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27 May 2004 : Column 1765W—continued

Leyhill Prison

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 25 February 2004, Official Report, column 435W, if he will make a statement on the conclusions and recommendations of the investigation report; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [160194]

Paul Goggins: I wrote to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 8 March 2004 and placed a copy of the letter in the Library.
 
27 May 2004 : Column 1766W
 

Neighbourhood Watch Logo

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who owns the Neighbourhood Watch logo. [176390]

Ms Blears: The neighbourhood watch logo was designed by the Central Office of Information in 1994 on behalf of the Home Office, and is therefore Crown Copyright.
 
27 May 2004 : Column 1767W
 

As a result of complaints from local neighbourhood watches it recently came to light that in early 2003 the National Neighbourhood Watch Association (NNWA) registered the Neighbourhood Watch logo as its own trademark. This was done without consulting the Home Office, the Police or neighbourhood watch generally.

We are taking steps to resolve the situation with NNWA and to restore ownership and control of the Neighbourhood Watch trademarks to the Home Office.

Number Plate Recognition Technology

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the 10 prosecutions that have resulted from automatic number plate recognition technology that have led to the highest value of drug seizures; [175244]

(2)   how many and what types of prosecution have resulted from cars being stopped by automatic number plate recognition cameras in North Wales since their introduction; [175245]

(3)   how many prosecutions have led to prison sentences as a result of the use of automatic number plate recognition technology; [175246]

(4)   how many cars were stopped by automatic number plate recognition technology in each police authority area since their introduction. [175247]

Ms Blears: Data listing the 10 prosecutions that resulted from vehicles being stopped by Automatic Name Plate Recognition (ANPR) dedicated police intercept teams that led to the highest value of drug seizures are not held centrally. However, between 1 June 2003 and 16 May 2004, the latest date for which figures are available, the following number of arrests carried out by the 23 police forces involved in ANPR Project Laser Two for drug-related offences, were as follows:

	ANPR drug-related arrests
Number of arrests	1,082
Number of occasions	686
Value of drugs recovered (£)	432,124.00

The table gives a breakdown of the number and type of arrest made as a result of vehicles being stopped by the North Wales police ANPR intercept teams between 1 June 2003 and 16 May 2004:
Arrest breakdown

	Number
Robbery	2
Theft/burglary	75
Driving	249
Drugs	182
S25	112
Auto Crime	51
Warrant	53
Other	57

Details of how many prosecutions led to prison sentences as a result of ANPR are not held centrally.
 
27 May 2004 : Column 1768W
 

Data on the number of vehicles stopped by ANPR in each police authority area since its introduction are not held centrally. The number of vehicles stopped in each of the 23 ANPR Project Laser Two police forces between 1 June 2003 and 16 May 2004, the latest date for which figures are available, were as follows:

	Number
Avon and Somerset	5,692
Cambridgeshire	7,818
City of London	4,871
Cleveland	2,317
Greater Manchester police	14,612
Hampshire	5,767
Hertfordshire	4,911
Kent	9,896
Lancashire	10,596
Leicestershire	9,233
Lincolnshire	10,303
Merseyside	6,431
Metropolitan	17,435
Northamptonshire	6,688
Northumbria	3,731
North Wales	10,227
North Yorkshire	4,214
Nottinghamshire	2,532
Staffordshire	5,078
Warwickshire	4,503
West Midlands	7,247
West Yorkshire	8,322

Police Patrols (Bicycles)

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 May to the hon. Member for Southend, West, reference 172570, which police forces use bicycles while patrolling; and if he will make a statement. [175898]

Ms Blears: Information on the number of police forces who use bicycles while patrolling is not collected centrally. The deployment of officers patrolling on bicycles is an operational matter for the Chief Constable and will vary among each force.

Police Training

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the planned reduction of posts at Centrex will have on the provision of Stage 2 probationer training. [168442]

Ms Blears: Delivery of Stage 2 probationer training remains a priority. The reduction in training staff is a consequence of reduced demand for places from police forces: the ratio of trainer to probationer students remains the same. The planned reduction in police support staff numbers will be achieved by a thorough review of administrative processes with a view to making efficiency savings.

All changes have been made in consultation with key stakeholders, who are content that the approach taken will not impact negatively on the quality of Stage 2 probationer training.
 
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SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

22. Julie Morgan : To ask the Solicitor-General what plans she has for the Crown Prosecution Service to improve public awareness of its work. [176012]

The Solicitor-General: Public awareness of the work of the Crown Prosecution Service is being improved by prosecutors talking about their work, for example in local schools and at local community meetings

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Council Tax

Jim Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 20 May 2004, Official Report, columns 1140–41W, on council tax, what public consultation will take place on council tax revaluation, with particular reference to consultation between the Government and mobile home users. [176369]

Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not yet finalised the detailed arrangements for public consultation on the 2007 council tax revaluation.

Mr. Webb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce council tax for (a) static holiday caravans and (b) touring caravans. [175944]

Mr. Raynsford: Council tax liability arises only in respect of domestic property and is based upon the identification of a "chargeable dwelling". Caravans are not in themselves subject to council tax, but liability may arise in respect of the land on which the caravan stands. If a caravan remains on private land for a period of at least six months, the listing officer may include an entry in the valuation list for council tax purposes. If the caravan is being used for holiday letting for more than 140 days a year, then it will be subject to non-domestic rates rather than council tax. The Government have no plans to amend legislation on this matter.

Housing Pathfinder Scheme

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much (a) in total and (b) per council property is to be made available to Hull under his Pathfinder scheme (i) this year and (ii) in each of the next three years; when the money will start to be paid; and whether there has been a delay in payment. [175106]

Keith Hill: Allocation of Housing Market Renewal funding to the Hull and East Riding Market Renewal pathfinder is subject to the pathfinder demonstrating that it has satisfactory arrangements in place to develop a strategic market renewal scheme and to the approval of that scheme once submitted. Following an overhaul by the pathfinder of its governance arrangements and the preparation of a revised work programme, the pathfinder has been informed that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is prepared to enter into a grant agreement that will provide funds to facilitate scheme development.
 
27 May 2004 : Column 1770W
 

The Pathfinder's target date for submission of its strategic scheme is the end of September 2004. Allocation of Housing Market Renewal funding for the scheme, along with the amount and timing of any allocation and the programme of work supported, will be dependent on submission of the scheme and it's subsequent assessment by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and independent scrutiny by the Audit Commission.

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