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29 Nov 2010 : Column 495W—continued
Legal Aid Scheme: Contracts
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much money from the public purse the Learning and Skills Council has spent on legal costs in respect of tendering contracts for legal aid since May 2010. [26699]
Mr Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has operational responsibility for tendering contracts for legal aid.
The LSC has an in-house legal team and it also instructs counsel where necessary on particular cases. The LSC in-house lawyers do not have a computerised time recording system and where no claim for costs is to be made by the LSC, a breakdown of the time spent by the in-house legal team has not been prepared. In addition, the LSC has not yet paid for all of the work done by counsel and so therefore does not currently hold the information requested.
Legal Aid Scheme: North West
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) asylum and (b) non-asylum matter starts were allocated to each provider in each access area in the North West procurement area for the 2010 contract for such matter starts. [26427]
Mr Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is currently finalising the contract documentation after which time the final numbers of organisations delivering services under the 2010 Standard Civil Contract, and the volume of work they will be delivering, will be available.
I will write to the hon. Member when the information has been published on the LSC website.
National Offender Management Service: Secondment
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff were on secondment to the National Offender Management Service on the latest date for which figures are available. [26426]
Mr Blunt: There is no reliable information centrally available on the number of staff on secondment into the National Offender Management Service. To obtain the information would entail contacting a large number of individual units, which would entail disproportionate cost.
Office of the Public Guardian: Lost Property
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2010, Official Report, column 357W, on the Office of the Public Guardian, what estimate he has made of the (a) frequency and (b) cost to the public purse of the loss of documents by the Office of the Public Guardian in the last 12 months. [26815]
Mr Djanogly: As per my answer on 27 October 2010, Official Report, column 357W, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is not able to collate statistics in respect of numbers of lost original documents without reference to individual cases. Thus, estimates as to frequency would be no more than speculative.
As with any process reliant on the submission of paper material, the loss of original documents will, unfortunately, occur on occasion. The OPG takes information security very seriously and focuses consistently on minimising the potential risk.
However where original documents are lost, the cost to be borne is minimal. The OPG scans all applications on receipt and therefore where an original copy is misplaced, an office copy of the instrument can be provided. Where the original is subsequently identified, measures are in place to ensure it is then forwarded to the applicant. Office copies are afforded the same weight in law as the original. Costs are therefore limited to the resource to produce and issue any replacement material.
Prisoners
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has plans to ensure that prisoners in working prisons are (a) placed close to their families and (b) offered skills training relating to industries that are prevalent in that area; and if he will make a statement. [26242]
Mr Blunt: The Government have made clear their intention to make prisons places of hard work and discipline. We will be publishing our proposals for consultation in the forthcoming Sentencing and Rehabilitation Green Paper. As we develop our proposals we will need to consider how best to achieve the working prison within the confines of the prison estate and how best to work with the private and voluntary sectors to provide work and training opportunities for prisoners.
Prisoners' Release
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing housing stock to accommodate the release of 3,000 prisoners as part of his Department's structural reform plan; and if he will make a statement; [26243]
(2) with reference to his Department's structural reform plan for the reintroduction of prisoners into the community, how such reintroduction will be supervised; and by what mechanism it will contribute to a reduction in reoffending rates. [26244]
Mr Blunt: No measures will be introduced to release existing prisoners early. The Government will publish a Green Paper in December setting out proposals for more effective sentencing policies and rehabilitation including action on drugs, alcohol, mental health employment and housing. We expect the prison population to fall by around 3,000 from the current level as a result of these policies. We will consider the provision of departmental resources in the light of consultation responses to our proposals.
Prisoners: Voting Rights
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2010, Official Report, column 165, if he will publish each item of correspondence between him and Scottish Ministers on prisoners' voting rights. [27172]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Probation
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for the future of the accredited programmes panel for programmes run by the probation service. [26423]
Mr Blunt: The Correctional Services Accreditation Panel (CSAP) is a non-statutory body that sits within the Justice Policy Group. Its main role is to accredit programmes that have been designed for offenders both in prisons and the community.
There are currently no plans to change the remit of CSAP or the way in which programmes are accredited. However, we will be keeping this area of work under review in light of the Green Paper due to be published this autumn.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people who were given a determinate sentence in each year since 2005 did not take part in offender programmes while in prison. [26424]
Mr Blunt: The National Offender Management Service delivers a broad range of interventions to address the particular risks and needs of offenders. Information on all the activities undertaken by individual prisoners is not centrally collated and details on those who did not take part in offender programmes could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by analysing offender files and local data systems, validating the information and collating in a common format. Whether a prisoner needs to participate in a particular programme will depend on assessment locally.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has made a recent assessment of the merits of appointing a director of probation for England and Wales. [26425]
Mr Blunt: As probation trusts are independent, arm's length bodies, operating under contract with the Secretary of State, a director of probation could not perform the same functions as under the earlier, centralised arrangements.
However, we recognise that probation trusts need a consistent point of reference and representation within the National Offender Management Service. The new structure we are putting in place from April 2011 will include a Director of Probation and Contracted Services, who will be responsible not only for holding trusts to account against their contracts, but also for ensuring they have the support they need to be effective public sector providers.
Reoffenders
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce reoffending rates among (a) Tier 1 and (b) Tier 2 offenders; and if he will make a statement. [26245]
Mr Blunt: All offenders on community orders are managed according to their assessed risks and offending related needs in order to reduce their likelihood of reoffending. Individual sentence plans are drawn up for each offender to focus on objectives to reduce their risk of reoffending and causing harm.
The forthcoming Green Paper will include details of the Government's plans to reform sentencing and introduce new measures to rehabilitate offenders.
Roads: Accidents
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals were prosecuted for failing to report injuries to or killing a dog in a road traffic incident in England and Wales in each of the last five years. [26520]
Mr Blunt: Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to fail to stop, or report within 24 hours, an accident where personal injury or damage is caused. Data held centrally on the Ministry of Justice's Court Proceedings database do not include the circumstances of each case other than those specified in the statute and it is not possible to identify details of these offences which include injuries or death to a dog.
Squatting
David Rutley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to assist property owners to remove squatters occupying their property; and if he will make a statement. [26368]
Mr Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer of 3 November 2010, Official Report, column 835W, to the hon. Member for Tamworth (Christopher Pincher).
We are reviewing with other Government Departments whether the law in relation to squatting and the way it is enforced, should be strengthened, but we have yet to reach a conclusion.
Victim Support Schemes
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to establish procedures to support victims of white collar crime. [26248]
Mr Blunt: The Government take white collar crime as seriously as other crime. Those victims can access support both inside and outside court. In addition, the creation of a new Economic Crime Agency, as outlined in the coalition agreement, will be a significant step forward in helping to better tackle economic crime.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Crime
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted of offences relating to the sale of alcohol to a person aged under 18 years in each of the last five years; [26029]
(2) how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for the offence of being drunk and disorderly in each of the last five years; [26030]
(3) how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted of offences related to purchasing alcohol on behalf of a person aged under 18 years in each of the last five years; [26031]
(4) how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for the sale of alcohol to a drunk person under section 141 of the Licensing Act 2003 in each year since the implementation of that Act. [26032]
James Brokenshire: Data showing the number of cautions, prosecutions and convictions for various alcohol offences from 2005-09 are provided in the table which will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Data for the offence of sale of alcohol to a drunk person are available from 2004, there was one caution for the offence during this year.
Asylum: Deportation
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of deporting unsuccessful asylum seekers in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009. [26602]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency (UKBA) seek to remove all those with no legal basis to be in the UK, this includes foreign national prisoners, illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers.
It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the actual cost of removals and deportations of failed asylum seekers because there is no specific budget dedicated solely to their removal.
We are unable to disaggregate the specific costs and any attempt to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
However the cost of public expense removals (PERs) paid by the UK Border Agency has been as follows:
| £ million | |
These costs include the cost of tickets for both returnees and escorts, but not the actual escorting costs. PERs include individuals who are not failed asylum seekers, such as foreign national prisoners and illegal immigrants. Some failed asylum seekers are removed at carriers' expense so their costs are not included in the figures above.
In addition to the costs above the removal of a failed asylum seeker may involve costs related to caseworking and detention which will vary from case to case.
In addition to enforced removals UKBA also operates various voluntary removal schemes, where failed asylum seekers and illegal migrants are encouraged to return voluntarily to their country of origin. Expenditure on these schemes was as follows during the period in question:
| £ million | |
Asylum: Iraq
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers from Iraq were admitted to the UK in 2008-09; and whether she has made an estimate of the number of those admitted who were Christians. [26371]
Damian Green: The figures in the table are for asylum applications and initial decisions on asylum applications made at port and in country. These data exclude all subsequent decisions. Asylum applications are given by year of application; asylum initial decisions are given by year of decision, as initial decisions by year of application are not available. Totals are given by financial year 2008-09.
Information on the number of asylum seekers who were Christians is not available. This could be obtained only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
Information on asylum is published annually and quarterly in the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom bulletins which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
Crime: Databases
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2010, Official Report, columns 114-15W, on crime: databases, in how many cases in each category of crime there was (a) a match and (b) no match on the National DNA Database. [24548]
James Brokenshire: As at 12 November 2010, there were 369,253 crime scene sample profiles on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) submitted by police forces in England and Wales, of which an estimated 221,401 had been matched to subject sample profiles and an estimated 147,852 had not. The offence types recorded against these crime scene sample profiles are shown in the following table.
Since April 2002, records have been captured on the NDNAD Match Reporting Management Information Database (MID) on matches between crime scene sample profiles and subject sample profiles. The figures provided are estimates, as it is possible that some crime scene profiles were matched before 2002 and therefore not captured on the MID. The number of unmatched crime scene profiles may therefore be lower than indicated. In cases where a crime scene sample profile on the NDNAD has not matched to a subject sample profile, the crime may nevertheless have been detected through other evidence.
The data provided are management information and have not been formally assessed for compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
| Offence type | Unmatched | Matched |
Crime: Hate
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what objectives her Department has set for its policy on hate groups operating in the UK. [24582]
James Brokenshire: The coalition programme for government outlines our objectives to deny public funds to any group that has recently espoused or incited violence or hatred; and to improve the recording of hate crime offences.
The Home Secretary also has the power to exclude (i.e. ban) an individual from coming to the United Kingdom where she considers that the individual's presence here would not be conducive to the public good. This may include those who display unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred.
We are currently consulting the police on how hate crime information can best be collected. This commitment has been included in the Home Office's Business Plan. It is intended that the police will begin the collection of this data from April 2011. As with a whole raft of Government and police data, we will make information available in a transparent and accessible format.
The coalition agreement also includes the aim to restore rights to non-violent protest. We will review the law to ensure that the police continue to have the powers they need to protect local communities from intimidation and threatening behaviour and to deal with individuals and groups that espouse or incite violence.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is leading further work across Government to tackle non-violent extremism as part of our aim of promoting wider community integration.
We have announced a review of the Prevent strategy, aimed at tackling violent extremism and terrorism, with the objective of ensuring that it is more effective and properly focused. The review will consider whether the Prevent strategy should be expanded to include other forms of violent extremism. A revised strategy is due to be published in the new year.
Cybercrime: Human Rights
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to protect human rights groups operating within the UK from cyber attack by foreign states. [25268]
Nick Herbert: Information and advice on cyber security threats and cyber security protective security measures is publicly available on the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) website. This information is aimed at the businesses and organisations which comprise the UK's national infrastructure but is also useful for any organisation seeking to protect itself against threats of this nature. Alerts to the public, small businesses and other organisations, including charities and lobby groups, are available through the getsafeonline.org website which also offers comprehensive advice and guidance on internet security.
Departmental Food
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has guidelines on ensuring that food used for her Department's official functions is of domestic origin. [25535]
Nick Herbert: The Home Department complies with the cross government procurement guidelines published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Home Department's facilities management provider Ecovert has reported that currently 81% of food purchases for the staff restaurant and hospitality events are farm assured produce.
Deportation: Iran
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the forced deportation of Child M and his family to Iran; and if she will make a statement. [26458]
Damian Green [holding answer 25 November 2010]: Information contained in individual records held by the UK Border Agency is treated as being confidential and is not normally disclosed to third parties. This is, of course, unless they are authorised representatives of the individual concerned. The UK Border Agency has no record that the family has authorised the hon. Member to act on their behalf. This is not a question of secrecy for its own sake but simply a matter of protecting the privacy of the individual.
As he may be aware, Child M and his family are already represented by their constituency MP, my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman). I have already responded to him about this case in full.
Detainees: Children
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what progress has been made in ending the practice of child detention through (a) pilot schemes to find alternatives to child detention and (b) recent representations made to her on alternatives to child detention; [27269]
(2) when she expects the use of child detention centres to cease. [27271]
Damian Green: The Government are committed to ending the detention of children for immigration purposes. A review is currently under way to consider how this can be done in a way which protects the welfare of children while ensuring the departure of families who have no right to be in the UK. We need to be sure that any new process works in practice so we are testing out a range of new approaches aimed at keeping families with children in the community. We have also been working closely with a range of interested parties in the voluntary and statutory sectors who have experience and expertise in this area.
In the meantime, detention is being used only as a last resort after families have exhausted their appeal rights, refused an offer of assisted return and failed to comply with arrangements put in place by the UK Border Agency for their departure. The number of families detained in immigration removal centres has reduced significantly during the course of the review, and it is no longer the case that families are detained for long periods of time.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average amount of time a child spent in an immigration removal centre in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [27270]
Damian Green: Rather than calculate the average statistic for time spent in detention, the Home Office presents the data as ranges because this is a more informative overview and is not subject to distortions by a small number of cases with large values.
The latest published statistics show that as at 30 September 2010 there were five children, detained solely under Immigration Act powers, in UK Border Agency removal centres and short-term holding facilities. All five had been detained for seven days or less. This figure is rounded to the nearest five and is of people recorded as being under 18 on 30 September 2010. These figures will overstate if any applicants aged 18 or over claim to be younger.
Information on children detained solely under Immigration Act powers are available in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom, July-September 2010 on the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
The Government have been clear in their commitment to end the detention of children. We therefore continue to work with our corporate partners to find an alternative that protects the welfare of children, without undermining our immigration laws.
Entry Clearances
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will establish a pilot scheme to enable sponsors of visitors to the UK on short-term visas to post a security bond; and if she will make a statement. [26285]
Damian Green: The main requirements for entry to the UK as a general visitor are to satisfy the Border Force officer that they intend to stay for a limited period and leave the UK at the end of their stay, that they do not intend to work or study and that they can support and accommodate themselves and any dependants from funds available to them and without recourse to public funds.
For family visitors, the UK Border Agency check that they generally intend to visit their sponsor in the UK, and that if necessary the sponsor will be able to maintain and accommodate them. We have no plans to go beyond this with further formal requirements such as a security bond.
Entry Clearances: Greater London
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for indefinite leave to remain in the UK had their last known address in (a) the borough of Bexley and (b) Greater London in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many such applicants were successful. [26270]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency is unable to provide definitive data on the applicants address at the time of application. The information provided is therefore based on the applicants last known address.
The latest period for which figures are available is for applications made between 1 May 2009 and 30 April 2010.
The number of applicants for indefinite leave to remain in the UK that had their last known address in the borough of Bexley was 584.
The number of such applications that were granted was 451.
The number of applicants for indefinite leave to remain in the UK that had their last known address in Greater London was 46,245.
The number of such applications that were granted was 38,188.
This is internal management information and is subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
Football: South Africa
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on attendance at the 2010 FIFA World cup. [26148]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office accounting system does not identify separately expenditure on attendance at the World cup. However, the Home Office did not send any observers to the World cup.
Immigration
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to allow students from Commonwealth countries to remain in the UK after they graduate. [27174]
Damian Green: As the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) announced in her statement to Parliament of 23 November 2010, Official Report, columns 169-86, the Government will shortly launch a public consultation on proposed changes to the student visa arrangements. The consultation will seek views on the future of the Tier 1 Post Study Work category, the current scheme that allows international students who have achieved certain qualifications to stay in the UK and work for up to two years after they have completed their studies.
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Code of Practice A
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she has taken to ensure that the proposed changes to section 60 powers in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Code of Practice A comply with (a) race relations and equality legislation and (b) Articles 8 (right to privacy) and 14 (non-discrimination) of the Human Rights Act 1998; [25467]
(2) what proposals she is considering to improve the safeguards in respect of section 60 powers under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. [25273]
Nick Herbert: Powers under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 contain important safeguards to prevent their misuse. All authorisations are intelligence based and approved by a police officer of at least inspector rank. The power is only used in a 'locality' within a police area, and only for 24 hours (with the option to extend this to 48 hours if authorised by a superintendent).
However previous guidance did not place any restrictions on its use within the locality of an authorisation. The code now includes new requirements to ensure that officers do not stop and search individuals unconnected with the purpose of a section 60 authorisation. Furthermore, following a period of statutory consultation, we have amended the guidance so that it now clearly states that when selecting persons or vehicles to be stopped officers must take care not to discriminate unlawfully against anyone on the grounds of any of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010. In addition to this we are currently examining the guidance and safeguards around section 60 in light of the judgment in Gillan and Quinton v. the United Kingdom to see if any further work is appropriate.
Police Community Support Officers
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department plans to provide for police community support officers in each of the next three years. [25696]
Nick Herbert: Police community support officers (PCSOs) make an important contribution to neighbourhood policing and the visible and available policing in communities the public wish to see. The spending review set out the overall settlement for policing. There will be an announcement to Parliament in early December setting out the details of allocations of grant to all forces, including any specific grant.
Police: Cybercrime
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests the Police Central e-crime Unit made in the course of investigations into cyber attacks on Government Departments in the last 12 months. [26927]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 25 November 2010]: The Police Central e-crime Unit has made a significant number of arrests over the past 12 months, and has been very successful in tackling organised crime groups targeting the UK through the internet. Such criminals will attack multiple targets, including Government, and it is not possible to identify separately those arrested for attack on Government Departments.
Police: Disciplinary Proceedings
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers in (i) the Metropolitan Police Service and (ii) Cambridgeshire constabulary have been subject to disciplinary proceedings in each of the last three years. [26450]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 25 November 2010]: The Home Office does not collect the information requested.
Police: Manpower
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 November 2010, Official Report, columns 724-26W, on police: manpower, what estimate she has made of the number of police officers with 30 years service or more on 31 March 2010 who had specialist roles. [26076]
Mrs May [holding answer 23 November 2010]: The information is not collected centrally.
Police: Offenders
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were convicted of a criminal offence in each of the last five years. [25907]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office neither collates nor collects the statistical information requested.
Police: Ports
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the future of port police forces; and if she will make a statement. [26041]
Nick Herbert: We continue to explore the potential benefits that the employment and usage of ports police provide. We have committed to creating a dedicated border police command, within the new National Crime Agency, to enhance national security, improve immigration controls, and crack down on the trafficking of people, weapons and drugs. This command will have responsibility for tasking and coordinating those border enforcement operational staff who together will form the new Border Police capability, and will strengthen collaboration of all law enforcement agencies operating at the border.
Stop and Search
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many stop and searches there were in (a) each police authority area and (b) each London local authority area in each of the last five years; [23738]
(2) in what proportion of stop and searches in each (a) police authority area and (b) London local authority area the subject was from a (i) white, (ii) Black, (iii) Asian and (iv) other ethnic minority background in each of the last five years. [23739]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 12 November 2010]: Figures by police force area for each year from 2004-05 to 2008-09 (latest available) are contained in the tables placed in the House Library. These data are not collected centrally at local authority level.
Figures are provided separately for stops and searches under s1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and stops and searches in anticipation of violence under s60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
Figures on ethnicity of those stopped and searched use self-defined ethnicity for 2006-07 onwards. Figures on this basis for 2004-05 and 2005-06 are incomplete
and therefore figures have been provided on ethnic appearance instead, which means that the categories do not match directly. Any comparisons before and after 2006-07 should therefore be made with caution.
Figures for total stops and searches appear in the annual Home Office bulletin 'Police Powers and Procedures England and Wales'. The 2008-09 edition is available online at:
Figures for ethnicity of those stopped and searched appear in the annual Ministry of Justice publication 'Race and the Criminal Justice System'. The 2008-09 edition is available online at:
Stop and Search: Ethnic Groups
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to reduce the number of (a) Black and (b) Asian people stopped and searched under section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. [25270]
Nick Herbert: The Government share the concerns about disproportionality in the use of stop and search powers. We are working with the police service to help ensure that stop and search powers are used appropriately. There is, however, no single cause of disproportionality. It is important, therefore, to look at levels of disproportionality, and any specific demographic or other factors, in individual forces.
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) have developed 'Next Steps', a diagnostic tool to ensure that a force's use of Stop and Search is not driven by unjustified factors such as discrimination or stereotyping. 'Next Steps' is currently focused on Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). The NPIA will support forces to implement 'Next Steps' and will target forces with high levels of disproportionality. The NPIA has recently commenced the roll out of 'Next Steps' in Dorset, Merseyside, and one borough of the Metropolitan police service.
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she plans to take to reduce the number of (a) Black and (b) Asian people stopped and searched under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; [25271]
(2) what research her Department has undertaken to identify the causes of the disproportionate number of Black and Asian people stopped and searched under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. [25272]
Nick Herbert: My Department has not undertaken any research on the causes of disproportionality in the use of section 60 stop and search powers.
Amendments to Code of Practice A, made under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984, which were laid before the House on 17 November 2010, provide further guidance to front-line police officers on the use of section 60 stop and search powers. That guidance makes clear that, in using section 60 powers:
"officers must take care not to discriminate unlawfully against anyone on the grounds of any of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010"
and gives further guidance on those characteristics, which include ethnicity.
Stop and Search: Terrorism
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many stop and searches were carried out under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in (a) each police authority area and (b) each London borough in each of the last five years; [23740]
(2) in what proportion of stop and searches conducted under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 the subject was from (a) a white, (b) a Black, (c) an Asian and (d) another ethnic minority background in each (i) police authority area and (ii) London local authority area in each of the last five years; [23741]
(3) how many arrests there were as a direct result of a stop and search under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in each (a) police authority area and (b) London local authority area in each of the last five years. [23742]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 12 November 2010]: Figures by police force area for each year from 2004-05 to 2008-09 are contained in the tables placed in the House Library. These data are not collected centrally by London borough level. Further data have been provided which details the number of stop and searches in 2009-2010.
Figures on ethnicity of those stopped and searched use self-defined ethnicity for 2006-07 onwards. Figures on this basis for 2004-05 and 2005-06 are incomplete and therefore figures have been provided on ethnic appearance instead, which means that the categories do not match directly. Any comparisons before and after 2006-07 should therefore be made with caution.
Figures for total stops and searches appear in the annual Home Office bulletin "Police Powers and Procedures England and Wales". The 2008-09 edition is available on-line at:
Figures for total stops and searches under Section 44 also appear in the Home Office bulletin "Operation of Police Powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and Subsequent Legislation: Arrests, Outcomes and Stops & Searches". The 2009-10 edition is available on-line at:
Figures for ethnicity of those stopped and searched appear in the annual Ministry of Justice publication "Race and the Criminal Justice System". The 2008-09 edition is available on-line at:
Visas
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria she has set for measuring the requirement that a Tier 1 visa applicant has achieved international recognition or is likely to do so. [27173]
Damian Green: We will announce details of the criteria for Tier 1 applicants of exceptional talent in due course.
Yarl's Wood Detention Centre: Children
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) health, (b) recreational, (c) educational and (d) religious facilities are available for children in the Yarl's Wood detention centre. [27272]
Damian Green: Yarl's Wood, like all immigration removal centres, provides free onsite primary healthcare to the same level of care as NHS general practices in the community. This involves access to nursing care 24 hours per day, and visiting GPs who are on call outside of normal hours. All detainees, including children, are seen by a nurse within two hours of their arrival, and are provided with an appointment to see the GP within 24 hours. The nurse may make an earlier appointment if necessary.
The centre also provides dedicated services to meet the needs of families and children including a paediatric nurse, health and midwife visitors, weight and immunisation clinics which are able to prescribe malarial prophylaxis for identified risk groups, access to children's acute mental health services (CAMH) and counselling services.
The GP refers detainees to the local primary care trusts where secondary treatment is required.
Yarl's Wood provides a wide range of recreational facilities for children including a cinema, youth club overseen by a qualified youth worker, grassed and hard play areas with swings and climbing frames, an area for football and netball and a covered outdoor area with an all-weather pitch. The centre's crèche has a bouncy castle and a children's pet area with guinea pigs and rabbits.
Yarl's Wood has an Ofsted-registered crèche and school with four classrooms and play area delivering 30 hours per week of tuition by qualified teachers for children aged 5-16 years. The crèche is staffed seven days a week from 9-5 by appropriately qualified child care professionals for children under school age. The centre's gym and sports hall are available for five hours PE Monday to Friday during school hours as part of the delivery of the national curriculum.
The centre provides for the varied range of faiths and celebrates various religious festivals/cultural events. Multi faith rooms are available daily as are holy books of different faiths. The centre's resident faith ministers are accessible to all, including children.
While the facilities at Yarl's Wood are of a high standard, the Government have committed to ending the detention of children for immigration purposes as part of their coalition agreement. In July, the Deputy Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr Clegg) announced the closure of the family unit at Yarl's Wood. We will agree a timetable for closing the unit when we announce the new model for managing family cases which support the Government's immigration policies. However, in the meantime, we must continue to ensure families those applications have failed continue to leave the UK promptly.
Electoral Commission Committee
Departmental Written Questions
Sir Paul Beresford:
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission for written answer on a
named day were answered substantively before or on the day named for answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had not received a substantive answer by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost of answering a question for written answer on a named day on the day named for answer in the latest period for which figures are available. [25989]
Mr Streeter: Statistics on the handling of parliamentary questions are kept by the Speaker's Committee in connection with its statutory responsibility to report to the House on the exercise of its functions.
In Session 2009-10, there were 10 questions tabled for answer on a named day, of which four (40%) received a substantive answer on the day named. Since May 2010 there have been eight named day questions, all of which received a substantive answer on the day named. All questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had received a substantive answer by 18 November 2010.
Neither the Speaker's Committee nor the Electoral Commission has made an estimate of the average cost of answering a named day question on the day named for answer but it is noted that HM Treasury has established the cost of a written PQ as £149.00:
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commissioners for ordinary written answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010 were answered within (i) seven days and (ii) 14 days of tabling; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 remained unanswered by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost of answering a question for ordinary written answer within seven days of tabling in the latest period for which figures are available. [25990]
Mr Streeter: Statistics on the handling of parliamentary questions are kept by the Speaker's Committee in connection with its statutory responsibility to report to the House on the exercise of its functions.
In Session 2009-10, there were 30 questions tabled for ordinary written answer, of which 16 (53%) were answered within seven days and 21 (70%) were answered within 14 days. Between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 there were 22 questions tabled for ordinary written answer, of which 14 (64%) received a substantive answer within seven days and 18 (82%) received a substantive answer within 14 days. These periods include non-sitting Fridays, weekends and parliamentary recesses. All questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had received a substantive answer by 18 November 2010.
Neither the Speaker's Committee nor the Electoral Commission has made an estimate of the average cost of answering an ordinary written question within seven days of tabling but it is noted that HM Treasury has established the cost of a written PQ as £149.00:
Education
Academies
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his announcement of 1 September 2010, whether all the schools listed as converting from outstanding maintained school status have signed the model funding agreement published on his Department's website. [15416]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 14 September 2010]: All funding agreements will be published on the Department for Education's website:
Boarding Schools
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the inspection regime for the state boarding school sector. [24534]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 16 November 2010]: The Department has not made an assessment of the adequacy of the inspection regime for the state boarding sector.
All boarding schools, whether in the maintained or independent sector, are subject to welfare inspections by Ofsted who inspect against the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools.
Inspections should be conducted to the highest possible standards and should enjoy the confidence of schools and parents. HM chief inspector, as the head of an independent inspectorate, is responsible for the overall quality of these inspections and ensuring that they are fair and robust.
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to expand the provision of state boarding school places; and if he will make a statement. [24535]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 16 November 2010]: The Government support state boarding schools in England and wants to see the sector continue to thrive. We recognise that boarding provision increases the diversity of maintained school provision, contributes to inclusion and can help raise standards.
There are three academies developing boarding provision which are all due to open in September 2011. They are:
Harefield Academy in Hillingdon, London-50 boarders
Priory LSST Academy in Lincolnshire-60 (post 16) boarders
Wellington Academy in Wiltshire-100 boarders
Bookstart Programme: Finance
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will allocate funding to the Bookstart programme for (a) 2011-12 and (b) subsequent years. [22220]
Sarah Teather: The Department for Education's overall funding settlement was announced on 20 October 2010. We are working through the details of that settlement and the funding implications for individual policy and programmes, including the funding of Bookstart. We will make further announcements over the coming weeks.
Children: Hearing Impairment
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the (a) level and (b) effectiveness of the provision of specialist support services for deaf children by local authorities. [22420]
Sarah Teather: The Department does not require local authorities to provide specific information on deaf children. However, the Special Educational Needs (Provision of Information by Local Education Authorities) Regulations 2001 and the School Information Regulations 2008 require local authorities to publish their arrangements and policies on the provision available for children with special educational needs, which will include deaf children.
The Special Educational Needs Information Act (2008) requires the annual publication of information about children in England with special educational needs. The information published includes local authority data on outcomes for these children by SEN type, including hearing impairment, at key stages 2 and 4 in English, Maths and Science.
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department requires local authorities to provide parents of deaf children with information on (a) specialist provision for deaf children, (b) eligibility criteria for support from the specialist support service for deaf children, (c) the (i) level and (ii) effectiveness of the specialist support service for deaf children and (d) the outcomes achieved by deaf children in their area. [22421]
Sarah Teather: The Department does not require local authorities to provide specific information on deaf children. However, the Special Educational Needs (Provision of Information by Local Education Authorities) Regulations 2001 and the School Information Regulations 2008 require local authorities to publish their arrangements and policies on the provision available for children with special educational needs, which will include deaf children.
The Special Educational Needs Information Act (2008) requires the annual publication of information about children in England with special educational needs. The information published includes local authority data on outcomes for these children by SEN type, including hearing impairment, at key stages 2 and 4 in English, Maths and Science.
Children: Service Personnel
Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department plans to allocate a supplement to the proposed pupil premium in respect of the children of service personnel. [24367]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 16 November 2010]: We are considering the responses to the consultation on school funding which ended on 18 October 2010, which included proposals to extend the pupil premium to the children of service personnel. We expect to announce our decisions on this shortly.
Curriculum
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2010, Official Report, columns 728-9W, on environmental protection: curriculum, when he expects to announce further details of the plans to review the curriculum; whether he expects that review to include a public consultation exercise; and if he will make a statement. [25335]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 22 November 2010]: Further details of our plans to review the National Curriculum will be announced shortly. We intend that the review process will be open and transparent and can confirm that we will be consulting widely, including launching a public call for evidence.
Departmental Grants
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department has allocated in grants for (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and how much such funding he plans to allocate for 2011-12. [25818]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 22 November 2010]: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The published Resource Accounts for 2009-10 show that we allocated £54.8 billion in grants that year.
(b) The Departmental Main Estimate shows that we expect to award £56.8 billion in grants in 2010-11.
Grant to be awarded in 2011-12 are not yet finalised.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in the Department in each of the last three years. [13475]
Tim Loughton: The total spend on official hospitality by the Department for Children, Schools and Families' Ministers in each of the last three financial years is:
| £ | |
All departmental expenditure relating to official hospitality is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each of its Ministers in (a) September and (b) October 2010. [21778]
Tim Loughton: The Secretary of State and Ministers hosted seven briefing events during this period, involving approximately 72 stakeholders from across the education and children's sectors to outline policy priorities and listen to their views. The total amount spent was £382.
All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Departmental Pay
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether all contracted staff working for his Department are paid at the level of the London living wage or above. [25473]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 19 November 2010]: All contracted staff working for the Department for Education in London are paid at the level of the London living wage or above. This does not apply to contracted staff working at our regional headquarter offices who are paid at the level of the National Minimum Wage or above.
Education Maintenance Allowance
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Walsall Borough receive education maintenance allowance. [23265]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 11 November 2010]: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the Education Maintenance Allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Member for Walsall North (Mr Winnick) with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 17 November 2010:
I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ23265 that asked:
"How many people in (a) England (b) the West Midlands and (c) Walsall Borough receive education maintenance allowance."
EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
As at 31st October 2010 the take-up figures for young people who have received EMA during the 2010/11 academic year are:
England 514,179
West Midlands 64,308
Walsall Borough 3,738
EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08 2008/09 and 2009/10 are available on the YPLA website, at the following address:
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency, (b) the North East and (c) England received education maintenance allowance in each year since its inception. [24443]
Mr Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North (Catherine McKinnell) with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 23 November 2010:
I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ24443 that asked:
"How many young people in (a) Newcastle Upon Tyne North constituency, (b) the North East and (c) England received Education Maintenance Allowance in each year since its inception."
Information on the number of young people who have received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority Level, but not at constituency level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
The following table shows EMA take-up during each academic year since inception for England, the North East and Newcastle Upon Tyne Local Authority area.
| England | North East | Newcastle upon Tyne | |
| (1 )To 31 October 2010. | |||
In comparing across years, it is important to understand that national roll-out was phased over several years. In the first year EMA was available to all 16-year-olds across England and to 17 and 18-year-olds in former pilot areas. In 2005/06 EMA was available to all 16 and 17-year-olds nationally. From 2006/07 EMA was available to all 16, 17 and 18-year-olds nationally.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people claimed education maintenance allowance in each year since its introduction in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Coventry. [24860]
Mr Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth) with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Education Maintenance Allowance: Birmingham
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils in Birmingham received education maintenance allowance in the last year for which figures are available. [24865]
Mr Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the Education Maintenance Allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Richard Burden) with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 23 November 2010:
I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ24865 that asked:
"How many pupils in Birmingham received education maintenance allowance in the last year for which figures are available."
Information on the number of young people who have received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority (LA) level. The take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year and is based on the learners' home address and postcode.
The current EMA take up for Birmingham LA for the 2010/11 academic year to date (as at 31/10/10) is 15,896.
For the last full academic year (2009/10) the take-up was 19,862 (as at 31/08/10).
Education Maintenance Allowance: North Tyneside
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students in North Tyneside receive education maintenance allowance (EMA); and what steps his Department is taking to assist those students who will no longer receive EMA in the next academic year to understand and prepare for the new system to replace EMA. [24799]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 25 November 2010]: Figures on current take-up of education maintenance allowance (EMA) are a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the scheme for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member for North Tynside (Mrs Glindon) with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Young people who are currently receiving the EMA will continue to receive it to the end of this academic year. Those who are continuing their education next September and need financial help with learning costs may be eligible for support from the enhanced discretionary learner support fund that will be administered by their school, college or training provider. The Department will consult with schools, colleges and training providers about the arrangements for the enhanced discretionary learner support scheme that will replace EMA, including how to communicate the changes to students.
Free School Meals: Northumberland
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were in receipt of free school meals in (a) Wansbeck constituency and (b) Northumberland on the latest date for which figures are available. [22931]
Mr Gibb: Information on free school meal eligibility is shown in the table. This includes full-time pupils aged 0 to 15 and part-time pupils aged five to 15.
Free Schools
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department's free schools group provides advice to the public on setting up free schools. [24757]
Mr Gibb: The Department for Education is committed to providing advice and support to those with an interest in Free Schools and to those who are developing proposals. In addition to the inquiry services provided by the Department, the New Schools Network acts as first point of contact for groups and individuals interested in setting up a Free School.
GCE A-level
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many pupils in further education colleges were entered for a modern foreign languages A-level in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) maintained selective schools and (c) independent schools in each year since 1997; and what proportion this represented of the total number of pupils entered for A-levels in each such case; [20224]
(2) how many pupils in further education colleges were entered for a chemistry A-level in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) maintained selective schools and (c) independent schools in each year since 1997; and what proportion this represented of the total number of pupils entered for A-levels in each such case; [20232]
(3) how many pupils in further education colleges were entered for a psychology A-level in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) maintained selective schools and (c) independent schools in each year since 1997; and what proportion this represented of the total number of pupils entered for A-levels in each such case; [20233]
(4) how many pupils in further education colleges were entered for physics A-level in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) maintained selective schools and (c) independent schools in each year since 1997; and what proportion this represented of the total number of pupils entered for A-levels in each such case. [20239]
Mr Gibb: The information is shown in the following tables.
| Number and percentage of students in further education who were entered for a modern foreign languages A-level by type of institution | ||||||
| Comprehensive schools | Maintained selective schools | Independent schools | ||||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| Number and percentage of students in further education who were entered for a chemistry A-level by type of institution | ||||||
| Comprehensive schools | Maintained selective schools | Independent schools | ||||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| Number and percentage of students in further education who were entered for a psychology A-level by type of institution | ||||||
| Comprehensive schools | Maintained selective schools | Independent schools | ||||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| Number and percentage of students in further education who were entered for a physics A-level by type of institution | ||||||
| Comprehensive schools | Maintained selective schools | Independent schools | ||||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| (1) Figures for 2010 are provisional, all other years are final. Source: Achievement and Attainment Tables (AATs). | ||||||
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