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HOME DEPARTMENT

Child Abuse

Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the findings of the survey from the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency on the proportion of primary school children who regularly chat over computer software and admit that they have had face-to-face meetings with people they met on-line. [158989]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I have been asked to reply.

The evaluation report, "Emerging Trends Amongst Primary School Children's Use of The Internet" was published by the Cyberspace Research Unit (CRU) of the University of Central Lancashire, under contract to the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta). The evaluation was commissioned to evaluate the Internet Proficiency Scheme which was designed to help Key Stage 2 pupils learn how to use the internet and other technologies safely and responsibly.

The CRU evaluation found that the number of children aged 8 to 11 years using chatrooms was decreasing. When questioned by researchers in 2002, two in 10 children of a group of 1,331 admitted to using chatrooms on more than one occasion. In 2003, the figure dropped to one in ten, when 330 children were asked the same question. Also in 2002, two out of a group of 100 children admitted to attending face-to-face meetings with people that they had met online. This number increased to three out of a group of 100 children in the same age range in 2003.

The evaluation suggests that over 90 per cent. of primary schools did not let their students use internet chat facilities on their premises and that all schools had taken some action to keep children using the internet safe. This included using technology, such as content filtering software, and creating clear written policies that outline how children should use the internet at school.

There was also evidence from the evaluation that schools were the most commonly reported sources of internet safety advice and that there had been an increase in the proportion of children that were aware of general internet safety guidelines.

Community Sentences

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in the last 12 months for which figures are available magistrates have been unable to issue community sentences as a result of not being in possession of pre-sentencing reports; and what sentencing options are not available where there is no pre-sentencing report. [158635]

Paul Goggins: Information is not collected centrally on the number of requests for pre-sentence reports made by magistrates which are not met. Non-production of reports does not prevent the court from issuing a community sentence or any other sentence. It is for

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sentencers to decide if they wish to request a pre-sentence report, if the court is of the opinion that it is unnecessary to obtain a pre-sentence report it need not do so.

Credit References

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police forces may have access to the credit reference agency database (a) with and (b) without the knowledge of the individual concerned. [160454]

Caroline Flint: The principal means by which police forces access the information held by credit reference agencies is through making a request under section 29 of the Data Protection Act 1998. The Act allows data to be accessed without the knowledge of the individuals concerned where this is

"for the purpose of the prevention or detection of crime, the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, or the assessment or collection of any tax or duty or of any imposition of a similar nature" , and where a failure to disclose this information would be likely to prejudice any of these matters. Use of this power is limited by a number of safeguards, notably that applications are approved by senior officers and the reasons for the application documented. The Information Commissioner also monitors the use by law enforcement of these databases.

Crime Reduction

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish all the responses his Department receives to Reducing Crime-Changing Lives. [147434]

Paul Goggins: Responses to the "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" document will be made available to anyone who asks for them. Where respondents have sought confidentiality this will be respected.

Criminal Assets

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 899W, on criminal assets, in how many of the 1,219 cases cited an order made was under section 295(2) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2003 to extend the period for which the seized cash was detained. [160195]

Caroline Flint: An order was made under section 295(2) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in 1,218 cases, to extend the period for which the seized cash was detained.

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 899W, on criminal assets (1) what quantity of cash seized during this period was paid into a bank account under the terms of section 296 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2003, broken down by relevant bank and building society; [160196]

(2) what proportion of cash seized has subsequently been released; [160197]

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(3) in how many of the 1,219 cases cited compensation has been paid (a) for loss of interest which would have been earned and (b) for additional loss under section 302(4) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2003. [160198]

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total value of assets recovered by the Assets Recovery Agency is since its establishment. [160067]

Caroline Flint: Since the agency became operational on 24 February 2003, the total value of assets under its investigation is over £50 million of which over £13.5 million is currently frozen under court orders, pending hearings for recovery orders. In addition, four tax assessments have been issued under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 with a total value of £728,000. Tax receipts with a total value of £2,000 have so far been recovered. The agency has also provided assistance to law enforcement agencies in 19 confiscation order cases in which assets with a total value of £4.4 million have been restrained.

Drugs Testing and Treatment

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the procedure is for applying for a drugs testing and treatment order; and what the maximum distance is that a person subject to a drugs testing and treatment order is expected to travel in order to comply with such an order. [156871]

Paul Goggins: Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) can be made by magistrates courts and the Crown court where the court is satisfied that an offender aged 16 or over is dependent on or has a propensity to misuse drugs, and requires and may be susceptible to treatment. A court shall not make a DTTO unless it is satisfied that arrangements have been or can be made for the treatment intended to be specified in the order, and the offender expresses his willingness to comply with its requirements. To determine an offender's suitability for the order, the Probation Service will carry out an assessment in conjunction with treatment services, usually during an adjournment for a Pre Sentence Report.

There is no maximum distance within which offenders are expected to travel to comply with a DTTO. Arrangements for supervision by the Probation Service and treatment provision are made as practicably as possible, taking into account not only the distance offenders have to travel (often on a daily basis) but the complexity of the transportation system and the availability of any specific treatment needed.

Football

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who makes the decision to impose a football banning order on an individual under the Football Spectators Act 1989, as amended by the Football (Disorder) Act 2000; [160507]

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(2) whether he has advised the Football Association that the provisions of the Football Spectators Act 1989, as amended by the Football (Disorder) Act 2000, apply to players and officials as well as to football supporters; [160508]

(3) how many (a) football players and (b) officials have been subject to a football banning order under the Football Spectators Act 1989, as amended by the Football (Disorder) Act 2000. [160509]

Ms Blears: In accordance with the provisions of Football Spectators Act 1989 (as amended by the Football (Disorder) Act 2000), it is for the court to determine whether or not to impose a football banning order following a conviction of a football-related offence or a complaint laid by the police. The football authorities are aware of the relevant legislation. No senior player or official has been subject to a football banning order. The imposition of such an order would be a matter for the courts.

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