| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
20 Dec 2004 : Column 1500W—continued
Antisocial Behaviour
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received concerning antisocial behaviour towards homeowners by groups of adolescents under 16 years of age. [205659]
20 Dec 2004 : Column 1501W
Ms Blears: This is an issue of great concern to residents in many areas.
The Government has provided the tools for police and local councils to effectively tackle antisocial behaviour no matter where people live. Many enforcement powers, for example Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, Dispersal Orders and Antisocial Behaviour Orders, are available, regardless of the perpetrator's or the victims housing status.
Airguns
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward proposals (a) to make the sale of all types of airguns to under-18s illegal and (b) to license the general sale of airguns. [204820]
Caroline Flint: Our consultation paper on control of firearms explained the range of controls on the sale and use of air weapons, and the changes we have made to the age at which young people may possess or use an air weapon without adult supervision, and to their possession in a public place without reasonable excuse. Respondents were asked to say whether they agreed or not that further restrictions would be disproportionate. We received a large number of responses on this and other questions; these are being carefully considered.
Burgled Householders (Prosecutions)
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted burglars have successfully sued householders whose houses they have attempted to burgle following incidents occurring during the break in, in (a) the last year, (b) the last three years, (c) the last five years and (d) the last 10 years. [204529]
Mr. Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested is not available centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost to the Department.
Class A Drugs
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average sentence was in each of the last six years for people charged with supplying Class A drugs to children. [204778]
Caroline Flint: Figures on the average sentence for people charged with supplying Class A drugs to children are not collated. However we do have data on the average sentence for people sentenced to immediate custody for unlawful supply by principal drug offence.
This information, which can be accessed via the Research Development and Statistics website, can be found in the Home Office Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics Supplementary Tables publications as follows:
20 Dec 2004 : Column 1502W
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested for dealing in Class A drugs in each of the last six years. [204780]
Caroline Flint: Figures for the number of people arrested for dealing is not collated for total Class A drugs. However, we do have figures for the total number of people arrested for dealing for the main Class A drug type. These are taken from newly constructed tables and data is therefore only available for 2001 and 2002.
This information can be found in Table 3.6 on page 101 of the Home Office Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics which can be accessed via the RDS website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb0804.pdf
Correspondence
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the question from the hon. Member for Cotswold, tabled on 29 November, ref 201515, regarding applicants for British citizenship serving abroad in the United Kingdom armed forces. [205334]
Mr. Browne: I replied to the hon. Member on 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1163W.
Cycling
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cyclists have been charged in Greater London for riding bicycles during the hours of darkness with no visible lighting being displayed in the last period for which figures are available. [203634]
Caroline Flint: Charges may not lead to proceedings. Statistics of defendants charged with crimes are not collected centrally.
In 2003, one cyclist was proceeded against at magistrates courts in Greater London for lighting and reflector offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec 81 and Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989.
Statistics on numbers proceeded against for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.
Demography
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the number of people who (a) move home and (b) get married in a year. [203514]
Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.
Using data from the Survey of English Housing, it is estimated that in 2003–04 there were 2,630,000 moves by households in England.
20 Dec 2004 : Column 1503W
The provisional figure for the number of marriages in England is 242,000 in 2002, which is the latest estimate provided by the Office for National Statistics. An estimate for 2003 will be published in the summer of 2005.
HGV Drivers
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to bring forward proposals to include heavy goods vehicle drivers as a shortage occupation for the purposes of work permit arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [202111]
Mr. Browne: There are no plans to include heavy goods vehicle drivers as a shortage occupation. Such posts do not normally meet the criteria of the work permit arrangements.
Immigration
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are waiting for decisions on their applications for permanent leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [205656]
Mr. Browne: Currently, management information shows we have approximately 19,000 applications for indefinite leave to remain awaiting consideration in General Group, Managed Migration. In addition, there are further cases where we are considering enforcement action.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his letter of 15 September to the hon. Member for Banbury, if his Department will confirm the immigration status of Amer Ali. [202573]
Mr. Browne: A decision on Mr. All's immigration status has been made and a letter confirming the outcome was sent to him on 3 December care of his legal representatives.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children are being held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers; and how many of these have been held for more than 28 days in each removal centre; [202684]
(2) how many children have been held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers since his announcement that children will not be detained for more than 28 days without ministerial consent; and how many of these have been held for more than 28 days in each removal centre. [202685]
Mr. Browne: Information on the total number of children detained under Immigration Act powers since the announcement in October 2003 that children will not be detained for more than 28 days without ministerial consent is not available.
On 25 September 2004, 40 children were detained solely under Immigration Act powers. 79 per cent. had been in detention for 28 days or less and the remainder had been detained for less than four months. Of all those
20 Dec 2004 : Column 1504W
children detained, 30 were held at Oakington Reception Centre and five at Tinsley House. The remaining cases were either age dispute cases held at other Immigration Removal centres while their age assessments were being carried out, or young children held at mother and baby units in prisons with their mother while awaiting removal. Further details of these cases (less than three in total) cannot be disclosed due to National Statistics protocols on confidentiality.
Children and infants are detained as part of family groups, usually just prior to their removal and often for a very few days.
Information on the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 25 December 2004 will be published on the Home Office website in February 2005.
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |