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5 July 2006 : Column 1085W—continued
Renewable Energy
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities use renewable energy for some or all of their (a) power and (b) energy requirements. [80268]
Mr. Woolas: This information is not held centrally although we understand that a number of local authorities have installed micro-renewables to supply energy for their own use and also pursue initiatives to purchase renewable electricity and fuel.
As the 2006 Climate Change Programme made clear, local authorities have a key role in achieving the UK’s goals on climate change and sustainable energy. Government strongly support innovative local action in this area.
Social Exclusion
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what responsibilities her Department has for tackling social exclusion. [78361]
Mr. Woolas: The Department for Communities and Local Government leads on policy and delivery in addressing social exclusion and deprivation in deprived areas. The Department has responsibility for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund which aims to narrow the gap between the 86 most deprived local authority areas and others. It has five key ‘floor targets’, which are: education, employment, crime, health and housing and physical environment.
The new Social Exclusion Taskforce, based in the Cabinet office and formed from some previous Social Exclusion Unit staff, is currently undertaking work on an action plan looking at key priorities for the Prime Minister such as looked-after children, mental health, teenage pregnancy and tomorrow’s problem families.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster chairs the new Social Exclusion Cabinet Committee on which the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government sits as a key member, reflecting the strong synergies between the work of the Cabinet Office and that of the DCLG.
Home Department
Correspondence
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has power to insist that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis answer the letter dated 15 August 2005 and reminder letters dated 10 October 2005, 13 December 2005 and 28 April 2006 from the right hon. Member for North East Hampshire concerning his constituent, Mr Jasdeep Bajwa. [82092]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 3 July 2006]: This is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
Crime Reporting
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether arrangements are in place (a) in Redbridge, (b) in Waltham Forest and (c) in England and Wales for the public to report a crime to the police online; and if he will make a statement. [78554]
Mr. McNulty: The national police portal (www.police.uk) provides the facility for members of the public to report ‘non-emergency’ crime and hate crime/incidents online. Event specific forms are available that seek information from the public. The information is then sent to the force in whose area the alleged crime is committed.
Guantanamo Bay
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedure is in place to allow hon. Members confidential access to each level of classified material on prisoners in Guantanamo Bay; and in what circumstances access would be denied. [80054]
Mr. McNulty: Hon. Members can either write to the relevant Minister to request material, or make a request to the relevant public body under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Foreign Secretary leads on most matters concerning prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.
Access to classified material may be refused in the interests of safeguarding national security
Labour Party Conference
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely impact on policing in Greater Manchester of the policing of the Labour Party Conference in September. [76671]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 12 June 2006]: The chief officer is responsible for determining staffing requirements and deploying the resources available in accordance with day to day operational demands, within the overall policy and budget set by each police authority.
Life Sentences
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 1035W, on life sentences, for which crimes each of the 53 life sentence prisoners were convicted. [78499]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, is set out as follows:
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence.
Information on releases per year is given as follows:
| Year of release | Number |
The fixing of a “minimum term” arises only in the case of an offender sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for murder. None of those released since 2000 and referred to in the previous answer were so sentenced.
The minimum period of imprisonment for all non-mandatory life sentences is known as the “specified part”. Details of the specified parts fixed by the trial judge in the cases in question are set out in the following table. At the end of the specified part the offender will be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board. The offender will only be released if the parole board consider it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.
Mr. Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 1035W to the hon. Member for Monmouth (David T.C. Davies) on life sentences, for what offences the 53 prisoners had been sentenced to life; and if he will make a statement. [78802]
John Reid [holding answer 19 June 2006]: Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, is set out as follows:
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious
violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence.
Information on releases per year is given as follows:
| Year of release | Number |
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