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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:

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]


 
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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.
 
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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.
Table A: Number of persons sentenced to a restraining order after being found guilty of an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 2 or 4, all courts, England and Wales, 2001 and 2002



Statute


Offence description


Year


Sex
Sentenced to a restraining order(2)
Protection fromOffence of2001Male1,057
Harassment ActharassmentFemale147
1997, Section 2Total1,204
2002Male1,235
Female146
Total1,381
Protection fromPutting people in2001Male141
Harassment Actfear of violenceFemale9
1997, Section 4Total150
2002Male192
Female13
Total205


(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.
 
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Table B: Number of persons acquitted or convicted of breaching a restraining order under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, section 5, at all courts, England and Wales 2001 and 2002 1

StatuteOffence descriptionYearSexAcquitted 2Found guilty
Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Section 5Breach of restraining order2001Male57501
Female638
Total63539
2002Male59556
Female748
Total66604


(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
 
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Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England and Wales during 2001 and 2002.
Table: C Number of persons acquitted or found guilty of offences under sections 2 and 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, England and Wales 2001 to 2002 1

Magistrates' courts
The Crown court
StatuteOffence descriptionYearSexCharge dismissedFound guiltyAcquittedFound guilty
Protection from Harassment ActOffence of harassment2001Male3722,3771898
1997, Section 2Female65320411
Total4372,69722109
2002Male4112,42214107
Female7132856
Total4822,75019113
Protection from Harassment ActPutting people in fear of2001Male8437191178
1997, Section 4violenceFemale1132139
Total95403104187
2002Male7337686223
Female7261113
Total8040297236


(5) These data are on the principal offence basis.


Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the Autumn of this year.


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