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7 Jul 2004 : Column 749W—continued
Cyber Terrorist Attacks
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to prevent cyber terrorist attacks on mobile telephony systems; and if he will make a statement. [180103]
Ms Blears: The National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) is continually monitoring the threat of electronic attack against the UK Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) including attacks on mobile telephony systems.
NISCC established and operates the Network Security Information Exchange, covering telecommunications, data and mobile communications. NISCC recently issued technical guidance to CNI partners on mobile telephony, designed to combat vulnerabilities.
Cycling
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2004, Official Report, column 1507W, on cycling, what publicity campaigns he has undertaken to encourage pedestrians who are knocked over by cyclists on footpaths and pavements to report the incident to the police. [181682]
Caroline Flint: We have undertaken no specific publicity on this issue and do not consider a dedicated national campaign appropriate. Police and local authorities may take such actions in particular areas if there is a special problem.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has offered to police forces on (a) the prevention of cyclists using footpaths and pavements and (b) the steps to be taken against cyclists who use footpaths and pavements. [181683]
Caroline Flint: Chief officers of police are best placed to assess the nature and cause of cycling offences locally and to decide the most appropriate response.
The Government do not condone irresponsible cycling and will continue to promote safe behaviour on bicycles. To help the police with enforcement we have made it possible for Community Support Officers (CSOs) appointed under the Police Reform Act 2002 to issue £30 fixed penalty notices for cycling inconsiderately or irresponsibly on pavements.
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The cycling infrastructure and environment are currently under improvement as a result of our National Cycling strategy. We expect this improvement to reduce the incentive to cycle on the pavement.
Databases
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individual records have been added to the national DNA database under section 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. [181501]
Caroline Flint: It is estimated that 3,686 new DNA profiles taken from individuals have been added to the national DNA database since 5 April 2004. Information is not available, however, about how many of these were obtained as a result of the new powers under Section 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings the Police Information Technology Organisation has held with representatives of foreign Governments and law enforcement agencies in relation to the sharing of information held on their respective databases in the last two years. [181502]
Caroline Flint: Exchanges of information with foreign governments and law enforcement agents are governed by Memorandum of Understanding negotiated by the Home Office and the Law Enforcement agencies concerned. The bulk of these exchanges are facilitated through Interpol or Europol although there are some bilateral arrangements with a major allies, for example US and Canada.
The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) role is to ensure that the technical mechanism to support these exchanges is in place. At present the majority of bulk information exchanges are undertaken via magnetic media. At present there is no interactive access by any foreign government to national databases owned or controlled by UK police forces.
Drug Misuse/Treatment
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds were spent on tackling drugs misuse in the constituency of Tamworth in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 2003–04. [179967]
Caroline Flint:
Breakdown of financial allocation to local constituencies is not available in the form requested as funding is allocated to Drug Action Team
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(DAT) areas. In this case Staffordshire DAT which covers; Tamworth, Staffordshire Moorlands, Burton, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyne, South Staffordshire and Stone.
The period for 1997–98 is prior to the formation of the National Drug Strategy and there is no locally held information on funding available for that financial year.
In 2003–04 the total drugs allocation for Staffordshire DAT was £4,387,767. In order to ensure consistency, figures supplied are based on funding streams associated with the National Drug Strategy that are readily verifiable. These funding streams are specifically targeted at tackling the harm caused to individuals, families and communities by the misuse of drugs. Other mainstream funding is made available at a local level, this varies both in amount and origin and as a result it is not possible to provide robust financial information.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Partnership Capacity | 100,224 |
| Treatment Pooled Budget | 2,586,000 |
| Through Care After Care Pump Priming | 35,000 |
| Building Safer Communities(18) | 1,032,206 |
| Young People | 634,337 |
| Total | 4,387,767 |
(18) Contains non-drug elements.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he will introduce to reduce waiting times for drug treatment. [182229]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
In December 2001, the National Treatment Agency (NTA) set waiting time targets, against which drug action teams are held to account. Since then, average waiting times have fallen substantially in all treatment categories, from between five to 11 weeks in December 2001, to two to four weeks in May 2004.
The NTA and the National Institute for Mental Health in England have developed a national programme to improve access to treatment for drug misusers. Their joint programme focuses on implementing tools and techniques for reducing waiting times that have already proved to be successful elsewhere in the health and social care system, both in the United Kingdom and abroad.
Drugs Strategy
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government expect to publish its next drugs strategy report. [178288]
Caroline Flint:
On 3 December 2002, the Government published their Updated Drug Strategy setting out progress made in tackling drug misuse since 1998. It also presents revised targets to 2008 and the range of policies and interventions planned to achieve them. A copy is in the Library.
7 Jul 2004 : Column 752W
Recent progress against the Updated Drug Strategy was published as part of the Home Office Departmental Report 2004 on 30 April 2004. A copy is in the Library.
EU Accession States (Driving Offences)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been given to (a) local police forces and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service about the prosecution of those from the new EU member states who commit driving and other motoring offences. [181254]
Caroline Flint: The legislation on driving and other aspects of motoring applies to persons from the new EU member states as it does to other drivers. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police, who will decide what approach is most effective in different circumstances. It is then for the Crown Prosecution Service to reach a decision as to prosecution. We recognise there are practical difficulties if someone from another country returns home before a trial and are currently examining possible ways of meeting this problem.
European Court of Human Rights (Ezeh and Connors)
Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the issue of compensation regarding the release of prisoners following the Ezeh and Connors ruling by the European Court of Human Rights has been determined. [182059]
Paul Goggins: The European Court of Human Rights delivered its final judgment in the case of Ezeh and Connors on 9 October 2003 when it confirmed the decision not to award them compensation for the additional days that they served in prison as a result of the disciplinary punishments. Accordingly, the Prison Service does not propose to compensate those finding themselves in a similar position.
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