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10 Nov 2010 : Column 391W—continued
Armed Forces: Housing
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether service family accommodation in North Kingston is included in his Department's upgrade programme. [22879]
Mr Robathan: Work is under way to provide new kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems and electrical rewiring to 50 service family accommodation (SFA) properties in North Kingston.
The coalition Government are looking to see what further improvements to the SFA estate as a whole, including properties in Kingston, can be funded from efficiencies elsewhere in the Department.
Armed Forces: Private Education
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many children of service personnel receive funding from his Department to attend independent schools. [22765]
Mr Robathan: For financial year 2009-10, there were 9,020 children of service personnel who attended fee paying schools and received financial assistance from the Ministry of Defence through the Continuity of Educational Allowance (CEA) scheme. It is not possible to differentiate independent schools so this figure includes all CEA eligible schools: private sector, public and state boarding schools.
Falkland Islands: Deployment
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what naval capability he expects to be available for operations relating to the Falkland Islands in the next 10 years. [23001]
Nick Harvey: We are firmly committed to the defence of the Falkland Islands and will maintain a permanent maritime presence in the South Atlantic consisting of a destroyer or frigate and a patrol vessel. Other naval vessels may visit from time to time and a ship will also deploy to Antarctic waters for the ice patrol task each austral summer. The permanent maritime presence can be reinforced rapidly by other Royal Navy ships and submarines, should the need arise.
France: Military Alliances
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the compliance of the defence sharing agreement with France with the UK's obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. [22839]
Nick Harvey
[holding answer 9 November 2010]: At the 2 November 2010 UK-France summit, we signed two treaties, one on long-term defence and security co-operation and one on shared nuclear hydrodynamics
testing facilities. Both are fully consistent with our obligations under the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
HMS Astute
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians were aboard HMS Astute when it ran aground on 22 October 2010; and what the role of each was. [20760]
Peter Luff: There were 17 civilians aboard HMS Astute at the time of the grounding incident. Of these, 16 were contractors: 11 from BAE Systems Submarine Solutions; two from Atlas, two from Thales; and one from QinetiQ. In addition, there was one civilian on board from the Ministry of Defence.
These civilians were present to support ongoing weapons and combat systems trials and training.
Joint Strike Fighter F-35 Fighters
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Joint Strike Fighter F-35 fighters he plans to order; and what timescale he has set for their entry into service. [20416]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 November 2010, Official Report, columns 852-53W, to the hon. Members for Glenrothes (Lindsay Roy), for North Durham (Mr Jones) and for Moray (Angus Robertson).
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the short study on the helicopter platform capabilities for HMS Ocean and HMS Illustrious to report; and when he expects to make a decision on the future of such capabilities. [19985]
Peter Luff: The study is expected to report its conclusions shortly. A decision on how our future landing platform helicopter capability should be provided will be announced in due course.
Nimrod MR4A
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the Nimrod MR4A aircraft designated PA04 is stationed. [20761]
Peter Luff: Nimrod MRA4 aircraft PA04 is stationed at BAE Systems Warton.
Peacekeeping Operations: Middle East
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan consequent on actions by (a) Coalition forces and (b) insurgents since October 2001. [20591]
Dr Fox:
We deeply regret all civilian casualties. Protecting the Afghan civilian population is a cornerstone of the international security assistance force's (ISAF) mission, and all British troops undergo comprehensive training
on the strict rules of engagement. Where incidents do occur procedures are in place to ensure they are promptly reported to the chain of command and follow up actions take place in accordance with ISAF and UK national procedures. This contrasts directly with the attitude of the insurgents, whose indiscriminate use of suicide bombs, roadside explosive devices and human shields cause the majority of civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan. We will continue our efforts to prevent insurgents harming civilians and to develop the capacity of Afghan security forces to protect the population.
The Ministry of Defence does not record figures for insurgent or civilian casualties in Afghanistan because of the immense difficulty and risks that would be involved in collecting robust data.
Shipbuilding
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of shipyards in the UK which are surplus to requirements. [22488]
Peter Luff [holding answer 9 November 2010]: As set out in the strategic defence and security review, the Ministry of Defence has a continuing large programme of investment in new warships. The Department is committed to working with the UK shipbuilding industry to ensure delivery of our future military requirements. It will, however, be for industry to retain the capacity it deems necessary in order to meet the demands made of it.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the saving to the public purse from his planned reduction in the number of (a) operational and (b) stockpiled warheads; [19986]
(2) what estimate he has made of the saving to the public purse arising from reductions in the number of warheads on Vanguard submarines. [19987]
Dr Fox: The Ministry of Defence made estimates of the cost savings accrued from measures in the strategic defence and security review for the purposes of formulating policy. However, final savings figures will depend on detailed implementation. The MOD is therefore not prepared to release more detailed figures at this time.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings each Minister in his Department had with representatives of the defence industry to discuss the strategic defence and security review prior to its publication. [21334]
Dr Fox: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 October 2010, Official Report, column 202W, to the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Jonathan Reynolds).
Justice
Alternatives to Prison
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to increase the use of community sentences for prisoners on short prison sentences. [22648]
Mr Blunt: We want to see sentencing that is effective in rehabilitating offenders so that they do not offend again. This includes increased use of community sentences where they are more effective than short prison sentences in providing punishment and rehabilitation, and in helping offenders come off drugs.
We have announced that we are conducting an assessment of sentencing, looking at the full range of penalties and restorative measures available in the criminal justice system, including community sentences. We will publish a Green Paper before the end of the year, setting out plans to reform sentencing and rehabilitate offenders more effectively.
Criminal Injuries Compensation
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any internal reviews of criminal injuries compensation have recommended changes to the categories of person eligible for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. [23101]
Mr Blunt: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is currently subject to review. No decisions have been made.
Data Protection: Internet
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Office of the Information Commissioner on the adequacy of the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 to protect personal data online. [22703]
Mr Djanogly: There are regular discussions between the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) on the provisions of the Data Protection Act (DPA) and their adequacy for both online and offline data processing. As part of this ongoing dialogue, the ICO responded to the MoJ's Call for Evidence on the DPA and the European Data Protection Directive. In addition, discussions took place between the MoJ and the ICO about the ICO's Personal Information Online Code of Practice during for the ICO's public consultation.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Dr Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what mechanisms are in place to ensure that his Department's decisions on regional funding allocations are based on the most recent available population data. [20696]
Mr Blunt:
The Ministry of Justice does not contribute to any single regional pot of funding. Funding allocations to local authority Youth Offending Teams are based on a formula which includes population data. Following
the spending review, we are reviewing the YOT grant formula in order to bring it up to date and will work with the Department for Communities and Local Government to ensure that it includes the most recent available population data.
Fines: Surcharges
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was raised through the victims' surcharge in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [22740]
Mr Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to my reply given to the hon. Member for Blackley and Broughton (Graham Stringer) on 24 June 2010, Official Report, column 280W.
The Victim Surcharge was introduced on the 1 April 2007. Between 2007-08 to 2009-10 the Victim Surcharge raised £21,079,310. It produced approximately £3.8 million in 2007-08, £8.1 million in 2008-09 and £9.2 million for 2009-10.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has discussed Google's Street View project with the Information Commissioner. [22704]
Mr Djanogly: UK data protection legislation is enforced independently of Government by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and it would not be appropriate for Ministers to be involved in the ICO's handling of any particular case.
Discussions between the Information Commissioner and Ministers with regard to Google's Street View project have related to the general principles of the case.
John Hirst
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if the Probation Service will (a) consider the compliance of John Hirst with the terms of his licence for release from custody and (b) recall him from his release on licence. [22623]
Mr Blunt: It would not be appropriate, for operational reasons, to place in the public domain information regarding the management on licence of an individual offender.
However, an offender who is in the community and on a life licence is liable to be recalled to prison, where his behaviour suggests he presents an unacceptable risk to life or limb.
Prison Sentences
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people who were given custodial sentences of up to two years were convicted of each offence in the latest year for which figures are available; [22773]
(2) how many people who were given custodial sentences of up to 12 months were convicted of each offence in the latest year for which figures are available. [22774]
Mr Blunt: Information showing the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody of up to and including one year, over one year and up to and including two years, and over two years (including life and indeterminate) for each offence at all courts in England and Wales for 2009 (latest available) can be found in the following table.
Prisoners on Remand
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many remand prisoners (a) were in prison on 6 May 2010 and (b) voted in elections on that day. [22735]
Mr Blunt: On 7 May 2010, the nearest date for which information is available, there were 12,823 remand prisoners in prisons in England and Wales.
Eligible prisoners may vote by post or by proxy and we are therefore unable to say how many votes were actually cast by or on behalf of eligible prisoners.
The right to vote is restricted to unconvicted prisoners, convicted but unsentenced prisoners, persons imprisoned for contempt of court and other prisoners classified under Prison Rule 7(3), and those serving a term of imprisonment in default of payment of a sum of money, adjudged to be paid on conviction.
Prisoners' Release
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were given a supervision order with a condition of participation in a sex offender programme in 2009. [22934]
Mr Blunt: In 2009, 1,451 community-based orders were issued with a requirement to participate in a sex offender programme.
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people were given a supervision order with a curfew requirement in each year from 2004 to 2009; [22935]
(2) how many people were given a supervision order with a requirement for unpaid work in each year from 2004 to 2009. [22936]
Mr Blunt: The following table shows the number of curfew and unpaid work community order requirements which commenced under probation service supervision in each year from 2005 to 2009-latest available.
| Persons starting curfew and unpaid work requirements of a community order 2005 - 09 | ||
| Curfew | Unpaid work | |
| Notes: 1. Sharp increase from 2005 reflects the fact that these orders were introduced for offences committed after 4 April 2005. 2. For curfews, the data given in the table are the majority of adult curfew requirements given. The data do not include single requirement curfews which do not involve probation service supervision. | ||
Data are available from April 2005 only as the community order was introduced under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on 4 April 2005-moreover curfew/unpaid work requirements did not explicitly feature in the community sentences used previously.
The figures can be found in the published "Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2009"-Table 3.9, a copy of which can be found in the Libraries of both Houses and which can be found at the following website:
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.
Prisons: Drugs
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to improve the delivery of drug treatment services in prisons. [22780]
Mr Blunt: The Government recognise that treatment is essential if we are to tackle the social and health costs caused by drugs. In prisons, a comprehensive framework of drug treatment is in place to address the drug needs of offenders, comprising clinical services, psychosocial interventions, case management and through care services. The Integrated Drug Treatment System (IDTS) is bringing improvements to the quality of prison treatment and is due to be rolled out to all adult prisons in England by March 2011.
However, we believe more needs to be done to offer offenders the opportunity to get off drugs for good and into a position where they can stop offending and make a proper contribution to society. To achieve this we will run pilots to pay contractors by results to rehabilitate offenders with drug problems, launch drugs recovery
wing pathfinders in a number of prisons and explore alternative forms of residential, treatment-based accommodation for offenders with drugs problems.
These plans will be outlined in more detail in our Green Paper on Sentencing and Rehabilitation, which will be published for consultation shortly.
Prisons: Meat
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review levels of meat consumption in prisons for the purpose of improving the health of prisoners. [23133]
Mr Blunt: There are no plans to review the level of meat consumption in prisons. Prisons already provide meals to meet religious and cultural needs as well as vegetarian, vegan and other dietary requirements.
Prisons: Wales
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Wales on proposals for the construction of a prison in North Wales. [22992]
Mr Blunt: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has discussed the provision of prison places in north Wales with both myself and ministerial colleagues.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to publishing a Green Paper on Rehabilitation and Sentencing, consulting on our longer-term plans for offender management. Following this the MoJ will re-evaluate its strategy for prison capacity.
Probation
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance his Department issues to the Probation Service on the recall of prisoners. [22649]
Mr Blunt: The most recent published guidance issued to the Probation Service on the recall of prisoners is contained in Probation Circular 14/2008 and Probation Instruction 4/2009.
The link for these circulars are:
Youth Custody: Violence
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with the Youth Justice Boards on matters arising from the recent violent incidents at HM Prison and Youth Offender Institute, Warren Hill and HM Prison and Youth Offender Institute, Hatfield; and if he will make a statement. [22852]
Mr Blunt: I was kept informed of events at HMYOI Warren Hill through the National Offender Management Service. The Youth Justice Board are working closely with NOMS to manage the situation at Warren Hill and the impact on the wider youth estate.
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