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18 Oct 2004 : Column 485W—continued

Managed Migration Directorate

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to improve the service provided by the Managed Migration Directorate. [189935]

Mr. Browne: Managed Migration Directorate's (MMD) Nationality Directorate is streamlining its document handling processes for completion by November 2004. New accommodation and additional staff have reduced the number of progress inquiries and the waiting times (from 11 months in April 2003 to seven and a half months currently). Also, the successful introduction of citizenship ceremonies has enhanced the significance of becoming British and contributed towards better community cohesion.

MMD's General Group has an appointment system in its public inquiry offices which has reduced waiting times as a result of 50 per cent. of callers making advance appointments. General Group's secure handling processes have resulted in a greatly reduced risk of passports and documents going missing.

The correspondence tracking system (CTS) implemented across the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) at the end of September is enabling all MPs' letters to IND (which includes MMD) to receive a speedier reply. Also, a programme of work launched in June within IND is improving its service to MPs by securing closer working relationships.

MMD's work permits (UK) is recruiting more staff across all workstreams to ensure that priority work areas are adequately resourced. Also, an open dialogue with frequent users is being maintained to respond to customer needs, especially with regard to urgent cases.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the backlog of correspondence at the Managed Migration Directorate is. [189936]

Mr. Browne: My hon. Friend's question has been taken as relating to correspondence from MPs.

In the week ending 30 June 2004, the Managed Migration Directorate had 233 MPs' letters awaiting drafting of a reply. In the quarter ending 30 June, the most recent quarter for which information is currently
 
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available, 62 per cent. of MPs' letters for Managed Migration were answered within the 20-day Public Service Agreement target.

Police

Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about police paperwork; and if he will make a statement. [191205]

Caroline Flint: The Department receives representations on police paperwork from a wide range of people, including right hon. and hon. Members. We are working closely with key stakeholders to reduce bureaucracy in police stations, on the streets and in court.

Prisons

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to deal with (a) overcrowding and (b) poor conditions in prisons. [147368]

Paul Goggins: Providing modern and effective prisons is central to the Government's objective of reducing re-offending and protecting the public. The Government continue to investigate options to address overcrowding and increase capacity as part of their prison modernisation strategy. Building on this strategy the Home Secretary announced on 29 September that in 2005–06 we will begin a £100 million programme to create 1,300 new prison places. This is in addition to 2,400 new places already planned for development over the next 18 months. We are also tackling overcrowding by putting in place robust community sentences, which the courts can use instead of short-term imprisonment for non-dangerous, less serious offenders.

Stateless People

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds a stateless person can be removed from this country. [189557]

Mr. Browne: A stateless person who does not qualify for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom—or is liable to removal because they are subject to deportation, illegal entry or administrative removal proceedings—can be removed, either through one of the United Nations' Conventions relating to stateless persons or by the acceptance of another country. A person who is stateless will be removable to a country or territory in which he has obtained a passport or other document of identity, from which he embarked for the United Kingdom, or to which there is reason to believe he will be admitted.

UK Entry Applications (Marriages)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the age limit for (a) sponsors and (b) applicants for entry to the UK from outside the EU for the purpose of marriage; and if he will make a statement. [189114]


 
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Mr. Browne: We raised the age limit for sponsors from 16 to 18 years on 1 April 2003. This was because we felt that 18-year-olds would be better able to withstand pressure from their families to enter into a marriage against their wishes.

We are currently considering whether or not to raise the age for marriage entry clearance to bring it in line with the sponsorship age.

HEALTH

Anaphylaxis Campaign

Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (a) the case for the (i) application of more resources and training and (ii) formulation of a national action programme for allergy services advanced by the anaphylaxis campaign and (b) the solutions proposed by the Royal College of Physicians in 2003. [190629]

Dr. Ladyman: The national health service improvement programme, "Putting People at the Heart of Public Services" sets out the commitment that the NHS will build a responsive service tailored to the needs of people living with long-term conditions, including allergies. There are already a number of initiatives in place, which will improve outcomes and the quality of life of patients with long-term conditions. These include:

We welcomed the publication of the Royal College of Physicians' report and believe it is a useful contribution to the continuing debate on how to improve NHS allergy services. It is the role of primary care trusts, in partnership with local stakeholders, to decide service provision for their populations, including those with allergies, as they are best placed to understand local health care needs and commission services accordingly.

Ashford Hospital (Middlesex)

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the negotiations between his officials, the North Surrey Primary Care Trust, the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust and Capio on the establishment of a privately run treatment centre at Ashford Hospital (Middlesex). [192297]

Mr. Hutton: Discussions between the national health service sponsors, the Department and Capio continue and, subject to a satisfactory outcome to those discussions, it is envisaged that heads of agreement will be signed shortly, with the expectation that contracts will be signed by the end of the year.

Bed Blocking (Buckinghamshire)

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of bed blocking in hospitals located in the Buckinghamshire Health Authority. [191042]


 
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Ms Rosie Winterton: According to latest figures (June 2004), there were 83 delayed transfers in the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority area, which includes the old Buckinghamshire Health Authority area (2.2 per cent. of patients occupying an acute bed).

Blood Donation (Buckinghamshire)

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people gave blood in Buckinghamshire in each financial year since 2002–03. [191082]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, figures provided by the National Blood Service are shown in the table.
Blood donors and donations in Buckinghamshire

Financial yearNumber of donors(14)Donations collected
2001–0225,97031,361
2002–0325,96330,258
2003–0424,11133,565


(14) Donor numbers taken at mid-year point.


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