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14 Mar 2005 : Column 62W—continued
Support and Rehabilitation (Women)
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what gender-specific community programmes seeking to create local support and rehabilitation centres for women are supported by his Department; [213361]
(2) what community programmes his Department funds that provide support and rehabilitation centres for women. [212323]
Paul Goggins: The Women's Offending Reduction Programme, published on 11 March 2004, is focused on women's offending and aims to reduce the number of women in prison. The programme will improve community based services and ensure they are better tailored to meet women's needs.
The programme contains a commitment to develop a community based one-stop-shop approach to tackling the different factors which impact on women's offending. We are attracted to the idea of having local community supervision and support centres for women where they can access a whole range of interventions and services to meet their needs, including housing, child care, mental health, substance misuse, histories of abuse, employment and training. Following the announcement of funding in the 2004 Spending Review, we are considering how this will be used to develop radical new approaches for women offenders and provide community interventions and support specific to women's needs.
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Tampere Agenda
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has held to take forward the EU's Tampere Agenda. [220282]
Caroline Flint: The Home Secretary and other UK Ministers have had discussions with the current and future Presidencies of the ED, and Vice-President Frattini, to plan the delivery of the inherited JHA programme. The successor to the Tampere Programme, The Hague Programme, was agreed by Heads of State at the European Council in November 2005. The European Commission are in the process of producing an Action Plan to implement The Hague Programme, informed by discussions at the informal meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers, in Luxembourg in January.
Under-age Driving
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to communicate with the parents of a child who is convicted of driving a motor vehicle when under age. [219012]
Paul Goggins: When a young person is initially charged with an offence, issues relating to contacting the parents will be dealt with by the police. If the young person is summonsed to appear in court the parent(s) will be asked to attend.
If a young person is convicted of driving a motor vehicle while under age the Youth Offending Team (YOT) would attempt to contact the parents, as involvement with family is critical to any intervention. Youth Offending Teams include representatives from a wide range of services and aim for a comprehensive response following assessment. Parents with a child who has become involved with the youth justice system may be invited to attend a voluntary YOT parenting programme. If voluntary participation cannot be achieved the YOT may seek a parenting order which requires attendance.
Xenotransplantation
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to review Huntingdon Life Sciences' Certificate of Designation following his Chief Inspector's compliance review; and if he will make a statement. [200027]
Caroline Flint: In common with all establishments designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, Huntingdon Life Sciences is subject to scrutiny by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. The inspection schedule takes into account the size of the establishment, the nature of the work undertaken, and the management practices. Inspectors make frequent, usually unannounced, visits of inspection to Huntingdon Life Sciences, as they do to all other designated establishments, to monitor compliance with its certificate and licence conditions under the 1986 Act.
In addition aspects of compliance were formally reviewed by the then Chief Inspector in 1997 and 2001 following allegations made by animal protection organisations. As a result of the 1997 review, notice was given that the Certificate was to be revoked, and that a
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new application would be considered only if 16 pre-conditions were met to remedy the problems uncovered. A fresh application was subsequently received, with evidence the 16 pre-conditions had been met, and a new Certificate granted. The 2001 compliance review revealed no new management failings related to the Certificate of Designation.
Conditions of issue attached to all Certificates are periodically reviewed. This was last done as regards Huntingdon Life Sciences in October 2004.
Young Offenders
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders from London are located in prison establishments more than (a) 50 miles and (b) 100 miles from the city; and if he will make a statement. [220515]
Paul Goggins: As at 25 February 2004, the latest date for which information is available, the distance away from home that young offenders were held from London, was as set out in the following table.
| Distance | Number of young offenders |
|---|---|
| Under 50 miles | |
| Total number of prisoners | 1,120 |
| 50 to 100 miles | |
| Total number of prisoners | 192 |
| 100 plus miles | |
| Total number of prisoners | 299 |
| Total | 1,600 |
Note:
Where an individual prisoner's home address is not recorded the prisoner's committal, remand, convicting or sentencing court is used.
Youth Inclusion Projects
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Youth Inclusion Programmes in reducing anti-social behaviour; [219321]
(2) what plans the Government have to increase the number of youth inclusion projects. [219360]
Ms Blears: The overall aim of the Youth Inclusion Programme is to reduce crime in the 72 neighbourhoods in England and Wales in which the programme runs. Each scheme targets the 50 young people, aged 13 to 16, who are most at risk of criminality in the local area. Programme objectives include reducing arrest rates amongst the target group and helping them to engage in suitable full-time education, training or employment.
An independent evaluation of the Youth Inclusion Programme in 2003 showed that overall arrest rates were reduced by 64 per cent. We have not undertaken a separate assessment of the programme's impact on anti-social behaviour, but we do consider that this is likely to be one of the additional benefits.
The Home Office five-year strategic plan includes a commitment to increase the number of Youth Inclusion Programmes by 50 per cent. by 2008.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Arms Exports (Indonesia)
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2005,Official Report, column 627W on Arms Exports (Indonesia), what the estimated cost to the Government of rescheduling Indonesia's debts is. [217444]
Mr. Alexander: The rescheduling of Indonesia's debt has not resulted in a cost to the Exchequer; as it has not reduced the value of Indonesia's debt.
Biomass Power Plants
Mr. Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many biomass power plants have been built in England under the Renewables Obligation Order 2002. [221188]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The number of new bio-energy power stations commissioned in England since 2002 and accredited by Ofgem to receive Renewable Obligation Certificates is four. They are:
| Station | Commissioned |
|---|---|
| Peabody Trust, Surrey | 1 May 2002 |
| Thornton Power Station, Lancashire | 1 June 2002 |
| Weston Industrial Estate, Worcestershire | 1 May 2002 |
| Holsworthy Biogas, Devon | 1 April 2002 |
This listing does not include those stations holding ROC's under the co-firing provisions of the Renewables Obligation, or those currently under construction.
China
Ms Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect on the UK defence industry of the proposed lifting of the EU embargo on sales of arms to China. [221253]
Mr. Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
In terms of the direct impact on UK defence industry, lifting the EU arms embargo should not lead to an increase in arms exports to China. There are however concerns about the possible indirect consequences for UK defence industry if action were taken in the US in response to a lifting of the embargo. We do not consider that such action—which would be damaging to both countries' interests—would be justified. We continue to work with the US to achieve a satisfactory conclusion. I am in regular contact with my ministerial colleagues on this issue.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government is taking to assist the People's Republic of China in tackling the trade in illegal cigarettes. [220293]
Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
UK and Chinese Customs cooperate in a wide range of areas to tackle the trade of illegal cigarettes. Recent examples include:
training Hong Kong and Chinese delegations to assist in identifying suspect containers for interception and examination;
sharing information about seizures of cigarettes of Chinese origin in Europe for further investigation;
assisting and supporting the Chinese authorities in a regional initiative to tackle the illegal cigarette trade.
Further to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's visit to China on 21–23 February 2005, UK and China Customs are currently finalising an agreement to maximise this co-operation and the successful effort against illicit cigarette trafficking and manufacture.
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