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18 May 2007 : Column 949Wcontinued
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what arrangements are in place to allow people held on remand to vote; and how many people on remand voted in the (a) recent elections for the (i) National Assembly for Wales and (ii) Scottish Parliament and (b) local elections in (A) England, (B) Scotland and (c) the last general election. [138103]
Bridget Prentice: The Representation of the People Act 2000 made it possible for prisoners on remand, who are otherwise eligible to vote, to register to vote from their place of detention. Such persons are able to vote via post or by proxy.
The information on the number of remand prisoners who voted at the elections is not available. HM Prison Service keeps a record of the total number of remand prisoners, although no information is kept on those registered to vote. Records are not kept of whether particular categories of voters have exercised their right to vote at UK elections.
Mr. Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on telecommunication costs in each year since 1997. [133437]
John Healey: Information on telecommunication costs (including IT networking costs) for the Chancellor's departments and agencies in each year since 1997 is given in the table:
£ | |||||||||
1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
(1) Figures could only be provided at disproportionate cost. (2) The decrease in charges for HMRC in 2005-06 reflects the transfer of responsibility for maintenance and service of the telephone system to the Department's IT partner and it is not possible to disaggregate this element from their charges. For ONS, the increase in 2005- 06 is due mainly to implementation of a secure dial in service (RAS) for laptop users. (3) The high fixed line charge for the Royal Mint in 2004-05 related to a settlement in respect of 0845 numbers which had not been charged by BT over the previous three years. The reduction in 2005-06 was due in part to the more competitive marketplace and in part to more efficient use of the charging system by the Mint. |
Audited information for 2006-07 will be available by July 2007.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what part (a) he and (b) departmental representatives are playing in the inter-party talks on the funding of political parties chaired by Sir Hayden Phillips. [137747]
John Healey: The Chancellor of the Exchequer does not have a role in the inter-party talks.
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many migrant workers from other European Economic Area (EEA) countries receive benefits from the UK for dependents living in other EEA countries; and what the total cost was of such benefits in the last 12 months. [137212]
Mr. Timms: In respect of tax credits and child benefit, the information requested is not available.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the administration of tax credits; and if he will make a statement. [137404]
Mr. Timms: Treasury Ministers have received a number of representations on various aspects of the administration of the tax credits system. In particular the Government have responded to the sixth report of the Treasury Committee, session 2005-06, on the administration of tax credits, on 8 November 2006 and I refer the hon. Member to the debate on that report on 15 March 2007, Official Report, columns 141-84WH. In addition, Treasury Ministers regularly report to the House on the operation of tax credits.
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals claiming tax credits have been notified that details of their bank account and sort code have been sent to another client. [136901]
Mr. Timms:
HMRC are aware that a number of incorrect tax credit award notices have been sent out, including some containing partial information about another claimants tax credit claim. This was caused by an isolated problem with one of the printers. HMRC take confidentiality very seriously and have robust procedures in place to protect information provided by claimants. As soon as they became aware of the incident, they corrected the problem with the printer and have taken steps to ensure there can be no
recurrence. HMRC established that the incident affected around 42,000 families. In particular, 8,000 notices were sent out which contained some bank account details for a claimant other than the recipient.
HMRCs immediate priority was to protect claimants' personal data and to ensure the correct information was provided to tax credit claimants. HMRC wrote to all claimants affected to apologise for this mistake; to provide the correct tax credit award notice; to advise them of the action that HMRC has taken to protect affected claimants; and to provide information on what further steps claimants may wish to take in response to this incident.
As a precautionary measure HMRC immediately alerted the banking industry who issued a general alert to the banks. HMRC also provided the information necessary for the banks of affected claimants to put the appropriate safeguards in place. HMRC also informed the Information Commissioner. HMRCs current safeguards should prevent any fraudulent tax credits claims based on the information released.
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqis (a) were granted and (b) applied for asylum in the UK in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement. [136336]
Mr. Byrne: Information on the number of applications received and initial decisions made for nationals of Iraq since 2003 are shown in the attached table.
Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in the same period.
Information on asylum applications and initial decisions for Iraqi nationals are published quarterly and annually. Copies are available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
Asylum applications( 1) received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions( 2 ) on applications, 2003-06, nationals of Iraq | |||||||
Principal applicants | |||||||
Iraq | Total Applications | Total decisions | Grants of asylum | Grants of ELR | Grants of HP( 3) | Grants of DL( 3) | Total refusals |
n/a = not applicable. (1) Figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2. (2) Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in the same period. (3) Humanitarian protection and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003. (4) Provisional figures Source: Immigration Research and Statistics Service, RDS. |
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department each year since 2001-02; and how many civil servants received bonuses in each year. [101022]
Mr. Byrne: Where it is available, the information requested is recorded in the following table.
Amount paid (£) | Number paid | Total staff (headcount) | |
Within the Home Office and its agencies there are separate arrangements for awarding bonuses. Staff may receive annual, appraisal-related awards based on their exceptional contribution throughout the year, or special bonuses for exceptional, specific work. Senior civil servants can be awarded bonuses as set out in the Senior Salaries Review Body report number 62.
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