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15 Dec 2005 : Column 2247W—continued
SCOTLAND
Departmental Costs
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the (a) salary bill was and (b) administrative costs were for his Department in (i)Scotland and (ii) London in 2004–05. [35880]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not separately identify the administration costs arising in Scotland and London. However, the total administration costs of the Scotland Office in 2004–05 were £4,028,412, of which £2,201,361 related to salary costs.
High-speed Rail Link
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will support the proposals for a high-speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow. [38180]
David Cairns: Development of the railway infrastructure in Scotland is the responsibility of Scottish Executive Ministers.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Crown Prosecution Service
Mr. Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General what guidance he issues to members of the public wishing to make a complaint about the Crown Prosecution Service; and if he will make a statement. [37373]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) publishes a complaints leaflet, which sets out how members of the public can make a complaint about the service. The leaflet is published on the CPS website (www.cps.gov.uk) and hard copies are also available on request. I have placed a copy of the leaflet in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many staff employed by the Crown Prosecution Service were suspended from duty in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire and (d) the Metropolitan police area of London, broken down by grade in each of the last 15years for which figures are available; and what the reasons were in each case in which proceedings are complete. [37375]
The Solicitor-General:
The Crown Prosecution Service has figures of staff suspensions available from June 2000 to date. Prior to this date, details of suspensions were not recorded centrally. The following numbers of staff were suspended from duty during this period.
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The key issue in all suspension decisions is whether the continued presence of the member of staff concerned would:
prejudice any investigation, for example, where there is a possibility of someone destroying evidence;
have an adverse effect on the work of the office, for example, where harassment of colleagues is alleged and may intensify once an investigation is started.
In each of the 12 cases, the decision to suspend would have been based on one or more of the above criteria.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General what the procedure is for complaining about the (a) actions and (b) decisions of the Crown Prosecution Service; and if he will make a statement. [37376]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) operates a three tiered approach to the management of complaints. This approach is designed to enable complaints to be resolved at a local level wherever possible but it also provides complainants with the option of raising concerns with the Director of Public Prosecutions's Private Office, if they remain dissatisfied with the responses received from their local Chief Crown Prosecutor.
This procedure is outlined in the CPS complaints leaflet; I have placed a copy of the leaflet in the House of Commons Library and it also available on the CPS website (www.cps.gov.uk).
Mr. Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General what the rates of pay are of (a) lawyers and (b) other staff employed by the Crown Prosecution Service, broken down by grade in (i) Southend, (ii) Essex, (iii) the Metropolitan Police area of London and (iv) England and Wales. [37509]
The Solicitor-General: The rates of pay of lawyers is listed, and other staff employed by the Crown Prosecution Service, broken down by grade in (i)Southend, (ii) Essex, (ii) the Metropolitan Police area of London and (iv) England and Wales.
Question (a) payscales for lawyers in: (i) Southend, (ii) Essex, (iii) the Metropolitan Police area of London are identical and are as follows:
| Payband | Salary range from: |
|---|---|
| C1 | 26,954 to 32,159 |
| C2 | 31,880 to 53,667 |
| D | 45,389 to 59,033 |
| E | 56,814 to 65,565 |
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Question (a) payscales lawyers employed (iv) England and Wales are as follows:
| Payband | Salary range from: |
|---|---|
| C1 | 25,648 to 30,819 |
| C2 | 30,318 to 47,685 |
| D | 41,970 to 53,601 |
| E | 53,332 to 63,104 |
Question (b) Payscales for other staff employed by the Crown prosecution service in: (i) Southend, (ii)Essex, (iii) Metropolitan Police area of London are identical and are as follows:
| Payband | Salary range from: |
|---|---|
| A1 | 12,947 to 15,653 |
| A2 | 15,904 to 18,727 |
| B1 | 19,441 to 25,262 |
| B2 | 25,134 to 29,734 |
| B3 | 31,190 to 37,434 |
| D | 43,328 to 59,033 |
| E | 56,814 to 65,565 |
Question (b) payscales for other staff employed by the Crown prosecution service (iv) England and Wales are as follows:
| Payband | Salary range from: |
|---|---|
| A1 | 12,192 to 14,553 |
| A2 | 14,654 to 17,412 |
| B1 | 18,425 to 23,822 |
| B2 | 24,478 to 28,278 |
| B3 | 29,608 to 35,837 |
| D | 40,744 to 53,601 |
| E | 53,332 to 63,104 |
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Business Start-ups
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to increase the number of business start-ups in the (a) Hartlepool constituency and (b) Tees Valley sub-region. [37170]
Alun Michael: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) aims to create the best possible environment for business success in the UK. Each year the Department invests over £400 million nationally in grants, loans and subsidised consultancy to assist business growth and stimulate business start-ups. The Department is committed to reducing burdens on business, and to this end has recently published a draft plan for cutting red tape in DTI policy areas, the DTI draft simplification plan. The DTI is also involved in establishing the Task Force on Women's Enterprise, which will be launched in spring 2006.
Specific responsibility for economic development in the North East of England falls to Regional Development Agency ONE NorthEast. The agency administers a number of business support schemes on behalf of the DTI, and is responsible for the extensive business support services available through the regional Business Link network. ONE NorthEast is working with regional partners to create a single regional business support network that is easy to access and easy to use. The agency is also developing and delivering a significant programme aimed at bringing about a lasting cultural change in attitudes towards entrepreneurial activity in the North East of England, including raising aspirations of the region's young people, and under-represented groups.
Public funding is also being used to establish of business incubator units, business start-up advice and tailored local business support measures.
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many business start-ups tookplace in (a) Hartlepool, (b) the Tees Valley sub-region and (c) the North East region in the last 12 months. [37171]
Alun Michael: In 2004 (the latest year for which figures are available) there were 120 new VAT registrations in Hartlepool, 910 in Tees Valley and 4290 in North East England. Full statistical information on VAT registrations, broken down to local authority area, is available from the Small Business Service website at www.sbs.gov.uk.
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