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16 Jan 2006 : Column 1111W—continued
DNA Profiles
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 748W, on DNA profiles, when he expects technical changes to the link between the police national computer and the national DNA database to be made. [40773]
Andy Burnham: The changes to the police national computer (PNC) system and its link to the national DNA database are currently being considered by Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) and an impact assessment is being made. A meeting is scheduled for 13 January between PITO, the database custodian and the Forensic Science Service (FSS) to discuss the prioritisation of this and several other technical changes. Until the impact assessment is complete it is not possible to say precisely when the work will be scheduled, but would anticipate completion by the end of the calendar year.
On 1 December the original question asked:
How many people under 18 years have DNA profiles stored in the police national database without having been charged or cautioned for any offence?"
It was not then possible to provide the answer. A transitional solution provided by the police now enables this information to be compiled, though not as easily as the proposed PNC-national DNA database linkage would permit. On 1 December 2005 there were around 24,000 DNA person profiles on the DNA database which related to persons under 18 who had not been charged or cautioned for any offence.
Domestic Violence
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the sex of persons prosecuted for domestic violence cases is recorded by the Crown Prosecution Service. [36990]
Fiona Mactaggart: The sex of persons prosecuted is recorded for all cases handled by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) including domestic violence cases. However, this data is not collated and reported centrally.
The hon. Gentleman has previously asked a question concerning the sex of persons prosecuted for domestic violence on 29 November 2005, official report, column 437W. The response to this question provided the total number of persons prosecuted (from a centralised performance management system) but concluded that:
This conclusion was incorrect and should have stated that:
Regular flagging of all domestic violence cases has been monitored since April 2005. However, the gender of the persons prosecuted for domestic violence cases has not been collated and reported (centrally) by the CPS".
Snapshot surveys since 2002 have collected one month of more detailed data annually, in relation to domestic violence, including gender. In 2002, 94 per cent. of defendants were male, in 2003–95 per cent. and in 2004–93 per cent. For 2004, the overwhelming majority of offences were perpetrated by a male defendant (93 per cent.) on a female (89 per cent.).
Discussions are under way in relation to future possible systematic collation and reporting of such data.
Drunkenness (Coventry)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been found guilty of (a) drunkenness and (b) drunkenness with aggravation in Coventry, South since 1997. [40230]
Hazel Blears: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of offenders found guilty for drunkenness and drunkenness with aggravation in Coventry petty sessional area 1997 to 2004 is given in the following table. It is not possible to identify those convicted in Coventry, South as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
Court statistics for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.
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(81) These data are on the principal offence basis
(82) Includes offences under S.12 Licensing Act 1872, Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 SS.1(4), 1A(4), 2.(2) and S.12 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
(83) Includes offences under S.91 Criminal Justice Act 1967.S.12 Licensing Act 1872, S.174 Licensing Act 1964, S.9(4) Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969, S.28 London Hackney Carriage Act 1843, SS.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5) Merchant Shipping Act 1995, S.2 Licensing Act 1902 and S.61 Town Police Clauses Act 1847
e-Borders
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects e-borders to be fully operational. [42052]
Andy Burnham: E-borders is expected to become fully operational by March 2014.
E-borders capabilities began to roll out to selected air routes through Project Semaphore in December 2004. They will roll out incrementally to major air sea and rail ports to ensure complete coverage of international services in and out of the UK by 2010. The remaining small air and sea ports will be covered in the last stage of the programme from 2010–14.
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the results of the pilot studies into the e-borders project. [40364]
Andy Burnham: The e-Borders programme is designed for delivery in three stages from 2004 to 2014.
Stage One (2004–05 to 2007–08) consists of two projects: Project Semaphore which de-risks and informs the e-Borders programme by testing services, while delivering operational benefits to the border agencies and project IRIS which trials automated entry controls using biometrics.
Key findings from the Project IRIS and Project Semaphore pilots will be reported to the House.
EU Migration
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding is available to (a) Peterborough city council and (b) other organisations in Greater Peterborough to meet the costs of the provision of extra services needed as a result of the migration of EU accession country migrants since May 2004; and if he will make a statement. [40991]
Mr. McNulty:
There is no additional funding available exclusively for the provision of services for migrants from EU accession countries. But Peterborough currently benefits from Government investment of over £1.5 million over three years in the Peterborough Invest
16 Jan 2006 : Column 1114W
to Save Asylum and Migration Programme project which seeks to help new arrivals in the city to integrate successfully.
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made during the British presidency of the EU in implementing the action plan to deal with migration flows across the Mediterranean; and if he will make a statement. [40358]
Mr. McNulty: Substantial progress was made during the UK presidency to implement EU initiatives to tackle illegal migration across the Mediterranean.
The EU Border Agency (FRONTEX) became fully operational in October 2005 and identified the Mediterranean as a priority area for action. EU member states conducted various joint exercises to detect and intercept irregular migrants, and to reinforce controls in sea ports.
Important progress was made on strengthening co-operation with transit countries in North Africa. The 10th anniversary Euromed Summit in November 2005 adopted a five year work programme covering enhanced co-operation on all aspects of migration, including reducing illegal migration and trafficking in human beings. A ministerial meeting on migration will be held in 2006 to drive forward this agenda.
In addition, the UK presidency advanced work with Libya on an action plan on illegal migration, due to be adopted early in 2006. A European Commission mission made recommendations for practical co-operation with Morocco and Algeria following the tragic events in Ceuta and Melilla. Key Mediterranean transit countries were involved in ED sea operations.
On source countries in Africa, agreement was reached at the EU Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Troika in November and the EU Africa Troika in December to enhance and strengthen dialogue and practical cooperation on migration between ECOWAS, African countries, Pan-African institutions and the EU.
At the end of the presidency, the December European Council adopted a paper Global approach to migration: Priority actions focusing on Africa and the Mediterranean", drawing together all strands of EU migration work in the Mediterranean and Africa and setting priority actions for 2006.
Building on our presidency achievements, we will continue to encourage the EU to work in closer partnership with transit and source countries to tackle illegal migration across the Mediterranean and for improved migration management globally.
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