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20 Oct 2006 : Column 1458W—continued

Sport England

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role was played by the Minister for Sport in the appointment of the new Chair of Sport England. [95501]

Tessa Jowell: As with all major public appointments, I consult the relevant junior Minister. As part of the process to identify the new Sport England Chair, I asked the Minister for Sport for his views on the role specification, the shortlist of candidates for interview and the choice of two candidates recommended for appointment by the interview panel. Both the Minister for Sport and I were asked by officials for suggestions for suitable individuals who might be approached and encouraged to apply for the post of Sport England Chair. Derek Mapp’s name was suggested by Officials.

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister made representations to her Department on the appointment of the new Chair of Sport England. [95502]

Tessa Jowell: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister did not make any representations to my Department on the appointment of the new Chair of Sport England.

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2006, Official Report, column 981W, on Sport England, whether the interview panel indicated a preference for either of the two candidates. [95604]


20 Oct 2006 : Column 1459W

Tessa Jowell: The OCPA Code states that apart from exceptional circumstances, Ministers will be offered a choice of candidates and at least two should be put forward for each vacancy. In keeping with this guidance, the interview panel for the Chair of Sport England recommended two candidates for consideration. The interview panel concluded that both were clearly appointable, but each offered very different skills and experience and the final decision would depend on which qualities Ministers felt were more important to the needs of Sport England.

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2006, Official Report, column 981W, on Sport England, who was responsible for drawing together the interview panel assembled to appoint the new Chair of Sport England. [95605]

Tessa Jowell: The interview panel was drawn together by officials in my Department in accordance with the guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. There was no involvement by me or other Ministers in drawing up the interview panel.

Home Department

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) granted in Warrington since their introduction; and, by whom the application was made in each case. [95215]

Mr. McNulty [holding answer 19 October 2006]: Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, were made available to the courts from 1 April 1999. Since 1 June 2000, from copies of orders received, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, we are able to determine the local government authority (lga) area in which prohibitions have been imposed in orders. From 1 June 2000 to 30 September 2005 (latest available) one order was issued on application in the Warrington borough council lga, the main applicant being the Cheshire police, and no applications were refused. Following conviction for a criminal offence 23 ASBOs were issued in addition to the sentence. Such orders may be issued at the court's discretion, under its own motion, or at the request of the prosecutor.

Asylum Screening Pilots

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the findings are of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate pilot schemes at Dover port and Croydon including social work intake teams in the asylum screening process; and if he will make a statement. [94602]

Mr. Byrne: Local staff at Dover have developed excellent working relationships with the local social services team based in Dover. The UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children) Project, launched in February 2003, is a joint initiative between Kent social services
20 Oct 2006 : Column 1460W
and IND. It ensures that all unaccompanied asylum seeking minors, and minors identified as being at risk, are dealt with sensitively and are quickly referred to social services.

The screening process in Croydon for unaccompanied minors, and minors identified as being at risk, incorporates an initial needs assessment undertaken by social services. Social services have the opportunity to arrange placements or young people at the earliest juncture in the process, and the outcome is that the needs of children are better safeguarded.

Bruche Site

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken (a) to ensure the security of the Bruche site and (b) to minimise problems for local residents following the ending of police training on the site. [95214]

Mr. McNulty [holding answer 19 October 2006]: Since May 2006, when foundation training for police officers ceased to be delivered at Bruche, Centrex has worked to ensure that ongoing security arrangements are sufficient both to protect the site and to reassure local residents. These measures include a continuing 24-hour security presence and the maintenance of on-site and boundary lighting. Where local concerns have been raised, Centrex has swiftly addressed these with their security contractor to ensure that the site is properly secured and monitored.

Community Support Officers

Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers (a) were recruited by and (b) retired from service with North Wales police in each of the last three years. [93598]

Mr. McNulty: The available data is given in the table as follows.

Police community support officer for North Wales police force (FTE)( 1) from 2003-04 to 2005-06
Year( 2) 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06

PCSO Joiners

0

8

1.5

PCSO Retirements

0

0

0

(1) Full-time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.
(2) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers there were in each police authority area in each year since their introduction; and what the projected numbers are for the next three years. [93672]

Mr. McNulty: The available data is given in the table. Police Community Support Officers were introduced as part of the Police Reform Act 2002 so data is only available from 2003 onwards.

We have increased the funding to support the increase in numbers of Police Community Support Officers this year in order to reach 16,000 by April 2007. Thereafter we will discuss with the police service the sort of numbers and flexibilities they need
20 Oct 2006 : Column 1461W
for delivering and maintaining a comprehensive programme of neighbourhood policing. It is for chief constables to determine deployment.

Community support officer strength( 1) (FTE)( 2) by police force area as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2006
31 March
Police force 2003 2004 2005 2006

Avon and Somerset

0

45

139

130

Bedfordshire

0

12

40

41

Cambridgeshire

6

57

86

101

Cheshire

2

50

52

75

Cleveland

37

77

75

100

Cumbria

0

0

17

17

Derbyshire

0

0

43

42

Devon and Cornwall

19

51

74

74

Dorset

6

8

47

61

Durham

10

28

69

67

Essex

10

86

179

192

Gloucestershire

0

54

72

72

Greater Manchester

160

173

269

251

Hampshire

0

0

26

30

Hertfordshire

14

46

98

139

Humberside

0

0

20

20

Kent

0

59

105

97

Lancashire

77

110

161

184

Leicestershire

28

41

103

136

Lincolnshire

29

38

75

78

London, City Of

0

0

14

11

Merseyside

40

72

170

196

Metropolitan

513

1,463

2,147

2,315

Norfolk

12

33

68

65

Northamptonshire

12

10

37

40

Northumbria

0

51

126

129

North Yorkshire

0

52

75

71

Nottinghamshire

10

56

108

112

South Yorkshire

14

59

124

121

Staffordshire

0

7

63

70

Suffolk

0

15

34

30

Surrey

21

56

115

126

Sussex

22

83

228

257

Thames Valley

0

7

98

130

Warwickshire

11

25

56

64

West Mercia

8

57

81

85

West Midlands

0

39

219

252

West Yorkshire

70

265

394

462

Wiltshire

15

23

41

57

Dyfed Powys

0

5

25

26

Gwent

30

45

77

76

North Wales

0

0

59

58

South Wales

0

59

107

111

Total 43 forces

1,176

3,418

6,214

6,769

(1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.
(2) Full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.

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