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13 Nov 2008 : Column 1288W—continued
Transport: Voluntary Organisations
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial support his Department makes available for local community transport; and if he will make a statement. [235663]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not specifically fund local community transport.
However, provided they are sufficiently accessible to the public, operators of community bus services under section 22 of the Transport Act 1985 are eligible for the Bus Service Operator’s Grant (BSOG). So far £4.3 million of BSOG funding has been paid to community transport operators in 2008.
In addition, in recognition of the importance of community transport, the Department provides funding to the Community Transport Association (CTA). In this financial year, we have committed a total of £311,796.
Solicitor-General
Human Trafficking
Mr. Steen: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 6 November 2008, Official Report, columns 351-2W, on human trafficking, to which trafficking statistics her answer refers; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the statistics. [235568]
The Solicitor-General: The statistics to which my answer of 6 November 2008, Official Report, columns 351-2W, refers are extracted from the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) Compass Case Management System records which show that during the period, October 2007 to September 2008, 125 prosecutions have been brought on charges alleging trafficking for sexual exploitation and five prosecutions for other trafficking related offences. Records held by the CPS are offence based and cover all trafficking cases throughout this period, including case investigated during Operation Pentameter II.
While the Compass Case Management System shows the nature of the offence at the outset of proceedings in magistrates' courts, it does not provide information on any subsequent modification to charges, nor does it provide any information on the outcome of proceedings.
I will place in the Library a copy of those statistics, which were correct as of 6 November 2008.
Human Trafficking: Prosecutions
Mr. Steen: To ask the Solicitor-General how many of the 125 prosecutions under Operation Pentameter II have resulted in convictions; and what sentences were issued. [235542]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) records show that 125 prosecutions have been brought on charges alleging trafficking for sexual exploitation between October 2007 and September 2008. The CPS's records are offence based only and cover all trafficking cases throughout this period, including cases investigated during Operation Pentameter II.
While the Compass Case Management System shows the nature of the offence at the outset of proceedings in magistrates' courts, it does not provide information on any subsequent modification to charges, nor does it provide any information on the outcome of proceedings.
Furthermore, this figure does not include those arrested under Operation Pentameter II who have been charged with offences other than human trafficking related offences, such as causing or inciting prostitution for gain, or money laundering offences.
The CPS's records do not show how many of the 125 prosecutions have resulted in conviction or the sentence passed. Cases from Operation Pentameter II are at different stages in the criminal justice system. However, the impact of Operation Pentameter II on the numbers of prosecutions for human trafficking will be considered as part of the overall assessment being undertaken by the UK Human Trafficking Centre and the Association of Chief Police Officers. The assessment will be published as soon as possible.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Solicitor-General with reference to the 125 prosecutions made under Operation Pentameter II, how many defendants received legal aid; and how much funding from the public purse has been made available for such legal aid. [235543]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not record whether a defendant received legal aid. Legal aid is the responsibility of the Legal Services Commission, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.
The UK Human Trafficking Centre is the central repository for intelligence and information on cases of human trafficking.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 6 November 2008, Official Report, column 351, for what reasons 403 of the 528 persons arrested under Operation Pentameter 2 were not prosecuted. [235646]
The Solicitor-General: The statistics to which my answer of 6 November 2008, Official Report, columns 351-2W, refers are extracted from the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) Compass Case Management Information System records which show that during the period, October 2007 to September 2008, 125 prosecutions have been brought on charges alleging trafficking for sexual exploitation and five prosecutions for other human trafficking related offences. Records held by the CPS are offence based, and these figures include cases investigated during Operation Pentameter II.
The Pentameter II National Co-ordination Group announced that there had been 528 arrests for the six month period of police activity during Operation Pentameter II. An arrested person is only charged if the CPS is of the view that the two-stage test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors is satisfied. First, there must be sufficient evidence to create a realistic prospect of conviction. Second, it must be in the public interest to proceed. If the evidential element of the test is not made out then the case will not go ahead, however strong the public interest in prosecuting. Not all of those arrested during Operation Pentameter II will necessarily have been charged, and many of those who have been charged may not have been prosecuted in court yet as cases are at different stages in the criminal justice system.
Further, those arrested may have been charged with offences other than human trafficking related offences, such as causing or inciting prostitution for gain, money laundering, assisting unlawful immigration to a member state (facilitation), rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment and threats to kill. Prosecutions for these other offences will not appear in the CPS figures for human trafficking.
Culture, Media and Sport
Alcoholic Drinks: Statistics
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what methodology his Department uses to extrapolate data from completed returns to compile the Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Statistics; whether the same methodology has been used in each of the last two years; and how differences in the ways in which data is gathered is accounted for within this methodology. [234824]
Mr. Sutcliffe: In order to make meaningful comparisons between the 2007 and 2008 collections, figures were scaled up to national totals for England and Wales, therefore accounting for the different levels of response.
The extrapolation process used in the 2008 publication made use of the two years’ worth of data available—using 2007 information to impute for missing 2008 figures and vice-versa. Estimates were produced on an individual licensing authority basis and then aggregated to provide estimated totals for England and Wales for key headline statistics in both years. The process was discussed with external experts and is explained in full in the ‘Survey Methodology’ section in the 2008 publication which is only available online at (page 35):
2007 results were based on reported figures only and were not extrapolated within the first publication.
A consistent approach has been used to collect the data for this exercise over the past two years, though some questions in the questionnaire were improved in 2008 to provide greater clarity for respondents. A small number of new questions were added to reflect additional changes to the licensing regime. A full list of changes can be found in the ‘Methodology’ section in the 2008 publication available online at (page7):
There were no differences in the way in which data were gathered. The response rate improved in the second year of the collection due to licensing authorities experience of answering the questionnaire and development of their licensing software systems. Extrapolation accounted for the different levels of response, and comparisons were only made on like-for-like questions.
Gaming Machines
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government has to revise its guidance on prizes and stakes on slot machines. [235649]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government do not issue guidance on gaming machine stakes and prizes. We have recently completed a consultation on proposed increases to stake and prize limits for lower categories of gaming machines, and is considering how best to proceed. At the same time the Gambling Commission is consulting on proposed revisions to the technical standards for gaming machines.
Sports: Finance
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria the National Sports Foundation require to be met for them to guarantee matched funding for projects for more than one year. [235472]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Sport England have advised that the National Sports Foundation cannot guarantee match funding a project for more than one year as its funding comes from Exchequer sources, which must be spent in the year in which funding is awarded.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Bees: Diseases
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding was allocated by his Department for treatment of (a) varroa destructor mite, (b) tracheal mites, (c) small hive beetle, (d) Israel acute paralysis virus, (e) European foulbrood, (f) Kashmir bee virus, (g) deformed wing virus and (h) bee dysentery in each of the last five years. [234407]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 10 November 2008]: Advice on treatment options and good husbandry practices is provided free of charge by the National Bee Unit’s bee inspectors, but treatment of pests and diseases affecting bees is the responsibility of the beekeeper and can often be achieved through good husbandry practices. There are no antiviral treatments available for honey bee viruses and control of the varroa vector is therefore essential.
In the case of European foulbrood, the provision of an antibiotic treatment (which can only be applied by authorised bee inspectors) is funded by DEFRA under a memorandum of understanding with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. The cost of this was as follows:
| £ | |
Bees: Research
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of neonicotinoid pesticides on the honeybee population; and if he will make a statement. [234135]
Huw Irranca-Davies [holding answer 10 November 2008]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 11 June 2008, Official Report, column 273W, and 29 October 2008, Official Report, column 1024W.
Departmental Older Workers
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people aged over (a) 55 and (b) 60 years were recruited by his Department in 2007-08; and what percentage in each case this was of the number of new recruits. [228756]
Huw Irranca-Davies: In 2007-08, DEFRA (excluding the Executive Agencies) recruited eight staff who were over 55 years of age and fewer than five staff who were over 60 years of age. This represented 2.8 per cent. and 0.7 per cent. respectively of all new recruits in the period.
Greater Manchester
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department and its agencies has given to (a) the Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations, (b) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support, (c) Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Learning Consortium, (d) Manchester is my Planet and (e) Manchester: Knowledge Capital in the last 24 months. [233256]
Huw Irranca-Davies [holding answer 4 November 2008]: This information is not held centrally for DEFRA and its agencies and so would incur disproportionate cost.
Gun Sports
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what official status is afforded by his Department to the 2005 Charter for Shooting drawn up by the hon. Member for Reading, West. [234617]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The Charter for Shooting is not an official departmental document.
Horses: Conservation
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many ponies on Dartmoor have been issued with (a) Heritage Trust List passports and (b) Traditional Dartmoor Pony passports. [233671]
Huw Irranca-Davies [holding answer 6 November 2008]: 426 Heritage Trust List passports have been issued to ponies on Dartmoor. According to Dartmoor Pony Society records, 51 ponies have to date moved off Dartmoor, leaving 375 HTL registered ponies on the moor.
There are 350 supplementary and fully registered ponies on Dartmoor within the main body of the Studbook, which contains pedigree only animals.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will instruct the Dartmoor Pony Society to restart issuing Heritage Trust List passports to owners of ponies on Dartmoor which meet the Heritage Trust List requirements; and if he will make a statement. [233673]
Huw Irranca-Davies [holding answer 6 November 2008]: The Dartmoor Pony Society have told us that they have temporarily suspended the issue of Heritage Trust List passports and have sought our advice. DEFRA is looking into this matter and will take appropriate action if required.
Mentally Ill Staff
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department has gathered on the effect of its policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of employees with mental illnesses within (a) his Department and (b) the public sector bodies for which he has responsibility; and what use has been made of that information. [228548]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Under the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the Department and its public sector bodies listed in the associated regulations are required to publish and implement Disability Equality Schemes. These are plans setting out how they will carry out the Disability Equality Duty, monitor and report on progress. In particular this includes their arrangements for gathering information on the effects of their policies and practices on recruitment, development and retention of their disabled employees, including those with mental health conditions, and making use of that information.
The following arrangements are set out in the Department's disability equality scheme:
DEFRA has set an explicit objective to improve the service it provides in relation to mental health issues by December 2009, and another to adopt the Social Model of disability.
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