---

25 Jan 2005 : Column 262W—continued

Antisocial Behaviour

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of crime and disorder reduction partnerships in aiding co-ordination between different agencies in tackling housing-related antisocial behaviour. [204537]

Ms Blears: The Government recognises that partnership working at a local level is the key to tacklingcrime and antisocial behaviour effectively. The TOGETHER campaign, which targets a wide range of
 
25 Jan 2005 : Column 263W
 
practitioners, including social landlords, is about ensuring that all agencies work together in delivering effective interventions.

We are supporting both social landlords and other agencies in identifying and delivering local solutions to local problems by working together within the framework that Crime and Disorder Partnerships provide.

Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in (a) West Derbyshire Constituency and (b) Derbyshire since their introduction. [207456]

Ms Blears: Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) have been available to the courts since 1 April 1999. From commencement, up to 30 June 2004 (latest available), the Home Office has been notified of 36 ASBOs issued within Derbyshire. Of these, three orders were issued, where restrictions have been imposed in Amber Valley borough council area, and six where restrictions have been imposed in Derbyshire Dales district council area (parts of which make up the West Derbyshire constituency).

Data up to 30 September 2004 will be available shortly.

Asylum Seekers

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers have been removed to Zimbabwe since 16 November 2004. [210514]

Mr. Browne: In the period 16 November to 31 December 2004, inclusive, 40 asylum applicants were removed to Zimbabwe from the UK. This includes persons who left the UK under assisted voluntary return schemes organised by the International Organisation for Migration, and those persons who departed voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated.

This information has not been quality assured and should be treated as provisional management information only.

National Statistics on the number and nationality of asylum applicants removed from the UK during the final quarter of 2004 will be published on the Home Office website on 22 February 2005 www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria his officials use to (a) assess and (b) substantiate accounts of torture and political persecution given by Zimbabwean asylum seekers. [210774]

Mr. Browne: Asylum caseworkers consider the applicant's written and oral evidence in the light of the available sources of information about the country situation and particular incidents, taking account also of any medical evidence of torture, before deciding whether the individual has a well-founded fear of persecution and should be recognised as a refugee under the terms of the 1951 Convention.

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will chair the community liaison group for the accommodation centre for asylum-seekers in Bicester; and whether the chair will be elected. [210889]

 
25 Jan 2005 : Column 264W
 

Mr. Browne: The chair has not yet been appointed. It is expected that the chair will be selected by the members of the group.

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will appoint the independent Minister of Accommodation Centres for asylum seekers. [210987]

Mr. Browne: We intend to ensure that the monitor is appointed in good time for him or her to be able to monitor the operation of accommodation centres from the date at which the first centre is open.

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will appoint the community liaison manager for the accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester; to whom the community liaison manager will be answerable to; and by whom they will be paid. [210988]

Mr. Browne: GSL (UK) Ltd. will appoint a community liaison manager who will deal with local enquiries during the construction phase. He or she will be answerable to the Home Office and paid by GSL (UK) Ltd.

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the contractors will be represented on the community liaison group of the accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester. [210989]

Mr. Browne: Yes. The contractor will both establish and be represented on the group.

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what grade his Department will be represented on the community liaison group for the accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester. [210990]

Mr. Browne: The Home Office will be represented by a deputy director or assistant director of the UK Immigration Service.

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representation there will be for elected councillors from (a) the councils of (i) Ambros, (ii) Arncott, (iii) Blackthorn and (iv) Piddington, (b) Bicester town council, (c) Cherwell district council and (d) Oxfordshire county council of the Community Liaison Group for the accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester. [210991]

Mr. Browne: Representation on the community liaison group has not yet been decided; GSL (UK) Ltd. is actively seeking interest.

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) clergy, (b) voluntary organisations, (c) residents and (d) local service providers will be included in the membership of the Community Liaison Group for the accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester; and how they will be chosen. [210992]

Mr. Browne: Representation on the community liaison group has not yet been decided; GSL (UK) Ltd. is actively seeking interest.
 
25 Jan 2005 : Column 265W
 

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will determine who the key people from the local community are for inclusion in the Community Liaison Group for the accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester. [210993]

Mr. Browne: GSL (UK) Ltd. will invite representation from the local community.

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will provide the secretariat for the Community Liaison Group for the accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester. [210994]

Mr. Browne: The secretariat will be provided by GSL (UK) Ltd.

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual budget will be of the Community Liaison Group for the accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester; and who will provide the funding for the group. [210995]

Mr. Browne: The administrative costs are expected to be minimal. The funding will be provided by GSL (UK) Ltd.

Begging

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultation he has had with beggars in drawing up measures to tackle the problem of begging; [206583]

(2) how the Department measures the effectiveness of the use of powers to deal with begging; [206588]

(3) if he will make a statement on the measures which are in place to deal with the problem of begging; [206591]

(4) if he will make a statement on the alternatives to using the criminal justice system to tackle the problem of begging. [206592]

Ms Blears: We need to ensure that we address the underlying causes of those who beg. If we help those who beg because of drug use to get access to effective treatment we help them, help communities and help those intimidated by begging. Better use of enforcement powers and alternative giving schemes will help to address the underlying and immediate problems.

Begging is already a criminal offence, by making the offence of begging recordable the offender's details will be entered on the police national computer and there are powers to enable the offender to be finger-printed. This enables the police to identify repeat offenders and the courts will be able to issue community sentences, rather than fines, for those convicted a fourth time for an offence. This may include drug treatment. Since the end of July this year, begging has been included as a trigger offence under the Criminal Justice Interventions Programme. This will mean that those charged with begging will be drug tested and will enhance their opportunities for the underlying causes of their behaviour to be addressed and to route out repeat offending by offering treatment.

Members of the public often find begging intimidating. A MORI survey carried out in August 2003 for the Antisocial Behaviour Unit at the Home
 
25 Jan 2005 : Column 266W
 
Office found that two thirds of respondents resent being approached by those who beg and over half will not use a cash point if someone is begging near it.

The Antisocial Behaviour Unit at the Home Office are working with five areas around the country: Brighton, Bristol, Camden, Westminster and Leeds to tackle begging.

The approach developed in these areas involves a 'twin track' approach of enforcement and support; addressing the underlying causes of begging such as drugs as well as taking enforcement action when people don't heed advice or offers of support.

Initial findings from the trailblazing areas indicate a reduction in begging and positive outcomes for former beggars. More detailed findings from these areas will emerge in March 2006.

---