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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 3 November 2003
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Criminal Justice Board (Nottingham)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the work of the Crown Prosecution Service with the Nottingham Criminal Justice Board. [135225]
The Solicitor-General: The Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Nottinghamshire is a very active member of the Local Criminal Justice Board and chairs two of its sub groups. One of these, which includes Victim Support, has engineered considerable improvements for dealing with vulnerable and intimidated witnesses. The group are now pioneering a system to provide updates and guidance to victims about their cases.
The Chief Crown Prosecutor also leads a group which is working on ways to improve communications between the agencies and the community. A regular bi-monthly bulletin is to be published for MPs and community groups which will explain the work of the board and the progress it is making in dealing with the offences that disrupt and disturb local communities. On behalf of the board, the Chief Crown Prosecutor is also leading an initiative to ensure all schools in Nottinghamshire are aware of the work and structure of the Local Criminal Justice Board.
The Crown Prosecution Service is also a major contributor to the board's delivery group which is tasked with narrowing the justice gap, bringing more persistent offenders to justice, and decreasing the cracked and ineffective trial rate.
Domestic Violence
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on her policy on prosecution of offences arising from domestic violence. [135228]
The Solicitor-General: The CPS handles around 13,000 cases involving domestic violence each year which arc conducted in accordance with the Crown Prosecution Service revised policy on prosecution of cases of domestic violence issued in November 2001. The policy focuses on the safety of the victim and children, while holding abusers accountable for their actions.
EU Fraud
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General what mechanism she has for co-operating with the EU authorities in prosecuting fraud cases involving EU funds. [135229]
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The Solicitor-General: Member states may request mutual legal assistance in gathering evidence by invoking the European Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance 1959. The UK prosecuting authorities can similarly seek assistance from other member states.
The United Kingdom Central Authority (UKCA) at the Home Office receives incoming requests for assistance. The Metropolitan Police, the Serious Fraud Office and Customs and Excise would gather evidence in England and Wales in response to an incoming request.
The European Community institutions established the European Anti Fraud Office (Office Europeen de lutte antifraude—OLAF) in 1999 as a successor to the Task Force for the co-ordination of fraud prevention (UCLAF). It is an independent body, but remains part of the European Commission. This is the principle authority with responsibility for investigating fraud involving EU funds.
Football (Prosecutions)
Bob Russell: To ask the Solicitor-General how many professional footballers have been charged in the past 12 years for (a) acts of violence and (b) disorderly behaviour during matches. [135230]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records on the occupation of defendants in criminal cases or on particular offences
Iraq
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Solicitor-General, pursuant to her answer of 20 October, Official Report, column 352W, on Iraq, to the hon. Member for Medway, what constituted the effects in UN Security Council Resolutions 678 and 687 which, combined with Resolution 1441, provided a legal base for the use of force in Iraq. [134468]
The Solicitor-General: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stone on 17 March, Official Report, column 515W. This set out the written answer given by the Attorney General in the House of Lords on the same day, which explained how, in his view, authority to use force against Iraq existed from the combined effect of resolutions 678, 687 and 1441.
Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General how many allegations of bribery of a foreign public official have been passed to the Serious Fraud Office since 14 February 2002; and how many of these allegations have resulted in an investigation; and whether any charges or arrests have been made under Part 12 since that date. [132361]
The Solicitor-General: Part 12 of the Act came into force in February 2002. The Act is not retrospective and to prosecute under the provisions of Part 12, all elements of the overseas offence must have taken place after February 2002. The very nature of such offences is that they can take some time to surface, and as such a period where no prosecutions are instituted is to be expected.
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There have been no specific referrals made to the SFO where bribery of a foreign public official is the sole or principle allegation, or where it has been appropriate to invoke powers under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. As such no investigations have been commenced where the focus has been on Part 12 offences.
PRIME MINISTER
Iraq
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Chiefs of Staff expressed unease to him in March regarding the proposed war against Iraq. [136075]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 16 September 2003, Official Report, column 635W.
Madrid Initiative
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement about the Madrid Initiative in response to Pakistan's capacity to export nuclear weapons; [135390]
- (2) what discussions he has had with his Madrid Initiative counterparts regarding Pakistan's capacity to export nuclear weapons. [135391]
The Prime Minister: The first meeting of the Proliferation Security Initiative was held in Madrid on 12 June. Subsequent meetings were held in July, August and October in Brisbane, Paris and London respectively.
The Proliferation Security Initiative aims to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials by any state or non-state actor. No specific countries have been identified as primary targets of the Initiative.
We regularly urge all states to sign, ratify and abide by the obligations of all treaties and conventions covering the development of such weapons.
Official Buildings
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the buildings within a mile of Parliament for which the staff of 10 Downing street have responsibility, giving in each case the date of acquisition; and whether acquisition was in each case (a) as a result of a departmental transfer and (b) a new acquisition by the Government; and what the buildings are used for. [134421]
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
County Courts (Security)
Mr. Love: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures are being taken to improve the safety and security of staff working in county courts. [134914]
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Mr. Leslie: The DCA and Court Service take the health, safety and security of its employees very seriously. The Department has minimum security standards for county courts. The purpose of these standards is to ensure that appropriate security arrangements exist to protect staff, judiciary and court users. The Department undertakes a rolling programme of inspections to ensure that standards are being met. Security reviews also take place following any major incident. The standards are kept under review to ensure that they properly take account of any new or emerging risks and threats. The Department also has a rolling programme of fire safety and general health and safety inspections to ensure that its buildings are safe and all relevant legislation is being complied with.
Edmonton County Court
Mr. Love: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will make a statement on the progress made in reconstructing Edmonton County Court since September. [134915]
Mr. Leslie : On 1 September 2003, a suspected arson attack resulted in extensive damage to Edmonton County Court. Following an extensive programme of replacement and improvements, the court was able to fully re-open for business on 13 October 2003.
To alleviate the fears of court users and help prevent damage to the building by similar future attacks, a number of security improvements, including the installation of CCTV cameras, are being put in place.
EDS
Dr. Cable: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list payments made to EDS in respect of the courts' computer systems in each of the last five financial years; and if he will make a statement. [134231]
Mr. Leslie: The following net payments were made to EDS in the last five financial years in respect of the courts' computer systems (LOCCS contract):
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 5.92 |
| 1999–2000 | 14.35 |
| 2000–01 | 24.9 |
| 2001–02 | 33.4 |
| 2002–03 | 17.5 |
The pattern of expenditure reflects the wide-ranging programme, beginning in 1999, to modernise the Department's work, to increase its efficiency and provide better customer service, which has varied the level of payments from year to year. This programme included the provision of new services, such as:
- modifications to the court case management system to include a module for family work;
modernisation of the jury summoning system;
modern IT support for the Judiciary; and,
the Money Claims Online project.
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