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24 Oct 2007 : Column 351W—continued
Protest: Animal Experiments
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government classifies offences committed by organisations that define themselves as pursuing animals’ rights as acts of terrorism; and if she will make a statement. [159675]
Mr. Coaker: No animal rights extremist has been charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 or other related terrorism legislation. However, should the activities of animal rights extremists, or any other individual or group, meet the required threshold of terrorism contained within the Act, it is possible that the Terrorism Act 2005 could be used. It is for the police and Crown Prosecution Service to select the most appropriate charge in individual cases.
Rape: Convictions
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to address the differential conviction rates for rape in different police force areas. [157748]
Mr. Coaker: The Criminal Justice PSA for 2008-11 makes clear that Local Criminal Justice Boards should treat the investigation and prosecution of serious sexual offences including rape as a priority. We have recently introduced new arrangements for managing the performance of police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service areas on rape, and have established an operational support team to assist all forces, working with the CPS, to develop effective strategies for the investigation and prosecution of rape.
Specialist Officers and Specialist Rape Prosecutors are now in operation across the vast majority of England and Wales, and we continue to roll out guidance and training for the police, prosecutors and barristers on dealing with sexual offences. We are also working to improve the support provided to victims throughout the criminal justice process, through the expansion of the national network of Sexual Assault Referral Centres and the introduction of Independent Sexual Violence Advisers.
Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rape crisis centres there are in each police force area in England and Wales (a) in absolute terms and (b) per thousand population. [157762]
Mr. Coaker: There are currently 37 rape crisis centres across England and Wales, affiliated to the national umbrella organisation Rape Crisis England and Wales.
The following table shows the location of each of these rape crisis centre in relation to each police force area. We do not routinely collect information on rape crisis centres per thousand of the population.
There are many other voluntary sector organisations working with victims of rape and sexual assault that are not affiliated to Rape Crisis England and Wales.
Work Permits: Health Professions
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2007, Official Report, column 1940W, on work permits: health professions, how many work permits were issued to (a) doctors and (b) nurses from Zimbabwe in each year since 1997. [157703]
Mr. Byrne: The following table shows the number of work permit applications which were issued to Zimbabwean doctors and nurses during the period 1999 to 2006. Data for 1997 and 1998 are not available. There have been no approvals for auxiliary nurses during this period.
The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued to doctors and nurses from Africa by the Government in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [159566]
Mr. Byrne: In 1999, there were 65 work permit approvals for doctors and 1,155 approvals for nurses from Africa. (Figures are rounded to the nearest 5).
Data for 1997 or 1998 are not available.
The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
Leader of the House
Regional Government: Ministers
Mr. Beith: To ask the Leader of the House if she will direct regional ministers to answer written parliamentary questions on matters within their responsibility. [159738]
Helen Goodman: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my answer on 22 October, Official Report, column 1W.
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Communication Workers Union
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the date was of each meeting held by (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department with the Communication Workers Union since 27th June. [159786]
Mr. McFadden:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, departmental officials and I have had two formal discussions with the Communication Workers
Union since 27 June 2007. One took place on the 10 July and the other on the 23 July. Since then there have been a number of informal contacts with the CWU to encourage them to resolve the industrial dispute with Royal Mail through talks.
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