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22 Jun 2010 : Column 151W—continued
Police: Sick Leave
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers in each police authority were (a) reassigned duties and (b) retired after a period of more than one year of unpaid sick leave in each of the last 10 years; [3226]
(2) how many police officers in each police authority are on long-term sick leave without pay. [3227]
Nick Herbert: The information is not collected centrally.
Powers of Entry
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regulations permitting forcible entry without a warrant there were at the end of (a) 1997 and (b) 2007. [2535]
Nick Herbert: There were 99 regulations made under statutory instrument to allow entry without a warrant at the end of 1997 and 327 regulations by the end of 2007.
Forcible entry is not permitted without a warrant. If an occupier refuses entry a warrant to permit forcible entry would need to be obtained to exercise 81 of the powers introduced between 1997 and 2007 and nine powers that existed before 1997.
Royal Family: Electronic Surveillance
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department takes to protect the (a) electronic and (b) telephonic communications of the royal family. [2396]
Nick Herbert: It is Home Office policy not to comment on the protective security arrangements for any individuals or groups of people. Disclosure of such information could compromise the integrity of those arrangements and affect the security of the individuals concerned.
Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of her Department's annual expenditure on administering schemes for the admission of temporary farm workers to the UK. [3344]
Damian Green: The total cost of administering the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Scheme (SAWS) in 2009-10 was £123,000.
Security Guards: Licensing
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for licences as security operatives have been refused a licence by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) on grounds of inadequate command of English in each of the last five years; and what criteria are applied by the SIA in determining whether an applicant has a sufficient command of English. [2832]
Lynne Featherstone: An English Language requirement is not a specific Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensing requirement. However, the training and examinations which must be completed to obtain an SIA licence are delivered and assessed in English.
Dr Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for licences as security operatives have been refused a licence by the Security Industry Association (SIA) on grounds of conviction for offences committed while juveniles in each of the last five years; what criteria are applied by
the SIA when deciding whether such an offence should debar an applicant from being licensed; and whether account is taken of (a) youth, (b) subsequent clean record and (c) successful subsequent career, such as exemplary service in the armed forces. [2833]
Lynne Featherstone: Information on numbers of applicants refused a licence by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) based upon juvenile convictions is not held centrally by the SIA and cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.
The SIA publishes its licensing criteria in "Get Licensed". Section 7 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 requires the licensing criteria to be approved by the Secretary of State. A copy has been placed in the House Library and can be found on the SIA's website at:
The SIA carries out a criminal record check which takes into account convictions, warnings, cautions, absolute/conditional discharges, admonishment or charges awaiting trial for offence. The age of applicants at the time of offence is taken into account. Offences committed from the age of 10 up to 12 are considered spent unless they relate to offences that were considered serious, as defined by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Offences committed from the age of 12 up to 15 will be considered spent unless included in a longer list of serious offences set out in "Get Licensed". Offences taken into account are subject to assessment in accordance with the SIA's published criteria.
The SIA also take into account the time since sentence restrictions ended, and subsequent clean record of an applicant. They also consider additional factors in certain cases, inviting applicants to submit mitigating evidence to support their application. Decisions are made on a case by case basis.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account the Security Industry Association takes of findings of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks in determining whether an applicant for a licence as a security operative is granted; and what substitute is used for CRB checks in the case of applicants from (a) Iraq, (b) Pakistan, (c) Afghanistan and (d) other overseas countries. [2834]
Lynne Featherstone: To qualify for a licence all applicants to the Security Industry Authority (SIA) need to pass a criminal record check. The information resulting from Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure is assessed by the SIA in accordance with the licensing criteria set out in the SIA's publication "Get Licensed".
Section 7 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 requires the licensing criteria to be approved by the Secretary of State. A copy has been placed in the House Library and can be found on the SIA's website at:
Having a criminal record does not automatically mean that the applicant will not get a licence. If an applicant has any convictions, warnings, cautions, absolute/conditional discharges, admonishments or charges awaiting trial for offences, the SIA will make a decision whether to grant or refuse a licence according to whether the offences are included in the list of offences in "Get
Licensed". They will consider the seriousness of an offence, and the date of conviction. They will also consider additional factors in certain cases, inviting applicants to submit mitigating evidence to support their application.
All applicants who have lived overseas for six continuous months or more during the last five years must produce evidence of a criminal record check covering that period from an official source from the country they lived in. An official source will normally mean the Government body that issues criminal record certificates. Further details of how the SIA deals with overseas criminal records can be found on their website at:
http://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/Step-By-Step .aspx?page=Pages/licensing-overseas-checks.aspx
The website contains specific guidance on how criminality checks should be obtained from individual countries, including Iraq and Pakistan. For Afghanistan applicants are referred to their embassy in the first instance. If they are unable to obtain an overseas criminal records certificate (OCC) then they may be eligible for the sworn oath process.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the Security Industry Authority makes donation of a percentage of profits to charity a condition for the awarding of Approved Contract or Status to firms which apply for it. [2836]
Lynne Featherstone: Charitable donations are not a requirement to achieve approval under the Security Industry Authority's (SIA's) Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).
The ACS is a voluntary scheme for private security sector suppliers. To achieve ACS status, companies are independently assessed against a set of operational and performance standards. 'Corporate Social Responsibility' is one of the standards required for ACS approval. An approved contractor is required to demonstrate that it actively manages the impact of its services on society. Individual companies may choose to donate to charity as one of the ways they fulfil this requirement.
Further information about the conditions of the ACS are on the SIA's website at:
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what machinery the Security Industry Association (SIA) has in place to enable firms which discover that individuals with SIA licences have political allegiances to hostile movements or regimes to report these with a view to the cancellation of such licences. [3123]
Lynne Featherstone: The SIA can take a wide range of information into account in considering whether an individual is a fit and proper person to hold a licence. The SIA's published guidance, "Get Licensed", notes that this can include evidence of relevant criminal association or activity that is likely to bring the industry into disrepute.
There are a number of routes through which firms can pass on information relating to SIA licence holders, such as by contacting:
Crimestoppers, with whom the SIA work in close partnership;
The SIA's website, which has an on-line reporting mechanism. This includes a confidentiality policy and specific questions to ensure the information is of the highest quality, and
The SIA directly or through their contact centre in Liverpool 0844 892 1025; and,
Though the SIA's partners, including the police.
Special Constables
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will encourage police forces in England to make greater use of special constables. [2406]
Nick Herbert: The special constabulary is an important and cost effective resource in policing. The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) is committed to supporting the special constabulary and increasing its numbers across England and Wales. The NPIA created nine regional co-ordinator posts to help police forces increase numbers and improve retention rates within their respective force areas. In particular, they are working in partnership with forces to develop effective marketing and recruitment strategies and to implement the national strategy for the special constabulary. This includes a best practice approach to the tasking and deployment of special constables. I spoke at the NPIA special constables awards on 17 June 2010 and expressed a desire to boost recruitment of special constables, and am considering ways to achieve this.
Telephone Tapping
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of telephone (a) hacking and (b) blagging have been investigated since 6 May 2010. [2395]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office has not had any incidents of telephone hacking or blagging reported since 6 May 2010.
Terrorism: Stop and Search
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, on stop-and-search authorisation, Official Report, columns 23-28WS, how many individuals have been charged with offences when stopped under an unlawful section 44 power since 19 February 2001; and what steps she plans to take in respect of those charged and convicted under those powers. [2475]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office has written to the chief constables of those forces which were identified as having erroneous section 44 authorisations and we await their replies. The chief constables have been requested to provide details of any actions arising from these stop and searches. As indicated in my written ministerial statement on 10 June 2010, Official Report, columns 23-28WS, the forces concerned have also been requested to provide details of "how many individuals were stopped and searched in the periods of invalid authorisations". The Home Secretary has indicated that she will report back to the House as necessary.
Vetting
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the elimination of need for British citizens who have successfully been Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked in respect of one area of activity to be CRB-checked for other areas of activity; and whether the concept of a portable CRB clearance is to be introduced in the near future. [2835]
Lynne Featherstone: A criminal records disclosure provides an employer or volunteer organiser who is considering placing an individual in an eligible post with current criminal records and related information. As such the information contained on it is valid at the time the disclosure is issued and in the case of any local police information, will be that information considered relevant for a particular position.
A disclosure certificate is a sensitive document and is restricted from being passed between organisations by the terms of Part V of the Police Act 1997 subject to certain exemptions, primarily where the applicant has provided their consent.
The Criminal Records Bureau is considering the feasibility of updating criminal records information provided to employers and others. The Government have announced their intention to review the criminal records regime. Terms of reference are currently being developed and this issue will be taken into account.
Zakir Naik
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will refuse an entry visa to Mr Zakir Naik. [1375]
Damian Green [holding answer 8 June 2010]: I can confirm that on 16 June my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary personally made the decision to exclude Dr Naik from the UK on the grounds that his presence in the UK was not conducive to the public good. Numerous comments made by Dr Naik are evidence of his unacceptable behaviour.
As a result of the exclusion, Dr Naik's visit visa to the UK has been cancelled.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Construction
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure the provision of additional affordable housing in (a) Manchester, (b) Trafford and (c) Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency. [3106]
Grant Shapps: We are committed to the provision of affordable housing and are reviewing budgets across all CLG and HCA programmes. The position will be clarified in the Budget on 22 June 2010.
However it will be up to the local authorities to determine the level of provision of affordable housing in their respective areas based on financial incentives to authorities who approve planning for houses.
Community Development: North East
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the future of Tees Valley Unlimited. [3230]
Robert Neill: I am aware that Tees Valley has progressed well as a partnership and that this month its leadership board agreed a focused 'Statement of Ambition' covering its core priorities for the future. My Department will continue to work closely with Tees Valley Unlimited and will discuss the possibility of it becoming a local enterprise partnership, if that is the wish of local authorities and local businesses.
Council Housing: Construction
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will review the level of funding for private finance initiative housing schemes for the purpose of identifying ways in which local authorities could built decent homes in a more cost-effective way; and if he will make a statement. [3408]
Andrew Stunell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 15 June 2010, Official Report, column 368W.
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