BAE Systems
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees of BAE Systems were on secondment to his Department on 1 April 2010; and if he will make a statement. [17338]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is not held centrally and will take some time to collate. I shall write to the hon. Member with a substantive answer as soon as one is available.
Substantive answer from Andrew Robathan to Douglas Carswell:
In my written reply of 15 November 2010, I advised you that I would write to you with a substantive answer to your question on secondees from BAE Systems as soon as possible.
Secondments, whether inward or outward, are full or part-time development activity, usually involving a private sector organisation or charity. They are normally used to develop individuals and can enable the business to introduce different perspectives and expertise. Inward secondments from the private sector or charities cannot exceed two years in duration.
As at April 2010, there were 40 individuals on inward secondment to the MOD from various organisations in the public and private sector. Ten of these were employees of BAE Systems. In addition, two BAE Systems employees are engaged to provide external assistance with tasks in the Defence Intelligence Staff. Air Command has a number of BAE Systems employees conducting depth servicing at Marham, Cottesmore, and Kinloss. The numbers vary.
Since May 2010, inward secondments from the private sector and charities have been banned as part of civil service-wide controls on external recruitment.
I am sorry for the delay in providing this response.
Departmental Buildings
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much office space per employee his Department occupied in each year since 1997. [13007]
Mr Gerald Howarth: Data on how much office space per employee the department occupied prior to 2007 is not held. Since April 2008, the Ministry of Defence in common with all other central Government Departments has participated in the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Property Benchmarking Service, which captures office space utilisation of occupied offices that have a net internal area over 500 metres . This information is shown in the following table:
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 |
|
Space per member of full-time equivalent staff (square metres) |
Data for 2009-10 is currently undergoing validation. I will write to my hon. Friend when this data is available.
Substantive answer from Andrew Robathan to Matthew Hancock:
In my answer of 6 September 2010, Official Report, column 162W, I undertook to write to you with data on office space per employee the Ministry of Defence occupied in 2009-10 when these figures had been validated.
The data is now available and is shown in the following table:
|
|
Number of buildings benchmarked | Total occupied space (m (2) ) | Space per member of full-time equivalent staff (m (2) ) |
The overall space efficiency (m(2)/FTE) now stands at 13.6m(2), an increase of 0.5m(2)/since last year and this has largely been the result of streamlining and staff relocations to other sites. Currently, 35% of the occupied space is less than 12m(2)/FTE with 52% of the offices have either remained the same or improved their m(2)/FTE balance from last year.
Fleet Air Arm
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) flying and (b) non-flying personnel of the Fleet Air Arm he expects to be made redundant as a result of the ending of the Harrier capability; how many have served more than (i) 10, (ii) 12, (iii) 14 and (iv) 15 years; and if he will make a statement. [32155]
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1203W
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), gave on 16 December 2010, Official Report, columns 897-98W. Work is ongoing between the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force to determine how best to meet the requirement to re-generate a Carrier Strike capability in 2020. Until this work is complete, the information requested will not be known.
Military Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many transport aircraft are being leased by his Department; [32314]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of leasing transport aircraft of each type (a) in total and (b) per flight hour in each of the last six years. [32338]
Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Navy
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department plans to take to mark the 100th anniversary of fixed-wing flying in the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [32156]
Peter Luff: The hon. Member will be aware of the events held throughout 2009 to mark the centenary of the Admiralty’s first order for an aircraft, acknowledged as the commencement of naval aviation. The Royal Navy plan to mark the 100th anniversary of fixed wing flying by an event in May 2011 at Eastchurch Airfield on the Isle of Sheppey, the location of the first Royal Navy fixed wing flight.
North East England
Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Ministers of his Department have visited the North East since their appointment; and what the (a) date and (b) purpose was of each such visit. [31784]
Peter Luff: No Minister in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has visited the north-east since their appointment to represent the MOD in an official capacity.
North Korea
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the military threat posed by North Korea to UK interests across the world. [32264]
Peter Luff: North Korea's artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island in November 2010 raised tensions and threatened stability in North East Asia, a region of the world that is central to the UK's economic and trade interests. North Korea's ongoing nuclear weapon, ballistic missile and proliferation activities, which contravene UN and EU sanctions, pose significant risks to international security. Long-term stability on the Korean peninsula will be achieved only through the complete and verifiable denuclearisation of North Korea.
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1204W
Rescue Services: Helicopters
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation he expects to have with representatives of the Fire and Rescue Service as part of his Department's review of proposals for helicopter search and rescue under the private finance initiative; and if he will make a statement. [31571]
Peter Luff: UK Fire and Rescue Services are represented on both the UK Search and Rescue (SAR) Strategic Committee and the UK SAR Operators Group. The aim of both is to provide a management framework within which the responsible parties can work together to ensure the continued provision of an effective national SAR capability. Both the Strategic Committee and the Operators Group have been briefed on the review and will be updated on the outcome of the review in due course.
Sri Lanka
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when his forthcoming visit to Sri Lanka is to (a) begin and (b) end; [32067]
(2) if he will place in the Library and on his Department's website a copy of (a) each speech made by him during and (b) the itinerary of his proposed visit to Sri Lanka. [32071]
Dr Fox: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 993W.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make representations to the Sri Lankan Government on the allegations of extra-judicial killings in Sri Lanka made in the course of recent television broadcasts during his proposed visit. [32068]
Dr Fox: I take every opportunity to raise concerns about human rights issues with the Government of Sri Lanka and will continue to do so.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings have taken place between (a) Ministers in his Department, (b) officials in his Department and (c) members of the armed forces and their counterparts in Sri Lanka since 11 May 2010. [32069]
Dr Fox: Ministry of Defence officials and members of the armed forces have had the following engagement:
An Army Lieutenant Colonel responsible for UK accredited Defence Attaches and the Official overseeing Defence Relations policy provided an introductory brief for the incoming Sri Lankan Defence Adviser to the UK in November.
The Commander Task Force Iraqi Maritime, a Royal Navy Commodore, provided Defence representation at the inauguration of the Sri Lankan President in November.
The Commander Amphibious Task Group, a Royal Navy Commodore, represented the Royal Navy at the Sri Lankan Navy's 60th Anniversary celebrations in Colombo in December.
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1205W
I met with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister in June and October, and also when I saw the president in December, although the latter was in a private capacity.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent under each budget heading (a) on his proposed visit to Sri Lanka and (b) the preparations for it. [32070]
Dr Fox: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 993W.
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who wrote the speech he plans to deliver during his visit to Sri Lanka commencing on 18 December 2010. [32158]
Dr Fox: I have postponed my private visit to Sri Lanka due to an extended scheduled official visit to the Gulf. I intend to carry out an official visit to Sri Lanka in the course of next year. At the time the visit was postponed, I had not yet prepared my speech.
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers were involved in (i) preparation of the itinerary and (ii) other arrangements for his visit to Sri Lanka commencing on 18 December 2010. [32159]
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits he has made to Sri Lanka in an official capacity since his appointment. [32160]
Dr Fox: I have not yet made a visit to Sri Lanka since taking up office, but intend to carry out an official visit in the course of next year.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff of his Department were assigned to work on the Strategic Defence and Security Review consultation process. [31464]
Peter Luff [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The Ministry of Defence had around 10 members of staff working on the strategic defence and security review consultation process: the team also drew on resources elsewhere in the Department as necessary.
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what external contracts his Department commissioned as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review consultation process. [31465]
Peter Luff [holding answer 20 December 2010]: As part of the strategic defence and security review consultation process the Department contracted the Security and Defence Agenda to facilitate a discussion with EU and NATO allies. The cost of the contract was approximately £7,000.
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1206W
Type 26 Frigate
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on developing the design of the Type 26 frigate; to what extent this will be (a) flexible, (b) modular and (c) competitively-priced; and if he will make a statement. [32154]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 November 2010, Official Report, column 960W. We will continue to develop the design and ensure the solution delivers value for money.
Unmanned Air Vehicles
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the correspondence address is of each supplier of (a) equipment, (b) personnel, (c) parts and (d) assembly facilities for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles of each (i) type, (ii) range, (iii) capital and maintenance cost and (iv) lifespan in each (A) Government office region, (B) local authority area and (C) Parliamentary constituency. [28166]
Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member in due course.
Substantive answer from Peter Luff to Bridget Phillipson:
I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 6 December 2010 (Official Report, column 10W) about the range, costs and lifespan of each Unmanned Air System (UAS) type and the correspondence address of our suppliers, and your similar Parliamentary Questions on 14 December 2010 (Official Report, column 714W) about Vanguard and Astute submarines, the Long Range Rifle and the SA80A2 Individual Weapon. The information held by the Ministry of Defence is shown in the tables at Annexes A-D to this letter. A copy will also be placed in the Library of the House.
I note that you have previously asked a number of defence procurement questions about specific equipment platforms, each time requesting the answers to be categorised by Government office region, local authority area and Parliamentary constituency. My concern is that collating this information is incredibly time consuming and expensive for the Department and sometimes, in the case of contracts with foreign companies, close to impossible. Of course I am anxious to help colleagues by being as open as possible and giving thorough answers to PQs, but I just wondered whether there was a wider defence procurement question that you would like us to address more holistically, rather than by this piecemeal and resource intensive approach. Please let me know if this might be the case. Perhaps you would like to come and see me in the New Year so we can discuss this in more details?
Prime Minister
Cabinet Manual
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Prime Minister what the status is of the draft Cabinet Manual published by the Cabinet Secretary; whether he plans the manual to be (a) laid before and (b) debated by the House; and if he will make a statement. [32076]
The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the written ministerial statement where I laid the draft manual before the House on 14 December 2010. The House of Commons can decide to debate the draft manual if it wishes.
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1207W
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Robert Halfon: To ask the Prime Minister how much the Prime Minister's Office spent on press cuttings services in each year since 1997. [28159]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 1058W.
European Financial Stability Mechanism
Mr Cash: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is on holding a referendum in respect of (a) extending the use of the European Financial Stability Mechanism to a member state other than the Republic of Ireland up to the expiry of the mechanism in 2013 and (b) any similar proposals made by the EU whether or not they are permanent; and whether such proposals involve the agreement of a treaty between the member states. [32218]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 1187, and to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harwich and North Essex (Mr Jenkin) on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 1196.
Libya: Oil
Robert Halfon: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answers of 6 September 2010, Official Report, column 2W and 2 November 2010, Official Report, column 681W, on BP: Libya and oil rigs in Libya, when he expects the Cabinet Secretary to report on his findings. [30878]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further add to the answers I gave on 6 September 2010, Official Report, column 2W, and 2 November 2010, Official Report, column 681W.
Transfer of Questions
Ian Austin: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 448W, on transfer of questions, for what reason question 28072, on discussions between the Prime Minister and Mayor of London, directly pursuant to the Prime Minister's response to the hon. Member for Bosworth on 24 November 2010, Official Report, column 257, was transferred for answer by the Secretary of State for the Home Department. [32215]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 448W.
Home Department
Antisocial Behaviour
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to tackle antisocial behaviour among young people in Hendon constituency; and what progress she has made on providing tools to the police to deal with antisocial behaviour. [31527]
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1208W
James Brokenshire: Antisocial behaviour is unacceptable, whether it is committed by adults or young people. The response must be local, with the professionals and communities working together to tackle it. The Home Secretary has been clear that dealing with the problem should be core business for the police and other local agencies.
The Government will ensure the right tools and powers are available to crack down fast on perpetrators, and our plans to make police more accountable through elected police and crime commissioners will put communities at the heart of the solution.
The Home Office has been reviewing the tools and powers available to tackle antisocial behaviour, and we will be consulting on proposals from January to April 2011.
Asylum
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for reunification with a minor, spouse or partner in the UK were accepted from applicants who had been granted or had applied for asylum in another EU member state in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many such applications were made by people resident in each region in each such year. [32175]
Damian Green: We are unable to identify from central records people who have been issued with family reunion visas who had themselves been granted or applied for asylum in an EU State or any other third country. We could only produce the information requested by checking individual records at disproportionate cost.
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers were resident in each (a) region and (b) local authority area in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [32176]
(2) how many asylum seekers whose claims for asylum had been rejected were resident in each (a) region and (b) local authority area in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [32177]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not maintain data on the numbers of asylum applicants living in any given area at any given time. To obtain such information for previous years would involve considerable work going back through the case working database, at disproportionate cost. We have provided figures for the numbers of asylum applicants living in each region and local authority area as of 17 December 2010.
A breakdown of the number of asylum applicants living in, and those whose claims have been rejected in, (a) each region and (b) each local authority has been placed on the Library of the House.
The asylum claims included are those made since 2006 and managed within regions, under the new asylum model (NAM).
Blue Blindfold Campaign
Fiona Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if her Department will (a)
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1209W
commission and
(b)
publish the conclusions of an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of (i) the Blue Blindfold campaign and (ii) other prevention activities funded by her Department. [31519]
Damian Green: There are no plans to commission an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Blue Blindfold campaign.
Borders: Personal Records
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had on the compatibility with EU law of the implementation of the e-Borders programme. [31236]
Damian Green: The European Commission wrote to the UK on 17 December 2009 giving its opinion on the complaint raised by the British Chamber of Shipping and their French counterparts regarding e-Borders compatibility with EU law on free movement and data protection.
In respect of data protection, the European Commission agreed that it is legal for carriers to collect advance passenger information (API) on EU routes and for this to be transmitted to the UK, subject to the approval of each member state’s data protection authority. Officials continue to work closely with individual member state data protection authorities to secure acknowledgement that law enforcement and the fight against terrorism, smuggling and other offences constitute a public and legitimate interest for the purposes of the data protection directive, so that API data can be transmitted.
In respect of free movement, UK and Commission officials have, since the December 2009 letter, been working together to reach a mutual understanding of how e-Borders operates in a way that strengthens the security of the UK and the EU more broadly but does not have an impact on free movement. We believe that those discussions with the Commission are close to being concluded, and once a final position has been reached we will fully explore any implications with the industry.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to seek compensation from Raytheon Systems Ltd following the termination of its contract for the delivery of the e-Borders programme. [32293]
Damian Green: The Home Office is pursuing its remedies under the contract and the matter is now subject to a confidential arbitration under the jurisdiction of the London Court of International Arbitration.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely role of the UK Border Agency in project integration for the e-Borders programme. [32294]
Damian Green: The e-Borders programme is within the UK Border Agency's remit and it will have overall responsibility for programme integration issues. These are managed through established governance arrangements within the Agency.
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1210W
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether she plans to seek a single supplier or more than one supplier of services for the e-Borders programme; [32295]
(2) by what date she expects new contracts for the delivery of the e-Borders programme to be in place with suppliers; [32296]
(3) what procurement process her Department plans to follow to secure new suppliers for the e-Borders programme. [32297]
Damian Green: Since the e-Borders contract with Raytheon Systems was terminated, the e-Borders programme has been pursuing a strategy to procure services to replace those due under the original contract. We continue to engage with a number of alternative providers to deliver the key benefits that the contract with Raytheon was unable to deliver. No new contracts have yet been agreed. The Programme remains on course to meet the Home Office Business plan target to agree a contract with new suppliers and transition existing services from Raytheon Systems Ltd by April 2011.
The Department will procure through existing and accessible contract vehicles where demonstrable value for money can be achieved.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to finalise the budget for the e-Borders programme. [32298]
Damian Green: The budget for the e-Borders programme has now been decided following the spending review. For commercial reasons, we are unable to disclose this figure.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which e-Borders contracts have been novated from Raytheon Systems to her Department and its agencies. [32300]
Damian Green: The contract with IBM for the Semaphore system was novated to UKBA on 25 November 2010.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role an authority to carry function will have in the e-Borders programme. [32301]
Damian Green: The Government are committed to making changes to pre-flight checks to identify people who pose a potential terrorist threat and prevent those who pose a severe terrorist threat from flying into and out of the UK. e-Borders will provide the capability to deliver an automated authority to carry function in due course.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential for the use of off-the-shelf technologies in the e-Borders programme. [32302]
Damian Green:
Since the e-Borders contract with Raytheon Systems was terminated on 22 July 2010, the e-Borders programme has been pursuing a strategy to procure services to replace those due under the original
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1211W
contract. We are engaging with alternative providers to deliver the key benefits that the contract with Raytheon was unable to deliver.
As requirements have been discussed with suppliers, we have reviewed their proposals for how they propose to deliver the programme, and this includes off-the-shelf technologies as appropriate.
Cybercrime
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the level of internet (a) crime and (b) fraud in the UK; what steps (i) her Department and (ii) agencies for which she is responsible are taking to reduce such levels; and if she will make a statement. [31855]
James Brokenshire: The National Security Strategy published in October 2010 clearly stated that cyber threats, including cyber crime, are one of the top four threats facing the UK. In response, the strategic defence and security review allocated £650 million to help protect the UK’s interests in cyber space through a national cyber security programme.
As part of this, the Government will deliver an effective response to cyber crime through a national Cyber Crime Strategy. This will set out how we believe the UK can tackle cyber crime. We intend to publish this in early 2011.
Demonstrations: City of Westminster
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports she has received from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on the estimated (a) cost of damage caused and (b) number of criminal offences committed in the course of the demonstration in London on 9 December 2010; how many arrests were made; how many people were stopped and searched in connection with the demonstration; what the cost to the MPS was of policing the demonstration; what the policy of the MPS is on recovering policing costs from organisers of demonstrations; what the cost of providing facilities to the demonstrators was; and if she will make a statement. [30827]
James Brokenshire: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) gave to the House on 13 December 2010, Official Report, columns 665-66, on public disorder at the protest against tuition fees on 9 December 2010. As at 21 December 2010, 52 people have been arrested by the Metropolitan police for offences including public order and criminal damage. The Home Office does not hold information on the number of criminal offences committed, number of stop and searches, the cost of the damage caused, policing costs or the cost of providing facilities to demonstrators.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent discussions she (a) has had and (b) plans to have with the Metropolitan police service on the use of (i) water cannon, (ii) plastic bullets and (iii) CS gas at demonstrations; and if she will make a statement; [31358]
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1212W
(2) how many (a) water cannon, (b) plastic bullets and (c) units of CS gas are held by her Department and its agencies; whether she has plans for future procurement of such items; and if she will make a statement. [31359]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office has regular discussions with the Metropolitan police service on a range of policing issues including the use of equipment in public order scenarios. I refer the hon. Member to the statement the Secretary of State for the Home Department gave to the House on 13 December 2010, Official Report, columns 665-69.
Water cannon is not approved for police use in England and Wales. The Home Office and its agencies do not hold any water cannon for operational use in England and Wales.
The Home Office and its agencies do not hold any plastic bullets, nor are these approved for police use in England and Wales. The use of attenuating energy projectile (AEP) rounds and CS spray are approved for use by the police service in England and Wales in accordance with the Association of Chief Police Officers guidance. The Home Office does not centrally hold any information on the number of AEP rounds and CS spray held by police forces. We have no plans to procure such equipment.
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the clean-up operation following the disturbances in central London on 9 December 2010; [31647]
(2) what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of policing the demonstrations in central London on 9 December 2010. [31648]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold this information.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the demonstration in Parliament square on 9 December 2010; and if she will make a statement; [31657]
(2) what estimate she has made of the cost of police officer overtime incurred in policing the demonstration in Parliament square on 9 December 2010; and if she will make a statement; [31658]
(3) if she will commission a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis on the number of police officers of each (a) rank and (b) police force who were (i) injured and (ii) seriously injured while policing the demonstration in Parliament square on 9 December 2010; and if she will make a statement; [31659]
(4) if she will commission a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis on the policing of the demonstration in Parliament square on 9 December 2010; how many (a) men and (b) women in each age group were arrested; on what grounds each was arrested; and if she will make a statement; [31704]
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1213W
(5) what representations she has received from the organisers of the demonstration in Parliament square on 9 December 2010 since 10 December; and if she will make a statement. [31707]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not hold information on the costs of the demonstration or costs of police overtime. The commissioner has informed the Home Secretary that at least 30 officers were injured and that six of those required hospital treatment all of whom have now been discharged. The Home Office does not hold information on the rank of officers who were injured and does not plan to commission a report.
The Metropolitan police provided information to the Home Office that 52 people had been arrested as of 21 December. There are no plans to commission reports from the commissioner of police for the Metropolis on the gender of those arrested.
The Home Secretary received a letter on 14 December from the University and College Union requesting a public inquiry into police actions at recent demonstrations.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to protect buildings leased by her Department from damage during demonstrations; and if she will make a statement. [31703]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office has plans to respond to a range of situations and threats to the physical security of our buildings. These are reviewed and updated as necessary following assessments of the threats we face and from experience gained from demonstrations that have affected government and other public buildings. Our planning is carried out in consultation with the police.
Demonstrations: Riot Control Weapons
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the use of water cannon in policing demonstrations in London. [31932]
Nick Herbert: I refer the hon. Member to the statement the Secretary of State for the Home Department gave to the House on 13 December 2010, Official Report, columns 668-69. Water cannon is not approved for police use in England and Wales.
Demonstrations: Whitehall
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on requiring reports from police forces on incidents of public disorder; and whether she has requested a report from the Metropolitan police on the policing of the demonstration in Whitehall on 9 December 2010. [31957]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The Home Office requests information on public disorder in order to respond to public and parliamentary interest and to support the development of Government policy. We received a short report from the Metropolitan police about the policing of the demonstration on 9 December.
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1214W
Departmental Press Releases
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions her Department has provided embargoed media briefings prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010; in respect of how many such briefings her Department was informed that the embargo had been breached; what steps were taken as a result of each such breach; and on how many occasions her Department has provided media briefings without an embargo prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010. [31923]
James Brokenshire: Nine formal media briefings have been held in the Home Office since 26 May 2010. Of these only two were embargoed and in neither case was the embargo breached.
On one occasion on 28 June, in an attempt by the Home Secretary to assist the House by changing from making a written ministerial statement to making an oral statement, the copy of the statement that would have been made in writing to the House was handed out to the press before the oral statement was made.
Briefings would never normally be held in advance of an oral statement without an embargo.
Departmental Utilities
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of the (a) electricity and (b) gas supplied to her Department’s offices at Lunar house, Croydon, in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many members of staff are based at those offices. [31666]
Nick Herbert: From available records the following table displays payments made on electricity and gas for Lunar house since November 2009.
| £ | ||
|
|
Gas | Electricity |
The number of staff based at Lunar house is around 2,200.
Deportation
Mrs Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information about families the UK Border Agency considers before a decision is made on (a) removal and (b) participation in family return pilots. [31882]
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1215W
Damian Green: All applicants, including families, whose application has been fully considered and all avenues of appeal have been exhausted will be considered for removal by the UK Border Agency. Chapter 45 of the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance provides comprehensive guidance to staff on how family units who include dependant children (aged under 18), who are liable to be removed, should be progressed through to removal. Chapter 45 of the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance can be found at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/enforcement/oemsectione/
Family removals, and especially those involving children, are a particularly sensitive area of work. Family dynamics will vary from one family group to the next, and guidance and training is provided to UKBA staff to ensure that properly informed consideration can be made on how best to plan to meet any specific needs during each stage of any enforcement action leading to removal.
I made a statement to the House on 16( )December 2010, Official Report, columns 125-26WS, which announced the Government's plans to end the detention of children for immigration purposes, outlining the new family process and how this is being piloted. An interim assessment of the pilots has been carried out and we expect to publish this in the new year.
Mrs Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pilot schemes for alternative methods of removing families undertaken by the UK Border Agency are based in (a) the North West, (b) London and (c) other parts of the UK. [31883]
Damian Green: On 1 June 2010 the UK Border Agency began a review into ending the detention of children for immigration purposes. Over the past few months, the UK Border Agency have been working closely with partners and testing out new approaches with our pilots in the North West and London to find a new way of working with families and to build confidence in the system. The review report was published on 16 December 2010. A further pilot is running in Glasgow, in conjunction with Glasgow city council. This was launched in June 2009.
Domestic Violence: Finance
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her Department’s announcement of 24 November 2010 on funding for specialist services to tackle violence against women and girls, under what budget headings the £28 million funding will be allocated in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [31260]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government have allocated £28 million to provide stable funding to support specialist services to tackle violence against women and girls over the comprehensive spending review period.
The budget headings the money will be allocated under are: interpersonal violence (IPV) local funding, independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) services, domestic violence (DV) third sector funding and the forced marriage unit.
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1216W
The Government will also continue central funding for the quality assurance of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) and training places for Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (IDVAS) and MARAC co-ordinators to ensure there is a consistent delivery of service nationally.
Domestic Violence: Teachers
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on training teachers to (a) teach on issues relating to and (b) identify young people who may be affected by domestic violence. [31865]
Lynne Featherstone: Ministerial discussions on issues relating to domestic violence normally take place at the Inter-Ministerial Group on Violence Against Women and Girls which is attended by both Home Office and Education Ministers (as well as others). A meeting with the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), will be planned for the new year to discuss how to pursue the teaching of consent and healthy relationships in schools.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of foreign students entering the UK under the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and General Student Visa system have overstayed; and what proportion of such students were sponsored by (a) English language centres and (b) universities. [31391]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency is not able to provide the information requested. The e-Borders system enables checks to be made on individuals arriving or exiting the country at a majority of the points of entry to the UK but is not yet fully rolled out.
The Government are committed to ensuring that the number of UK ports undertaking exit checks is increased to ensure a complete travel history record on all passengers.
While in the UK the licensed sponsor is required to monitor the student’s attendance and progress and must report any issues of non-compliance to the UK Border Agency. These reports are monitored by the UK Border Agency and action taken against both the student and sponsor, where appropriate.
The Government are currently reviewing the student immigration system and a public consultation opened on 7 December.
Firearms
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding she has allocated to programmes designed to tackle (a) illegal firearms, (b) narcotics and (c) human trafficking in each of the last five years. [19910]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 27 October 2010]: Direct Home Office funding for specific programmes to tackle drug use is set out in the following table:
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1217W
| £ million | |||||
|
|
2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| (1) Funding for delivery of the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP), includes grants to local areas, grants and costs for drug testing and for the programme's information systems. (2) Grant funding to local areas to deliver substance misuse services for young people. From 2008-09 this funding went into a wider unringfenced grant now known as the Area Based Grant. (3) FRANK provides free and confidential help, information and advice about any aspect of drugs. It is delivered 24 hours a day all year round via a helpline or via the following link: www.talktofrank.com The ‘FRANK’ campaign operates in England and primarily targets young people aged 11 to 18-years-old; parents are also an important audience. FRANK is jointly funded by Home Office, Department of Health and Department for Education. Figures refer to the Home Office contribution only and include costs for marketing campaigns and materials for stakeholders working directly with young people. Due to the cross-Government freeze on marketing and advertising, there has been no expenditure in 2010-11. (4) Grant funding for a range of projects which supported delivery of the Drug Strategy in terms of developing innovation and best practice. (5) Funding of the UK's membership subscription between 2006-07 to 2009-10 to the Council of Europe Pompidou Group, which is a forum for exchanging views and information on good practice and studies relating broadly to drugs-related demand reduction and its associated harm. (6) Contribution to the Government's counter-narcotic work in Afghanistan. (7) Positive Futures programme provides grants to local prevention projects that target vulnerable and at risk 10 to 19-year-olds aiming to stop them from becoming drawn into crime and substance misuse and supporting them in moving forward with their lives. (8) Funding to provide a named drugs worker in every Youth Offending Team in England and Wales. | |||||
Human Trafficking
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her Department's Update to the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking, October 2009, what progress has been made in respect of each of the eight action points on prevention. [31640]
Damian Green: Since publication of the UK Action Plan update in October 2009, the UK:
has produced an up to date estimate of the scale of trafficking for sexual exploitation in the off-street market in England and Wales;
is developing intelligence-led work overseas in countries and regions which pose the greatest threat, through the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the UK Human Trafficking Centre;
continues to play an active role in helping improve wider EU efforts at combating human trafficking and works constructively with its European partners on issues of mutual interest. Activity has included helping to ensure human trafficking is a key area under the Stockholm Programme which sets out the EU's Justice and Home Affairs priorities for 2010 to 2014 and contributing to plans to strengthen the EU's response to trafficking from outside the EU;
worked with a range of countries to support anti-trafficking projects that address vulnerabilities to trafficking; and
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1218W
has designated 18 October as Anti Slavery Day in England and Wales to provide a focal point for the awareness-raising work of the voluntary sector.
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will meet representatives of Anti-Slavery International for the purpose of informing her policy on (a) human trafficking globally and (b) the new European Directive on Human Trafficking. [32004]
Damian Green: The voluntary sector plays a key role in the identification of, and provision of support to, victims of human trafficking. We are strongly supportive of this role and will continue to work in partnership with voluntary organisations to reduce the incidence of human trafficking.
Home Office officials will shortly be contacting non-governmental organisations to discuss development of the forthcoming strategy on human trafficking.
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with her international counterparts on co-ordination of efforts to (a) raise public awareness of and (b) prevent human trafficking. [32117]
Damian Green: The Government recognise the importance of international collaboration in raising awareness of and preventing human trafficking.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and I held a meeting with the UNHCR High Commissioner, Antonio Guterres, at which human trafficking was discussed. I also recently met the Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Dr Jamaher Anwary, to discuss the issue of trafficking.
The Government have focused their international efforts through the European Union and other regional organisations such as the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will meet representatives of STOP UK to discuss the content of her proposed new policy on addressing human trafficking before she concludes it. [32396]
Damian Green: The voluntary sector plays a key role in the identification of, and provision of support to, victims of human trafficking. We are strongly supportive of this role and will continue to work in partnership with voluntary organisations to reduce the incidence of human trafficking.
Home Office officials will shortly be contacting non-governmental organisations to discuss development of the forthcoming strategy on human trafficking.
Human Trafficking: Children
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the child trafficking cases referred under the National Referral Mechanism since its establishment (a) were referred to the police for further investigation with regard to human trafficking and (b) led to prosecutions by the Crown Prosecution Service. [30875]
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1219W
Damian Green: The purpose of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is to allow agencies involved in victim support and identification to share information to identify, assess and support victims of trafficking. Separate arrangements exist for sharing information with the police.
It is not therefore possible to state how many child trafficking cases referred under the NRM, were forwarded to the police and led to prosecutions by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to introduce an operation to tackle the trafficking of children following the end of Operation Golf in December 2010. [31082]
Damian Green: The Government are committed to publishing a new human trafficking strategy early next year which will set out how improvements can be made in tackling human trafficking through greater upstream enforcement, multi-agency action at the border and greater co-ordination of our policing effort within the UK.
There are currently no plans to introduce an operation specifically aimed at tackling child trafficking after the end of Operation Golf in December of this year. Tackling human trafficking is however a core part of policing business.
Illegal Immigrants
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average period between the date of (a) entry and (b) deportation of those deported following illegal entry to the UK in each of the last five years. [31671]
Damian Green: We have assumed ‘deportation’ to mean the removal of an individual who has been served with enforcement papers.
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) does not capture the period between the date of entry and date of removal for illegal entrants because it is not possible to accurately determine when someone illegally entered the UK.
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on (a) legal costs in connection with illegal immigrants and (b) housing and maintenance for those who entered the UK illegally prior to deportation in each of the last five years. [31672]
Damian Green: We are unable to provide figures for these costs since the Department does not collate data in the way requested and such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Illegral Immigrants: Fines
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of civil penalties issued for carrying stowaways to (a) UK-registered haulage firms and (b) drivers employed by UK-registered haulage firms have been collected since 2000; [30389]
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1220W
(2) what proportion of civil penalties issued for carrying stowaways to (a) non-UK-registered haulage firms and (b) drivers employed by non-UK-registered haulage firms have been collected since 2000. [30390]
Damian Green [holding answer 13 December 2010]: The database for recording the haulier civil penalty cases started on 8 December 2002. From 8 December 2002 to 17 December 2010 the proportion of civil penalties issued for carrying clandestines has been;
(a) haulage firm 80%
(b) drivers employed by haulage firms 20%
We are unable to distinguish between the UK-registered haulage firms and non-UK registered haulage firms or driver. The proportion of penalties collected from drivers and haulage firms between 8 December 2002 to 17 December 2010 is 72%.
Immigration Controls
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the merits of restricting the number of visas which provide a route to settlement. [31868]
Damian Green [holding answer 20 December 2010]: It is the Government’s aim to reduce levels of net migration. We have announced that we will take action across all routes to achieve this.
The primary economic categories leading to settlement are skilled and highly-skilled migrants. We have already taken steps to limit the number of these migrants entering the UK from April next year.
Furthermore we have announced that we will end the link between temporary and permanent migration and as a first step we will introduce some new criteria for those who apply for settlement from April 2011.
I intend to consider what further reforms are appropriate on all migration routes which currently confer a right to apply for settlement, and will make further announcements in due course.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 9 November 2010 with regard to Ms N Ahmed. [32225]
Nick Herbert: I apologise for the delay in replying. The Minister of State for Security and Counter-Terrorism, my noble Friend, Baroness Neville-Jones, replied on 17 December 2010. A copy of the letter will be placed in the House Library.
North East (England)
Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Ministers of her Department have visited the North East since their appointment; and what the (a) date and (b) purpose was of each such visit. [31786]
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1221W
James Brokenshire: I visited Rothbury and Northumbria police headquarters on 19 July 2010 in response to the Raoul Moat shootings.
Olympic Games 2012: Kent Constabulary
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to provide additional funding to Kent police for its responsibilities for the London 2012 Olympics. [31983]
Nick Herbert: As no 2012 Olympic or Paralympic events are scheduled to take place in Kent, there are no plans to provide additional funding for Kent police.
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1222W
Police: Expenditure
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police force expenditure was spent on (a) police officer, (b) police community support officer and (c) other staffing costs in the latest period for which figures are available. [31503]
Mrs May [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The information requested is shown in the following table:
|
|
Gross revenue expenditure in 2009-10 (£ million) | Percentage of total |
| Source: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy: http://www.tisonline.net/ 2009/10 actuals. | ||
Police: Manpower
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers, (b) police community support officers and (c) other staff are employed by each specialist national police unit. [26078]
Mrs May [holding answer 23 November 2010]: ‘Specialist national police unit’ is not a term used by the Home Office.
Police: Sick Leave
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 took sick leave in each of the last three years. [29968]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 13 December 2010]:Figures are not collected centrally in the form requested. Instead, the following table contains sickness data on the number and proportion of police officers and police community support officers who took sick leave at the end of each financial year ie 31 March. It also shows the total amount of sick leave taken in each financial year by police officers in the Metropolitan police service and Cambridgeshire constabulary. The total amount of sick leave taken by police community support officers is not collected centrally.
| Number and proportion of police officers and police community support officers who took sick leave in the Metropolitan Police Service and Cambridgeshire constabulary in each of the last three years (1, 2, 4, 6, 7) | |||||||
| Metropolitan Police Service | |||||||
| Police officers | Police community support officers | ||||||
|
|
Total number of police officers (3) | Number on sick leave (8) | Proportion (5) (percentage) | Sick leave (hours) in 12 months to 31 March | Total number of police community support officers (3) | Number on sick leave (8) | Proportion(5) (percentage) |
| Cambridgeshire constabulary | |||||||
| Police officers | Police community support officers | ||||||
|
|
Total number of police officers (3) | Number on sick leave (8) | Proportion (5) (percentage) | Sick leave (hours) in 12 months to 31 March | Total number of police community support officers (3) | Number on sick leave (8) | Proportion (5) (percentage) |
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1223W
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1224W
| (1) Sick absence includes those that have certified and uncertified sickness. (2) These tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (3) As at 31 March 2008 to 2010. These figures may be seasonal, and so the total on sick leave on 31 March may not be representative of the whole year. (4) These data are provisional. They have not undergone usual quality assurance practices (including validation with individual police forces), and are therefore supplied for information purposes only. (5) Proportion is calculated by the total number of sick leave (at the end of period) divided by the total number of staff in post. (6) Source—Home Office using data received from police forces via the Annual Data Requirement. (7) Figures for 2009-10 affected by changes in sickness certification guidance: sickness absences of more than 28 days should not be uncertified. The fall in sick leave (at the end of period) have been confirmed by the forces. (8) Sick leave (at the end of period) includes short, medium and long term sick leave. | |||||||
Public Houses: Closure
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public houses closed in the city of Brighton and Hove in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009. [32386]
James Brokenshire: The number of licences that were surrendered, lapsed, revoked, forfeited, suspended or withdrawn within Brighton and Hove can be found within the attached table.
The full tables are available from the DCMS website by using the following link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/research_and_statistics/4865.asp
| N umber of licences surrendered, lap s ed, revoked, forfeited, suspended or withdrawn for Brighton and Hove | ||||||
| Premises licences | Club premises certificates | |||||
| 1 April to 31 March each year | Surrendered | Lapsed | Suspended | Surrendered | Lapsed | Withdrawn |
| Personal licences | ||||
| 1 April to 31 March each year | Surrendered | Revoked | Forfeited | Suspended |
Public Order Offences
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested and (b) charged under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001, (iii) 2002, (iv) 2003, (v) 2004, (vi) 2005, (viii) 2006, (ix) 2007, (x) 2008, (xi) 2009 and (xii) 2010. [30919]
James Brokenshire: The information requested on arrests is not available centrally.
The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. From these centrally reported categories it is not possible to separately identify offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.
Data provided by Ministry of Justice on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, England and Wales, from 2000 to 2009 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table. Information on the number of people charged is not available centrally.
The data held by the Ministry of Justice contain information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. No information about the circumstances of each case is held other than that specified in a statute. It is therefore not possible to separately identify those cases in which insulting words or behaviour were used from offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act.
| Number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates for offences under the Public Order Act 1986 section 5, England and Wales 2000 - 09 (1,2,3) | ||||
|
|
Offence description | Statue | Year | Proceeded against |
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1225W
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1226W
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1227W
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1228W
| (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice | ||||
Rape: Victim Support Schemes
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department provided for (a) the prevention and detection and (b) provision of support for victims of rape in each year since 2005. [32043]
Lynne Featherstone: Where funding is allocated to tackling rape and sexual violence this includes support for victims.
2005-06: Over £50,000
2006-07: Over £1 million
2007-08: Over £2.1 million
2008-09: Over £2.7 million
2009-10: Over £2.9 million
2010-11: Over £2.7 million
Security: Olympic Games 2012
Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with her French counterpart in France on policing and security for the London 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement. [31872]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 20 December 2010]: Home Office Ministers meet regularly with their French counterparts to discuss security issues. No substantive discussions have to date taken place about the security of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. France is one of the UK’s closest partners on a range of Government business and we enjoy a close, productive relationship. Ministers and officials will continue to engage regularly and will address this issue as necessary.
Stop the Drift
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary entitled Stop the Drift, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of steps police and prosecutors are required to take to bring a suspect to justice. [25376]
Nick Herbert: The Government are committed to reforming the criminal justice system. A more efficient and effective system will help cut crime and sharpen the focus on improving outcomes for victims and communities. We will outline our strategy to improve the efficiency of the whole criminal justice system next year. We are already taking steps.
We are returning charging discretion to the police for a wider range of crimes, saving valuable police time, and ensuring prosecutors are focused on more complex and serious offences.
All agencies have a shared and strong incentive to improve efficiency not only within their own area of responsibility, but across the system.
Vetting
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks will continue to be required as part of the application for a licence to grow hemp. [32260]
James Brokenshire: Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks are necessary to ensure that those licensed to possess and cultivate cannabis are of good character, and will continue to be required in the future. This is consistent with the license provisions for all other controlled drugs.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what time-scale she has set for the re-introduction of exit checks. [32292]
Damian Green: Our programme for Government sets out our clear commitment to re-introduce exit checks, which we will do by March 2015, and our clear commitment to e-Borders.
e-Borders already supports our ability to undertake effective checks on passengers leaving the UK. It is already checking in excess of 55% of passenger movements into and out of the UK, with coverage planned to increase in the future. We have announced our intention to review by April 2011 the extent to which e-Borders provides a solution to the reintroduction of exit checks.
Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were held in Yarl’s Wood detention centre on the latest date for which figures are available. [32003]
Damian Green: Table 3.7 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary July to September 2010 shows that as at 30 September 2010 there were five children (figure rounded to the nearest 5) detained in Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre.
The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers on a quarterly and annual basis, which are
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1229W
available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
I made a statement to the House on 16 December 2010, Official Report, columns 125-26WS, which included the announcement of the immediate closure of Yarl's Wood to children.
Cabinet Office
Childbirth
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many births there were in NHS hospitals in each year since 1997. [29280]
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 question asking how many births there were in NHS hospitals in each year since 1997 (29280).
Figures for maternities in NHS hospitals have been compiled from birth registration data. Information on place of birth is provided by the informant at registration rather than by the hospitals themselves. The table below shows the number of maternities in NHS hospitals each year from 1997 to 2009.
| Maternities (1) in NHS hospitals, 1997-2009, England and Wales | |
|
|
Maternities |
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1230W
| (1) The number of maternities refers to women who gave birth to one or more live-born or stillborn children rather than the number of babies born. The number of maternities is therefore less than the total number of live births and stillbirths. | |
Foreign Nationals
Mr Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of (a) UK nationals, (b) people born in the UK, (c) foreign nationals, (d) non-UK EU nationals and (e) non-EU nationals (i) aged over 16 years and (ii) of working age were in employment in the UK in the third quarter of 2010. [31577]
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 Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of (a) UK nationals, (b) people born in the UK, (c) foreign nationals, (d) non-UK EU nationals and (e) non-EU nationals (i) aged over 16 years and (ii) of working age were in employment in the UK in the third quarter of 2010. (31577)
The requested information is provided in the attached table.
Labour market statistics published in the monthly Labour Market Statistical Bulletin previously described as working age (men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59) have now been replaced with statistics based on those aged 16-64 for both men and women. Consequently, the estimates provided have been produced on this basis.
| Employment levels and rates for people aged 16 and over In employment (1, 2) by nationality and country of birth—Three months ending September 2010: United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | ||||||||||
| Thousands and per cent | ||||||||||
| Aged over 16 years | ||||||||||
|
|
UK nationals | Rate | UK born | Rate | Foreign Nationals | Rate | Non-UK EU nationals | Rate | Non-EU nationals | Rate |
| Employment levels and rates for people aged 16 to 64 in employment (1,2) by nationality and country of birth—Three months ending September 2010: United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | ||||||||||
| Thousands and per cent | ||||||||||
| Aged 16 to 64 years | ||||||||||
|
|
UK nationals | Rate | UK born | Rate | Foreign Nationals | Rate | Non-UK EU nationals | Rate | Non-EU nationals | Rate |
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1231W
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1232W
| (1) Includes self-employed and unpaid family workers. (2) Excludes those whose nationality was not known. (3) Men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59. (4) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below: Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 = CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 = CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 = CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ? 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Note: It should be noted that the above estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels mobile home sites etc.). Source: Labour Force Survey. |
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Press Releases
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on how many occasions his Department has provided embargoed media briefings prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010; in respect of how many such briefings his Department was informed that the embargo had been breached; what steps were taken as a result of each such breach; and on how many occasions his Department has provided media briefings without an embargo prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010. [31914]
John Penrose: No oral statements have been made to the House by Ministers within the Department since 26 May 2010.
Gambling: Advertising
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the effects on children of gambling advertisements; and whether he has assessed the merits of requiring the inclusion of public service warnings in gambling advertisements. [32343]
John Penrose: The Department has not made any recent assessment of the effects on children of gambling advertising, or on the merits of including public service warnings in gambling advertisements. However, the codes of practice on gambling advertising produced by the Committee of Advertising Practice and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice contain strict controls in relation to gambling advertising and children. For example, adverts must not appeal to children and young people and must not include children or young people or any person who is/appears to be under 25 years old.
Furthermore, the gambling industry’s voluntary code for socially responsible advertising requires gambling adverts to display the
www.gambleaware.co.uk
North East England
Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which Ministers of his Department have visited the North East since their appointment; and what the (a) date and (b) purpose was of each such visit. [31787]
John Penrose: The Secretary of State visited Newcastle on 2 September for the UK Schools Games Opening Ceremony.
Olympic Games 2012
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his timetable is for determining the award of the lease for the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Olympics. [32046]
Hugh Robertson: The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) is responsible for determining the long-term legacy use of the Olympic Stadium and expects to have reached a settled position by the end of the current financial year.
Public Lending Right Scheme
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what consultation he has undertaken with writers and their representative bodies on proposed changes to the public lending right scheme. [32146]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: We recognise the importance of the public lending right scheme to authors and are committed to working with interested groups as we discuss the details of how the new arrangements will work.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the level of savings that would accrue from altering the arrangements for the administration of the public lending right scheme. [32147]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The transfer is expected to deliver some moderate back office administrative savings, but their value depends on how the body that takes over the public lending right scheme functions chooses to deliver them. We are not yet in a position to give full details of this.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for the future administration of the public lending right scheme. [32148]
Mr Jeremy Hunt:
The question of which body takes over the public lending right (PLR) scheme role is subject to ongoing discussions. However PLR payments will still be administered by a body operating at arm's
21 Dec 2010 : Column 1233W
length from Government with the same independence and impartiality currently awarded to the PLR Registrar. Furthermore, as a condition of the transfer, the body will be required to commit to ring fence the fund for making payments to authors.