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17 Jun 2004 : Column 1093W—continued
Neighbourhood Watch
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on discussions he has held with the National Neighbourhood Watch Association regarding the Neighbourhood Watch logo. [177731]
Ms Blears [holding answer 9 June 2004]: Earlier this year the Home Office began receiving complaints from local schemes and one police force that the National Neighbourhood Watch Association (NNWA) had registered the logos as trademarks. This was done without consulting or obtaining agreement from the Police, the Home Office, local authorities or Neighbourhood Watch generally.
The Neighbourhood Watch logos are Crown copyright. 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. Our aim is to protect the rights of local and regional schemes to continue to use the logos. Discussions are still under way to resolve the situation.
Police (London)
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of Metropolitan police officers per 100,000 of population is within the Greater London area. [177832]
Ms Blears: At the end of December 2003 (the latest date available) the Metropolitan police had 412 police officers to 100,000 of the population. The average for England and Wales is 259 officers to 100,000 population.
Security Industry Authority
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether, during the security firm authorisation pilot in Hampshire, security personnel employed by firms from outside Hampshire will be able to work without authorisation; [177232]
(2) what representations he has received about postponing the security firm authorisation pilot in Hampshire; [177233]
(3) how many applications from security companies in Hampshire wishing to participate in the Security Industries Agency have been (a) received and (b) authorised; and what the average period of time between receipt and authorisation has been; [177234]
(4) what discussions he has had with the Security Industry Authority about the outcome of the pilot project in Hampshire; [177279]
(5) what representations he has received about the preparedness of the Security Industry Authority to license security personnel. [177280]
Ms Blears
[holding answer 9 June 2004]: On 4 June it became a requirement for any door supervisor working in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including any employed by a company outside those areas, to possess a licence issued by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
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It was announced on 11 November 2003 that Hampshire and the Isle of Wight would be the initial pilot area for the SIA's licensing arrangements, which are to be rolled out across the whole of England and Wales by April 2005. At the same time, it was made clear that applications in the pilot area could be made from 1 March 2004 and that the legal requirement to hold a licence would come into force from 4 June. The SIA has since undertaken considerable consultation with stakeholders, local authorities and the police, and has carried out a wide-ranging publicity campaign. A small number of representations were received from pub and club owners requesting an extension of the 4 June deadline. We have kept in close touch with the SIA throughout the pilot scheme and have received regular updates on progress, and we concluded that the 4 June deadline should stand.
The responsibility to apply for an SIA licence rests with the individual. As at 4 June, 722 applications had been received from within the pilot area and 193 licences had been granted. The great majority of applications are being processed within the SIA's published target time of four to six weeks.
Some representations have been received about the SIA's state of preparedness, including from a small number of right hon. and hon. Members. The main concerns have related to training requirements and the availability of training providers, the cost and affordability of the SIA licence, and the possibility that inability to meet the 4 June deadline might lead to the closure of businesses and loss of jobs. We have made it clear that all of the necessary procedures and arrangements are in place and that sufficient training capacity has been available for some time.
Special Constables
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police authorities have applied for approval to introduce an allowance for special constables under the Special Constables (Amendment) Regulations 2002; and which ones he has (a) approved and (b) refused. [178786]
Ms Blears [holding answer 14 June 2004]: Allowance schemes for special constables have been approved in Cumbria (Workington), West Midlands (H2 Operational Command Unit), Humberside (force wide) and Thames Valley (Thames Forest area). No applications have been refused.
Spray Paint Sales
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions a person has received a level 4 fine for selling spray paints to someone under the age of 16 years on Merseyside since the inception of this power. [178329]
Ms Blears:
No fines for this offence have been handed down by Merseyside courts yet. We are in discussion with relevant stakeholders as to what further measures might be necessary to ensure the effective enforcement of these provisions.
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Stowaways
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stowaways were detected at border controls in mainland Europe in (a) vehicles and (b) cargo bound for the UK in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [160374]
Mr. Browne: The Government does not hold figures on the number of clandestines or stowaways detected at border controls in mainland Europe en route to the UK.
We do work closely with EU member states, Accession States, the "Near Neighbours" and countries in wider Europe on a wide range of migration issues, including measures aimed at strengthening borders within Europe.
Although we do not hold figures on the number of clandestines or stowaways detected at border controls in mainland Europe en route to the UK locally collated management information indicates that; enhanced juxtaposed controls, deployment of new detection technology and close co-operation with our EU counterparts, port authorities and carriers prevented more than 9,000 people crossing the channel illegally from Calais and Coquelles to the United Kingdom during 2003.
UK Settlement
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers were given leave to enter the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 (a) as visitors, (b) as people returning after a temporary absence abroad, (c) as passengers in transit, (d) as students, (e) as work permit holders and their dependants, (f) as working holidaymakers, (g) as a spouse or fiancée, (h) as au pairs, (i) on the basis of UK ancestry, (j) on the basis of acceptance for settlement on arrival, (k) for other reasons and (l) in total. [177033]
Mr. Browne [holding answer 8 June 2004]: The latest available data relating to the number of passengers admitted to the United Kingdom by the requested categories are given in the table. The data relate to the number of journeys made.
To provide data for the entire period would incur disproportionate cost.
Detailed statistics on immigration control are published in the Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom" obtainable from the Library of the House, and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/commandpubs1.html. The latest edition is that for 2002 (Cm6053).
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| Passengers admitted by purpose of journey | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit holders and their dependants | Working holiday-makers | Admitted as a spouse or fiancé(e) | Passengers in transit | |
| 1993 | 48,000 | 21,600 | 19,200 | 936,000 |
| 1994 | 47,500 | 31,600 | 18,800 | 852,000 |
| 1995 | 52,100 | 36,000 | 19,100 | 948,000 |
| 1996 | 58,200 | 33,000 | 20,900 | 1,000,000 |
| 1997 | 63,000 | 33,300 | 26,400 | 1,090,000 |
| 1998 | 68,400 | 40,800 | 32,200 | 1,150,000 |
| 1999 | 76,200 | 45,800 | 30,300 | 1,170,000 |
| 2000 | 92,000 | 38,400 | 33,000 | 1,270,000 |
| 2001 | 109,000 | 35,800 | 29,100 | 1,310,000 |
| 2002 | 120,000 | 41,700 | 30,300 | 1,300,000 |
| 2003(62) | 119,000 | 46,500 | 31,400 | 1,140,000 |
| Passengers admitted by purpose of journey | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers returning after a temporary absence abroad | UK ancestry | Others given leave to enter(63) | Granted settlement on arrival(64) | |
| 1993 | 1,380,000 | 4,080 | 94,300 | 3,620 |
| 1994 | 1,300,000 | 5,170 | 88,200 | 2,610 |
| 1995 | 1,370,000 | 6,620 | 90,400 | 2,400 |
| 1996 | 1,470,000 | 7,420 | 94,500 | 2,120 |
| 1997 | 1,560,000 | 8,370 | 103,000 | 2,350 |
| 1998 | 1,780,000 | 10,200 | 104,000 | 2,900 |
| 1999 | 1,910,000 | 11,800 | 110,000 | 2,530 |
| 2000 | 2,200,000 | 10,900 | 112,000 | 2,290 |
| 2001 | 2,620,000 | 10,700 | 149,000 | 2,820 |
| 2002 | 2,740,000 | 10,400 | 127,000 | 2,470 |
| 2003(62) | 2,800,000 | 9,150 | 178,000 | 2,600 |
(62) Provisional and subject to change.
(63) Includes refugees, exceptional leave cases and their dependants, excluding such persons given temporary admission.
(64) Excludes asylum-related cases given indefinite leave to enter; these are included in 'Others given leave to enter'.
Note:
Data rounded to three significant places, as such they may not sum to the totals shown.
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