Home Department
Anorexia: Internet
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take in relation to websites that promote attitudes that encourage the development of anorexia in children and young people. [41615]
James Brokenshire: Keeping children safe is a priority for this Government and, while the internet is a valuable resource, it is important that we protect our children and young people. Through the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS), we will continue to work with the internet industry and charities to restrict exposure to harmful or inappropriate material. UKCCIS is also working to ensure that vulnerable young people are signposted towards trusted sources of information, such as the charity b-eat or NHS Choices, where they can get help and support when looking for such information, and is creating appropriate and intelligent moderation practices so that when discussions of such a nature are initiated they are appropriately moderated.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Coventry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were granted in Coventry in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010; and what the most common reason for granting an ASBO was in this period. [42870]
James Brokenshire: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) became available to courts in England and Wales from 1 April 1999 and data on orders issued are compiled at Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level. The latest published data on ASBOs cover the period 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2009.
In 2009, 119 ASBOs were issued in the west midlands CJS area, which includes Coventry. ASBO data covering the period to the end of 2010 are planned for publication on 13 October 2011.
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The specific nature of the antisocial behaviour which led to the ASBO being issued is not centrally recorded by the Ministry of Justice and would need to be ascertained by reference to individual court files, which could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
Association of Chief Police Officers: Freedom of Information
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 664W, on police: freedom of information, for what reasons the Association of Chief Police Officers will not be brought within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 with immediate effect. [41579]
Nick Herbert: The Government have said that they plan to bring the Association of Chief Police Officers within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. This requires an order to be laid before Parliament designating the Association of Chief Police Officers as a public authority for the purposes of the Act. My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, intends to introduce this order in the spring, to commence as soon as practicable.
Cabinet Office: Internet
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations she has received from members of the public via the Your Freedom website; and how many such representations were for legislative provisions which were subsequently included in the Protection of Freedoms Bill. [41659]
James Brokenshire: There were 15,238 individual ideas submitted to the Your Freedom website between 1 July and 10 September 2010.
A large number of the provisions in the Protection of Freedoms Bill were addressed in some way by contributors to the website. Among the many issues raised and subsequently addressed in the Bill were:
the retention of DNA profiles and fingerprints (chapter 1 of part 1 of the Bill);
the fingerprinting of children in schools (chapter 2 of part 1);
the regulation of CCTV (chapter 1 of part 2);
the use of RIPA powers by local authorities (chapter 2 of part 2);
limiting powers of entry (chapter 1 of part 3);
tackling rogue wheel clamping (chapter 2 of part 3);
introducing safeguards against the misuse of counter-terrorism legislation, including in relation to pre-charge detention and stop and search powers (part 4);
reform of the Vetting and Barring Scheme and criminal records regime (chapters 1 and 2 of part 5);
the disclosure of decriminalised convictions for consensual gay sex (chapter 3 of part 5);
the provision of datasets in a reusable format (clause 92); and
removal of the restrictions on times for marriages (clause 100).
Cannabis: Misuse
Chris Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the levels of long-term usage of cannabis; what drug
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classification has been applied to cannabis in each of the last 30 years; and if she will make a statement. [42203]
James Brokenshire: Cannabis has been controlled as a Class B drug under Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for most of the past 30 years. Its classification was downgraded to Class C in January 2004. In January 2009 it was reclassified to Class B.
Estimates on the prevalence of cannabis use are provided in the annual Drug Misuse Declared publication that covers the extent and trends in illicit drug use among 16 to 59-year-olds in England and Wales, which is based on British Crime Survey (BCS) data on self-reported drug use in the last year. The report is published at:
http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/surveydrugstats.html
In April 2009, questions were introduced into the BCS to ask respondents the age at which they first took cannabis. With the inclusion of questions from April 2010 to ask respondents the age at which they last took the drug, the BCS will be able to provide some estimates for use of cannabis over time.
Counter-terrorism: Plea Bargaining
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will institute a review of the use of plea bargaining arrangements in counter-terrorism cases; and if she will make a statement. [40514]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 14 February 2011]:As set out in the findings from the review of counter-terrorism and security powers, which the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend announced to Parliament on 26 January 2011, Official Report, columns 306-26 and which are available on the Home Office website:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/counter-terrorism/review-of-ct-security-powers/
the Government are taking forward work to increase the evidence and intelligence dividend from defendants and prisoners in terrorism cases. Sections 71-74 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 give a statutory basis for defendants and prisoners to provide evidence and intelligence which may assist the prosecution in return for immunity from prosecution or a possible reduction in sentence. The Government are looking at ways in which the use of these provisions in terrorism cases to support our prosecution efforts can be increased. Given different judicial systems this will be different from the US-style ‘plea bargaining’.
Crime
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with representatives of police authorities on the effects of funding allocations on the capacity of specialist units; and if she will commission a report to assess the capacity available to police forces to investigate and bring to justice people charged with committing rape, murder, people trafficking or money laundering. [40639]
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Nick Herbert: Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I have had a range of meetings with chief constables, representatives of police authorities and others to discuss aspects of the police settlement and individual force allocations.
The investigation of all criminal offences is an operational matter for the police service. It is for chief constables in consultation with police authorities to make decisions on the deployment of police officers within the available resource. The Government believe that the settlement for the police is fair and manageable and, if savings are made in the right areas, the service to the public can be maintained and even improved.
Tackling trafficking is core police business. Tactical advice for police forces engaged in investigations into human trafficking is provided by the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC), part of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Funding has also been provided for police led multi-agency Regional Asset Recovery Teams which provide specialist capability across the country to tackle criminal finances including money laundering.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of (a) long-term crime rates and (b) long-term fear of crime rates. [42112]
James Brokenshire: There are two main sources of official statistics on crime in England and Wales; police recorded crime and the British Crime Survey (BCS). Long-term crime rates from both sources have been published in the annual statistical bulletin ‘Crime in England and Wales 2009-10’ (Tables 2.03 and 2.07), a copy of which is available in the House Libraries.
It is difficult to make a general assessment of long-term crime rates because while the BCS has employed a consistent methodology over time it does not cover all crimes and the police recorded crime series has been subject to a number of changes in public reporting and police recording practices over time.
The BCS has included some questions related to specific aspects of fear of crime and trends have also been published in ‘Crime in England and Wales 2009-10’ (Tables 5.07).
Criminal Records Bureau
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she has given to transferring the work of the Criminal Records Bureau to the private sector. [41940]
Lynne Featherstone: The reports into the Vetting and Barring Scheme Review and Phase 1 of the Criminal Records Review, published on 11 February, made a number of recommendations in relation to the work of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). As a result the Government are retaining and building upon the disclosure service provided by the CRB.
The changes resulting from these recommendations will create a more convenient and proportionate system for both employers and voluntary organisations and for people seeking to work or volunteer with children and vulnerable adults.
I can confirm that there are no current plans to privatise the work of the CRB.
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Domestic Violence
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) women and (b) men were (i) arrested for and (ii) convicted of offences of domestic violence in the last three years for which figures are available. [41480]
Lynne Featherstone: Information on the number of domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident from 2007-08 to 2008-09 and the number of convictions of domestic violence offences from 2007-08 to 2009-10 are given in the table.
Statistics on domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident ceased to be collected from 2009-10.
Data on the gender of domestic violence offenders are not available centrally.
| Arrests and convictions for domestic violence offences in England and Wales, 2007-08 to 2009-10 | ||
|
|
Number of domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident | Number of convictions for domestic violence offences (1) |
| (1) Convictions data are provided by the Crown Prosecution Service. (2) Data on the number of domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident are not collected from 2009-10. | ||
Driving: Health
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are open to the police to take immediate action to prevent a motorist from driving in situations where a person’s age or infirmity gives concern as to their competence to drive; and if she will make a statement. [41702]
James Brokenshire: The police have no general power to take immediate action to prevent a person driving in the situation described. If, however, a check of the Police National Computer shows that a driver’s licence has been revoked because of a medical condition, including a condition related to age or infirmity, the police have the power to seize the driver’s vehicle to prevent it from being driven. In addition, the police can require a driver to undertake an eyesight test. If the test is failed, the police will notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) which will conduct the necessary inquiries which may lead to licence revocation.
Drugs: Young People
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will discuss with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the effects of trends in youth unemployment on future levels of cocaine use. [42121]
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James Brokenshire: The Government's Drug Strategy published in December makes it clear that we intend to create an environment where the vast majority of people who have never taken drugs continue to resist any pressure to do so. This is key to reducing the huge societal costs, particularly the lost ambition and potential of young drug users.
The ambitions of the Drug Strategy are cross departmental. Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions are already closely involved in the oversight of delivery and discussions on the implementation of the new strategy.
Electronic Surveillance
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals to establish a maximum fine for an offence of unintentional interception greater than that proposed in her consultation on amendments to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [41063]
Nick Herbert: The appropriate maximum monetary penalty for unintentional unlawful interception is being considered in the light of the consultation responses and will be set out in new regulations.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the merits of introducing mandatory breach notifications to inform individuals when their communications have been intercepted intentionally or unintentionally without consent. [41064]
Nick Herbert: The Government will be bringing forward legislation to provide for a sanction for unlawful interception that is carried out unintentionally. This will include the mechanism by which the sanction will be administered by the interception of communications commissioner, and guidance will be issued on the handling of complaints and the publication of decisions made by the commissioner.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals to ensure the transparency of the work of the interception of communications commissioner in relation to private sector interception. [41065]
Nick Herbert: The Government will be bringing forward legislation that will provide for the administration of a new sanction for unlawful interception that is carried out unintentionally. The regulations will set out how the sanction will operate and it is our intention that the office of the interception of communications commissioner will issue guidance in relation to the administration of the sanction.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to demonstrate the independence of the interception of communications commissioner under her proposals to amend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [41066]
Nick Herbert:
The commissioner, who holds or must have held high judicial office, is appointed by the Prime Minister under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers
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Act 2000. He is independent and not part of the Executive and has a number of reporting duties and powers including making an annual report to the Prime Minister on the carrying out of his functions. The report is laid before Parliament.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the potential for duplication of investigation functions between the Office of the Information Commissioner and the interception of communications commissioner. [41067]
Nick Herbert: The offices of the Information Commissioner and the interception of communications commissioner perform separate and distinct oversight functions, and their respective responsibilities are set out clearly in the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. In the Government’s view, there are no duplication of investigative functions.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her proposals to amend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 include the creation of a commissioner to investigate intentional illegal interception. [41068]
Nick Herbert: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 provides for an offence of unlawful interception. The police are responsible for investigating cases where a person is suspected of intercepting communications intentionally and without lawful authority. The Crown Prosecution Service is responsible for prosecuting such cases, subject to the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Forensic Science Service
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with representatives of ACPO on the effects of the proposed closure of the Forensic Science Service on crime investigation. [41388]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office is in regular dialogue with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on the operational transition of services, which is being co-ordinated by a national ACPO and National Policing Improvement Agency team. ACPO has been clear that the forensics market can cope with the managed wind-down of the Forensic Science Service (FSS).
The continued provision of effective forensics is a priority and the Home Office is therefore supporting the wind-down process. This includes the necessary financial support so that FSS can maintain services to the Criminal Justice System (CJS) where there is an operational need, while transition arrangements are put in place.
Harassment
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have reported being stalked or harassed to the police in England and Wales in each year since 1998. [42369]
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Lynne Featherstone: The information requested is not available centrally. The Home Office collects statistics on offences recorded by the police rather than those reported to them. However, it is not possible to identify centrally the sex of the victim for recorded offences of stalking or harassment.
The Government are committed to tackling all forms of violence against women and girls, including stalking, and published their vision and guiding principles in this area on 25 November 2010. A detailed range of supporting actions, including those on tackling stalking, will be published in the spring.
Human Trafficking: Children
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on tackling organised gangs involved in trafficking children into the UK in the last 12 months. [41857]
Damian Green: Human trafficking is a horrendous crime and a very serious offence and this Government are strongly committed to tackling organised crime groups who profit from this human misery.
Combating human trafficking is a core part of local operational policing. Recent success in this area has included the work of Operation Golf, a joint investigation of child trafficking between the Metropolitan Police Service and the Romanian National Police, which resulted in a significant number of criminals arrested and trafficked children safeguarded.
The Government are currently working on a new human trafficking strategy which will have as one of its aims a greater focus on identifying and disrupting organised criminal networks involved in human trafficking.
Human Trafficking: Football
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of (a) the Football Association and (b) FIFA on the trafficking of minors into Europe from Africa by football agents. [42994]
James Brokenshire: There have been no discussions with either the Football Association or FIFA on this matter.
Immigration
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on measures to break links between temporary immigration routes and permanent settlement. [41382]
Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 25 January 2011, Official Report, columns 134-135W, in response to his earlier question.
Information on forthcoming changes to the rules for acquiring settlement may be found in a Statement of Intent on proposed changes to the operation of Tier 2 of the points based system and the requirements for indefinite leave to remain which was published on 16 February 2011 and is available on the UK Border Agency website.
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Licensing Laws
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on reform of late-night licensing laws. [41739]
James Brokenshire: The Government intend to implement a late night levy which is set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill currently before the House. The levy is an optional power for licensing authorities to charge businesses who sell alcohol late at night. The money raised will contribute to the costs incurred by the police and other services in keeping the late night economy a safe place to do business.
Additionally, the proposals in the Bill will give a discretionary power to licensing authorities to make an early morning restriction order to prevent the sale of alcohol during any specified period between 12 am and 6 am in a particular part, or all, of the local area where a concentration of licensed premises is contributing to crime and disorder and other problems late at night.
Missing People
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were reported as missing in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those reported as missing have subsequently been found. [41746]
James Brokenshire: A Code of Practice for the collection of Missing Persons data was introduced in April 2009. While data are available for 2009-10, staged implementation of the Code of Practice means that some police forces have not yet been able to provide the required data. The figures provided are therefore likely to be an underestimate of the total number of persons reported as missing.
In 2009-10, 231,158 incidents of missing persons were reported to the Missing Persons Bureau by police forces in England and Wales. Some of these incidents will relate to individuals who have been reported missing more than once.
The figures are management information and have not been formally assessed for compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
The proportion of individuals reported as missing who have subsequently been found is not held centrally.
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent co-operation there has been with police forces in (a) Europe and (b) the US to determine whether people who are reported as missing are in those countries. [41747]
James Brokenshire: This is a matter for the individual police force concerned. However, on a case by case basis the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) Missing Persons Bureau (MPB) facilitates enquiries between UK police forces and police forces/ law enforcement agencies abroad, both directly and through Interpol.
Passport Office: Liverpool
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future of the passport office in Liverpool; and if she will make a statement. [41330]
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Damian Green: The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) carried out a review of all of its estate and staff capacity in the light of anticipated future demand. As a result of that review, IPS is currently conducting a collective consultation process with staff, trade unions and interested parties, and will shortly be publishing an impact assessment covering all five passports offices (Belfast, Durham, Liverpool, Newport and Peterborough).
Police: Accountability
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account she has taken of the differing sizes of police force areas in her proposals for introduction of police and crime commissioners. [41635]
Nick Herbert: Police and crime commissioners will be elected with a force-wide mandate, and represent all citizens in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. In order to give effect to this the police and crime commissioners (PCC) must ensure that their Police and Crime Plan is tailored to reflect the needs of the varied and diverse communities within the force area. The plan will be prepared in consultation with those communities, and in consultation with the chief constable.
The new police and crime panels will also help to reflect the diversity of different force areas, as local councils will decide amongst themselves how best to appoint councillors that best represent the force area's population.
The Government have made provision in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill that in larger force areas with more than 12 councils (such as the Thames Valley force area) each council will be allocated one seat on the panel, ensuring that all councils enjoy representation on it.
The Government envisage that police and crime commissioner salaries will vary to reflect the differing size and complexity of forces, and have asked the Senior Salaries Review Body for advice on this.
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Police: Halifax
Mrs Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) police community support officers are assigned to duties in Halifax. [41111]
Nick Herbert: Constituency level data are not collected centrally. Available data relating to police and police community support officers for Calderdale basic command unit, at March 31 2010 are provided in the following table.
The latest provisional police service strength statistics were published on 27 January 2011 and can be found at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
Bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.
| Police and police community support officers (PCSOs) strength, Calderdale basic command unit, 31 March 2010 (1) | |
|
|
Number |
| (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures include those officers on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave. | |
Police: Manpower
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each police force spent on (a) police overtime and (b) special priority payments in each of the last 10 years. [40582]
Nick Herbert: Data on overtime spending by each police force is published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. The data for forces in England and Wales are shown in the following table.
| Police officer overtime spend | ||||||||||
| £000 | ||||||||||
|
|
2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
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| n/a = Data not available. Source: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy | ||||||||||
The Home Office does not collect information on spending on special priority payments from forces. However, from 2003-04 to 2005-06, the Home Office provided forces with ring-fenced funding for special priority payments. The following table sets out the funding provided which is not necessarily identical to the amount spent because forces could have spent more than the allocated funding.
| £ | |||
| SPP | |||
| Force | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
Police: Recruitment
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to introduce greater flexibility into police recruitment. [41212]
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Nick Herbert: Police forces in England and Wales are responsible for managing their recruitment and selection processes according to local needs and circumstances, in line with national guidance.
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has provided guidance that seeks to provide flexibility of entry routes to become a police officer, available at the following NPIA website link:
http://www.npia.police.uk/en/docs/Pre_Join_ Guidance_0111_CA_HA_Ful_doc__6_.pdf
Entry routes for police officer roles can include candidates having served in the Special Constabulary or as a police community support officer and recognition of prior learning, such as relevant knowledge based certificates or foundation degrees.
Public Reading Stage
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of her Office will be working on (a) the introduction of a public reading stage for Bills and (b) the introduction of a public reading day within a Bill’s committee stage. [41655]
James Brokenshire: As announced by the Deputy Prime Minister in a written ministerial statement on 15 February 2011, Official Report, column 73WS, the Protection of Freedoms Bill is being used to pilot the new “public reading stage” of a Bill. As indicated in that statement the pilot will not involve changes to Standing Orders or the procedures of the House and accordingly the pilot will not involve a “public reading day” during the Committee stage of the Bill. The Bill team (which comprises three members of staff) will, alongside their existing duties, be responsible for collating the comments submitted on the Bill by members of the public.
Stop and Search: Greater London
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) stop and account and (b) stop and searches were undertaken in the Metropolitan police force area in each of the last three years. [41513]
Nick Herbert: The information requested on (a) stop and account and (b) stop and searches from 2006-07 to 2008-09 (latest available) are provided in the following table:
| Number of searches under stop and search powers and number of persons required to stop and account in the Metropolitan police force area, 2006-07 to 2008-09 | ||
|
|
Number of stop and searches (1) | Number of stop and accounts (2) |
| (1) Includes searches of persons or vehicles under section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1984 and Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. (2) Stop and account is where an officer requests a person in a public place to account for himself/herself in relation to one or more of the following: his/her actions; his/her behaviour; his/her presence in an area; or his/her possessions. Figures published by the Ministry of Justice in the annual bulletin “Race and the Criminal Justice System”. (3) Figures for stop and accounts for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are the most recent published provisional data. As a result, the figures may differ from those published in earlier years. | ||
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Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre: Children
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many families have been detained in the family rooms at Tinsley house immigration removal centre (IRC) since 16 December 2010; and in how many incidences have such families not had access to supervisors who can help children to leave the IRC. [39728]
Damian Green [holding answer 14 February 2011]:Local management information indicates that two families with children have been accommodated at Tinsley house since 16 December 2010.
The two families were encountered at the border, seeking entry to the UK. In both cases neither family qualified for entry. With no suitable accommodation in the UK it was not considered in the best interests of the children either temporarily to admit them with no accommodation or separate them from their families. Detention ceased at the first appropriate opportunity the following day.
Our commitment to provide the opportunity for children to leave the centre does not apply to families in these circumstances. The commitment relates to families who are being removed from within the UK and being held in Tinsley during the period from January until the new pre-departure accommodation becomes operational.
No such cases have arisen to date.
Figures provided by the Family Returns Unit are based on management information and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics and are routinely accompanied by a caveat which states that they are provisional and may be subject to change. In this particular instance, however, we are certain that the figure given is absolutely correct.
The Home Office publishes National Statistics on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers on a quarterly and annual basis and management information on the number of children entering detention, held solely under Immigration Act powers, by month, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office’s Research, Development and Statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
War Crimes
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the number of war crimes suspects living in the UK. [42042]
Damian Green: It is the Government’s policy that the UK should not be a refuge for war criminals or those who have committed crimes against humanity, including genocide.
Beyond the work of the UK Border Agency War Crimes Team, no official data are collated that would enable an assessment of the number of war crimes suspects in the UK. Between August 2005 and June 2010, the UK Border Agency War Crimes Team recommended that immigration action be taken against 495 suspected war criminals. Subsequent to these recommendations action was taken against 360 suspects, of which 19 were removed from the UK, 18 departed
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voluntarily and 75 were denied entry to the UK. Of the remaining 248 suspects, 139 were refused British citizenship and remain in country with indefinite leave to remain, 35 were refused asylum and granted discretionary leave pending removal and 74 were appealing their decision and/or awaiting further action against them.
Young Offenders
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to ensure that budgets for youth offending and crime prevention services are protected in the light of reductions in the levels of local authority budgets. [42026]
James Brokenshire: The Government are committed to tackling youth crime to ensure that young people are diverted from a life of crime. This is why ring-fenced funding worth more than £18 million over two years to tackle knife, gun, gang and other youth crime, was announced by the Government on 2 February 2011. The two year funding will be given to police, local agencies and the voluntary sector to tackle serious youth violence and prevent young people entering a cycle of crime. The ring-fenced funding will run between April 2011-12 and March 2012-13, when police and crime commissioners will be in place and will have responsibility for their own budgets.
In addition, the Home Office is also providing up to £20 million towards the Early Intervention Grant (via the Department for Education), over two years, and up to £18 million for youth offending teams (via the Ministry of Justice) to deliver frontline youth crime prevention work, including knife crime prevention programmes, for young offenders.
Communities and Local Government
Green Belt
19. Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to protect local green belts from inappropriate development. [42504]
Greg Clark: Local planning authorities must have regard to policy currently in planning policy guidance note 2, Green Belts when writing development plans or deciding planning proposals affecting green belt. PPG2 establishes a presumption against inappropriate development. The coalition agreement commits us to maintaining the green belt. Moreover, through the Localism Bill we are abolishing regional strategies and their ‘top down’ pressure to review green belt boundaries.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received on the provisions of planning policy guidance 2—Green Belts; and if he will make a statement. [41708]
Robert Neill:
In December the Government invited people to suggest the policies and priorities which should shape the National Planning Policy Framework that is
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to replace all the Planning Policy Statements and Guidance Notes, including PPG2 (planning policy guidance note 2 Green Belts). That informal consultation is closing on 28 February 2011.
At this stage it is not possible to say how many respondents mention PPG2, or to what purpose. Full consultation on a draft text of the Framework will take place later this year.
In addition, the Department routinely receives letters which refer to PPG2. Some respondents find the policy unduly restrictive; others ask for explanation of the policy or for intervention when a proposal is made affecting green belt land locally. However, it is for local planning authorities to apply the policies in PPG2, and ensure green belt protection in line with it.
The coalition agreement commits the Government to maintaining green belt protection. Abolition of regional strategies through the Localism Bill will also help protect the green belt by removing top down directives to review or weaken green belt protection in over 30 towns across England.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the granting of planning permission under the very special circumstances provisions of planning policy guidance 2—Green Belts would be a material consideration in future applications for development on the same site; under what circumstances would such subsequent applications be determined other than on their own merits; whether he plans to revise the guidance; and if he will make a statement. [41709]
Robert Neill: The planning history of any application site may be a material factor in a planning case if decision-makers in the case consider it appropriate. It would be for the local planning authority to assess the relevance of an earlier permission on the same land, taking into account the reasons why that permission had been granted, but there is no automatic consequence. Each planning application must be determined on its own merits in light of current policies in the local development framework, and of all other material considerations such as planning policy guidance note 2 Green Belts if the land is green belt.
In December we announced the start of work to create a National Planning Policy Framework. As part of this, we will consider how best to update the policy currently set out in planning policy guidance note 2. A consultation draft of the Framework will be published later this year.
The coalition agreement commits the Government to maintaining green belt protection. Abolition of regional strategies through the Localism Bill will also help protect the green belt by removing top down directives to review or weaken green belt protection in over 30 towns across England.
Voluntary Sector
21. Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the community and voluntary sector of reductions in levels of Government funding for local authorities. [42506]
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Greg Clark: Spending decisions are a matter for local councils, but no council will see their spending power fall by more than 8.8% next year. Councils do face difficult decisions due to fiscal crisis that was not of their making—or ours.
The best councils are expanding the opportunities for the voluntary sector to help them make savings. The worst-run councils are targeting the sector for disproportionate cuts. We are requiring all councils to be transparent in the action they are taking.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
22. Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to reduce the number of non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible. [42507]
Mr Pickles: I have already closed four of my Department’s arms length bodies and have put a programme of reform in place which will see another 12 either closed or transferred to the private or voluntary sector by 2012. These were set out in the Government’s Public Bodies Review published on 14 October last year.
Procurement
23. Rory Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to establish flexible local procurement processes. [42508]
Grant Shapps: The Government are working with the Local Government Group on their “Local Productivity” programme to identify opportunities for collaboration and to open up more opportunities to a diverse range of suppliers, including small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary and community groups.
Local Authority Funding
24. Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the likely change in the provision of services by local authorities as a result of reductions in levels of Government funding for local authorities. [42509]
Robert Neill: We have given councils much greater financial autonomy and flexibility to manage their budgets. If they share back office services, join forces to get better value from their buying power, cut out excessive chief executive pay and root out overspending and waste, then they can protect key front-line services.
Affordable Housing: Construction
Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effects of his proposals for the 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme on the supply of (a) larger family accommodation comprising four bedrooms or more and (b) supported housing for the elderly and other vulnerable groups. [41718]
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Andrew Stunell: The number and type of affordable rent homes delivered will be dependent on agreements between providers and the Homes and Communities Agency, in consultation with local authorities.
We expect providers of affordable housing and local authorities to work closely to identify the type of provision that will most appropriately meet the locally identified needs.
The needs and aspirations of vulnerable and older people should be considered in the provision of general needs housing, as well as in specialist provision.
Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of the 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme on (a) the supply of social-rented homes, (b) the supply of new affordable rented homes, (c) rent levels applicable to new lettings for (i) social-rented and (ii) new affordable homes and (d) expenditure in housing benefit payments. [41719]
Andrew Stunell: The Government aim to deliver up to 150,000 new affordable homes between 2011 to 2015 mainly through the Affordable Homes Programme. The number of social rented and affordable rent homes delivered will be dependent on agreements between providers and the Homes and Communities Agency, in consultation with local authorities.
Existing social tenants will retain their current tenancy and rent arrangements. Rent levels for new lettings of social rented homes will also be set according to current arrangements. New homes for affordable rent will be made available at a rent level of up to 80% of market rents (inclusive of service charges).
The Affordable Rent Impact Assessment, to be published in due course, will provide an assessment of the likely impact on the Exchequer under different delivery scenarios. The Impact Assessment will include analysis of the impact on housing benefit of the new affordable rent product.
Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the affordability for prospective tenants of the proposed affordable rented lettings under the 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme; what comparison he has made of the (a) rents paid and (b) average earnings of tenants; and what proportion of tenants under the proposed affordable rent lettings he expects to depend on housing benefit to pay all or part of their rent. [41731]
Andrew Stunell: Affordable rent is aimed at the same client group as for social rented housing, which is why the properties will fall within the allocations framework for social rent.
Local authorities and landlords have some scope for flexibility within that framework, as they do for social rented housing, which they may choose to exercise in relation to affordable rent properties. They may, for example, target it at households in work but on low incomes, and agree specific nomination arrangements for individual schemes, for example to achieve mixed income communities in a given area.
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Tenants in affordable rent properties will benefit from a sub-market rent and, where necessary, support through housing benefit.
Audit Commission: Bank Services
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the monetary value was of the Audit Commission's lost deposits held in Icelandic banks; what the estimated monetary value is of the interest lost on those deposits; how much of those deposits have been returned to date; and what estimate the Commission has made of the proportion of the monetary value of the deposits that will be (a) returned and (b) written off. [42288]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 28 February 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply in the absence of the Chief Executive who is on leave.
The Audit Commission had deposits in Landsbanki Islands HF London and in Heritable Bank London when the banks failed in October 2008.
The Audit Commission is one of 123 public bodies in the UK with frozen deposits in Icelandic banks. The total amount deposited by those bodies at the time of the bank failures was approximately £945 million.
The table below sets out in detail the information requested.
Landsbanki values are subject to change due to exchange rate fluctuations, as the debt has been crystallised in Icelandic Kroner.
Audit Commission: Consultants
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments the Audit Commission has made to the Community Business Consultancy to date; what the hourly or daily rate was for services provided in each such case; and what the purpose was of each such payment. [42289]
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Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 28 February 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply in the absence of the Chief Executive on leave.
The Audit Commission has made payments to Community Business Consultancy from 2000/2001 to date as detailed in the table below:
| Financial year | Total (£) |
| (1) 17 month financial year. | |
The payments were for peer councillor input into the nationally agreed programmes of council corporate assessments as part of Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), as well as input into corporate governance inspections between 2001 and 2008. Input by elected members was a key component of the process to ensure all judgements took full account of peer / practitioner experience.
The 2010/11 payment relates to work undertaken in March for peer input into Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) judgements that were being formulated for 2010. This followed an agreement with the Local Government Association after the independent evaluation of the first year of CAA judgements that the second year assessments should include a greater level of peer input.
The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) Peer Clearing House sourced and accredited councillor and senior officer peers. The inclusion of peers on inspection teams gained strong support from the local government sector as evidenced in evaluations of CPA and consultations on new inspection approaches.
The agreed standard national daily rate varied from £200 per day to £300 per day depending on the type of work. The daily rate in 2010/11 was £300. Travel costs were paid in addition.
Audit Commission: Pay
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the monetary value of the (a) basic pay, (b) bonus, (c) pension contribution, (d) hotel costs in London, (e) travel expenses, (f) hospitality expenses and (g) other benefits in kind for the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission (i) was in 2010-11 and (ii) is estimated to be in 2011-12. [42287]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 28 February 2011:
Your parliamentary question has been passed to me for reply. The figures you requested are:
| 2010 / 11 | |
|
|
£ |
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| (1) See paragraph below. (2) The Audit Commission does not have a bonus scheme. (3) Staying in London on average three nights per week to the end of January 2011. (4) April 2010 to February 2011. | |
| 2011 / 12 | |
|
|
£ |
| (1) See paragraph below. (2) The Audit Commission does not have a bonus scheme. | |
On (a), for both years, staff contribute to the Audit Commission Pension Scheme through a salary sacrifice scheme called SMART pensions. This means that basic salaries are reduced in lieu of an increased employer contribution to the Pension Scheme.
For 2010/11, the Chief Executive’s salary was reduced by £13,379. For 2011/12, we estimate the reduction will be £14,271. These amounts are included in the pension contribution figures, but have been removed from the basic salary figures.
There has been no hospitality expenditure for 2010/11 and there is expected to be none for 2011/12. We expect travel expenses for 2011/12 to stay roughly the same, (any increases being because of increased fares, not more travel), but hotel costs to decrease, based on an average of two, not three, nights in London.
When Steve Bundred, the previous Chief Executive, left the Commission on 31 March 2010, Eugene Sullivan, who had been the Managing Director for Finance and Corporate Services, became the Interim Chief Executive. On the announcement of the Commission’s abolition, he became the permanent Chief Executive. He receives an additional responsibility allowance for this of £18,000 per annum and a transport allowance of £4,070 per annum. There are no other benefits in kind. The Commission also buys a standard class return ticket each week for travel from his home to London.
Citizenship Survey
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to commission the next Citizenship Survey. [42118]
Andrew Stunell: As my Department has previously announced, there are no plans to commission further years of the Citizenship Survey. This is because:
The survey costs £4 million per survey year. This is unsustainable given the planned reductions to the Department’s administrative budgets, in turn which stem from the need to pay off the last Government’s budget deficit. The planned savings to the Department’s own budget are greater than those being asked of local government.
Priority data can be collected less frequently or via other means, as part of a broader reconfiguration of the Department’s research budgets. I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial Statement of 1 February 2011, Official Report, column 39WS, on the broader need to ensure far better value for money for the research budget of the department.
In setting priorities, support for voluntary sector funding is more valuable than payments to large opinion poll companies like Ipsos-MORI and TNS-BMRB for undertaking large scale surveys of attitudes and behaviour. I also refer the hon. Member to my Department’s press notice of 10 August 2010, a copy of which is already in the Library, on the decision to cancel the equally expensive £4 million a year Place Survey.
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Community Development
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2011, Official Report, columns 207-8W, on community development, what funds his Department has allocated to the promotion of best practice and shared learning in developing social capital. [40163]
Greg Clark: The Office for Civil Society is developing programmes to support social action within communities by building the links and networks that foster social capital. The Government are piloting a National Citizen Service for 11,000 16-year-olds in summer 2011. The National Citizen Service will bring together young people from different backgrounds, giving them the opportunity to plan and deliver projects that will benefit their local communities and fostering lasting bonds between participants.
The Government will also train 5,000 community organisers over the lifetime of this Parliament. The programme is about catalysing community action at a neighbourhood level and community organisers will be well-trained and committed individuals who will work closely with communities to identify local leaders, projects and opportunities for the community.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2011, Official Report, columns 207-8W, on community development, whether his Department has sponsored any (a) meetings, (b) conferences and (c) seminars on the promotion of best practice and shared learning in developing social capital within communities. [40334]
Greg Clark: The Department has not sponsored events which focus specifically on developing social capital.
Departmental Overseas Visits
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Cannock Chase (Mr Burley) of 1 February 2011, Official Report, column 743W, on departmental overseas visits, what meetings took place during the visits of the right hon. Member for Tooting (Sadiq Khan) to (a) Pakistan and (b) Saudi Arabia; what individuals and groups he met; and if the meetings included engagement with those known to be associated with non-violent extremists. [40913]
Robert Neill [holding answer 14 February 2011]: During his visits to Pakistan, in April 2009, and Saudi Arabia, in May 2009 the right hon. Member for Tooting (Sadiq Khan) held the following meetings:
Meetings with members of the Pakistani Government, including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Meeting with Pakistani community groups (including a women's group and Muslim Hands).
A meeting with Javed Miandad, President of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Meeting with the Mayor of Karachi.
Meetings with a number of religious leaders.
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A meeting with British high commission staff.
Mr Khan also gave a speech at the University of Islamabad, alongside British-Pakistani local councillors and academics.
Meetings with members of the Saudi Arabian Government, including with Dr Abdullah Al Luhaidan, Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs.
A meeting with Shaykh Aazeb al Misbel, President of the Committee on Islam and Human Rights.
Meetings with representatives of Saudi universities.
Meetings with representatives of the Saudi Arabian print and broadcast media.
A meeting with the Muslim World League.
Meetings with Mosque authorities.
The Department for Communities and Local Government also published press releases on both of these visits on its website:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513032259/http://communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1197398
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513032259/http://communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1199316
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100410180038/http://communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1235071
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513032259/http://communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1236155
All meetings held by the right hon. Member for Tooting during these two visits were official Government visits, arranged in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the furtherance of the previous administration's Preventing Extremism agenda. None of the meetings included engagement with those known to be associated with non-violent extremists.
From October 2009, DCLG has published details of all meetings held by Ministers with external contacts on its website.
Departmental Procurement
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what single tender contracts his Department has awarded since his appointment; and what the monetary value is of each contract above the EU public procurement threshold. [36179]
Robert Neill: Records held by the Department's procurement team show a total of 18 single tender contracts awarded since 12 May 2010. Of these, the following were above the EU public procurement threshold:
| Contract | Company | Value (£) |
|
Mobile data terminal and station end equipment service support to the Fire and Rescue Service |
||