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22 July 2008 : Column 1251W—continued
Supreme Court: Costs
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his most recent estimate is of the (a) capital and (b) annual running costs of the Supreme Court. [220768]
Mr. Straw:
Following my announcement of 3 July on unforeseen building repair costs, the estimated cost of delivering a Supreme Court for the United Kingdom will be approximately £60 million. The programme is running on time to open the court in October 2009. The establishment of the Supreme Court will see the highest Court of Appeal for the United Kingdom being visibly independent from Parliament. It will be the final court of appeal for all nations of the United Kingdom. We
estimate that annual running costs for the Supreme Court will be £12.3 million, based on 2010-11 expected prices.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to answer Question 172523, on the Operation of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906, tabled on 4th December 2007 by the hon. Member for Southend West; what the reason for the delay in replying is; what steps he has (a) taken and (b) plans to take to answer written Parliamentary Questions within a working week of them being tabled; and if he will make a statement. [222358]
Maria Eagle: The question was transferred to the Solicitor General on 6 December 2007. The Ministry of Justice’s Parliamentary Branch wrote to the Honourable Member on that day informing him of the transfer.
Young Offenders
Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders there are in (a) young offender institutions, (b) secure training centres and (c) secure children's homes, broken down by age. [221500]
Mr. Hanson: The following table, which contains information provided by the Youth Justice Board, shows the number of sentenced or remanded children and young people held in young offender institutions, secure training centres and secure children's homes, broken down by age, as at 30 June 2008.
| Age | ||||||
| Establishment type | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
Young Offenders: Custodial Treatment
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of young offenders who breached the terms of a community order received a custodial sentence as a result in the last three years. [219440]
Mr. Hanson: This question cannot be answered at this time due to issues of data quality regarding the breach data on the court proceedings database. Data quality checks have shown large variations in the provisions of breach data from the police forces and the courts, rendering the data unsuitable for publication, as such, it was withdrawn from publication in 2004. The sentencing statistics team will not publish statistics on breaches until significant improvements have been made to the submission of data to the Ministry of Justice. At present data quality work is underway to look at improving the data to a standard fit for publication.
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate has been made of the average length of time taken to transfer money between young offender institutions when young people are transferred; and if he will make a statement. [220587]
Mr. Hanson: While no specific assessment has been made of the length of time taken to transfer money between young offender institutions, the timings are dependant on where the offender is transferring to and from. For example, if the money being transferred is between public prisons, then it is processed as an electronic transfer and will be actioned overnight. When a transfer takes place to other types of establishments such as contracted-out prisons or immigration detention centres (for those over 18), the money would be transferred by cheque which would be subject to the normal cheque clearing process operated by the banking system.
Young Offenders: Housing
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy that every child leaving custody receives effective support, including the provision of appropriate housing. [220905]
Mr. Hanson: We are clear that all young people leaving custody should receive the support they need to stop them from re-offending. The Youth Crime Action Plan, which we published on 15 July, sets out proposals to develop a comprehensive package of support for children leaving custody which we will develop through consultation. This includes ensuring that young people have access to appropriate education, health and housing.
We will also finance an expansion of the Youth Justice Board's resettlement and aftercare provision which has already been rolled out in 59 Youth Offending Teams. This programme provides intensive support for over 2,000 young people in the youth justice system. This includes access to substance misuse and mental health treatment programmes and planned activities to address offending behaviour. It also provides practical support including assistance to access accommodation.
Young Offenders: Legal Aid
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy for all children in contact with the criminal justice system to be entitled to free legal advice and representation in relation to such contact. [220904]
Maria Eagle: Legal aid is widely available to children and young people when they come into contact with the criminal justice system. All those interviewed by police must be informed of their right to non-means-tested legal advice. A young person under 17 must also have an ‘appropriate adult’ with them when interviewed by the police; this could be a parent, guardian, social or health care professional.
If a youth appears before court, legal representation is provided free of charge subject to the youth passing the ‘Interests of Justice’ test. If a youth does not have their own solicitor, the court duty solicitor can provide free advice and, if appropriate, representation.
While in the vast majority of cases, youths are properly represented at court, the Government are currently exploring how youth defendants can be made better aware of their rights to advice and representation. It is also carrying out additional research to assess whether there are any vulnerable youths going without representation, and if so, to identify appropriate remedies.
Young Offenders: Local Authorities
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will discuss with local government representatives proposals to transfer child detention budgets to local authorities. [219438]
Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
There are no current proposals to transfer child detention budgets to local authorities. The youth crime action plan sets out proposals to make local authorities responsible for the full cost of court-ordered secure remand. They are already responsible for the placement and for one third of the costs where the secure estate is used and the full cost where alternative provision is used. We are consulting on this proposal and will have further discussions with local government representatives as part of that process and prior to any final decisions.
Young Offenders: Rehabilitation
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to involve the families of young offenders in their rehabilitation following a period of detention. [219439]
Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
The youth crime action plan sets out the Government's intention to develop a comprehensive package of support for children leaving custody. This would include conducting on ongoing assessments of a young person's risk of re-offending and their underlying needs—including family factors—to shape the provision they receive.
Through the family pathfinders work we will also explore if a family needs assessment framework can be developed to include regular reviews with the family (including young people where appropriate} and other agencies.
We also signalled our intention to ensure that all assessments of children in custody consider the family need and the support required to enable the child to return to their family on release.
Youth Citizenship Commission: Operating Costs
Mrs. Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the annual running costs were of the Youth Citizenship Commission in the latest period for which figures are available. [220480]
Bridget Prentice: The Youth Citizenship Commission is scheduled to report in spring 2009. The staff costs, and travel and subsistence costs for staff and commissioners, are expected to total up to £135,500 for the life of the Commission.
In addition, the commission will incur the costs of funding research; engagement events around the UK; and a website; and will have publishing costs. We have not yet finalised the contracts relating to these elements, so I cannot provide precise figures at this stage. I will however write to you with more information in the autumn once contracts are in place.
Duchy of Lancaster
10 Downing Street: Manpower
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008, Official Report, column 1184W, on 10 Downing street: manpower, what the job titles and specifications are of each of the 10 staff in the house management team. [217335]
Mr. Watson: Information about the contractual terms of individual members of staff is personal information between the employer and employee and therefore not disclosed. The cost and number of No. 10 staff are published annually.
Admiralty House
Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 1079W, on Admiralty House, whether the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office provided (a) linen and laundry services, (b) porters, (c) internal plants, (d) catering services, (e) telephones, (f) cable or satellite television and (g) internet access, to the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull (i) at public expense and (ii) billed to the resident in each case. [211865]
Phil Hope: No internal plants or linen and laundry service were provided to the flat. The charge paid by occupying Departments to the Cabinet Office includes the provision of in-hours portering services. Catering services can be provided by the Cabinet Office’s facilities management provider on a re-charge basis. The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office provided telephone lines, internet access and cable television.
Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many deaths from cancer in England there were in (a) 2005 and (b) 2007; [220572]
(2) how many deaths from cardiovascular disease in England there were in (a) 2005 and (b) 2007. [220573]
Mr. Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 July 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking (1) how many deaths from cancer in England there were in (a) 2005 and (b) 2007; and (2) how many deaths from cardiovascular disease in England there were in (a) 2005 and (b) 2007. (220572, 220573)
The table attached provides the numbers of deaths in England where (1) cancer and (2) cardiovascular disease was the underlying cause of death, in (a) 2005 and (b) 2007.
| Table 1: Number of deaths with an underlying cause of (1) cancer and (2) cardiovascular disease( 1) , England, 2005 and 2007( 2) | ||
| Deaths (persons) | ||
| Cause of death | 2005 | 2007 |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97 for cancer, and 100-199 for cardiovascular disease. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. | ||
Civil Servants: Holiday Leave
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether privilege day holidays for civil servants are the same for all Government Departments. [217367]
Mr. Watson: The civil service management Code grants Departments authority to determine their own arrangements for privilege holidays provided the day for the Queen's official birthday is on either the Friday preceding or the Tuesday after the spring bank holiday.
The civil service management code can be found at
Civil Servants: Pensions
Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme has made investments in the last two years in financial vehicles that bundle debt together. [216275]
Mr. Watson: The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme makes no investments of any description since it is an unfunded pension scheme.
Death: Darlington
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of (a) the overall mortality rate and (b) the cigarette smoking-related mortality rate in Darlington constituency in each of the last five years. [219625]
Mr. Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 July 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of (a) the overall mortality rate and (b) the cigarette smoking-related mortality rate in Darlington constituency in each of the last five years. (219625)
The table attached provides the age-standardised mortality rate for Darlington parliamentary constituency, for 2001 to 2005 (the latest year available).
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