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4 Feb 2009 : Column 1244W—continued
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent assessment is of the contribution made by the national DNA database to the detection of crime; and if she will make a statement. [252550]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The National DNA database is a key police information tool which contributes to the efficiency of crime detection. It has a key role to play in contributing to detection outcomes, eliminating the innocent from inquiries, focusing the direction of inquiries resulting in savings in police time and in building public confidence that elusive offenders may be detected and brought to justice.
It is estimated that over the period April 1998 to end September 2008, there have been approximately 290,000 detections in which a DNA match was available or played a part in solving the crime. A breakdown of this figure by year is given in the following table. It includes figures for quarters 1 and 2 of 2008-09 to 30 September 2008.
| Number of detections in which a DNA match was available or played a part April 1998 to September 2008, England and Wales | |||
| Detected crimes in which a DNA match was available | Additional detections arising from DNA match( 1) | Total detected crimes in which a DNA match was available or played a part | |
| (1 )Additional detections may result from the original crime with the DNA match due to the identification of further offences through forensic linkage or through admission by the offender. | |||
Human Trafficking
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the decision to cease funding the Metropolitan Police’s human trafficking unit; and if she will make a statement. [241802]
Jacqui Smith: Following discussions with the Metropolitan Police Service, we have decided to provide additional funding for the MPS trafficking team. This will enable the MPS to ensure the trafficking team continues during 2009-10.
Human trafficking is part of core police business. The funding, which is a one-off grant, is designed to enable the MPS to mainstream this work into its daily activities in a planned and organised fashion.
Identity Cards
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of identity cards to be issued to (a) foreign nationals and (b) British and Irish citizens resident in the UK in each year to 2014-15. [250833]
Jacqui Smith [ h olding answer 27 January 2009] : The UK Border Agency expects to issue in the region of 50,000 cards by the end of April 2009 to non-EEA foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control. Volumes will rise rapidly thereafter.
Under current plans over the next three years the scheme will be extended to other categories for non-EEA foreign nationals extending their stay in the UK and be widened to include those coming in to the UK on visas for more than six months. Within three years we expect to be issuing over one million identity cards a year to foreign nationals. All new entrants and those extending their stay will have a card within three years.
The following table summarises the estimated volumes published in the November 2008 National Identity Cards Scheme Cost Report, combining the total volume of Identity Cards and Passports issued by IPS to British and Irish Citizens resident in the UK. The figures for issuing both products were combined as, in many cases, the same application would result in the issue of both a passport and an identity card.
| Estimated passport and identity card products issued to British and Irish citizens resident in the UK | |
| (m illion ) | |
This is the most recently published information on product volumes that is currently available. The Identity and Passport Service is currently developing the product choice offered to customers, as indicated in the National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan published in March 2008. Figures for the projected product volumes will be published in due course.
Illegal Immigrants
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what written instructions police from each police authority give to illegal immigrants who are found in or near a vehicle. [250276]
Mr. Coaker: No central information is kept on this matter.
Immigration Controls
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will commission an independent inquiry into the socio-economic effects of the (a) new points-based immigration system and (b) new civil penalties regime. [250599]
Jacqui Smith: Significant policy proposals, such as the statements of intent for the various tiers of the points-based system, are regularly referred to the migration impacts forum in order to obtain the forum’s view on the likely impacts of those policies on the UK.
Immigration: Appeals
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce the number of appeals in immigration and asylum cases. [249923]
Jacqui Smith: We have recently consulted on a number of proposals in this area and will publish our plans in due course. Our ongoing Quality Initiative Project, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, aims to improve the quality of decision making in asylum cases which should reduce the number of appeals. UNHCR have published reports over the last four years which illustrate both the work that has been done to improve quality and the progress UNHICR and UKBA have jointly made.
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were waiting for a successful appeal against a UK Borders Agency determination to be reflected in their documented immigration status at 31 December (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006, (e) 2007 and (f) 2008. [249924]
Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of people who were waiting for a successful appeal against a UK Border Agency determination to be reflected in their documented immigration status at 31 December (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c)2005, (d) 2006, (e) 2007 and (f) 2008 is not available.
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets the UK Border Agency has for the length of time it should take to regularise the paperwork of an immigration or asylum applicant following a successful appeal made by that applicant against one of the Agency's decisions. [250597]
Jacqui Smith: There are currently no targets in place governing the length of time that it should take to implement an applicant's status following an allowed appeal.
However, UKBA has recently undertaken a piece of work to review the processes involved in granting status following an allowed appeal. The review has identified potential process amendments to make the system more timely.
Independent Police Complaints Commission: Finance
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding has been provided by her Department to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in each year since it was established. [252952]
Mr. Coaker: The Home Office has provided the following amounts towards the funding of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in each year since it was established in 2004.
| £ million | |
Independent Police Complaints Commission: Standards
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Independent Police Complaints Commission's (IPCC) target is for the time to conclude investigation of a complaint against the police from the date of registration of the complaint; what the average time taken per case has been since the IPCC was established; and if she will make a statement. [253013]
Mr. Coaker: The Home Office does not hold the information requested as this is a matter for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). A copy of the hon. Member’s letter has been sent to the IPCC and they will respond to him direct.
Passports
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) staff were employed on average in and (b) passports were issued by each of the passport offices in the UK in 2008. [253088]
Meg Hillier [holding answer 2 February 2009]: The number of staff employed on average and the number of passports issued by regional offices are as follows:
| Region | Passports produced | Average FTEs |
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours per week each passport office is open; and if she will make a statement. [253670]
Meg Hillier: The Identity and Passport Service's seven regional passport offices are open for the hours listed in the following table. The various days and individual opening hours of the 68 interview offices are given on our website at:
| Regional Passport Office | Days | Opening times | Total hours open |
| (1) Liverpool and Peterborough are open until 6.00pm from March until September. | |||
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