| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
18 Jun 2004 : Column 1156W—continued
Southampton Port
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to support the competitive position of the port of Southampton. [175577]
Jacqui Smith: It is for the Port of Southampton to determine their own future investment needs in discussion with the appropriate authorities. The Government through the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) would be keen to work with the port to develop its future strategy.
Surveys
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what surveys of public perceptions of her Department and of its areas of responsibility have taken place over the last 12 months; what the (a) title and (b) nature of these surveys was; what the findings of each survey were; where these findings have been published; what the cost of such surveys was; and if she will make a statement and place copies of the surveys in the Library. [176948]
Ms Hewitt: My department commissions surveys from time to time of customers' views of its services so as to help improve those services. Recent examples over the last 12 months include:
"Fair Markets Stakeholder Survey"
"Survey of DTI Customers in the Business Relations and Energy Group Areas"
DTI has received some initial findings from these surveys, but the full reports are not yet ready for publication. However, early indications from the survey of DTI's Fair Markets stakeholders include that DTI was rated highly on effective stakeholder engagement, with professional and competent staff who are good at delivering on strategy and policy. Comments suggest that we could improve our consultations by engaging stakeholders earlier and providing feedback after each consultation.
The total combined costs of these surveys were approximately £60,000.
Working Time Directive
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employees in her Department have (a) signed a formal opt out from and (b) are exempt from the Working Time Directive; and how many employees in her Department have recorded hours, including any accruing on a flexitime basis, in excess of the maximum allowed under the Working Time Directive in the last month for which figures are available. [178372]
18 Jun 2004 : Column 1157W
Ms Hewitt: Formal opt-out forms from the Working Time Directive and flexitime forms are held at local management level and are not readily available centrally.
DTI does not collect data on those who are exempt from the Working Time Directive, as all DTI employees are covered by the Regulations.
Yumi Yet Bridge
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has been approached for support for Phase 2 of the Yumi Yet Bridge Development Programme in Papua New Guinea. [177600]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 8 June 2004]: For reasons of commercial confidentiality, ECGD does not normally reveal details of applications for cover it receives in respect of prospective export transactions.
Nevertheless, in this instance, Mabey and Johnson Ltd. has agreed to ECGD disclosing that it has applied for cover in respect of Phase 2 of the Yumi Yet Bridge Programme in PNG.
However ECGD has not yet taken a decision on whether to provide cover for this follow on business.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are set for doctors and psychiatrists who offer themselves as expert witnesses on autistic spectrum disorders. [178959]
Paul Goggins [holding answer 15 June 2004]: In criminal law, where matters fall outside the ordinary knowledge of the court, the court may allow the opinions of an expert witness to be admitted as evidence. If either the prosecution or the defence wishes to adduce the evidence of an expert witness, they are obliged to disclose the expert's statement to the other side in advance of the trial. The other side may then request further details from the expert. This obligation also allows the other side sufficient time to prepare their arguments if they wish to challenge the expert witness.
The decision whether or not to allow the evidence of an expert witness to be admitted rests with the court, which must be satisfied that the material comes within a recognized field of expertise and that the witness is indeed an expert in that field. It is for the jury to decide what weight ought to be placed on any expert evidence that has been admitted.
One exception to these general rules is that, under the Criminal Procedure (Insanity and Unfitness to Plead) Act 1991, a defendant shall not be acquitted on the grounds of insanity, or found unfit to plead, except on the evidence of two or more registered medical practitioners, at least one of whom is approved by the Secretary of State as having special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder.
18 Jun 2004 : Column 1158W
Protection from Harassment Act
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the total number of restraining orders made under section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 after a conviction under section 2 of the Act was in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003, broken down by sex of the defendant; [159393]
(2) what the total number of restraining orders made under section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 after a conviction under section 4 of the Act was in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003, broken down by sex of the defendant; [159394]
(3) what the total number of applications alleging a breach of a section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 restraining order resulting in a conviction was in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003, broken down by gender; [159395]
(4) what the total number of applications alleging a breach of a section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 restraining order resulting in an acquittal was, broken down by gender, in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; [159396]
(5) how many magistrates, court and Crown court prosecutions under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 resulted in (a) conviction and (b) acquittal in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003, broken down by sex of defendant. [159399]
Paul Goggins: Table A shows the number of persons sentenced to a restraining order following a conviction for an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 2 and 4 at all courts in England and Wales during 2001 and 2002.
Statute | Offence description | Year | Sex | Sentenced to a restraining order(2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protection from | Offence of | 2001 | Male | 1,057 |
| Harassment Act | harassment | Female | 147 | |
| 1997, Section 2 | Total | 1,204 | ||
| 2002 | Male | 1,235 | ||
| Female | 146 | |||
| Total | 1,381 | |||
| Protection from | Putting people in | 2001 | Male | 141 |
| Harassment Act | fear of violence | Female | 9 | |
| 1997, Section 4 | Total | 150 | ||
| 2002 | Male | 192 | ||
| Female | 13 | |||
| Total | 205 |
(2) These data are on the principal offence basis (but including primary and secondary disposals).
Table B shows the number of persons acquitted or found guilty at all courts of the offence of breaching a restraining order under section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England and Wales during 2001 and 2002.
18 Jun 2004 : Column 1159W
| Statute | Offence description | Year | Sex | Acquitted 2 | Found guilty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Section 5 | Breach of restraining order | 2001 | Male | 57 | 501 |
| Female | 6 | 38 | |||
| Total | 63 | 539 | |||
| 2002 | Male | 59 | 556 | ||
| Female | 7 | 48 | |||
| Total | 66 | 604 |
(3) These data are on the principal offence basis.
(4) Charge dismissed at magistrates' courts.
Table C shows the number of persons acquitted or found guilty at both magistrates' courts and the Crown Court of offences under sections 2 and 4 of the
18 Jun 2004 : Column 1160W
Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England and Wales during 2001 and 2002.
| Magistrates' courts | The Crown court | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statute | Offence description | Year | Sex | Charge dismissed | Found guilty | Acquitted | Found guilty |
| Protection from Harassment Act | Offence of harassment | 2001 | Male | 372 | 2,377 | 18 | 98 |
| 1997, Section 2 | Female | 65 | 320 | 4 | 11 | ||
| Total | 437 | 2,697 | 22 | 109 | |||
| 2002 | Male | 411 | 2,422 | 14 | 107 | ||
| Female | 71 | 328 | 5 | 6 | |||
| Total | 482 | 2,750 | 19 | 113 | |||
| Protection from Harassment Act | Putting people in fear of | 2001 | Male | 84 | 371 | 91 | 178 |
| 1997, Section 4 | violence | Female | 11 | 32 | 13 | 9 | |
| Total | 95 | 403 | 104 | 187 | |||
| 2002 | Male | 73 | 376 | 86 | 223 | ||
| Female | 7 | 26 | 11 | 13 | |||
| Total | 80 | 402 | 97 | 236 | |||
(5) These data are on the principal offence basis.
Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the Autumn of this year.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |