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28 Apr 2008 : Column 93W—continued
Data prior to 2005 are unavailable due to lack of central recording of data. The information has been obtained from the Home Office personnel database—Adelphi.
Immigration: EC Action
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the outcomes for the UK of the European Return Preparatory Actions 2005-06; and if she will make a statement. [196309]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 25 March 2008]: In 2005 the European Community funded a total of 16 projects under the RETURN 2005 programme. The UK was partner in four of these projects working with 12 other member states and one non-governmental organisation.
In 2006 the European Community funded a total of 20 projects under the RETURN 2006 programme. The UK was partner in five of these projects working with seven other member states and two non-governmental organisations.
The projects we have participated in have not yet been fully evaluated, however we have mostly supported assisted voluntary return which we consider very important in the UK. Reintegration assistance helps break the cycle of migration; meaning return is more sustainable for individuals and families, and
contributes indirectly to communities in the country of origin. We have also gained expertise from working with other countries on these projects.
Immigration: Interpreters
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what scale of fees was payable to interpreters by (a) the Immigration Service and (b) each other police force in respect of (i) illegal entry and (ii) criminal matters in each of the last five years; how much was paid for such services in each such year in each category; and what expenses are payable. [198519]
Mr. McNulty: The following tables set out the scale of fees payable to and amounts paid for interpreters in respect of the Immigration Service and the Metropolitan police. Figures are not held centrally on other police force areas and such information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
| (a) Immigration Service: Interpreters fees, 2003-04 | |
| Hourly rates (£) | |
| (b) Metropolitan Police: Interpreters fees | |||
| Hourly rates (£) | |||
| Monday to Saturday | Sunday/bank holidays | ||
| 0800 to 2000 hrs | 2000 to 0800 hrs | ||
| (1) As 2006-07. | |||
| (c) Immigration Service: Expenditure incurred | ||
| £ | ||
| Home Office | UK Borders Agency | |
| (1) Represents budget for interpreters services for Home Office, including Immigration Service. | ||
| (d) Metropolitan police: Expenditure incurred | |||||
| £ | |||||
| Interpreting fees | Interpreting expenses | Interpreting total | Translation fees | Total costs language services | |
| (e) Expenses payable | |||
| Car | Parking costs | Public transport | |
|
Actual fare based on tickets/receipts provided, most economical route taken and fare over £13. | |||
| (1) Figures not available. | |||
Immigration: Iraq
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi nationals living in (a) Jordan, (b) Syria and (c) Iran who have worked under contract with British forces under Operation Telic have (i) applied for and (ii) been granted (A) asylum and (B) residency in the UK since March 2003; and what criteria are used in deciding on such applications. [196188]
Mr. Byrne: The figures requested are not collated and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Immigration: Local Authorities
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2008, Official Report, column 611W, on immigration: local authorities, how much is available under the transitional costs fund in 2008-09; how many local authorities have submitted claims to the fund; what the value of the claims submitted have been; which local authorities have made claims; what the value of the claim was in each case; and how much had been disbursed to local authorities at the most recent date for which figures are available. [201158]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 24 April 2008]: The financial support available will depend on the claims made by local authorities.
At the present time no payments have been made to any local authority. Support will be made available to individual authorities for a maximum of six months after they have begun to incur qualifying expenditure. Lin Homer will update the Home Affairs Select Committee in the summer.
Internet: Crime
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of cybercrime to the economy in 2007-08. [198638]
Jacqui Smith: There is no central estimate of the cost of cybercrime to the economy in 2007-08.
JP Morgan
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department paid to JP Morgan in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of the payment was in each case. [199592]
Mr. Byrne: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999; since that date, no payments have been made to this company.
Lorries: Foreign Companies
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the adequacy of police resources for ensuring that operators and drivers of non-UK lorries comply with regulations relating to the haulage industry; and if she will make a statement. [199153]
Mr. Byrne: The deployment of resources to enforce compliance with regulations relating to commercial vehicles, irrespective of whether there operating base is in the UK or elsewhere, is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.
In addition to the enforcement carried out by the police on commercial vehicles, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has a specific responsibility to help ensure that all commercial vehicles and drivers travelling on our roads comply with the law. Additional funding has been made available to VOSA to enable them to increase significantly the number of checks they make on vehicles engaged in international journeys.
Members: Correspondence
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, the hon. Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill, to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Wycombe of 28 February 2008 on visas. [199342]
Mr. Byrne: The UK Border Agency (International Group) replied on behalf of the Minister on 8 April 2008.
Migration
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with G6 member states on the European Pact on Migration; and if she will make a statement. [196958]
Jacqui Smith: Home Office Ministers have had discussions on migration in a variety of fora following the G6 Conclusions on a European Pact on Managing Migration in October 2007.
We will continue to hold discussions with G6 and other member states as part of our joint work to strengthen borders, reduce asylum shopping and combat illegal migration.
Missing Persons
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support is available to relatives or friends of missing persons; and if she will make a statement. [199014]
Mr. McNulty: Help and support is available for the families and friends of missing people from family liaison officers of the investigating police force, the voluntary sector and the National Policing Improvement Agency's (NPIA) Missing Persons Bureau (MPB).
The MPB was launched on 1 April 2008 and works closely with the charity Missing People. Missing People, and a number of other similar charities, work with young runaways, missing and unidentified people, their families, friends and others who are, or have been, affected by the issue of missing people.
Missing People is part funded by the Government (approximately £700,000 this year). This service includes support, advice, guidance and practical help to the families of those who have gone missing through:
a dedicated national 24-hour support helpline for families and friends of missing people;
case publicity via poster campaigns, internet appeals, a network of national media partners and features;
a national 24-hour confidential sightings service;
Runaway Helpline—a 24-hour confidential helpline for runaways, offering help and advice to young people who have run away from home or care, or who have been forced to leave;
Message Home—a 24-hour free confidential telephone service that offers help, advice and support to adults who are missing.
Identification—a specialist service offered by Missing People to support police, coroners, hospitals and social services to resolve cases of unidentified people (alive or dead).
Support is also available for families of abducted children from other charities including Reunite. Reunite provide advice, information and support to parents/guardians and family members, who have had a child abducted or who fear child abduction. Reunite also provide advice to parents who may have abducted their child as well as advising on international contact issues.
The MPB acts as the centre for the exchange of information connected with the search for missing people nationally and internationally. This includes the co-ordination between police forces, relevant agencies, charities and other organisations working in the field of missing people. The Bureau already works closely with Government Departments, including the Home Office and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
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