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11 Oct 2010 : Column 136W—continued
Courts: North Wales
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on the re-organisation of administrative staff in magistrates courts and county courts in North Wales. [15313]
Mr Djanogly: I have received no representations on court staff reorganisations within North Wales. Staff reorganisation is principally a matter for HMCS management and is undertaken using HMCS's internal staff management and consultation procedures, which includes consultation and engagement with staff, trade unions, judiciary and court user groups.
Courts: Offenders
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of defendants changed a plea before trial at (a) magistrates courts and (b) the Crown court in the latest period for which figures are available. [15574]
Mr Djanogly: In the second quarter of 2010, around 26,000 defendants entered a plea and were dealt with in trial cases at the Crown court. Of these defendants, around 16% changed their plea before the first substantive hearing. The second quarter of 2010 is the latest period for which statistics are available.
Information collected centrally about defendants in trials at the magistrates courts does not record whether their plea was changed prior to the trial taking place.
Courts: Sentencing
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of sentences for a second offence in (a) magistrates courts and (b) the Crown court were handed down to run concurrently with another sentence in the latest period for which figures are available. [15702]
Mr Blunt: The requested information is not held. Information collated on sentencing is on a principal offence basis i.e. each offender is recorded with the most severe punishment they receive, and the offence for which that sentence was given. Concurrent sentences which do not result in any punishment over and above the principal sentence are therefore not reported.
Courts: Yorkshire
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to announce the outcome of his consultation on the future of court services in North and West Yorkshire, with particular reference to Skipton Magistrates Court and Skipton County Court. [15832]
Mr Djanogly: My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor hopes to announce decisions on the proposals for the future provision of court services in England and Wales to Parliament by the end of the year.
Departmental Allowances
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department and its predecessors spent on (a) reimbursement of staff expenses and (b) the 10 largest staff expense reimbursement claims in each year since 1997. [13034]
Mr Djanogly:
The Ministry of Justice accounting systems do not centrally collate the amount of money reimbursed to staff for expenses. Expenditure on staff expenses is recorded according to the type of expenditure incurred not the mechanism of payment. Expenditure on travel and subsistence can be incurred by direct booking with the Department's designated suppliers, via Government Procurement Card or by reimbursement of expenses incurred personally by officials. To collate
information on amounts reimbursed would incur disproportionate costs as thousands of documents held locally would have to be manually examined.
Departments and agencies have authority to reimburse expenses incurred by their staff in connection with their employment, subject to the conditions set out in section 8 of the Civil Service Management Code which state that Departments and agencies must:
reimburse staff only for expenses which they actually and necessarily incur in the course of official business;
comply with the additional conditions and rules on travel, relocation expenses, compensation for loss or damage to property, and overseas expenses set out in sections 8.2 to 8.6 of the Code; and
ensure that their rules provide for claiming recompense, including verification and authorisation.
All expenditure on expenses is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety that are based on the principles set out in Government Accounting and supported by the Department's published internal guidance.
During the course of 2010-11, the MoJ is rolling out an online expenses system (iExpenses) that will make claiming expenses more efficient and easier to monitor in future. Full information will be available from 2011-12.
Departmental Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [16169]
Mr Djanogly: For the latest period for which figures are available (August 2010), the average cost to the Ministry of Justice for payment of an invoice was £3.90.
In that period 81% of invoices were settled electronically and 19% were settled by cheque.
Departmental Contracts
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the monetary value is of contracts his Department has awarded to each (a) management consultancy and (b) IT company since 7 May 2010. [16179]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has awarded two IT contracts and one management consultancy contract since 7 May 2010.
The IT contracts were as follows:
Departmental Empty Property
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated monetary value is of each vacant (a) building and (b) parcel of land owned by his Department in each region. [16246]
Mr Kenneth Clarke:
I am unable to detail the value of vacant buildings and land owned by the Ministry of
Justice (MoJ) as this may potentially prejudice future market prices. However, I am able to provide details of MoJ properties that are currently on the market and these are shown in the following table. There are currently no vacant parcels of land on the market.
In common with all Government Departments, the MoJ is required to dispose of surplus assets as quickly as possible.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in the Department in each of the last three years. [13479]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: Since its inception in May 2007, the Ministry of Justice has had 19 Ministers. It would incur disproportionate costs to search the diaries of each Minister to ascertain which of the events listed were hosted by them, and then to contact the relevant business group to find out how much any hospitality cost.
All hospitality expenditure incurred by the Department is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, which are based on the principles set out in Government Accounting and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines in each year since 2007. [16238]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) subscribes to many different periodicals and professional magazines (hard copy and online via individual purchase and subscription) for both staff and the judiciary in order to keep up to date with the latest news and thinking in a wide range of professional areas, including law, corporate services and job-specific roles.
Accounting systems for the MOJ, HMCS, Tribunals Service and Office of the Public Guardian do not differentiate soft and hard copy purchases. The same account codes also include some library purchases such as books and it would incur disproportionate costs to separate these costs out. The natural account codes for the National Offender Management Service do not differentiate purchased publications and publications created for their organisation.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if his Department will take steps to assess the effects on (a) equality of incomes, (b) equality of assets and (c) equality of access to services of measures relating to its expenditure under consideration in the spending review. [16377]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice will ensure the relevant equality considerations are taken in to account in the context of expenditure under consideration in the spending review, in compliance with our obligations under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Departmental Redundancy Pay
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what severance payment was made to each (a) Minister and (b) special adviser in his Department who left office after the last general election. [14660]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: All severance payments are made in accordance with section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. Following the last general election, six Ministers received a severance payment. These were:
Right hon. Jack Straw MP-Secretary of State for Justice (former)
Right hon. Michael Wills MP-Minister of State for Justice (former)
Maria Eagle MP-Joint Minister of State for Justice and Government Equalities Office (former)
Lord Bach-Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (former)
Bridget Prentice-Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (former)
Claire Ward MP-Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (former)
The total cost of severance payments made to these Ministers was £73,442.
Two former Ministry of Justice special advisers working to the Secretary of State for Justice also received a severance payment. These were:
Mark Davies-special adviser to the Secretary of State for Justice (special adviser pay range 3)
Declan McHugh-special adviser to the Secretary of State for Justice (special adviser pay range 2)
The total cost of severance payments made to these special advisers was £67,492.
Departmental Secondment
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff his Department has appointed on secondment since 7 May 2010; and from what organisation each such member of staff has been seconded. [16264]
Mr Djanogly: Between 7 May 2010 and 30 June 2010 (the date of the latest published data), no staff were seconded into the Ministry of Justice.
Immigration Appeals Commission
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the remit is of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. [15551]
Mr Djanogly: The Tribunals Service, an Executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, is responsible for providing administrative support to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC). SIAC deals with appeals against decisions of the Secretary of State for the Home Department (a) to deport, or exclude, someone from the UK on national security or public interest grounds and (b) on issues of citizenship as set out in the British Nationality Act 1981.
Legal Aid: Contracts
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what negotiations the Legal Services Commission has undertaken with (a) parties to the 2007 Unified Civil Contract for legal aid services and (b) parties who are not party to the contract in respect of any extension to it; and on what dates and with whom such negotiations took place. [15859]
Mr Djanogly: On 3 September, representatives from the Legal Services Commission (LSC) met with representatives from the Law Society to discuss a short extension to the Unified Contract (Civil). This was agreed at a further meeting between these two organisations on 6 September. In accordance with the terms of the Unified Contract (Civil) Standard Terms, a short consultation with the other main representative bodies (Advice Services Alliance and the Legal Aid Practitioners Group) then followed. Formal notification was then posted on the LSC's website on 13 September and issued by e-mail to existing contract holders. Discussions in relation to the contract extension were therefore all held with parties that are not holders of the Unified Contract (Civil) but their representative bodies.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration (a) his Department and (b) the Legal Services Commission gave to the requirements of (i) procurement law and (ii) contract law in decisions on the extension of the 2007 Unified Civil Contract for legal aid services. [15860]
Mr Djanogly: Decisions made under the tender process for the award of legal aid contracts are a matter for the LSC, which is responsible for administering the legal aid scheme.
The one-month extension of the Unified Contract (Civil) has been implemented by the LSC in accordance with the contract's standard terms. This followed consultation with representative bodies in accordance with the contract's standard terms. Legal advice was taken by the LSC on procurement and contractual law as appropriate.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what extensions to the 2007 Unified Civil Contract for legal aid services there have been; on what date the extensions were made; and on what basis they were made. [15890]
Mr Djanogly: The 2007 Unified Contract (Civil) was initially granted for three years from 1 April 2007 (to expire on 31 March 2010 unless lawfully ended or extended before then). On 23 December 2009 the LSC published notification that the contract would be extended to 14 October 2010. This extension was to take account of tenders for 2010 contracts opening in January-March 2010. On 13 September 2010 a further extension of the contract to expire at midnight on 14 November 2010 was announced. This was to take account of the legal challenge brought by the Law Society. Both extensions were made in accordance with the provisions of the contract.
Magistrates: Public Expenditure
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average cost to the public purse of recruiting and training new magistrates in the latest period for which figures are available. [15573]
Mr Djanogly: The average estimated costs of the induction training for the period 2009-10 for new magistrates was £180.56 calculated on 1,632 magistrates appointed and estimated costs of £294,678.86.
The figure is made up from the individual reports of local Magistrates' Area Training Committees. Following selection and appointment, a magistrate will be assigned to a 'bench' for induction, training and court rota purposes. The local Magistrates' Area Training Committee provides the training utilising the core training materials prepared by the Judicial Studies Board.
The average estimated costs of recruiting magistrates for the period 2009-10 was £93.75 calculated on 1,632 magistrates appointed and estimated cost of £153,000.
The £153,000 is the estimated budget for the recruitment campaigns during the period 2009-10.
Medway Secure Training Centre: Conduct
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) internal, (b) external and (c) police investigations into the conduct of staff were conducted at Medway secure training centre in each year since 1998; and what the outcome was of each investigation in respect of which any legal proceedings have been completed. [15867]
Mr Blunt: Medway Secure Training Centre (STC) conducts an internal investigation for every allegation made against the conduct of staff and following any referrals made to its local Children's Services Team. External investigations are carried out by the local Children's Services Child Protection Team (CSPT), who will involve the police for investigation when this is deemed necessary.
There were no legal proceedings as a result of any investigation carried out by the CSPT. Using these criteria the figures are as follows:
| Internal | External | Police | |
Data prior to 2001 are unavailable for the purpose of this question.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time.
Medway Secure Training Centre: Restraint Techniques
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any injuries were sustained as a result of the use of restraint techniques on boys held in Medway secure training centre since 1998. [15869]
Mr Blunt: All secure establishments submit monthly data returns to the Youth Justice Board (YJB) on the number of injuries from restrictive physical interventions (RPI). Data on injuries are reported against common definitions of minor injury requiring medical treatment (which includes cuts, scratches and grazes) and serious injury requiring hospital treatment (which includes fractures and loss of consciousness).
Data have been collected on the injuries arising from an RPI since April 2007 and these figures have been provided in the table. These include both of the above categories of injuries. Data are not available broken down by gender.
| Injury requiring medical treatment | |
The data from 2009-10 will be available following the publication of the 2009-10 Annual YJB Workload statistics in January 2011.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time.
Missing Persons
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to implement the recommendation of the final report of the Missing Persons Taskforce on a Presumption of Death Bill for England and Wales. [16343]
Mr Djanogly: The Missing Persons Taskforce recommended that my Department consider the benefits and circumstances in which a presumption of death might apply in missing person cases. We are currently considering these matters and shall report when we have more information.
National Offender Management Service: Buildings
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the National Offender Management Service has a standard rental rate for probation service offices; and if he will make a statement. [16112]
Mr Blunt: The National Offender Management Service negotiates the best market rate for the rent of probation premises to ensure value for money.
A standard rate, currently £178 per square metre, is applied to probation offices, which covers the cost of rent, rates, service charges, electricity, gas, oil, water and telephones. It also covers facility management and estate management costs, including the provision of building
repair and maintenance, plus non-cash costs such as depreciation, dilapidation provisions and impairment charges.
This rate is levied on the basis of the gross internal area being occupied in a given period. The charge is adjusted when a probation trust either vacates a building or otherwise increases or decreases the floor area they use.
Offenders: West Midlands
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people with addresses in (a) the metropolitan borough of Dudley and (b) the metropolitan borough of Walsall are (i) in prison, (ii) on probation and (iii) in secure accommodation. [15632]
Mr Blunt: The information requested is set out as follows.
Information on a prisoner's residence is provided by prisoners on reception into prison. If no address is given on first reception in to prison, various proxies are used to determine a home address, including using the next-of-kin address and the committal court address. These figures are included in the answer.
As of 10 September 2010, based on this information there were 254 people in a prison or young offender institution with a recorded address in the metropolitan borough of Dudley and 297 people in a prison or young offender institution with a recorded address in the metropolitan borough of Walsall.
These figures include male and female prisoners, adults, young offenders and juveniles and those who are sentenced and on remand.
Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust record the total number of offenders managed in the community with recorded address in the metropolitan boroughs of Dudley and Walsall.
At the end of August 2010, based on this information there were 679 people who had received a community sentence and were being managed in the community by the Probation Service with an address in the borough of Dudley. On the same date there were 672 people who had received a community sentence and were being managed in the community by the Probation Service with an address in the borough of Walsall. These figures include both males and females.
The Youth Justice Board does not record the local authority of a young person's home address. The Youth Justice Board does however hold data on the youth offending team (YOT) attached to the young person. The following table shows the number of people under 18 who are attached to Dudley and Walsall youth offending teams (YOTs) in secure accommodation on 10 September 2010
| Dudley YOT | Walsall YOT | |
All data have been drawn from individual administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time.
Prison Service: Racial Discrimination
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many racist incidents were reported in prisons in each of the last three years. [15553]
Mr Blunt: The following table indicates the total number of incidents of alleged racism reported by prisoners, staff or visitors in the last three reporting years.
| Number | |
A small proportion consist of allegations of misconduct by staff and all such matters are subject to disciplinary investigation under the code of conduct and discipline.
All investigations into reported acts of racism are overseen and signed off by the governor or deputy governor. In addition, the regional custodial manager conducts bi-annual checks of a random sample of investigations.
The NOMS Race Review 2008-published in December 2008 and available in the Library-sets out the current assessment of race equality in the prison service, including the effectiveness of these systems and plans for work further to improve them.
Prisoners' Release
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders serving a custodial sentence for a violent crime were (a) released on licence and (b) re-arrested for a further violent offence while under licence in each of the last five years. [15940]
Mr Blunt: The following table shows the number of offenders serving a determinate sentence for violence against the person released on licence over the last five years (2005 to 2009).
| Number | |
| (1) Data for the second half of 2009 are not available. | |
Information is not held centrally for offenders arrested for a further violent offence while under licence.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Prisoners: Religion
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2010, Official Report, columns 576-77W, on prisoners: religion, which 44 prisons in England and Wales logged Security Information Reports of incidents which might relate to manifestations of attempted radicalisation. [16079]
Mr Blunt: It would be inappropriate for operational reasons, including implications for order and control and the integrity of security systems, to provide the information requested.
All security information reports submitted by staff have to be evaluated for quality, accuracy and intelligence value. Reporting levels can be driven by the fluidity of prisoner populations, varying significance, interpretation and subjective perceptions of particular circumstances and individuals, and the possibility of duplicative reporting. The number of SIRs submitted, therefore, does not provide a true reflection of risk.
There is therefore a sensitivity in listing the prisons who logged security information reports of incidents which might relate to manifestations of attempted radicalisation.
I will write privately to the hon. Member.
Prisoners: Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what provision is being made in prisons serving North Wales to ensure that rehabilitation, education and support services take into account the fact that many prisoners in such prisons have Welsh as their first language; and if he will make a statement. [15656]
Mr Blunt: At present prisons in the North West and the West Midlands take prisoners from North Wales. There will also be some prisoners held in the high security estate, due to the nature of their offence. The majority of prisoners from North Wales are held in HMP Altcourse, which has established a wide range of Welsh language provision specifically to support Welsh language speakers. This includes learning and skills provision. Also, those organisations that would be involved in the resettlement of prisoners back to their communities in North Wales would also provide Welsh language services as required.
I am looking to increase access to Welsh language services for prisoners who have Welsh as their first language throughout the prison estate. As part of that work, the National Offender Management Service is drafting Welsh Language Scheme, which is intended to be published for consultation later this year.
Prisons: Crimes of Violence
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many assaults on prisoners by prisoners were reported in each of the last three years; and how many additional days were added to the sentences of those responsible for such assaults in each such year. [15233]
Mr Blunt: The numbers of recorded prisoner-on-prisoner assault incidents for the last three calendar years (2007 to 2009) are detailed in the following table.
| England and Wales | |
| Assault incidents | |
| Data sources and quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Care is taken when processing and analysing the returns but the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and so although shown to the last case, the figures may not be accurate to that level. | |
Additional days arise from adjudication outcomes. Data on adjudications count the number of offences and punishments given rather than the number of prisoners charged with those offences. The following table gives details of offences punished: the total number of punishments given and the number of times additional days were given as a punishment for assault on a prisoner by a prisoner in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
| England and Wales | |||
| Assault incidents | |||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Data sources and quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Care is taken when processing and analysing the returns but the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and so although shown to the last case, the figures may not be accurate to that level. | |||
The figures are taken from Table 8.4 of the Ministry of Justice Statistics bulletin "Offender Management Caseload Statistics" available at the MoJ website:
The figures in the bulletins cover all proven adjudication offences committed and punishments given for these breaches of prison discipline. More than one punishment can be given for a single offence.
Prisons: Employment
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners in each open prison have employment outside prison. [14283]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice does not hold this information centrally. NOMS delegates authority for negotiating prisoner work placements to the governors of the 26 prisons in the 'Resettlement Estate', along with responsibility for risk assessment, health and safety at work, and public protection. Normally a period will have been spent undertaking voluntary work before employment will be considered.
An ad hoc survey carried out in June 2009 recorded 482 prisoners held in England and Wales working outside prisons in a variety of employment, and work experience placements. Details by establishment are in the following table:
| Region | Prison | Employment placements |
Prisons: Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on proposals for the construction of a new prison in north Wales. [16145]
Mr Blunt: In October 2009, the Ministry of Justice began a site search for sites suitable for 1,500 place prisons in the priority areas of north west England, north Wales, west Yorkshire and Greater London as part of the new prisons programme. A number of sites in north Wales have been put forward.
We will ensure that we meet prison capacity requirements more efficiently to improve value for money for the
taxpayer and contribute savings to help reduce the budget deficit and the new prisons programme is consistent with those objectives.
Rape and Sexual Offences: Convictions
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the conviction rate was for cases of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many women reported (i) rape and (ii) sexual assault to police in the latest period for which figures are available. [16057]
Mr Blunt: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for the offences: rape of a male; rape of a female; sexual assault on a male; and sexual assault on a female; and conviction ratio of guilty defendants against those proceeded against for England and Wales, 2008 (latest available) is shown in table 1.
Data for 2009 will be published on 21 October 2010.
Information held by the Home Office on sexual offences against females recorded by the police in England and Wales, 2009-10 (latest available) is shown in table 2.
The Home Office collects data on the number of police recorded offences of rape of a female and sexual assault on a female but does not collect data on individuals reporting an offence, so cannot identify which of these offences were reported by women.
| Table 1: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty( 1,2 ) at all courts for the offences: rape of a male; rape of a female; sexual assault on a male; and sexual assault on a female; and conviction ratios of guilty against those proceeded against, England and Wales, 2008( 3) | |||
| Offence class | Proceeded against | Found guilty | Conviction ratio (%)( 4) |
| (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2O08. (4) The conviction ratio is the number of defendants found guilty in 2008 divided by the number of defendants proceeded against whose case was concluded in 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. | |||
| Table 2: Sexual offences against females recorded by the police in England and Wales, 2009-10 | |
| Offence | Number recorded crime |
| Source: VCS, Home Office. | |
Rape: Rights of Accused
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 27 July 2010, Official Report, column 923W, on rape: rights of accused, for what reason he decided to consider anonymity for defendants in rape cases up to the point of charge; whether he is considering anonymity for defendants up to the point of charge for any other offences; if he will report to the House the outcome of his Department's consideration of the matter since July 2010; on what date in September 2010 he plans to publish the assessment of the existing research and statistics; when he plans to introduce legislative proposals; and if he will make a statement. [16392]
Mr Blunt: We will publish the independent research assessment and make our considered views known shortly.
Reoffenders
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what mechanism he plans to introduce for payment-by-results schemes to reduce re-offending rates among offenders; and if he will make a statement. [16014]
Mr Blunt: The Government are committed to introducing payment by results as part of a new approach to offender rehabilitation. We plan to commission providers to work with offenders to reduce reoffending, paid for by the subsequent savings generated in the criminal justice system.
The Social Impact Bond at HMP Peterborough, launched on 10 September 2010, is an example of the innovative approach we want to take towards reducing reoffending.
Officials in the Ministry of Justice are developing proposals for the introduction of further payment by results approaches. The outcome of this work will be published for consultation in the forthcoming Green Paper on offender rehabilitation.
Secure Training Centres: Restraint Techniques
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how occasions restraint techniques have been used on (a) boys and (b) girls for the purposes of maintaining good order and discipline in secure training centres in each month since April 1998. [15868]
Mr Blunt: The following table shows the use of restraint for reasons of good order and discipline by month and gender. Data on the reasons for restraint have only been collected centrally by the Youth Justice Board since April 2008. Data are only available up to July 2008, as changes to the secure training centre (STC) rules made at this time precluded STCs from using restraint for the purposes of good order and discipline.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time.
| 2008 | |||
| Month | Total | Male | Female |
I would like to also draw attention to two answers given by my predecessor the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle) to the then hon. Member for Cambridge (David Howarth) on 15 June 2009, Official Report, columns 67-70W, and to the then hon. Member for Cardiff North (Julie Morgan) on 12 October 2009, Official Report, columns 164-66W, which referred to the reasons for restraint. In these answers the number of restraints for reasons of good order and discipline in STCs in April 2008 was given as four. This was incorrect due to a data error and should have been two, as per the answer in the table above. These two occasions are for Rainsbrook STC, and Medway STC should read as 0.
Sentencing
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions resulted in a community sentence in each of the last three years; and what the aggregate length of such sentences was in each such year. [15552]
Mr Blunt: The number of persons sentenced to community sentences and the total persons sentenced, as recorded on the courts proceedings database, in the last three years for which data are available is shown in table 1 as follows. The figures in table 1 refer to all community sentences. Data for 2009 will be available once Sentencing Statistics 2009 is published on 21 October 2010. The length of a community sentence is not recorded on the courts proceedings database so it is not possible to give the aggregate length of all community sentences from this source.
Information from Offender Management Caseload Statistics provided in table 2, shows the length of community sentences as recorded by the probation service. The figures in this table refer to community orders (which are a specific type of community sentence).
| Table 1: Persons sentenced to community sentences and total sentenced at all courts, 2006-08( 1, 2) | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics-Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice. | |||
| Table 2: Offenders starting community order supervision by the probation service with average length of order, 2006-09 | ||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Data sources and quality These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, but the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and so although shown to the last individual, the figures may not be accurate to that level. See Technical appendix of report for fuller information. Source: Justice Statistics-Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice. | ||||
Sentencing: Wales
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the intensive alternatives to custody pilot schemes in South Wales and Dyfed-Powys; [16086]
(2) whether he plans to extend the implementation of the intensive alternatives to the custody scheme pilot. [16087]
Mr Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has commissioned several independent studies of the intensive alternative to custody (IAC) projects, including the South Wales and Dyfed-Powys schemes. One study will establish whether an impact evaluation will be feasible and affordable. Depending on the outcome, and available resources, a proposal for an outcome evaluation on reoffending will be submitted for approval to the Ministry of Justice Research Quality Assurance Board and costs agreed with lead policy officers.
At present there are no plans to extend central funding for IAC past the end of the pilot in 2011. However, each of the pilot areas is looking at ways that IAC could be mainstreamed within existing resources.
Television: Licensing
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in Leeds North West constituency have been prosecuted for not having a television licence in the last 12 months. [16068] [Official Report, 8 March 2011, Vol. 524, c. 5MC.]
Mr Blunt: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for the offence of television licence evasion under the Communications Act 2003, in the West Yorkshire police force area for 2008 (latest available), was 6,652. Figures are not available at constituency level so police force area level data have been provided in lieu.
The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
Data for 2009 will be published on 21 October 2010. The publication date for 2010 figures has not been finalised but will be announced on the UK National Statistics release calendar.
Tyres
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies take into account rolling resistance as a performance criterion when purchasing tyres. [13548]
Mr Blunt: Vehicles are procured using pan-government lease and purchase framework agreements and are supplied with tyres specified by the manufacturer. Rolling resistance will be a factor taken into account by vehicle manufacturers as it will have an effect on published fuel economy performance figures.
Tyres are replaced in accordance with contractual agreements, utilising national chains to ensure that discounts are fully optimised and value for money is obtained.
The overriding requirements with regard to tyre replacements are primarily directed towards legal and health and safety requirements, fitness for purpose, and value for money. Rolling resistance is not taken into account as a performance criterion when tyres are due to be replaced, but emphasis is placed on ensuring that tyres are checked on a regular basis, and are inflated to the correct pressures.
War Memorials: Vandalism
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward legislative proposals to provide war memorials with protection in law from defacement or defilement. [16042]
Mr Blunt: Having examined the law in this area, we think existing legislation on criminal damage deals appropriately with offenders who deface, defile or otherwise damage war memorials.
As the law stands, where the value of criminal damage is less than £5,000, the offence will be tried in a magistrates court and the maximum penalty available is three months' imprisonment. If the damage exceeds £5,000 and the case is tried in the magistrates court the maximum penalty is six months' imprisonment. If tried on indictment the maximum penalty is 10 years' imprisonment, and 14 years if the offence is racially or religiously motivated.
This is an emotive issue and we fully understand why many people think the existing sentencing framework does not reflect the seriousness of the crime. But judges and magistrates can-and do-have regard to the special status of war memorials when sentencing an offender for criminal damage. That special status may aggravate any sentence imposed, within the constraints of the maximum penalties agreed by Parliament for this type of offence.
Youth Justice: Public Consultation
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what mechanisms are in place to take account of the views of young people in his Department's policy on youth justice. [16036]
Mr Blunt: We are committed to ensuring that the public, including young people, have the opportunity to participate in shaping policies which will affect them.
For example, the Youth Justice Board (YJB) is currently engaging with young people on designing a new framework for assessing young offenders' needs when they enter the CJS.
The YJB also supports practitioners in youth offending teams and the custodial estate to increase their skills in securing greater youth participation at local level.
In the Ministry of Justice we are planning a programme to inform and engage young people in criminal justice issues, and particularly to help young people contribute their views to the forthcoming Rehabilitation and Sentencing Green Paper which will include a chapter on youth justice. We will do this through working with partners, stakeholders and local communities who engage with young people, as well as through direct channels including the internet and social media.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Banks: Loans
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase (a) entrepreneurial activity and (b) levels of bank lending to businesses in Witham constituency. [15733]
Mr Davey: The Prime Minister has set out his ambition to make this decade the most entrepreneurial and dynamic in our history. To realise this ambition, my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, is developing a strategy for enterprise which challenges aspirations and capability, modernises business support, supports cash flow and access to finance, reduces burdens and transforms opportunities for individuals and their communities.
Ensuring the flow of credit to business is a key priority for the Government and we recently published a Green Paper, "Financing a private sector recovery", requesting the views of individuals, businesses and financial institutions. The Government will respond in due course.
As well as continuing to push banks to lend to viable businesses, the Government have extended the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme by £200 million to £700 million. As of 8 September 2010, 16 businesses in the constituency of Witham have been offered loans totalling £2.69 million, of which 15 businesses have drawn down £2.65 million.
Broadband: North East and North West
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of households in (a) Redcar constituency, (b) the North-East and (c) the North- West which will have access to next generation broadband in each of the next five years. [15840]
Mr Vaizey: This Department has not made such estimation for these areas. The Government are committed to ensuring the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015, including the delivery of superfast broadband to rural and remote areas at the same time as in more populated areas.
Business Link West Midlands: Finance
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2010, Official Report, columns 522-3W, on Business Link West Midlands, what arrangements will be established to channel funding for Business Link West Midlands following the ending of regional development agencies. [16108]
Mr Prisk: The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are due to be abolished in March 2012. This Department is currently considering how business support, information and advice will be provided once the RDAs are abolished.
No decision on future arrangements will be made until all the options have been considered against the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Business Links: Expenditure
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of training and employing Business Link advisers in the latest period for which figures are available. [16368]
Mr Prisk: The cost of training and employing field-based Business Link advisers in 2009/10 was £55.95 million.
This excludes expenses and overheads.
Business Links: Redcar
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses operating in Redcar constituency contacted Business Link in each of the last five years. [15865]
Mr Prisk: In the Redcar and Cleveland local authority area, Business Link had contact with the following number of businesses in the last five financial year periods. The following data are based on the number of unique customers assisted throughout the year, and represents customers who have received support through the Information, Diagnostic and Brokerage (IDB) service.
| Financial year | Number of customers assisted |
| (1 )YTD. | |
In the north east, the Business Link service has been delivered by Business and Enterprise North East since April 2007. The figures prior to that date are based on data obtained from the Business Link Tees Valley Customer Record Management system. Business Link does not hold data at constituency level.
Business: Government Assistance
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses operating in Redcar constituency received funding from one or more schemes operated by his Department and its predecessors in each of the last five years. [15837]
Mr Prisk: The following table shows that 31 businesses were supported in the last five years through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) schemes: Grant for Business Investment (GBI), (formerly known as Selective Finance for Investment in England or SFIE grants) and Grants for Research and Development (GRD) in Redcar constituency. A total of 34 projects were supported through the Manufacturing Advisory Service, MAS-NE. The grants are managed by the regional development agency, One North East. The value amount represents the maximum grant potentially payable if the projects are satisfactorily completed.
| Data range 2005/06 to 2009/10 | ||
| Scheme | Number of businesses | Value (£) |
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which (a) organisations and (b) projects in Redcar constituency his Department has made a grant in the last five years; and how much each such grant was. [15838]
Mr Prisk: The following table shows details of the organisations and businesses in the Redcar and Cleveland local authority area in the last five financial year that have received grants through the following Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) schemes: Grant for Business Investment (GBI), (formerly known as Selective Finance for Investment in England or SFIE grants), Grants for Research and Development (GRD), and The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS). Only GBI data are kept at constituency level.
Connaught Partnerships: Redundancy
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to assist staff who have been made redundant since the entry into administration of Connaught Partnerships. [16219]
Mr Davey: Former employees of insolvent employers can claim redundancy payments and other contractual debts such as unpaid wages, notice pay and outstanding holiday pay from the National Insurance Fund. The Insolvency Service's Birmingham Redundancy Payments Office (RPO) is liaising with the administrator of Connaught to establish what payments are due. Once the information is obtained to identify what payments are due they will be made without delay. The RPO aims to pay 78% of claims within three weeks of receipt and 92% within six weeks of receipt.
Jobcentre Plus, through its rapid response service (RRS), offers access to a wide range of support for employers and employees. As well as advice on how to claim benefits, assistance includes identifying transferable skills, job-related training, and support to take up a new job, e.g. help with initial travel or child care costs. This support is provided by Jobcentre Plus, skills bodies, development agencies and local authorities. The administrator is liaising directly with the Jobcentre Plus national account manager who is co-ordinating the assistance through to local levels.
Copyright: Internet
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to respond to the policy recommendations of the Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property Policy in respect of the proposed Google Books initiative. [16195]
Mr Davey: The Government have noted the recommendations of SABIP on this issue. Any settlement on the Google Books initiative will only apply to use of the works in the US and is primarily a matter for the US courts. However, the Government continue to monitor developments on this issue carefully and to consider the wider issues raised by this case, including the potential benefits of mass digitisation of creative works to increase legitimate access to these works for research, consumers and other businesses.
Corus
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) Corus-Tata and (b) Sahaviriya Steel Industries on the future of the Corus plant on Teesside. [15834]
Mr Prisk: Tata Steel has continued to keep the Department informed of developments in respect of the Teesside Cast Products plant. Since his appointment in May, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has met Ratan Tata on two occasions, and he also spoke to Kirby Adams, former chief executive officer of Tata Steel Europe (formerly Corus) when the Memorandum of Understanding with Sahaviriya Steel Industries Public Company Ltd (SSI) on the potential sale of Teesside Cast Products was announced on 27 August. Most recently, the UK ambassador in Bangkok and his team have also had discussions with SSI since the announcement of the Memorandum of Understanding.
Departmental Billing
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many payments to suppliers were made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies (i) within 30 days of, (ii) over 30 days after, (iii) over 60 days after and (iv) over 90 days after the date of invoice in the latest period for which figures are available. [13933]
Mr Davey: During August 2010 the Department made the following payments to its suppliers:
| Time Period | Number paid | Percentage |
However, the above figures do not take into account those invoices that were placed in dispute, those invoices that were submitted to the wrong address or those that were post dated.
For information, the Department measures its prompt payment from the date a valid invoice is received at its nominated address. Using this measurement, the Department paid 99.6% of invoices within 30 days and 93.9% were paid within five working days.
I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to my hon. Friend directly.
Information on the Department's non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 3 September 2010, UIN 13933 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
In 2009/10, the latest period for which figures are available, Companies House made 9,906 payments to suppliers within 30 days of the date of the invoice and 48 payments after 30 days of the date of the invoice. Of these, 37 were as a result of disputes. No payments would be over 60 days old.
Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 9 September 2010:
I am replying on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency to your Parliamentary question tabled on 3 September 2010 (UIN 13933). To ask the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many payments to suppliers were made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies (i) within 30 days of, (ii) over 30 days after, (iii) over 60 days after and (iv) over 90 days after the date of invoice in the latest period for which figures are available.
The Skills Funding Agency was set up as an agency of BIS on 1 April 2010 and the figures are detailed overleaf from Period 1 to Period 5 - 1 April 2010 to 31 August 2010.
| Payment of suppliers | Number of invoices paid | Percentage of invoices paid |
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 7 September 2010:
The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how many payments to suppliers were made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies (i) within 30 days of, (ii) over 30 days after, (iii) over 60 days after and (iv) over 90 days after the date of invoice in the latest period for which figures are available.
The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills made the following payments to suppliers in the period April to August 2010:
(i) 10,371 within 30 days;
(ii) 84 payments over 30 days;
(iii) 8 payments over 60 days and
(iv) 4 payments over 90 days
after the date of invoice.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 20 September 2010:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 3 September 2010, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills asking how many payments to suppliers were made (i) within 30 days of, (ii) over 30 days after, (iii) over 60 days after and (iv) over 90 days after the date of invoice in the latest period for which figures are available.
Between April 2009 and March 2010, the Agency made a total of 1,906 payments to suppliers of which:
(i) 1,885 payments were made within 30 days of receiving an invoice which was correctly rendered,
(ii) 21 payments took over 30 days to process,
(iii) No payments were made where an invoice was over 60 days old and
(iv) No payments were made where an invoice was over 90 days old.
Letter from John Alty, dated 24 September 2010:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 07 September 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Intellectual Property Office has analysed the above in the following ways. The first column is invoice paid in the period within 30 days of the invoice date. The second column shows all the invoices paid more than 30 days after the invoice date (including invoices more than 60 and 90 days over). The third column shows all the invoices paid more than 60 days after the invoice date (including invoices more than 90 days over). The fourth column shows all invoices paid more than 90 days over.
The Office's target to pay invoices within 10 working days is reported in the annual report and accounts which is published on our website:
| Supplier invoices | Paid within 30 days | Paid over 30 days | Paid over 60 days | Paid over 90 days |
We paid 89% of invoices within 10 days in financial year 2009/10.
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [16158]
Mr Davey: During August 2010, the Department made 4,223 payments of which 4,190 were made electronically and 33 were made by payable order.
During this period, the average cost of processing an invoice was £4.29. This includes direct staff costs and an apportionment for overheads.
Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions each Minister in his Department has met his Department's Chief Scientific Officer since 6 May 2010. [15439]
Mr Davey: Since 6 May, the chief scientific adviser in BIS, Professor Brian Collins, has met substantively with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and President of the Board of Trade once, and the Minister for Universities and Science four times.
Departmental Contracts
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an estimate of the monetary value of the contracts between his Department and private sector companies which will be cancelled under his Department's planned spending reductions. [10167]
Mr Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ochil and South Perthshire (Gordon Banks) on 7 September 2010, Official Report, column 430W.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value is of contracts his Department has awarded to each (a) management consultancy and (b) IT company since 7 May 2010. [16192]
Mr Davey: The information is as follows:
(a) Central records indicate that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has spent £1,428,752 on consultancy from 1 May to 30 September. This information is taken from a system which does not break the expenditure down by company.
(b) Central records indicate that no new contracts have been awarded to any IT companies since 7 May 2010.
Departmental Empty Property
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the estimated monetary value is of each vacant (a) building and (b) parcel of land owned by his Department in each region. [16255]
Mr Davey: This Department does not own any buildings or land. It is all leasehold.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in the Department in each of the last three years. [13471]
Mr Davey: The amounts spent on ministerial hospitality are as follows:
| £ | |
The above costs principally relate to conferences and receptions for key stakeholders.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in July 2010. [15145]
Mr Davey: £221.39 in total for July 2010.
Departmental Pay
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what average hourly rate his Department has paid to each employment agency for agency staff in each year since its inception. [12712]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has framework agreements with Adecco and Brook Street. The average is calculated using inner London charge rates based on the grades employed through each of these agencies in 2009-10:
Adecco: £15.59
Brook Street: £14.84.
To establish this information for other agencies used by BIS would be disproportionately expensive to obtain.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was created in June 2009.
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines in each year since its inception. [16236]
Mr Davey: Expenditure on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines is not separately itemised in the Department's accounting system, and the details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to assess the effects on (a) equality of incomes, (b) equality of assets and (c) equality of access to services of measures relating to its expenditure under consideration in the spending review. [16358]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will ensure the relevant equality considerations are taken in to account in the context of expenditure under consideration in the spending review, in compliance with our obligations under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
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