House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 9 Dec 2003 (pt 15)

9 Dec 2003 : Column 408W—continued

Rural Crime

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received on the incidence of rural crime, with particular reference to farm land; [141244]

(a)

(b)

Ms Blears: I am not aware of any representations concerning the effectiveness of Farm Watch, other rural crime initiatives, or concerning rural crime with regard to farmland. The Government are committed to

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tackling rural crime and has a £30 million Rural Policing Fund, specifically intended to enhance policing in rural areas.

Most rural forces have Watch schemes in place to tackle rural crime. North Yorkshire Police fully supports Farm Watch and the force has three dedicated Watch Co-ordinators supporting the scheme.

Sexual Assaults

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sexual assaults were recorded in each Basic Command Unit area of each metropolitan police force in each year for which Basic Command Unit information has been available. [141195]

Ms Blears: Numbers of sexual assaults are not available at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level, although the total number of sexual offences have been published at this level. The metropolitan police forces are taken to be the Metropolitan Police Service, City of London, West Midlands, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Northumbria. The published information is available via the Research Development Statistics (RDS) website, at the following locations:

1990–2000 and 2000–01 BCU data (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 12/01, Table 11):

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/1201data3.xls

2001–02 and 2002–03 BCU data:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb703sup2.xls

The National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced across England and Wales in April 2002. Some forces adopted the principles of the Standard prior to this date. Of the eight metropolitan forces, both Greater Manchester (January 2002) and West Midlands (April 1999) adopted the Standard early. Broadly, the NCRS had the effect of increasing the number of crimes recorded by the police. Therefore, following the introduction of the Standard, numbers of recorded crimes are not comparable with previous years.

Speed Cameras (Vandalism)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many speed cameras have been vandalised in each year from 1998 to 2002. [142238]

Caroline Flint: The information is not recorded centrally by the Home Office. We understand from informal reports that such acts are isolated incidents.

Speeding

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which speed camera resulted in the highest number of prosecutions in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. [140826]

Ms Blears: Information on the number of prosecutions for speeding offences detected by type of camera device used or individual camera location are not collected centrally.

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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hand-held speed-detecting radar guns are in operation in the UK, broken down by (a) police force and (b) Safety Camera Partnership. [142236]

Caroline Flint: The information is not available centrally. It is a matter for chief officers of police to decide on the number and type of speed detection devices to purchase from the overall funds allocated to them.

Vehicle Crime

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if his Department encourages the fitting of window security reinforcement systems as part of the campaign to reduce vehicle crime; and if he will make a statement; [141517]

Ms Blears: The Home Office New Car Security Guidance published in 1998 encouraged car manufacturers to fit glazing that would resist attack by methods commonly used by criminals for a minimum of 30 seconds. This standard applies whether conventional laminated glazing or security film is fitted. Officials are considering the merits of using the recently issued German test standard to measure whether products meet this Home Office requirement. In addition, any glazing (laminated or when fitted with security film) has to meet the appropriate standards set out in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Directive 92/22/EEC and UN/ECE Regulation 43 to ensure safety and durability. We will encourage the fitting of any laminated glazing or security film that meets statutory requirements and makes a significant contribution to vehicle crime reduction.

We aim to raise motorists' awareness of the benefits of laminated glazing through Home Office publicity material, particularly the booklet "Steer Clear of Car Crime" and our website www.secureyourmotor.gov.uk. We also provide links from our Department for Transport websites to the insurance industry website (www.ncsr.co.uk) which provides motorists with information about their assessment of each car's ability to resist criminal attempts to gain entry.

Victims (Compensation)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for widening access to compensation for victims of crime. [142172]

Ms Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 8 December, Official Report, column 235W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Art Acquisition

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since

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1997, broken down by amounts spent on (a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 has been; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of works of art has been since 1997. [142355]

Mr. Pearson: The annual amount spent on the acquisition of Works of Art by the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments in each financial year since 1997 is detailed in the table. The single most expensive piece of art purchased in that period has been a painting entitled 'Red Chard' at a cost of £7,650. No revenue has been raised through sales of works of art since 1997.

£

Paintings (including prints) Sculptures (including textiles) Total

1997–98 21,200 1,800 23,000

1998–99 35,500 3,800 39,300

1999–2000 53,000 6,000 59,000

2000–01 30,000 — 30,000

2001–02 30,050 2,950 33,000

2002–03 23,500 2,500 26,000

	Paintings (including prints)	Sculptures (including textiles)	Total


1997–98	21,200	1,800	23,000
1998–99	35,500	3,800	39,300
1999–2000	53,000	6,000	59,000
2000–01	30,000	—	30,000
2001–02	30,050	2,950	33,000
2002–03	23,500	2,500	26,000

Benefit Fraud

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to prevent benefit fraud in Northern Ireland. [142666]

Mr. Spellar: I would refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Strangford (Mrs. Robinson) on 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 266W.

Cory Report

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to consult the families concerned prior to the publication of the Cory Report; and if he will make a statement. [143184]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The Government are committed to publishing Justice Cory's report as soon as possible, in line with the judge's terms of reference. It remains my priority to inform the families as soon as possible in advance of publication, while bearing in mind my obligations to Parliament.

Disabled Persons Parking Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons those with a colostomy in Northern Ireland no longer qualify for the Disabled Persons Blue Badge Scheme; if he will reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement. [142665]

Mr. Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

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Domestic Central Heating

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many oil-fired domestic central heating installations there are in Northern Ireland. [143170]

Mr. Spellar: The Northern Ireland House Condition Survey 2001 found that 377,800 homes in Northern Ireland have oil-fired central heating systems. A further 61,500 homes have dual-fired central heating, where in the great majority of cases oil was the primary fuel.

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