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12 Mar 2009 : Column 608W—continued
Culture, Media and Sport
Television: Licensing
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his most recent estimate of the number of people liable to pay but not paying a television licence fee is; and if he will make a statement. [262369]
Andy Burnham: This is a matter for the BBC; the BBC has advised that it does not hold a record of the specific number of people liable for but not paying a television licence fee, but it has calculated the evasion rate to be 5.1 per cent.
Solicitor-General
Crown Prosecution Service
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2009, Official Report, column 1858W, what circumstances are covered by the category described as essential legal element missing; and if she will make a statement. [258705]
The Solicitor-General: Each criminal offence is made up of a number of elements which constitute the essence of the offence. For example, a person is guilty of theft when he or she dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it. Each of these elements, ‘dishonestly’, ‘property’, ‘belonging to another’ and ‘with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it’, as defined within the Theft Act 1968, and evidence to establish each element must be present and proved beyond reasonable doubt if the court is to record a conviction for an offence of theft is to be proved.
All cases conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are subject to a process of continuous review under the terms of the Code for Crown Prosecutors (the Code). The review process requires the prosecutor to be satisfied first that the evidential test is met—that is that there is sufficient reliable admissible evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of securing a conviction for the offence alleged; and, second, that the public interest requires a prosecution. If the prosecutor ascertains at any stage that a legal element of an offence is missing, then the case no longer meets the evidential test required under the Code, and the prosecution cannot continue.
It is the duty of Crown prosecutors to ensure that the right person is prosecuted for the right offence and, in doing so, they must always act in the interests of justice and not solely for the purpose of obtaining a conviction. Five years ago, the Government introduced the Statutory Charging arrangements which ensured that a CPS prosecutor must authorise the charge for a range of more serious offences that were previously charged by the police. This has led to significant reductions in the number of cases discontinued after charge, because prosecutors will not have authorised charges in cases which do not meet the requirements of the Code, including those cases where an essential legal element is missing.
While the CPS seeks to minimise discontinuance, and has made major strides in recent years in reducing the number and the proportion of cases which result in an unsuccessful outcome, there will always be cases in which circumstances may change and either the evidence available or expected, or the public interest no longer supports a prosecution. In these circumstances, the decision not to proceed best serves the cause of justice.
Crown Prosecution Service: Empty Property
Mr. Pickles:
To ask the Solicitor-General what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the
vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by the Crown Prosecution Service is in 2008-09. [258534]
The Solicitor-General: During 2008-09, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had three vacant premises on which it paid rates. The estimated total cost of this was £105,730.
Torture
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Solicitor-General when the Attorney-General’s report on allegations of UK complicity in torture of detainees abroad will be finalised. [263151]
The Solicitor-General: After undertaking a preliminary review of the material referred to her, the Attorney-General took the view that she should seek the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions. All the material provided to her has been made available to him. At this stage, no decision has been reached and it would be premature to speculate as to the outcome of the Attorney-General’s consideration, nor is it possible to give a precise time scale. There is a substantial quantity of material to consider. Some of it is very highly classified and must be handled under the most secure of conditions. It is being thoroughly considered by the Director who is progressing this important work with his expert prosecutors within the CPS. The Attorney-General has said that she intends to report to Parliament on her assessment. What can be said at any given stage may depend upon a number of factors, such as the need to avoid prejudicing any police investigation and potential prosecution and the need to protect national security. She will continue to do everything she properly can to bring this matter to an expeditious conclusion.
Scotland
Departmental Rail Travel
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost of travel by train by staff in his Department was in each year since 1997. [261212]
Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. Since that date the total cost of travel by train by staff is as follows:
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The Civil Service Management Code sets outs regulations and instructions to Departments and agencies regarding the terms and conditions of service of civil servants and the delegations which have been made by the Minister for the Civil Service under the Civil Service (Management of Functions) Act 1992 together with the conditions attached to those delegations.
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street: Internet
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons the Downing Street website no longer hosts video footage of Prime Minister’s Questions. [258376]
The Prime Minister: Video footage of Prime Minister’s Questions is available on the Parliament website:
Colombia: Military Aid
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Prime Minister whether the (a) work and (b) funding of UK counter-narcotics operations in Colombia have been discussed at meetings of the Joint Intelligence Committee in the last three years. [262580]
The Prime Minister: The Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) co-ordinates inter-departmental intelligence assessments on a range of issues of immediate and long-term importance to national interests; these are primarily in the fields of security, defence and foreign affairs.
As is the practice of previous governments, I will not comment further on the specific work of the JIC.
Israel
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech to the Knesset on 21 July 2008; who drafted the speech; and if he will make a statement. [263246]
The Prime Minister: A transcript of my speech to the Knesset is available on the No. 10 website:
A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House. I am responsible for the content of my speeches.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister whom he met during his visit to the State of Israel in July 2008; if he will place in the Library a copy of his itinerary for the visit; and if he will make a statement. [263247]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 October 2008, Official Report, column 555W.
Israel: Anniversaries
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister whether he received a request from the government of Israel to make a speech at the Embassy of Israel 60th Anniversary Reception; and if he will make a statement. [261582]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 February 2009, Official Report, column 2136W.
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister whether matters in respect of (a) the entry into disarmament negotiations of UK and US nuclear weapons and (b) prospects for the review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty were discussed during his recent visit to the United States; [261540]
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the President of the United States the matters of (a) the proposed expansion of NATO to include Ukraine and Georgia and (b) nuclear disarmament; and if he will make a statement. [261856]
The Prime Minister: I discussed a wide range of issues with President Obama; I refer the hon. Members to the joint press briefing I gave with President Obama, a transcript of which is available on the No. 10 website:
A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House.
Orders and Regulations
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister how many Orders in Council have been passed by Ministers using Privy Council powers since he took office as Prime Minister. [258375]
The Prime Minister: Information on Order in Council passed is available on the Privy Council website:
US Congress
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister (1) on what date he was invited to address a joint meeting of the US Congress; who invited him; and if he will make a statement; [261524]
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the first and (b) the final draft of his speech to the United States Congress on 4 March 2009; who drafted the speech; what input Ministers in his Government had to the speech; and if he will make a statement. [263266]
The Prime Minister: I was invited to speak to the United States Congress by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (Nancy Pelosi) during her visit to Downing street in March 2008. A transcript of my speech is available on the No. 10 website:
A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House. I am responsible for the content of my speeches.
USA
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost to the public purse of his recent visit to Washington DC was; and if he will make a statement; [262256]
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister how many persons accompanied him on his visit to the United States; where he stayed on the visit; which (a) Senators and (b) members of Congress he met during his stay; if he will place in the Library a copy of the itinerary for the visit; and if he will make a statement. [263267]
The Prime Minister: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. Information for the financial year 2008-09 will be published in the usual manner.
USA: Official Gifts
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many gifts given to him by the President of the United States during his recent visit will be (a) purchased by him and (b) held by 10 Downing Street; and if he will make a statement; [263245]
(2) what gifts he (a) gave to and (b) received from President Obama during his visit to the United States; what the estimated value is of each; and if he will make a statement. [263268]
The Prime Minister: The Government have published annual lists of gifts received and given by Ministers in an official capacity valued at more than £140 since 2001. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. The list makes clear which gifts are held by Government Departments. The arrangements for the handling of gifts are set out in chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code. Information for the current financial year will be published in the usual way.
World Economic Forum
Anne Main: To ask the Prime Minister which hotels he stayed in during the World Economic Forum between 28 January and 1 February 2009; and at what cost. [260562]
The Prime Minister: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information for the financial year 2008-09 will be published in the usual manner.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Postal Services
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of letters sent by his Department were given to (a) the Royal Mail and (b) another postal services provider for delivery in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [259976]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office does not keep a record of the number of letters sent, however I can advise that Royal Mail is used predominantly over any other postal services provider.
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