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SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Bona Vacantia Division

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Solicitor General what the national targets are for the Bona Vacantia division; and what the performance of relevant offices in South Devon has been against those targets. [34031]

The Solicitor-General: There are no national targets for the Bona Vacantia division for either receipts or volumes of new cases as it would be inappropriate to set targets in these areas. The Bona Vacantia division does not in general seek out bona vacantia assets relying instead on notification by others.

Income and expenditure from bona vacantia is detailed in the Crown's nominee account, laid before Parliament each financial year. The Bona Vacantia division operates from the offices of the Treasury solicitor based in central London. There are no other Bona Vacantia offices located anywhere else in England and Wales.

Information on the volume of cases as well as a suite of internal quality targets is kept by the division. These include responding to new cases within five working days, against which performance in the year to date is 94.3 per cent. and responding to complaints within 10 working days, against which performance this year is 100 per cent.. Apart from Northern Ireland there is no geographical breakdown of this information for England and Wales.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued to children in each local authority in England and Wales in each year since they were established, broken down by age of child. [33302]

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the tables and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department (1) if he will list the grants available to organisations tackling antisocial behaviour in East Sussex; and how much money is available in each case; [33573]
 
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(2) what funding is available to organisations tackling antisocial behaviour in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex; [33778]

(3) how much money has been spent on antisocial behaviour prevention in East Sussex since 1997. [33779]

Hazel Blears [holding answer 1 December 2005]: Prior to the antisocial behaviour unit being set up in January 2003 there was no specific funding for antisocial behaviour. However since 2003 each CDRP has received £25,000, primarily for an ASB co-ordinator. In 2004 Hastings was made an action area. £55,000 has been allocated to Hastings for 2005–06.

This resource has been used to help support the recruitment of housing association staff to work in the ASB team. It has also been used to fund in part the development of four together action zones which will divide the area and enable a more structured approach to tackling ASB. Some of the resource will be spent on a targeted advertising campaign informing residents about ASB and how to tackle it.

Correspondence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of hon. Members' correspondence with his Department was answered within 15 working days for the period (a) January to March, (b) April to June and (c) July to September; and if he will make a statement. [34325]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The proportion of Members' correspondence answered by core Home Office units (excludes the Immigration and Nationality Department and agencies) within 15 working days was: 52 per cent. in January to March 78 per cent. in April to June 93 per cent. in July to September. In October we reached the target of 95 per cent. of Members' correspondence that was answered within 15 working days.

Council Tax Valuation

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an individual prosecuted in the magistrates court for intentionally delaying or obstructing a Valuation Office Agency representative conducting a council tax valuation inspection would receive a criminal record if convicted. [33118]

Hazel Blears: A person who intentionally obstructs a valuation officer commits an offence and may be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level two (£500) on the standard scale. This is not a recordable offence and will not be recorded nationally on the police national computer, but will be recorded on local police and court records.

Data Analysis

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps have been taken to speed up the processing of data analysis by (a) the police and (b) the security services. [33567]

Hazel Blears: Recent investigations have demonstrated how the use of technology by terrorist suspects has an impact on the data processing required by investigating authorities. However, the steps taken
 
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by the police and the Security Service to respond to this increased requirement is an operational matter on which it would not be appropriate to comment.

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of police officers is which has been assigned to the processing of data held by a terrorist suspect. [33568]

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not hold this information. A decision on the number of police officers deployed to focus on a particular area of an investigation, such as processing data is the responsibility of the chief constable of the force concerned.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the (a) salary, (b) pension and (c) other costs relating to the former Joint Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission were not included in the Commission's annual report and accounts 2004–05; and if he will make a statement. [32580]

Hazel Blears: This information may only be made available with the consent of the individual concerned and it was specifically not given.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the (a) salary, (b) pension and (c) other costs relating to the former joint deputy chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2004–05; and if he will make a statement. [32582]

Hazel Blears: The former deputy chair was paid in accordance with the salary range advertised for the post (£50,000-£70,000). Further details can not be disclosed without the consent of the individual concerned. Recruitment costs cannot be identified because they are part of a campaign to recruit 16 commissioners.

Licensing Hours

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will visit Shrewsbury (a) to assess the impact of extended licensing hours on the town and (b) to discuss the issue with local police. [34368]

Mr. Charles Clarke: At the present time I have no plans to visit Shrewsbury. I understand however that the majority of the 165 premises within the Shrewsbury and Atcham Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area, including public houses, clubs, restaurants and shops that applied for an extension of their opening hours were for extensions of only one or two hours. I also believe West Mercia police, who cover Shrewsbury, have briefed Pub Watch members and licencees on the new powers in the Licensing Act 2003.

The Act which became effective from 24 November 2005 strengthens the powers the police have to clamp down on crime and disorder if it arises. Not only does that help the police and licensing authorities to do their jobs, but it gives licence holders an added incentive to manage venues responsibly. The Government have given a commitment to monitor the impact of the act on crime and disorder and the other licensing objectives. If
 
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necessary the Government will introduce further legislation with the consent of Parliament to strengthen or alter any provisions.

Money Laundering

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which law enforcement agencies have responsibility for (a) monitoring, (b) investigating and (c) prosecuting money laundering offences committed by foreign politically exposed persons which bring money derived from corrupt activities or theft of state assets into the UK financial system; and whether he plans to change the allocation of responsibilities. [34011]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The principal law enforcement agencies involved are the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) and local police forces. Prosecutions are the responsibility of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office. The Serious Organised Crime Agency will take over the NCIS responsibilities from 1 April 2006.

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