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24 Jan 2006 : Column 2041W—continued
Travellers
Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will encourage (a) local authorities and (b) local crime and disorder reduction partnerships to use antisocial behaviour orders against those Travellers who persistently cause harassment and distress to local residents in their areas. [42363]
Hazel Blears:
Both local authorities and the police have broad powers to deal with antisocial behaviour which apply to Travellers and the settled community alike; they should use these effectively while also working to tackle the causes of antisocial behaviour. Antisocial behaviour orders are one of a number of measures available, which can be used to tackle antisocial behaviour in any community.
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Young Offenders
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders have been placed under intensive supervision in (a) Crosby and (b) Merseyside in each of the last five years. [43118]
Fiona Mactaggart: There are three Intensive Supervision and Surveillance schemes in Merseyside. Crosby comes under the scheme for Knowsley, St. Helens and Sefton. Data is only available from April 2003 onwards as shown in the following table.
| ISSP scheme | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 (to September 2005) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowsley, St. Helens and Sefton | 72 | 56 | 31 | 159 |
| Liverpool | 117 | 108 | 57 | 282 |
| Wirral | 56 | 63 | 29 | 148 |
| Total (Merseyside) | 245 | 227 | 117 | 589 |
WALES
Consultants/Special Advisers
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2005 to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), Official Report, columns 2067–2068W, on consultants/special advisers, what the (a) names are and (b) periods of service were of the Department's special advisers; [40673]
(2) what the (a) names are and (b) periods of service were of the Department's special advisers. [43700]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office was established in July 1999. The names and period of service of special advisers were:
Adrian McMenamin appointed December 1999, and resigned during June 2001 general election, he was then re-appointed in June 2001 until July 2002.
Andrew Bold was appointed in June 2000 and resigned during June 2001 general election. He was re-appointed in June 2001 and resigned again in March 2005, in accordance with Government guidance. He was re-appointed after the general election in May 2005.
Owen Smith was appointed in August 2002 until October 2002. He accompanied Paul Murphy to the Northern Ireland Office.
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was of his Department in (i) Wales and (ii) each English region in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06 in each case. [40100]
Mr. Hain: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The Wales Office expenditure on the buildings for the last three years was:
24 Jan 2006 : Column 2043W
| 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| London: | |||
| Rent | 0 | 10,383 | 15,761 |
| Rates | 46,759 | 48,222 | 39,643 |
| Maintenance | 199,036 | 67,785 | 97,388 |
| Wales: | |||
| Rent | 0 | 120,334 | 146,544 |
| Rates | 0 | 28,452 | 30,270 |
All maintenance cost for Wales are included with the rent charges.
Planned expenditure for financial year 2005–06 are:
| Amount (£) | |
|---|---|
| London: | |
| Rent | 33,879 |
| Rates | 48,108 |
| Maintenance | 68,419 |
| Wales: | |
| Rent | 146,273 |
| Rates | 6,133 |
(b) In line with the Central Government, the Wales office does not insure its buildings. Central Government has chosen not to take out commercial insurance under conventional procurement techniques, as the premiums payable have not been seen to represent good value for money compared to self-insurance. Full details can be obtained from the Treasury website: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
Departmental Functions
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which functions of his core Department are carried out in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Wales; and what administration costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year. [39951]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office carries out no core functions in Northern Ireland.
The Wales Office has a policy and legislative team in Cardiff. Administration costs for these functions can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Departmental Jobs
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of jobs in his Department are located in (a) England, excluding Greater London, (b) Greater London, (c) Wales and (d) overseas. [39779]
Mr. Hain: Wales Office posts are split between London and Cardiff offices as follows:
| Number | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| London-based posts | 46.6 | 74.0 |
| Cardiff-based posts | 16.4 | 26.0 |
24 Jan 2006 : Column 2044W
There are no Wales Office posts elsewhere in England or overseas.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil servants in his Department worked from home for at least one day a week in the last year for which figures are available. [40281]
Mr. Hain: There is one civil servant within the Wales Office staff that has regularly worked from home on two days of the week over the last year.
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil servants were employed in the Wales Office and its predecessors in each year since 1997, broken down by grade and office location; and what the equivalent information is to date in 2005–06. [40811]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office was established in 1999, following devolution and the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales.
The number and grade of Wales Office staff is published annually in our departmental report.
Approximately 75 per cent. of Wales Office staff are based in London, with the remainder being located in Cardiff.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in his Department (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years. [43484]
Parliamentary Question
Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will update his reply to the former hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent on 20 May 2003, Official Report, columns 718–19W, on the availability of digital broadcasting for viewers in Blaenau Gwent. [43884]
Mr. Hain: The Government are committed to ensuring that at digital switchover everyone in the UK who can currently receive the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form will be able to receive them in digital form without needing to pay a subscription.
Switchover for the HTV Wales region will happen in the second half of 2009.
Wales Office
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the report on the performance of the Wales Office in meeting its targets for 2005 will be prepared; and when the report will be published. [40730]
24 Jan 2006 : Column 2045W
Mr. Hain: In accordance with Treasury guidance and target dates, the Departmental Annual Report will be prepared during February and March, due for publication the end April.
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