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11 Oct 2010 : Column 190W—continued
Departmental Travel
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of its expenditure on travel undertaken in an official capacity by each Minister in her Department in (i) May 2010 and (ii) June 2010. [8239]
Nick Herbert: The total cost of travel incurred by the Home Department for the Home Secretary and other Home Office Ministers travelling in an official capacity is as follows:
| £ | |
Deportation: Children
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2010, Official Report, column 44W, on deportation: children, which holds and techniques have been used on children by (a) staff in immigration detention centres and (b) UK Border Agency escort providers since January 2009. [15726]
Damian Green: Further to my answer of 6 September 2010, officers are required to complete a report for any occasion where a detainee is restrained which must be passed to the relevant UK Border Agency contract monitor. The report requires officers to set out the circumstances of the situation and to justify why restraint was necessary. It does not, however, require them to stipulate the exact holds and techniques used and the information sought is therefore not recorded.
Deportation: Offenders
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners (a) were deported in 2009 and (b) have been deported in 2010 to date. [15644]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has published statistics that show:
(a) 5,530 foreign national prisoners were deported or removed from the UK in 2009.
(b) 1,225 foreign national prisoners were deported or removed in quarter 1 for 2010 and 1,200 in quarter 2 for 2010.
These figures have been extracted from the 'Control of Immigration: UK Statistics' reports for 2009 and 2010, which can be accessed at:
Detention Centres: Children
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to page 21 of the coalition agreement, what steps she plans to take to end the detention of children for immigration purposes. [15397]
Damian Green [holding answer 14 September 2010]: The Government are committed to ending the detention of children for immigration purposes. Our aim is to achieve this in a way which promotes the welfare of children while ensuring the return of families who have no right to be in the UK. Significant progress has been made and we are now piloting new approaches. We are also continuing to work on alternative ways of securing the removal of those families who refuse to comply with our new approach.
Detention Centres: Parents
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to ensure that parents in immigration detention are not separated from their children. [15722]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has a policy of not separating children from both parents, or from one in the case of a single-parent family, for immigration purposes other than in exceptional cases.
For example, there may be circumstances where a prisoner, who is also a parent, is released from prison and a decision is made to maintain their detention under immigration powers in order to effect their deportation. Such assessments are made on a case by case basis taking into account public and child protection concerns.
However, family separations may occur for other reasons, such as for child protection purposes (which would be a matter for local authority children's services) or where the parent has chosen to split the family by deliberately hiding the whereabouts of their children. Where children are missing the UK Border Agency will work with other statutory agencies, such as the police and local authorities, to try to locate the children and reunite them with their parent.
DNA: Databases
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely effects on police time and resources of the move to the Scottish model of DNA retention as referred to in the coalition agreement. [14134]
Mrs May: Police time and resources will be taken into consideration as part of the policy development process and a full impact assessment will be published alongside the Freedom Bill when it is introduced.
Domestic Violence
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to assist victims of domestic violence. [9799]
Lynne Featherstone: We are currently working across Government to discuss the best approach to tackle violence against women and girls, including domestic violence and will be publishing a Strategy in the spring.
We have already committed to the following;
An extension to a Home Office pilot project for victims of domestic violence with no recourse to public funds until the end of March 2011 and a commitment to find a long-term funding solution to the issue.
£3.5 million in 2010-11 to contribute to the funding of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers, Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences and some wider work to tackle violence against women.
Funding contributions to a network of helplines in 2010-11.
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment she has made of the effect on levels of domestic violence of halting the implementation of domestic violence protection orders; [14046]
(2) what discussions she has had with (a) police forces, (b) the Association of Chief Police Officers, (c) the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, (d) Women's Aid and (e) other professional bodies on the effect of halting the implementation of domestic violence protection orders; [14047]
(3) what powers police forces have to protect women who report domestic violence in cases where there is insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges; [14048]
(4) what the estimated saving to the public purse is of her decision to halt the implementation of domestic violence protection orders. [14404]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 9 September 2010]: We are committed to tackling violence against women and girls. We have deferred, not halted, the pilot scheme of the domestic violence protection order (DVPO) so we could understand their potential impact better and be sure that they would work before committing public funds.
We have had representations from a range of organisations and will keep the Association of Chief Police Officers and other partners involved in discussions about this. In the meantime the police and courts have a wide range of powers available to them to deal with domestic violence through the criminal justice process including the setting of bail conditions. Where there is insufficient evidence to bring civil charges a range of civil powers are available to the courts to protect victims, including non-molestation and occupation orders.
The costs of implementing DVPOs across England and Wales would be impacted by a range of factors, including take-up, and it is not possible to accurately estimate these until a pilot has taken place and been evaluated. The estimated cost for piloting the scheme within two police force areas was £700,000 based on an assumption of 250-300 possible applications for DVPOs across a six to 12-month period over the two areas.
In tough economic times, the Government have to consider options for delivering improved protection and value for money across all aspects of their work as part of the spending review. We will give further consideration to work in this area once the outcome of the spending review in known.
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether she has made a recent estimate of the proportion of single parents who have experienced domestic violence in the last 12 months; [14777]
(2) if she will estimate the proportion of domestic violence incidents attended by police in the latest year for which figures are available in respect of which the offender was aged (a) under 16, (b) between 16 and 18, (c) between 18 and 30 and (d) 30 years or older; [14778]
(3) if she will estimate the proportion of domestic violence incidents attended by police for the most recent year for which figures are available in respect of which the offender was found to be under the influence of (a) alcohol and (b) drugs. [14779]
Lynne Featherstone: Although the Home Office does not hold information in the exact form specified, information on domestic violence and domestic abuse is collected by the British Crime Survey (BCS) through both face-to-face interviews and through a self-completion module given to respondents.
The most recent figures for each question with the closest available data are as follows:
According to the 2007-08 BCS self-completion module, 15.7% of men and 17.7% of women living alone with one or more children had been victims of domestic abuse in the last 12 months.
According to the 2009-10 BCS, in incidents of domestic violence:
3% of incidents included an offender aged under 16;
28% of incidents included an offender aged 16 to 24;
40% of incidents included an offender aged 25 to 39;
30% of incidents included an offender aged 40 or older.
According to the 2008-09 BCS self-completion module, 27% of victims of partner abuse in the past 12 months perceived that the offender was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident (or the most recent incident if they were victim of more than one) and 10% perceived that the offender was under the influence of drugs.
E-Borders Programme.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to include an automated authority to carry function in the e-Borders programme. [16009]
Damian Green: It remains an option to include an automated authority to carry function in the e-Borders programme; however, there are no current plans to deploy this functionality.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce the overall cost of the e-Borders programme. [16010]
Damian Green: Since the e-Borders contract was terminated on 22 July 2010 due to significant and persistent breaches of contract by Raytheon Systems Limited, it has been necessary to develop a strategy to procure services to replace those under the original e-Borders contract. This will include rigorous assessment of value for money.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what time scale she has set for securing an alternative supplier to deliver the e-Borders programme following the termination of the contract with Raytheon. [16011]
Damian Green: No time scale has been set for securing an alternative supplier to deliver the e-Borders programme; we are working with the existing supplier, Raytheon Systems Ltd, and other companies to conclude arrangements in this regard and this will enable planning to be finalised and determine the applicable timetable.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what time scale she has set for the completion of the e-Borders programme. [16012]
Damian Green: No time scale has been set for completion of the e-Borders programme as this will be determined by approval of the business case through applicable governance mechanisms.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what time scale she has set for the inclusion of passenger name record checks in the e-Borders programme. [16013]
Damian Green: Passenger name record checks are presently being considered for inclusion in the programme as part of the business case process; no time scale has been set for the inclusion of these checks in the e-Borders programme as this is dependent on approval of the business case.
Firearms
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics her Department collates about the use in crime of legally-held firearms. [16130]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office collects data on the number of offences in which firearms were reported to have been used. Since April 2007, homicides that were committed using a licensed firearm are reported to the Home Office. For all other offence types, it is not possible to determine whether the weapons involved were held on certificate.
From 1986 to 1996-97, firearm offences data collected centrally did not include reference to whether weapons were held legally or illegally. Attempts were made between 1997-98 and 2003-04 to collect such data, but there were concerns over their quality and they were not in a form suitable for publication. There is a difficulty for the police being able to identify whether a firearm used in an offence was legally or illegally held, particularly if that firearm was not retrieved. As a result, the data for this period were not published. Because of these concerns,
and following consultation with police force representatives, the data ceased to be collected centrally from 1 April 2004.
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms of each category were reported stolen during 2009-10. [16131]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office collects data on firearms that are misappropriated. Misappropriated firearms are defined as those stolen, obtained by fraud or forgery, or handled dishonestly. Final figures for 2009-10 will be published in January 2011.
Firearms: Licensing
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Association of Chief Police Officers and (b) the British Medical Association on mental health issues and firearms licensing; and if she will make a statement. [14112]
Mrs May: Ministers have met representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers to discuss firearms licensing issues, and are aware of their discussions with the medical associations about the possibility of placing a marker on NHS patient records so that a GP will know whether a patient has access to firearms and can notify the police of any concerns about a certificate holder's suitability. The Government are following progress closely and will feed this into subsequent work on gun controls.
Former Ministers: Security
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on protection and security for (a) Tony Blair, (b) Sir John Major and (c) Baroness Thatcher in 2009. [11731]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 27 July 2010]: The Dedicated Security Post (DSP) Grant provided by the Home Office is a contribution to fund specialist police roles which relate exclusively, to the protection of members of the royal family and their residences; and the protection of public figures, and their official and private residences. The DSP grant for 2009-10 was £132 million.
We do not provide detailed information regarding the allocation of the DSP grant to individual police forces or the amount of contribution for each individual or otherwise provide a further breakdown. Disclosure of such information could compromise the integrity of these arrangements and affect the security of the individuals concerned.
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of security provision for each former Cabinet Minister receiving protection since 2000. [14145]
Nick Herbert: We are unable to provide detailed information on the cost of security to protected individuals, including former Cabinet Ministers. To do so would compromise the integrity of the security arrangements of the individuals concerned.
We can provide details of the aggregate Home Office contribution to the Dedicated Security Post (DSP) Grant, which provides a contribution towards the cost of police officers and staff who carry out protection duties. These duties relate to the protection of members of the Royal Family and their residences, and the protection of public figures, and their official and private residences. In 2009-10, £132 million was spent under the DSP grant. For 2010-11, the DSP grant is £128 million.
Before 2009-10, the DSP funding stream also included a contribution to Special Branch policing at ports, counter-terrorism security advisers and policing of critical national infrastructure sites which are now funded by the Counter-Terrorism Specific Grant. An audited, disaggregated breakdown for the DSP spends for prior periods is not available.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on protection and security for (a) Tony Blair, (b) Sir John Major and (c) Baroness Thatcher in each year since 2007. [15775]
Nick Herbert: We are unable to provide detailed information on the cost of security to protected individuals, including former Prime Ministers. To do so would compromise the integrity of the security arrangements of the individuals concerned.
We can provide details of the aggregate Home Office contribution for the dedicated security post (DSP) grant which provides a contribution towards the cost of police officers and staff who carry out protection duties. These duties relate to the protection of members of the royal family and their residences; and the protection of public figures, and their official and private residences. In 2009-10, £132 million was spent under the DSP grant. For 2010-11, the DSP grant is £128 million.
Before 2009-10, the DSP grant also included a contribution to special branch policing at ports, counter-terrorism security advisers and policing of critical national infrastructure sites which are now funded by the counter-terrorism specific grant. An audited, disaggregated breakdown for the DSP spends is not available.
Google: Data Protection
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on interception of wireless communications data by Google Street View; which agency has responsibility for (a) investigating and (b) prosecuting breaches of the law in respect of unauthorised interception of wireless communications; and if she will make a statement. [14385]
Nick Herbert: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has received no recent representations about interception of wireless communications data by Google Street View. The police are responsible for investigating cases of unlawful interception of communications and the Crown Prosecution Service for prosecuting those cases.
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary
Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the outcome was of her meeting with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary on 6 September 2010. [15808]
Nick Herbert: The Ministry of Justice and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary have advised that they are unaware of any meeting between the Secretary of State for Justice and Sir Denis O'Connor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary on 6 September 2010.
However, a meeting did occur on this date between myself and Sir Denis O'Connor. This meeting was arranged to discuss a forthcoming workshop on the current arrangements for assessing police performance with policing representatives and officials. The outcome of the meeting was that the agenda and handling for the workshop was developed. No policy decisions were reached.
Human Trafficking
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidential basis is for the Government's decision not to opt-in to the provisions of the European Directive on trafficking in human beings. [15693]
Damian Green [holding answer 16 September 2010]: The Government decided not to opt in to the directive at the outset, but to review the position once the directive has been implemented. We still have the option of applying to opt in at a later stage.
In reaching this decision, the Government considered whether the directive would make a practical difference to the way the UK fights trafficking and whether it contained operational co-operation measures from which the UK would benefit.
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to tackle human trafficking. [16058]
Damian Green: Combating human trafficking is a key priority for the coalition Government. We are committed to tackling the organised crime groups who profit from this human misery, and to the protection of victims.
In addition to ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies and NGO partners in combating trafficking, the Government are committed to creating a National Crime Agency, which will help combat organised crime, including trafficking, more effectively. We are also reviewing victim care arrangements, including the National Referral Mechanism which helps identify victims and refer them for support.
Human Trafficking: Prostitution
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been charged with offences of controlling sex workers for gain in London since 1 January 2010. [16075]
James Brokenshire: Information on charging is not held centrally, data on arrest or defendants proceeded against at magistrates court are normally provided in lieu.
The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences), broken down at a main offence group level only, therefore arrests data are not available at the level of detail required.
Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned for publication on 21 October 2010. Data for 2010 will not be available until 2011.
Illegal Immigrants
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants to the UK who have been convicted of offences related to unlawful entry to the UK in the last three years have not been deported from the UK; and if she will make a statement. [15741]
Damian Green [holding answer 16 September 2010]: Between January 2007 and December 2009, 24,300 illegal entrants were detected by Border Force officers at the UK border.
Of the 24,300 illegal entrants detected, 23,436 were removed or deported. A detailed annual breakdown is provided in the following table:
| Illegal entrants detected | Illegal entrants removed/deported | Percentage removed/deported | |
Of those illegal entrants detected by UK Border Agency officers at the UK border who are not removed or deported, a number will have been granted asylum or another form of discretionary leave.
The information used to answer this question has been taken from a live database and is therefore subject to change. Removals and voluntary departures recorded on the system are as at the dates on which the data extracts are taken. Figures may change due to data cleansing and data matching exercises that may take place after extracts are taken.
Illegal Immigrants: Deportation
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants from each country of origin have been served with deportation orders in each year since 1997; how many have appealed (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully against an order in each such year; and how many unsuccessful appellants (i) succeeded and (ii) did not succeed at tribunal hearings in each such year. [15779]
Damian Green [holding answer 16 September 2010]: While the UK Border Agency captures information relating to illegal immigrants, removals and appeals, our standard reports do not capture all three of the elements listed within the question. To do so would require a new report to be built linking two databases, which would incur a disproportionate cost.
Illegal Immigrants: Public Expenditure
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost to the public purse was of one day's detention of an illegal immigrant in the latest period for which figures are available; how many such immigrants had been detained for (a) up to three months, (b) up to six months, (c) up to 12 months
and (d) 12 months and over on the latest date for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [15778]
Damian Green [holding answer 16 September 2010]: We would prefer that people with no basis of stay left the UK voluntarily.
Detention is, however, an essential part of our ability to enforce an effective immigration control. It is generally used where we need to establish a person's nationality or identity, to consider applications for asylum from those claims which can be concluded quickly, to remove those with no basis of stay who have either failed or refused to leave the UK, or to hold those committed of serious offences pending their deportation.
The average daily cost of detaining a person in an immigration removal centre (IRC) is £110.
The UK Border Agency seeks to keep length of detention to the minimum period although where it does become prolonged, it is invariably because the detainee is failing to co-operate with the removal process, including providing incomplete or false information about their identity.
The latest published information on persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers by length of detention are available in the table 3.11 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom, April-June 2010 in the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
Immigration
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of people with pending applications for indefinite leave to remain who have been in the UK for (a) up to five years, (b) between five and 10 years and (c) 15 years or more. [15980]
Damian Green: This information is not available from the UK Border Agency's Case Information Database (CID) as the information requested is not recorded in a format that can be retrieved by running Management Information (MI) reports.
Miscarriages of Justice: Freedom of Information
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relating to cases of alleged miscarriage of justice have been refused by each police authority in each year since the Act's entry into force. [15427]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 15 September 2010]: This information is not held centrally.
Missing Persons
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces supply data to the Missing Persons Bureau for the quarterly and annual data reports on missing people. [15891]
Nick Herbert: Of the 46 English and Welsh forces (including the islands), 35 provided at least one quarterly return to the UK Missing Persons Bureau in 2009-10. 16 police forces provided a return for all four quarters. List 1 provides the individual breakdown.
Of the eight Scottish police forces, four provided at least one quarterly return to the UK Missing Persons Bureau in 2009-10. Two police forces provided a return for all four quarters. List 2 provides the individual breakdown.
The variation in supplying data reflects the staged implementation of the Code of Practice requiring data to be provided. Police forces have shown willing in working towards full compliance and the Bureau is supporting them through this transition.
List 1: English and Welsh police force quarterly returns to the Missing Persons Bureau in 2009-10
Police forces providing at least one quarterly return
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Bedfordshire Police
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cheshire Constabulary
Cleveland Police
Cumbria Police
Derbyshire Constabulary
Devon and Cornwall Police
Essex Police
Greater Manchester Police
Gwent Police
Hampshire Constabulary
Hertfordshire Constabulary
Humberside Police
Kent Police
Lancashire Constabulary
Leicestershire Constabulary
Lincolnshire Police
Merseyside Police
Metropolitan Police Service
Norfolk Constabulary
Northamptonshire Police
Northumbria Police
North Wales Police
Nottinghamshire Police
South Wales Police
South Yorkshire Police
Staffordshire Police
Suffolk Constabulary
Surrey Police
Sussex Police
Thames Valley Police
Warwickshire Police
West Midlands Police
West Mercia Police
Police forces that provided a return for each quarter
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cheshire Constabulary
Hertfordshire Constabulary
Humberside Police
Lancashire Constabulary
Derbyshire Constabulary
Leicestershire Constabulary
Lincolnshire Police
Merseyside Police
Metropolitan Police Service
South Wales Police
Suffolk Constabulary
Surrey Police
Sussex Police
West Mercia Police
List 2: Scottish police force quarterly returns to the Missing Persons Bureau in 2009-10
Police forces providing at least one quarterly return
Grampian Police
Northern Constabulary
Central Scotland Police
Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary
Police forces that provided a return for each quarter
Grampian Police
Northern Constabulary.
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces do not supply day-to-day data to the Missing Person's Bureau on people who have been missing for more than 72 hours. [15894]
Nick Herbert: Of the 46 English and Welsh police forces (including the islands), 40 provide the UK Missing Persons Bureau with data manually or by automatic transfer, 36 of these on a consistent basis. Of the eight Scottish forces, three provide data, one of these on a consistent basis.
The bureau does not receive data notifications from the following police forces unless specific case details are requested: City of London police, Norfolk constabulary, Northumbria police, South Yorkshire police, Guernsey police, Isle of Man constabulary, Central Scotland police, Dumfries and Galloway constabulary, Fife constabulary, Northern constabulary, Tayside police and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Of the special police forces (as referred to in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005), the British Transport police provide some manual notifications on an irregular basis.
None of the armed forces/military police forces provide notifications to the bureau.
The variation in supplying data reflects the staged implementation of the code of practice requiring data to be provided. Forces have shown willing in working towards full compliance and the bureau is supporting them through this transition.
Missing Persons: Unidentified Bodies
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unidentified bodies were successfully matched against reports of missing persons in 2009-10. [16340]
Nick Herbert: A total of 67 unidentified bodies were successfully matched against reports of missing persons in 2009-10.
This figure reflects data held centrally. In accordance with the Code of Practice, police forces are required to
notify unidentified people, bodies and body parts to the Bureau within 48 hours. Consequently, bodies which are identified within 48 hours may not be reported to the Bureau.
The data provided are management information, and has not been formally assessed for compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
National Police Improvement Agency: Missing Persons
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the National Police Improvement Agency spent on work related to missing persons in 2009-10. [16341]
Nick Herbert: For the financial year 2009-10, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) spent a total of £558,000 on work related to missing persons in 2009-10. The NPIA also made contributions totalling £600,000 to the charity Missing People.
Northumbria Constabulary: Finance
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the damping element of the police grant will be paid to Northumbria constabulary for 2010-11. [13796]
Nick Herbert: Yes. Northumbria Constabulary will receive £36.3 million damping support in 2010-11.
Police
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces continue to use the policing pledge. [15692]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 16 September 2010]: The police service needs more freedom from central control, fewer centrally driven targets and less intervention and interference from government. That is why the policing pledge has been abolished and the remaining centrally imposed target on police forces to improve public confidence has been scrapped. In line with this approach, the Home Office does not hold information on the continued use of the policing pledge.
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her Department's statistical bulletin 14/10, on police service strength, what assessment she has made of recent trends in the strength of police forces in England and Wales; and if she will make a statement. [15851]
Nick Herbert: Police service strength for 31 March 2010 was published by the Home Office on 22 July. Decisions about the number of police officers, police community support officers and police staff in each force are a matter for the chief constable in consultation with the police authority.
Police Authorities
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2010, Official Report, column 79W, on police authorities, under what budgetary headings the amount spent on the administration of Essex Police Authority was incurred; and if she will make a statement. [15710]
Nick Herbert: Essex police authority has now published its statement for accounts, and it is available on its website. This shows the authority spent £235,000 on allowances, £119,000 on its Community Safety Partnership grant, £237,000 on internal audit, £18,000 on banking charges, £576,000 on staffing and £149,000 on other costs.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2010, Official Report, column 79W, on police authorities, what progress has been made on the implementation of proposals to introduce directly-elected individuals to replace police authorities; and if she will make a statement. [15711]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office is engaging constructively with key policing stakeholders on the development of our proposals to introduce Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales.
These proposals were set out in the 'Policing in the 21st Century' consultation document, published on 26 July 2010. Formal consultation ended on 20 September. Responses have been submitted by a range of policing partners and these will now be considered before the publication of the Government response in the autumn.
Police: Accountability
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police precepts will be set by elected police commissioners. [13737]
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police commissioners will be elected to serve fixed-term appointments; and when she plans Police Commissioners' (a) elections to take place and (b) terms of office to begin. [13741]
Nick Herbert: As outlined in chapter 2 of the Home Office's consultation document "Policing in the 21st century: reconnecting police and the people" (published on 26 July 2010), Police and Crime Commissioners will be elected to serve four-year terms from 2012. Their terms of office will begin shortly after elections, although the exact details will be confirmed following the current consultation.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her timetable is for the passage of legislation to provide for the election of police commissioners. [13742]
Nick Herbert: As set out in the Structural Reform Plan, I intend to introduce legislation regarding police and crime commissioners early in the first session, subject to parliamentary time, and hope to receive Royal Assent for the Bill by November 2011. I expect the first elections to take place in 2012.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether members of political parties will be eligible to be elected as police commissioners. [13743]
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with electoral registration officers (EROs) on proposals for the election of police commissioners; and whether EROs will administer such elections. [13744]
Nick Herbert: We have been consulting the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) on the administration of the election of police and crime commissioners, and we will continue to engage with them until the arrangements for the elections are finalised. We will expect to use the experience of existing registration officers to support the elections.
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice she received from professional bodies in formulating her proposals for directly-elected police commissioners. [13911]
Mrs May: The Home Office has engaged constructively with our policing partners, including the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities, on the development of our proposals to introduce police and crime commissioners in England and Wales. These proposals were set out in the 'Policing in the 21st Century' consultation document, on which we invited comments before the close of the consultation period on 20 September 2010.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Oral Statement of 26 July 2010, Official Report, columns 723-24, on policing in the 21st century, whether candidates standing for the position of Police and Crime Commissioner will be vetted; whether a criminal record will make an individual ineligible for that position; and if she will make a statement. [14033]
Nick Herbert: We are still consulting with the public and our partners on the detail of the commissioners policy. I can confirm that, as with parliamentary and local government elections, certain people will be prevented from standing due to a previous criminal record.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Oral Statement of 26 July 2010, Official Report, columns 723-24, on policing in the 21st century, whether she proposes to give elected Police Commissioners a role in the work of (a) the Crown Prosecution Service and (b) local prosecutors; and if she will make a statement. [14034]
Nick Herbert: The remit of Police and Crime Commissioners is set out clearly in chapter 2 of the Home Office's consultation document "Policing in the 21st century: reconnecting police and the people" (published on 26 July 2010). The document states that the Government see a potential future role for commissioners in respect of the wider criminal justice system as further reforms develop.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on her plans for directly-elected police commissioners from (a) senior police, (b) trade unions and (c) police associations and affiliated organisations. [15117]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office has engaged constructively with senior police, trade unions and police associations on the development of our proposals to introduce Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales.
These proposals were set out in the Policing in the 21(st) Century consultation document, published on 26 July 2010. So far we have received a total of 115 responses and 335 respondents have commented directly online. We expect further responses before the close of the consultation period on 20 September 2010.
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her timetable is for the (a) passage of legislation to provide for the election of police commissioners and (b) election of police commissioners. [15347]
Nick Herbert: As set out in the Structural Reform Plan, I intend to introduce legislation regarding Police and Crime Commissioners early this Session, subject to parliamentary time, and hope to receive Royal Assent for the Bill by November 2011 subject to the will of the Parliament. I expect the first elections of Police and Crime Commissioners to take place in 2012.
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her Department's consultation on policing in the 21st century, what assessment she has made of other models of strengthening accountability in police authorities. [15694]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 16 September 2010]: The Government are committed to the policy set out in the Coalition Agreement.
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Wales on the cost implications for Wales of introducing directly elected police commissioners. [15804]
Nick Herbert: I have had a number of meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues to help formulate policy for the introduction of directly elected police and crime commissioners-these have included discussions on the policy implications for both devolved and non-devolved matters in Wales. I will continue to consult with key partners, including with the Secretary of State for Wales, and as the Bill progresses through Parliament.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions will apply to the election of a new police commissioner when (a) a commissioner resigns in mid-term and (b) a commissioner resigns in the period leading up to the following election. [15986]
Nick Herbert: The Government's consultation document "Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting police and the people" set out that if a commissioner should resign or be unable to do their job, the police and crime panels will be able to appoint an interim commissioner until a by-election can be arranged or the commissioner can return to the post.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make an assessment of the merits of introducing a right of recall of elected police commissioners by the public. [15987]
Nick Herbert: The Government's consultation document "Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting police and the people" set out that we will introduce the power of recall in relation to Police and Crime Commissioners. Police and crime panels and the public may have a role in triggering the recall of Police and Crime Commissioners, but recall will only be used where the Independent Police Complaints Commission has ruled that serious misconduct has taken place.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her estimate is of the cost of (a) administration of and (b) distribution of election literature free of charge in relation to the election of a police commissioner for Lancashire; and who will meet these costs. [15991]
Nick Herbert: The Government are still consulting on the detail of the policy for Police and Crime Commissioners, and no decision has yet been made on these issues.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will ensure that the election for police commissioner in Lancashire is not held on the same date as any other election or referendum. [15992]
Nick Herbert: The Government are still consulting on the detail of the policy for Police and Crime Commissioners, and no decision has yet been made on these issues.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long she proposes the term of office of elected police commissioners will be. [15994]
Nick Herbert: As set out in the "Policing in the 21st Century" document, Commissioners will have a set four-year term of office and term limits of two terms.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if her Department will take steps to keep monitoring the political party affiliations of the proposed directly-elected police commissioners. [16203]
Nick Herbert: The Government are still consulting on the detail of the policy for Police and Crime Commissioners, and no decision has yet been made on these issues.
Police: Advertising
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each police force spent on advertising (a) on local radio, (b) in local newspapers and (c) in all other publications in the latest year for which figures are available. [15649]
Nick Herbert: This information requested is not held centrally.
Police: Bureaucracy
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the proportion of police officers' time spent on administrative tasks. [13994]
Nick Herbert: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Nadhim Zahawi) on 6 September 2010, Official Report , columns 6-7.
Police: Crime Prevention
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the effect on public perception of the likelihood of crime of proposed reductions in funding to police authorities. [12018]
Nick Herbert: Cutting the budget deficit and ensuring the economic recovery is a Government priority, and the police along with everyone else will have to bear a fair share of proposed reductions in funding. Future police funding will be decided by the spending review, reporting on 20 October 2010. While it is for chief constables to use their expertise and decide what makes most sense for their force, I am quite clear that savings should be made by driving out wasteful spending, reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency in order to protect the frontline of policing.
On 26 July my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced the most radical reforms to be proposed for policing in this country for 50 years, which will reduce time-wasting bureaucracy, make the police more available and effective, and provide better value for taxpayers' money. The introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners will enable the public to exercise direct accountability over policing in their communities, strengthen their confidence in the police and cut crime and antisocial behaviour.
Police: EU Countries
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for evidence-gathering UK police forces have received from police forces of each other EU member state relating to offences of each category in each of the last five years; and how many such requests were refused in each case. [14713]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 13 September 2010]: Requests for evidence in criminal matters from EU member states' judicial authorities are sent to one of three central authorities in the UK. These are the UK Central Authority in the Home Office, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. The tables placed in the House Library detail the best collated figures available for requests to the UK which have been acceded to or refused in the last five years. Where more than one offence is listed within a request, (eg rape and assault), only the primary offence has been included in order to avoid the double counting of requests.
Police: Finance
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment she has made of the conclusions of the July 2010 report of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Audit Commission on the effect on frontline police numbers of a 12 per cent. reduction in police service budgets; [13676]
(2) what assessment she has made of the findings of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in its joint report with the Audit Commission published on 14 July 2010 that a reduction of over 12 per cent. to the Police Budget will negatively impact frontline police numbers; and if she will make a statement. [14309]
Mrs May: The Government have noted the reports of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Audit Commission carefully.
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on maintaining levels of central government funding for police officer salaries. [13677]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 8 October 2010]: It is a matter for chief constables and police authorities how they use their budget. Police officer salaries come from within this budget.
Future funding levels for police forces will be determined by the spending review which will report on 20 October 2010.
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she plans to provide funding for additional police officers through savings achieved by abolishing identity cards; and if she will make a statement. [15696]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 16 September 2010]: 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.
Police officer recruitment remains a matter for each chief constable.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the police precept for 2011-12 will be set; and who will be responsible for setting it. [15988]
Nick Herbert: Police authorities will be responsible for setting the police precept for 2011-12. Major precepting authorities such as police authorities must set their budgets by 1 March each year.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the provisions of the Localism Bill will apply to police precepts. [15990]
Nick Herbert: Aspects of the Localism Bill, such as the provisions for referendums on council tax increases, are expected to apply to police precepts.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to change the respective responsibilities of her Department and police authorities to fund categories of police funding. [15995]
Nick Herbert: The spending review which reports in October will offer further clarity on future funding.
Police: Mental Illness
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions her Department has had with police forces to improve the service provided by the police to people with mental health problems. [14612]
Nick Herbert: The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and mental health organisations, has developed a new learning resource entitled "Mental Health and Learning Disability", to improve the service provided by the police to people with mental health problems. This was launched and made available to all Home Office funded police forces, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and British Transport Police in May 2010.
Police: Missing Persons
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to require the sharing of best practice between police forces on missing persons investigations. [16342]
Nick Herbert: Work is currently under way between the Home Office, the National Policing Improvement Agency Missing Persons Bureau and the Association of Chief Police Officers to ensure that best practice in relation to missing persons investigations is disseminated to all police forces in England and Wales.
Police: Overtime
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much overtime was paid to police officers working additional hours (a) on days they were scheduled to work and (b) on a scheduled rest day in each of the last three years. [15607]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold these data.
Police: Telephone Services
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral statement of 26 July 2010, Official Report, columns 723-24, on policing in the 21st century, what budgetary analysis her Department undertook prior to the Statement on the costs and benefits of introducing a single police non-emergency number. [13910]
Mrs May: The oral statement of 26 July 2010, Official Report, columns 723-24, set out the Government's intention to
"look for a cost-effective way to establish '101' as a single police non-emergency number so that it is easier to report crime and antisocial behaviour".
The Home Office is currently working with the police service and other partners to consider the costs and benefits of various options for implementing a single police non-emergency number.
Police: Unidentified Bodies
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by police forces on matching unidentified bodies with persons reported missing in 2009-10. [16339]
Nick Herbert: The expenditure by police forces on missing persons investigations is not collated centrally.
Police: Wolverhampton
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were based in Wolverhampton North East constituency (a) in 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which information is available. [13378]
Nick Herbert: Police personnel data are not collected at constituency level. There were 7,113 police officers in West Midlands Police Force as at 31 March 1997 and 8,536 police officers as at 31 March 2010. Figures are provided on a comparable basis.
The Basic Command Unit (BCU) of Wolverhampton is part of West Midlands Police Force. BCU data were first collected in 2002. Wolverhampton had 646 officers as at 31 March 2002 and 670 as at 31 March 2010.
These and other related data are published annually as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at:
and bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.
Proceeds of Crime
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the monetary value was of (a) cash and (b) other assets confiscated from criminals in 2009; and how much of that amount was redistributed for community projects (i) nationally and (ii) in Bedford. [15237]
Nick Herbert: In 2008-09, £148 million was recovered from criminals, which included £40 million in cash forfeitures. The previous Government's Community Cashback scheme gave local people a say in how £4 million of those recovered criminal assets should be spent in their communities in 2009-10. Under the scheme, local areas could bid for funding up to £95,000 and the Bedfordshire Local Criminal Justice Board successfully bid to fund six community projects. One of these projects was partially based in Bedford. Details of this and other cashback projects in Bedfordshire can be found at:
In 2009-10, £153.7 million was recovered from criminals, which included £50 million in cash forfeitures.
Separately, money returned to individual law enforcement agencies, prosecution agencies and the courts under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation scheme is primarily aimed
at driving up asset recovery performance but can also be spent on community projects. None of the assets recovered under this scheme were used for community projects in Bedford in 2008-09.
Information on use of the money under this scheme for 2009-10 is not yet available.
Prostitution
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been reported to the Metropolitan Police of sex workers being threatened for protection money in 2010; and in how many of these cases charges were brought against any individuals. [16072]
James Brokenshire: The information is not available from the recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office. In an incident of a sex worker being threatened for protection money, it is the appropriate offence that will be recorded by the police, for example, a threat of being assaulted. Offences where the victim is a sex worker cannot be separately identified from other offences recorded within an offence classification.
Rape
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to implement the recommendations of the Stern Review on the handling of rape complaints by public authorities. [16064]
Mrs May: The Government are committed to improving the investigation and prosecution of rape and supporting victims. We are working towards long-term improvements that are embedded through the criminal justice system and as such this review, and the recommendations that are raised within it, deserve careful consideration. A full response to the Stern review will be published in March 2011 alongside, and in conjunction with, a cross-Government strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.
Special Constables: Recruitment
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target she has set for the number of special constables to be recruited in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011; and if she will make a statement. [14814]
Nick Herbert: This Government have not set specific national targets in respect of overall special constable recruitment for 2010 or 2011.
However, as set out in the consultation paper 'Policing in the 21st century: reconnecting police and the people', the coalition Government are committed to increasing the number of people volunteering in policing.
Special constables, who take an active role in policing their communities on a voluntary basis, are very much an example of the Big Society that this Government would like to see develop.
The consultation on the future of the policing landscape is still ongoing and more detailed proposals will be announced over the coming months.
Taxis
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on taxi fares in each year since 1997. [12978]
Nick Herbert: All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management and Ministerial Codes.
The Home Department spend on taxis for the financial years 1997-98 to 2009-10 is set out in the following table:
| £ million | |
From 1997-98 to 2007-08, the figures include expenditure by Home Office headquarters, the Immigration and Nationality Department (IND), the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR). NOMS and OCJR transferred to the Ministry of Justice in 2007. IND thereafter became an executive agency on 1 April 2008.
Telephone Tapping
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she had with the Prime Minister's Director of Communications on her Department's communications strategy on its policy on telephone tapping. [15396]
Mrs May [holding answer 14 September 2010]: I have had no such discussions.
Terrorism Act 2006: Arrests
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested for and (b) charged with an offence under section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in each year from 2006 to 2010. [13684]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 9 September 2010]: There is no power of arrest within S1 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Individuals suspected of alleged terrorism offences are subject to arrest under S41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
In relation to (b), the Home Office does not collate statistics in this way.
Data on the number of individuals charged under Section 1 and 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006 are included in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin (Operation of
Police Powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and Subsequent Legislation: Arrests, Outcomes and Stops and Searches). The available figures show that one person was charged for offences related to S1 and 2 Terrorism Act 2006 in 2006-07; three individuals were charged in 2007-08; and three individuals were charged in 2008-09.
A link to the relevant Statistical Bulletin is included in the following website:
Terrorism: Extradition
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many proposed extraditions of terrorist suspects have not proceeded for reasons related to rights contained in the European Convention of Human Rights in each of the last three years; and for what reason each did not proceed. [15561]
Nick Herbert: No extradition requests for persons accused of terrorist-related offences have been refused under human rights grounds in the last three years, although there are currently six cases before the European Court of Human Rights.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) cases regarding extradition from the UK in respect of persons accused of terrorist offences and (b) appeals by persons convicted of terrorist offences in the UK are active before the European Court of Human Rights. [15703]
Nick Herbert: There are six cases before the European Court of Human Rights which concern extradition requests for persons accused of terrorist-related offences.
The Home Office does not collate statistics in this way. However, the Home Office does publish statistics on arrests and outcomes under the Terrorism Act 2000 (Operation of Police Powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and Subsequent Legislation: Arrests, Outcomes and Stops and Searches). The link to the last edition of the annual publication is provided at:
UK Border Agency: Pay
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what bonuses have been paid to members of the UK Border Agency management over the last two years. [12189]
Damian Green: The information in the following tables lists the bonus payments made to senior civil servants in the UK Border Agency, within the last two financial years.
UK Border Agency: Police
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the level of savings which will accrue to the UK Border Agency from the removal of funding for three port police officers at Stranraer port in 2011-12. [15776]
Damian Green [holding answer 16 September 2010]: The saving to the UK Border Agency will be just under £147,000 per annum based on the previous year's salaries of the three officers in question. This figure includes all overtime and expenses.
Violence Against Women
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 July 2010, Official Report, column 514 on risk assessment, what progress she has made in considering the use of multi-agency risk assessment conferences in her strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. [15805]
James Brokenshire: The prevalence of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, in our society is unacceptable. A cross-Government strategy will be launched in the spring to address this. I am in discussions with colleagues across government on how we will take forward our approach in this area as both coalition parties planned in opposition. This will include consideration of multi-agency risk assessment conferences.
Visas: Deportation
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from each country overstayed a visitor visa in each year since 1997; how many people on each other type of visa overstayed that visa in each such year; what proportion of each was deported in each such year; how many in each category are awaiting deportation; and if she will make a statement. [15780]
Damian Green [holding answer 16 September 2010]: There are currently two main ways to identify an overstayer:
(i) On embarkation from the UK
(ii) Through enforcement action in country.
Until e-borders is fully implemented we are unable to identify all overstayers on embarkation.
Wines
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on wine in each year since 1997. [12815]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office accounting systems do not identify separate expenditure on wine. The information cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
Home Office expenditure on official hospitality and entertainment conforms to departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, which complies with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. Hospitality is defined as the provision of food, drink and entertainment of non civil servants where it is beneficial to the interests of the Department.
Deputy Prime Minister
Alternative Vote: Referendums
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Blackburn of 14 July 2010, Official Report, column 798W, on electoral systems: referendums, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the cost of conduct elements of the proposed referendum on the alternative vote system which will fall on local authorities in Scotland if the referendum (a) is and (b) is not held on the same day as the election for the Scottish Parliament; and what calculation he has used to make such an estimate. [16383]
Mr Harper: The current estimated cost of the referendum on the voting system in Scotland is (a) £6.9 million when combined with the Scottish parliamentary election or (b) £9.9 million if held as a standalone poll. These estimates are based upon an assessment of the size of the electorate and the number of individuals who might apply to vote by post. These factors determine many of the costs, such as the number of ballot papers, polling stations, poll cards, postal ballot packs and estimates of labour costs. These costs will not fall on local authorities as the referendum will be funded from the consolidated fund.
Boundary Commissions: Internet
Dr Huppert: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the merits of making the Boundary Commission's data publicly available online. [16070]
Mr Harper: Clause 10 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill requires the Boundary Commissions to take such steps as they see fit to publicise their proposed recommendations. It will therefore be for the Commissions themselves to determine how to publicise relevant data, though at the most recent review the Commissions made use of their websites to publish information about the review. Electorate data for each part of the UK are available from the Office of National Statistics website.
Constituencies
Ian Austin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how frequently he proposes that constituency boundaries will be reviewed following the changes envisaged in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill; and if he will make a statement. [15763]
Mr Harper: Clause 8 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill requires the Boundary Commissions to submit reports before 1 October 2013, and before 1 October of every fifth year after that.
Ian Austin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what process will be followed to determine proposed changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies. [15765]
Mr Harper: The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, as amended by the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, sets out the process the Boundary Commissions will follow in drawing up the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies. The Bill would require each Boundary Commission to propose recommendations for constituency boundaries that are in accordance with the Rules for the Distribution of Seats set out at the new schedule 1 to the 1986 Act. The Bill requires that the Boundary Commissions take whatever steps they see fit to inform people of their proposals; and to make copies available for inspection. There follows a 12 week period for representations on Boundary Commissions' proposals. A second 12 week period for representations will follow where proposals are revised. Any further revisions would then be final. Under the provisions of the Bill, the Speaker, as the ex-officio chair of the Boundary Commissions, is required to lay before Parliament a "progress report" in the January of the year before a deadline and each subsequent January until a final report containing the recommended constituencies is submitted to Government.
Ian Austin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what date he proposes that the calculation of the number of residents of each proposed new parliamentary constituency should be published; and if he will make a statement. [15770]
Mr Harper: The Boundary Commissions will be required to use the parliamentary electoral register from 1 December 2010 to determine the electoral quota. The information that will be required to calculate the UK electoral quota in accordance with the provisions of the Bill is usually available from the Office for National Statistics in late February of each year. The four Boundary Commissions must use this UK electoral quota, but it is a matter for each Commission to decide how they communicate this information. We expect that the number of electors that will comprise each proposed constituency will be published alongside the proposals for constituency boundaries themselves, and that the final figures will then be included in the Boundary Commissions' reports to the Secretary of State.
Ian Austin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the three-month consultation period for proposed boundary changes for parliamentary constituencies to begin; and if he will make a statement. [15771]
Mr Harper: The commencement of the specified consultation period set out in clause 10 of the Bill will be announced by the relevant Boundary Commission when provisional recommendations for a constituency have been published. The Bill requires the Commissions to submit their reports before 1 October 2013.
Electoral Register
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to take steps to increase the level of voter registration before 1 December 2010. [15323]
Mr Harper: Maintaining a complete and accurate electoral register is the responsibility of electoral registration officers (EROs), in accordance with their duties under section 9A of the Representation of the People Act 1983. In carrying out this responsibility, as with other aspects of their role, EROs are monitored by the Electoral Commission, which sets performance standards and provides guidance on the performance of their duties. In addition, the Electoral Commission runs campaigns to encourage voter registration and provide information on elections as part of its duty under section 13 (1) (a) of the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
The Government are committed to taking steps to support EROs in their work in improving levels of registration. On 15 September I made a statement to the House, outlining the Government's proposed approach to speeding up the implementation of individual electoral registration and as part of this I announced that we will be trialling data matching during 2011-that is, comparing the electoral register with other public databases to find the people missing from the register. The aim is to tackle under registration, including among those specific groups most affected by it, and ensure that every opportunity to register is available to those currently not on the electoral register. I also announced that we will examine how electoral registration can be integrated into people's day to day transactions with government, for example when they move house, or visit the Post Office, or apply for a passport or driving licence.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps will be taken to ensure that people with double electoral registration are prevented from voting twice in the proposed parliamentary voting system referendum. [15643]
Mr Harper: It is lawful for an individual to be registered at more than one address if they satisfy the respective Electoral Registration Officers that they meet the residence requirement for each address.
However, it is an offence under section 61 (2) (a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 to vote more than once at an election for the same body. Thus, while a person can vote in different local elections where they are validly registered, they cannot vote twice in a UK General election or European Parliamentary election. Under paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, section 61 (2) (a) above is applied (with the necessary modifications) for the purposes of the UK Parliamentary voting system referendum.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his most recent estimate is of the number of people who are registered to vote in more than one UK parliamentary constituency. [15664]
Mr Harper: Electoral registers are compiled at a local level by independent electoral registration officers.
Information about whether individuals have registered in more than one constituency is not collected centrally.
Ian Austin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what mechanisms he plans to put in place to monitor changes in the number of people eligible to vote in parliamentary constituencies between elections for the purpose of maintaining smaller and more equal-sized constituencies; and if he will make a statement. [16204]
Mr Harper: The number of eligible electors in each parliamentary constituency in the UK is published each year by the Office for National Statistics, using data from electoral registers. More frequent reviews will ensure that constituency boundaries better reflect changes in the number of people eligible to vote and remain up to date and fair. At present reports are published every eight to 12 years. The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill requires the Boundary Commissions to publish a report by 1 October 2013 and every five years after that.
Electoral Systems
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to take steps to ensure that in future elections voters who are queuing to vote at a polling station at the time it closes are able to cast their vote. [14836]
Mr Harper: The Government are considering carefully the Electoral Commission's reports on the May 2010 elections and will take any appropriate steps necessary to prevent the issues which arose at some polling stations happening again. It will be important, however, to make sure that any changes to rules are workable and would benefit the public.
Lobbying
Kate Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings he has had with professional lobbying organisations in connection with the proposed statutory register of lobbyists since May 2010. [15662]
Mr Harper: The Deputy Prime Minister and I have not had any meetings with professional lobbying organisations in connection with the proposed statutory register of lobbyists since May 2010. I met with Elizabeth France CBE, the independent Chairman of the UK Public Affairs Council on 6 July 2010, along with Sir Phillip Mawer, the Chairman of the UK Public Affairs Council Implementation Team.
Culture, Media and Sport
Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what financial saving his Department expects to realise from the abolition of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites; [16061]
(2) what body will undertake those functions which were the responsibility of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites; [16062]
(3) for what reasons he decided to abolish the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites. [16063]
John Penrose: The abolition of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites (ACHWS) will streamline the provision of advice to Government on operation of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. It is expected to generate savings for DCMS of £1,424 per annum, which relates to operational costs associated with the appointment and reappointment of members to the ACHWS.
In future such advice will be provided by English Heritage in relation to heritage assets in English waters. English Heritage is Government's statutory adviser on the historic environment. It already provides statutory advice on the protection and conservation of terrestrial heritage assets in England so the abolition of ACHWS will help to simplify our landscape of public bodies.
Discussions with the devolved Administrations about the future procurement of advice on operation of the 1973 Act in Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland waters are ongoing.
BBC: Accountability
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2010, Official Report, column 309W, on the BBC, what response was received from the chair of the BBC Trust on proposals to make the BBC more accountable to Parliament; if he will place in the Library a copy of the note of the meeting; and if he will make a statement. [15712]
Mr Vaizey: The BBC Trust has been fully and productively engaged on the matter. The meeting in June was private and no note was taken.
Brighton Pavilion
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Brighton Pavilion constituency, the effects of his Department's policies on that constituency from (a) May 1997 to April 2010 and (b) since May 2010. [13456]
John Penrose: The impact of the Department's policies, including those delivered by our arms length bodies, on the Brighton Pavilion constituency since 1997 include:
Digital switchover is due to take place in the Brighton Pavilion in 2011. By the time switchover is complete at the end of 2012, 98.5% of households nationwide will be able to receive digital TV-the same number that can currently receive analogue.
£53,000 of English Heritage grant offers to the Brighton Pavilion constituency in 2008-09
£25,149 of Exchequer investment to the Brighton Pavilion constituency provided through Sport England since 2002.
Almost £70 million of national lottery grants made to applications from the Brighton Pavilion constituency since 1997.
Almost 100,000 free swims taken in the Brighton and Hove area as part of the Free Swimming programme.
£9,617,829 given from Arts Council England to organisations based in Brighton Pavilion through the Grants for the Arts programme since 2003.
£1,689,500 of capital lottery funds allocated by Arts Council England for projects in the Brighton Pavilion constituency undertaken since 2003.
The Brighton Pavilion constituency has also benefited from other policies and spending whose impact cannot be broken down by constituency. This includes:
Over £4 billion of Exchequer funding spent on culture.
£448.9 million given in grants by English Heritage since 1997.
More than £5.5 billion invested in sport by the Government and the national lottery since 1997.
A 68% increase in national museum visits since 1998-99. There were a record 40.3 million visits to the national museums in 2008-09-10% of which were by adults from lower socioeconomic groups.
50% of buildings removed from the baseline 1999 Buildings at Risk register as their future has been secured.
90% of all pupils taking part in at least two hours of high quality PE or sport per week in 2008 from an estimated 25% in 2003-04-exceeding our target.
Since May 2010, Arts Council England has granted £78,767 to organisations based in Brighton Pavilion through the Grants for the Arts programme. The heritage lottery fund has provided £206,200 to the constituency.
Broadband
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what the average actual speed of broadband was in England in the latest period for which figures are available; [13726]
(2) what the (a) advertised and (b) average actual broadband speed in (i) Thornton-le-Street, (b) Filey and (c) Rosedale Abbey was in the latest period for which figures are available; [13727]
(3) what steps are being taken to connect remote villages and rural areas to fast broadband. [14271]
Mr Vaizey: I have been asked to reply in my capacity as a Minister in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Government will ensure a universal connectivity of 2 Mbps by 2015. In addition, the Government will take a number of regulatory and public policy steps to accelerate the deployment of superfast broadband across the UK. BDUK will also announce the locations of three Superfast broadband pilots in the autumn, where the Government will assist with the cost of deployment of Superfast broadband in commercially challenging locations. We have also said we will consider the option of using a proportion of the BBC licence fee to support superfast broadband deployment after 2012.
According to Ofcom's UK Broadband Speeds Report, published in July 2010 the average speed of broadband in England was 5.1 Mbps. The Government do not hold information for the average speed for individual locations.
Ofcom's report is available on their website at:
Departmental Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 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. [16160]
John Penrose: The average cost of processing the payment of an invoice was £9.90.
The Department is actively looking at ways of reducing the cost of processing invoice payments.
The proportion paid electronically (including by procurement card) was 99.14%, and by cheque was 0.86%.
These figures are based on costs and volumes from 1 April to 31 August 2010.
Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on how many occasions each Minister in his Department has met his Department's chief scientific officer since 6 May 2010. [15440]
John Penrose: Ministers at this Department have had no such meetings as yet.
Departmental Contracts
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the monetary value is of contracts his Department has awarded to each (a) management consultancy and (b) IT company since 7 May 2010. [16190]
John Penrose: No management consultancy or IT contracts have been awarded by the Department since 7 May 2010.
Departmental Empty Property
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the estimated monetary value is of each vacant (a) building and (b) parcel of land owned by his Department in each region. [16253]
John Penrose: The buildings occupied by the Department are leased, and not owned.
Departmental Press
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines in each year since 1997. [16224]
John Penrose:
The information set out in the table shows expenditure incurred by the Department on subscriptions for hard copy and online magazines, newspapers, books and other publications, access to specific research databases, the Stationery Office and other parliamentary information sources as well as legal
online and hard copy updating services. The way information has been recorded does not allow us to disaggregate newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines from the overall expenditure.
| Financial year | Cost (£) |
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many different newspapers (a) were delivered to the Secretary of State's office between 5 June 2009 and 11 May 2010 and (b) have been delivered since 12 May 2010; how many copies of each newspaper were delivered on an average day in each period; and what the total cost of those newspapers was in each month in each period. [15652]
John Penrose: The cost for supplying 13 newspapers to the former Secretary of State from June 2009 to end of April 2010 is in the following table.
| Month | Newspaper cost (£) |
| (1) July 2009 figure includes two one-off yearly subscriptions. | |
On his appointment in May 2010 the Secretary of State cancelled all paper deliveries to his office.
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