---

1 Nov 2005 : Column 937W—continued

Prison Service

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources the Prison Service has given for the detection and investigation of staff corruption in each of the last five years. [16385]

Fiona Mactaggart: Since February 2003 the public sector Prison Service has allocated specific resources to the detection, investigation, and prevention of staff corruption. Central records are not held detailing the exact, number of staff involved in this activity. However, each establishment is required to have a Local Professional Standards Manager who is supported at area level by an Area Professional Standards Manager.
 
1 Nov 2005 : Column 938W
 

In addition, there is a central Professional Standards Unit at HQ comprising 10 members of staff. Prison Service managers are assigned to conduct investigations into individual allegations of staff corruption as required.

Private Finance Initiative

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible create the minimum of environmental damage. [16182]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Guidance for Departments on how to include environmental considerations within private finance initiative (PFI) and projects is set out in Green Public Private Partnerships (PPP), issued in 2002. This added to guidance on PFI projects issued by the Treasury and supports commitments being developed under the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

A memorandum of understanding, signed by the Home Office Green Minister and the Director General of the Prison Service, requires all new prisons (including those constructed under PFI) to introduce a sustainable development policy and to be managed in an environmentally sound way.

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) certificates are obtained for major new buildings. The new Home Office in two Marsham street received the BREEAM excellent level certification of its design in June 2004. Excellent is the highest category certification. Operationally it is managed under an accredited environmental management system.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the (a) sustainability and (b) environmental impacts of private finance initiative (PFI) projects within his Department; and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the PFI process in delivering environmentally sustainable projects. [16183]

Mr. Charles Clarke: In line with the Government's overarching commitment, Departments need to consider all aspects of sustainable development when entering into new PFI/PPP contracts. By taking a long-term view, PFI/PPPs require an assessment of whole life costs and can promote a more efficient use of resources.

The Home Office is committed to targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The biodiversity and energy sections of the Framework, published in August 2003 and February 2004 respectively require Departments to include clauses relating to sustainable development issues in relevant contracts, including PFIs. It is anticipated that future sections of the framework on waste, estates management and construction and procurement will cover similar provisions.

The Framework was to be reviewed in 2004–05 and further consideration will be given to how best Departments can take account of sustainable development in future PFI contracts. The Department's officials are
 
1 Nov 2005 : Column 939W
 
working closely with officials from OGC in order to ensure that the Framework is fully coordinated with OGC's Achieving Excellence construction procurement guidance, in particular with Achieving Excellence Guide 11: Sustainability, which is currently under development.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make private finance initiative contracts for which his Department is responsible more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability. [16184]

Mr. Charles Clarke: In line with the Government's overarching commitment, Departments need to consider all aspects of sustainable development when entering into new PFI/PPP contracts. By taking a long term view, PFI/PPPs require an assessment of whole life costs and can promote a more efficient use of resources.

From 1 April 2004 the Home Department, along with all other Government Departments, have been required to explicitly identify any significant environmental and social costs and benefits, as well as economic costs and benefits, when carrying out a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). This will cover RIAs carried out on new PFI/PPP projects.

Railway Staff

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski) of 19 October 2005, Official Report, column 1080W, on railway staff, if he will define the nature of detection rates, with particular reference to what is being detected. [23014]

Derek Twigg: I have been asked to reply.

The Home Office Counting Rules manual for Recorded Crime defines a crime as detected if:

1. A person has been charged or summonsed for the crime.

2. The offender (adult) has been cautioned by the police or (if a juvenile) issued with a final warning or reprimand.

3. The offender admits the crime and asks for it to be taken into consideration by the court.

4. No further action has been taken by the police, which usually occurs if the offender is dead or severely ill or when an essential witness or victim is permanently ill.

The detection rate" is calculated by dividing the number of detected crimes by the number of recorded crimes and multiplying by 100 to obtain a percentage.

A railway staff assault is any incident where, in circumstances related to their work, a member of staff is assaulted, threatened or abused, thereby affecting their health, safety or welfare.

Rape

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of reported rape cases in (a) England and Wales, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland have involved the drug Ketamine. [22350]

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not collected centrally.
 
1 Nov 2005 : Column 940W
 

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with industry representatives on the provisions relating to encryption in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; what plans he has to bring the relevant section into force; and if he will make a statement. [20250]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Home Office officials have had a number of discussions with industry representatives about the encryption provisions in part III of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The Government will shortly publish for public consultation a draft code of practice on the operation of those provisions. An order to commence part III will be made once Parliament have approved the code of practice by a resolution of both Houses.

Road Safety

Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employers have been prosecuted in England and Wales for requiring their employees to use a hand held mobile phone while driving. [19045]

Paul Goggins: Regulation 110 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, which governs the use of mobile phones in a vehicle, came into effect on 1 December 2003. Regulation 110 (2) provides that no person shall cause or permit any other person to drive a motor vehicle on a road while that person is using a hand-held mobile phone. For 2003 the offence was not separately identifiable from other offences under Regulation 110. Data for 2004 will be available early in 2006.

Safer Neighbourhoods Scheme

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he expects the Safer Neighbourhoods scheme to be extended to every ward in every borough by 2006; what funding has been allocated for the scheme; and whether additional (a) police and (b) community support officers will need to be recruited. [22397]

Hazel Blears: The Safer Neighbourhoods programme is an initiative of the Metropolitan Police Service (MRS) in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and the Mayor of London. It is for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to ensure roll-out in agreement with his police authority and with the mayor. Funding is a matter for the mayor and the police authority through central Government grant, precept on local authorities and national non-domestic rate.

The Home Office provides funding towards increases in numbers of community support officers (CSOs). In 2005–06, this is estimated to be £21 million for the MPS. The MPA also attracts funding from other partners, such as Transport for London and a number of London boroughs. The Government are increasing the money available to support further increases in CSOs through the Neighbourhood Policing Fund and this will impact on London as elsewhere. Details of this will be decided shortly. The Government have made a commitment that
 
1 Nov 2005 : Column 941W
 
by 2008, every area in England and Wales will benefit from dedicated, visible, accessible and responsive neighbourhood policing teams.

The number of police officers in the Metropolitan Police District (up 5,000 in five years) and nationally is at a record high. It is for the Commissioner to determine how to deploy them.

---