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21 May 2008 : Column 381W—continued
Deportation
David Davis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempts to deport
people to (a) Libya, (b) Algeria and (c) Jordan have failed in the last five years. [200507]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
Details of total removals to Algeria, Jordan and Libya between 2004 and 2007, the only period for which we have access to management information, are in the following table:
Driving Offences
Sir Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she and Ministers in her Department have had with the police and the Association of Chief Police Officers on proposals for a new offence of aggravated failure to stop for the police. [204906]
Mr. Coaker: The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has written on this issue to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and it has been raised informally with me by the Head of Uniformed Operations for the Association of Chief Police Officers. Having considered the proposals very carefully I am not persuaded that such an offence is needed in addition to the powers already available to the police.
Drugs: Imports
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the countries of origin of illegal drugs imported into the UK were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007, giving the percentage of illegal imports from each. [205425]
Mr. Coaker [holding answer 14 May 2008]: For 1997, the NCIS UK Threat Assessment showed that Spain represented the traditional route for cocaine entering Europe, because of the extensive cultural links with South America; and other routes through Africa and East Europea and Eurasia were becoming more important (no percentages are available). Interpol estimated that 80-90 per cent. of heroin trafficked to Western Europe originated from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. 60-80 per cent. of cannabis resin supplied to Western Europe originated from Morocco.
For 2007, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) estimates that 80-85 per cent. of the cocaine being trafficked to the UK originated in Colombia. The remaining 15-20 per cent. was believed to have originated from Peru/Bolivia/Ecuador. Almost all the opium used to manufacture heroin imported into the
UK originated in Afghanistan; with the actual manufacture of heroin from opium base taking place in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. (Data are not held on the respective percentages for manufacture.) The majority of herbal cannabis originated in Morocco and South East Asia; skunk cannabis in the Netherlands; and cannabis resin in Jamaica and parts of Africa (no percentages are available).
Amphetamines originated from a variety of European countries, primarily the Netherlands and Belgium (no percentages are available).
Entry Clearances: Criminal Records
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those with (a) permanent and (b) temporary visas to reside in the UK have a criminal record. [204153]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 8 May 2008]: The requested information can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Entry Clearances: Pakistan
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many multiple entry visitor visas were issued to citizens of Pakistan in each year since 1997. [204528]
Mr. Byrne: Only since October 2000 have visit visas been valid for multiple entries into the UK. The total number of visit visas issued by our high commission in Islamabad and our deputy high commission in Karachi in each year since 2001 is shown as follows. Figures are not available at present for 2006-07.
| Number of visit visas issued | |
| Source: Entry Clearance Annual Statistics | |
Forensic Science Service
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation of the options for the future of the Forensic Science Service has been undertaken; who was commissioned to undertake the evaluation; when it was commissioned; what the estimated cost was; and if she will place in the Library a synopsis of the evaluation report. [205504]
Meg Hillier
[holding answer 13 May 2008]: We have yet to reach a decision on the future status of the Forensic Science Service Ltd. We are currently considering advice based upon contributions from a number of sources, including a review commissioned and paid for from McKinseys by the FSS board last autumn. The review on shaping the future market of forensic science services, while helpful, was specifically aimed at the broader context and did not consider status options for the FSS itself. We intend to publish soon plans for the future delivery of forensic science to
the Criminal Justice System which will include a decision on the future status of the Forensic Science Service.
Human Trafficking
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on changes to the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Act 2004 which may be required to enable the Government to implement the Council of Europe Convention on Human Trafficking. [204632]
Mr. Byrne: The Home Office has no record of representations being received on this particular issue. Consideration of whether this Act is compatible with the convention was undertaken as part of our wider assessment of the UK’s compliance and it was judged that the legislation was already compliant and that no changes were required.
Identity Cards
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the identity card will hold details of eligibility for NHS care; [202323]
(2) what links she has considered between the identity card programme and the European Health Insurance Card. [202324]
Meg Hillier: Eligibility for NHS care will not be held on identity cards and there will be no linkage with the European Health Insurance Card.
Immigration: Pakistan
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many spouses of UK citizens from Pakistan left the marital home within two years and (a) were deported, (b) were granted leave to remain and (c) are believed still to be in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [204529]
Mr. Byrne: The requested information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Immobilisation of Vehicles: Scotland
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has commissioned research into the effect of banning wheelclamping on private land in Scotland. [206068]
Mr. Coaker: The position in Scotland is determined by case law which has determined that wheel-clamping on private land amounted to theft and the demand of a release fee amounted to extortion under Scottish law.
Neither the Home Office nor the Scottish Executive have commissioned research into wheel-clamping on private land in Scotland.
Licensed Premises: Non-Domestic Rates
Robert Neill:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2008, Official Report, column 1302W, on licensed premises:
non-domestic rates, what estimate her Department has made of the maximum charge in cash terms that can be levied per year on a business in an alcohol disorder zone; and what the commencement date is for councils to be able to designate and implement such zones. [184994]
Mr. Coaker: There is no maximum charge that can be levied on a business in respect of the charges relating to an alcohol disorder zone. The charging mechanism is explained fully in the updated guidance for ADZs which can be accessed via the Home Office website using the following link:
The ADZ regulations have passed through both Houses of Parliament and we expect that they will be commenced in June 2008.
Licensing
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on supermarkets which sell alcoholic liquor and their obligations under the implementation of alcohol action zones; and if she will make a statement. [181575]
Mr. Coaker [holding answer 28 January 2008]: Supermarkets which sell alcoholic liquor are not excluded from the obligations imposed by an alcohol disorder zone (ADZ). However, local authorities will need to consider, on a case by case basis, whether a supermarket or other retail outlet passes both the principal use test and the patronage test.
The ADZ regulations have passed through both Houses of Parliament and we expect commencement to take place in June 2008. A copy of the updated guidance can be found on the Home Office website using the following link:
Parking Offences: West Sussex
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parking tickets were issued by police community support officers in (a) Adur District Council, (b) Arun District Council, (c) Chichester District Council, (d) Crawley Borough Council, (e) Hastings Borough Council, (f) Horsham District Council, (g) Lewes District Council, (h) Mid Sussex District Council, (i) Rother District Council, (j) Wealden District Council and (k) Worthing Borough Council (i) between January and June 2007, (ii) between July and December 2007 and (iii) since January 2008. [202188]
Mr. Coaker: Fixed penalties for parking offences can be issued by police officers and traffic wardens. Police community support officers (PCSOs) can only issue parking tickets if they have been separately appointed as traffic wardens and wear the prescribed uniform for someone who is both a PCSO and a traffic warden. The number of parking tickets issued in Sussex by PCSOs appointed as traffic wardens is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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