House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Nov 2005 (pt 10)

28 Nov 2005 : Column 37W—continued

Departmental Press Office

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many phone calls his Department's press office has (a) received and (b) answered in each month since January 2004. [29358]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The Home Office does not collate data on the number of calls received or answered across the whole of the press office. However an automated call log system is in place for its Newsdesk which receives a significant proportion of calls from the press. Data on these calls, received and answered, from January 2004 until October 2005, are contained in the following table.

Date Calls received Calls answered

2004

January 6,348 5,916

February 7,052 6,379

March⁽²⁶⁾ 6,511 6,039

April 5,816 5,457

May 4,752 4,444

June 5,794 5,214

July⁽²⁷⁾ 6,890 6,054

August 5,567 4,872

September 5,031 4,444

October⁽²⁸⁾ 5,110 4,539

November 5,693 4,854

December⁽²⁹⁾ 4,900 4,275

2005

January⁽³⁰⁾ 4,880 4,273

February⁽³¹⁾ 3,341 2,520

March 5,642 5,079

April 3,312 3,011

May 3,290 2,998

June 5,241 4,755

July 5,003 4,549

August 5,695 5,298

September 4,722 4,377

October 5,046 4,723

Total 115,636 104,070

⁽²⁶⁾The call total for 1 and 2 March 2004 may not be accurate.
⁽²⁷⁾The call total for 1 July 2004 may not be accurate.
⁽²⁸⁾The call total for 1 October 2004 may not be accurate.
⁽²⁹⁾The call total for 1 December 2004 may not be accurate.
⁽³⁰⁾Call data for 31 January 2005 is not retrievable and consequently is not included in the total.
⁽³¹⁾Due to the Home Office's move from Queen Anne's Gate to 2Marsham Street, the call log equipment was not in operation for the full month.
Note:
Due to data error, daily call logs for 1 and 2 March 2004, 1 July 2004, 1 October 2004 and 1 December 2004 have been added twice to the respective monthly totals. Additionally, data for 31 January 2005 is not retrievable and consequently is missing from that month's total.

28 Nov 2005 : Column 39W

Date	Calls received	Calls answered
2004
January	6,348	5,916
February	7,052	6,379
March⁽²⁶⁾	6,511	6,039
April	5,816	5,457
May	4,752	4,444
June	5,794	5,214
July⁽²⁷⁾	6,890	6,054
August	5,567	4,872
September	5,031	4,444
October⁽²⁸⁾	5,110	4,539
November	5,693	4,854
December⁽²⁹⁾	4,900	4,275

2005
January⁽³⁰⁾	4,880	4,273
February⁽³¹⁾	3,341	2,520
March	5,642	5,079
April	3,312	3,011
May	3,290	2,998
June	5,241	4,755
July	5,003	4,549
August	5,695	5,298
September	4,722	4,377
October	5,046	4,723

Total	115,636	104,070

Departmental Spending

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2005, Official Report, column 650W, on departmental spending, how much his Department paid to Annes Gate Property plc for the development of the new building at 2 Marsham Street. [31081]

Mr. Charles Clarke: 2 Marsham Street is occupied under a PFI contract which provides for an annual combined charge that covers land cost, design and construction costs, fit out costs, whole life maintenance and facilities management services. The combined charge for financial year 2005–06 is estimated to be £32.7 million.

Departmental Staff

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department. [21003]

Mr. Charles Clarke: In accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance, the Home Office uses a variety of methods to assess an applicant's literacy and numeracy skills during the recruitment process.

These include competency based application forms, the use of specific tests of ability, aptitude or potential, and Assessment Centres for staff entering the service at Higher Executive Officer (HEO) and Grade 7 level. For both of our Assessment Centres, candidates are presented with materials in written form and this provides a substantial test of literacy skills. Certain exercises we use include numerical material also.

Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the director of human resources in his Department is; what relevant specialist qualifications he or she holds; and what the details of his or her career are to date. [26309]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The group director of Human Resources is John Marsh. He has a postgraduate degree in industrial relations. He has been Human Resources director in the Home Office since 2003. He was previously head of the Personnel Management group in Her Majesty's Prison Service, and has held a variety of posts across Government since 1986.

Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for managing the estates of his Department; what relevant specialist qualifications he or she holds; and what the details are of his or her career to date. [26310]

28 Nov 2005 : Column 40W

Mr. Charles Clarke: Responsibility for managing the central estate of the Department rests with the Buildings and Estate Management Unit. Responsibility is otherwise devolved to the respective business areas, for instance the National Offender Management Service and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate who manage their respective estates, working within the policy guidance issued by the Buildings and Estates Management Unit. This unit is headed by Tony Edwards FRICS, an experienced and senior chartered surveyor with extensive estate management experience.

The organisation of estate management within the Department is the subject of a reform programme which will establish a small group head quarters estates team responsible for policy and estates strategy and two new estates shared services which will manage respectively the Department's general office estates and its custodial estates. The shared services are planned to start operating from summer 2006.

Deportees

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list people who have been deported from the UK to face terrorist charges overseas since September 2001, broken down by country to which they were deported; and whether each was deported willingly. [30917]

Mr. McNulty: Under current immigration law there are no provisions to deport anyone solely to face terrorist charges abroad.

Pursuant to extradition requests, one individual was surrendered to Italy in 2002 on charges of dealing in false documents, purportedly for terrorist purposes. Another individual was surrendered to the Netherlands in July 2005 for terrorist related charges.

Detentions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained indefinitely under the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001. [29867]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Part four of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 was repealed in March 2005. No one is therefore detained under this power.

Farj Hassan Faraj

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 November 2005, Official Report, columns 1259–66W, on Farj Hassan Faraj, when he expects to complete his consideration of Farj Hassan Faraj's immigration position; and under what powers he is being detained. [31184]

Mr. McNulty: On 10 October 2005, the Italian authorities withdrew their extradition request for Mr.Farj Hassan Faraj.

Mr. Farj was then transferred to immigration custody and continues to be detained under immigration powers. Mr. Farj's immigration position is currently under active review.

28 Nov 2005 : Column 41W

Funding (Milton Keynes)

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was allocated by his Department to Milton Keynes for (i) capital projects and (ii) revenue funding in each of the last five years. [23506]

28 Nov 2005 : Column 42W

Mr. Charles Clarke: The answer to the question is in the following tables:

The location where Government funds are spent is a matter for Departments to decide. Chapter eight of Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis shows the outturn of public expenditure by region. However, the following information is given concerning Milton Keynes.
£

Payment/grant name 2004–05 2003–04 2002–03 2001–02 2000–01

Race Equality Unit

Connecting Communities Grant Round two funding to Milton Keynes Race Equality Council (REC): Revenue⁽³³⁾ 59,984 46,540 ⁽³²⁾— ⁽³²⁾— ⁽³²⁾—

Active Community Unit

Capital Modernisation Programme funding to Milton Keynes Council of Voluntary Organisations (CVO): Revenue ⁽³²⁾— ⁽³²⁾— ⁽³²⁾— 175,000 ⁽³²⁾—

Immigration and Nationality

Milton Keynes Council Local Authority Grants—adults and Families Revenue 152,396 433,032 503,178 1,082,188 1,851,130

Milton Keynes Council Local Authority Grants—Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Revenue 284,675 359,441 399,196 163,472 15,665

Drug Strategy

Milton Keynes Drug Action Team—Revenue 1,546,000 1,384,000 ⁽³²⁾— ⁽³²⁾— ⁽³²⁾—

Criminal Justice

Funding allocated by Local Performance and Delivery Support Unit to Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board, since it was established in April 2003: Revenue⁽³⁴⁾ 240,000 65,000 ⁽³²⁾— ⁽³²⁾— ⁽³²⁾—

⁽³²⁾Not applicable
⁽³³⁾The 2005–06 funding is £55,984
⁽³⁴⁾Further estimated funding for 2005–06 is £303,672. No funding specifically allocated by the Local Performance and Delivery Support Unit to Milton Keynes. Funding has been provided to Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board but information is not held centrally on whether or not any of the revenue funding was spent specifically on Milton Keynes.
Notes:
1.The Drug Strategy Funding figures are for direct annual expenditure for tackling drug misuse and include allocations to Milton Keynes Drug Action Team from the following funding streams:
Building Safer Communities
Drug Interventions Programme Main Grant
Drug Strategy Partnership Support Grant
Pooled Treatment Budget
Young People Substance Misuse Partnership Grant
2.Drug strategy funding for Milton Keynes Drug Action Team in 2005–06 is £1,844,791.
3.Figures for previous years are not available on a comparable basis.

Crime Reduction Programme (CRP) £

Payment/grant name and type 2004–05 2003–04 2002–03 2001–02 2000–01

CRP

Capital ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁶⁾— ⁽³⁶⁾—

Revenue ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁶⁾— ⁽³⁶⁾—

Small Retailers in Deprived Areas (SRDA)

Capital ⁽³⁵⁾— 0 0 0 ⁽³⁵⁾—

Revenue ⁽³⁵⁾— 0 0 0 ⁽³⁵⁾—

Partnership Development Fund (PDF)

Capital ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— 0 0 0

Revenue ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁷⁾2,000,000 ⁽³⁷⁾680,000 0

Communities Against Drugs (CAD)

Capital ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— 122,782 50,976 ⁽³⁵⁾—

Revenue ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— 238,343 137,824 ⁽³⁵⁾—

Safer Communities Initiative

Capital ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾—

Revenue ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— 67,467 ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾—

Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF)

Capital 73,223 71,437 ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾—

Revenue 197,973 193,145 ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾—

Home Office Regional Directors' Allocation (HORDs)

Capital ⁽³⁷⁾347,436 ⁽³⁷⁾347,436 ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾—

Revenue ⁽³⁷⁾939,364 ⁽³⁷⁾939,364 ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾—

BCU Fund

Capital ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾—

Revenue ⁽³⁸⁾187,755 ⁽³⁸⁾187,755 ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾— ⁽³⁵⁾—

⁽³⁵⁾Not applicable.
⁽³⁶⁾The Crime Reduction programme (CRP) was a multi-million pound intervention programme running for three years from April 1999. The effectiveness of each initiative was evaluated to add to the knowledge base of what works in reducing crime in England and Wales. Over £340 million has been committed to over 1,470 projects in England and Wales under the various initiatives that formed part of the Crime Reduction programme. Figures are not available for constituency or CDRP level. The CRP funded projects rather than allocated money to CDRPs.
⁽³⁷⁾The figures relate to the regional figures for the whole south east region and cannot be further broken down.
⁽³⁸⁾The figures relate to allocated funds to Milton Keynes BCU within the Thames Valley police force area.

28 Nov 2005 : Column 43W

Thames Valley Police Funding £000

Payment/grant name 2004–05 2003–04 2002–03 2001–02 2000–01

Home Office Police Grant⁽³⁹⁾

Revenue 139,463 134,382 132,223 122,387 122,843

Police capital grant Capital

Capital 4,311 3,505 ⁽⁴⁰⁾3,165 2,657 ⁽⁴⁰⁾3,124

Specific grants⁽⁴¹⁾

Revenue 20,674 19,727 14,698 6,906 1,846

Capital 540 500 3,013 6,138 ⁽⁴²⁾—

Specific grants comprised of:

Crime Fighting Fund 9,929 9,451 7,980 3,856 713

Rural Policing Fund 1,241 1,245 1,262 1,263 630

DNA Expansion Programme 1,813 2,064 2,379 1,787 503

Street Crime Initiative 1,348 1,348 1,500 ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾—

South East Allowance 2,547 2,024 1,577 ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾—

Basic Command Unit Fund 1,715 1,715 ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾—

Community Support Officers 455 65 ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾—

Special Priority Payments 1,574 1,141 ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾—

Airwave

Revenue 52 674 ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾—

Capital 540 0 2,514 6,138 ⁽⁴²⁾—

Premises Improvement Fund ⁽⁴²⁾— 500 499 ⁽⁴²⁾— ⁽⁴²⁾—

⁽³⁹⁾General police grants include Home Office police grants plus ODPM Revenue Support Grant and NNDR. The figures provided exclude the amounts from ODPM.
⁽⁴⁰⁾Includes an amount of Air Support
⁽⁴¹⁾Specific grants include Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, DNA Expansion Programme, BCU Fund, Street Crime Initiative, South East Allowance, Community Support Officers, Special Priority Payments, Airwave and Premises Improvement Fund.
⁽⁴²⁾Not applicable.

Payment/grant name and type	2004–05	2003–04	2002–03	2001–02	2000–01
CRP
Capital	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁶⁾—	⁽³⁶⁾—
Revenue	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁶⁾—	⁽³⁶⁾—

Small Retailers in Deprived Areas (SRDA)
Capital	⁽³⁵⁾—	0	0	0	⁽³⁵⁾—
Revenue	⁽³⁵⁾—	0	0	0	⁽³⁵⁾—

Partnership Development Fund (PDF)
Capital	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	0	0	0
Revenue	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁷⁾2,000,000	⁽³⁷⁾680,000	0

Communities Against Drugs (CAD)
Capital	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	122,782	50,976	⁽³⁵⁾—
Revenue	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	238,343	137,824	⁽³⁵⁾—

Safer Communities Initiative
Capital	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—
Revenue	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	67,467	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—
Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF)
Capital	73,223	71,437	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—
Revenue	197,973	193,145	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—

Home Office Regional Directors' Allocation (HORDs)
Capital	⁽³⁷⁾347,436	⁽³⁷⁾347,436	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—
Revenue	⁽³⁷⁾939,364	⁽³⁷⁾939,364	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—

BCU Fund
Capital	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—
Revenue	⁽³⁸⁾187,755	⁽³⁸⁾187,755	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—	⁽³⁵⁾—

Payment/grant name	2004–05	2003–04	2002–03	2001–02	2000–01
Home Office Police Grant⁽³⁹⁾
Revenue	139,463	134,382	132,223	122,387	122,843

Police capital grant Capital
Capital	4,311	3,505	⁽⁴⁰⁾3,165	2,657	⁽⁴⁰⁾3,124

Specific grants⁽⁴¹⁾
Revenue	20,674	19,727	14,698	6,906	1,846
Capital	540	500	3,013	6,138	⁽⁴²⁾—

Specific grants comprised of:
Crime Fighting Fund	9,929	9,451	7,980	3,856	713
Rural Policing Fund	1,241	1,245	1,262	1,263	630
DNA Expansion Programme	1,813	2,064	2,379	1,787	503
Street Crime Initiative	1,348	1,348	1,500	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—
South East Allowance	2,547	2,024	1,577	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—
Basic Command Unit Fund	1,715	1,715	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—
Community Support Officers	455	65	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—
Special Priority Payments	1,574	1,141	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—

Airwave
Revenue	52	674	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—
Capital	540	0	2,514	6,138	⁽⁴²⁾—
Premises Improvement Fund	⁽⁴²⁾—	500	499	⁽⁴²⁾—	⁽⁴²⁾—

Next Section

Index

Home Page

Payment/grant name	2004–05	2003–04	2002–03	2001–02	2000–01
Race Equality Unit
Connecting Communities Grant Round two funding to Milton Keynes Race Equality Council (REC): Revenue⁽³³⁾	59,984	46,540	⁽³²⁾—	⁽³²⁾—	⁽³²⁾—

Active Community Unit
Capital Modernisation Programme funding to Milton Keynes Council of Voluntary Organisations (CVO): Revenue	⁽³²⁾—	⁽³²⁾—	⁽³²⁾—	175,000	⁽³²⁾—

Immigration and Nationality
Milton Keynes Council Local Authority Grants—adults and Families Revenue	152,396	433,032	503,178	1,082,188	1,851,130
Milton Keynes Council Local Authority Grants—Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Revenue	284,675	359,441	399,196	163,472	15,665

Drug Strategy
Milton Keynes Drug Action Team—Revenue	1,546,000	1,384,000	⁽³²⁾—	⁽³²⁾—	⁽³²⁾—

Criminal Justice
Funding allocated by Local Performance and Delivery Support Unit to Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board, since it was established in April 2003: Revenue⁽³⁴⁾	240,000	65,000	⁽³²⁾—	⁽³²⁾—	⁽³²⁾—