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Video Games

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent progress has been made on establishing a centre for excellence for computer games production, as proposed in the Government’s 2008 Creative Britain report. [218337]


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Margaret Hodge: The Northwest Regional Development Agency is commissioning a feasibility study into establishing a centre of excellence for computer games, which is due to report on 31 January 2009.

Video Games: EU Grants and Loans

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what EU grant aid may be provided for development of computer games in the UK with an EU cultural element; and what the qualifying criteria are for such grant aid. [216653]

Margaret Hodge: There is no specific European grant aid for games companies but UK games companies can access investment through European regional development funds.

Article 87(3)(d) of the EC treaty authorises member states to give aid to promote culture provided it does not adversely affect trading conditions and competition, but at the moment this does not apply to video games in the UK.

Within the UK, Government currently offer research and development (R and D) tax credits for businesses. As one of the commitments in our recently published Creative Britain document, we have outlined the aim to work with small businesses, with a particular focus on the video games industry, to make the current system of R and D tax credits more user friendly.

The Technology Strategy Board are currently assessing bids to a new £10 million fund to inspire new collaborative research and development ideas for the creative industries, including the video games industry.

First awards have already been made for feasibility study bids (awards up to £15,000); these are done on a monthly basis on a cycle running from March-August.

Home Department

UK Border Agency

6. Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the performance of the UK Border Agency. [218092]

Mr. Byrne: Since the start of the year, the new United Kingdom Border Agency has stopped 6,000 illegal immigrants and removed over 2,400 FNPs.

Since April the new agency has seized £83 million of drugs, 200 million cigarettes and 800 dangerous weapons; searched 287,000 freight vehicles; and triggered 280 arrests through screening passenger information.

The agency has also recorded over 2 million fingerprints and detected nearly 3,000 cases of ID swaps. It has also issued 352 fines to firms employing illegal immigrants with a value of £3.4 million.

National DNA Database

13. Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of detections of crimes made possible by the retention of DNA samples on the National DNA Database. [218100]


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Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of detections of crimes made possible by the use of DNA samples retained on the National DNA Database. [218089]

23. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of detections of crimes made possible by the use of DNA samples retained on the National DNA Database. [218110]

Meg Hillier: It is estimated that over the period April 1998 to March 2007, there have been approximately 240,000 detections in which a DNA match was available or played a part in solving the crime. Figures for the 2007-08 financial year will be available shortly.

Asylum Seekers: Iraqi Minorities

15. Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on those from Christian and other minorities in Iraq seeking asylum in the UK. [218102]

Mr. Byrne: The United Kingdom considers all asylum claims, including those from Iraqi nationals, on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. All claims are considered against the background of the latest country information and country guidance case law as decided by the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Asylum Seekers: Zimbabwe

16. Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the detention in the UK of Zimbabwean asylum seekers. [218103]

Mr. Byrne: The UK Border Agency has recently received representations from a small number of individuals, including Members of the House, the chair of the Independent Monitoring Board for Haslar and detainees themselves, on the detention in the UK of Zimbabwean asylum seekers.

Newport Passport Office

17. David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to close Newport passport office. [218104]

Meg Hillier: No.

Knife Crime

18. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department What recent assessment she has made of trends in levels of knife crime. [218105]

Mr. Coaker: We recognise that more and younger people are carrying knives. We acknowledge that the use of knives and other weapons indicates an ongoing trend for young people to carry knives either to protect themselves or for credibility from their peers. Any incident involving a knife is completely unacceptable. That is
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why we are investing £2 million on a targeted programme to tackle knife crime in eight police force areas.

20. Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to reduce knife crime. [218107]

Mr. Coaker: We recognise that knife crime is a problem. That is why we are investing £2 million on a targeted programme working with police forces and local authority partners to tackle knife crime in the most affected areas. In addition, we have increased our powers and penalties and are investing in prevention and education to tackle this problem.

Police Service: Public Accountability

19. Mr. Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on improving the public accountability of the police service. [218106]

Mr. McNulty: Following the reviews of policing and community safety by Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Louise Casey, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has received representations from ACPO and the APA among others on many issues, including police accountability. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary intends to publish a Green Paper later this week with proposals to improve the police accountability.

Trafficking: Sexual Exploitation

21. Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation. [218108]

Jacqui Smith: Operation Pentameter 2, the UK's largest anti-trafficking operation, recently recovered 167 victims of sexual exploitation. We will ratify later this year the Council of Europe Convention against trafficking, as part of our comprehensive strategy against trafficking which is set out in our Action Plan, updated on 2 July.

Prostitution: Decriminalisation

22. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research she has evaluated on the effects of decriminalisation of prostitution in other countries. [218109]

Mr. Coaker: As part of the Government's review of measures to tackle the demand for prostitution we have commissioned research comparing policy approaches adopted in other jurisdictions, including New Zealand, which has decriminalised prostitution. Our findings will be published as part of the outcome of this review, in the autumn.

Crime: Rural Areas

24. Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce crime in rural areas. [218111]


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Mr. Coaker: Both the British Crime Survey and recorded crime statistics show that crime is lower in rural areas.

The Home Office has undertaken actions which directly benefit rural communities such as establishing farm, horse, country and poacher watch schemes. In my hon. Friend's constituency in Sedgefield a "farmwatch" scheme is now in place.

Asylum: Zimbabwe

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of Zanu-PF members in (a) Southend and (b) the UK. [217655]

Mr. Byrne [holding answer 10 July 2008]: Statistics on membership of Zanu-PF are not collected by the Home Office.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which buildings occupied by her Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years. [214712]

Mr. Byrne: The Department's agencies, shadow agency and non-departmental public bodies occupy the buildings listed as follows where the lease (or inter-departmental agreement where applicable) is due for renewal in the next four years.

Building addresses


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