Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 12 June 2008
Wales
Revenue and Customs
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Treasury Ministers on steps being taken by that Department to alleviate any effects on local employment of the closure or downgrading of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Wales. [209500]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with Treasury Ministers on a range of issues, including the HMRC Change programme.
I understand that before withdrawing from any office, a full impact assessment is undertaken, assessing the impact on staff, customers and the local economy.
Roads: Accidents
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many recorded deaths from traffic accidents there were in Wales in each of the last 12 years. [209844]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Although any road deaths are regrettable the numbers in Wales have reduced by over 25 per cent. over the last 12 years from 218 in 1995 to 163 in 2006.
A full table showing the last 12 years of available data is as follows:
| Number of recorded road deaths in Wales 1995 to 2006 | |
| Casualties ( killed ) | |
Solicitor-General
Corruption
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases were added to the register of referrals for overseas corruption allegations in each of the last five years for which there are records; and how many (a) have been and (b) are being investigated. [178825]
The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office have had 123 allegations recorded on the register of referrals for overseas corruption in the last five years. Of these, (a) two allegations were closed after investigation while (b) 18 continue to be investigated. A number of other allegations are being researched to establish whether an investigation is merited.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases appeared on the Serious Fraud Office's register of referrals on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such cases were investigated in each of the last five years. [192837]
The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office had 145 cases recorded on the register of referrals for overseas corruption on 30 April 2008—the latest date for which figures are available. In the last five full calendar years(1) a total of 25 investigations were opened by UK agencies, four in 2003, six in each of 2004 and 2005, and four each in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Three investigations have been begun to date during 2008. A number of other allegations are being researched to establish whether an investigation is merited.
(1) Answer given within calendar years.
Crown Prosecution Service: Databases
Jon Trickett: To ask the Solicitor-General what the (a) process and (b) timescale is for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to update its electronic records relating to those who (i) are awaiting charge and (ii) have been charged and are awaiting a trial or hearing; what guidelines apply to the updating of electronic records at the CPS; and who is responsible for the updating of electronic records of CPS cases. [208346]
The Solicitor-General: The process of the CPS creating an electronic record for those awaiting a charge is dependent on how the police have sought a pre-charge decision (PCD) from the CPS. The four factors that influence the process are:
ix1. Where the Exchange Links interface currently rolling out across the country, linking police and CPS case systems, is live in the area, and the police case systems can provide the electronic information to the CPS at the pre-charge stage.
This is the quickest process for creating the electronic record as the police case systems can send the pre-charge decision information via the Exchange Link. This message is then automatically registered on the CPS COMPASS case management system (CMS) as a pre-charge decision case.
2. Where it is a face to face consultation with a duty prosecutor (at a charging centre).
The pre-charge decision case record will be created on CMS either by the duty prosecutor at the time of the consultation, or subsequently registered by administration staff from the paper record.
3. Where it is over the telephone with CPS Direct (out of office hours).
Administration staff will create the case record on CMS when an email has been received from CPS Direct with the outcome of their pre-charge decisions.
4. Where only the paper file is received from the police.
Administration staff will create the record on CMS.
The timescales for creating the electronic case records have not been centrally mandated; however, the optimum business model process, currently being rolled out across the CPS, aims to ensure all case registrations are within 24 hours of receipt of the information, regardless of the process of receipt in the CPS.
For those who have been charged and are awaiting a trial or a hearing, the aim is for all electronic records on CMS to be updated within 24 hours of each hearing, to ensure timely information is available to enable the CPS to meet its commitments under the Victims' Code. To achieve this aim, the target set for all areas during 2007-08 was for 60 per cent. of cases to be updated within 24 hours; this target was met. For 2008-09 the target is 75 per cent; the early indications are that this target will be met. These updates are input by administration staff from information on the paper file.
Television: Telephone Services
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008, Official Report, column 297W, on television: telephone services, which four allegations of television broadcaster misconduct have been considered by the Serious Fraud Office. [208254]
The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office has considered an allegation against GMTV Ltd. and Opera Telecom Ltd. arising out of competitions run as part of the GMTV Breakfast programme and an allegation against Big Game Television. A decision was taken by the former Director of the SFO, Robert Wardle, not to commence formal investigations into these allegations.
An allegation against ITV plc. in relation to a number of programmes and an allegation concerning the BBC are still under consideration.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008, Official Report, column 297W, on television: telephone services, what meetings the Serious Fraud Office has had with representatives of (a) the BBC, (b) ITV, (c) GMTV and (d) other television broadcasters on alleged misconduct in the use of premium rate telephone services in viewer competitions and voting in the last 12 months. [208255]
The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office met with ITV internal legal counsel and solicitors instructed by the company on one occasion.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food Supply: Security
11. Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to improve the security of food supply. [210312]
Hilary Benn:
Food security is about ensuring consumers have access to a stable and adequate supply of food. This requires effective risk management and contingency planning, security of energy supplies, access to food
from a variety of sources and a strong domestic agricultural industry and food chain and infrastructure. In the light of recent increases in food commodity prices, we are reviewing our policies to ensure that they continue to deliver food security for all consumers.
Vehicle Excise Duty
12. Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential environmental effects of vehicle excise duty; and if he will make a statement. [210314]
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential environmental effects of vehicle excise duty. [210301]
Mr. Woolas: I have regular discussions with my Treasury colleagues on this and a range of other issues.
Nitrate-vulnerable Zones
13. Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to English farmers of implementing new proposals for nitrate vulnerable zones. [210315]
Mr. Woolas: The Government are considering our response to the consultation on implementing the nitrates directive.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Reduction Targets
14. Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the Government’s carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets. [210316]
Mr. Woolas: I and DEFRA officials have regular discussions with Department for Transport colleagues on this and a range of other issues.
Bees
15. Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of recent changes in bee stock levels. [210317]
Jonathan Shaw: It is too early to make an assessment. There are indications of some significant colony losses across the country, but a considerable amount of restocking is also taking place. Work to investigate losses and check new stocks is being given high priority.
Energy Efficiency: Public Buildings
16. Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings. [210319]
Mr. Woolas: Central Government have stretching targets for sustainable operations on their estate, including in relation to energy efficiency. We have announced a series of measures in our response to the Sustainable Development Commission's latest annual report.
Waste Disposal
17. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department provides to local government on alternatives to landfill and incineration of domestic waste. [210320]
Joan Ruddock: The Waste and Resources Action Programme which supports local authorities to deliver more sustainable waste management has published research which is also available. Additionally, the Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme provides local authorities with support to help deliver the infrastructure needed to treat residual waste so that England can divert more waste from landfill.
Recycling
19. Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent assessment is of progress in increasing recycling rates. [210322]
Joan Ruddock: England is making good progress in increasing recycling rates. Household recycling rates increased from 7 per cent. in 1997 to 33 per cent. in the year to October 2007, packaging recycling rates are up from 28 per cent. in 1997 to 59 per cent. in 2007, and the most recent Environment Agency survey in 2002-03 showed that recycling rates for commercial and industrial waste were 45 per cent.
Waste Strategy for England sets out the Government's plans to increase waste recycling rates for household, commercial and industrial waste.
Animal Welfare
20. Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will hold discussions with Compassion in World Farming on his Department’s role in ensuring animal welfare standards are met in Government procurement policy. [210323]
Jonathan Shaw: The Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative encourages public bodies to specify higher animal welfare standards and suggests specific ways of achieving this. It also promotes farm assurance standards, including ‘Freedom Foods’, and allows buyers to place more emphasis on produce meeting higher level standards when contracts are awarded.
DEFRA will evaluate the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative and its effectiveness in improving animal welfare.
Wild Caught Bird Imports
21. Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to continue the ban on wild caught bird imports. [210324]
Joan Ruddock: The EU ban on wild bird imports, introduced on 1 July 2007, is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future. We supported the ban on animal health grounds and, for the same reason, we support it now.
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