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1 Sep 2009 : Column 1894W—continued
Security Guards: Licensing
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made to the Security Industry Authority about its licence application processing times in the last 12 months. [288121]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The SIA have recorded the subject of complaints received since August 2008. Since then 35 formal complaints related to licence application processing times have been made to the Security Industry Authority.
Security Industry Authority
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contractors have had their security credentials revoked by the Security Industry Authority in the last five years. [288515]
Alan Johnson: Since the approved contractor scheme was introduced in March 2006, in total 22 contractors have had approved contractor status withdrawn. Of these, five companies submitted fresh applications after a period of time and have been re-approved.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers the Security Industry Authority has to investigate reports of racist door policies at pubs and clubs operated by security staff licensed by the Authority. [288516]
Alan Johnson: The Security Industry Authority has the power to take evidence of criminal activity, including in relation to racially motivated offences, into account in considering the refusal or revocation of licences. The Authority will refuse applications or revoke licences of security staff who do not meet its 'fit and proper person' criteria.
Serious and Organised Crime Agency: National Police Improvement Agency
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the additional £20 million in capital funding to improve the estates of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the National Police Improvement Agency brought forward from 2010-11 to 2009-10 and 2008-09 on (a) installation and development of high technology systems, (b) enhanced intelligence gathering and (c) the redeployment of posts out of London as part of the Lyons relocation policy; and how much of the funding has been spent in each month since it was announced. [286652]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has £10 million of capital funding advanced from 2010-11 to 2009-10. This expenditure is not expected to impact directly on the development of high technology systems, or enhanced intelligence gathering. It is not linked to the redeployment of posts out of London.
This funding will enable an acceleration of planned improvements to office, classroom and other facilities at the NPIA site at Ryton-on-Dunsmore in the West Midlands. This is a multi-function site providing specialist training and operational support to the police service and security agencies.
Work is scheduled to take place in second half of the 2009-10. No spending has occurred to date.
Early availability of capital funds has enabled investment in the Serious Organised Crime Agency's (SOCA) physical infrastructure and technical capability. Preparatory work has started on the capital projects that had previously been scheduled for 2010-11. Long lead-in times for delivering these investments mean that the impact will not be felt until 2010-11 and beyond.
SOCA's capital budget for 2009-10 included expenditure and delivery of technology to support both SOCA's High Volume Operating Model and the collection and analysis of a wide range of information.
SOCA has contributed to the Lyons targets for relocating posts out of London by the integration of some sites. This will be enhanced by the relocation of 130 posts from London to the north-west in 2010-11.
Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Northern Ireland
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Serious and Organised Crime Agency staff based in Northern Ireland have received performance-related bonuses; and what the total amount of such bonuses has been. [287671]
Mr. Alan Campbell: To date, no staff based in Northern Ireland have received performance-related bonuses.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in Northern Ireland was in 2008-09. [287672]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency's budget is not managed on a geographic basis and so it is not possible to determine what the cost of SOCA in Northern Ireland was in 2008-09.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the Asset Recovery Agency cases based in Northern Ireland were taken up by the Serious Organised Crime Agency; and how many have resulted in (a) prosecutions and (b) seizure of assets. [287787]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency is a UK-wide agency and does not collate statistics on a regional basis, as many crimes, by their nature, do not respect regional boundaries.
All of the Assets Recovery Agency's cases were transferred to SOCA when the two agencies merged. Asset recovery investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act's criminal confiscation, civil and tax recovery provisions cannot lead directly to prosecution. In 2008-09 (having gained civil recovery and tax powers in April 2008), SOCA enforced civil recovery orders and tax assessments and collected £16.7 million.
Social Workers: Visas
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many qualified social workers have been refused an initial visa or visa extension under Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the points-based system since it was introduced; and how many of these applicants applied to work with children and families. [288712]
Mr. Woolas: The information is not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Territorial Waters
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Agency vessels operate a continuous patrol of the British coastline. [288543]
Alan Johnson: The UK Border Agency's Maritime capabilities are deployed to provide operational coverage for 365 days a year, on a permanent patrol of the UK coast. Operations are conducted on a risk and intelligence-led basis.
Terrorism: Afghanistan
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of British military involvement in Afghanistan on levels of violent extremism in the UK. [287427]
Mr. Hanson [holding answer 16 July 2009]: It is in our national interest that Afghanistan becomes a stable and secure state able to deal with violent extremism within its borders and to prevent the export of terrorism abroad. We are fully committed to supporting a legitimate and democratic Afghan Government as they seek to build a peaceful and resilient nation, shaped by the will of the Afghan people.
I recognise that individual reactions to UK foreign policies, such as military involvement overseas can be a factor in radicalisation, and that violent extremists exploit this when recruiting others to their cause. But we also know that radicalisation occurs for a wide range of complex and personal reasons. The aim of the Government will continue to be to prevent radicalisation at home and abroad.
Wildlife: Crime
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the policing of wildlife crime cost in each police force area in each of the last 10 years. [288215]
Mr. Alan Campbell: Each force sets their own priorities having made an assessment on the issues of most importance locally. As such forces where wildlife crime is an issue will be likely to provide greater resources for tackling it. However, the Home Office does not collect data on the amount each force has spent policing wildlife crime.
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