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21 Apr 2008 : Column 1376W—continued
Solicitor-General
China: Tibet
David Howarth: To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment the Law Officers have made of whether the actions taken by the People's Republic of China in relation to the self-determination movement in Tibet comply with international law. [199399]
The Solicitor-General: In accordance with the long-standing convention adhered to by successive governments neither the fact that the law officers have been consulted nor the substance of any advice given is normally disclosed outside of Government.
Crown Prosecution Service: Manpower
David Howarth: To ask the Solicitor-General what the average length of service of chief inspectors of the Crown Prosecution Service has been since the inception of the post. [199391]
The Solicitor-General: There has been only one Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service since the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate Act came into force on 1 October 2000.
David Howarth: To ask the Solicitor-General how many times the contract of the Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service has been extended without a competitive process since the inception of the post. [199392]
The Solicitor-General: The Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service was originally appointed on 1 October 2000 and his appointment expired on 21 March 2004. There then followed a series of short extensions of his appointment during a period when the Government's policy on criminal justice system inspection was under review and there was the prospect of (i) a merger between HMCPS Inspectorate and the new Inspectorate for the Unified Court Administration; and then (ii) a merger of all five criminal justice system Inspectorates. In the event, the then Police and Criminal Justice Bill was amended so the planned merger of all five Inspectorates did not proceed. In April 2007, the Chief Inspector's appointment was extended by one year. This appointment has recently been extended again by a further two years.
Crown Prosecution Service: Standards
Richard Ottaway: To ask the Solicitor-General how many (a) categories and (b) aspects of the South London Crown Prosecution Service's performance (i) improved and (ii) deteriorated between 2005 and 2007. [199339]
The Solicitor-General: The HM CPS Inspectorate's Overall Performance Assessment (OPA) reports are based on 13 aspects of performance. There is no assessment based on categories.
Of the 13 aspects assessed by HM CPS Inspectorate in 2007 for CPS London, South Sector, one aspect had improved since 2005, and four aspects declined. The remaining eight aspects remained stable, although the 'direction of travel' in one of these ('Delivering Change') was one of significant improvement.
Richard Ottaway: To ask the Solicitor-General how many (a) categories and (b) aspects of the South London Crown Prosecution Service's performance were assessed as good in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2007. [199340]
The Solicitor-General: The HM CPS Inspectorate’s overall performance assessment (OPA) reports are based on 13 aspects of performance. There is no assessment based on categories.
Of the 13 aspects assessed by HM CPS Inspectorate in 2005 for CPS London, South Sector, three aspects were rated as good. In 2007, there were no aspects rated as good.
Richard Ottaway: To ask the Solicitor-General what the (a) Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and (b) South London CPS's rate of discharged committals was in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2007; and if she will make a statement. [199341]
The Solicitor-General: A discharge is recorded in magistrates courts where a case is listed for committal to the Crown court for trial but the committal does not go ahead, and the defendant is discharged under section 6(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980.
The number of discharged committals recorded in each of the last three years is shown in the table for the CPS nationally and for CPS London, South Sector. In addition to the total number, the rate of discharged committals is also shown as a percentage against all
other outcome types. For example, during 2006-07, 2,325 defendant cases nationally resulted in a discharge, which represented 0.2 per cent. of completed cases.
| CPS Overall Discharged Committals | Percentage | CPS London South Sector Discharged Committals | Percentage | |
Olympics
Departmental Data Protection
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether personal data for which her Office is responsible is (a) stored and (b) processed overseas; and if she will make a statement. [176008]
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) on 31 March 2008, Official Report, column 522W.
Olympic Delivery Authority: Disclosure of Information
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what guidance she has provided to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) on providing access for the public to its (a) register of interests and (b) register of gifts and hospitality; how she monitors the ODA’s procedures for complying with (i) that guidance and (ii) the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in publishing such information; and if she will make a statement. [198823]
Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is subject to a Management Statement and Financial Memorandum (“The Management Statement”), approved by myself and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, which sets out the rules and guidelines relevant to the exercise of the ODA’s functions, duties and powers.
The Management Statement provides that the Chairman must ensure that a Code of Practice for Members of the ODA is in place based on the Cabinet Office’s model “Guidance on Codes of Practice for Board Members of Public Bodies.” The Code commits the Chairman and other Board Members to “The Seven Principles of Public Life” and includes a requirement for a comprehensive and publicly available register of Board Members’ interests.
The Management Statement also provides that ODA must operate at all times with the highest ethical standards and practices in accordance with the requirements set out in the ODA’s Employee Handbook, and its Code of Conduct and Business Ethics. The Code provides guidance on a wide range of issues including gifts and hospitality.
Compliance monitoring is primarily a matter for ODA’s internal audit. However, the Department remains involved in this process, through its attendance at ODA Audit Committee meetings.
In accordance with its Management Statement and its commitment to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the ODA has
made its gifts and hospitality register and register of Board Members’ interests publicly available. The ODA has now increased accessibility by making these available on its website. Copies are also available from the House Library.
Olympic Games 2012
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics with reference to the answer given to Lord Holme of Cheltenham in the House of Lords on 14 March 2007, Official Report [Lords], columns 135-36WA, on Olympic Games 2012: construction, what progress has been made in ensuring there is a social and economic legacy as well as a physical legacy for local people following the 2012 Olympics. [197425]
Tessa Jowell: Specific initiatives, such as the London Employment and Skills Taskforce (LEST) Action Plan and London Business Network, have been developed to ensure local people and businesses are able to benefit from the opportunities being presented by the Olympics. For example, 77 local businesses have already been awarded contracts to supply the Olympic Delivery Authority. As legacy planning develops, we will continue to work with private and public sector delivery agencies to ensure that other opportunities are identified to deliver our commitment to transform the heart of East London.
In addition, the development of the Legacy Masterplan Framework (LMF) will set the context for the transformation of the Olympic Park to its post-Games uses, providing world-class sporting facilities set within a new 110 hectare park, along with the creation of a new urban district, linked with its surroundings, which will provide over 9,000 new homes, 12,000 jobs and other social facilities for local people. The London Development Agency and the newly appointed masterplanning team have started the process to develop the LMF and will engage closely with local people and businesses to ensure the masterplan reflects their ideas.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether there will be any ministerial involvement in the London Olympic Torch Relay. [199026]
Tessa Jowell: I greeted the Beijing Organising Committee on the evening of 5 April, when they brought the flame into the UK. In addition, both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and I attended the relay on 6 April, at No. 10 with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and then later at the Southbank Centre.
Olympic Games 2012: Broadcasting
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the potential financial benefits to the London Development Agency of legacy use of the Olympics international broadcast centre/media and press centre. [199661]
Tessa Jowell:
As the land owner and the Legacy Client for the Olympic Park, the London Development Agency is eligible for—but not guaranteed—an appropriate financial return, taking account of usual overage, for its land input to the International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre (IBC/MPC).
The overage is subject to a number of conditions based on financial market conditions and rental/sales projections and will be linked to the profitability of the regeneration scheme. An independent overage valuation is being undertaken currently with findings of this valuation yet to be established. Overage returns, in accordance with the established MOU between the Government and the Mayor of London, will be directed to both the LDA and to the benefit of Lottery good causes.
The receipt of overage will give the LDA a financial interest in maximising the legacy value of the IBC/MPC, both in commercial and amenity terms, and will contribute to ensuring a vibrant and productive future for the venue both in its own right and in the context of the wider Park.
Olympic Games 2012: Training
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Henley of 10 December 2007, Official Report, column 47W, on Olympic Games 2012: training, how many of the level one training places were for courses in construction; and how many of those qualifying from those courses have been offered jobs on projects involved with construction work for the Olympics. [195898]
Tessa Jowell: Pursuant to my answer of 10 December 2007, Official Report, column 47W to the hon. Member for Henley a further 666 skills training places have been offered by the London Development Agency, bringing the total for the period January to December 2007 to 1,835.
Improvements to the LDA's monitoring systems since April 2007 have allowed it to track the outcomes for individuals receiving this training from that date. For the period April to December 2007, 1,083 skills training courses were delivered to 956 individuals. Of these, all were unemployed at the time of training, 286 subsequently obtained employment, of which 80 have been offered jobs on the Olympic site.
Provisional figures indicate that approximately three quarters of the 1,083 courses have been construction related. 12 of these were level 2. The remaining courses have provided training for security and hospitality industries alongside site-based office roles.
Northern Ireland
Demonstrations
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has commissioned research through (a) focus groups and (b) other market research on the opinions of people in Northern Ireland on the resolution of the parades disputes. [196530]
Paul Goggins: The Department has not commissioned any such research.
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether confidential or personal information has been compromised through the loss of property from his Department since 1997. [193433]
Mr. Woodward: Except in exceptional cases, when it is in the public interest, it has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on breaches of security. However, following the publication of the Data Handling Procedures in Government: Interim Progress Report on 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 98WS, all Departments will cover information assurance issues in their annual reports.
Departmental Internet
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on the most recent redesign and implementation of his Department's website. [200027]
Mr. Woodward: The most recent redesign and implementation of the Northern Ireland Office website was carried out in March 2007 and cost £4,185.94.
Departmental Legislation
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criminal offences have been created by primary legislation sponsored by his Department since July 2007. [198283]
Paul Goggins: As there have been no Northern Ireland Acts of Parliament since July 2007, no criminal offences have been created.
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criminal offences have been abolished by primary legislation sponsored by his Department since May 1997. [198321]
Paul Goggins: Acts of Parliament sponsored by my Department since May 1997 have repealed the following offences.
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