Foreign Relations
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions Ministry of Defence (a) officials, (b) Ministers and (c) military personnel have met their counterparts from (i) Sri Lanka and (ii) Pakistan since January 2010. [49902]
Nick Harvey: Regarding Sri Lanka, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 21 December 2010, Official Report, columns 1204-5W.
The Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence visited Pakistan in February 2010 and met a number of Pakistani officials, including his Pakistani equivalent.
The Chief of Defence Staff has visited Pakistan on three occasions during the period (in February 2010, November 2010 and March 2011) and on each occasion has met his Pakistani equivalent, the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS).
The Chief of the General Staff visited Pakistan in February 2010, June 2010 and January 2010 and met CoAS and other senior Pakistani officers, including his equivalent.
The First Sea Lord visited Pakistan in February 2010 and conducted a series of meetings with his Pakistani equivalent.
The Chief of the Air Staff invited his Pakistani equivalent to an Air Chiefs' Conference in the margins of the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2010. He conducted a reciprocal visit to Pakistan during January 2011.
The Ministry of Defence efforts to broaden and deepen our relationship with the Pakistani military have resulted in a number of other lower level visits during the period.
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Routine defence relations activity with Pakistan includes the provision of funded courses, exercises, attachments and exchanges of personnel.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the unit cost of a UK (a) air to surface missile, (b) air to air missile, (c) ship to surface missile and (d) ship to air missile of the type deployed by UK forces in Libya. [53340]
Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House, but I refer him to the answer I gave on 4 April 2011, Official Report, column 569W, to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Tom Blenkinsop) in respect of Storm Shadow.
MOD Bicester
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money MOD Bicester has paid to (a) Palletways (3PL Contract), (b) Pertemps Employment Agency and (c) City Sprint and other private couriers since the decision to implement the closure of regional distribution centres; and if he will make a statement. [52538] [Official Report, 12 July 2011, Vol. 531, c. 1MC.]
Peter Luff [holding answer 26 April 2011]: The total payments made to Palletways, Pertemps Employment Agency and private couriers (including City Sprint) since late 2007 when the regional distribution centres were closed, are provided in the following table:
| £ million | ||||
| Company | FY2007-08 (3 months) | FY2008-09 | FY2009-10 | Total |
As a direct result of the decision to close the regional distribution centres and centralise distribution activities at Bicester and Donnington with greater use of third party logistics contractors, annual net savings of around £4 million have been achieved.
Naval Air Warfare Capability
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the full regeneration of the naval air warfare capability; [51187]
(2) what timetable he has set for the full regeneration of the naval air warfare capability; [51188]
(3) what steps he plans to take to implement his proposals that the naval air warfare capability will be fully regenerated. [51191]
Nick Harvey: We plan to regenerate a carrier strike capability from around 2020, based upon an operational Queen Elizabeth (QE) class aircraft carrier fitted with catapults and arrestor gear and the F35-C Joint Strike Fighter.
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The current estimate of cost for the two QE class aircraft carriers is £5.2 billion of capital expenditure, which does not include the additional costs of installing catapults and arrestor gear for the operational carrier. We are currently investigating the best approach to carrying out this work.
We have yet to make final decisions on the overall numbers of Joint Strike Fighters we intend to order and will not do so before the next planned Strategic Defence Review. The cost of each aircraft will depend on when in the overall production programme it is bought and will vary according to a number of factors, such as other partner nations' procurement plans. We do not routinely reveal the forecast cost of future programmes in order to protect the Department's position in commercial negotiations.
Navy and Air Commands are developing plans to sustain and then regrow the skills and experience required to regenerate carrier strike capability. The transition plan includes a full analysis of all of the roles involved in delivering the new capability and a plan to deliver trained personnel to fill those posts in time to meet the introduction to service schedule.
The move to the F35-C (Carrier Variant) Joint Combat Aircraft and the associated modifications to the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier will provide the UK with a world class capability superior to that previously planned in the decades to come.
Service Complaints Commissioner
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints were made to the Service Complaints Commissioner in every month since May 2010. [53082]
Mr Robathan: The Service Complaints Commissioner (SCC) advises that 476 contacts were made to her between 1 May 2010 and 26 April 2011, varying by month from 32 to 58.
Figures l-8c in the SCC’s annual report for 2010 provide more detailed information on the nature of potential complaints received by the SCC during calendar year 2010. The report is available at the following website:
http://armedforcescomplaints.independent.gov.uk/
A copy is available in the Library of the House.
Analysis of contacts received in 2011 will be covered in the next annual report.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the average cost to the public purse of processing a complaint through the Service Complaints Procedure in the latest period for which figures are available; [53083]
(2) what estimate he has made of the average cost to the public purse of processing a (a) successful complaint and (b) unsuccessful complaint through the Service Complaints Procedure in the latest period for which figures are available. [53084]
Mr Gerald Howarth: No estimate has been made as the information on which it would be based is not held.
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In all three services, the Chain of Command at the lowest level (Commanding Officer) handles complaints without any dedicated resources. It is therefore, not possible to identify an average cost of processing a complaint.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the average time taken to process a single complaint through the Service Complaints Procedure in the latest period for which figures are available. [53085]
Mr Robathan: The time taken to process individual complaints has not hitherto been recorded in a way that enables an average time to be estimated without disproportionate cost; each service having had a separate recording system. A new tri-service complaints recording process was introduced on the Joint Personnel Administration system from 1 January this year.
The latest data on timeliness of the handling of Service Complaints against the agreed targets can be found in the Service Complaints Commissioner’s Annual Report 2010 at the following website address:
http://armedforcescomplaints.independent.gov.uk/
A copy is available in the Library of the House.
Solar Power
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on solar energy installations on the Sovereign Base Areas of (a) Akrotiri and (b) Dehekelia. [51249]
Nick Harvey: Over the two previous financial years (2009-10 and 2010-11), the Ministry of Defence has spent a total of £810,000 on the installation of solar energy systems in the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dehekelia, together with some £130,000 over the past two years on the management of such systems.
Energy and Climate Change
Combined Heat and Power
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions which have resulted from the use of combined heat and power generating units in the last five years; when he plans to publish his Department's heat strategy; and if he will make a statement. [52048]
Gregory Barker: The estimated carbon savings from the use of CHP in the UK are given in the following table. The figure for 2010 will be published at the end of July 2011.
|
|
Estimated CO 2 savings (MtCO 2 ) |
28 Apr 2011 : Column 572W
DECC is undertaking internal strategic analysis on the future supply of heat in the UK. This work is intended to ensure the Department maintains a clear understanding of the challenges associated with decarbonising the heat sector over time, and will link with our renewables and emissions targets and sit alongside the 2050 pathways work and our response to the Committee on Climate Change advice on carbon budgets. A decision on any future publication will be considered once our internal work has been carried out.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reason the exemption of combined heat and power (CHP) generating units is being considered for removal from climate change regulations; what assessment he has made of any disincentive to invest in CHP generating units which may result from such a change; and what assessment he has made of the likely effect of such a change on competitiveness with other EU member states. [52049]
Gregory Barker: The Budget announced that CHP would receive relief from the carbon price support rates and that the exemption from the climate change levy for electricity generated from a CHP that is supplied indirectly to an energy consumer will be removed from 1 April 2013. The Government will work with the CHP industry to explore the most appropriate level of relief to ensure CHP remain incentivised through public subsidy.
Departmental Buildings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) name and (b) address is of each building owned by his Department; and what the estimated monetary value is of each such building. [53813]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not own any buildings.
Departmental Secondment
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff from which organisations have been seconded to his Department to work on electricity market reform. [53059]
Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 45W.
Departmental Work Experience
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many students from (a) the UK and (b) Bassetlaw constituency have been offered internships in his Department since 8 May 2010. [53191]
Gregory Barker: Since 8 May 2010 the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has taken on a total of 13 people on an internship basis, all of whom are UK residents. While we record the home addresses of all people working in DECC, we do not record which constituency they lived in at the time of their application so cannot confirm if any were from the Bassetlaw constituency.
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There are currently seven people still working in DECC on an internship basis.
Natural Gas: Exploration
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish the findings of each review undertaken by his Department of the preparedness for shale gas exploration in the UK in the last 12 months. [53078]
Charles Hendry: There has been no formal review, but the Department has submitted evidence to the Energy and Climate Change Committee's current inquiry into shale gas, available at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmenergy/writev/shale/sg01.htm
A group of regulators with relevant responsibilities (DECC, the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Agency) have since February been periodically in contact by teleconference to exchange relevant information.
Nuclear Power Stations: Safety
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has considered the merits of including in the scope of the review of nuclear safety by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (a) nuclear reactors, (b) spent fuel stores and (c) reprocessing plants. [53022]
Charles Hendry: The Chief Nuclear Inspector Mike Weightman made a statement on 29 March outlining the broad areas that would be included in the scope of his report.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/fukushima/statement-290311.htm
Dr Weightman will establish the facts of the unprecedented events at Fukushima, Japan and determine if there are lessons to be learned for the UK, to add to our very robust safety standards and arrangements. His report will be public, independent, evidence based, comprehensive, wide in scope and based on the best technical advice, consulting nationally and internationally with colleagues and organisations who, like us, have the safety and security of people and society uppermost in our minds.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change's request has made it clear that Mike Weightman has full independence to determine the scope of the report and the arrangements for conducting it.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the nuclear industry on the nuclear safety review; and whether representatives of the industry have given any undertakings in respect of this issue. [53024]
Charles Hendry: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) met industry representatives at the Nuclear Development Forum on 17 March 2011.
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At the forum the appointment of the Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr Mike Weightman, to write a report on lessons to be learned from events in Japan was discussed and warmly welcomed by industry.
Oil: Refineries
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the competitiveness of the UK oil refining industry with that of other EU member states of the introduction of the carbon reduction commitment in the UK only; and if he will make a statement. [52050]
Gregory Barker: The Government have not undertaken any additional assessment on the impact of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme on competition since publication of the final impact assessment in January 2010. Participants with refineries will not need to purchase CRC allowances for emissions covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). However if the organisation is responsible for energy use other than that covered by a participant's obligations in the EU ETS or climate change agreements the participant will need to purchase CRC allowances for these, like all other CRC participants in the first phase of the CRC. The energy efficiency measures the CRC encourages can save organisations money through savings on energy bills and make them more competitive. The Government are currently reviewing the overlapping regulations facing CRC participants as part of our simplification review. My officials met the UK Petroleum Industry Association to discuss the concerns of the refining sector earlier this year.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of the regulatory regime in the UK on the recent decision of four oil refining companies to cease operating in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [52051]
Charles Hendry: The UK has an open and competitive market for oil products, including oil refining. We consider this to be in the best long-term interest of consumers with regulation by the competition authorities and other regulatory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
A number of UK refineries are currently changing ownership or are for sale. Two refineries have been sold recently while a third will become part of a major joint venture agreement, all safeguarding local jobs.
Individual company business strategies play an important role in investment decisions about individual refining assets. International oil companies are reducing their presence in the UK market in part to focus on upstream exploration and production but different companies are entering the market either as joint venture partners or asset owner/operators. That new investors wish to invest in the UK demonstrates the continuing and underlying attractiveness of the UK refining sector. The Government welcome new investors in the UK market and looks forward to working closely with these new companies in the future.
28 Apr 2011 : Column 575W
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that vacated oil refinery capacity is maintained as insurance against the reduction or cessation of supply of oil products refined abroad. [52052]
Charles Hendry: The UK operates within an international market for petroleum products and it is for the market to decide whether to maintain spare or mothballed refining capacity. The UK does hold emergency oil stocks under international obligations for use in oil supply disruptions. The latest available data for the end of January 2011 report that the UK held emergency oil stocks of 13.5 million tonnes that are equivalent to 88 days worth of consumption, against an EU obligation of 67.5 days of consumption.
Emergency oil stocks are more accessible than mothballed refining capacity that would take some time to re-activate. Furthermore I do not consider that it would be appropriate for the Government to intervene in an individual company’s economic decision on whether to mothball a refining asset as this may prevent companies from taking the right decisions for their businesses and could deter future investors from the UK market.
Tidal Power: Wales
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the performance of the tidal energy demonstration project in Pembrokeshire. [53027]
Charles Hendry: DECC does not carry out assessments on the potential generating performance of tidal energy devices. However, the tidal energy demonstration device off the Pembrokeshire coast (DeltaStream) has received the necessary consents from the Department and the Welsh Assembly Government to deploy their tidal energy device. When it is installed in the water, conditions in the consents will require that monitoring of the impacts of the project on the marine environment is undertaken by the developer.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government on its agreement to work with the Crown Estate on marine energy. [53026]
Charles Hendry: DECC has not had specific discussions on the Welsh Assembly Government and Crown Estate's agreement. However, we are working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, the other devolved Administrations and the Crown Estate through the UK Marine Energy Programme to enhance the UK marine energy sector's ability to develop and deploy wave and tidal energy devices at a commercial scale.
DECC welcomes the Welsh Assembly Government's initiative with the Crown Estate to work together to
28 Apr 2011 : Column 576W
support the development of marine renewable energy manufacturing capacity in Wales.
Wind Power: Seas and Oceans
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many offshore wind turbines became operational in UK waters in each of the last five years. [52842]
Charles Hendry: 11 offshore wind farms have become fully operational in UK waters since January 2006. This has led to the installation of 344 turbines with a total installed capacity of 1127MW.
|
|
Turbines | MW |
Home Department
Immigrants: Detainees
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1090W, on immigrants: detainees, what the UK Border Agency’s policy is concerning the retrieval of personal possessions by people who are not detained at home. [53154]
Damian Green: If individuals are not detained at home, for example, from their place of work following an illegal working visit, it is their responsibility to arrange the retrieval of their personal possessions via their family and friends. As stated in the previous answer, a limited number of possessions may be brought to the immigration removal centre and detainees are allowed to retain their mobile phones or use phone cards to facilitate this.
Assaults on Police
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were (a) shot at, (b) injured by shooting and (c) killed by shootings in each police force area in England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [52389]
Nick Herbert: Available information relates to offences recorded by the police in England and Wales between 2005-06 and 2009-10 where a firearm (excluding air weapons) was fired and the victim was an on-duty police officer and is detailed in the following tables.
| Crimes recorded by the police in which a firearm (excluding air weapons) was fired and the victim was an on-duty police officer: England and Wales, 2005 - 06 to 2009 - 10 | |||||||||
| Number of offences | |||||||||
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |||||||
| Police force area | Total | Resulted in injury (1) | Resulted in fatal injury | Total | Resulted in injury (1) | Resulted in fatal injury | Total | Resulted in injury (1) | Resulted in fatal injury |
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28 Apr 2011 : Column 579W
28 Apr 2011 : Column 580W
| Number of offences | ||||||
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |||||
|
|
Total | Resulted in injury (1) | Resulted in fatal injury | Total | Resulted in injury (1) | Resulted in fatal injury |
28 Apr 2011 : Column 581W
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| (1) Includes fatal, serious (which necessitated detention in hospital or involved fractures, concussion, severe general shock, penetration by a bullet or multiple shot wounds) and slight injuries. | ||||||
Crime
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes there have been in the methods of calculating crime statistics for (a) the British Crime Survey and (b) police recorded crime in each of the last 30 years. [52219]
Nick Herbert: The questions in the British Crime Survey that are asked to obtain victimisation estimates have not changed since the survey began in 1982 but there have been other methodological changes. These include: a change from running the survey every two or four years; asking about crime experienced in the preceding calendar year; a change to rolling interviewing from 2001 in which respondents are asked about crimes experienced in the previous 12 months; increases over time in the numbers of people interviewed to give greater precision around survey estimates; and since January 2009 an extension of the survey to cover children aged 10 to 15.
The coverage of the police recorded crime statistics have been affected both by the introduction of new legislation and changes in recording practices. In addition to the changes to the calculation of crime figures outlined below, there have been numerous other changes to both coverage and classification of recorded crime since their introduction in 1857.
There have been three major changes to police recorded crime in recent years. In April 1998, the recorded crime coverage was extended to include additional offences including some summary offences closely related to the existing ones.
At that time, the counting rules were also changed to place a greater emphasis on counting one crime per victim wherever possible.
The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced nationally on 1 April 2002 with the aim of promoting greater consistency between police forces in the recording of crime and to take a more victim oriented approach to crime recording.
The 2005-06 annual crime publication included figures from the British Transport Police within the England and Wales totals for the first time.
The major changes are described in more detail in sections two and three of the User Guide to Home Office Crime Statistics. A copy of the publication can be accessed at:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/crimestats-userguide.pdf
and I will place a copy in the Library.
Crime Prevention: Vehicle Number Plates
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of cloned number plates were reported in each of the last three years. [52886]
James Brokenshire: This information is not held by the Home Office.
Renewable Energy
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much energy in kilowatt hours her Department purchased from renewable sources in each year from 1997-98 to 2005-06. [53504]
Damian Green: The information requested is set out in the following table.
The following recorded figures cover a different range of buildings over the requested time period, during which the scope of the estate changed. As the Home Office has transferred responsibility for the prisons estate to the Ministry of Justice their figures are excluded entirely.
|
|
Renewable energy purchased (kWh) |
28 Apr 2011 : Column 583W
Detention Centres: Families
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases families with children under immigration controls were (a) required to report daily, (b) given curfews, (c) tagged and (d) subject to additional enforcement visits to monitor compliance in the last 12 months. [52848]
Damian Green: While the UK Border Agency holds information on family cases requested to report daily, this is not centrally recorded and to provide this information would require a manual case by case search at disproportionate cost.
When an applicant is tagged they are also subject to a monitoring period (a curfew) so essentially these are the same. In the last 12 months (April 2010-March 2011) eight family cases were identified as being electronically monitored.
UKBA monitor compliance electronically using a tag and a monitoring unit.
Enforcement visits are not conducted to monitor compliance in any circumstances. The only enforcement visits UKBA conduct would be with a view to arrest or remove.
Figures provided are provisional, based on management information, not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics and may be subject to change.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what proportion of immigration cases family court proceedings or legal applications prevented removal for the majority of the parent's time in detention in the latest period for which figures are available. [52849]
Damian Green: The information requested is not held centrally by the UK Border Agency.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to determine the length of time afforded to a family to consider voluntary return. [52850]
Damian Green: The length of time afforded to families to return voluntarily is determined by the UK Border Agency on case by case basis. Families being taken through the new returns process introduced from March 2011 have at least two weeks between a Family Return Conference and a Family Departure Conference to make efforts to return voluntarily. However, families will have had opportunities to consider and take voluntary return prior to the Family Return Conference, and will continue to do so as the return process progresses toward ensured return.
Guidance on this process is in chapter 45 of the Enforcement Instructions and guidance and can be found on the UK Border Agency website at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/guidance/enforcement
28 Apr 2011 : Column 584W
DNA: Databases
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of maintaining the DNA database was in each year since 2006-07. [53415]
James Brokenshire: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 4 April 2011, Official Report, column 589W.
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA samples were taken from people (a) charged and (b) cautioned in each police force area in each of the last five years. [53430]
James Brokenshire: This information is not held centrally.
Driving Offences
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the five most common makes and models of vehicles stolen in each police authority area were in each of the last five years. [53462]
James Brokenshire: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is not possible to identify the makes or models of vehicles stolen from the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.
Extradition
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK nationals have been extradited to foreign countries in each month since May 2010; and to which destination in each case. [51651]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 26 April 2011]: The information is as follows:
Extradition to EU member states
Since 1 January 2004, extradition between EU member states has been governed by the Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant (EAW). The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Crown Office (for Scotland) are the designated central authorities for the receipt and transmission of EAWs in the UK.
SOCA's EAW figures for 2010-11 are currently being validated and will be ready in the near future.
Extr adition to non-EU member states
The following table shows the number of UK nationals surrendered from England, Wales and Northern Ireland to non-EU countries from 1 May 2010 to 31 March 2011.
| UK nationals surrendered to Part Two countries | ||
|
|
Number of UK nationals | Destinations |
28 Apr 2011 : Column 585W
Human Trafficking
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps she has taken to combat people trafficking. [52840]
Damian Green: The Government are committed to tackling human trafficking and we are determined to build on the UK’s track record in supporting victims and fighting traffickers.
Despite the difficult financial climate we have set aside up to £2 million per annum for the next three years to fund support provision for adult victims of human trafficking. Furthermore, I recently wrote to the parliamentary scrutiny Committees announcing the Government’s intention to opt in to the EU directive on human trafficking. This remains subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
28 Apr 2011 : Column 586W
We recognise the need to continually develop the Government’s anti-trafficking work. The human trafficking strategy, due to be published shortly, will set out our next steps to tackle human trafficking.
Independent Police Complaints Commission
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what her Department’s budget for the Independent Police Complaints Commission was in each financial year since 2005-06; [52257]
(2) how many staff the Independent Police Complaints Commission employed in each year since 2005-06. [52262]
Nick Herbert: Details of the grant in aid provided by the Home Office to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in each financial year since 2005 are provided in the following table. In addition, the IPCC receives funding from the UK Border Agency and HM Revenue and Customs to fund its complaints investigation work in respect of those organisations, and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for office space. The IPCC is operationally independent of the Home Office and staffing issues are a matter for it. However, the number of staff employed in each year since 2005 (as provided by the IPCC) is also shown.
| Staffing of, and funding for, the IPCC from 1 April 2005 to 1 April 2011 | ||||
| Financial year | Staff in post (number) | Resource (£) | Capital (£) | Total (£) |
Offences Against Children
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children in contravention of a curfew notice were removed to their place of residence by (a) community support officers and (b) police officers in each police authority area under paragraph 4B of Schedule 4 to the Police Reform Act 2002. [53483]
James Brokenshire: Paragraph 4B of schedule four to the Police Reform Act 2002 relates to the enforcement of local child curfew schemes which were introduced by sections 14 and 15 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
Information on the number of local child curfew schemes and their enforcement was not collected centrally. However the Home Office is not aware that the power was ever used and the relevant provisions were repealed by the Police and Crime Act 2009.
Police Custody
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were recorded of absconding from lawful custody in each year since 2007-08; and what proportion of these offences (a) resulted in court proceedings against suspected perpetrators, (b) led to a conviction and (c) resulted in a sanction detection. [53500]
James Brokenshire: The information is not available in the form requested.
Figures for the number of offences of absconding from lawful custody recorded by the police and the number detected by means of a sanction detection are given in the table. Statistics on court proceedings, including convictions, are a matter for the Ministry of Justice.
Recorded crime and court proceedings statistics are recorded in quite different ways. Recorded crime data is provided on a financial year basis and counts offences, whereas court proceedings data are on a calendar year basis and count offenders. Therefore, these two separate data-sets are not directly comparable.
| Table 1: Offences of absconding from lawful custody recorded by the police and detected by means of a sanction detection (1) —2007-08 to 2009-10 | |||
|
|
Number of offences | Number of sanction detections | Percentage detected by means of a sanction detection |
| (1) Detection rates are a ratio of crimes detected in a period to crimes recorded in a period. They are not based on tracking whether individual crimes recorded in a period have eventually been detected. | |||
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Police: Complaints
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints in each category of complaint (a) in total and (b) against police community support officers were received by the police complaints and discipline department of each police authority in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [52317]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not collect the information requested. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has oversight of the system for complaints about the conduct of police officers and staff and is responsible for collecting and publishing relevant statistics.
Police: Fees and Charges
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy not to charge victims of crime for the recovery of their property from (a) the police and (b) those holding the property on behalf of the police. [52058]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 26 April 2011]:The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) gives the police powers to seize property as part of an investigation into a criminal offence. PACE does not give the police any statutory powers to charge an individual for the return of any property seized under the act.
However, the police also have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to remove or arrange the removal of any vehicle that is dangerously, illegally or obstructively parked or broken down or abandoned. This includes vehicles abandoned after being stolen. In these circumstances, the police are legally entitled to levy statutorily prescribed charges before releasing the vehicle to meet the costs they have necessarily incurred.