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Cantle Report/Denham Report

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which recommendations of the (a) Cantle report and (b) Denham report on public order and community cohesion have been implemented; and what assessment he has made of the effect on communities of implementing those recommendations; [136240]

(2) how the implementation of the recommendations of the (a) Denham Report and (b) Cantle report is being monitored. [136241]

Fiona Mactaggart: Cantle report recommendations have been implemented in relation to citizenship, the formation of a community cohesion task force and inter-agency support groups, guidance for local authorities, positive activities for young people and cultural sensitivity in schools. Among the report's recommendations for action at local level, progress continues to be made on mainstreaming community cohesion into local delivery frameworks, as well as on youth parliaments, cross-cultural youth services, school twinning and regeneration.

Denham report proposals have been implemented in relation to the establishment of an independent panel, conflict resolution and community facilitation, the measurement of community cohesion, housing choices, youth work, positive activities for young people, and hate crime. Progress is being made to mainstream community cohesion into Government policies relating to education and employment, neighbourhood renewal and regeneration, policing, Local Strategic Partnerships, community strategies and local political leadership.

Recommendations in the Cantle report which have not been taken forward by the Government include the setting of admission targets for mono-cultural schools.

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The effect on communities of initiatives to improve community cohesion are being measured via the Home Office citizenship survey. No data are yet available from this. In July 2003, the Home Office issued detailed guidance to local authorities and their partners on how to measure community cohesion. The Home Office Community Cohesion Unit, supported by the independent Community Cohesion Panel, monitors the implementation of the Cantle and Denham recommendations through its work with other Departments, Government Offices and local authorities.

Community Cohesion Programme

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent in Leeds west under the community cohesion programme. [132735]

Fiona Mactaggart: Community cohesion lies at the heart of what makes a safe and strong community and is a key outcome for both local and central government. Developing more cohesive communities depends on mainstreaming community cohesion in all policies and programmes.

There is no separate community cohesion funding programme. Many different Government programmes contribute to community cohesion. Information is not readily available on spend by specific constituencies.

An example of a cross-cutting programme in Yorkshire and the Humber that has benefited Leeds was its allocation of £85,000 in 2001–02 and £75,000 in 2002–03 for community facilitation and mediation services. This programme was funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit.

Crime Reduction Targets

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress towards targets on reducing (a) vehicle crime, (b) domestic burglary and (c) robbery. [136703]

Ms Blears: Our targets are to reduce:

vehicle crime by 30 per cent. between 1999 and 2004;


domestic burglary by 25 per cent. between 1999 and 2005; and


robbery in the ten Street Crime Initiative areas by 14 per cent. from 1999 to2000–05 and maintain those levels.

Progress on burglary and vehicle crime is measured using the British Crime Survey (BCS); but recorded crime is used for robbery.

(a) BCS 2000 showed that there were 2,942,000 vehicle crimes in 1999. Figures published on 16 October report that BCS interviews in the 12 months to June 2003 indicated that there were 2,319,000 vehicles thefts a reduction of 21 per cent. This is on track to meet the vehicle crime target.

(b) There were 1,261,000 domestic burglaries in 1999. Figures published on 16 October report that BCS interviews in the 12 months to June 2003 indicated that there were 936,000 domestic burglaries—a reduction of just over 25 per cent.

(c) Since the robbery target was set, there were sharp rises in recorded robbery in 2000–01 and 2001–02. In response to these, the Government launched the Street

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Crime Initiative in March 2002. There was a 17 per cent. reduction in recorded robbery in the ten street crime areas in 2002–03, compared with 2001–02.

Cyclists

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure enforcement of road traffic regulations against cyclists. [136389]

Caroline Flint: Individual chief officers of police are best placed to assess the nature and cause of specific local problems, to determine how most effectively to address them and to decide the best allocation of resources.

In response to public concern, we made cycling on the pavement a fixed penalty offence from 1 August 1999. This gave the police a direct and simple way of dealing with cyclists who ride without proper consideration for others. We have now extended the power to issue fixed penalty notices for this offence to police community support officers.

Drugs

Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average sentence served for drug-related offences is of existing (a) female and (b) male prisoners. [135655]

Paul Goggins: The average time served for persons discharged from prison in 2002 on completion of determinate sentences for drugs offences was:

(a) 16.8 months for females


(b) 18.6 months for males.

The average time served includes any time spent remanded in custody.

Ethnic Minority Staff

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of Home Office employees are from an ethnic minority. [135898]

Fiona Mactaggart: Of employees who have filled in a voluntary ethnic monitoring form, the following percentages are of an ethnic minority or mixed race:

Central Home Office—24.7 per cent.


Her Majesty's Prison Service—6.5 per cent.


Forensic Science Service—12.4 per cent.


UK Passport Agency—15.0 per cent.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the programme of exchanges, training and co-operation between law enforcement authorities (OISIN) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement; [132530]

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(2) if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the joint action establishing a programme of exchanges, training and co-operation for persons responsible for action to combat organised crime during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement; [132531]

(3) if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the incentive, exchange, training and co-operation programme for combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children (STOP) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement; [132532]

(4) if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the programme of incentives and exchanges for legal practitioners (Grotius general and criminal) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement; [132533]

(5) if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the incentive, exchange, training and co-operation programme for the prevention of crime (Hippocrates) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement; [132534]

(6) if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the programme of training, exchanges and co-operation in the field of asylum and immigration and the crossing of external borders (Odysseus) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement; [132535]

(7) if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the community action programme on preventative measures to fight violence against children, young persons and women (Daphne) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement. [132536]

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Caroline Flint: The STOP II, Oisin II, Falcone, Hippocrates and Grotius (general and criminal) funding programmes expired in 2002. Their Management Committees last met on 23 and 24 July 2002 to agree the successful projects for funding for that year. They have since been replaced by a single funding programme known as AGIS.

The AGIS Management Committee met during the Danish and Greek Presidencies on 16 October 2002 to plan the logistics of the new programme; on 21 November 2002 to discuss the draft annual work programme and call for bids for 2003; and on 28 May 2003 to discuss the evaluation of bids for 2003. The Home Office held preparatory meetings to discuss the UK's position in the Committee on 27 September 2002 and 18 November 2002.

The Odysseus funding programme also expired in 2002 and has been replaced by a funding programme known as ARGO. The ARGO Management Committee met on 1 July 2002 to discuss the Committee's draft rules of procedure and the draft annual work programme for 2002. It met again on 3 December 2002 to discuss the bids to be selected for funding in 2002 and the draft annual work programme for 2003. The Home Office held preparatory meetings to discuss the UK's position on the ARGO programme on 11 September 2002 and 5 March 2003.

The Daphne Committee met on 11 September 2002 to discuss the bids which had been received and agree the allocation of funds to successful projects. The Committee also met on 6 November 2002 to agree the annual work programme and criteria for evaluating and selecting bids for 2003. The Commission also presented a proposal for a new Council Decision establishing a second phase of the programme to run from 2004–08 (Daphne II). The Committee last met on 10 June 2003 to discuss the projects recommended for funding for 2003 and the final evaluation of the programme. The Commission also gave a progress report on negotiations for the Council Decision establishing the Daphne II programme.

The UK is generally represented at meetings of these Committees by a Home Office official and an official from the UK Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. Reflecting the shared responsibility for the Daphne programme, the UK was represented at the Daphne Committee meeting on 11 September by a Home Office official, and by an official from the Department of Health at the meeting on 6 November. The UK was not represented at the meeting of 10 June.

UK position at these meetings always takes Scottish views and concerns fully into account. It is possible for Scottish Executive officials to attend meetings of the Committees as part of the British delegation.

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