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28 Mar 2006 : Column 911W—continued
Security Industry Authority
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will revise the Security Industry Authority application procedure so that those who have submitted supporting documentation for one class of licence and have had those documents accepted do not have to resubmit the same items with a different class of licence application; and if he will make a statement. [55239]
Paul Goggins: Operational responsibility for licensing the private security industry lies with the Security Industry Authority (SIA), and it is for them to decide whether and how they might amend the application procedure. Since mid February the SIA have been working with CCTV and vehicle immobiliser companies to avoid them having to provide ID documents where an individual already has either a licence or an application which has already been checked and accepted, and where there have been no change of name or address.
In these circumstances the SIA process applications through their temporary processing centre and only require an application form and details of the previous application. The SIA are currently extending this facility to security companies who may also have staff who require a second licence.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department how many Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences have been issued to personnel working in alarm control centres; and how many SIA licence applications are yet to be processed. [60534]
Paul Goggins [holding answer 21 March 2006]: Individuals who undertake specific licensable activities in Remote Video Recording Centres but who do not pro-actively monitor members of the public may be licensable as security guards. Because RVRC is not a separate licensable sector it is not possible to provide this information.
Summonses
Mr. Wills:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many summonses were issued in Swindon as a result of test-purchase operations or visits for alcohol offences other than selling alcohol to
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minors and those already under the influence of alcohol between 12 November 2004 and 24 December 2005. [60993]
Paul Goggins: Information on test-purchase operations and visits to licensed premises is not routinely collected by the Home Office. However, in the course of specific campaigns to tackle the misuse of alcohol, the Police Standards Unit collected data on test-purchase operations and visits carried out between: (a) 17 December 2004 and 3 January 2005, and (b) 14 November 2005 and 31 December 2005. No records were found of any test-purchase operations or visits in Swindon for the period 17 December 2004 to 3 January 2005. Between 14 November 2005 and 31 December 2005,10 test-purchase operations were carried out in Swindon, but no visits. No offences of any kind were detected during these test-purchase operations, and therefore no summonses were issued.
Mr. Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many summonses were issued in Swindon as a result of (a) test-purchase operations and (b) visits for selling alcohol to people already under the influence of alcohol between 12 November 2004 and 24 December 2005. [60639]
Hazel Blears: Information on test-purchase operations and visits to licensed premises is not routinely collected by the Home Office. However, in the course of specific campaigns to tackle the misuse of alcohol, the Police Standards Unit collected data on test-purchase operations and visits carried out between (a) 17 December 2004 and 3 January 2005, and (b) 14 November 2005 and 31 December 2005.
No records were found of any test-purchase operations or visits in Swindon for the period 17 December 2004 to 3 January 2005. Between 14 November 2005 and 31 December 2005, 10 test-purchase operations were carried out in Swindon, but no visits. No offences of any kind were detected during these test-purchase operations, and therefore no summonses were issued.
Young Persons in Care
Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to the police service of action in response to a report to the police of a young person missing from a care establishment. [57559]
Hazel Blears: We have made no such estimate. Lancashire Constabulary has produced an estimate for the cost of a typical missing person's investigation, which they put at around £1,000 per investigation.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Afghanistan
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Afghan provinces where opium poppy cultivation has decreased since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [61237]
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Mr. Straw: The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducts an annual survey into the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan. UNODC figures for 2005 show that the level of opium cultivation decreased over 2001 figures in Kabul, Logar and Paktya provinces. However, comparing current levels of cultivation with 2001 figures does not represent an accurate picture of total progress to date. This is because the base year coincided with the Taliban's prohibition on opium cultivation. While the ban was effective in reducing the area of land under poppy cultivation in 2001, the Taliban did nothing to provide alternatives to poppy farmers who consequently suffered considerable hardship. Furthermore, the ban did not apply to trafficking or processing activities and the Taliban regime manipulated the drug trade to benefit from the rise in prices, which resulted from the reduction in cultivation.
Since the fall of the Taliban, the Government of Afghanistan has, with the support of the international community, made considerable progress in fighting narcotics. Last year UNODC reported a 21 per cent. reduction in poppy cultivation from 131,000 hectares (ha) in 2003–04 to 104,000 ha in 2004–05, with decreases recorded in a total of 19 provinces. More recently, the Government of Afghanistan has updated its National Drug Control Strategy to ensure the downward trend is sustained over time and that progress is also made in targeting the trafficker, developing legal rural livelihoods, reducing domestic demand and developing strong and effective institutions. Sustainable drug elimination strategies take time, but I believe that the National Drug Control Strategy represents the best means of making a sustainable impact on the trade in the medium term.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrest of an Afghan citizen for converting to Christianity. [61867]
Dr. Howells: On 22 March 2006, I made a public statement expressing the Government's concern over the charges against Mr. Rahman. I am deeply troubled by the reports of this case. Individuals should be able to practice their faith or beliefs free from persecution. We take every opportunity to urge states to implement laws and practices which foster tolerance and mutual respect.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights observance in Afghanistan, with particular reference to the freedom of religion. [61868]
Dr. Howells:
Although much progress has been made since the fall of the Taliban, the human rights situation in Afghanistan remains challenging. The Afghan Constitution provides for the protection of human rights and Article 2 provides for freedom of religion. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission monitors respect for human rights and protects them. Afghanistan has acceded to the six main International Human Rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which guarantees freedom of religion. We take cases of
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religious persecution seriously and make known our concerns to the Government of Afghanistan (GoA), both bilaterally and through the EU.
In 2005, the GoA adopted the National Action Plan on Peace, Reconciliation and Justice, which sets out a three-year comprehensive strategy on transitional justice and endorsed a strategic framework for justice sector reform entitled Justice for All". The latter framework is divided into five areas of activity: law reform, institution-building, access to justice programs, traditional justice and co-ordination.
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Afghan government following the conviction of Abdul Rahman for the crime of apostasy. [62055]
Dr. Howells: On 22 March, I made a public statement expressing the Government's concerns over the charges facing Mr. Rahman. I am deeply troubled by the reports of this case. Individuals should be able to practice their faith or beliefs free from persecution. We take every opportunity to urge states to implement laws and practices which foster tolerance and mutual respect.
On 23 March my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade,Investment and Foreign Affairs (Ian Pearson), summoned the Afghan Charge", to relay our concerns. On the same day our ambassador in Kabul raised our concerns direct with the Afghan government.
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