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18 Apr 2007 : Column 672W—continued
Serious Organised Crime Agency
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was provided to the (a) intelligence directorate, (b) enforcement directorate, (c) intervention directorate and (d) corporate services directorate of the Serious Organised Crime Agency for the financial year 2006-07; and what funding projections he has made for each directorate for the financial year 2007-08. [131686]
Mr. Coaker: For the financial year 2006-07 the Home Office delegated a budget to SOCA of £427million. SOCA's 2006-07 Annual Plan, published in March 2006, set out how SOCA intended to exercise its functions during the 2006-07 financial year.
The internal allocation of resources between directorates is a matter for the SOCA Board.
For the 2007-08 financial year the Home Secretary will approve SOCA's overall funding. The final decision on this is expected shortly but the assumption is that funding will be broadly level in real terms with that of 2006-07; however, the internal allocation between directorates will again be a matter for the SOCA Board.
SOCA's 2007-08 Annual Plan was published on 30 March 2007. It sets out how SOCA will exercise its functions in this financial year. The aim is to apportion operational effort broadly as follows against the main threat sectors:
| Percentage | |
In addition, broadly 10 per cent. of operational effort should be used in support of law enforcement partners, when their objectives would not otherwise be SOCA priorities.
Serious Organised Crime Agency: Manpower
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many financial investigators were employed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in the last year for which figures are available. [131609]
Mr. Coaker: Many of SOCA's operational officers will have some involvement in financial investigations, because of SOCA's emphasis on attacking criminal assets.
SOCA came into existence on one April 2006 and it currently employs 209 Financial Investigators, as authorised by the Director of the Assets Recovery Agency, who are undertaking a number of roles.
House of Commons Commission
Digital Broadcasting
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission which digital television channels are available to hon. Members’ offices on the House of Commons estate; and how much was spent on (a) all channels and (b) Sky Sports in each of the last three years. [131062]
Nick Harvey: No digital television channels are available directly in Members’ offices at present as they are currently converted to analogue in order to be broadcast with other channels over the annunciator system. In August 2006, however, a working group was set up to investigate options for replacing the current analogue system. A successful trial was carried out in March 2007 which proved that digital channels can be broadcast over the existing annunciator infrastructure and a Project Board will now take these options forward before the 2012 analogue switch-off date.
The House has spent nothing on Sky Sports or any other channel in the last three years as they are provided under a free licence.
The channels currently available are as follows:
| Programme | Channel |
International Development
Departments: Redundancy
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in his Department participated in (a) involuntary and (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98; and if he will make a statement. [131542]
Mr. Thomas: Since 1997, DFID has had no involuntary redundancies, but there have been voluntary early departures as set out in the following table. Selection for a new round of voluntary early departures in the 2007-08 financial year is currently under way and the number of staff accepting early departure offers should be finalised by the end of April.
| Year | Total number of approved voluntary early departures |
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in his Department who participated in (a) involuntary and (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98 were paid between (i) £0 to £25,000, (ii) £25,001 to £50,000, (iii) £50,001 to £75,000, (iv) £75,001 to £100,000 and (v) over £100,000; and if he will make a statement. [131562]
Mr. Thomas: Since 1997, DFID has had no involuntary redundancies, but there have been voluntary early departures. The following table sets out the number of early departures approved in each year since 1997-98. The totals listed against each year and financial band reflect the total cost of each departure to DFID recorded against the year in which the departure was approved. The total cost, in some cases, is spread over a number of years as annual compensation payments, where appropriate, are paid to staff until they qualify for their normal pension at age 60.
| Total number of approved voluntary early departures | £0-25,000 | £25,001-50,000 | £50,001-75,000 | £75,001-100,000 | Over £100,000 | |
Uganda
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department is making a contribution to the UN Consolidated Appeals Process for Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [132304]
Hilary Benn: DFID has committed £18.6 million towards the UN Consolidated Appeal for Uganda this year. The World Food Programme will receive £7 million for emergency food aid. UNICEF will receive £7.4 million to improve water and sanitation provision, provide emergency household items when required and to support child protection services. £4.2 million will be provided to a joint UN health programme in the north and north-east.
Of the £18.6 million committed we have so far disbursed £8.4 million. The remainder will be released in instalments over the next six months.
Northern Ireland
Community Relations
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) walls and (b) locked gates are still in position dividing communities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [131122]
Mr. Hain: There are 46 walls or fences and 11 gates of this kind in position in Northern Ireland. The Government are committed to removing barriers between communities. These barriers are only used reluctantly and as a last resort where necessary to protect life and property.
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