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15 Jan 2008 : Column 1142W—continued
Turkey: Migration
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the migration consequences for the UK of Turkish membership of the EU; what assessment he has made of these migration consequences; what account he has taken of migration in formulating UK policy on Turkish membership; and if he will make a statement. [177462]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Government have not commissioned any research specifically on the migration consequences for the UK of Turkish membership of the EU. The European Commission prepared an assessment of Turkish membership before the EU opened negotiations with Turkey in 2005 and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what geographical claims the UK intends to submit to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on areas off (a) the north west coast of Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland and (c) other UK territories. [177297]
Meg Munn: The UK is considering making submissions to the CLCS in respect of four distinct areas, before the right to do so expires in May 2009. The four areas under consideration are:
‘Hatton-Rockall’—an area of the north east Atlantic off the north west coast of Scotland;
the area around Ascension Island;
areas around the Falkland Islands and South Georgia; and
the area off British Antarctic Territory.
In 2006 the UK made a joint submission to the CLCS with France, Ireland and Spain in respect of an area of the Bay of Biscay, and all four states are working with the Commission towards the production of its conclusions.
UN General Assembly: Depleted Uranium
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom voted on the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium, A/C.1.62/L.18/REV/i, on 5 December 2007; which other states voted in the same way; and what the reasons were for the UK vote. [177842]
Meg Munn: The UK opposed the resolution on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium at the UN General Assembly's First Committee. Israel, US, Netherlands and the Czech Republic also voted against the resolution.
The current consensus of scientific and medical experts, including reports published by the Royal Society, is that the use of depleted uranium for military purposes has not had any significant impact on the
health of veterans or civilian populations. The UK is also aware that the US National Academy of Sciences is currently carrying out an independent review of the type mentioned in the resolution.
Whales
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of foreign Governments on whaling since the International Whaling Commission 59 meeting; and if he will make a statement. [177576]
Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with his foreign counterparts on this issue.
The departmental lead on this subject is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and DEFRA work closely together regarding whaling, in particular lobbying foreign Governments, emphasising the importance which the UK attaches to whale conservation.
On 21 December 2007, the UK, along with 29 other countries and the EU, made a formal diplomatic representation to the Japanese Government in Tokyo urging it to stop its lethal whaling programme in the Antarctic.
In January 2008, the FCO and DEFRA will launch a lobbying campaign spearheaded by the global distribution of the newly revised DEFRA brochure “Protecting whales—a global responsibility” including a foreword from my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to discuss whaling and the international moratorium on whaling with other Governments before the IWC60 meeting; and if he will make a statement. [177609]
Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans for discussions with his foreign counterparts on this issue.
The departmental lead on this subject is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and DEFRA work closely together regarding whaling, in particular lobbying foreign Governments, emphasising the importance which the UK attaches to whale conservation.
Upcoming initiatives include a conference organised by our embassy in Reykjavik in March to highlight the advantages of whale watching. Our embassy in Copenhagen is arranging a similar event, also in March, in which a range of people will participate, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
In January 2008, the FCO and DEFRA will launch a lobbying campaign spearheaded by the global distribution of the newly revised DEFRA brochure “Protecting whales—a global responsibility” including a foreword from my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Further targeted lobbying will be carried out by FCO posts in the run up to IWC 60.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on whale conservation; and if he will make a statement. [177610]
Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with his foreign counterparts on this issue.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given to him today (UIN 177576).
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect on public order of supermarkets selling alcohol at cost price. [168115]
Mr. Coaker [holding answer 26 November 2007]: The Government published their National Alcohol Strategy ‘Safe.Sensible.Social’ in June 2007. This strategy sets out how the Government plan to achieve significant reductions in the harms and cost of alcohol misuse over the next 10 years. The Government have commissioned an independent review which will look at the relationship between alcohol price, promotion and harm. This review will look at in what circumstances, price, (including discounting, advertising and other forms of promotion) drives overall consumption of alcohol and problem drinking in particular. This review is expected to report in July 2008, and following public consultation, the Government will consider the need for regulatory change if necessary.
Cannabis
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will seek to re-classify cannabis as a class B drug. [178106]
Mr. Coaker: We will carefully consider the findings of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs when it submits its advice in April 2008 and we will then make a decision about whether or not to bring a proposal to Parliament to reclassify the drug.
Community Policing
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the establishment of neighbourhood policing teams in England and Wales. [177778]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 14 January 2008 ]: The Government are committed to ensuring every community has a neighbourhood policing team by April 2008 and forces are well on the way to achieving this. As at the end of December 2007, there were over 3,600 neighbourhood policing teams across England and Wales and 33 forces had already fully rolled out neighbourhood policing.
Crime Prevention: Voluntary Organisations
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support her Department gives to voluntary organisations that help reduce crime in communities. [176834]
Mr. Coaker: The Department is committed to working with voluntary sector organisations that play a crucial role in helping to shape, and where appropriate, deliver crime reduction services directly. In recognising this role at both regional and national level, the Home Office in 2007-08 provided over £3 million in financial support to several organisations, which demonstrates our continued support to our partnership with third sector organisations.
In addition, the Connected Fund—Government funding for community groups—has so far made over £1.75 million available to 400 small voluntary groups working on gun crime and related issues across the country.
The Home Office has also provided funding of £5.9 million in 2007-08 to Crime Concern for the Positive Futures Programme. Positive Futures is a national sports-based social inclusion programme which targets vulnerable young people in 30 areas worst affected by drug-related crime across the country.
Other financial support from the Home Office also benefits voluntary organisations. In 2007-08 this included over £21 million to the Youth Justice Board to fund youth crime prevention: third sector organisations are often key local delivery partners. The Tackling Gangs Action programme is working with third sector community groups as well as statutory providers to tackle gang activity and gun and knife crime. In addition, a substantial amount of Home Office funding is pooled with other funding through local area agreements to be spent locally, and again voluntary organisations are often key delivery partners locally in tackling crime in communities: in the current 2007-08 Financial Year the Home Office contributed £65 million resource and 18 million capital through local area agreements.
Crime: Internet
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received from (a) businesses and (b) organisations representing business on the establishment of a Police Central E-Crime Unit. [173822]
Mr. Coaker: The Secretary of State has not received any formal representations from business or business organisations regarding the establishment of a Police Central E-Crime Unit.
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions Ministers and officials in her Department have had with HM Treasury on funding for a Police Central E-Crime Unit. [173824]
Mr. Coaker: Home Office Ministers and officials have not held any discussions with HM Treasury regarding funding for any police e-crime unit.
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to receive a business case for the establishment of a Police Central E-Crime Unit. [173825]
Mr. Coaker: The Home Office has received an initial business case from ACPO, and has asked for a more developed case to be presented. It is essential that any new unit formed has clear objectives, and does not overlap with any other law enforcement activity.
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of legal sanctions in prosecuting the hiring of botnets to carry out phishing, directed denial of service and other cyber attacks on computer networks. [173829]
Mr. Coaker: The Government have introduced amendments to the Computer Misuse Act 1990 under section 5 (37) of the Police and Justice Act 2006 that creates a new offence of making, adapting or supplying articles for use in computer misuse offences. This offence covers the potential hiring out of botnets to carry such attacks. It is likely that this offence will come into force in April 2008. Guidance on the use of this new offence will be issued by the end of 2007.
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the number of computers in the UK infected with malicious software enabling them to be used by third parties in botnet attacks. [173830]
Mr. Coaker: The Government recognise the problems of malicious software, and works with industry to encourage them to implement security solutions both on their networks and for consumers. The Government also support Get Safe Online, which provides consumers and businesses with information on how to protect themselves.
Extradition: EC Countries
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all European extradition warrants are handled by the Serious Organised Crime Agency. [175763]
Meg Hillier [holding answer 8 January 2008]: SOCA is the designated authority for the receipt and transmission of all European Arrest Warrants in the UK, with the exception of Scotland where this function is performed by the Crown Office of the Procurator Fiscal.
Human Trafficking
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of levels of people trafficking into the UK. [177906]
Mr. Coaker:
The nature of the crime makes it difficult to make an accurate assessment of the extent of the problem although intelligence suggests there has been an increase in the trafficking problem over the last few years. In order to better understand the situation the
Serious Organised Crime Agency along with the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre continue to work on improving intelligence collection as a priority. The intelligence collected as part of the current Operation Pentameter 2 will assist with improving our understanding of the nature and scale of trafficking throughout the UK.
However, findings from a Home Office research paper estimates that at any one time in 2003 there were in the region of 4,000 female victims of trafficking for prostitution in the UK.
Police: Finance
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much was spent by each police force defending actions brought against them by victims of crime in each year since 2001; [177134]
(2) how much was spent by each police force defending itself against vexatious litigation in each year since 2001; [177135]
(3) which (a) barristers’ chambers and (b) solicitors’ firms have undertaken work for each police force in England and Wales in each of the last two financial years; and what the reason for the work and the fees paid were in each case; [177136]
(4) which 10 barristers instructed by each police force in England and Wales received the highest sums for this work in the last two financial years; how much each received; and if she will make a statement. [177137]
Mr. McNulty: The information for all police forces in England and Wales is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Decisions on the distribution of resources are matters for the chief officer and the police authority.
Police: Migration
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect of likely increases in population on the delivery of policing services in (a) Government designated growth areas and (b) Northamptonshire. [162135]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 14 November 2007]: Projections of population are one of the key components in the funding formula which determines the distribution of the main Government police grant between police authorities in England and Wales.
Since 1997, increases in Government funding for the police have far outstripped increases in population. In the case of Northamptonshire, Government funding has increased by 55 per cent., 22 per cent. in real terms, while its population has increased by 10 per cent.
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