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Notes for tables:
Source: Home Office Public Order Unit, based on information aggregated from figures provided by individual police forces as part of the Home Office Annual Data Requirement. This was followed by a further quality assurance process involving the Home Office asking individual forces to verify and sign off their figures.
The information provided is a regular annual update of figures previously published (Official Report, 2 March 2009, Column 39WS), and on the Home Office website:
http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operational-policing/police-firearms-use-2007-2008.html
Home Office guidance to forces for providing these figures is contained within the booklet "Annual Data Requirement, Police Personnel and Performance Data, Notes for Guidance". For the purpose of this statistical return AFOs are deemed to be deployed when "they are required to conduct a specific task during which their possession of a firearm (with appropriate authorisation) is a required element" (Chapter 3, paragraph 3.1 "ACPO Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms").
In addition to the total number of operations, a further sub-category is required regarding those operations where the initial or sole response is by armed response vehicle (ARV).
Each incident will be classed as only one operation regardless of the number of personnel/deployments or tactics employed to deal with the incident.
Deployments also include those incidents where AFOs "self-authorise"
The number of officers authorised to use firearms as at 31 March 2009.
International Development
New Education Strategy
The Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Douglas Alexander): I have deposited in the Library today my Department's new education strategy, entitled; "Learning For All: DFID's Education Strategy 2010-2015". The strategy has been placed in the Libraries of the Houses and an electronically accessible version is available on the DFID website at www.dfid.gov.uk/educationstrategy.
"Learning For All: DFID's Education Strategy 2010-2015" outlines how DFID will contribute to helping the world's children realise their full potential through access to a quality basic education for all.
Work and Pensions
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
The Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society (Angela Eagle): The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will be held on 8 March 2010 in Brussels. I shall represent the United Kingdom on all items.
The presidency will seek political agreement on a proposal for a Council directive which will implement a social partners' framework agreement to protect hospital and healthcare workers at risk of injury and infection from medical 'sharps' (including needle sticks, scalpels and suture equipment). Most of the requirements are already covered in the UK by a combination of existing health and safety legislation and healthcare specific legislation, codes of practice and guidelines: the UK will agree to the proposal.
The main agenda item will be a Commission presentation, followed by a policy debate on the Commission Communication on EU 2020 (which replaces the Lisbon strategy) published on 3 March. The UK response to the preceding Commission Consultation on EU 2020-'EU Compact for Jobs and Growth'-proposed creating new jobs and up-skilling or re-skilling the workforce as one of six priorities. I shall stress that the Employment and Social Policy Council must focus on active inclusion of those farthest from the labour market with ownership of the policy and responsibility for delivering results.
The presidency will seek adoption of the Joint Employment Report 2009-2010, and also the Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2010. These annual reports summarise evaluation of member states' progress and the EU's employment situation and also key lessons from member states under the open method of co-ordination for social protection and social inclusion. They also look ahead to further planned work. The UK is content.
The presidency will also seek adoption of Council conclusions on the eradication of violence against women, followed by an exchange of views. The UK Government have been working closely with European partners to support the work being progressed on tackling this issue at the European level and welcomes these conclusions.
There will also be an exchange of views, following a presentation by a delegation of Ministers for Research, on conclusions on European researchers' mobility and careers adopted by the Competitiveness Council (internal market, industry and research). This item reflects work being undertaken under the banner of the European research area, which is designed to advance the so-called "Fifth Freedom"-the free movement of knowledge across Europe. One of its elements is work on researcher careers and mobility, intended to make research an attractive career option across Europe and promote cross-border mobility of researchers. The Competitiveness Council agreed conclusions on careers and mobility on 1 and 2 March; these include sections on social security and pensions issues and the intention is that some of the research Ministers involved will present the conclusions to EPSCO to raise the profile of these issues.
There will also be presentations from the Commission on the latest report on equality between women and men, which the UK welcomes, and also information from the presidency on preparation of the Tripartite Social Summit due to take place before the spring European Council.
Under any other business, the Chairs of the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee will give an oral presentation on their 2010 work programmes. There will also be information on conferences held under the Spanish presidency to date.
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