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23 Jan 2008 : Column 2062W—continued
Genetics: Database
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research projects have been undertaken using data from the National DNA Database; and if she will make a statement. [164672]
Meg Hillier [holding answer 15 January 200 8]: Data from the National DNA Database (NDNAD) have been provided to the following organisations for research purposes.
10 projects relating to assistance to forensic providers for R and D papers, not specific investigations.
one project relating to police operations, requiring anonymised NDNAD profiles.
one project relating to database improvements.
two Research Development and Statistics projects relating to match reporting.
one project relating to police operations on behalf of Interpol (this was reported as G8 rather than Interpol in response to an earlier Freedom of Information Act query).
one project relating to database improvements (these data are now provided as routine management information and no longer classified as research).
one project to identify new leads on undetected prolific offenders involved in at least one serious crime offence.
one project relating to police operations, checking against the NDNAD for named individuals.
one project using exhibits from solved cases.
LGC (forensic services provider):
one project relating to assistance to forensic providers for R and D papers, not specific investigations.
one project on the further development of familial searching software.
one project on the confirmation of rarely found types of DNA.
one project on the further development of familial searching software.
Immigrants: Carers
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to change the minimum salary regime for senior carer work permit renewals; and if she will make a statement. [179782]
Mr. Byrne: Work permit salary guidance for all occupations is kept continuously under review, and is updated in line with the latest and most robust salary data available from industry. Salary guidance for senior care workers is no exception.
The current rate is derived from Skills for Care’s National Minimum Data Set for Social Care (NMDS-SC), which is the most comprehensive salary data we have identified for this sector.
Work permit applications, including extensions, are assessed against the going rate at the time that the application is made. It has always been a requirement, for any job, that work permit holders must be paid at least equal to the going rate that would normally attract a suitably skilled resident worker. It is essential that we prevent skilled migrants from being exploited as a source of cheap labour, and salaries for skilled resident workers from being undercut.
As part of the transitional measures we are putting in place for existing work permit holders, an exceptional in-country extension may be granted for a maximum of 12 months for those senior care workers who have had work permits approved prior to 31 December 2003. The requirement for employers to pay the current going rate will be exceptionally waived, providing the salary is at least equal to that on the previous work permit approval.
This is part of a package of transitional measures we have introduced to assist the sector in maintaining continuity of care whilst it adapts its staff recruitment and retention practices to more effectively target the resident work force.
Immigration
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the cases in which leave to remain in the UK was granted under the legacy exercise related to (a) failed asylum seekers and (b) asylum seekers whose cases had yet to be considered. [177362]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 10 January 2008]: We do not hold this information in the format requested and to obtain it would involve disproportionate cost.
Immigration Controls
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effects of reducing the coverage of the resident labour market test; [177450]
(2) what estimate she has made of the proportion of jobs covered by the requirements of the resident labour market list; [177470]
(3) pursuant to her answer of 10 December 2007, Official Report, column 86W, on immigration controls, what decisions she has made on the future operation of
the resident labour market test; and what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of jobs which would no longer be subject to the labour market test if the test threshold was set at a salary of (a) £30,000, (b) £40,000 and (c) £50,000 a year. [178329]
Mr. Byrne: We will ensure that under the PBS we continue to protect the privileged position held by British workers in the job market.
Immigration Controls: Expenditure
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the juxtaposed UK immigration controls at Paris, Lille and Brussels cost in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07. [180330]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 21 January 2008] : The information is as follows:
(a) The juxtaposed UK immigration controls at Paris, Lille and Brussels cost £7,102,500 in 2005-06.
(b) The juxtaposed UK immigration controls at Paris, Lille and Brussels cost £8,492,000 in 2006-07.
Migrant Workers
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what publications the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) provide for nationals of Bulgaria and Romania explaining the procedures for confirming their status as self-employed persons to the relevant United Kingdom authorities; what evidence is required by the BIA to establish that such nationals are self-employed; and what penalties have been imposed on such nationals who have not satisfied the BIA that they are self-employed. [179154]
Mr. Byrne: The Home Office has produced a booklet for Romanian and Bulgarian nationals entitled ‘Living and Working in the UK’, detailing the rights and responsibilities of ‘A2’ nationals from 1 January 2007. Further information on what documentation to apply for, relevant criteria and application forms can be found on the BIA website.
A ‘self-employed person’ is someone who has established themselves in the UK in order to pursue activity as a self-employed person. Examples of evidence to prove such status includes:
Invoices showing payment for services or contracts to provide services
Evidence from HMRC of national insurance special reference number
Evidence from HMRC of registration for tax
Evidence from HMRC of national insurance contributions
This list is not exhaustive. More information can be found on the HMRC website here:
If a Bulgarian or Romanian national falsely claims to be a self-employed person, they are not residing in the UK in accordance with the Accession Regulations and may be subject to prosecution and/or a Fixed Penalty of £1,000 may be issued. We do not routinely record this information.
Organised Crime: Romania
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken in co-operation with the Romanian police to tackle criminal Romanian gangs operating in London. [168004]
Mr. Coaker: Tackling the menace of organised crime is a top priority for the Government. The establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in 2006 signalled the Government’s determination to make the UK one of the toughest places in the world to operate, irrespective of nationality.
We have been working for some time and continue to do so, with Romanian authorities and crime agencies to identify, and close the door to organised crime groups. The close working relationship has resulted in two Romanian police officers being placed with the Metropolitan police ‘Operation Golf’ to help identify children who they believe were trafficked out of Romania by an organised crime network for the purpose of criminal exploitation.
Police: Pay
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the average pay is for all grades of police officer in England; [174717]
(2) what the average pay for a police constable in England including all allowances is in 2007-08. [174716]
Mr. McNulty: Information on average salary by rank is not held centrally. Information on pay scales for all police ranks was taken from the Police Negotiating Board Circulars available at the Office of Manpower Services website:
| Pay scales for all police officer ranks in England from 1 September 2006 | |
| Pay scale | |
|
Deputy Chief Constable (including Deputy Metropolitan Commissioner) | |
Police officers are entitled to a range of allowances as set out in the Police Regulations 2003 and the Secretary of State’s determinations under the regulations. Some of the principle allowances are:
Officers serving in the Metropolitan or City of London forces are eligible for:
| £ | |
A South East England Allowance is payable to members of the forces listed as follows at the rates given:
| £ | |
As set out in the Police Negotiating Board Circular 03/16 some posts (determined by the chief office and police authority) are eligible for a special priority payment. The payments can be between £500 and £3,000 and exceptionally up to £5,000.
Stop and Search
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stops and searches were conducted (a) in total and (b) per 1,000 population in each police force area, in each year since 1997; and what percentage of (i) the total and (ii) the number in each area resulted in an arrest in each year. [172871]
Mr. McNulty: The available information by financial year is given in the tables placed in the House Library.
Health
Abortion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2008, Official Report, column 574W, on abortion, what the (a) prefix and (b) title is of each file held by his Department on (i) the Abortion (Amendment) Bill of Session 1987-88, (ii) the Unborn Children (Protection) Bills of Sessions (A) 1984-85, (B) 1985-86 and (C) 1987-98 and (c) the Abortion Act 1967; and if he will make a statement. [180870]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Autism: Elderly
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to assist elderly people who are on the autism spectrum. [180091]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The provision of services for people with autism is a matter for the appropriate local authority and national health service bodies who are required to prioritise and allocate funding for services based on their assessment of the needs of their local populations.
The “Putting People First” Concordat sets out a shared vision for the transformation of social care. It articulates the common aims and values that will guide all the participants in modernising adult social care. Ensuring individualised responses for older people including people with autistic spectrum conditions, will be part of this transformation. This may be through provision of direct payments or individual budgets should current pilots prove successful. These provide
greater choice and control for people needing support, and place the person who is supported at the centre of the process.
Cancer: Prescriptions
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions were issued in relation to cancer in the latest year for which figures are available; and what proportion of these were (a) exempt from charges and (b) paid for by pre-payment certificate. [181193]
Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested.
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