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24 Apr 2008 : Column 2251W—continued
Terrorism: Prisoner Release
Mr. Garnier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons awaiting trial for, or convicted of,
terrorism offences have been released on home detention curfew since 1997. [196558]
Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners serving sentences for terrorism offences were released on home detention curfew in each of the last five years. [200237]
Mr. Straw: The Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme, was introduced in January 1999. It applies only to offenders serving determinate sentences of imprisonment or detention.
Anyone serving four years or more is either statutorily ineligible or presumed unsuitable for HDC unless there are exceptional circumstances. Since July 2003 prisoners serving sentences of any length for certain violent offences such as conspiracy to commit murder and serious explosives offences, which could have links to terrorist activity, have been presumed unsuitable for HDC unless there are exceptional circumstances.
In December 2007 the list of examples of presumed unsuitable offences was clarified and extended to include most offences under counter terrorism legislation. Since then, and in line with the announcement made by me on 28 March concerning the eligibility criteria for the End of Custody Licence scheme, prisoners serving sentences for any offence committed under counter terrorism legislation, will be presumed unsuitable for release on HDC. Prison governors were notified of this decision on 4 April 2008 and a Prison Service instruction will be issued in due course.
Between 1999 and 2007 three prisoners convicted of offences under terrorism legislation were released on HDC: two in 2003 and one in 2007.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Young Offenders Institutions: Counselling
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young offender institutions provide counselling services for inmates who have previously experienced sexual abuse or violence. [199677]
Maria Eagle: All 18 male and nine female young offender institutions which hold young adults (18-21) and young people (15-17) provide counselling services for those assessed as likely to benefit from them. Specific interventions will depend on assessment of need in individual cases and may include, for example, the provision of information and advice, or support from local agencies with specialist knowledge and experience. Referrals to psychological or mental health services will sometimes need to be made.
Communities and Local Government
Aerials: Planning Permission
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent guidance she has issued to local authorities on checking that appropriate certificates of compliance are (a) in place
and (b) relevant before granting permission for the erection of mobile phone masts. [201401]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Department issued guidance about this matter in 2001 which still applies. Planning Policy Guidance Note 8: Telecommunications, states that all new mobile phone base stations are expected to meet the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines. All applicants for planning permission or prior approval should include with their applications, a statement to certify that the mobile phone base station, when operational, will meet the guidelines. Where a mobile phone base station is added to an existing mast or site, the operator should confirm that the cumulative exposure will not exceed the ICNIRP guidelines.
Bellwin Scheme
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to review the efficacy of the Bellwin Scheme; and if she will make a statement. [200612]
John Healey: The Government have asked Sir Michael Pitt to review the handling of the summer floods in 2007. We will consider his recommendations, including those relating to the costs of response and recovery, when they are available.
Council Tax: Parish Councils
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average Band D parish council precept is in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09. [198878]
John Healey: Information on precepts and Band D council taxes set by individual parish and town councils in England is not collected by the Department.
Departmental Pensions
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in her Department and its Executive agencies; and if she will make a statement. [200740]
Mr. Dhanda: It is not appropriate to disclose values for staff, other than those whose details are reported on in Remuneration Reports in the Department’s Resource Accounts. A copy of the Resource Accounts for 2006-07 can be found in the Library of the House.
Departmental Written Questions
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by her in the last six months. [201754]
Mr. Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Disability Essex: Buildings
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on the construction of a new headquarters and training centre for Disability Essex; and if she will make a statement. [201441]
Mr. Iain Wright: The East of England Development Agency (BEDA) provided initial funding in June 2007 to Disability Essex to enable them to prepare a business case for their new headquarters and training centre which must go through a transparent process in order to secure public money for their projects. A completed capital grant fund application form must be submitted before it can be considered by an independent appraisal panel.
I understand that EEDA have not received the necessary capital grant application form from Disability Essex, and unfortunately the cut-off date has now passed.
It is highly regrettable that Disability Essex did not submit an application in the 10 months since they received a bursary award and prior to the cut off date, but EEDA was required to take a decision as to the basis upon which ‘live’ projects could be taken forward under the circumstances.
However, EEDA will continue to work with Disability Essex, and other organisations in the East of England, to support their major fund-raising activities.
Eco-Towns
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to her Written Ministerial Statement of 3 April 2008, Official Report, columns 70-72WS, on eco-towns, if she will list the parliamentary constituencies in which the proposed eco-towns are located. [200211]
Caroline Flint: On information currently available the 13 eco-town locations, which have been shortlisted for public consultation and further assessment are located within the following parliamentary constituencies. In some areas exact locations have yet to be defined.
| Eco-town location | Constituency |
In addition further reviews are being carried out on in terms of sites at Rushcliffe and Leeds city region.
Fire Services
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many control staff in each fire and rescue authority have agreed to transfer to the South West Regional Control Centre in Taunton. [199480]
Mr. Dhanda: Discussions concerning which staff could reasonably transfer to the Regional Control Centre are for the current Fire and Rescue Authorities, and the future employer, the South West Fire Control Service Ltd., to make in consultation with their employees. The Fire and Rescue Authorities included in this company are; Avon, Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Isles of Scilly and Wiltshire.
Fire Services: Manpower
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many retained firefighters there were in each fire and rescue authority in each of the last five years. [201409]
Mr. Dhanda: Available information, for each Fire and Rescue Service area within England is shown as follows.
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