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26 Nov 2007 : Column 130W—continued
The figures for firearms appeals are given in Table 2.
| Table 2 | |||||
| Late appeals not accepted | Refused | Allowed | Withdrawn | Part refused/allowed | |
As the result of an administrative error, an incorrect figure of 147 was recorded in an earlier PQ (123488) for applications refused in 2006. The figure should have read 247.
Handguns: Registration
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of time taken to process firearm certificate applications in Northern Ireland was in each of the last 18 months. [166210]
Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable of the Police Service for Northern Ireland has provided the following information in relation to the average processing time for firearm certificates:
| Table 1 | |
| 2006 | Average Processing Time (Number of Days) |
| (1) These returns reflect a reduction in the number of applications received during this period. | |
| Table 2 | |
| 2007 | Average Processing Time (Number of Days) |
Police: Finance
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the policing budget is for Northern Ireland in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in budget on numbers of police officers available for duties over the next 12 months. [167999]
Paul Goggins: The total policing budget for Northern Ireland in 2007-08 is £1,236,081,000. The NIO has received its CSR07 settlement from HM Treasury but work is currently ongoing on how this will be allocated across the Department. Until this is completed I am not in a position to advise on the final allocation for policing in Northern Ireland for 2008-09.
The Government remain completely committed to the proper resourcing of the PSNI to ensure that it is equipped to deliver effective policing for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland. PSNI budget, per head of population, is more than any other police service in the UK and Northern Ireland has more police officers than comparable parts of the UK.
Sex Offenders: Registration
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were on the sex offenders register in Northern Ireland in each of the past six years. [166208]
Paul Goggins: The total number of sex offenders in Northern Ireland subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 was as follows:
| Number | |
The majority of persons who come under the notification requirements are subject to a notification period of five years or more and the annual increase largely reflects the number of new convictions.
As a breakdown of figures for sex offenders subject to the notification requirements was not recorded on an annual basis until 2005, I am not able to provide the information requested for 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Duchy of Lancaster
Departmental Correspondence
Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of inquiries received by his Office from the public were responded to within (a) one week, (b) 14 days, (c) 28 days, (d) two months and (e) three months in the last period for which figures are available; and in what percentage of cases it took (i) over three months and (ii) over one year to respond. [167372]
Edward Miliband: Details of departments’ and agencies’ handling of correspondence from MPs and Peers is published on an annual basis. The most recent statistics were published by way of a written ministerial statement on 28 March 2007, Official Report, column 101WS. Information for 2007 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the calendar year.
Departmental Responsibilities: Security
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Government department will take primary responsibility for the UK's national security strategy announced in his statement to the House on 25 July. [165658]
Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office, working with all interested Departments and Agencies, is co-ordinating the production of the National Security Strategy.
Members: Correspondence
Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells on charities and political campaigning dated 30 October. [167606]
Edward Miliband: A reply was sent to the hon. Member today.
National Security
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the UK’s national security strategy as announced in his statement to the House on 25 July. [165659]
Edward Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made to the House on 14 November 2007, Official Report, column 667.
Opinion Leader Research
Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many contracts were awarded by the Cabinet Office to Opinion Leader Research in each year since 1997; and what was (a) the title and purpose, (b) the cost to the public purse and (c) the dates of (i) tender, (ii) award, (iii) operation and (iv) completion and report to the Office in each case. [165394]
Edward Miliband: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) and the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 9 October 2007, Official Report, column 530W, and the answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Hilary Armstrong) on 13 June 2007, Official Report, column 1038W.
Leader of the House
Departmental Publicity
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Leader of the House (1) how much her Office spent on staff working on (a) marketing and (b) branding in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; [167300]
(2) how much her Office spent on managing its corporate identity in the last 12 month period for which figures are available. [167345]
Legislative Drafting: Public Participation
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Leader of the House what regional events were held in the West Midlands for organisations and stakeholders to discuss the Government's draft legislative programme published in July with the Minister for the West Midlands; and if she will make a statement. [166695]
Helen Goodman: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on Wednesday, 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 933W.
Regional Government: Ministers
Helen Southworth: To ask the Leader of the House (1) what mechanisms are in place for regional Ministers to account to Parliament; [167601]
(2) if she will establish a regular oral question time to allow regional Ministers to be questioned by hon. Members. [167602]
Helen Goodman: All Ministers are accountable to Parliament. The Government are considering how best to take forward the ideas in the Governance of Britain Green Paper for committees to reflect the English regions. The Modernisation Select Committee of the House of Commons announced an inquiry into Regional Accountability on 11 October and the Government expect to submit a memorandum to that Committee.
There are no current plans for a specific question slot to be given to regional Ministers.
Written Questions
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Leader of the House if she will advise Ministers to adhere to the practice of attaching to written answers hard copies of earlier replies cited in such answers where these were previously given to hon. Members other than the hon. Member to whom the answer is addressed. [168300]
Helen Goodman: It is standard practice to provide Members with a copy of any previous response which is referred to in an answer to a question.
Work and Pensions
Crisis Loans
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what criteria are used to assess eligibility for a crisis loan; [163497]
(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that the appeal process for refused social fund applications is accessible and easy to use; [163498]
(3) what process applicants must go through to prove their eligibility for a crisis loan; [163502]
(4) what steps are being taken to ensure that those living in rural communities can easily access a crisis loan; [163503]
(5) whether those visiting Jobcentre Plus to access a crisis loan are offered an alternative to a telephone claim. [163581]
Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 29 November 2007:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your questions asking about the criteria used to assess eligibility for crisis loans, the process applicants must go through to prove their eligibility to crisis loans, what steps are being taken to ensure that the appeal process is accessible and easy to use, steps being taken to ensure those living in rural communities can easily access a crisis loan and whether those visiting Jobcentre Plus to access a crisis loan are offered an alternative to a telephone claim. These are things that fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The criteria used to assess eligibility for a crisis loan are that the applicant:
has immediate short term needs in an emergency or as a consequence of a disaster;
is 16 or over and has no other means or getting help; and
shows that a crisis loan is the only way that serious damage to their own health or safety or that of their family can be avoided.
Applicants must prove their eligibility for a crisis loan by providing a Jobcentre Plus decision maker with sufficient information to determine their application. Our preferred method of taking this information is by telephone where the customer requires a loan for living expenses. However, those customers unable to use the telephone, or where money is being requested to buy an item or service, should submit a written application by post or in person. Irrespective of the method of application, applicants have to provide full details of their circumstances and the effect of the emergency or disaster. They must also give details of their financial situation including other possible sources of help.
Jobcentre Plus is sensitive to the needs of those customers living in rural communities. Many Jobcentre Plus offices already offer a crisis loan application service by telephone and travel warrants can be provided to those customers who have no money to meet fares incurred in collecting their payment from a Jobcentre Plus office.
Customers who visit a Jobcentre Plus office are advised about the benefits of the telephone application process, including the availability of the free phone number. If this does not suit the customer, they can make a written crisis loan application.
The review process that applies to the discretionary social fund is straightforward and widely publicised in Jobcentre Plus leaflets, application forms and decision letters. To request a review of a decision, applicants need to write to Jobcentre Plus. A review is then conducted which normally involves an interview over the telephone. If after the review decision, they are still dissatisfied with the outcome of their application they can write to the Independent Review Service for a further review.
I hope this is helpful.
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