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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 scheme2003–042004–052005–06 (to September 2005)Total
Knowsley, St. Helens
and Sefton
725631159
Liverpool11710857282
Wirral566329148
Total (Merseyside)245227117589

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:

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:
 
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£

2002–032003–042004–05
London:
Rent010,38315,761
Rates46,75948,22239,643
Maintenance199,03667,78597,388
Wales:
Rent0120,334146,544
Rates028,45230,270

All maintenance cost for Wales are included with the rent charges.

Planned expenditure for financial year 2005–06 are:
Amount (£)
London:
Rent33,879
Rates48,108
Maintenance68,419
Wales:
Rent146,273
Rates6,133

(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:
Wales Office posts

NumberPercentage
London-based posts46.674.0
Cardiff-based posts16.426.0









 
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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]

Mr. Hain: None.

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]


 
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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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