Home Department
Animal Experiments
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Government intends to measure its progress in implementing its commitment to reduce the number of animals used in scientific procedures. [30153]
Lynne Featherstone: We are currently developing a strategy to deliver the coalition commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific procedures and will announce our plans in due course. We will be looking for genuine reductions which improve animal welfare and will avoid measures which simply drive work abroad to countries where lower standards or less stringent testing guidelines may apply.
It will be essential to ensure that the reporting of progress against the coalition commitment is based on careful and accurate analysis of the trends in animal use. We are considering what sorts of measures and evidence will be appropriate.
Arrest Warrants: Russia
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to resist implementation of the Russian Interpol arrest warrant for the British citizen William Browder; and if she will make a statement. [25264]
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Nick Herbert: The implementation of an Interpol arrest warrant in the United Kingdom is an operational matter for the police; the Secretary of State for the Home Department has no involvement. In accordance with normal practice, we can neither confirm nor deny whether an arrest warrant for William Browder has been transmitted through Interpol. Where a person is arrested for extradition purposes, the Extradition Act 2003 sets out a number of safeguards which the courts and the Secretary of State must consider before extradition can be ordered.
Counter-terrorism: Finance
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the geographical distribution of the proposed reduction in the counter-terrorism budget. [28763]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 6 December 2010]:The Department does not publish its counter-terrorism budget by geographical distribution for reasons of national security. It has been the policy of successive governments not to reveal these details.
Crime: Statistics
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to ensure the accuracy of crime statistics. [19743]
Nick Herbert: Home Office crime statistics are produced in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The code sets out the practices that are required to ensure the impartiality, objectivity and integrity of the statistics and the use of sound statistical methods.
If we are to improve confidence in crime statistics and drive effective action to tackle crime, the public must have more complete and independently produced information. We are currently reviewing how crime statistics should be collected and published in future, and will make further announcements in due course.
Crimes of Violence: Newham
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded incidences of violent crimes occurred in (a) West Ham constituency and (b) the London borough of Newham in the last 12 months. [28916]
Nick Herbert: The latest available data refer to the period between July 2009 and June 2010, in which police recorded 7,507 violence against the person offences in the London borough of Newham. Information for the West Ham constituency is not held centrally.
Curfews
Annette Brooke:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each police force area arrested during September 2010, but not charged when arrested, received curfews of 10 hours or more as a condition of police bail; how many such people had their police bail extended beyond four weeks without being charged, but with the curfew
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remaining in place; and how many such people subsequently charged or remaining on curfew had not been charged by the end of November 2010. [28313]
Nick Herbert: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Data on arrests reported to the Home Office do not separately include data on the direct outcome of arrests.
Cybercrime
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cyber attacks on the ICT infrastructure of Government departments have been detected in the last 12 months. [26701]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 25 November 2010]: The Director of the Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) recently estimated that over 20,000 malicious emails are detected on Government networks each month, 1,000 of which are deliberately targeting them. It would not be in the interests of UK national security to go into greater detail since such disclosure could assist attackers in undermining the integrity and security of departmental systems and thereby increase their exposure to potential threats.
Departments are required to have technical controls in place to protect their ICT systems from cyber threats. GCHQ, through its information assurance arm, CESG, and its Computer Emergency Response Team, GovCertUK, provides Government Departments with guidance on how to protect themselves against, detect, and mitigate various types of cyber attack, and acts as a single point for reporting Government network security incidents.
Dactyloscopic Data
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to sign the proposed agreement with Albania on exchange of dactyloscopic data. [29600]
James Brokenshire: The bilateral agreement relating to the exchange of criminal records information and fingerprint images is beneficial to both countries. It is expected to be signed by the UK and Albania at a mutually convenient date in the near future.
Demonstrations: Westminster
David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Metropolitan police on the removal of encampments from pavements regularly used by pedestrians outside offices of Government Departments in Whitehall. [29351]
James Brokenshire: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary regularly discusses a range of policing issues with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
The Government have introduced measures in the Police Reform Social and Responsibility Bill to support rights to peaceful protest around Parliament while also tackling encampments and other disruptive activity on Parliament Square. The Government have also included a measure to provide local authorities with powers to
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seize and retain property in connection with any breach of relevant byelaws to cover similar nuisances taking place in areas beyond Parliament Square.
Demonstrations: Westminster
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) lecturers and (b) other employees of universities and colleges were arrested during the November 2010 demonstrations in Westminster; and which institution employs each such individual. [28510]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold this information.
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken since her appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences from budgets within her responsibility. [28359]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office constantly seeks to ensure that any conferences that it organises are both necessary and provide good value for money for the taxpayer.
We hold a database of venues belonging to Government Departments that we are able to access free of charge. Our in house team will always check for free venues and their availability and provide advice on alternatives. For larger events which the Government estate cannot accommodate we on occasion have to use external venues for which there is a charge. The procurement mechanism for this process has been developed to ensure that a free or low cost option is always sought first.
Departmental Contracts
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department plans to take to encourage and support small and medium-sized enterprises and third sector organisations to compete for departmental contracts in line with value-for-money policy, UK regulations and EU procurement directives. [28110]
Nick Herbert: The Home Department is currently producing a plan in support of the Government’s initiative on creating opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and third sector organisations. It builds from the Department’s current ability to identify its SME community, which comprises 38% of the suppliers used and represents 9% of its supplier spend. This is complemented by the Department’s good record of payment within five days.
The Department is actively contributing to the cross government agenda which is being led by the Efficiency Reform Group.
Departmental Courier Services
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual salary is of staff in the Mail Messenger Service in her Department's headquarters. [29677]
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Nick Herbert: The average salary of civil servants employed in the Headquarters Mail Messenger Service in the Home Office is £19,800. Salaries paid to staff by the operator of the already outsourced element of this operation are not known as the cost is included in an overall service management charge.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's Properties Group's business case for the outsourcing of the mail and messenger service; [29678]
(2) whether her Department's Properties Group has made a business case for retaining an in-house mail and messenger service. [29679]
Nick Herbert: The proposal to change from partial to full outsourcing of the Home Office Headquarters Mail and Messenger Service has not reached the business case stage.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has provided information to Anne’s Gate Properties in respect of staff in her Department’s mail messenger service; and if she will make a statement. [29680]
Nick Herbert: Mail and messenger staff information has been provided to Anne’s Gate Property in accordance with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations and with Cabinet Office guidelines.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department has provided to its trade unions side on staff in the Mail Messenger Service in the last six months; whether all information provided to private companies on such staff has been provided to the trade union side; and if she will make a statement. [29681]
Nick Herbert: There have been a number of meetings with the trade union side about the future of the mail and messenger staff. Information requested at such meetings and by written request has been provided to the trade union side as far as requirements for confidentiality permit.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates the Director and Head of Unit in her Department’s properties group met her Department’s Mail Messenger Service staff and their representative unions in the last six months. [29682]
Nick Herbert: Their managers have held eight meetings with the messenger staff, or the union that represents a proportion of them, since July 2010.
Departmental Databases
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of arrangements for data collection in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible. [29321]
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Nick Herbert [holding answer 7 December 2010]: The Code of Practice for Official Statistics, implementing the Statistics and Registration Act 2007, covers official statistics published by the Department and its non-departmental public bodies. The Home Office's ‘Statement of compliance with Code of Practice for Official Statistics’ is published on the Department's website at:
http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/ho-compliance-state-10.pdf
“The Home Office is committed to regularly reviewing its National Statistics outputs. Our data collection, analysis and dissemination methods will continue to be reviewed regularly to identify ongoing opportunities for improvement.
In collecting, processing & publishing our statistics, we will endeavour to place the minimum burdens necessary on data providers. We consider the costs to data suppliers in developing new data requirements and review regularly the existing data requirements to ensure that they continue to be relevant.”
The Department's Information Strategy was recently published within the draft Transparency section of the Department's Business Plan 2011-2015:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/corporate-publications/business-plan-2011-15/business-plan?view=Binary
Departmental Innovation
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what structures her Department has established to encourage innovation amongst its staff. [29213]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 7 December 2010]:The Department values the ideas and suggestions of its staff in promoting improved service delivery to the public and value for money for the taxpayer. We operate a staff suggestion scheme in order to encourage staff to innovate and improve efficiency.
The Department has also launched a value for money toolkit to support policy makers, operational leaders, and business planners in developing innovations to help achieve more for less. Along with other Government Departments the Department also participated in the spending challenge which invited public sector workers and members of the public to suggest ideas on how the Government could save money and do more with less.
Departmental Publications
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of her Department’s expenditure on printing (a) Command Papers, (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act, (c) consultation documents and (d) other papers in each of the last 10 years. [28378]
Nick Herbert: It is not possible to identify expenditure on specific types of publications without incurring disproportionate cost. This would involve examination of a very large number of transactions across a range of accounting categories.
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Energy Supply
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) gas supplied to her Department's offices at 2 Marsham Street in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available. [29673]
Nick Herbert: From available records the following table displays payments made on electricity and gas for 2 Marsham street since November 2009.
| £ | ||
| Month | Gas | Electricity |
Immigration: North East
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely effects of an immigration cap on businesses in (a) Sunderland, (b) the North East and (c) England. [29547]
Damian Green: The Migration Advisory Committee published a report in November on the limits on Tiers 1 and 2 of the Points Based System, including an assessment of economic, public service and social impacts.
The Government will also publish an impact assessment.
Industrial Disputes: Shrewsbury
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish the documents held by her Department relating to the 1972 Shrewsbury Picket dispute. [28876]
Nick Herbert: As departmental records approach 30 years of age, they are reviewed by the Home Office and agreement is reached with The National Archives (TNA) as to which are worthy of permanent preservation. Files on industrial action, and the regulation of strikes and picketing during the early 1970's, which have been selected, have been reviewed and transferred to TNA. Other relevant files have been examined but no records specific to the 1972 Shrewsbury Picket dispute have been identified. As the Department has no documents relating to this dispute there is nothing that can be published.
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Information and Communications Technology: Recycling
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the recycling and redeployment of new or nearly-new IT equipment which is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was purchased; and if she will make a statement. [28770]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 8 December 2010]: The secure disposal or re-use of new or nearly-new IT equipment is dependant upon the level of protectively marked material or personal data stored on the system. As our IT equipment is generally managed under contract by our IT service providers, they will manage the re-use or disposal according to central government security policies. The Home Office has a general policy of sharing, re-use and commonality of IT capabilities, in order to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve environmental sustainability.
Internet
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has made an estimate of the potential savings to the public purse which would arise from consumers of services provided by her Department accessing them via websites rather than face-to-face or by post. [28786]
Nick Herbert: Direct services are provided by Home Office agencies and many of these are already available online. Where there is potential for savings these are factored into the savings plans of relevant agencies. No overall estimate of the potential savings from moving further customer transactions online has therefore been made by the Department.
National Police Improvement Agency
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely effect on the role and functions of the National Police Improvement Agency of the structure proposed for the National Crime Agency. [29217]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 7 December 2010]:The Government announced their intention, in July 2010, to phase out the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) as part of wider policing reforms. Work is currently under way to review the functions performed by the agency and to determine, for those which it is necessary to continue to deliver, how best that might be done in the new policing landscape. Work is similarly underway on ensuring that the National Crime Agency (NCA) is structured so as to enable it most effectively to fight organised crime. While it may prove appropriate for some current NPIA functions to transfer to the NCA no final decisions have yet been made.
Offences against Children
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have investigated allegations of child sexual abuse overseas in each of the last three years. [29218]
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James Brokenshire [holding answer 7 December 2010]:The investigation of allegations of child sexual abuse overseas is not distinguished from domestic investigations on police data systems, we are therefore unable to provide the information requested.
Passports
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on reintroducing passport renewal for a period of less than 10 years. [29633]
Damian Green: The period of validity of the UK passport is set in accordance with guidelines issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which recommends a validity period of up to 10 years. We have considered the option of issuing a UK passport for periods of less than 10 years in response to correspondence and other enquiries generally by or on behalf of senior citizens. However, we have not adopted a shorter validity passport because it would incur similar costs to that of a 10-year passport.
Police: Accountability
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the provisions of the Police (Amendment) Regulations 2004 in respect of membership of certain political organisations will apply to the proposed elected police commissioners. [29049]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 6 December 2010]:No. The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2004 refer to members of police forces, and police and crime commissioners will not be members of police forces.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will ask HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to conduct a risk assessment of her proposals for elected police and crime commissioners. [29358]
Nick Herbert: No. The role of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary is to monitor and report on forces and policing activity. It is for Parliament to scrutinise government policy.
Police: Crimes of Violence
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many serving staff in each police force have been investigated for (a) violent offences, (b) sex offences, (c) fraud offences and (d) offences of burglary, theft or robbery (i) before and (ii) during their employment; and what role each fulfils in each force; [28056]
(2) how many serving police officers in each police force were investigated for (a) violent offences, (b) sex offences, (c) offences of fraud and (d) offences of burglary, theft or robbery before their appointment. [28059]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold the information requested.
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Police: Disciplinary Proceedings
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will estimate the cost to the public purse of legal fees for disciplinary hearings in (a) the Metropolitan Police Service and (b) Cambridgeshire Constabulary in each of the last three years; [29319]
(2) how many full-time staff worked on internal investigations in (a) the Metropolitan Police Service and (b) Cambridgeshire Constabulary in each of the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of such investigations in each such year. [29320]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 7 December 2010]:The conduct of internal investigations and staff disciplinary hearings are matters for the relevant police force and police authority. The Home Office has no role in these and does not hold the information requested.
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Police: Information
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on the age profile of police officers in each police (a) force, (b) department, (c) squad, (d) assignment and (e) operation. [28024]
Nick Herbert: Figures are collected in the following age groups: 25 and under, 26 to 40, 41 to 55 and over 55. The latest available data are provided in the following table which shows the age group of police officers by police force as at 31 March 2010 (headcount).
Information on the age profile of police officers in each police department, squad, assignment and operation is not collected centrally.
| Police officers in each police force by age group, as at 31 March 2010 (1) | |||||
| Headcount | |||||
|
|
25 and under | 26 to 40 | 41 to 55 | Over 55 | Total |
| (1) All figures are provisional, subject to change and have not been verified by forces. | |||||
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Police: Manpower
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely change in the number of (a) police officers and (b) police community support officers in each year to 2015. [22141]
Nick Herbert: The estimate of the likely number of police officers and police community support officers in each year to 2015 is not available centrally.
We are determined to do what we can to strip out bureaucracy and unnecessary cost, driving efficiencies within and between forces. The frontline must be the last place to look for savings, not the first. That is why we have scrapped the policing pledge and the confidence target, and why we are determined to reduce the burden
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of central doctrine and guidance that imposes compliance costs and takes manpower away from the frontline.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the rate of turnover of (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers in (i) the Metropolitan Police Service and (ii) Cambridgeshire Constabulary in each of the last three years. [29318]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 7 December 2010]: The latest available data are provided in the following table which shows the rate of turnover of police community support officers and police officers in Metropolitan Police Service and Cambridgeshire constabulary in each of the last three years. The rate of turnover is the number of leavers as a percentage of staff in post.
| Rate of turnover (1) of police community support officers and police officers in Metropolitan Police Service and Cambridgeshire constabulary in the last three years (2,3) | ||||||||||||
| Metropolitan Police Service | Cambridgeshire constabulary | |||||||||||
| PCSOs | Police officers | PCSOs | Police officers | |||||||||
|
|
Total no. of PCSOs (4) | Total no. of leavers (5) | Rate of turnover (%) | Total no. of police officers (4) | Total no. of leavers (5) | Rate of turnover (%) | Total no. of PCSOs (4) | Total no. of leavers (5) | Rate of turnover (%) | Total no. of police officers (4) | Total no. of leavers (5) | Rate of turnover (%) |
| (1) The rate of turnover is the number of leavers as a percentage of staff in post. It is also described as the wastage rate. (2) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (3) The total number of leavers includes transfers to other England and Wales forces but does not include officers leaving after a period of secondment. (4) As at 31 March 2008 to 2010. (5) Leavers include dismissals, voluntary resignations, medical retirements, normal retirements, transfers and death. | ||||||||||||
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers in (i) the Metropolitan Police Service and (ii) Cambridgeshire Constabulary were assigned to light duties in each of the last three years. [29967]
Nick Herbert: Data are available on the number of police officers on recuperative and restricted duties. The following tables show the number and proportion of these officers in the Metropolitan Police Service and Cambridgeshire constabulary in each of the last three years.
Information on the number and proportion of police community support officers on light duties are not collected centrally.
| Number and proportion of police officers on recuperative and restricted duties in the Metropolitan Police Service and Cambridgeshire constabulary in each of the last three years (1, 2, 3, 4) | |||||
| Metropolitan Police Service | |||||
| Police officers | |||||
| Recuperative duties (5) | Restricted duties (6) | ||||
|
|
Total number of police officers (7) | Number | Proportion (%) | Number | Proportion (%) |
| Cambridgeshire Constabulary | |||||
| Police officers | |||||
| Recuperative duties (5) | Restricted duties (6) | ||||
|
|
Total number of police officers (7) | Number | Proportion (%) | Number | Proportion (%) |
| n/a = The number of recuperative and restricted duties could not be provided by Cambridgeshire constabulary, except for 2007-08 restricted duties. (1) Proportion is calculated as the total number of recuperative duties divided by the total number of staff in post and the total number of restricted duties divided by the total number of staff in post. (2) These tables contain headcount figures, rather than full-time equivalents. (3) These data are provisional. They have not undergone usual quality assurance practices (including validation with individual police forces). (4) Source: Home Office using data received from police forces via the Annual Data Requirement. (5) Total number of police officers (head count) on ‘recuperative’ duties as at 31 March. These are temporary duties or working conditions approved to assist an officer’s ultimate return to full duties after injury or illness by allowing them to return to or continue in work of a less demanding capacity. (6) Total number of police officers (head count) on ‘restricted’ duties as at 31 March. These are duties or conditions approved, other than for recuperative purposes, for fixed periods totalling more than 28 consecutive days (including rest days) for an officer who is unable for a specific reason to carry out one or more aspects of full operational duty. (7) As at 31 March 2008 to 2010. | |||||
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Police: Newham
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence on population size her Department used to calculate the level of police precept for the London borough of Newham in the latest period for which figures are available. [28912]
Nick Herbert: The information requested is not held centrally as the setting of police precepts is a matter for individual police authorities.
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Police: Northumbria
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department has provided under each budget heading to Northumbria police force since 2000; and how much such funding her Department plans to provide in the Spending Review period. [28162]
Nick Herbert: The information requested for the year 2000-01 to 2010-11 is set out in the following tables.
| Northumbria police: funding | ||||||||
| £ | ||||||||
| Revenue | ||||||||
|
|
Home Office police main grant | Crime fighting fund | Basic command unit fund | Police community support office grant | Neighbourhood policing fund | Forensic (DNA expansion) grant | Special priority payment | Rule 2 grant (includes the former Forensic DNA grant and special priority payment) |
| £ | ||||
| Capital | ||||
|
|
Capital grant | Airwave | Premises improvement fund | Pensions top-up grant (7) |
| (1) Includes amendments made under the Home Office Police Grant Report Amending Report for changes to census 2001 population data. (2) NPF figure includes Northumbria’s share of the £91 million announced in the 2006 Budget. (3) Capital figure includes the increased capital allocations announced on 24 May and 19 June 2007. (4) Police main grant has been adjusted for comparison purposes with 2008-09 to take account of a change in funding for dealing with stray dogs. (5) Rule 2 grant includes for the first time the former specific grant—Initial Police Learning and Development Programme. (6) Takes account in-year reductions in July 2010. (7) In 2006-07, the way police pensions were funded changed and the pensions top-up grant was introduced, a more detailed explanation of this can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/police-finance/ As a result, the size of police main grant before the introduction of the pensions top-up grant is not directly comparable with the size of police main grant after the introduction of the pensions top-up grant. Note: Funding for counter-terrorism is not included in the table for security purposes. | ||||
Detail on 2011-12 funding allocations for individual forces, including Northumbria, will be announced shortly when the provisional police settlements will be placed before the House of Commons.
Police: Offenders
Andrew Stephenson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2010, Official Report, column 508W, on
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police: offenders, if she will bring forward proposals to record the number of police officers convicted of a criminal offence. [28452]
Nick Herbert: I have no plans to bring forward such proposals.
Police: Pensions
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police authorities have indicated to her Department that they may implement Regulation A19 of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 in the last three months. [29474]
Nick Herbert: The Government have no role to play in any exercise of this power by police authorities, and there is no requirement on them to inform the Government whether they may use it. The Department is in regular discussion with members of police authorities on the range of issues and challenges that are facing the police.
Police: Public Expenditure
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the change in the number of front-line (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers in Northumbria in the comprehensive spending review period. [29549]
Nick Herbert: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will place the Government’s proposed allocations for individual forces before Parliament in December.
My right hon. Friend has been clear that the police service must play its part in reducing the deficit. Decisions about the number of police officers, police community support officers and other police staff engaged by the Northumbria police and how they are deployed are matters for the chief constable and the police authority.
Police: President of Sri Lanka
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police and (b) police community support officers were deployed for the recent visit of the President of Sri Lanka; and what the cost to the police service was of policing the visit. [30082]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold this information but we understand from the police that approximately 800 officers were deployed across the Metropolitan Police area for the visit.
Police: Vacancies
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there have been for (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers in (i) the Metropolitan Police Service and (ii) Cambridgeshire Constabulary in each of the last three years. [29588]
Nick Herbert
[holding answer 9 December 2010]: This information is not collected centrally by the Home Office. The recruitment of police community support
13 Dec 2010 : Column 548W
officers and police officers is a matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, the chief constable of Cambridgeshire constabulary, and their respective police authorities
Police: West Midlands
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects of reductions in funding for the West Midlands Police Force on (a) police officer numbers, (b) civilian support staff numbers and (c) future officer recruitment. [22782]
Nick Herbert: I have today announced provisional funding allocations for individual police forces, including the West Midlands police.
Decisions on the number of each are for chief constables and police authorities, but we are determined to do what we can to strip out bureaucracy and unnecessary cost, driving efficiencies within and between forces. The front-line must be the last place to look for savings, not the first. That is why we have scrapped the Policing Pledge and the confidence target, and why we are determined to reduce the burden of central doctrine and guidance that imposes compliance costs and takes manpower away from the front-line.
Chief constables and police authorities are best placed to plan the work force mix of police officers, police support staff and police community support officers that is most suited to achieving the highest quality of service in their area.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department allocated to the Police Service in the West Midlands in 2009-10; and what estimate she has made of the likely level of funding in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14. [27935]
Nick Herbert: The information requested for years 2009-10 and 2010-11 is set out in the following table.
Detail on funding allocations for 2011-12 to 2014-15 for individual forces, including west midlands, will be announced shortly when the provisional police settlements will be placed before the House of Commons.
| West midlands Government grants | |
| £ million | |
| (1,2) Government grants comprise: Home Office Police Grant; Department for Communities and Local Government Revenue Support Grant, and National Non-Domestic Rates; Crime Fighting Fund; Basic Command Unit Fund; Neighbourhood Policing Fund; Rule two Grant; Capital Grant. Excludes Counter Terrorism Funding. (3) Takes account of in-year reductions in July 2010. | |
Public Order
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many protest groups are recorded on the database of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit; and if she will make a statement. [26591]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 25 November 2010]: The Home Office does not hold this information.
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Terrorism
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2010, Official Report, columns 938-39W, on terrorism, on how many occasions Lord Carlile of Berriew was consulted by those working on her Department’s review of counter-terrorism legislation prior to 18 November 2010. [27757]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 1 December 2010]: Lord Carlile has been consulted by Ministers and officials on the review of counter terrorism and security measures on an ongoing basis since the review was announced in July.
As set out in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 13 July 2010, Official Report, columns 797-809, the review is being conducted by the Home Office and proposals made by Lord Carlile QC will be fully considered as part of the review.
Terrorism: Public Expenditure
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the potential effect of the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review on the number of posts relating to counter terrorism in her Department. [29077]
Nick Herbert: The Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) will reduce administrative expenditure as part of the Government’s target to reduce the cost of Whitehall by one third over the period of the comprehensive spending review. We will ensure that the UK retains full capabilities to tackle the terrorist threat.
Theft: Gold
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences in which gold was (a) stolen and (b) unlawfully traded through cash for gold shops were reported in each of the last five years. [29554]
James Brokenshire: The information requested is not available centrally. It is not possible to determine such offences from the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.
Visas: Students
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people entering the UK under the student visa programme enrolled to study for a period of less than three months in the latest period for which figures are available. [29820]
Damian Green: Non-EEA nationals intending to study in the UK may enter as student visitors, providing their course of study does not exceed six months, or as students under Tier 4 of the points based system. In either case, information about the length of the course of study is not recorded centrally. The information requested could therefore be produced only by checking individual records at disproportionate cost.
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Visas: Applications
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of visa applications were (a) rejected on initial application and (b) allowed in each category of appeal following initial rejection in the latest period for which figures are available. [29654]
Damian Green: In calendar year 2009, 18% of initial applications were rejected.
In the same calendar year 33% of all appeals received were allowed. In the family visit category 36% of appeals were allowed. In the settlement category 37% of appeals were allowed. For other entry clearance appeals 25% were allowed.
Cabinet Office
Business: Closures
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) light industrial and (b) manufacturing businesses in Sussex ceased trading in each year since 2005. [30487]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many (a) light industrial and (b) manufacturing businesses in Sussex closed in each year since 2005. [30487]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
www.statistics.gov.uk
However, the standard industrial classification (SIC07) contains no definition for “light industrial” enterprises. The table below contains the latest statistics available, which show enterprise deaths for East and West Sussex in the Manufacturing industry.
| Business deaths in East and West Sussex for manufacturing | |||||
|
|
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
Corruption: EU Law
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2010, Official Report, column 783W, on corruption: EU law, what guidance is provided to (a) Government Departments, (b) business organisations and (c) other contracting authorities to enable them to establish whether an economic operator should be treated as ineligible during the tendering procedure because it has been convicted of the offence of bribery. [29522]
Mr Maude:
The Efficiency and Reform Group within the Cabinet Office has issued “Guidance on the Mandatory Exclusion of Economic Operators” to help Government Departments, business organisations and other contracting
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authorities to establish whether an economic operator should be treated as ineligible during the tendering procedure because it has been convicted of the offence of bribery, which is available at:
www.ogc.gov.uk/procurement_policy_and_application_ of_eu_rules_guidance_on_the_uk_regulations.asp
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he has taken since his appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences by (a) the Prime Minister’s Office and (b) his Department. [28368]
Mr Maude: The Government have implemented a Government-wide freeze on marketing and advertising as part of their plans to tackle the deficit. The marketing and advertising freeze includes conferences and has already delivered savings of £27 million in central Government by September 2010.
The Cabinet Office, which the Prime Minister’s Office is part of, does not hold conferences as such. We have, however, taken steps to ensure minimum costs on all events. The regional Cabinet meeting held in Bradford in July 2010 was £3,029.50, a considerable reduction on past regional Cabinet meetings which have cost between £50,000 and £100,000.
Departmental Overtime
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department spent on overtime for staff working in the private office of (a) the Prime Minister and (b) the ministerial head of his Department in each of the last five years. [28572]
Mr Maude: The figures for spend on overtime for staff working in the private offices of the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office for the last five years are given in the following table.
| Financial year | £ |
Departmental Publications
Robert Halfon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) the Prime Minister’s Office on printing (a) Command Papers, (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act, (c) consultation documents and (d) other papers in each of the last 10 years. [28388]
Mr Hurd: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.
13 Dec 2010 : Column 552W
Foreign Workers: EU Nationals
John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many EU nationals have entered the UK for the purposes of employment since 6 May 2010. [29503]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to respond to your question concerning how many EU nationals have entered the UK for the purpose of employment since 6 May 2010. [29503]
The Office for National Statistics produces estimates of long-term international migration, primarily based on the International Passenger Survey. Our latest provisional estimates, for the year to March 2010, were published on 25 November 2010. We are unable to answer the above question because estimates are not yet available for the time period stated.
Government Departments: Computer Networks
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether an examination of the cost of Government-secured intranet communication links formed part of the Government's efficiency savings programme. [29786]
Mr Maude: Government secured intranet (gsi) and its cost has been discussed in the course of the Government's ongoing efficiency savings programme.
Government Departments: Procurement
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of Government contracts were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in the financial year 2009-10. [22870]
Mr Maude: The previous Government did not keep records of SME expenditure therefore the figures are not immediately available. We hope to properly collate these data and publish them before the end of the year.
Heroin: Deaths
John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many heroin addicts died of an overdose in each of the last three years. [29652]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many heroin addicts died of an overdose in each of the last three years. (29652)
The table attached provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause was drug poisoning and heroin/morphine was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either alone or together with other substances, in England and Wales, from 2007 to 2009 (the latest year available).
Heroin (diamorphine) and morphine are counted together because the former breaks down in the body into morphine and, consequently the latter may be the substance detected at post mortem and recorded on the death certificate.
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It is not possible to determine from the information collected at death registration whether the deceased was an addict or regular user of a specific category of drugs, since this information is not routinely recorded. Where more than one drug is mentioned on the death certificate, it is not always possible to tell which of them was primarily responsible for the death.
The number of deaths related to drug poisoning registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause and specific substance are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=11695
| Table 1. Number of deaths attributed to drug poisoning(1) where heroin/morphine was mentioned on the death certificate either alone or with other substances, England and Wales (2) , 2007 to 2009 (3) | |||
|
|
heroin/morphine only | heroin/morphine with other substances | Total mentions of heroin/morphine |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning (shown below) and where heroin/morphine was mentioned on the death certificate. ICD-10 Description F11-F16, F18-F19—Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) X40-X44—Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X60-X64—Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X85—Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances Y10-Y14—Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent (2) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. | |||
House of Lords: Written Questions
Mr Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) within what period after the date of tabling he expects his Department to circulate guidance to Departments in respect of round robin questions tabled in the House of Lords; under what circumstances guidance is not produced in respect of round robin questions; and if he will make a statement; [29835]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of round robin questions to the Government tabled in the House of Lords which have been answered without (a) waiting for and (b) utilising round robin guidance; and if he will make a statement. [29836]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 December 2010, Official Report, column 884W.
No estimate has been made of the number of round robin questions answered without waiting for guidance.
Ministers: Photography
Mr Winnick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the full duties are of the Cabinet Office employee who has been engaged to photograph Ministers. [23209]
Mr Maude: As of 11 November, his role is to take photographs of Ministers at official Government events and meetings for use across web, print and other media. He is a resource that can be used by all Government Departments. He has subsequently left the Department.
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Pensioners: Age
Mr Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many pensioners are aged (a) 60 to 64, (b) 65 to 69, (c) 70 to 74, (d) 75 to 79, (e) 80 to 84 and (f) 85 years or more. [30040]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many pensioners are aged (a) 60 to 64, (b) 65 to 69, (c) 70 to 74, (d) 75 to 79, (e) 80 to 84 and (f) 85 years or more (30040).
ONS does not produce estimates of the number of individuals receiving pensions.
However the attached table shows the number of people in the specified age groups resident in the UK in mid-2009. This is the latest year for which population estimates are available.
| Population e stimate by selected age groups in the United Kingdom in mid-2009 | ||||||
| Thousand | ||||||
|
|
60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
| Source: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | ||||||
Treasury
Bank Services
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many de novo banks have applied for authorisation, excluding change of control or variations of permission, since 2005; how many such banks received that authorisation; on average what the time taken was between an initial application and an authorisation; how many such banks are in the application process; on average how long such banks have been awaiting an authorisation decision; how many such banks received Minded to Authorise letters; and on average what the time taken was between the making of an initial application and the issuing of a Minded to Authorise letter. [27788]
Mr Hoban: The matter concerned is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from government control and influence. I have asked the FSA to write to the hon. Member on the issue he raises.
Banks: Regulation
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have made to Brussels to discuss European banking regulation since 6 May 2010. [29506]
Mr Hoban: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has been to Brussels five times and I have been to Brussels twice to discuss, among other things, banking regulation.
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Child Benefit
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of how many children aged (a) four years and under, (b) between five and nine years, (c) between 10 and 16 years and (d) over 16 years child benefit payments were being made on the latest date for which figures are available. [30051]
Mr Gauke: The latest information on the ages of children for whom Child Benefit is being received is available in the HMRC snapshot publication “Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis. August 2009”. This can be found at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/chb-geog-aug09.pdf
Child Benefit: Bolton
Mr Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of households in Bolton North East constituency in receipt of child benefit who will no longer receive it as a result of his proposed changes. [29597]
Mr Gauke: Information on household income for child benefit claimants is not available at parliamentary constituency level.
Construction: Capital Investment
Simon Kirby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from representatives of the construction industry on access to development capital; and if he will make a statement. [29317]
Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such representations.
Departmental Manpower
Jesse Norman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the ages are of the 10 most senior members of staff in his Department. [25744]
Mr Gauke: The most senior staff in HM Treasury are the eight managing directors, including the permanent secretary and the second permanent secretary. Their ages are: 51, 41, 41, 52, 46, 61, 55 and 55 years. It is not possible to identify the official who is the next most senior.
Departmental Telephone Services
Angela Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the saving was to (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs through the use of non-geographical telephone numbers in the financial year (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and what the estimated saving is for 2010-11. [29340]
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Mr Gauke: The Treasury has two non-geographical telephone lines, which are provided to help staff who work remotely or who need to access business continuity information in the event of an emergency.
Between 90 and 95% of customer telephone calls to HMRC are managed through the Department’s centralised contact centre network. The Department receives no revenue through that network’s use of non-geographical numbers. HMRC is aware that the cost of calling its helplines can be an issue for some of its customers. HMRC is in the process of carrying out an in depth review of its telephone numbering strategy, looking at ways to reduce the costs to customers while balancing the costs to HMRC and the performance of its contact centre network.
The information on savings is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the Equitable Members Action Group. [30234]
Mr Hoban: I have met with representative of the Equitable Members Action Group a number of times over the last few months, including prior to the spending review announcement in order to discuss their representation.
I have also been informed the representatives of the Equitable Members Action Group have met with the Independent Commission on Equitable Life Payments to provide their views on allocation of the payments.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to ensure the provision of compensation for Equitable Life policyholders. [30239]
Mr Hoban: The Government have announced that £1.5 billion will be made available for the Equitable Life Payments Scheme. This includes covering the full cost of losses to with-profits annuitants who purchased their policies after 1 September 1992.
The Independent Commission on Equitable Life Payments, which was established in July, will advise the Government on the allocation of payments among all policyholders, with the exception of with-profits annuitants. It is expected to submit its report in January 2011, so that the Government can meet their ambition of making first payments in the middle of next year.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money his Department set aside to compensate Equitable Life policyholders. [30240]
Mr Hoban: The Government have announced that £1.5 billion will be made available for the Equitable Life Payments Scheme. This includes covering the full cost of losses to With-Profits Annuitants who purchased their policies after 1 September 1992.
13 Dec 2010 : Column 557W
Excise Duties: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to maintain the duty differential for liquefied petroleum gas beyond 2015. [27211]
Justine Greening: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review and decisions about tax policy are made in the round alongside all other priorities. This includes excise duty rates on road fuels.
Financial Services: Education
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will encourage banks in receipt of public funds to provide financial support to programmes that promote (a) a savings culture and (b) financial capability amongst young people. [29638]
Mr Hoban: The Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) was set up in April 2010 to improve understanding of financial matters among the general public and to enhance the ability of members of the public to manage their financial affairs. CFEB is funded by a levy on financial services firms, which includes banks in receipt of public funds.
The Government are committed to creating conditions for higher levels of saving. They have asked CFEB to develop a financial health check, which will encourage people to take action across all aspects of their finances, including saving. The new service will launch in spring 2011.
The Government recognise that some financial services firms support financial capability teaching in schools, helping to raise levels of financial capability among young people. Those banks who participated in the Bank Recapitalisation Fund agreed under the terms of their recapitalisations to support the expansion of financial capability.
Football: World Cup
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Barnett consequential was for (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland of expenditure on Government support for the Football Association’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018. [29240]
Danny Alexander: No additional allocations were made to Government Departments in respect of the Football Association’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018, therefore any spending was from within existing CSR 2007 allocations. Those allocations would have attracted Barnett consequentials in the normal way.
Impact Assessments
Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing inequality impact assessments on (a) tax rises and (b) public expenditure reductions; and if he will make a statement. [28582]
13 Dec 2010 : Column 558W
Justine Greening [holding answer 3 December 2010]:The Treasury made a qualitative assessment of the likely impact of the spending review on different groups using the information that is currently available, and these assessments were considered when decisions were made. The Treasury published the document, “Overview of the Impact of Spending Review 2010 on Equalities” alongside the spending review announcement.
The role of the Treasury in making decisions about public expenditure is to allocate resources to Departments. It is then up to Departments to decide how best to manage these resources. All Departments will consider the equalities impacts of the decisions made as a result of public expenditure reductions and make further assessments, in line with their legal obligations.
Over the summer, HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs have worked with interested parties to develop the tax impact assessment, and in doing so have been mindful of the statutory duties on public bodies. The Government published their response to the consultation on 9 December, setting out the Government’s plans for improving impact analysis for tax measures.
Income Tax
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was collected in higher rate income tax levied at (a) 40% and (b) 50% in the latest period for which figures are available. [29988]
Mr Gauke: Projections of income tax liabilities at the higher and additional rates of tax in 2010-11 are published on the HMRC website in table 2.6:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-6.pdf
Members: Correspondence
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham of 5 October 2010 undertaken by his Department to be answered on 28 October 2010. [24414]
Justine Greening: I have replied to the hon. Member.