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27 July 2010 : Column 1108Wcontinued
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many temporary employees are working in (a) her Department and (b) other bodies financed from its budget. [9211]
Nick Herbert: There were 690 temporary employees working in the Home Office Headquarters and its three Executive Agencies (UKBA, IPS, and CRB) as at 31 March 2010 out of 26,800 civil servants.
210 were in the Home Office headquarters, 370 in UKBA, 100 in IPS and 10 in CRB.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training has been provided for Ministers in her Department since the formation of the present administration; and at what cost. [6448]
Nick Herbert: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 3 June 2010, Official Report, column 52W. The National School of Government is funded through its Core Learning Programme to deliver induction and other training to Ministers, and there is no separate charge to Departments.
Induction training at the National School of Government was undertaken by the following Home Office Ministers:
James Brokenshire
Lynne Featherstone
Nick Herbert
Damian Green
No additional training has been provided for Home Office Ministers since the formation of the present Administration.
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her (a) Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies has spent on travel for employees in each year since 1997. [7429]
Nick Herbert: Due to changes in the computer systems used to record travel costs and/or the way travel costs have historically been recorded we are unable to provide complete data. The Home Office HQ and UK Border Agency moved to the current system in October 2008. Other agencies and NDPBs did not have systems in place for the whole period and/or do not separate out travel costs from other expense types. It would have represented a disproportionate cost to obtain data from all NDPBs, but we have included in our response data from the Executive agencies. The table provides all available data.
HO/UKBA spend | CRB | IPS | NPIA | SOCA | SIA | ISA | IPCC (rail only) | |
(1) Historical data unavailable. (2) From October 2008 only. Key: NDPB-Non-departmental public body HO-Home Office UKBA-United Kingdom Border Agency CRB-Criminal Records Bureau IPS-Identity and Passport Service NPIA-National Policing Improvement Agency OISC-Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner SOCA-Serious Organised Crime Agency SIA-Security Industry Authority ISA-Independent Safeguarding Authority IPCC-Independent Police Complaints Commission PCoE-(HO) Procurement Centre of Excellence |
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period. [7970]
Nick Herbert: All Home Office Ministers apart from the Home Secretary have been driven by the Government Car Service. All Government Car Service contracts were terminated in May but the contract stipulates that all Departments are obliged to serve a 90-day termination period, which means all contracts will expire in August.
As was the case under previous Governments, all civil servants and special advisers may use an official car or taxi in properly defined circumstances.
Thus far, no Home Office Minister has claimed any expenses relating to the use of taxis, underground or buses.
The Government publishes on a quarterly basis the expenses incurred by the most senior officials, which includes use of the Government car service and other travel expenses.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued for (a) doctors and (b) nurses and auxiliary nurses from each African country under the (i) work permits system and (ii) points-based immigration system in each of the last five years. [10588]
Damian Green: The numbers of work permits issued for each of the requested categories are set out in the following table.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what EU agreements made under Justice and Home Affairs provisions require further UK consent to be fully incorporated into the First Pillar following ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon; and how many have been so incorporated to date. [10353]
James Brokenshire: The Lisbon Treaty contains transitional provisions for measures adopted under the police and judicial co-operation title of the old Treaty on European Union. These provide for a transitional period of five years to apply in relation to those measures. During this period the European Court of Justice continues to have limited jurisdiction and the European Commission is precluded from bringing infraction proceedings. At the end of the five-year period these measures will become subject to the full jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and the full enforcement powers of the European Commission. While this requires no further consent from the UK, the Lisbon Treaty includes a protocol that allows us to opt out of all these measures en bloc at any time before 1 June 2014.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had at EU level on the mechanisms for incorporating into the First Pillar those agreements made under Justice and Home Affairs provisions that require further UK consent. [11243]
James Brokenshire: The Secretary of State for the Home Department and junior Ministers engage regularly with EU counterparts both at EU level meetings such as the Justice and Home Affairs Council and through bilateral discussions with counterparts in the European Commission and EU member states. The Lisbon treaty contains provisions preserving measures adopted under the police and judicial co-operation title of the old treaty on European Union (i.e. before 1 December 2009) for a transitional period of five years, during which the European Court of Justice continues to have only limited jurisdiction and the European Commission is precluded from bringing infraction proceedings. At the end of this period these measures will become subject to the full jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and the full enforcement powers of the European Commission. While this requires no further consent from the UK, the treaty includes a protocol that allows us to opt out of all of these measures en bloc at any time before 1 June 2014.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-fatal incidents involving (1) 13 to 19-year-olds and guns there were in (a) Streatham constituency, (b) the London Borough of Lambeth, (c) London and (d) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 on the latest date for which figures are available; [10729]
(2) guns there were in (a) Streatham constituency, (b) the London Borough of Lambeth, (c) London and (d) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 on the latest date for which figures are available. [10731]
James Brokenshire: Available data relate to offences recorded in London and England between 2005-06 and 2008-09, and are from the Home Office's additional data collection on selected offences in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were reported to have been used. They are shown in the following tables. Data for 2009-10 are scheduled to be published in January 2011. Firearms are taken to be involved in a crime if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument or used as a threat. It is not possible to provide information below police force level.
Table 1: Non-fatal offences recorded by the police in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were reported to have been used( 1) , England, 2005-06 to 2008-09 | ||
Recorded crime | ||
13 to 19-year-olds | Total | |
(1) Firearms are taken to be involved in an offence if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument against a person, or used as a threat |
Table 2: Non-fatal offences recorded by the police in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were reported to have been used( 1) , London region( 2) , 2005-06 to 2008-09 | ||
Recorded crime | ||
13 to 19-year-olds | Total | |
(1) Firearms are taken to be involved in an offence if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument against a person, or used as a threat. (2 )The London region consists of the City of London and the Metropolitan police forces. |
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will request a report from the South African authorities on their arrangements for ensuring public order in relation to football fans attending the recent FIFA World Cup. [9406]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 19 July 2010]: We have no plans to request such a report. There was close and extensive liaison between the South African authorities and UK governmental and policing football experts before and during the tournament and very close co-operation in venue cities between host and English police delegations. Throughout the World Cup, the host authorities provided daily reports on their safety and security strategy and events in South Africa.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is provided for police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service on enforcing the provisions of the Hunting Act 2004; and if she will increase the levels of provision of such training. [7409]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 12 July 2010]: Training provided to police forces on enforcing the provisions of the Hunting Act is a matter for individual chief officers. The Crown Prosecution Service provides comprehensive legal guidance on the Hunting Act 2004 for prosecutors. The Government have no plans to increase the levels of provision of such training.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead of 9 June 2010, Official Report, column 157W, for what reason refunds for identity cards will not be offered. [12045]
Damian Green: The coalition Government are committed to scrapping the identity card scheme and the national identity register. We aim to achieve that at the least possible cost to the taxpayer. A very small percentage of the population voluntarily chose to buy a card and were warned that the scheme may be scrapped. We do not see why the taxpayer should pick up the bill to provide refunds.
Mrs Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been barred from working with children by the Independent Safeguarding Authority. [11332]
Lynne Featherstone
[holding answer 26 July 2010]: From 12 October 2009 to 22 July 2010, the Independent Safeguarding Authority has placed 11,361 people on the children's barred list. A further 15,649 people have been transferred to the children's list who were listed under previous schemes: the Protection of Children Act list and List 99. Some individuals were also transferred
to the ISA children's barred list from the Protection of Vulnerable Adults List because of the risk they demonstrated to children.
Mrs Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future of the Independent Safeguarding Authority offices in Darlington. [11329]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 26 July 2010]: We have already announced our decision to review the criminal records and vetting and barring regime and scale it back to a common sense level. The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) was established to support the operation of the vetting and barring scheme and the outcomes of that review will have an impact on its role.
It would, however, not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcomes of the review.
Mrs Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what tasks are undertaken at the Independent Safeguarding Authority's offices in Darlington. [11330]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 26 July 2010]: The Independent Safeguarding Authority's role is to make fair and consistent barring decisions on those people who may pose a risk of harm to children and/or vulnerable adults through paid or unpaid work. The ISA has four statutory functions:
to maintain a list of those who are barred from engaging in regulated activity with children (the "children's barred list");
to maintain a list of those barred from engaging in regulated activity with vulnerable adults (the "adults' barred list");
to reach decisions about whether a person should be included in one or both barred lists; and
to reach decisions as to whether to remove a person from a barred list.
Mrs Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed by the Independent Safeguarding Authority in Darlington. [11331]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 26 July 2010]: At the Independent Safeguarding Authority's offices in Darlington, there are currently 276 employees. This figure includes full-time permanent staff, fixed term staff and casual staff.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of the use of the substance khat. [10738]
James Brokenshire:
The Department commissioned two studies in 2009 to explore the social harms associated with khat use, though the perceived health effects of khat are also briefly reported on in each of the studies. The first of these is a mainly qualitative study undertaken among the UK's Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian
communities exploring perceptions of the social harms associated with khat use and perceptions of the appropriate role of Government intervention (the study also included a short survey of drug action teams to gauge the availability of treatment service provision for khat users). The second is a review of the national and international literature examining the evidence on the social harms associated with khat and the impact of legislation in countries which have legislated against khat use and supply.
In addition, the British crime survey report "Drug Misuse Declared 2009/10", published on 22 July 2010, for the first time includes estimates of the prevalence of khat use in the general population. Preliminary findings (based on six months data) show that 0.2% of adults reported using khat in the last year.
This report is available on the Home Office RDS website at:
Source:
"Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2009/10 British Crime Survey (England and Wales)".
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-fatal incidents involving (1) 13 to 19-year-olds and knives there were in (a) Streatham constituency, (b) the London Borough of Lambeth, (c) London and (d) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 on the latest date for which figures are available; [10730]
(2) knives there were in (a) Streatham constituency, (b) the London Borough of Lambeth, (c) London and (d) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 on the latest date for which figures are available. [10732]
James Brokenshire: Available data relate to offences recorded in London and England between 2007-08 and 2009-10, and are from the Home Office's additional data collection on selected offences involving knives and sharp instruments (hereafter referred to as 'knife offences'). Since only aggregate knife offences data are collected from forces, it is not possible to provide information broken down by age of victim or suspect, or below police force level.
The collection was introduced in April 2007 and knives are taken to be involved in an incident if they are used to stab or cut, or in a threat. A sharp instrument is any object that pierces the skin (or, in the case of a threat, is capable of piercing the skin) and includes bottles and glass (when broken prior to the offence) and syringes.
Data collected in 2007-08 covered the offences of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, GBH without intent and robbery. The following offence categories were added to the collection in 2008-09: threats to kill, actual bodily harm (ABH), sexual assault and rape.
The following table shows data for the years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. It should be noted that data for 2007-08 are not directly comparable to those for later years. This is due to the change in offences covered by
the collection, and also due to changes in: (i) the clarification rules for recording GBH with intent; and (ii) the definition of GBH without intent.
Knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by the police for selected offences, 2007-08 to 2009-10( 1) , recorded crime | |||
Method of killing | 2007-08( 2) | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
(1 )Police recorded knife and sharp instrument offences data are submitted via an additional special collection. Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instrument. In this table 'offences involving a knife' refers to the use of a knife or sharp instrument. Total of selected serious offences only include the five offence types shown in this table. (2 )Due to the inclusion of additional offence groups, a change in the clarification rules for recording GBH with intent, and a change in the definition of GBH without intent it is not possible to compare between 2007-08 and later years. (3 )The London region consists of the City of London and the Metropolitan police forces. |
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 14 June 2010 on Abu Hamza, ref. M7887/10. [10333]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 22 July 2010]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 22 July 2010.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West on his constituent Ms Linda Patlock. [11879]
Damian Green: I wrote to the hon. Member on 26 July 2010.
Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency plans to respond to the letter of 23 June from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding Mr B. Vadgama. [11939]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency replied to my hon. Friend's letter of 23 June 2010 regarding Mr B Vadgama on 21 July 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter dated 11 June 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Ms Aisha Akhtar. [11968]
Damian Green: I replied to the right hon. Member on 22 July 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter dated 2 June 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr Kasaif Ikbal. [11969]
Damian Green: The letter of 2 June crossed in the post with the reply of 2 June to the earlier letter of 14 May 2010. No further reply was needed.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter dated 20 May 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr A. Khan. [11970]
Damian Green: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given on 26 July 2010, Official Report, column 651W.
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals to enable multiple temporary event notices to be submitted on a single application. [11989]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office will shortly lead a public consultation on the overhaul of the Licensing Act and other alcohol measures set out in the coalition agreement. This will include inviting views on deregulation and temporary events notices.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 77W, for what reasons no decision was recorded in the cases of 122 individuals who were referred to the National Referral Mechanism between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010; and if she will make a statement. [7926]
Nick Herbert: "No decision recorded" refers mostly to cases which are still under consideration. It can also refer to cases where decisions have been made but have not yet been recorded in the statistics.
National Referral Mechanism statistics are updated quarterly. In future statistical updates, cases which are still under consideration will be shown as such.
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will issue guidance to police forces on the powers of police community support officers to issue fixed penalty notices; and if she will make a statement. [10888]
Nick Herbert: Police community support officers all have a set of 20 standard powers. They may be granted additional powers at the discretion of the chief officer of their force. There are three standard powers to issue fixed penalty notices (FPN) while five are discretionary. Some FPNs are issued on behalf of local authorities and these are produced in a number of different formats. Hence, training differs between forces, depending on local circumstances. There are no plans by the Home Office to issue guidance to police forces on these powers. The issue of guidance on the use of fixed penalty notices is an operational matter.
Mr Bain:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from (a) the Audit Commission and (b) HM Inspector of Constabulary on the number of frontline police officers
for the purpose of informing her Department's submission to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [11112]
Nick Herbert: None. However, HMIC and the Audit Commission published a joint report on 20 July called "Sustaining Value for Money in the Police Service."
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers were (a) disciplined, (b) subject to criminal charges, (c) given a custodial sentence and (d) dismissed for offences under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act 1989 in each of the last 10 years; [11178]
(2) how many police officers were (a) subject to criminal charges of, (b) given a custodial sentence following conviction for and (c) dismissed following conviction for perjury in each of the last 10 years. [11179]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold a central record of the information requested. This is a matter for the Chief Officer of each force.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that police forces give appropriate priority to responding to incidents of domestic violence. [11962]
James Brokenshire: Domestic violence is unacceptable. The Government are developing a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls and this will include domestic violence and within that, the police response.
Serial perpetrators are one of a number of domestic violence issues we are exploring. We will consider the New York policing model, as well as other models and reviews, within these discussions.
A Home Office pilot project for victims of domestic violence with no recourse to public funds commenced in November 2009 and was scheduled to run to the end of August 2010. On 16 July, the Home Secretary announced an extension to the pilot until the end of March 2011 and a commitment to find a long-term funding solution to the issue.
The pilot is monitored on a monthly basis and a full evaluation will take place following completion of the pilot.
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate she has made of the number of police officers to be recruited in (a) England and Wales and (b) Durham constituency consequent on the financial savings arising from the abolition of voluntary identity cards; [10059]
(2) what proportion of the financial savings attributable to the abolition of voluntary identity cards she plans to allocate to recruitment of front-line police officers in (a) England and Wales and (b) Durham constabulary. [10061]
Nick Herbert: No estimate has been made of the number of police officers to be recruited by any force in England and Wales. Recruitment remains a matter for each Chief Constable.
There are no net savings to the Exchequer in the current financial year from the decision to cancel ID cards. The allocation of savings made from the abolition of ID cards beyond the current financial year is a matter for the spending review.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) community support officers and (b) uniformed police officers have been recruited in (i) North Yorkshire and (ii) England in each of the last three years. [11628]
Nick Herbert: The available data are provided in the table. Figures exclude officers on transfers from other forces and those rejoining.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much overtime was undertaken in each police force in England and Wales in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the cost was to each force. [9270]
Nick Herbert: Information about time spent on police overtime is not collected by the Home Office. In respect of the cost of overtime I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy) on 3 June 2010, Official Report, column 80-81W.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the salary is of the (a) chief constable and (b) deputy chief constable of each police force in England and Wales. [9174]
Nick Herbert: The salaries of commissioners, deputy commissioners, chief constables, deputy chief constables and their equivalents are:
Forces | As at 1 September 2009 commissioner salary (£) | As at 1 September 2009 deputy/assistant commissioner salary (£) |
(1) Deputy (2 )Assistant |
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments other than salary payments were made to each (a) chief constable and (b) deputy chief constable in each police force in England and Wales in the latest period for which figures are available. [9265]
Nick Herbert: It is for police authorities to determine payments other than salary payments for individual chief constables and deputy chief constables, in accordance with the provisions in the Police Regulations 2003 and determinations made by the Home Secretary under the Regulations. Information about these payments is held by police authorities and is not currently collected by the Home Office.
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 (as amended by the Accounts and Audit (Amendment No. 2) (England) Regulations 2009) set out remuneration disclosure requirements which police authorities have to comply with.
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times police exercised powers under section 22 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 to engage in post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009; and how many times police have exercised such powers in 2010 to date. [8667]
Nick Herbert: The provisions on post-charge questioning in Section 22 of Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 have not been commenced. The police have, therefore, not exercised this power to date. As part of the Government's urgent review of pre-charge detention, the Government will be considering whether and if so how post-charge questioning might be used.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the amount paid by each police authority to settle (a) cases out of court and (b) at the conclusion of tribunals where allegations of racism were (i) the main factor and (ii) combined with other factors in each of the last two years. [11904]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not keep data on these figures, and therefore is unable to provide these estimates.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has the power to authorise the deployment of additional firearms to police in Scotland. [11861]
Nick Herbert: The Home Secretary does not have the power to authorise the deployment of additional firearms to police in Scotland.
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures her Department has put in place to provide information and training for police forces about the availability and effect of the Foreign Travel Order. [8567]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 15 July 2010]: The Home Office will be publishing updated guidance on the Sex Offenders Act 2003, which includes Foreign Travel Orders, by the end of this year to reflect changes in law brought into effect by the Policing and Crime Act 2009. The Home Office published a circular online highlighting the changes and implementation dates. This can be accessed at:
These changes have also been communicated to all forces through the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and featured in the ACPO Public Protection Conference in October 2009.
The National Policing Improvement Agency, as part of their Public Protection Learning Programme training programme, provides information and training to Public Protection Unit staff on Foreign Travel Orders.
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the prevalence of date rape; and if she will make a statement. [11907]
James Brokenshire: According to the British Crime Survey figures for 2007-08 (the most recent year for which data are available) 42% of serious sexual assaults (including rape) were committed by somebody known to the victim. 22% of serious sexual assaults were committed by a person described as a 'friend' or 'date'. The Government are committed to ensuring that all victims of rape are supported and feel able to report to the police and that the conviction rate is increased.
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