Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Olympics
Olympic Games 2012: Human Trafficking
Mr. Bone: To ask the Minister for the Olympics with reference to the answer of 11 November 2009, Official Report, column 373W, on Olympic Games 2012: human trafficking, what progress she has made in developing a plan for action to deter human traffickers from taking advantage of the London 2012 Olympics. [312016]
Tessa Jowell: Major sporting events can be a magnet for the global sex and trafficking industry; this is wholly unacceptable. I am determined that traffickers will not exploit London 2012. My officials have been working with the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police Service on this issue and collectively we are developing a comprehensive plan of action which will build on the considerable expertise the UK has in tackling human trafficking.
Tackling this issue is one of my top priorities. Next month when I attend the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic winter games in Vancouver I will be meeting with key representatives from the agencies responsible for tackling human trafficking and NGO support groups. Ahead of my visit to Vancouver I plan to visit Gatwick airport to view the UK multi-agency response to see how the police, UK Border Force, local social services and NGOs work in partnership to identify and target potential victims of trafficking.
I will ensure that the All-Party Trafficking of Women and Children group receives an update on lessons learned when I return from Vancouver next month.
House of Commons Commission
Bars
Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010, Official Report, columns 825-26W, on bars, (1) what the existing provision on the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate is for staff of the House and hon. Members; what the aggregate revenue accrued for Bellamy's Bar, the Astor Suite and the Bellamy's Club Room was in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what estimate the House of Commons Commission has made of the amount of space required to operate a nursery for the children of staff of hon. Members and of the House; [311890]
(2) which bars available on the House of Commons estate (a) House of Commons and (b) hon. Members' staff may use. [312072]
Nick Harvey: Bars on the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate currently available to staff of the House (all grades) and Members' staff are:
Bellamy's Bar (Monday to Thursday 12.00 to 23.00 or rise of House, whichever is the earlier, but not before 22.00) with up to two guests.
Moncrieff s Café Bar (Monday to Tuesday 09.00 to 20.00; Wednesday to Thursday 09.00 to 22.00 or rise of House, whichever is the later; Friday 09.00 to 16.00) with up to three guests.
Additionally, senior staff of the House of Commons may use the following bar facilities:
Strangers' Bar (Monday to Wednesday 12.00 to 23.00 or rise of House, whichever is the later; Thursday 12.00 to 22.00; Friday 12.00 to 15.15 or rise of House, whichever is the later). Staff grade A2 and above may take in up to three guests; Staff Grade B may not take in guests.
June to July only: Terrace Pavilion Bar (open 13.00 to 23.00 Monday to Wednesday). Access as for Strangers' Bar.
Pugin Room (bar service open Monday to Tuesday 11.00 to 15.00 and 17.30 to midnight or 15 minutes after the rise of House, whichever is the earlier; Wednesday 11.00 to 15.00 and 17.30 to 23.00; Thursday 11.00 to 15.00 and 17.30 to 22.00; closed Fridays). Open to staff grade A2 and above with up to three guests.
Members and their guests have access to all the bar facilities listed above. Also, the Members' Smoking Room is provided for the exclusive use of Members of Parliament (Monday to Tuesday 14.00 to 17.00 and 18.00 to midnight; Wednesday 14.00 to 17.00 and 18.00 to 23.00; Thursday 13.00 to 17.00 and 18.00 to 19.00; closed Fridays).
The following bars are provided elsewhere on the parliamentary estate for all parliamentary pass holders, including Members, their staff and all staff of the House of Commons:
Sports and Social Club bar 12.00 to 23.00 Monday to Friday (sitting weeks) and at reduced time, depending on the level of trade, during recess.
Lords Bar (Monday to Thursday 10.30 to 21.00; Friday 10.30 to 19.30) with up to two guests.
The aggregate income for Bellamy's Bar, Astor Suite and Bellamy's Club Room was £216,000 in 2008-09, the last full 12-month period for which figures are available. However, given the operating costs of the facility and the expectation that some of the banqueting business will take up spare capacity elsewhere, the overall financial impact of the closure is expected to be minimal.
House of Commons officials consulted with a number of child care experts on space requirements for a nursery which would comply with Ofsted regulations. They advised that the space requirement for children of different ages is as follows: under two years-3.7 sq metres; two years-2.8 sq metres; three to seven years-2.3 sq metres, and in addition certain other facilities need to be provided, such as toilets, a nappy changing area, kitchen, laundry and staff room.
Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010, Official Report, columns 825-26W, on bars, what advice the House of Commons Commission received from fire safety officers on the siting of a nursery on the parliamentary estate in the area currently used by Bellamy's Bar, the Bellamy's Club Room and the Astor Suite; and if he will make a statement. [311892]
Nick Harvey: The site was identified as being suitable in all respects including health and safety, and the advice from fire safety officers will be sought during the design process and regulations will be complied with.
Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2010, Official Report, column 959W, on bars, what plans the Commission has to make up the revenue to be foregone following the closure of Bellamy's Bar. [312366]
Nick Harvey: The revenue from Bellamy's bar is insufficient to cover purchasing costs of the goods sold and the cost of staff directly employed in that venue. Management will be working closely with affected staff and their trade union representatives to redeploy resources to other areas when the bar closes. Provided this is achieved, the closure of Bellamy's Bar will represent a net saving to the House.
Solicitor-General
Crown Prosecution Service
Philip Davies: To ask the Solicitor-General how many days on average were taken by the Crown Prosecution Service in each area to provide advice to the police on charges for offences of (a) rape, (b) domestic violence and (c) violent crime in the latest period for which figures are available. [312879]
The Solicitor-General: CPS data captured on its case management system (CMS) show that for the 12-month period from January 2009 to December 2009:
the average number of calendar days taken to reach the decision to charge in rape cases was 27.1 days
the average number of calendar days taken to reach the decision to charge in domestic violence cases was 4.7 days
the average number of calendar days taken to reach the decision to charge in all cases was 8.3 days
Whereas it is possible to disaggregate pre-charge decision data in rape and domestic violence cases, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of pre-charge decision data for violent crime as a discrete offence category from within CMS. These data could only be obtained by analysis of case files at disproportionate cost.
Under Statutory Charging arrangements the police refer cases to the CPS for investigative advice or a charging decision. In cases where a file is submitted to the CPS for advice or where there is insufficient evidence to bring a charge at the first referral, the prosecutor will advise the police officer on the further evidence to be gathered. Once this further evidence has been gathered the officer will return the case to the CPS in order for a charging decision to be made.
CMS data reports the average number of calendar days that has elapsed since the first decision was sought from the police, to the date in which the last decision made was to charge or proceed to some other outcome. The CMS last decision made reports include all cases where a decision to charge was made on the same day as the request from the police, either by CPS Direct (an out of hours telephone service); by way of face to face advice; or by local telephone advice. They also include all those cases where the police were required to submit
further evidence prior to a decision to charge being made; and those more complex cases where detailed written advice was provided to the police
The system is unable to separately record the timeliness of those cases that were subject to advice and further work before a charge decision was made and recorded as the last decision.
A breakdown of the figures for each area has been deposited in the Library of the House.
Crown Prosecution Service: Pay
Mr. Maude: To ask the Solicitor-General on what criteria bonus payments for travelling to work during the severe weather were made to Crown Prosecution Service staff in 2009. [312167]
The Solicitor-General: The CPS London Board took a decision to award a special bonus to staff who worked on 2 February 2009, a day when the vast majority of the transport network in London shut down. The payments were made in recognition of the fact that a limited number of staff were able to attend, to undertake duties which would ordinarily have been shared across the entire work force. The commitment of these members of staff helped to ensure that prosecution deadlines were met, cases were prepared for court and essential courts were covered.
The payments in London were made in accordance with a Special Bonus Scheme that was being piloted in a limited number of areas within the CPS. No other areas made payments relating to severe weather in 2009, and the overall Special Bonus Scheme was suspended in April 2009. No subsequent payments have been made under this scheme.
Dynamic Decisions Capital Management
Jim Cousins: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the investigation of Dynamic Decisions Capital Management undertaken by the Serious Fraud Office has been concluded. [313119]
The Solicitor-General: On 12 November 2009 the SFO announced that following complaints received about the investment activities of Dynamic Decisions Capital Management Ltd., an investigation had been opened. It would be inappropriate to make further comment.
Church Commissioners
Churches: Repairs and Maintenance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what recent representations he has received on the level of contribution from central Government towards church repairs. [313296]
Sir Stuart Bell: The Archbishops' Council receives regular representations on the growing cost of church and cathedral fabric repairs and General Synod will shortly consider the increasing challenge of realising the huge potential of church buildings while dealing with this financial burden.
The Church is grateful for existing grant schemes but requests more state support and I have welcomed the Public Accounts Committee's recommendation that cathedrals should receive direct funding from Government, 21 January 2010, Official Report, column 422. I also share the hon. Lady's view that parish churches, too, need greater support and I suggest that the most immediate aim should be to ensure the extension beyond 2011 of the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme.
Religious Buildings: Finance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what assessment he has made of the effects of recent changes to funding of English Heritage grants on churches and cathedrals applying for grants for repairs; and if he will make a statement. [312919]
Sir Stuart Bell: As far as I am aware, the changes relate to cathedrals but not to churches.
Although its ring-fenced cathedral repair grant scheme was ended at the end of the 2009-10 financial year, English Heritage has made clear that cathedrals are still able to apply for funding under its other grant schemes. Indeed, Lincoln cathedral was awarded £250,000 last month for major fabric repairs.
We are, of course, extremely grateful for all English Heritage's financial support to date but may I add, by way of a statement, that the church also warmly welcomes the recommendation from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee that cathedrals should receive direct funding from Government. Looking after cathedral and church buildings is a huge effort but it is worthwhile given the spiritual, cultural, educational and other benefits to the whole nation.
Justice
Healthy Relationships programme
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in how many prisons the healthy relationships offender behaviour course is offered and how many prisoners are waiting to participate on that course in each prison where it is offered. [311882]
Maria Eagle: The healthy relationships accredited offending behaviour programme is delivered in 12 prisons and waiting lists are managed by each prison. To collate, validate and provide meaningful information, and in many cases manually check records, could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
Convictions: Video Recordings Act 1984
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (a) how much was levied in fines, (b) how many custodial sentences were handed down and (c) what the average length was of sentences imposed following conviction under the provisions of section (i) 9, (ii) 10, (iii) 11, (iv) 12, (v) 13 and (vi) 14 of the Video Recordings Act 1984 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since each such section came into force. [311810]
Claire Ward: The number of offenders sentenced at all courts in England and Wales for offences under the Video Recordings Act 1984, from 1995 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in the following tables. Prior to 1995 data under the Video Recordings Act 1984 were held under a miscellaneous group of offences and cannot be separately identified.
Sentencing Statistics 2008 will be published on 28 January 2010.
| Total custodial sen tences and average custodial sentence length imposed under the Video Recordings Act 1984( 1) | |||||||
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