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6 Oct 2003 : Column 997W—continued

Secondments

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the Cabinet Office's policy is on employing secondees from the private sector; how many secondees from the (a) private and (b) public sector the Cabinet Office were employed in each year since 1997; from which companies and organisations they were seconded; at what level they were employed; and if he will make a statement. [127066]

Mr. Alexander: The Government are committed to developing a modern, flexible, outward-focused civil service that works in partnership with all sectors of society. Interchange is a key tool in meeting that commitment. Secondments are encouraged as part of the interchange programme, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the civil service and other organisations. Before an interchange can occur all parties must be satisfied that no conflict of interest arises. In all cases agreement is reached with the parent organisation on the salary reimbursed by the Cabinet Office to ensure it falls in the civil service pay range appropriate to the post.

There are no records available prior to April 1999. The following table gives the number of secondees within the Cabinet Office by Pay Band within each year from 1999–2000. The figures for secondees from the private and public sectors are aggregated. Separate figures are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

LevelNumber of secondees in post
1999–2000SCS5
Band A(1)22
Band B2(2)6
Band B1(3)1
Total34
2000–2001SCS6
Band A33
Band B212
Band B11
Total52
2001–2002SCS9
Band A52
Band B219
Total80
2002–2003SCS11
Band A44
Band B210
Total65
2003–2004SCS15
(to date)Band A20
Band B28
Total43

(1) Combined grades 6 and 7.

(2) Combined grades Senior Executive Officer (SEO) and Higher Executive Officer (HEO).

(3) Equivalent to Executive Officer.

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The following is a list of the companies and organisations from which the above were seconded:


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SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what targets were set by the CPS in 2002–03 to deal with prosecution cases in a timely and efficient manner in partnership with other agencies; and what the performance results are against these targets. [128716]

The Solicitor-General: In 2002–03, the Crown Prosecution Service set two targets in order to deal with prosecution cases in a timely and efficient manner in partnership with other agencies.

The first target was to send 80 per cent. of committal papers to the defence within 14 days (10 days in custody cases) of receipt from the police of a full file for committal certified as trial ready. The target was achieved in 86.7 per cent. of cases.

The second target was to deliver 84 per cent. of briefs to counsel within 14 days of committal or transfer (21 days in non-standard fee cases). The target was achieved in 86.6 per cent. of cases.

Domestic Violence

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the CPS has taken to contribute to the Government's strategy to tackle domestic violence. [128721]

The Solicitor-General: The CPS handles about 13,000 cases of domestic violence each year. The revised policy on prosecution of cases of domestic violence launched in November 2001 focuses on the safety of the victim and children and on conducting cases, wherever possible,

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on the basis of evidence other than that of the victim. The work done by the CPS at operational level is complemented by the strategic contribution of the network of CPS Domestic Violence Co-ordinators across England and Wales who share information and good practice and issue guidance to prosecutors to help them identify and address difficult and sensitive issues that are regularly raised in domestic violence cases.

The CPS also contributes to the Government's strategy by consulting and working closely at a local level with criminal justice partners and the voluntary sector by participating in local domestic violence fora. At national level the CPS Policy lead on domestic violence attends the Home Office Virtual Unit and made a significant input into the Government White Papers, "Justice for All" and "Safety and Justice", addressing issues of prevention, protection and support.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan and its effect on humanitarian and reconstruction work. [130296]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The security situation in Afghanistan continues to be a major concern of the population, the Afghan government and the international community. In large areas of the south the aid community remains extremely constrained in providing humanitarian and development assistance because of the threats from a lack of reliable security.

Attacks have been primarily concentrated in the south of the country. However, there have been other incidents elsewhere in the country, including incidents related to clashes between contending power holders. NGOs and the UN continue to work across the whole of Afghanistan, although their freedom of movement is constrained in some areas.

To help to counter the increasing insecurity, four international joint civil-military provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) have been established in Mazar-e Sharif, Bamiyan, Kunduz and Gardez with four more planned to be operational before the end of this year in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Charikar. The PRTs are designed to bring stability to the regions and facilitate the reconstruction effort of the Afghan Administration, UN and NGOs

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how much of the money pledged the Government of Afghanistan has received; and how much money his Department has given to Afghanistan. [130297]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: International donors meeting in Tokyo 21 to 22 January 2002 pledged more than US$1.8 billion to rebuild Afghanistan in 2002 which has been disbursed, and US$4.5 billion over five years.

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DFID have given £131million to Afghanistan since November 2001. The joint DFID, MOD and FCO Global Conflict Prevention Pool has also given £16 million.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on attacks on non-governmental organisations workers in Afghanistan. [130299]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Aid workers and relief organisations can be seen as soft targets by those seeking to undermine efforts to rebuild and bring stability.

It is with much regret that in the last month two workers of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, a Mercy Corps driver and four members of the Danish Committee to Aid Afghan Refugees have been killed in Afghanistan.

I greatly admire the way in which, despite the difficult conditions under the present security situation, non-governmental organisations are continuing to provide assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable Afghans.

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