Radar
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where in the UK remote radar heads are located. [111569]
Mr Robathan: Air Defence radar remote radar heads are located at:
Portreath, Cornwall
Trimingham, Norfolk
Staxton Wold, North Yorkshire
Brizlee Wood, Northumberland
Buchan, Aberdeenshire
Benbecula, North Uist
Recruitment
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 489W, on recruitment, to what extent his Department and its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies used name-blank CVs or the blind sift function on the Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system to recruit staff in the last year. [110963]
Mr Robathan:
Currently no recruitment action has been undertaken in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) or
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its trading funds using named-blank CVs or the blind sift function on the Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system. The blind sift function is due to go live imminently; Departments can select whether to set this as a default or to use it for specific campaigns if desired. The MOD has opted not to use the blind sift function by default, but recruiters will be able to select this option for specific campaigns, and the MOD may decide in the future to select this as the default option. Senior civil servant recruitment is not currently undertaken using the civil service e-recruitment system and the blind sift application process has not been used.
Appointments to the small number of MOD non-departmental public bodies are made off-line and not through Civil Service Jobs.
USA: Military Alliances
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which joint working groups, joint working group subgroups and specialised working groups currently operate under the auspices of the 1958 US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement; and how many meetings of each such working group have taken place in each year since 2009. [109622]
Peter Luff: There are currently 33 groups operating under the US-UK 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement. The following list provides a breakdown of meetings for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 in respect of Joint Working Group (JOWOG), Sub-Joint Working Groups and specialized working groups consisting of Exchange of Information by Visit Report (EIVR), Enhanced Collaboration (EC), Trident Warhead Program Group (TWPG) and United States Air Force (USAF) Channel.
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | ||||
| Meeting location: | US | UK | US | UK | US | UK |
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Veterans: Mental Illness
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans in Denton and Reddish constituency have been diagnosed with mental health problems as a result of active service in the latest period for which figures are available. [111694]
Mr Robathan: We only hold information on the number of veterans in receipt of a pension or compensation under the war pension scheme, or armed forces compensation scheme, for mental health conditions considered attributable to their service.
As at 31 March 2012, and rounded to the nearest five, there were 10 veterans recorded as having mental health problems and living in Denton and Reddish who were in receipt of a war pension. None are recorded as being in receipt of benefits under the armed forces compensation scheme.
Education
Academies
18. Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education in how many local authorities the majority of secondary schools are academies. [111850]
Michael Gove: The majority of secondary schools are academies in 47 local authorities.
19. Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have converted to academy status in each month of 2012. [111851]
Michael Gove: There are 1,877 academies open in total across England. 414 opened in 2012 thus far, of which:
66 opened in January;
51 in February;
55 in March;
141 in April;
31 in May; and
70 in June.
University Technical Colleges
20. Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent progress his Department has made on the establishment of university technical colleges. [111852]
Mr Hayes: On 29 May 2012, the Government approved 15 new university technical colleges to enter into the pre-opening stage. This means that there are now two open UTCs and 32 preparing to open.
This Government’s commitment to UTCs grows and grows—initially 12, that was then doubled to 24 and now we are set to exceed this.
This is how we provide opportunities for young people to train to become the engineers, scientists and technicians of the future.
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Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people have contacted his Department on official business using the Mrs Blurt e-mail account since May 2010. [106403]
Tim Loughton: The Department does not have any record of this information.
English Baccalaureate
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of changes in the number of pupils taking science, language, history and geography courses following the introduction of the English Baccalaureate. [111855]
Mr Gibb:
Independent research commissioned by the Department for Education published in August 2011
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suggests that the English Baccalaureate is having an immediate impact returning take-up of core subjects to the heights of 10 to 15 years ago: it indicates increases of 8 percentage points in pupils taking history, 7 percentage points in geography, 9 percentage points in languages and a 12 percentage point increase of those taking triple science.
GCSE: Newton Abbott
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of pupils leaving schools in Newton Abbot constituency achieved five GCSE A* to C grades, including mathematics and English in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [110017]
Mr Gibb: The information requested can be found in the following table for pupils attending schools in Newton Abbot constituency, Devon local authority, the south-west and England.
| Pupils(1) at the end of key stage 4 achieving five or more A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent including English and mathematics GCSEs(2,3). Years: 2009/10 to 2010/11. Coverage: England, maintained schools (including academies and CTCs) | ||||
| 2009/10 | 2010/11 | |||
| Number of pupils at the end of KS4 | Percentage gaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C inc English and Maths | Number of pupils at the end of KS4 | Percentage gaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C inc English and Maths | |
| (1) Pupils at the end of key stage 4 in each academic year. Figures do not include pupils recently arrived from overseas. (2) From 2009/10 iGCSEs, accredited at time of publication, have been counted as GCSE equivalents and also as English and mathematics GCSEs. (3) Including attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years. (4) Parliamentary constituency figures are based on the postcode of the school. (5) Local authority and region figures are based on the local authority maintaining the school or in the case of CTCs and academies the local authority in which the school is situated. (6) England figures are the sum of all local authority figures. Source: National Pupil Database (final data) | ||||
Teachers: Training
Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to encourage the best graduates to enter the teaching profession. [111856]
Mr Gibb: We are committed to encouraging the best graduates into teaching. We set out the action we will be taking to attract more of the highest achieving graduates into teaching in ‘Training our next generation of outstanding teachers: Implementation plan’, published in November 2011. This includes offering bursaries of up to £20,000 to top graduates who train to teach shortage subject; Institute of Physics teacher training scholarships, and further expansion of the Teach First programme.
Social Services: Children
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the local government funding settlement for 2011-12 and 2012-13, for what reasons he decided to reduce the Revenue Formula Grant needs assessment for Children's Social Care in aggregate; what equality impact assessments were conducted by his Department on that decision; what other analysis was undertaken by his Department (a) before and (b) after the decision; and if he will make a statement. [111590]
Robert Neill: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Relative spending pressures were considered as part of the 2010 spending review and that assessment informed the control totals for the children's social care service block in formula grant for 2011-12 and 2012-13. Equality impact assessments were published by my Department both for the 2011-12 settlement:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/LGFR EqIA.pdf
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1213/eqiasettles.pdf
Culture, Media and Sport
American Football
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if the Minister for Sport will meet members of the All-Party Group for American Football and representatives of the NFL to help encourage people to take up the sport. [111607]
Hugh Robertson:
Sport England work with governing bodies of sports to raise participation across the board.
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I will be happy to arrange for the All-Party Group for American Football and the NFL to meet with them to discuss opportunities for raising the profile of the sport.
Following the conclusion of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics, I will be happy to consider how I may be of further assistance.
British Sky Broadcasting: News Corporation
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) if he will place in the Library all (a) e-mails and (b) text messages exchanged between himself and Adam Smith relating to the News Corporation bid for BSkyB between 1 June 2010 and 31 July 2011; [112054]
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of any (a) e-mails and (b) text messages between him and Frederic Michel of News Corporation between 1 June 2010 and 31 July 2011. [112135]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: All relevant e-mails and text messages relating to the News Corporation bid for BSkyB were contained in the evidence I submitted to the Leveson inquiry and which I have now placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library all (a) e-mails and (b) text messages exchanged between Adam Smith and (i) Frederic Michel of News Corporation and (ii) any other representatives of News Corporation between 1 June 2010 and 31 July 2011. [112055]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Adam Smith and Frederic Michel submitted evidence to the Leveson inquiry, which included all relevant e-mails and text messages. This evidence is available on the inquiry’s website.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what telephone calls between him and James Murdoch took place on 10 November and 15 November 2010; and if he will place in the Library any records made of such telephone calls. [112056]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: All records of relevant telephone calls to James Murdoch from my mobile phone were contained in the evidence I submitted to the Leveson inquiry and which I have now placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether any guidance or instructions were issued on contact between his Department and opponents of the News Corporation bid for BSkyB; and if he will place any such guidance or instructions in the Library. [112057]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: All of the Department’s legal and policy advice on all aspects of handling News Corporation’s bid for the remaining shares in BSkyB was included in the evidence submitted to the Leveson inquiry, which I have also placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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Broadband
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress has been made on the delivery of superfast broadband to (a) Northamptonshire and (b) England. [112292]
Mr Vaizey: I have now approved 37 local project plans and nine projects are in procurement. A number of these are now almost ready to begin delivery, including in Northamptonshire. The other projects are preparing for procurement with support from BDUK, which is also finalising details for the broadband delivery framework contract.
The first 10 super-connected cities are developing detailed proposals for their projects and we recently published guidance for the 27 further cities that will be eligible to bid for the second round of funding from the Urban Broadband Fund.
Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what the (a) job title and (b) pay band was of each official, excluding special advisers, recruited by his Department since May 2010 who was previously employed in any capacity by the (i) Conservative Party or its elected representatives and (ii) Liberal Democrat Party or its elected representatives; and whether their position was advertised publicly; [107262]
(2) what the (a) job title and (b) pay band was of each official, excluding special advisers, recruited by his Department since May 2010 who previously held an elected position as a member of the (i) Conservative Party and (ii) Liberal Democrat Party; and whether their position was advertised publicly. [107263]
John Penrose: All officials are expected to work and behave professionally, regardless of their political sympathies, as laid out in the Civil Service Code, and to collect any such information would require a search of all HR records which would involve disproportionate costs.
Diamond Jubilee 2012
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with the BBC Trust the standard of the Jubilee Pageant coverage. [111890]
Mr Vaizey: I have no plans to do so. Within the framework of its charter and agreement, the BBC is editorially independent. The Government is committed to the BBC's editorial independence and, on this basis, it would be inappropriate for me to interfere in the BBC's editorial matters.
Digital Technology
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what progress he has made on increasing levels of digital inclusion of those on low incomes; [110931]
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(2) what progress has been made on increasing levels of digital inclusion. [110933]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The Government is committed to making its services Digital by Default and increasing levels of digital inclusion. Government Digital Service in the Cabinet Office is working to develop departmental strategies for delivering online services, a key tenet of this will focus on provision of assisted digital services and increasing levels of digital inclusion, which according to ONS data has significantly improved over the last year.
Go ON UK, created by Martha Lane Fox in her role as Government's Digital Champion, is a new partnership with public, private and third sector organisations to help get more people online. A number of initiatives have been launched to assist those with low incomes such as offering deals to provide refurbished computers and low-cost broadband access.
Euro 2012
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with UEFA regarding England’s participation in Euro 2012. [111280]
Hugh Robertson: I met the president of UEFA during the Champions League Final in Munich last month. However, discussions over England’s participation in Euro 2012 are conducted through the FA. I speak to, and meet, the chairman and other officials regularly.
Football
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps the Government is taking to fulfil the coalition agreement to support the co-operative ownership of football clubs by supporters; and what account has been taken of the FA’s response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s report on football governance in that work. [110945]
Hugh Robertson: Among the positive proposals, the football authorities have outlined in their response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry on football governance is the requirement for clubs to engage with supporters on matters that most concern them. This will be done through the new licensing system and supporter liaison officers among others.
The new licensing system in particular promises to improve the way that clubs manage their financial affairs better going forward, which we believe will encourage more supporter groups to want to invest in the ownership of their local teams.
The Department welcomes this move, and wants to see football implement this as soon as possible for the good of the game.
The Department supported the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s report on football governance, and has asked the committee to review the football authorities’ response before deciding what further action to take.
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Gambling: Internet
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his Department's policy is on the online gaming industry. [111098]
John Penrose: The Government are committed to reforming gambling legislation to ensure that remote gambling is regulated at the point of consumption rather than at the point of supply. Overseas-based remote gambling operators that interact with British consumers will be required to be licensed by the Gambling Commission. This intention was announced to Parliament on 14 July 2011.
We will bring forward proposals for Parliament's consideration as soon as the legislative programme allows.
Local Press
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the contribution of local newspapers to the economy. [111624]
Mr Vaizey: No such assessment has been made. This Department does not collect data on the specific contribution local newspapers make to the economy.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to support local newspapers. [111625]
Mr Vaizey: The Government recognises the fundamental importance of local media. That is why last year the Department removed local cross-media ownership rules. This has made it easier for local media businesses to offer quality local services which also make commercial sense.
The Leveson inquiry will of course be making recommendations as part of its remit that will impact this sector.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in the local newspaper industry. [111626]
Mr Vaizey: No estimate has been made. This Department does not collect employment data for the local newspaper industry.
Low Associates
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has received any representations from Low Associates since May 2010. [111596]
John Penrose: This Department has received no representations from Low Associates since May 2010.
Details of all ministerial and special advisers' meetings with external organisations are published on our website:
www.transparency.culture.gov.uk
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Procurement
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the total (a) number and (b) value of contracts issued by (i) his Department and (ii) bodies for which he is responsible which were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises was in the latest period for which figures are available. [111207]
John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) does not currently record the number of contracts issued to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but we do record the amount spent with them. For the period 2011-12, it was £6.1 million.
DCMS does not hold this information for its executive agencies or arm’s length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write directly to the hon. Member with this information.
A copy of the letters will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what proportion of contracts issued by his Department were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in 2011-12; and what proportion this represented of the monetary value of contracts awarded by his Department in 2011-12. [111924]
John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) does not currently record or collate the information in the way requested. However, DCMS does hold information on an indicative proportion against procurement spend going through small and medium-sized enterprises, which was 26.57% for the requested period.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which regulations his Department repealed between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012; and what the anticipated total savings will be from repealing those regulations. [112498]
John Penrose: No regulations were repealed by the Department during the requested period.
Tourism: Devon
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the number of tourists who visited (a) Devon and (b) Newton Abbot constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [109878]
John Penrose: This Department does not hold the information in the way it has been requested, but information on the number of overseas tourist visits to UK counties, cities and towns can be found on the VisitBritain website:
www.visitbritain.org/insightsandstatistics/inboundvisitorstatistics/regions/towns.aspx
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VisitEngland holds information on the number of domestic tourist trips to counties and local authorities:
www.visitengland.org/insight-statistics/major-tourism-surveys/overnightvisitors/UKTS2010/LA_County_2006_2010.aspx
Tourism: Wind Power
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of wind turbines on the tourism industry. [111588]
John Penrose: This Department has made no such assessment.
Video Games
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what punishment he proposes will be imposed for breaches of the new classification system for video games. [111250]
Mr Vaizey: Details of the penalties are set out in Sections 9-14 of the Video Recordings Act 1984. But essentially, they are imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to £5,000 for supplying a classified work in breach of its age rating and up to two years imprisonment and/or a larger fine for supplying an unclassified and non-exempt work. Additionally, the operators of the Pan European Game Initiative classification, scheme can impose its own penalties for a range of issues, such as a false declaration of the contents of a game. Details on how the scheme will operate, can be found at the website of the Video Standards Council, or by using the link:
http://www.videostandards.org.uk
Home Department
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects a regulatory impact assessment to be published following the publication of the Government's White Paper entitled Putting Victims First: More Effective Responses to Antisocial Behaviour. [111071]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 14 June 2012]: We will publish our assessment of the impact of our reforms to improve the response to antisocial behaviour alongside the draft legislation.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Middlesbrough
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to residents of Middlesbrough local authority. [111015]
James Brokenshire: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) are issued by courts. Data relating to ASBOs are not held below the level of a Criminal Justice System (CJS) area and any order issued by a court in one CJS area may relate to a prohibition in a neighbouring area.
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The latest data available for 2010 show that there were 26 ASBOs issued by all courts in the Cleveland CJS area, which contains Middlesbrough local authority.
Asylum
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider granting temporary immigration status to refused asylum seekers who are unable to return to their home countries. [111346]
Damian Green: Every asylum claim is carefully considered on its individual merits against the UK's obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights. Every applicant whose fundamental human rights would be contravened by returning to their home country is granted appropriate status in the UK. Those who do not qualify are expected to make every effort to return to their country of origin. Where there is a legitimate temporary barrier to return, support is available in cases where the individual would otherwise be destitute until return is possible.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider granting temporary immigration status to refused asylum seekers who are effectively stateless because their country of origin will not accept them and, as a result, they are unable to claim Section 4 support. [111347]
Damian Green: Asylum seekers who do not qualify for status are expected to return to their country of origin unless there is a legitimate temporary barrier to return, in which case support will be provided until return is possible if the individual would otherwise be destitute.
Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent guidance her Department has issued to police authorities on the payment of fees to the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association on behalf of their senior officers; [112247]
(2) what audit procedures her Department has put in place to account for public money paid by police authorities to the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association; [112248]
(3) what funding her Department provided to the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association in 2011-12. [112249]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not provide funding to the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association, nor has it released guidance to police authorities on the matter. It is for individual police authorities to decide how they spend and monitor their budgets, subject to existing secondary legislation and guidance on financial matters.
Contracts
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how annual uplifts to resource budgets have been calculated on each of her Department's contracts with private sector providers in each of the last five years. [110473]
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Damian Green: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Identity Cards: EU Nationals
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions her Department has held with the European Commission on a mandatory electronic ID system for all EU citizens. [110921]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The Government is not aware of any proposals for a mandatory electronic ID system for all EU citizens.
Immigrants: Domestic Violence
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence the UK Border Agency requires to accept a claim for leave to remain as a victim of domestic violence. [111372]
Damian Green: In order for a claim for indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic violence to be considered under part 8 paragraph 289A of the Immigration Rules, the applicant must have been granted entry clearance or leave to remain as a partner in a genuine and subsisting relationship, be in the UK and provide evidence that their relationship was caused to permanently break down before that leave expired as a result of domestic violence.
Evidence to prove domestic violence has taken place can include court orders, criminal convictions, police cautions and formal documentary evidence such as a letter from Chair of a multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC).
Where formal documentation is not available, other types of evidence such as a medical report from a doctor or hospital, police incident report(s), letter(s) from social service departments and written report(s) from a domestic violence support organisation are accepted in support of a claim.
Immigrants: Tuberculosis
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring she plans to put in place to ensure the accuracy of pre-migration tuberculosis screening in high-incidence countries. [111616]
Damian Green: The current pre-migration tuberculosis screening conducted in 15 pilot countries is delivered to World Health Organisation standards by the International Organisation for Migration on the UK's behalf. Moving ahead with the expansion of the UK pre-migration tuberculosis screening programme to other high incidence countries, the intention is to share screening facilities which are already used, approved and quality assured by our international partners, particularly Australia, Canada and the USA.
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The Health Protection Agency and partner nations are assisting in developing a future model of quality assurance that will ensure the operation of consistent standards.
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether tuberculosis treatment will be required of visa applicants from high-incidence countries with latent tuberculosis. [111617]
Damian Green: There are no current plans to screen for latent tuberculosis as part of the immigration process as those with latent tuberculosis are not actively infectious, but the NHS will continue to apply the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines in relation to community health screening for new arrivals in the UK.
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what exemptions will be granted to the recently implemented pre-entry tuberculosis screening for refugees and asylum seekers for whom delayed visa clearance might raise humanitarian and human rights concerns; and how such exemptions will be granted. [111619]
Damian Green: Where people who have been recognised as refugees in a third nation are accepted for resettlement in the UK through the Gateway Programme, all are already screened for tuberculosis by the International Organisation for Migration. It is not possible to apply for asylum in the UK from abroad.
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how recent changes in tuberculosis screening requirements will change visa application processes for asylum seekers already in the UK. [111620]
Damian Green: There are no changes for asylum seekers already in the UK. They are already afforded free health care in the UK, and there are no NHS treatment charges for the screening and testing of patients for tuberculosis.
Immigration Controls
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has to raise the minimum income requirements for immigration sponsors. [111814]
Damian Green: The Home Secretary announced on 11 June 2012 that the Government will set a minimum income threshold of £18,600 for sponsoring a non- EEA spouse or partner to settle in the UK. There will be a higher threshold for each child sponsored: a £22,400 threshold for a partner with one child, with an additional £2,400 for each further child. The new financial requirement will be introduced on 9 July 2012. Full details are in the Statement of Intent, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the change in immigration levels arising from an increase in the minimum income requirements for immigration sponsors. [111815]
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Damian Green: The introduction of the new financial requirement is expected to lead to a reduction in family route visa grants of 13,600 to 17,800 per annum.
A full impact assessment of the changes to the family route will be published shortly.
Immigration: Gurkhas
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to her contribution of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 59, on family migration, whether she plans to make any changes to the rules applying to (a) Gurkha soldiers who have retired and their families and (b) serving Gurkha soldiers; and when she expects to announce the changes proposed to the Part 7 rules. [111950]
Damian Green: The Government recognises the special contribution of the armed forces as set out in the Armed Forces Covenant.
Gurkhas who retired after July 1997, and Commonwealth personnel who have retired from the armed forces, will be able to apply for settlement with their spouses, partners and dependant children under the armed forces rules in place before 9 July this year. However the armed forces rules for all serving personnel and their dependants will be reviewed over the coming months to set out how and to what extent the new rules on family migration apply to them. The intention is to bring forward changes to the Immigration Rules by April next year.
Gurkhas who retired before 1 July 1997 will continue to be able to apply for settlement under the current separate arrangements outside of the Immigration Rules.
Offences Against Children: British Nationals Abroad
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with her European counterparts on establishing joint investigation teams to investigate abuse and exploitation of children overseas. [111018]
Lynne Featherstone: The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) engages routinely with EU counterparts as part of joint investigation teams (JITs) on a number of investigations. CEOP involvement in JITs within Europe is an ongoing operational matter; it would therefore not be appropriate to comment further, as this could undermine operational effectiveness.
Police: Private Sector
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has made an assessment of the value for money provided by private sector contractors to the police. [112045]
Nick Herbert: It is for chief constables and police authorities/elected police and crime commissioners to decide whether to engage the private sector. They are responsible for ensuring that spending decisions represent value for money for communities.
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Road Traffic Offences
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department takes to ensure that all serious road traffic incidents are assessed by accident investigators who are chartered engineers able to determine the causes of the accident. [111097]
Nick Herbert: The official investigation of a road traffic incident is an operational matter for the police, who will decide what investigation is most appropriate in the circumstances of the particular incident. They will need to be satisfied as to likely causes, whether or not related to engineering, in order to decide whether there might be grounds for any criminal prosecution.
Investigation of incidents by others such as insurance companies or law firms on behalf of clients is a matter for their commercial decision.
Serious Organised Crime Agency: Greater Manchester
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Serious Organised Crime Agency recovered in (a) Denton and Reddish constituency and (b) Greater Manchester in the latest period for which figures are available. [111572]
James Brokenshire: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) does not break down asset recovery data by local or constituency areas.
Nationwide asset recovery figures for each year since SOCA’s inception are available in its annual reports on its website at:
http://www.soca.gov.uk
West Midlands Police: Redundancy
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have had with the chief constable of West Midlands police on the number of expected redundancies from (i) frontline, (ii) middle office and (iii) back office staff. [112044]
Nick Herbert: None. Decisions on number of police staff are for individual chief officers and their police authorities/elected police and crime commissioners within the resource available.
Justice
Alternatives to Prison
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent research his Department has undertaken on the use of intensive punitive community disposal for offenders who warrant a significant level of punishment but are better dealt with in the community. [112224]
Mr Blunt:
Sentences consultation proposes to develop an intensive community punishment order (ICPO) for offenders who deserve a significant level of punishment, but who are better dealt with in the community to
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maintain ties with work and family. As set out in the impact assessment, the consultation asks respondents for their views on how the ICPO could work and the MOJ is currently considering the evidence. An assessment will be published when the final proposal is developed.
The impact assessment that MOJ published alongside the consultation can be found on the following webpage:
https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/effective-community-services-1
Alternatives to Prison: Reoffenders
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received on the relationship between intensive alternative to custody pilots and reoffending rates. [111495]
Mr Blunt: The MOJ has previously received several parliamentary questions on the impact of intensive alternative to custody pilots on reoffending rates.
The MOJ is currently conducting an evaluation of the IAC pilots to compare reoffending rates for IAC offenders with reoffending rates for similar offenders receiving custodial sentences of less than 12 months and similar offenders receiving court orders. The results will be published as soon as they are available.
In July 2011, the MOJ published a short report with the main findings from a range of research exploring the learning from the Intensive Alternatives to Custody (IAC) pilot schemes, available at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/research-and-analysis/moj/2011/intensive-alternatives-custody
Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Sentencing
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been sent to prison for breach of an antisocial behaviour injunction in the latest period for which figures are available. [109995]
Mr Blunt: Data collected centrally by the Ministry of Justice and held on the Court Proceedings Database do not permit proceedings for contempt of court arising from breach of an antisocial behaviour injunction to be separately identified from proceedings for contempt of court arising from other circumstances.
Atos
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the total monetary value is of each contract between his Department and Atos; [111178]
(2) when each contract between his Department and Atos was most recently (a) agreed, (b) renewed and (c) extended. [111179]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice has three contracts with ATOS and these are:
| Contract name | Start date (agreed) | End date | Extended date (renewed) | Estimated value (£m) |
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Charities
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to discuss with ministerial colleagues the extension of Freedom of Information legislation to charities that undertake duties assigned by a public authority. [111909]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is subject to post-legislative scrutiny by the Justice Select Committee to see how it is working in practice. The Government's “Open Data Consultation” also sought views on the types of organisations to which an open data policy would apply. A summary of the responses has been published at:
www.data.gov.uk
The Government will consider the recommendations of the Justice Committee, including any in relation to the scope of the FOIA, along with the evidence of the open data consultation, before bringing forward any proposals for future policy on Freedom of Information.
Community Orders
Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what steps he plans to take to encourage compliance of offenders who are placed on intensive community punishment orders; [111954]
(2) what guidance he plans to provide to offender managers in the event that they are given powers to impose financial penalties on persons who breach intensive community punishment orders on avoiding any conflict of interest and ensuring consistency of application; [111955]
(3) what steps he plans to take to ensure that fines handed down by the courts are proportionate and related to the disposable income of the offender. [111956]
Mr Blunt: The Government's consultation paper “Punishment and Reform: Effective Community Sentences” sets out proposals to reform community sentences so that they are tough and credible punishments which are effective in tackling reoffending. The consultation includes proposals to:
create a new intensive community punishment order;
create a fixed penalty-type scheme for dealing with compliance with community orders;
support the effective and proportionate use of fines.
The consultation closes on 22 June 2012. The Government will set out its intentions on these and other proposals in the consultation in due course after that.
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average cost of supervising a person on an intensive community order. [112418]
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Mr Blunt: In respect of the average cost of supervising a person in an intensive community order, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to her on 14 June 2012, Official Report, column 609W.
‘The Punishment and Reform: Effective Community Sentences’ consultation proposes to develop an intensive community punishment order for offenders who deserve a significant level of punishment, but who are better dealt with in the community to maintain ties with work and family. As set out in the impact assessment, the consultation asks respondents for their views on how ICPO could work and MOJ will assess the impacts when the final proposal is developed.
The impact assessment that MOJ published alongside the consultation can be found on the following webpage:
https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/effective-community-services-1
Crown Prosecution Service
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he made of the annual savings which would be achieved by courts in North Yorkshire and York if Crown Prosecution Service and police staff were co-located in York prior to the opening of Athena House in York; and what estimate he has made of such savings by courts in North Yorkshire in each year since Athena House was opened. [111152]
Mr Djanogly: All agencies in the Criminal Justice System are always looking to ensure best value for money and are continually evaluating their processes to secure that. It is not possible to say whether the co-location of the CPS and Police at Athena House in York resulted in savings to Her Majesty's Courts & Tribunals Service and no estimate has been made.
Dangerous Driving
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which sentences given to drivers who (a) injure and (b) kill cyclists as a result of (i) careless and (ii) dangerous driving reflect the effect of such offences on victims and their families; [110873]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sentences given to drivers who (a) injure and (b) kill cyclists as a result of (i) careless and (ii) dangerous driving in deterring offences; [110874]
Mr Blunt: Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent judiciary. Judges and magistrates will consider the seriousness of an offence when deciding on a sentence and in doing so are required to consider the culpability of the offender and the harm caused by the offence. They may also consider a victim's personal statement in assessing the level of harm. No specific assessment has been made of sentencing decisions for driving offences where the victim is a cyclist.
Driving Offences: Insurance
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will estimate the proportion of fraudulent insurance claimants who were convicted of making fraudulent insurance claims in (a) 1997, (b) 2002 and (c) 2011. [111038]
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Mr Blunt: A person who makes a fraudulent insurance claim is likely to be guilty of fraud by false representation under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. Fraud by false representation can be committed in a variety of ways and data collated centrally by the Ministry of Justice do not include all the details of each offence. It is therefore not possible to identify the number of convictions under section 1 which specifically relate to making fraudulent insurance claims.
Legal Aid Scheme
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2012, Official Report, column 86W, on the legal aid scheme, whether additional consideration has been given to engaging in consultation on retention of first-tier tribunals on points of law. [111695]
Mr Djanogly: The Government is still working on the details relating to legal aid for welfare benefits first-tier tribunal cases involving points of law. We currently have no plans to consult.
Mediation
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of family cases have attended Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings in the last 12 months; and what proportion of such cases involved (a) divorcing couples, (b) drug or alcohol misuse, (c) domestic violence and (d) mental health issues. [111157]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice does not collect data on the number of family cases preceded by attendance at a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). However, a pre-application protocol introduced in April 2011 stipulates that, with limited exceptions, prospective parties to private law proceedings relating to children, or proceedings for a financial remedy, should first attend a MIAM. The court may also adjourn proceedings at any stage to allow mediation to be attempted, and that would usually include as a first step attendance at a MIAM.
The Legal Services Commission collects information about the number of MIAMs attended where one or both clients are in receipt of public funding. In the 12 months from April 2011 publicly funded couples attended 31,181 MIAMs—an 18% increase on the previous 12 months. It is not possible to identify what proportion this represents of all family cases. In the same period 19,668 clients who attended publicly funded mediation reached a full or partial agreement on their family dispute.
Data for publicly funded mediation do not include any information on whether clients are divorcing or separating or whether domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse or mental health issues were present. However, clients are not expected to attend a MIAM where there is an allegation of domestic violence against another party and this has resulted in a police investigation or the issuing of civil proceedings for the protection of any party within the last 12 months.
It is also the case that clients are not expected to attend a MIAM if there is a risk to the life, liberty or physical safety of the applicant or his or her family or
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his or her home; or any delay caused by attending a MIAM would cause a risk of significant harm to a child, a significant risk of a miscarriage of justice, unreasonable hardship to the applicant or irretrievable problems in dealing with the dispute.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to regulate private mediators in England and Wales. [111158]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has no plans to regulate privately funded civil or family mediation services in England and Wales.
The training and accreditation of civil and family mediators in general is undertaken through independent member organisations to which most mediators will hold membership. These organisations are in turn generally affiliated to the Civil Mediation Council (CMC) or Family Mediation Council (FMC) which have a role in relation to monitoring and improving standards. Each operates a Code of Practice with which mediators are expected to comply.
The Family Justice Review recommended that the Government should closely watch and review the progress of the FMC to assess its effectiveness in maintaining and reinforcing high standards. The FMC should, if necessary, be replaced by an independent regulator. In November 2011 the FMC commissioned Professor John McEldowney to review its role and effectiveness in protecting the public interest in the carrying out of family mediation. The Government will consider carefully any recommendations made by Professor McEldowney and the response of the FMC to these.
Offenders: Isle of Wight
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the name is of each of the 10 offenders with the most recorded convictions (a) with at least one offence on the Isle of Wight and (b) with all offences committed on the Island. [111227]
Mr Blunt: We are unable to give the name of each of the 10 offenders with the most recorded convictions although the Ministry of Justice holds the details of convicted offenders on the MOJ Police National Computer according to the publication guidance.
The MOJ'S guidance on ‘Publicising sentencing outcomes’ makes clear that the decision to publicise the personal details of convicted offenders is one for local areas to make according to local interest in a particular case or cases. This guidance is available on the MOJ website:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/courts/sentencing-outcomes/publishing-sentencing-outcomes-guidance.pdf
Pay
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) highest, (b) median, (c) median full-time equivalent and (d) lowest full-time equivalent salary was paid by (i) his Department and (ii) its associated public bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13. [111028]
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Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice and its agencies employ a range of staff across a number of pay grades and locations each of which affect the level of salary. The information requested is as follows:
Ministry of Justice (excluding National Offender Management Service)
(a) 2010-11
Median salary (FTE): £19,550
Lowest salary (FTE): £13,894
Highest salary (FTE): £183,710.
(b) 2011-12
Median salary (FTE): £19,404
Lowest salary (FTE): £13,894
Highest salary (FTE): £183,710.
(c) 2012-13
Ministry of Justice pay levels for 2012-13 have yet to be set with any increases not implemented until August 2012 so FTE salary information cannot be provided.
National Offender Management Service
(a) 2010-11
Median salary (FTE): £24.203
Lowest salary (FTE): £12,894
Highest salary (FTE): £150,000.
(b) 2011-12
Median salary (FTE): £25,621
Lowest salary (FTE): £12,894
Highest salary (FTE): £150,000.
(c) 2012-13
Median salary (FTE): £25,915
Lowest salary (FTE): £12.894
Highest salary (FTE): £150.000.
It should be noted that the salary information for the National Offender Management Service provided does not include pay awards which are effective from April 2012 as these are yet to be finalised.
While the Ministry of Justice sponsors a number of non-departmental public bodies each of these has responsibility for determining its own pay arrangements and the requested information is not held centrally.
Prisoners: Repatriation
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) with which foreign national governments Ministers in his Department have had discussions on the extension and negotiation of prisoner transfer agreements; [112127]
(2) with which EU member states he has discussed the implementation of the EU framework decision on the transfer of prisoners. [112130]
Mr Blunt: Ministerial colleagues and I are in regular contact with our overseas counterparts to discuss the extension, negotiation and implementation of prisoner transfer agreements, including those under EU legislation. However, we generally do not disclose which countries we have had such discussions with in the interests of our diplomatic relations.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign national prisoners were voluntarily repatriated in each of the last five years. [112131]
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Mr Blunt: Since 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011 a total of 297 foreign national prisoners and three British national prisoners have been voluntarily repatriated from England and Wales to other jurisdictions to continue serving their sentences there. The number of foreign national prisoners repatriated in each of the last five years is as follows:
| Number | |
The repatriation of prisoners from Scotland and from Northern Ireland is a matter for the relevant devolved Administration.
The above figures are drawn from the National Offender Management Service's Transfer Database and as with any recording system is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Prisons: Finance
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department’s expenditure was in prisons in each of the last five years; and how much he expects to spend in each year to 2015. [111644]
Mr Blunt: The following table shows the total direct and overall resource outturn prison expenditure for the last five financial years from 2007-08 to 2011-12. The outturn expenditure figures are published as an addendum to the NOMS annual accounts.
| Prison expenditure | |||
| £ million | |||
| Direct establishment | Overall | ||
| (1) Provisional subject to audit. (2) Not yet available. | |||
The overall expenditure is based on the direct establishment expenditure (i.e. expenditure incurred and managed at local level) plus relevant expenditure met by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and managed at regional or national level. The following expenditure is excluded: impairment of fixed assets; immigration removal centres and expenditure incurred on setting up new prisons. Expenditure that is recharged to the Youth Justice Board is also included.
The figures may not be directly comparable over time due to changes in scope and accounting treatment. Figures for 2009-10 have been restated to exclude cost of capital, which was included in the 2009-10 accounts (and for earlier years) but is no longer included in expenditure from 2010-11 onwards.
The prison establishments’ resource budget allocation for private and public prisons in England and Wales at the start of April 2012 was £2,185 million. This is the
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nearest equivalent to the direct establishment expenditure figures given above, but they are not directly comparable; for example, items such as building maintenance and learning skills services are not fully included during the initial budget allocation process.
Allocated budgets may be subject to amendment during the financial year.
Financial year 2013-14 and 2014-15
It is not possible to provide figures for 2013-14 and 2014-15 at this time as NOMS has not set budgets for the remaining years of the comprehensive spending review period. Budgets for financial year 2013-14 onwards will be set as part of NOMS regular annual budget allocation process. Allocations will be made on the basis of need and according to organisational priorities.
Prisons: Food
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent per prisoner on food in each of the last five years. [111645]
Mr Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not hold information on the cost of each prisoner meal and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
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Public sector prisons do not set an individual meal allowance for prisoners. The responsibility for determining prisoner food budgets lies with the governor who will set aside a realistic sum that will meet the dietary needs of their prisoner population. Meal requirements vary between establishments and are based on the prisoner population, local regimes and seasonal availability. The average daily cost(1) for food (including beverages) per prisoner per day in public sector prisons was £2.20 for the financial year ending 2010.
(1) The data have been calculated using available management information from the NOMS finance systems and assumes that all transactions have been allocated and recorded against the correct accounting codes.
It is however possible to estimate what the average daily cost per prisoner meal would be.
Prisons provide breakfast, lunch and dinner together with all condiments and beverages. The estimated average food cost per meal per prisoner is based on the understanding that breakfast, lunch and dinner account for approximately 20%, 40% and 40% of the daily food expenditure. But these percentages will vary from one establishment to another and are for illustrative purposes only. See Table 1 following which represents the latest available data.
| Table 1 | |||||
| Per prisoner per meal (for illustration only) | |||||
| Year ending 31 March | Estimated total(1) (£ million) | Breakfast (£) | Lunch (£) | Dinner (£) | Estimated average daily food expenditure per prisoner(1) (£) |
| (1) The data has been calculated using available management information from the NOMS finance systems and assumes that all transactions have been allocated and recorded against the correct accounting codes. | |||||
Probate: Winchester
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 360W, on probate: Winchester, which probate caller offices in the UK have fewer than 50 personal applicants per day; [112511]
(2) what the unit cost is of an applicant for a grant of representation attending an appointment with a member of staff of the Probate Service; and what the average number of interviews is which can be carried out per day. [112618]
Mr Djanogly: The caller offices of the Probate Service in England and Wales are opened on an ad hoc basis when there is a full list of appointments to justify the opening. The standard list of appointments is between 50 and 60 for the days the offices are opened. However, where journey times for staff are lengthy and/or if the caller office is not available for a full day, some offices have full lists with fewer applications. Bolton, Oldham. Warrington, Wigan, Burnley and Swansea will list around 40; and Northampton 45.
The unit cost of an applicant attending an appointment with a member of staff of the Probate Service is not available and could be calculated only at disproportionate cost. The cost would be different for each caller office throughout England and Wales due to the different costs of among other things, staff, travel and accommodation.
The average number of appointments which can be carried out per day is location dependent and is between 45 and 50.
Recruitment
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 489W, on recruitment, to what extent his Department and its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies used name-blank CVs or the blind sift function on the Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system to recruit staff in the last year. [110958]
Mr Kenneth Clarke:
The Ministry of Justice and its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies has not adopted the full Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system. Although all vacancies are advertised on this system, the actual candidate applications are still processed through the Ministry's own e-recruitment system. Within the Ministry, some executive agencies
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choose to “blind” sift applications while the remainder, including the MOJ and non-departmental public bodies, retain the details of the candidates.
Reoffenders: Birmingham
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders sentenced for serious crimes had committed previous offences in (a) Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency and (b) South Birmingham in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [110880]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice does not hold the detailed information to identify offenders who were sentenced for serious crimes had committed previous offences in (a) Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency and (b) South Birmingham.
The MOJ publishes information on sentences statistics and criminal history of offenders in Criminal Justice Statistics report. The most recent report was published on 24 May 2012. The full report can be found on the MOJ website:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/criminal-justice-stats/criminal-justice-stats-dec-2011.pdf
Seized Articles
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what proportion of offenders on the probation caseload possess assets that could be seized under the proposals contained in his Department's document, Punishment and Reform: Effective Community Sentences; [112414]
(2) which assets he expects to be seized as part of his proposed stand-alone punishment order. [112415]
Mr Blunt: Our consultation paper “Punishment and Reform: Effective Community Sentences” seeks views on the potential for a new stand-alone power for courts to confiscate assets as a punishment. The consultation closes on 22 June 2012. The Government will in due course set out its intentions on this proposal, including the offenders to which it might apply and which assets might be seized, as part of its response to the consultation.
Sentencing
Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) prisoners there are in England; how many IPP prisoners are waiting to be admitted onto courses that are mandatory for them to complete before their release can be considered by the parole board; and how many places are available on those courses. [112180]
Mr Blunt: As at 31 March 2012, there were 6,017 prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP).
It is not mandatory that prisoners serving an IPP or any other indeterminate sentence complete specific courses or programmes before they can be considered suitable for release by the independent Parole Board.
The Parole Board's assessment of a prisoner's suitability for release is based upon areas of risk, rather than whether or not specific offending behaviour programmes (OBP) have been completed. A prisoner may address
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his or her risk in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, participation in group-based intervention programmes. Certain offenders will not actually be suitable for such programmes. In the event that a place on a given OBP, where specified in a prisoners sentence plan, is not immediately available in the time leading up to the prisoner's next parole review, due to a lack of places or difficulties in arranging a transfer to an appropriate establishment, the Parole Board will look for other indicators that a prisoner's risks have been reduced. Such indicators might include addressing the area of risk by completing an alternative OBP, engaging with one to one work, education and training, non-accredited courses, work, specialist support and resettlement or demonstrating a sustained period of stable behaviour.
It should be remembered that it is the prisoner’s responsibility to demonstrate to the Parole Board that it is no longer necessary, on the grounds of public protection, for him to be detained in custody, once he has completed his tariff (that is, the minimum period of custody set by the Court for the purposes of punishment and deterrence).
Victim Support Schemes
Mr Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment he has made of the potential costs of devolving the commissioning of victims' services and of its potential effect on (a) quality of service for victims and witnesses and (b) value for money; [111775]
(2) if he will give consideration to ring-fencing the funding for victims' services devolved to police and crime commissioners to ensure that service is maintained to those most in need; [111776]
(3) if he will take steps to ensure that police and crime commissioners do not redirect funding previously allocated to services for victims and witnesses to other priorities; [111777]
(4) if he will take steps to ensure that his Department's plans to devolve commissioning of victims' services to police and crime commissioners do not result in reduced resources being provided for such services; [111802]
(5) what steps he plans to take to ensure that his proposals for devolving responsibility for commissioning victim and witness services to police and crime commissioners will preserve the flexibility and resilience needed to respond to national emergencies; [111803]
(6) what account his Department has taken of the views of (a) victims and witnesses, (b) Victims' Support and (c) other victims' organisations in developing its proposals for local commissioning of services for victims and witnesses; [111804]
(7) what plans he has to ensure that all victims of crime have access to counselling and practical help when needed; [111805]
(8) what steps he plans to take to ensure minimum national quality standards for victims' services following the proposed introduction of local commissioning of such services; [111806]
(9) what assessment he has made of whether victims of crime in different parts of the country will receive different levels and quality of service following the introduction of local commissioning of victims' services; [111807]
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(10) what improvements to services for victims and witnesses and in their satisfaction rating he expects to achieve through the local commissioning of such services; [111808]
(11) what steps he plans to take, following the proposed introduction of local commissioning of victims' services, to ensure that people who find it hardest to access support when they have been a victim of crime will receive the support they need; [111816]
Mr Blunt: In the consultation document "Getting it right for Victims and Witnesses", we set out our proposals for the future commissioning of support services for victims including the proposal that police and crime commissioners take on local commissioning responsibilities. It was also proposed that support should be targeted at those who have been victims of serious crime, those who have been persistently targeted and those who are most vulnerable. The consultation also set out proposals to raise up to an additional £50 million annually from offenders, to be used for support services for victims and witnesses, in addition to the considerable sums already made available by Government for that purpose.
Our proposals for local commissioning took account of input from organisations which support or represent victims and witnesses.
Members of the public and other interested parties were encouraged to respond to the consultation, which began in January, and people had the opportunity to participate in a number of consultation events around the country. We expect our proposals to deliver positive outcomes for victims and provide value for money for the taxpayer.
The consultation closed on 22 April and we are considering the many points made by respondents. We intend to publish the Government response to the consultation soon. In doing so, we shall take careful account of issues raised with us such as ring-fencing, quality standards and access to services.
Communities and Local Government
Atos
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the total monetary value is of each contract between his Department and Atos; [111199]
(2) when each contract between his Department and Atos was most recently (a) agreed, (b) renewed and (c) extended. [111200]
Robert Neill: There has been no expenditure or contractual arrangements under this Administration.
Building Regulations: Electrical Safety
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the compliance rate with part P is for practitioners carrying out electrical work; and if he will make a statement. [112138]
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Andrew Stunell: Information on compliance rates is not held by the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
As an indicator of compliance, we do know that around 40,000 practitioners have been assessed as competent to carry out domestic electrical installation work and are registered with a competent person scheme; and that they carry out and self-certify around 1.25 million jobs annually.
Council Tax Benefits
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with local authorities on planned changes to the administration of council tax benefits. [112620]
Robert Neill: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from the local government sector to discuss a range of matters.
Empty Property: Birmingham
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the amount of office space in empty government buildings in (a) Birmingham, Ladywood constituency and (b) the Birmingham city council area. [106943]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
Using information from e-PIMS, the central Government database of land and buildings, there is currently 9,369m(2) of available vacant space in 12 buildings occupied by central Government Departments and their agencies in the Birmingham city council area. In addition, there is 3,442m(2) of vacant space in three buildings that is ‘under offer’ to prospective tenants.
Under National Property Controls introduced in June 2010, central Government has exited over 20,000m(2) of space in Birmingham city council area as part of initiatives to reduce the size and cost of the central Government estate.
Within Birmingham Ladywood constituency, there is currently 6,298m(2) of available vacant space in eight buildings occupied by central Government Departments and their agencies. In addition, there is 1,965m(2) of vacant space in one building that is ‘under offer’ to prospective tenants.
Under the National Property Controls introduced in June 2010, central Government has exited almost 12,300m(2) of space within the Birmingham Ladywood constituency as part of initiatives to reduce the size and cost of the central Government estate.
AH vacant space is being actively marketed to all prospective tenants through both the e-PIMS database and the activities of the Government Property Unit's regional team. Details of vacant space are also published on data.gov.uk on a quarterly basis.