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16 Sep 2009 : Column 2274W—continued
Sex Offenders
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what advice, training and support is given to staff in the National Offender Management Service in ensuring that sex offenders operating (a) in online forums and (b) in other areas do not pose a danger to children. [288878]
Maria Eagle: Probation Officers in the National Offender Management Service are trained to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all sexual offenders prior to sentence, using evidence based assessment tools, including Risk Matrix 2000 which has been designed specifically to assess the likelihood of reconviction for a sexual offence. The assessments are used to create a risk management plan for the offender, and, if online offending was assessed to be likely, this would be addressed in the risk management plan. For the most serious sexual offenders, the risk assessment and risk management will be undertaken within the context of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Within MAPPA, the Police Probation and Prison Services work together to assess and manage the risks presented by the most serious sexual offenders.
For sexual offenders subject to licensed release from custody, licence conditions may prohibit them from, for example, using the internet or may exclude them from places where they might pose a risk of harm to children. If they breach their licence conditions, they are liable to
be recalled to custody. In addition, the most high risk offenders will be required to reside in approved premises on release from custody. In approved premises, offenders are subject to strict conditions of residence and additional monitoring.
The National Offender Management Service provides guidance, in the form of prison service orders, instructions and manuals, to prison and probation staff to ensure sex offenders do not pose a danger to children while in custody. In addition, specific training and support is given to staff who deliver sex offender treatment programmes.
Young Offender Institutions
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what disturbances have been reported at (a) HM Prison Lancaster and (b) HM Young Offender Institution Lancaster Farms since June 2008. [288563]
Maria Eagle: The data in the following table shows the number of disturbance-related incidents recorded on the Prison Service Incident Reporting System from HMP Lancaster and HMPYOI Lancaster Farms between June 2008 and May 2009.
| Breakdown of disturbance-related incidents at HMP Lancaster and HMPYOI Lancaster Farms June 2008 to end May 2009 | |||||
| Establishment | Barricade | Concerted indiscipline active | Concerted indiscipline passive | Hostage | Incidents at height |
| Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. | |||||
Young Offenders: Sentencing
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of (a) 10 to 12, (b) 13 to 15, (c) 16 and 17 and (d) 18 to 20 year olds convicted of a non-violent offence were given a custodial sentence in each year since 1997. [291255]
Claire Ward: The requested information is shown in the following table.
Data for 2008 will become available once 'Sentencing Statistics 2008' is published.
This data are presented on the principal offence basis, where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed, where the same sentence has been imposed for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.
| Percentage of offenders sentenced to immediate custodial sentences for non-violent indictable offences( 1) 1997-2007 | |||||||||||
| Age group | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
| (1) Non-violent indictable offences includes all indictable offences not included in the violence against the person offence group. Summary offences have not been included as they are not categorised into violent and non-violent offences. Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice. | |||||||||||
These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
Prime Minister
Diamond Jubilee 2012
Bob Russell: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) special (i) coins and (ii) postage stamps will be produced and (b) the status of city will be awarded to one or more towns to mark in 2012 the 60th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty The Queen; and what other proposals the Government has to mark the anniversary. [291289]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24 April 2009, Official Report, column 977W.
Iraq Committee of Inquiry
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what criteria he used to select the experts appointed to the Iraq inquiry; and what discussions he has had with Sir John Chilcot on the merits of inquiry witnesses giving evidence on oath. [291252]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) and my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) on 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 106W.
Israel: Prime Ministerial Discussions
Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what sanctions against Iran the Israeli Prime Minister proposed at his recent meeting with him; and what response he made to those proposals. [291268]
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed the matter of Israel's possession of nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament in his meeting with his Israeli counterpart in London on 25 August 2009. [291250]
The Prime Minister: I discussed a wide range of issues with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the press conference I held with the Prime Minister on Tuesday 25 August 2009, a transcript is available on the No. 10 website:
A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Solicitor-General
Information Commissioner's Operation Motorman
Harry Cohen: To ask the Solicitor-General whether there are plans for further prosecutions arising from the Information Commissioner's Operation Motorman. [291368]
Mr. Wills: I have been asked to reply as the Minister responsible for the Information Commissioner's Office.
In 2004, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) brought four prosecutions on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service for offences related to the unlawful obtaining of personal data using information from the Information Commissioner's Operation Motorman. It has no plans at present to bring further prosecutions.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) also has no plans to pursue further prosecutions as a result of Operation Motorman. This information has been provided by the ICO.
The Government take matters of data protection very seriously. We keep data protection legislation under constant review to ensure that the framework is adequate and work with the ICO closely to ensure that the Act is working well.
Transport
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he has made an assessment of the effect on journey times, congestion and pollution at the Dartford River Crossing of the suspension of the tolls in July 2009; and if he will make a statement. [291353]
Paul Clark: The charges were suspended on 21 July 2009 for about six hours between the busy rush hour periods due to the failure of the crossing's standby generator during the power cut. As the traffic counting systems also failed we have no measure of the traffic flows but staff on site reported light flows below normal expected levels. The operator considered that flows in the area were lighter because a significant part of the local network including shopping centres and businesses did not have power to operate.
There was some congestion around 10.30am as the systems failed and the operator switched to manual charge collection.
The crossing was operated manually with staff placed in each lane to control traffic and the additional staffing helped to ensure that there were no significant incidents that would have disrupted traffic in the toll plazas.
The effect on journey times, congestion and pollution cannot be measured but the light traffic levels combined with additional staffing levels operating the crossing appears to have avoided significant delays and stationary traffic.
London Midland: Standards
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of the West Coast Main Line infrastructure on London Midland's recent performance. [291231]
Paul Clark: London Midland's performance has been affected in recent months by various failures of Network Rail's infrastructure. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and London Midland to address these issues, with Network Rail committing additional engineers and trouble shooters during the busiest times of the day at around 20 locations. Network Rail is also accelerating the replacement of less reliable equipment, including points, power and signalling cables. Overall recent performance has improved.
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he plans to review the level of subsidy provided to London Midland in light of its recent performance. [291232]
Paul Clark: There are no plans to review the level of subsidy provided to London Midland in light of its recent performance.
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of London Midland's ability to meet the terms of its franchise commitments. [291233]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport continues to assess London Midland's ability to meet the terms of its franchise commitments. Where an operator does not meet its contractual commitments, the Department follows the processes which are set out in the enforcement policy. A copy of the enforcement policy can be located on the Department's website at
London-Peterborough Railway Line
Mr. Moss: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many services on the Peterborough to London rail line were (a) cancelled, (b) late and (c) overcrowded in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [291286]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold the specific information requested. The principal train operating company operating on the East Coast is NXEC (previously GNER). The Department does not hold information on trains cancelled by NXEC/GNER, between Peterborough to London.
The operator's total cancellations are listed for the last 10 years in the following table:
| GNER/NXEC total cancellations | |
| Annual totals | |
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