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21 Jan 2004 : Column 1309W—continued
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Professor Sir Roy Meadow
Tim Loughton: To ask the Solicitor-General in how many cases in which parents were charged with causing the death of a child, was expert evidence given by Professor Sir Roy Meadow. [145032]
The Solicitor-General: The recently published judgment in Angela Cannings has raised concerns over the safety of a number of convictions and as such will have serious and far-reaching implications. The Court of Appeal said that in relation to unexplained infant deaths when the outcome of the trial depended exclusively or almost exclusively on a serious disagreement between distinguished and reputable experts it will often be unsafe to proceed.
As soon as the Court gave its judgement that Angela Cannings' conviction was unsafe, the Attorney and I requested that all cases which potentially involve sudden infant death syndrome be identified as quickly as possible. By the time the Court published its written judgement some 258 convictions involving the murder, manslaughter or infanticide of an infant under two by its parent had been identified.
Those convictions will now be reviewed as a matter of urgency to establish how many were convictions that the Court of Appeal judgement in Angela Cannings indicated may be unsafe. Priority will be accorded to those persons who are still serving a sentence of imprisonment. While I cannot give any figures at present for the number of cases in which parents were charged with causing the death of a child and in which expert evidence was given, the identification and review of the 258 convictions may enable further and more detailed information to be given in due course.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Solicitor-General how many (a) women and (b) men are serving jail sentences as a result of court cases in which expert evidence was given by Professor Sir Roy Meadow. [145033]
The Solicitor-General: The recently published judgment in Angela Cannings has raised concerns over the safety of a number of convictions and as such will have serious and far-reaching implications. The Court of Appeal said that in relation to unexplained infant deaths when the outcome of the trial depended exclusively or
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almost exclusively on a serious disagreement between distinguished and reputable experts it will often be unsafe to proceed.
As soon as the Court gave its judgement that Angela Cannings' conviction was unsafe, the Attorney and I requested that all cases which potentially involve sudden infant death syndrome be identified as quickly as possible. By the time the Court published its written judgement some 258 convictions involving the murder, manslaughter or infanticide of an infant under two by its parent had been identified.
Those convictions will now be reviewed as a matter of urgency to establish how many were convictions that the Court of Appeal judgment in Angela Cannings indicated may be unsafe. Priority will be accorded to those persons who are still serving a sentence of imprisonment. While I cannot give any figures at present for those men and women who are serving jail sentences in which Professor Meadow gave evidence, the process of identifying and reviewing the convictions I have mentioned above may enable further and more detailed information to be given in due course.
Security Passes
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Solicitor-General how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in (i) the Department and (ii) departmental agencies in the last 12 months. [147986]
The Solicitor-General: Headquarters was notified that 81 identity cards/access cards had been lost and five had been stolen.
Twenty eight security passes were reported as lost in the Treasury Solicitor's Department within the last one to two months. All 28 passes were reported as lost rather than stolen.
Five security passes were reported as lost in the Serious Fraud Office within the last 12 months. All 5 were reported as lost rather than stolen.
Six security passes were reported as lost in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate within the last 12 months. All six were reported as lost rather than stolen.
No security passes were reported as either stolen or lost by my own department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, over that period.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Adult Learning Grant
Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people in the Brentford and Isleworth constituency who will benefit from the pilot of the Adult Learning Grant. [146321]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Adult Learning Grant is being piloted in one further education college in Brentwood and Isleworth. We estimate that about 20 adults studying full-time at this college for First Level 2 or First Level 3 qualifications will benefit from the grant this academic year.
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Basic Skills
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information his Department collects on the level of basic skills. [147451]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) collates adult basic skills data at several levels. First through evaluation, research and economic analysis; second through a continuous programme of research led by the National Research and Development Council (NRDC); third through our marketing and communication strategy; and finally through the collection of factual data and information on all learners participating in programmes.
"The Skills for Life Survey: A National Needs and Impact Survey of Literacy, Numeracy and ICT skills" (DfES, October 2003) provides an up-to-date assessment of the level of basic skills need against the National Standards for literacy, numeracy and ICT among adults aged 16 to 65 in England. A copy of this survey has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
The National Research and Development Centre lead a continuous programme of research to ensure that implementation and future development are based firmly on evidence.
The Learning and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus, the Prison Service and other key partners report regularly on delivery, learner participation and delivery. They provide an invaluable source of information on the people taking part and the direct impact the strategy is having.
The DfES also collects regular information on the number of basic skills qualifications that are achieved and count towards the Skills for Life PSA targets. We are confident that we have achieved the July 2003 target of 470,000 learner achievements.
Behaviour Improvement Programmes
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Answer of 8 January (145433), if he will list the 60 Behaviour Improvement Programme local education authorities and the precise sum each will receive in the current financial year. [147690]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The following table provides the information required.
The minor variations between Phase 1 LEAs reflect successful bids for additional measures.
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Biodefence Research
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of whether universities satisfactorily ensure physical, personnel and information security in the performance of biodefence research; what assessment he has made of the case for moving such research from university laboratories to secure national laboratories; and if he will make a statement. [147541]
Mr. Blunkett: I have been asked to reply.
We do not comment on detailed security matters such as these but the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 provides controls on both physical and personnel security measures for premises holding dangerous substances.
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It has conferred new powers on the police under Part 7 and Schedule 5 and was implemented 31 May 2002. These include:
- Notification Process—"the occupier of any premises" where a Schedule 5 substance is "kept or used" is required to notify the Home Office.
Confers powers on the police to inspect such premises and give directions on protective security advice.
Confers powers on the police to seek information and obliges laboratories to provide information to them.
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