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Staffa Industrial Estate Fire

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the causes of the recent major fire on the Staffa Industrial Estate in East London; and if he will make a statement. [178180]

Mr. Raynsford: The Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade are treating the incident as arson. Investigations are continuing.

Stair Lifts

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent Advisory Note he has sent to (a) the Secretary of State for Health and (b) health authorities on the purchase of stair lifts. [178230]

Yvette Cooper: Stairlifts in existing dwellings would normally be provided by the local housing authority through a disabled facilities grant. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not issued any recent advice on the purchase of Stairlifts.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Probation Service

6. Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the establishment of the national offender management service. [178155]

Mr. Blunkett: We have received over 600 representations on the establishment of the national offender management service. We have received 42 specifically in relation to the structure. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my officials and myself have met a wide range of groups involving Martin Narey seeing over 3,000 members of staff with 18 road shows across the country. I myself have met the TUC, the Prison Officers Association and
 
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the representatives of the Probation Union. We believe that with the extension on the consultation not simply to the end of this month, but over the next year as we develop the new structures, we will be able to ensure that there is a consensus of getting this right.

Anti-social Behaviour

15. Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures he proposes to reduce the incidence of antisocial behaviour. [178167]

Ms Blears: We are committed to tackling antisocial behaviour. In 1998 we introduced antisocial behaviour orders through the Crime and Disorder Act. Further to this the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 provides a further wide range of tools to tackle antisocial behaviour. The Act clarifies, streamlines and reinforces the powers available to practitioners and builds on the measures we have already introduced. It offers the single biggest package of measures to tackle antisocial behaviour.

Further powers to tackle antisocial behaviour in the private rented sector, such as licensing of private sector landlords in areas where there is significant and persistent antisocial behaviour, are being proposed in part 3 of the Housing Bill, currently before Parliament.

We are determined to remove all barriers to local agencies taking action to tackle antisocial behaviour. We will continue to listen to feedback about the powers available and look to legislate where necessary.

19. Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to support the gating of alleys to tackle anti-social behaviour. [178171]

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to support the gating of alleys to tackle anti-social behaviour. [178170]

Ms Blears: I will, with permission, Mr. Speaker, group this Question and question 19 together.

On 5 March 2004 the Home Office launched Operation Gate it—a new fund of £2.3 million to tackle anti-social behaviour in alleyways. Successful schemes for this year have now been identified and will be announced shortly.

Gating is just one of many solutions to these problems, however, and will not always be appropriate. So, through Gate It, local communities will be able to bid for lighting/landscaping/CCTV funding—as well as gates.

Immigration Service (East Anglia)

16. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet representatives of the immigration service in East Anglia to discuss initiatives to control illegal immigration. [178168]

 
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Mr. Browne: This morning I have met with the Assistant Director of the Immigration Services Eastern Region. I have read the hon. Gentleman's thoughtful contribution to the Second Reading debate on the Gangmasters Bill, in which he correctly identified the issues of concern to the Immigration Service. He is aware that the Immigration Service carried out a series of successful operations in the Kings Lynn area last year and that with the opening of a local office at Swaffham there is now an enhanced enforcement capability in East Anglia.

I hold regular meetings with the Senior Director of Immigration Service Operations who keeps me informed of initiatives to control illegal immigration into the United Kingdom. I also receive regular reports about a wide range of Immigration Service operations.

Restorative Justice

17. Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the use of restorative justice. [178169]

Paul Goggins: The Government are committed to increasing the use of restorative justice.

Restorative justice is already widely available within the Youth Justice System and we intend to extend its use as part of the new conditional caution and in community sentences more generally.

Later in the year we will publish guidance for Local Criminal Justice Boards who want to develop their use of restorative approaches.

Firearms

21. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to review firearms legislation. [178173]

Caroline Flint: Our consultation paper on firearms controls was published on 12 May. This is the first step in a comprehensive review of current legislation. Consultees have until the end of August to respond and we will consider all responses carefully before deciding what further action may be needed.

Domestic Violence

22. Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to support victims of domestic violence and bring more perpetrators to justice. [178174]

Paul Goggins: Domestic violence is a horrific crime, which affects one in four women and causes the death of two women each week.

The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, currently before Parliament, is the biggest overhaul of domestic violence legislation for 30 years. It includes a range of measures that will provide additional protection and support for victims and help to bring more perpetrators to justice.
 
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Advisers (Conflicts of Interest)

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he takes to avoid conflicts of interest when advisers from outside the Civil Service are seconded to the Home Office to work on projects; and what restrictions are placed on the abilities of such advisers to participate in the bidding process for contracts arising from that advice. [175105]

Fiona Mactaggart: Secondments are part of the Interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations—public, private and voluntary. Interchange provides opportunities for civil servants to learn new skills, widen their experience and develop ideas. It also brings in skills and experience from other sectors.

When advisers from outside the Civil Service are seconded into the Home Office to work on projects, they are informed in the secondment contract that they will be subject to the Official Secrets Act and will be expected to abide by the conditions and rules governing the conduct of civil servants. In particular, they are informed that they will need to avoid situations that may lead to conflicts of interest. The secondment contract, which is drawn up between the secondee, the seconding organisation and the Home Office, also states that the secondee shall keep all commercially confidential information secure and shall not release any commercially confidential information to parties outside the Home Office—including the seconding organisation—without its written approval, instruction or request.

The Home Office recognises that ethical behaviour in tendering for contracts is of the utmost importance, because the activities may involve the spending of public funds and are subject to close scrutiny. It is imperative that the integrity of the department as a whole should be maintained. Accordingly, the Home Office does not allow secondees to take part in any bidding processes that involve the organisation from which they are seconded.

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