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21 Jan 2009 : Column 1552W—continued
Teachers: Training
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many places are available in the graduate teacher programme in this year; how many places he expects to be available under the programme in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [247285]
Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of places available on the graduate teacher programme for the current academic year and the number expected to be made available for future years for which allocations have been made.
| Allocation of new initial teacher training places via the graduate teacher programme 2008-09 to 2010-11, England | |
| Places | |
| Notes: 1. These allocations have been set by TDA and are based on overall targets set by DCSF. 2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 | |
Young People: Crime
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to discourage young people in deprived areas from becoming associated with criminal activity. [249847]
Beverley Hughes: The Youth Crime Action Plan, published in July 2008, set out the Government's plans for tackling offending by young people. It detailed our plans for a 'triple track' approach of tough enforcement, non-negotiable help and support, and early intervention and prevention. It also states our ambition to reduce the rate of young people entering the criminal justice system by one fifth by 2020. This is supported by close to £100 million over the next three years, in addition to the existing investment in children's and youth services, to support local authorities in making inroads into youth crime locally. This funding is weighted towards areas facing higher levels of crime, antisocial behaviour, fear and deprivation.
The Youth Crime Action Plan builds on the already significant investment committed to programmes aimed at preventing young people's involvement in criminal activity in deprived areas. Key examples of this are the almost £700 million we are spending in 2008-11 to help young people take part in structured positive activities and to improve facilities in deprived areas through the Positive Activities for Young People and Myplace programmes.
In addition, the Youth Justice Board are investing £33 million per year through Youth Offending Teams to deliver targeted prevention programmes such as youth inclusion programmes (YIPs), youth inclusion and support panels (YISPs) and parenting programmes. These are focussed on areas of highest need and many programmes operate in some of the most deprived areas of England and Wales.
Young People: North East
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government is taking to improve understanding of financial matters amongst teenage mothers and young people in the (a) North East, (b) Tees Valley district and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency. [249651]
Beverley Hughes: Young people should have a planned and coherent programme of personal finance education, so that they leave school with the skills and confidence to manage their money effectively. This is being provided through the new ‘economic well-being and financial capability’ strand of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, which was introduced into all secondary schools in September 2008. In addition, there are opportunities within a number of subjects across the curriculum to learn about financial matters, including citizenship, mathematics, business studies and enterprise education.
We are also funding the My Money Programme, which has an established network of support for local authorities through regional consultants—including the north east—who are building capacity among local authorities to support schools in delivering personal finance education.
Positive parenting education is available to teenage mothers and pregnant teenagers in the north east region as part of local provision to engage them in learning. This would generally include financial education covering issues such as managing money on a budget and avoiding debt.
Youth Justice Unit
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department has provided for the Youth Justice Unit in the last 12 months; and what funding it plans to provide for the Unit in the next three years. [247262]
Beverley Hughes: The Department for Children, Schools and Families has provided the Youth Justice Board with £33,961,201.52 for the financial year April 2008 to March 2009.
Final budgets for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be allocated at the beginning of the financial year.
Justice
Approved Premises
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many bail hostels were opened in Eastbourne in each of the last five years; what the location is of each; and if he will make a statement; [248821]
(2) what criteria are employed in selecting which offenders to place in a bail hostel; what account is taken of potential risk to the public in those criteria; and if he will make a statement; [248822]
(3) what steps his Department takes to consult local authorities on the location of bail hostels; and if he will make a statement; [248823]
(4) what mechanisms are in place for his Department to oversee the operation of Clearsprings; and if he will make a statement; [248824]
(5) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that members of the public are made aware of the identity and location of bail hostels in their area; and if he will make a statement; [248825]
(6) how many bail hostels are planned to be opened in each constituency in the next five years. [248826]
Mr. Hanson: I take all of the hon. Gentleman’s questions to relate to the accommodation and support service provided by ClearSprings. The service provides small houses and flats which are the private rented homes of those receiving the service. There are currently none in Eastbourne. If a property becomes available for this service in his constituency I will write and inform him.
Those who are sex offenders or who are charged with sex offences, and those who have committed arson of buildings in the past 10 years, are excluded from the service. Sentenced prisoners who are not eligible for home detention curfew are excluded. In addition, ClearSprings will not accept those whom they deem to pose an unacceptable risk to the public, to other service users or to ClearSprings’ staff.
That ClearSprings will accept a person does not guarantee that person's release. The courts decide whether a defendant can be bailed. In making its decision the court will consider the risk of offending and the extent to which the ClearSprings service would mitigate that risk. The court makes its decision in knowledge of any previous convictions and submissions by the prosecution and the defence. The court can impose other conditions, such as electronic monitoring. Decisions to release prisoners on home detention curfew are made by prison governors. All those applying for home detention curfew are risk assessed before release and probation assess the suitability of the proposed address for the individual offender.
ClearSprings is contractually obliged to consult local authorities, probation and the police, inviting them to comment on the suitability of the proposed location of a property to be leased for this service.
The service is managed regionally by NOMS Regional Offender Managers and Directors of Offender Management, who have monthly operational meetings and quarterly review meetings about regional performance. Additionally there are monthly contract meetings between a NOMS director and ClearSprings senior management.
We do not disclose the private addresses of defendants or offenders. Neighbours are provided with details to enable them to contact ClearSprings staff in the event of any concerns about behaviour.
Regional Offender Managers identify the requirement for this service by town, not constituency. A list of towns where properties were expected to be needed was published on 21 January 2008, Official Report, column 1653W. A list of the constituencies with properties currently provided was published on 15 January 2009, Official Report, column 911W.
Cannabis: Misuse
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on the potential use of penalty notices for disorder for cannabis possession offences. [248654]
Maria Eagle: We have received representations from the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Magistrates Association on the potential use of penalty notices for disorder for dealing with cannabis possession offences.
Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many charges have been brought under provisions of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007. [248656]
Maria Eagle: The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 came into force on 6 April 2008 and only applies to offences committed after that date.
Charging data are not held by the Ministry of Justice. Prosecution data are normally provided in lieu. Court proceedings data for 2008 will not be available until the autumn of 2009.
Courts: Fees and Charges
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average fee charged to local authorities on receipt of an application for care proceedings to the courts is. [248903]
Bridget Prentice: The fee to issue an application under section 31 of the Children Act 1989 is fixed at £2,225. Two additional fees may be charged at a later stage of the process if the stages are required. A full list of fees for family proceedings is set out in the Family Proceedings Fees Order 2008, this order came into force on 1 May 2008.
Debt Collection: Regulation
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government plans to take to improve regulation of bailiffs in the next 12 months. [248317]
Bridget Prentice:
As detailed in the response to Consultation—Regulation of Enforcement Agents dated 18 March 2008 the preferred option for regulation of the industry, for those enforcement agents who are not
Crown Employees, is by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). The SIA has produced a business case on the way forward, which will be reviewed and final decisions taken in February 2009.
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many special advisers were employed in his Department at each pay band on 30 November 2008; and what his Department's total expenditure on special advisers was in 2007-08. [243568]
Mr. Straw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) on 15 January 2009, Official Report, column 870W.
The Government are committed to publishing an annual list detailing the number and costs of special advisers. Information for 2007-08 was published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 99-102WS.
Departmental Pay
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent by his Department on staff reward and recognition schemes in each of the last three years. [248707]
Mr. Wills: Reward and recognition schemes within the Ministry of Justice are partly implemented through the payment of ‘special’ or ‘small’ bonuses to staff. These bonuses are paid in the form of an ‘in year’ bonus, paid to recognise exceptional achievements during the performance year. Reward and recognition is also implemented through the organisation of team awards and events, loyalty awards and locally purchased gifts or vouchers.
The figures are presented separately for staff previously on former DCA terms and conditions and by staff in the public sector Prison Service (NOMS). The figures for staff previously on former DCA terms and conditions prior to 2007-08, exclude payments to former magistrates courts staff. They also exclude staff in the Tribunals Service who joined former DCA on 1 April 2006 from other Government Departments about whom information is not available prior to 2007. The figures do not include any ‘year-end’ bonuses as these are paid separately to the reward and recognition budget.
The senior civil service (SCS) are also not included in these figures as they receive bonuses at ‘year-end’ and these are not paid through the reward and recognition budget.
| Reward and recognition payments (excluding ‘year end’ bonuses) awarded during the past three years to staff previously on former DCA terms and conditions (not SCS) | |
| Awarded in financial year | Total amount awarded (£) |
| (1) Reflects increased staff complement through the inclusion of staff on former MCS terms and conditions and those who joined former DCA from the Tribunals Service. | |
| Reward and recognition payments (excluding ‘year end’ bonuses) awarded during the past three years to staff previously in the public sector Prison Service (NOMS) | |
| Awarded in financial year | Total amount awarded (£) |
The payment of these ‘in-year’ bonuses, which are non-consolidated and non-pensionable, recognises exceptional commitment and performance by individuals as part of the Department’s reward strategy. The other elements of the reward and recognition scheme (such as trips, team events and loyalty awards) also serve this function. Such payments are a cost-effective means of encouraging and rewarding exceptional performance.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to consult the relevant trades unions on (a) his Department's budget and (b) planned reductions in that budget for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [247071]
Mr. Straw: Planning work has been under way since September 2008 to determine how the Ministry of Justice will live within its spending review settlement, secure £1 billion of savings by 2010-11 and improve performance levels. We have agreed a revised consultative framework with the unions and have held regular meetings with them throughout this period, with the next planned meeting at the corporate level provisionally scheduled for 22 January 2009; we are awaiting confirmation of departmental trade union side availability.
We have now completed the process of due diligence which has enabled us to set budgets for business groups for 2009-10. These have been published in the MOJ Corporate Plan on 19 January, a copy of which together with other performance and efficiency related communications to staff will be shared with the unions ahead of wider circulation. The Corporate Plan will also be available in the Library of the House. Budgetary allocations will be discussed with the unions at our next meeting.
Following issue of the Corporate Plan, business groups will work in earnest to develop their own business plans. These plans will address in detail how the Department will meet the performance and efficiency challenges. Going forward and under the provisions of the Consultative Framework, consultation will take place with the unions at a local level or, when appropriate, at a corporate level.
The recent pre-Budget report contained an announcement of an additional £5 billion value for money saving to be delivered in 2010-11 across the public sector. Decisions have yet to be made as to how those savings will be allocated between Departments but once this is clear we will need to consider the implications for us. This means it will be a little while before we can publish figures for that year. Once they have settled, we will share again details of the allocations with union colleagues.
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