| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
7 Jan 2008 : Column 300W—continued
Data on the number of paedophiles are not collected as the term “paedophile” is not used in the criminal law. Instead, the law sets out various requirements, including registration, for those who are convicted or cautioned for a wide range of sexual offences. Some offences are defined by the age of the victim but for other offences the age of the victim is immaterial. The data in the annual reports include all registered sexual offenders.
Speed Cameras
Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment has been made of the accuracy and consistency of the LTI 20-20 speed camera system. [174577]
Mr. Coaker: Under the provisions of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 certain traffic law enforcement devices require type approval by the Secretary of State before evidence from them is admissible in court. Type approval is granted only to devices that comply with the specification laid down by the HO Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) and successfully complete both field and scientific testing. The type approval process provides a public reassurance that a device is accurate, consistent and reliable. Three variants of the LTI 20.20 system were type approved in the 1990s. We are satisfied that the device merits its type approval and have seen no reason to conduct further assessments.
Speed Enforcement Operations
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's requirements are for the visibility and conspicuousness of speed enforcement operations; whether all police forces are subject to such rules; and if she will make a statement. [174660]
Mr. Coaker: Speed limit enforcement is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. The law requires only that the speed limits should be correctly signed in accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 as amended.
The Department for Transport as the lead Department for road safety issued on 31 January 2007 new guidance for local authorities, police and other local partners on the deployment of speed and red light cameras. A copy of this has been placed in the Library and is also available on the Department's website at:
This guidance sets out the Government's intention of high visibility speed enforcement and encourages the use of visibility and conspicuity rules which have been shown to reduce speeds and casualties at camera sites. It does not, however, restrict or fetter the discretion which the police have always had to enforce covertly anywhere at any time.
Stop and Search
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stop and account forms have been issued since their introduction in each police force area. [172870]
Mr. McNulty: From 1 April 2005, police officers exercising stop and account powers in accordance with paragraphs 4.11—4.20 of the PACE Code of Practice on exercise by police officers of statutory powers of stop and search (Code A) have been required to maintain a record of each encounter. Issues relating to the quality and completeness of the 2005-06 figures mean they remain subject to further work before they can be published.
Stowaways
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were seized as stowaways in trucks in each of the last 10 years. [163094]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 12 November 2007]: Only figures for 2001-06 are available. Illegal entry action is initiated against those people who are detected having entered or attempted to enter the country clandestinely. The following figures include those illegal entrants detected at ports of entry only.
| Total | |
| Note: The data provided are based on locally collated management information, which may be subject to change and does not represent published national statistics. | |
The above figures represent those arriving within heavy goods vehicles at ports in the United Kingdom. Additionally, they include clandestines detected in France during 2001-03 in Coquelles and from 2004 in Calais, Coquelles and Dunkerque.
Terrorism
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what criteria she uses to decide whether national or regional liberation movements should be proscribed organisations under terrorism legislation; [174585]
(2) for what reasons the Baluchistan National Liberation Army was proscribed as a terrorist organisation; and if she will make a statement. [174586]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 17 December 2007]: The grounds for proscription as a terrorist organisation are set out in section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000. They are that the Secretary of State believes the organisation to be concerned in terrorism. An organisation is considered to be concerned in terrorism if it:
(a) commits or participates in acts of terrorism,
(b) prepares for terrorism,
(c) promotes or encourages terrorism, or
(d) is otherwise concerned in terrorism.
If an organisation meets the criteria for proscription, the Secretary of State then has a discretion as to whether or not to proscribe. In exercising that discretion successive Secretaries of State have had regard to five factors in particular. They are:
1. The nature and scale of an organisation’s activities
2. The specific threat that it poses to the United Kingdom
3. The specific threat that it poses to British nationals overseas
4. The extent of the organisation’s presence in the United Kingdom
5. The need to support other members of the international community in the global fight against terrorism.
The Baluchistan Liberation Army was proscribed in 2006 because it met the criteria for proscription. In this regard I would refer the hon. Member to the Explanatory Memorandum to the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2006.
Terrorism: Olympic Games 2012
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential terrorist threat to the Olympic Games. [174851]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 17 December 2007]: All threats to the Olympics Games, including the potential terrorist threat, are kept under regular review.
Violence Against the Person
Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the relationship between (a) recorded and (b) estimated actual levels of (i) violence against the person, (ii) rape, (iii) personal robbery, (iv) commercial robbery, (v) residential burglary, (vi) non-residential burglary, (vii) gun-related crime, (viii) motor vehicle crime, (ix) domestic crime and (x) racial crime in the most recent period for which figures are available. [171930]
Mr. Coaker: The precise information requested is not available. Estimates based on crimes covered by the British Crime Survey (BCS) and experienced by households, and adults living in such households, in England and Wales are routinely reported in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Crime in England and Wales. The latest breakdown for the main offences covered by the BCS can be found at:
Latest estimates for commercial victims were reported in the Home Office report Crime against retail and manufacturing premises: findings from the 2002 Commercial Victimisation Survey and can be found at:
Visas
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the UK’s implementation of the provisions of EU Directive 2004/38/EC, with particular reference to the charging of fees to those applying for spousal visas from outside the EU by UK Visas; and if she will make a statement. [174635]
Mr. Byrne: The UK has fully and correctly implemented EU Directive 2004/38/EC This directive sets out the rights of movement for EEA nationals and their family members around the EU. Applications for visas to enter and documentation confirming status in the UK are currently not chargeable cases as the directive prohibits a charge being levied where no charge is placed on our own nationals for a similar document. All other applications for entry clearance or leave to remain on the basis of marriage or a subsisting relationship must be accompanied by the appropriate fee.
Treasury
Alcoholic Drinks: Death
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths from an alcohol-related underlying cause took place in (a) each nation of the UK, (b) each region of England and (c) Darlington in each of the last 10 years. [175157]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths from an alcohol-related cause took place in (a) each country of the UK, (b) each region of England and (c) Darlington in each of the last 10 years. (175157)
The table attached provides the number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause in (a) each country of the United Kingdom, (b) each government office region in England, and (c) Darlington unitary authority, from 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available).
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |