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Wage Levels(Catering, Tourism and Leisure Industries)
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of low pay levels in the (a) catering, (b) tourism and (c) leisure sectors; and if she will make a statement. [150976]
Mr. Sutcliffe: According to the April 2003 grossed New Earnings Survey the bottom decile hourly earnings of employees in (a) the catering sector (SIC code 55.5) was £4.23 (b) tourism related industries (SIC codes 55.1, 55.2, 55.3, 55.4, 63.3, 92.5, 92.6, 92.7) was £4.20 and for (c) sports and leisure assistants (SOC 2000 code 6211) was £4.20. This compares to the bottom decile hourly earnings of £4.67 for all employees in the UK. The adult and youth rates of the National Minimum Wage at the time were £4.20 and £3.60 respectively.
The vast majority of employers in the UK are complying with the National Minimum Wage but we will continue to take enforcement action where necessary to tackle the minority of bad employers.
Trade Barriers
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her objective to achieve a total elimination of all tariff barriers by all World Trade Organisation members. [149146]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The chances of a total elimination of all Tariff barriers by all members of the World Trade Organisation are remote. Our aim is to reduce barriers as much as reasonably possible. A number of studies have concluded that the elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers would bring major benefits. In recent years, studies by Michigan University and the World
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Bank suggest that the elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers in industry and agriculture could boost global incomes by between $450 billion and $830 billion per annum over the longer term. From time-to-time for short periods tariffs or safeguards may have merit but our broad approach is to press for the elimination of as many tariffs as possible.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the greater use of interim orders for anti-social behaviour; and what discussions he has had with the (a) police and (b) Crown Prosecution Service on this issue. [151779]
Ms Blears: Interim Anti-Social Behaviour Orders were introduced in December 2002 under the Police Reform Act 2002 to prohibit anti-social behaviour at the start of the court process pending the outcome of the full application. Relevant authorities, that is, the police, local authorities, registered social landlords and housing action trusts can apply for interim orders in the civil magistrates and county courts. Feedback from these agencies is that they find interim orders to be a quick and effective tool in protecting people from anti-social behaviour.
Asylum Seekers
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the details held on an asylum seeker include the region of the country from which they arise. [148021]
Beverley Hughes: Information about the region of the country from which an asylum seeker has arrived or originated may be obtained as part of the asylum screening process or during the investigation into their claim. Any such information will normally be recorded on an individual asylum seeker's Home Office case file.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance will be given to failed asylum-seeking families who cannot be returned to their country of origin because there are no removal agreements or removal arrangements have been suspended. [151444]
Beverley Hughes: Support will not be withdrawn from failed asylum-seeking families if they are taking reasonable steps to leave the United Kingdom voluntarily or placing themselves in a position in which they are able to leave voluntarily. Instances where there are no removal agreements or that removal agreements have been suspended, this factor will be taken into account but will not necessarily be the determining factor.
Benefit Fraud
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed, (d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in
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benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved were in each of the cases listed. [151649]
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Fiona Mactaggart: The figures so far as information is available in the form requested are as follows.
| Department | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Office | ||||||
| Investigated | n/a | n/a | n/a | (3)— | (3)— | n/a |
| Suspended | n/a | n/a | n/a | (3)— | n/a | (3)— |
| Dismissed | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | (3)— | (3)— |
| Prosecuted | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Convicted | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | (3)— | (3)— |
| Amount housing benefit (£) | — | — | — | n/a | n/a | 19,000 |
| Amount council tax benefit (£) | — | — | — | n/a | n/a | 2,000 |
| UK Passport Agency | ||||||
| Investigated | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | (3)— |
| Suspended | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | (3)— |
| Dismissed | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Prosecuted | n/a | n/a | n/a | — | — | n/a |
| Convicted | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Amount housing benefit (£) | — | — | — | — | — | 2,947.89 |
| Amount council tax benefit (£) | — | — | — | — | — | 482.18 |
n/a = indicates that no comprehensive figures available.
(3) The process from investigation to conviction does not necessarily span only one year. E.g. suspended 2001, convicted 2002 and dismissed 2003.
Private Security Industry
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) clubs and (b) pubs to ensure that their bouncers undergo professional training. [151983]
Ms Blears: From 1 March this year, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) will roll out a mandatory national licensing scheme for door supervisors ('bouncers'). Licensing will commence in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and then roll out on a geographical basis across England and Wales. On current plans, door supervisors in the Midlands must obtain an SIA licence by 18 October 2004.
To qualify for a door supervisor licence, applicants will be required to pass three checks. The first will be an identity check, the second a criminal record check, and the third a check on professional competence to do the job. Professional competence will be demonstrated by successfully completing a training course provided by a training provider accredited by an SIA approved awarding body. Details of the licensing criteria for door supervisors will shortly be posted on the SIA's website www.the-sia.org.uk.
Burglaries
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries were committed in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by police force area; and in how many of those cases convictions were obtained for (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence, broken down by police force area. [150723]
Ms Blears: Information on recorded burglaries in 2002–03, and sentencing statistics for 2002, are given in the tables.
Total recorded burglary comprises the offences of burglary in a dwelling, and burglary in a building other than a dwelling.
(4) These data are on the principal offence basis.
(5) Detention and training order, detention in a young offender institution, detention under secs 91/92 of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 and unsuspended imprisonment.
Source:
Offending and Criminal Justice Group.
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Notes:
1. All burglary comprises burglary in a dwelling, and burglary in a building other than a dwelling.
2. Total numbers of recorded crimes will be affected by changes in recording as a result of the implementation of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) across England and Wales on 1 April 2002. This impact will vary for different types of offences, with the impact for domestic burglary being an increase of 3 per cent. in the number of crimes recorded due to the NCRS.
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