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Sexual Offences Act

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2005, Official Report, column 589W, on the Sexual Offences Act, if he will set out the recorded crime data relating to section 15 for the period from 1 May 2004 to 31 March 2005; and if he will make a statement. [13197]


 
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Paul Goggins: Further to my answer of 7 July, Iconfirm that the recorded crime data in relation to section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 will be available from 21 July 2005; the data is not available prior to that date of publication.

Work Permits

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued in each of the last three years to individuals to work in the information technology sector; how many persons granted a permit (a) failed to return to their country of origin on its expiry and (b) were notified by the company concerned to his Department as having failed to return. [2715]

Mr. McNulty: The total number of work permits issued in each of the last three years to employers based in the UK in respect of permit applications made to recruit overseas nationals for work related to the 'computer services' was:
Number
2002–03517,057
2003–0418,631
2004–0521,646

These figures relate to all jobs in the sector, not just for those in information technology. However, it may be the case that not all the overseas nationals issued with a work permit were successful in gaining entry clearance to take up their employment in the UK.

Information is not available on the number of work permit holders who have failed to return to their country of origin. In addition we are not able to provide information on the notifications received by companies about permit holders who have either not taken up their employment or where their employment has ceased.

The Five Year Strategy for Asylum and Immigration announced on 7 February set out the Government's intention to place obligations on the sponsors of migrants, including an intention to require employers to report if a migrant leaves the employment for which they were admitted.

Moreover, the Government have announced their plans to introduce an e-Borders (electronic borders) programme. e-Borders is a medium to long-term multi-agency initiative to re-shape the United Kingdom's border protection structure. It is co-ordinated by the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) in partnership with key border control, law enforcement and intelligence agencies: HM Customs and Revenue, the Intelligence Agencies, the Police Service and UK Visas. Other Departments and agencies such as the Department of Work and Pensions and the Passport Service are involved as major beneficiaries of the e-Borders concept.
 
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The concept is based upon identifying and checking passengers and their travel credentials well in advance of their commencing travel to, or from, the UK rather than making these checks at the end of their journey. The full e-Borders system is expected to process passenger information on flights arriving in and departing from the UK at all major ports by 2010. e-borders is initially being trialled as Project Semaphore.

The information that is captured of every passenger passing into or out of the UK will, for the first time, give us specific information on who is in or out of the UK, and for how long and under what status or conditions. This information will be available to other parts of IND, the Home Office and other Government Departments.

Women's Royal Voluntary Service

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent change there has been in the financial assistance provided to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service; and if he will make a statement. [336]

Paul Goggins: Table 1 shows the Home Office grant in aid payments and planned payments to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) from 1995 to 2008.

An independent review in 1997 identified that WRVS' financial dependence on Government and restrictions on its property holdings were major barriers to its goals of modernisation and independence.

To help achieve these goals it was agreed with WRVS that the grant in aid be reduced over 10 years to £1 million a year by 2007–08, a level that is commensurate with that of other large voluntary sector strategic grant recipients, and that the reversionary interest in the properties held on trust be transferred to WRVS absolutely.
Table 1: Home Office grant in aid to WRVS, 1995–2008

Financial year£000
1995–966,200
1996–975,840
1997–985,548
1998–995,298
1999–20005,048
2000–014,798
2001–024,548
2003–034,223
2003–043,868
2004–053,448
2005–062,943
2006–07(76)2,333
2007–08(76)1,000


(76)Planned


Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reasons for the decision to end grant funding to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service. [7647]


 
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Paul Goggins: Table 1 shows the Home Office grant in aid payments and planned payments to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) from 1995 to 2008.

An independent review in 1997 identified that WRVS' financial dependence on Government and restrictions on its property holdings were major barriers to its goals of modernisation and independence.

To help achieve these goals it was agreed with WRVSthat the grant in aid be reduced over 10 years to £1 million a year by 2007–08, a level that is commensurate with that of other large voluntary sector strategic grant recipients, and that the reversionary interest in the properties held on trust be transferred to WRVS absolutely.
 
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Table 1: Home Office grant in aid to WRVS, 1995–08

Financial year£000
1995–066,200
1996–075,840
1997–085,548
1998–095,298
1999–20005,048
2000–014,798
2001–024,548
2002–034,223
2003–043,868
2004–053,448
2005–062,943
2006–07 (Planned)2,333
2007–08 (Planned)1,000