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10 Jun 2004 : Column 523W—continued
National Minorities Convention
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the representations he has received from representatives of national minorities for consideration in the Government's compliance report to the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. [175400]
Fiona Mactaggart
[holding answer 24 May 2004]: We have received a number of submissions on our
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forthcoming compliance report under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. We are currently considering those submissions, but have not yet made a final assessment.
NCIS
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have left the National Criminal Intelligence Service before the end of their secondment (a) at their own request and (b) on
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being instructed to do so in each of the last five years for which records are available. [166599]
Caroline Flint: The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) does not maintain annual statistics for seconded police officers returning prior to the end of their secondment. However, based on an analysis on 100 police officers who left NCIS between July 2000 and March 2003, two thirds left earlier than expected at their own request (by an average of seven months), having secured their next posting in their parent force. NCIS can require an officer to return to force prior to the end of his or her secondment, for example where NCIS has "lost confidence" in the officer. This is a rare occurrence, involving typically only one or two cases a year.
Operation Cyclamen
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at how many UK (a) airports and (b) border points Operation Cyclamen is being implemented. [174612]
Mr. Blunkett: Programme Cyclamen equipment provides the capability to routinely screen all forms of traffic at UK points of entry for the illicit movement of radioactive materials. Screening operations commenced in April. For security reasons it would not in the public interest to be more specific.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has discussed the technology used in Operation Cyclamen with his counterparts in (a) other EU and (b) other countries. [174613]
Mr. Blunkett: The Government have had useful discussions and exchanges with counterparts in the US, EU and elsewhere, regarding the radiation screening equipment used in the Programme Cyclamen. A wide range of detection and security equipment is already in place around the world.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the first use of the technology of Operation Cyclamen took place in the UK. [174614]
Mr. Blunkett: Trials of the Programme Cyclamen equipment were first undertaken at selected UK points of entry in 2002. Permanent screening commenced in April this year.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is provided to those using Cyclamen chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear technology. [174615]
Mr. Blunkett: The HMCE Customs Officers operating the Programme Cyclamen equipment receive training in radiation protection awareness in addition to training on the operating procedures for the equipment.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether those using Cyclamen technology are (a) customs officials and (b) private security officers. [174616]
Mr. Blunkett:
The operation of Cyclamen Programme detection equipment at UK points of entry, is undertaken by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise officers.
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Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what implications the Madrid bombings of 11 March have for Operation Cyclamen. [174618]
Mr. Blunkett: The tragic events of March 11 further hardened our resolve to combat the international terrorist threat, in all its forms. The Government already have in place proven contingency plans for responding to a wide range of terrorist actions, including those at Madrid.
Programme Cyclamen is an ongoing programme of work, which commenced in April 2003 covering the routine screening of all forms of traffic, at UK ports of entry, for the illicit movement of radioactive materials. It is one element of the Government's strategy to reduce the threat of terrorist attack.
Overseas Bribery
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the allegations of overseas bribery on the national register held by the National Criminal Intelligence Service relate to offences prior to 14 February 2002. [175976]
Caroline Flint: The number of cases recorded on the register that pre-date the legislation is five.
This could rise to six as additional documentation is received on an earlier referral that was previously recorded for information only.
Mr. Yalcin
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the letter to the hon. Member for Totnes dated 11 May 2004 concerning Mr. Fahettin Yalcin, formerly of Brixham, Devon, when Mr.Yalcin will be deported from the UK; and if he will make a statement. [175572]
Mr. Browne [holding answer 26 May 2004]: I have already written to the hon. Member on 11 May explaining that information relating to the immigration status of an individual is treated as confidential. This reflects the Home Office's legal obligations under common law, human rights and data protection legislation, and the treatment of private and personal information under the Code of Practice on Access to Information. I have also given him limited information about the case "in confidence" and can assure him that the case is with the Immigration Service. However, it would be inappropriate to make a statement giving details that could prejudice an operational matter of this kind.
Police (Data Sharing)
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data sharing system each police force is operating or proposing to operate; whether the systems are compatible; what he is doing to ensure compatibility; what his estimate is of the cost of ensuring compatibility; whether he will be requiring compatibility; what resources will be invested, and from what sources, for compatibility; and if he will make a statement. [172277]
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Caroline Flint: Police Services operate a number of systems for different operational purposes and the extent of data sharing between these has depended on local requirements. The "Information Strategy for the Police Service" provides guidance to forces on technical integration of systems and a corporate data model to support data sharing both within and between forces. The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) and its Central Customer are actively engaged with forces, the Association of Chief Police Officers and others in articulating the information sharing needs of the Police Service. A specific initiative to facilitate data sharing in support of the National Intelligence Model is incorporated within the Home Office Police Science and Technology Strategy. The first step is a feasibility and costing study. This will link with the Cross Regional Information Sharing Project (CRISP) that is being taken forward by a consortium of forces, supported by PITO, to share information across force boundaries.
Police Numbers
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in the Lancashire Constabulary in (a) 1992, (b) 1997, (c) 2002 and (d) the latest year for which figures are available. [176283]
Ms Blears: The information requested is given in the table.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 31 March 1992 | 3,198 |
| 31 March 1997 | 3,247 |
| 31 March 2002 | 3,304 |
| 31 March 2003(24) | 3,339 |
(23) full time equivalents
(24) comparable with previously published data i.e. excludes staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.
The latest available figures for the end of the year were issued with Home Office Press Release 095/2004 on 2 March 2004. On 31 December 2003 Lancashire Constabulary police officer strength was 3,549.
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