [128036]
Caroline Flint: Membership of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is not, in itself, a factor that determines if the UK can agree an extradition treaty with another state. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was incorporated into the Human Rights Act 1998 and underpins all UK extradition legislation.
Any decision to order a fugitive's surrender is taken with full regard to the UK's international obligations.
Forensic Science Laboratory
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces in England and Wales contract work to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Chepstow; how many staff are employed at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Chepstow; and what representations he has received in response to his statement of 17 July regarding the future of the Forensic Science Service from (a) trade unions, (b) police forces and (c) other bodies. [129337]
Ms Blears: Chepstow Forensic Science Laboratory provides services to the police forces in its region, which are Avon and Somerset; Devon and Cornwall; Dorset; Dyfed Powys; Gloucestershire; Gwent; Hampshire; South Wales; Thames Valley and Wiltshire.
These services are based on Service Level Agreements and not legally binding contracts. Some forces in the area (Dorset for example) use services supplied by other forensic providers; these may be managed through legally binding contracts.
There are currently 226 individuals employed at Chepstow Forensic Science Laboratory.
Representations in response to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's statement of 17 July about the future of the Forensic Science Service have been received from two trade unions Prospect and PCS, and from Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC.
Illegal Camping
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent progress has been made in controlling illegal camping. [129066]
Ms Blears: The Anti-Social Behaviour Bill currently before Parliament includes a new eviction power to deal with unauthorised encampments. This new power will allow the police to take firm action against unauthorised
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encampments, without having to satisfy the pre-conditions found in the current legislation, where there are places available on local authority sites.
Immigration Control
Mrs Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is to his Department per person per day of detaining a person subject to immigration control in (a) a prison and (b) a removal centre. [128517]
Beverley Hughes: The Prison Service categorises establishments by their main role only and it is not possible to say what the cost is of detaining a person subject to mmigration control in a prison.
The average cost per place per day of detention in removal centres contracted out to the private sector is £97. The average cost of detention in Dover and Haslar, the two establishments operated by the Prison Service wholly as removal centres is £66.56.
Intelligent Pedestrian Pilot
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Minister of State's letter (ref M 3759/3) of 20 August, when he expects to receive the outcome of Intelligent Pedestrian Surveillance Pilot schemes; and if he will make a statement. [128270]
Ms Blears: The Intelligent Pedestrian Surveillance pilot is a collaboration between Kingston University, University College London, London Underground and Sollatek. It is not sponsored by the Home Office. However, I await the outcome of the pilot with interest.
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