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27 Feb 2006 : Column 107W—continued
Voluntary Organisations (Compact Agreements)
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which voluntary organisations the Department has a formal national Compact agreement. [50263]
Paul Goggins: The Compact on Relations between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector covers all central Government Departments (including Government Offices for the Regions, Executive Agencies, and NDPBs) and the range of organisations in the voluntary and community sector. All voluntary and community sector organisations that have dealings with central Government are covered by the national Compact.
Work Permits
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what level of proficiency in English is required when applying for a highly skilled work permit. [53771]
Mr. McNulty: There is no specified level of English language proficiency required within the highly skilled migrant programme (HSMP) before approval may be granted.
The intention of the HSMP is to attract those highly skilled migrants who wish to continue their chosen career in the UK and intend to make the UK their main home.
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For this reason, individuals are required to declare in their HSMP application that they possess the necessary level of English language skills to enable them to pursue their chosen career in the UK.
Workers Registration Scheme
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account was taken in his Department's international migration estimates for 2004 for accession country citizens of those who were in the country before May 2004 and who then registered on the Workers Registration Scheme after that date. [51186]
John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 27 February 2006:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question on whether the international migration estimates for 2004 take account of citizens from the 2004 accession countries who were in the UK before May 2004 and who then registered on the Workers Registration Scheme after that date. (51186)
International migration estimates are produced using data from several sources, the most important of which is the International Passenger Survey (IPS). This is a sample survey that covers the principal sea, air and
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Channel routes between the UK and countries outside of the British Isles. Migrants are defined as persons who, on entry to the UK, state an intention to stay for a year or more. Such intentions may not be realised. Migration flows of citizens from EU accession countries who arrived in the UK prior to May 2004 were estimated from the IPS and included in the international migration estimates.
It is estimated that 52,600 citizens of the 10 accession countries migrated to the UK in 2004, about 30 per cent. of these migrants arrived in the first six months of the year.
At present we have not incorporated information from the WRS into the migration estimates because in theory they should be represented in the IPS sample. We are considering how we could use the information to quality assure any changing patterns.
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Benchers (Chelmsford Crown Court)
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many and what percentage of (a) the English Bar and (b) judges sitting in Chelmsford Crown court are Benchers. [50494]
Ms Harman: The Government do not hold the records relating to Benchers of the Inns of Court (Grays Inn, Inner Temple, Lincolns Inn and Middle Temple). Each of the four Inns has a list of its own Benchers.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the judges sitting in Chelmsford Crown court; what relevant specialist qualifications each holds; whether each is a Bencher; and what the career details are of each. [50496]
Ms Harman: Nine circuit judges are based at and sit regularly in the Crown court at Chelmsford.
His Honour Judge Christopher Ball QC
His Honour Judge Rodger Hayward Smith QC
His Honour Judge Charles Gratwicke
His Honour Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC
His Honour Judge David Turner QC
His Honour Judge Roderick Newton
Her Honour Judge Deborah Taylor
The Government do not hold the records relating to Benchers of the Inns of Court (Grays Inn, Inner Temple, Lincolns Inn and Middle Temple). Each of the four Inns has a list of its own Benchers.
Prior to their appointment as circuit judges, applicants have to meet the statutory requirement for the office of (a) either a 10-year Crown court qualification, i.e. they have had Rights of Audience to appear as an advocate in the Crown court, or (b) they are a recorder, or (c) the holder of one of a number of other judicial offices of at least three years' standing in a salaried capacity.
Cemetery Safety
Mr. Spring: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) when the proposed new Government guidelines on the safety of cemetery memorials will be announced; [52334]
(2) what guidance the Government have issued to burial authorities on the safety of cemetery memorials; [52335]
(3) how many injuries have occurred as a result of unsafe cemetery memorials in (a) England and (b) Suffolk in each year since 1997. [52336]
Ms Harman: Our assessment of the existing guidance on this matter from burial professionals and others has recently been completed. We are now preparing advice which, following consultation, we plan to publish later this year. The Government have not previously issued guidance on this subject.
An accurate record has not been kept of the total number of injuries arising from unsafe cemetery memorials since 1997 but there have been 21 serious accidents to members of the public, including three fatalities, in the five years prior to June 2004.
Census 1911
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether she has made a calculation of the revenue that could be obtained from the publication of any information under the 1911 census. [52504]
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Ms Harman: The National Archives is developing plans to make available the 1911 census returns available online to the widest possible audience in 2012. The revenues that this service might generate will depend on a variety of factors, including the processing of the records, the application of up-to-date technologies and pricing. It is not possible to calculate revenue estimates so far ahead of the projected release date.
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many individuals have made representations (a) in favour of and (b) against the publication of any information under the 1911 census. [52505]
Ms Harman: Since the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in January 2005, The National Archives has received 171 requests for access to information contained in the 1911 census returns, and 14 appeals from inquirers who have been denied access to information contained in the 1911 census returns.
The National Archives has not recently received any representations from members of the public against release of information in the 1911 census.
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