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10 Mar 2004 : Column 1582W—continued

Kent County Council Act

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend to the rest of England the provisions of the Kent County Council Act 2001; and if he will make a statement. [159720]

Ms Blears: In line with Clause 20 of the Kent County Council Act, the council will be submitting a report on the working provisions of the Act to the Secretary of State no later than 1 December 2004, which will then be laid before Parliament.

The Home Office has also commissioned the University of Kent to evaluate the effectiveness of the legislation and we will also lay a summary of the results of this research before Parliament.

These two reports will allow the government to make an informed decision as to whether we should pursue similar legislation nationally.

Local Government Finance (Dorset)

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants were awarded to local authorities in Dorset by his Department in financial year 2003–04 that fall outside the revenue support grant. [156206]

Ms Blears: The information is set out in the table.

£ million
Police Authority
Home Office Principal Formula Police grant39.7
Crime Fighting Fund2.3
Rural Policing Fund0.4
Airwave0.2
BCU funding0.5
Community Support Officers0.2
Special Priority Payments0.4
DMA Expansion Programme0.5
Capital grant1.1
Premises Improvement Fund0.5
Arrest Referral0.1
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
Building Safer Communities Fund0.9
Other(50)0.2
Total47.0

(50) Regional Fund and funding to tackle anti-social behaviour, domestic violence and vehicle crime provided to BCUs and CDRPs and Dorset county council.


Managed Migration Programmes

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how he makes use of the assistance provided by the (a) UK

10 Mar 2004 : Column 1583W

National Recognition Information Centre and (b) UK National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications in the support of Managed Migration programmes. [157365]

Beverley Hughes: The criteria for the issue of work permits and for the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme requires Work Permits (UK) to be satisfied that overseas workers possess the skills and qualifications necessary to take up jobs in the UK. To qualify for a work permit the job is expected to require the individual to have either:





In considering this element of the work permit application Work Permits (UK) will, in some cases, consult the UK National Recognition Information Centre and the UK National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications to ensure the qualifications and skills obtained overseas meet the work permit criteria.

Mr. Paul Watson

Mr. Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that documents requested by the hon. Member for Morley and Rothwell's constituent, Mr. Paul Watson, regarding his criminal record in support of his defence at trial in France are provided swiftly. [156480]

Paul Goggins [holding answer 26 February 2004]: Officials in the Home Office have liaised with the French authorities and they understand that a letter of request will shortly be issued in Mr. Watson's case. The UK Central Authority at the Home Office will arrange for it to be dealt with as expeditiously as possible once they receive it.

National Offender Management Service

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the employer for qualified probation officers will be under the National Offender Management Service. [155837]

Paul Goggins: In the short term probation officers will continue to be employed by probation boards. Future arrangements have yet to be finalised and will be subject to the usual consultation arrangements with staff and unions.

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role chief officers will have under the National Offender Management Service. [155839]

Paul Goggins: In the short term the role of chief officers will remain as it is. Any proposed changes will be subject to the usual consultation arrangements.

10 Mar 2004 : Column 1584W

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the public protection function of the Probation Service to be the subject of contestability under the National Offender Management Service structures. [159811]

Paul Goggins: The details of contestability within correctional services will be developed as part of the implementation of the Reducing Crime—Changing Lives reforms. Inter-agency work to protect the public and encourage rehabilitation will remain a crucial element of the work of the National Offender Management Service.

Naturalisation Application

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the application for naturalisation dated 19 November 2003 by Mrs. Tomes of Christchurch, reference T1072596, will be processed. [159408]

Beverley Hughes [holding answer 5 March 2004]: Mrs. Tomes application has been processed and a decision was reached on 3 March.

No Fixed Abode

Mr. McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the monetary grant made available to all prisoners on release from custodial sentence is greater if a prisoner states no fixed abode as their address. [157994]

Paul Goggins: A higher rate of discharge grant (£94.40) is paid to prisoners on release only if there is a need to seek, obtain and pay for accommodation. It is only paid to prisoners with no accommodation arranged in advance if this arises through no fault of the prisoner. Otherwise the standard rates of discharge grant paid are £46.75 (for prisoners aged 25 and older) or £37 (for prisoners aged 18 to 24).

Online Passport Applications

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passport applications have been made online in each year since the service became available. [158044]

Beverley Hughes: UK Passport Services (UKPS) online passport application is an electronic service that allows applicants to enter their details on to an electronic passport application form. The form is then pre-populated and sent to the applicant by post for inclusion of their signature, payment and supporting documentation.

UKPS's online service has been available since 13 November 2000. The table shows the number of application forms completed online each year since the service became available.

Number of forms completed
2000 (13 November until 31 December)1,670
200146,514
200293,156
2003149,003
2004 (1 January until 29 February)62,046


10 Mar 2004 : Column 1585W

Police

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days were lost through sickness in (a) the Lancashire constabulary and (b) police forces of a similar size and displaying similar characteristics in England since 2000; and if he will make a statement. [157798]

Ms Blears: The total number of days lost to sick leave, and average days per officer and support staff member, in Lancashire Constabulary, and the most similar forces, in each of the years since 2000 are identified:

ForceDays lost to sick leaveDays per officerDays per staff
1999–2000
Avon and Somerset54,24411.511.8
Durham22,46310.69.0
Gwent23,50913.211.2
Hertfordshire29,29110.411.1
Humberside27,5639.19.8
Kent54,02310.711.2
Lancashire57,85412.4117
South Wales70,76615.518.8
England and Wales2,172,85911.612.4
2000–01
Avon and Somerset60,33313.412.3
Durham26,98313.010.6
Gwent27,21815.413.1
Hertfordshire35,95611.813.7
Humberside26,3348.611.5
Kent59,13411.611.5
Lancashire60,92412.512.8
South Wales69,98316.114.6
England and Wales2,263,07512.212.6
2001–02
Avon and Somerset61,62013.012.5
Durham25,29611.111.9
Gwent28,87015.612.0
Hertfordshire35,33911.910.9
Humberside27,4938.610.2
Kent61,17011.111.8
Lancashire59,41711.611.7
South Wales60,78512.714.0
England and Wales2,228,47811.512.0
2002–03
Avon and Somerset60,46811.412.8
Durham25,14810.112.6
Gwent26,50810.513.2
Hertfordshire36,86010.612.4
Humberside25,0947.88.1
Kent65,08910.712.7
Lancashire61,29610.914.1
South Wales54,53710.113.9
England and Wales2,158,14610.411.7

The National Policing plan for 2002, I set a target of 11.5 days for police officers and 12.0 for police staff by

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the end of 2005–06. Achieving further reductions in sickness absence is one of the principle objectives of the Strategy for a Healthy Police Service.

The Strategy for a Healthy Police has continued to focus forces on the reduction of sickness absence, and provide forces with funding to improve their occupational health, safety and welfare provision further.

Sickness absence figures have improved since the launch of the Strategy, with overall sickness absence now at a national average of 10.4 days per officer per year, and 11.7 per support staff member. The best performing forces have continued to make improvements, but the gap between best and worst performers has also significantly narrowed.

Lancashire has continued to make progress in reducing its sickness absence levels.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 243W, on police, what the reasons were for the rise in numbers of accidents in which police vehicles were involved in Gloucestershire; and what the approximate cost of this increase was. [159392]

Caroline Flint: Unfortunately, the table showing the number of accidents involving police vehicles given in the answer contained some errors. I apologise for this. The correct table is now shown as follows.

We do not keep records centrally on the reasons for every police vehicle accident across the country. The Home Office has, however, consulted the Chief Constable of the Gloucestershire Constabulary, who informs us that all police vehicle accidents in his Force area are carefully monitored. Procedures and policies are kept under review in line with national Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines. Officers driving police vehicles undergo extensive training and the safety of officers and the public is taken extremely seriously.

It is not possible to say exactly why this increase has occurred. The number of police vehicle accidents fluctuates over time, across the country. Gloucestershire Constabulary has increased its number of operational officers and vehicles over recent years. This has increased vehicle mileage to 4,138,830 miles in the last 12 months. Information is not available centrally on the costs of police vehicle accidents. However, a significant number of accidents recorded involve only minor damage with no risk of injury to any party. None of the accidents resulted in fatalities, to either police officers or members of the public.

Total police vehicle accidents

1996–971997–981998–991999–202000–012001–022002–03
Avon and Somerset507477531457394616647
Bedfordshire205320161215170167196
Cambridgeshire256303238200225183217
Cheshire194111142112124175167
City of London80626456903038
Cleveland7586446292(51)142
Cumbria11613387144152182186
Derbyshire320383399355379399447
Devon and Cornwall250308337347352369449
Dorset119139129143166188184
Durham159142184157182178(51)
Dyfed-Powys75424088162198204
Essex391396406392446392414
Gloucestershire196147163228181124203
Greater Manchester9577749339811,1081,0501,038
Gwent195182217194179199160
Hampshire555594560665622617543
Hertfordshire223196197221307310344
Humberside188207236162198194150
Kent423546448427507506732
Lancashire449268160417331244510
Leicestershire214173186168161145180
Lincolnshire7194185149141114131
Merseyside320414262335260325240
Metropolitan Police3,7834,0454,6454,6435,3753,6574,910
Norfolk192211184221224202231
Northamptonshire134139916814786121
Northumbria(51)489472510445432513
North Wales95484646779260
North Yorkshire131140140102167117397
Nottinghamshire298278225211213240316
South Wales597563651663873833917
South Yorkshire292357400367279216316
Staffordshire557644646527462298306
Suffolk136122168143137142119
Surrey27010810842148103320
Sussex401282223567462(51)470
Thames Valley8886889181,0451,0631,127992
Warwickshire137135123136132135119
West Mercia175270260201234202293
West Midlands1,5031,3671,2101,2201,2861,360(51)
West Yorkshire728500453629553619672
Wiltshire53636652606050

Notes:

(51) Data not yet submitted by force.

1. The information is provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to whom forces submit statistical returns.

2. All figures are for financial years.

3. The figures for police vehicle accidents include all incidents in which a police vehicle sustains damage, including those where no other vehicle is involved. They encompass a very wide range of incidents from the very serious to the trivial, such as a scratched vehicle in a police yard.


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Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) officers and (b) civilians served in the Staffordshire police force in each year since 1996. [160060]

Ms Blears: The information requested is set out in the table.

Staffordshire Police–strength 31 March 1996 to 31 December 2003

Police officersPolice staff
31 March 19962,209754
31 March 19972,211763
31 March 19982,292866
31 March 19992,2381,004
31 March 20002,170858
31 March 20012,129935
31 March 20022,1331,030
31 March 20032,2021,146
31 December 20032,253Not available


10 Mar 2004 : Column 1588W

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions his Department has made available additional funding for police authorities to cover the cost of large scale and expensive investigations in each of the last five years. [157371]

Ms Blears: Between 1999–2000 and 2003–04, 45 special grants were paid to 22 police authorities for large scale, exceptionally high cost police operations. Cases were considered in the light of individual circumstances, subject to funds being available in each year.

The majority of payments have been for major public order and security operations. Four special grants have been for major criminal investigations. The table sets out special grant payments made in each year since 1999–2000.

10 Mar 2004 : Column 1589W

£ million

Force area1999–20002000–012001–022002–032003–04 to date
Cambridgeshire1.0(53)4.65
Cleveland1.9
Devon and Cornwall0.52
Dorset(52)1.60.90.891.87
Essex(57)2.00.135
Gloucestershire(56)0.254.696
Greater Manchester(54)3.143.3
Kent0.67
Lancashire(52)0.891.891.51.08
Lincolnshire(58)0.5
London, City of1.2
Metropolitan police1.01.0
North Yorkshire1.00.1
South Yorkshire1.01.01.0
South Wales0.30.30.15
Staffordshire0.360.25
Surrey0.1(58)0.28
Sussex(52)1.661.75
Warwickshire0.15
West Midlands0.116
West Yorkshire(55)2.221.0
Wiltshire(58)0.87
Total7.3068.56512.512.179.646

(52) Dorset, Lancashire and Sussex regularly receive special grants for the cost of policing the annual Labour and Conservative party conferences.

(53) Includes £3.5 million for the Soham murder investigation.

(54) Policing of the Commonwealth Games and Oldham riot.

(55) Bradford riot policing costs.

(56) Grant to date for policing of RAF Fairford during Iraq war.

(57) Stansted Airport hijack.

(58) Surrey was assisted with the cost of the Amanda Dowler, Deepcut Barracks and SE rapist investigations, Wiltshire with the cost of the Porton Down investigation. Lincolnshire is being assisted with a major fraud investigation.


Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much compensation was paid by police authorities in England and Wales to claimants in respect of assaults by serving police officers in each year from 1990 to 2003. [159721]

Ms Blears: Information concerning how much compensation was paid by police authorities in England and Wales to claimants in respect of assaults by serving police officers in each year from 1990 to 2003 is not held centrally either by the Home Office or, I understand, by the Association of Police Authorities. It could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many successful claimants against police authorities in England and Wales in respect of assault by serving police officers were themselves originally charged with assault or a public order offence in each year from 1990 to 2003; [159723]

Ms Blears: Information concerning how many successful claims against police authorities in England and Wales, in respect of assault by serving officers, were concluded in each year from 1990 to 2003 is not held centrally by the Home Office or I understand by the Association of Police Authorities. It could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

10 Mar 2004 : Column 1590W

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in full-time police officers in Crosby has been since 1997. [160537]

Ms Blears: Crosby is part of the Sefton Basic Command Unit (BCU). Information on strength at BCU level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March for each year. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002.

Between March 2002 and March 2003 police strength for the Sefton BCU increased by 0.5 per cent. (from 431 to 433). The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Norman Bettison QPM) and within the Sefton BCU deployment of officers is a matter for Divisional Commander.


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