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1 Jun 2009 : Column 148W—continued

Crimes of Violence: Females

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and (b) the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on their Departments' contributions to (i) her Department's consultation on Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls and (ii) her Department's forthcoming national strategy on Violence Against Women and Girls. [275890]

Mr. Alan Campbell: The Home Secretary has had regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about Government action on VAWG and has written to the Ministerial Committee on Domestic Affairs twice regarding the cross-Government consultation on ending violence against women and girls.

Departmental Data Protection

Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private contractors have been granted access to personal data held by her Department in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement. [241867]

Mr. Woolas: The information required is not held centrally, therefore we are unable to provide an answer because of the disproportionate cost threshold.

Departmental Dismissal

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff in her Department and its agencies were dismissed (a) for under-performance and (b) in total in each of the last 10 years. [274306]


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Jacqui Smith: The number of staff dismissed (a) for under-performance and (b) in total each year within Home Office HQ, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau is shown in table 1.

Table 1: Dismissals in Home Office HQ, IPS and CRB( 1)
Year( 2) Dismissals for under-performance Total dismissals

1999-2000

0

Less than five

2000-01

0

14

2001-02

0

34

2002-03

0

37

2003-04

0

29

2004-05

0

29

2005-06

Less than five

41

2006-07

0

38

2007-08

Less than five

45

2008-09

Less than five

49

(1) The Criminal Records Bureau did not begin operations until March 2002.
(2 )Information prior to 2005-06 is not held centrally within Home Office HQ and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Note:
Where fewer than five members of staff were dismissed further information has been withheld on grounds of confidentiality.

The number of staff dismissed within the UK Border Agency for (a) inefficiency and (b) in total each year is shown in table 2

Table 2: Dismissals in UKBA( 1)
Year( 2) Dismissals for inefficiency( 3) Total dismissals

2005-06

37

69

2006-07

28

68

2007-08

50

100

2008-09

47

93

(1 )Figures exclude staff within UKVisas (previously FCO) and HMRC detection staff who have now transferred to UKBA.
(2 )Information prior to 2005-06 is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
(3 )Dismissals made under the broad category of inefficiency include dismissals made under poor performance and attendance management procedure;

UKBA figures contained in the first column of table 2 include all staff dismissed under the broad category of inefficiency, which includes dismissal for under-performance and dismissal under attendance management procedures. A further breakdown of those dismissals into those dismissed for under-performance could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

UKBA figures exclude staff in UK Visas (previously under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and HM Revenue and Customs Detection staff who have now transferred to UKBA. These staff will be added to UKBA HR systems during 2009-10 as part of an ongoing improvement programme.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on (a) conference services and (b) banqueting services in each of the last five years. [274503]

Mr. Woolas: The requested information is set out in the table.


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Conference costs (£)

2004-05

5,189,640

2005-06

10,594,000

2006-07

9,325,652

2007-08

4,020,987

2008-09

5,844,000


The cost of banqueting services cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

All expenditure on conference services is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Opinion Polls

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which subjects her Department has commissioned opinion polling in each of the last two years; and at what cost. [274072]

Mr. Woolas: During the last three financial years (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09) the Home Office (excluding Executive Agencies) has commissioned public opinion polling on attitudes, experiences and awareness of a broad range of crime, policing, immigration, asylum and counter-terrorism issues. Details and cost for each financial year are shown in the following table.

Details and cost for each financial year(1) are shown in table 1.

Table 1
Financial year Opinion polling subject areas Cost (exc luding VAT ( £)

2006-07

Omnibus polling on attitudes, experiences and awareness of a broad range of crime, policing, immigration and asylum issues.

60,575

2007-08

Omnibus polling on attitudes, experiences and awareness of a broad range of crime, policing, immigration and asylum issues.

91,325

2008-09

Omnibus polling on attitudes, experiences and awareness of a broad range of crime, policing, immigration and asylum, counter-terrorism and security issues

212,830


Departmental Procurement

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which companies her Department purchased goods and services at a cost of more than £1 million in 2008-09; and how much was spent in respect of each company. [269693]

Mr. Woolas: For the period April to December 2008, the Home Office, which includes the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau spent more than £1 million with 73 suppliers from our total supplier list. The actual spend by each supplier is commercially sensitive and restricted and this detail cannot be provided.

The companies from which the Department with its agencies purchased goods and services to a value greater than £1 million were as follows:


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Home Office


1 Jun 2009 : Column 152W

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