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23 Mar 2005 : Column 863W—continued
University Admissions
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have entered higher education from school in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997. [222775]
Dr. Howells: The most recent information, showing the proportion of 18-year-olds who obtained places on full-time undergraduate courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), is shown in the table. Participation rates for each parliamentary constituency are not calculated by the Department.
In addition, HEFCE have recently published 'Young participation in Higher Education', (available from http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_037) which shows the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19, although this only covers the years up to 2000. Participation rates for constituencies based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website (www.hefce.ac.uk/polar). The figures indicate that the proportion of young people from Jarrow who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 23 per cent. in 1997 and 24 per cent. in 2000.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Accredited Offending Behaviour Programmes
Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accredited offending behaviour programmes are due to be completed in 2004–05; and how many are expected to be completed in 2005–06. [223335]
Paul Goggins: Accredited offending behaviour programmes are delivered to offenders supervised by the National Probation Service and to offenders serving sentences of imprisonment. The targets for both groups of offenders have been rolled forward from 2004–05 to 2005–06: 15,000 for offenders supervised by probation and 7,000 for prisoners.
The latter target is divided between public and contracted prisons and includes a specified number of sex offender treatment programmes. The target details for the financial years 2004–05 and 2005–06 are set out in the table. The figure for 2005–06 corrects an inaccuracy in the wording of the written ministerial
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statement on 25 February setting out the National Offender Management Service's targets for that year—25 February 2005, Official Report, column 65WS.
Antisocial Behaviour (North Yorkshire)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will respond to the petition he received on his recent visit to Thirsk; and what action he proposes to take against antisocial behaviour in the Vale of York. [221146]
Ms Blears: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has seen the petition and has responded to Mr. Dadd personally. I would like to refer the hon. Member to my reply of 8 March 2005, Official Report, column 1597W, regarding the action which is being taken to reduce antisocial behaviour in the Vale of York.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make provision for failed asylum seekers to be given temporary permission to work until they can be returned to their country of origin. [222878]
Mr. Browne: We believe that those whose asylum application has been unsuccessful should leave. The fact that they may not wish to do so cannot mean that we should routinely continue to provide support or permit them to take employment. To do either of these things would remove any incentive they may have to go voluntarily. Failed asylum seekers unable to leave immediately due to circumstances entirely beyond their control may be provided with support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This support is intended only as a temporary arrangement until such a time as they can return.
Civil Servants
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies was in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04 and what the estimated cost will be in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement. [211658]
Fiona Mactaggart:
The cost of enhanced exits in the Home Office and its agencies for financial years 1997–98 to 2003–04 are shown in the following table.
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The estimated costs for financial years 2004–05 to 2007–08 are shown in the following table.
Correspondence
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to respond fully to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birkenhead of 21 December 2004 about his constituent Mr. Calvin Zola Makongo; and if he will meet the family and Mr. Makongo's employers. [223252]
Mr. Browne [holding answer 22 March 2005]: I responded in full to my right hon. Friend on 31 January and also replied to his subsequent letter of 16 February on 23 March.
Mr. Makongo's legal advisers have lodged an appeal on his behalf. That appeal will be heard by the IAA. Accordingly it would not be appropriate to meet Mr. Makongo's family or his employers.
Design
Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the ministerial design champion for his Department is. [215650]
Fiona Mactaggart: I am the ministerial design champion for the Home Office.
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what ministerial visits are planned for each Minister in his Department in the next six months; and if he will make a statement. [214020]
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Mr. Charles Clarke: For reasons of security, it would not be appropriate to disclose the information requested.
Under-age Alcohol Sales
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for the sale of alcohol to under 18-year-olds there have been in each year since 2000, broken down by local authority; and what guidance he gives to local authorities on the conduct of investigations into, and prosecutions for, such offences. [221707]
Ms Blears: Details of the numbers of persons proceeded against and those found guilty of selling alcohol to persons aged under 18 in England and Wales for the years 2000 to 2003 are shown in the table. The statistics collected centrally do not allow local authorities to be identified, but a breakdown by police force area is provided. Statistics for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
The penalty notice for disorder scheme provides for persons who commit specified penalty offences to be issued with a fixed penalty notice instead of being prosecuted. The table therefore also contains details of the provisional number of penalty notices issued for this offence in 2004.
The Government have not issued any guidance to local authorities on the conduct of investigations into, and prosecutions for, such offences. Such matters are dealt with by Trading Standards and by the police. Guidance pertaining to the test purchasing of alcohol by minors has been issued by LACORS and the Trading Standards Institute, and can be viewed at www.lacors.gov.uk.
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(24) Under the Licensing Act 1964, sections 169A and B and the Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, section 3 (schedule para. 4(1))
(25) Provisional figures.
(26) Under the Licensing Act, section 181A(1) as added by the Licensing Act 1988, section 17.
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