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28 Nov 2005 : Column 43W—continued
Handcuffs
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the HomeDepartment what guidance has been provided to secure training centres about use of handcuffs on trainees. [31058]
Fiona Mactaggart:
Guidance on the use of handcuffs is contained in the manual on Physical Control in Care (PCC). It is for individual secure training centres to decide whether handcuffs will be used. As with all forms
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of physical intervention, it is necessary in each situation where handcuffs are applied to show that their use was reasonable in the circumstances.
Identity Cards
Mr. Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the identity cards scheme has been subject to a Gateway Review. [27898]
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Andy Burnham: The Identity Cards Programme has been through a Gateway zero Review in January 2004 and Gateway one Review in July 2005. The next Gateway Review is currently planned for early 2006.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his Department plans to prevent the production of forged identity cards; and if he will make a statement. [31097]
Andy Burnham: The Identity Cards Scheme and the identity card itself, are being designed to prevent the successful production and use of forged identity cards.
The identity card will be supported by an individual's record on the National Identity Register. The ability to either confirm the validity of the card or verify information electronically against the register using secure technologies means that forged cards will be ineffective, as they will be unable to make a connection to a valid record on the register.
In addition to the electronic protection measures, the programme will endeavour to use physical characteristics which significantly reduce the viability of creating counterfeit or modified cards for simple visual verification.
The card will be designed in accordance with physical anti-fraud measures required by International Civil Aviation Organisation standard 9303 and EU Council regulation 2252/2004. These requirements will be supplemented with the implementation of successful measures in use in industry, the results of research currently being conducted and experience gained through co-operating with document fraud units across Government.
Illegal Immigrants
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have been found guilty of (a) murder and (b) violent offences in (i) Greater London and (ii) England and Wales in each of the last 10 years. [27124]
Mr. McNulty: The Prison Service does not record information on immigration status on the Inmate Information System.
KPMG Review
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 25 October 2005, Official Report, columns 349–50W if he will publish the KPMG review; and if he will make a statement. [23088]
Andy Burnham: The executive summary of the report and the Home Office's response to the recommendations will be published shortly.
Leave to Remain
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants fromPoland have outstanding applications for leave to remain under the one-off exercise announced on 24 October 2003. [30656]
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Mr. McNulty: Up to and including 30 September 2005 there were 745 applicants from Poland with outstanding applications under the exercise.
We will have completed consideration of the great majority of all outstanding cases by the end of April 2006.
Mohammed Zamir
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mohmmed Zamir (reference number LR1643012061/1) will be informed of the outcome of his application for a variation of leave to remain in the United Kingdom made in July 2004. [31354]
Mr. McNulty: I wrote to the hon. Member on 28 November 2005.
Parents (Learning Difficulties)
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice and support is available to a parent with learning difficulties when dealing with cases in the family court. [26980]
Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
In all family cases a parent with learning difficulties has the opportunity to be represented by a legal professional and given advice throughout proceedings.
In public law care proceedings, the parent(s) will be legally represented. The nature of these proceedings mean that local social services will have been involved before the case comes before the court. The particular needs of the parent(s) will be highlighted in the application. Depending upon the circumstances of individual cases, the Official Solicitor may be involved or a lawyer with suitable experience.
In private law proceedings, such as child contact cases, parties can seek a lawyer with suitable experience or the Official Solicitor may become involved if appointed by the court.
Police
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government would permit the amalgamation of two police forces located in different English regions. [27595]
Hazel Blears: We have made clear to the police service that the very strong starting presumption is that any new force areas should not cross Government Office regional boundaries. It follows that very strong arguments would need to be submitted in support of any merger proposals which were contrary to this presumption.
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for national security of recently retired senior police officers (a) commenting in the media about ongoing operational matters and (b) revealing intelligence to which they had access while serving as police officers. [30338]
Hazel Blears:
The Government do not believe that any recent remarks by retired senior police officers have damaged national security.
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Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects a new chief constable to be appointed to the Thames Valley Police Force. [30466]
Hazel Blears: Following the publication of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary's report 'Closing the gap', which concluded that the existing 43 force structure was no longer fit for purpose, police authorities and chief constables have been asked to submit proposals for restructuring by 23 December. Restructuring would commence in 2006 and be completed by April 2008. Against this backdrop, we have considered what arrangements should apply in the short term when chief officer vacancies arise. In his capacity as chair of the Senior Appointments Panel Sir Ronnie Flanagan, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, recently wrote to police authorities advising, except where specific approval had already been granted, not to proceed with existing or future plans to recruit new chief constables. Currently there are discussions between the Thames Valley police authority and Sir Ronnie Flanagan on how to address this particular situation and I would expect the police authority to make an announcement in due course.
Politically Exposed Persons
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations by law enforcement agencies resulting from suspicious activity reports in relation to (a) corrupt activity overseas and (b) foreign politically exposed persons have been (i)initiated, (ii) completed and (iii) abandoned in the last 12 months. [29695]
Mr. Charles Clarke: This information is not held centrally.
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suspicious activity reports have been received by the National Criminal Intelligence Service relating to (a) corrupt activity overseas and (b) foreign politically exposed persons in the last 12 months. [29696]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The number of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) received by the National Criminal intelligence Service (NCIS) which relate to the specified subjects since 1 February 2005 are as follows:
The figures at (a) relate to UK companies or individuals engaged in overseas activities.
A database to register SARs referring specifically to PEPs was established by NCIS on 1 February 2005. The figures given here only reflect SARs recorded there since that date, and may involve single cases where activity is suspected in more than one jurisdiction.
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