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18 Oct 2004 : Column 503W—continued
Refurbishment Costs
Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what costs were incurred by the Department and its predecessors in refurbishing the departmental estate in each financial year since 1996–97. [180318]
Mr. Leslie [pursuant to the reply, 29 June 2004, Official Report, c. 183W]: The table previously submitted with the answer included erroneous information. The table below provides corrected information on the Department for Constitutional Affairs' departmental estate only:
Financial year | Cost of refurbishment and maintenance (£ million) |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 24.8 |
| 1997–98 | 25.5 |
| 1998–99 | 16.8 |
| 1999–2000 | 14.8 |
| 2000–01 | 14.2 |
| 2001–02 | 18.8 |
| 2002–03 | 19.1 |
| 2003–04 | 26.5 |
18 Oct 2004 : Column 504W
Small Claims (Court Fees)
Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs who is consulted prior to increases in court fees in the small claims track. [191021]
Mr. Leslie: Section 92(5) of the Courts Act 2003 states that before making an order the Lord Chancellor must consult with the:
Lord Chief Justice
Master of the Rolls
President of the Family Division
Vice Chancellor, The Head of Civil Justice
Deputy Heads of Judiciary, Civil Justice Council (in relation to civil proceedings)
My Department will also consult with the newly created Family Justice Council. Section 92(7) of the Act also states that 'the Lord Chancellor must take steps as are reasonably practicable to bring information about fees to the attention of persons likely to have to pay them'.
In addition to the Act it has always been my Department's policy to consult when making any changes to court fees. A copy of the consultation paper, setting out the reasons for changes in court fees, is posted on my Department's website on the same day that a press notice is issued announcing the start of the consultation process. Hard copies are also sent out to any one who has expressed an interest as well as key advisory agencies and bodies, legal representatives and judiciary.
Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what fees are charged to winning parties for recovering moneys adjudged due by the small claims track but unpaid. [191028]
Mr. Leslie: Where a successful party (the claimant), decides to enforce non-payment of money due from the losing party (the defendant), the claimant will instruct the court on the form of enforcement they wish to pursue. This is based on their knowledge of the assets of the individual. There are several types of enforcement, the main ones being a warrant of execution, a charging order against property or land, an attachment of earnings order. The process most commonly used is a warrant of execution.
These types of enforcement attract a fee as follows:
A warrant of execution—where the amount for which the warrant issues is less that £125—the fee is £30. Where the amount exceeds £125 the fee is £50.
A charging order, the fee is £50.00
To apply for an attachment of earnings order—£60.
Solicitors Firms
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many solicitor firms in England and Wales offered publicly funded (a) criminal and (b) civil legal advice, assistance and representation in 1994; and how many offered each service at the latest date for which figures are available. [192212]
18 Oct 2004 : Column 505W
Mr. Lammy: My Department can provide figures for the number of solicitors' offices but not the figures for solicitors firms as many firms operate from more than one office.
In 1994 publicly funded legal advice was not split by criminal and civil work. However, it is estimated that in 1993–94 there were 8,989 solicitors' offices receiving payment for civil advice and 6,555 offices receiving payment for criminal advice and representation in the magistrates courts. The total number of offices receiving payments were 11,271; and some offices practised in more than one area of legal aid. In total there were 4,975 offices, which accounted for 92 per cent. of all legal aid.
As at 1 October 2004 a total of 4,417 offices held General Civil Contracts: 3,985 solicitors' offices and 432 Not for Profit agencies. A total of 2,582 offices were operating under Criminal Defence Service (CDS) contracts as at 1 October 2004. All suppliers with contracts must hold the Specialist Quality Mark, the Commission's major external quality assurance standard.
Unpaid Fines
Mrs. Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many fine enforcement staff were employed by (a) courts in England and Wales and (b) the private sector at the latest date available. [191802]
Mr. Leslie: The latest estimates are that there are approximately 1,900 magistrates courts staff working on criminal enforcement. Data on numbers of enforcement staff employed by the private sector is not available, although 14 of the 42 Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs) use Approved Enforcement Agencies (AEAs) to undertake some or all enforcement work.
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost was of collecting each £1 of unpaid fines following the use of enforcement procedures at the latest date available. [191803]
Mr. Leslie: The report commissioned by the DCA's Criminal Enforcement Programme in 2003, "Review of Magistrates Courts Enforcement Strategies", recorded the average cost of administration and enforcement of financial penalties (which include, but are not limited to, fines) as 19p per £ collected.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Army Vehicles (Thefts)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the theft of equipment from army vehicles during violence on 12 July in Ardoyne, Belfast. [187753]
Mr. Pearson:
During the unrest in the Ardoyne on 12 July 2004, some items of military equipment were stolen. I condemn the actions of those responsible for the theft and would like to commend the restraint of the soldiers when under attack.
18 Oct 2004 : Column 506W
Care Homes
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many citizens of the Irish Republic are placed at care homes in Northern Ireland. [190585]
Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.
Crime (Elderly People)
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken by (a) each Government Department and (b) the Police Service of Northern Ireland to reduce the number of attacks on the elderly; and if he will make a statement. [178381]
Mr. Paul Murphy: There are three Government Departments, along with the Police Service of Northern Ireland that are currently taking action directly relevant to the safety of older people within Northern Ireland.
The Office of the First Minister Deputy First Minister has, on 21 June 2004, launched a consultative document on "Ageing in an Inclusive Society". Within a broad range of objectives, the safety of older people is highlighted, with a number of recommendations made to improve their personal security and address the fear of crime being experienced by them.
The Northern Ireland Office, through its Community Safety Unit, has implemented a wide range of initiatives specifically to address crime and the fear of crime experienced by older people.
Major programmes of work such as the Stay Safe Stay Secure Campaign will spend £2.58 million over the next few years through a range of initiatives including providing home security measures in more than 10,000 older persons homes through the Lock Out Crime Scheme. It will also raise safety awareness among older people through innovative media and communication initiatives.
The provision of significant funding to 20 local community-based projects aimed at addressing the community safety of older people and vulnerable adults, the recent launch of the Neighbourhood Watch NI Programme, the putting in place of Community Safety Partnerships in each council area and their development of local community safety strategies, the forthcoming release of a consultative document on the Community Safety of Older People, and the imminent introduction of Anti-Social Behaviour Order legislation, will have major impacts on the safety of older people including countering the attacks on older people which all right minded people acknowledge is so abhorrent in a civilised society.
The Department for Social Development has, through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's delivery of the Lock Out Crime Scheme, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office, and the 10 Estates Project, also contributed to Government's efforts in relation to the safety of older people.
Finally, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has, in addition to dealing with crimes of assault and robbery of older people, more than 70 local initiatives aimed at providing crime prevention advice and measures to older people across Northern Ireland.
18 Oct 2004 : Column 507W
The Police Service held a major conference in Belfast this year, the second day of which was specifically aimed at addressing the concerns of older people. It has also set up an Older Persons Independent Advisory Forum with which to discuss policy matters specific to them including the Policing Strategy for Older People currently being drafted.
I believe that the breadth and extent of the actions being taken by Government Departments and the Police Service in relation to the safety and security of older people will have major and positive outcomes in relation to the quality of life experienced by them. In particular, they will help prevent those mercifully few but totally unacceptable attacks on older people, which we hear and see in the media.
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