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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Northern Ireland

Foreign Investment in UK

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what meetings she has had with foreign direct investors in Northern Ireland since her appointment. [174624]

Mrs Villiers: I take every opportunity to promote Northern Ireland as a place to do business and grow business whenever I meet potential investors.

On 10 October, I hosted a dinner at Hillsborough Castle and made a speech to around 120 delegates from a number of G8 countries who were attending the Northern Ireland Investment Conference to discuss investment opportunities in Northern Ireland.

On 7 November, the Northern Ireland Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Investment and I both spoke to a number of ambassadors and senior diplomats from 16 targeted countries and regions at a Northern Ireland Investment Seminar at Lancaster House that focused on increasing investment and trade opportunities.

Human Trafficking

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of measures in place to tackle human trafficking and modern day slavery in Northern Ireland. [174622]

Mrs Villiers: This is an issue of great concern and one on which all parts of the United Kingdom need to work closely together along with the authorities in Dublin and other European capitals. The Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking (the IDMG), chaired by the Security Minister, provides strategic leadership in the UK's response to this issue and each of the devolved administrations, including the Northern Ireland Executive, are represented on the IDMG, ensuring that there is an effective, co-ordinated response across the UK.

Important responsibilities relating to countering human trafficking are devolved. I am advised that, through the Organised Crime Task Force and the Engagement Group on Human Trafficking, the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice has put arrangements in place to ensure an effective multi-agency, partnership approach to tackling human trafficking within Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill is due to complete its Committee Stage on 12 November. The Bill defines human trafficking and slavery offences, and also contains measures to prevent and combat human trafficking and slavery in Northern Ireland as well as providing assistance and support for victims.

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Missing Persons

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland on disappeared persons; and what steps she is taking to locate their remains. [174779]

Mrs Villiers: I have regular meetings with the Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland on a range of issues. The British and Irish Governments continue to fund and support the work of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains. I would reiterate their recent call for new information to assist in locating the remains of those who have not yet been recovered.

Northern Ireland Government

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what written submissions she has made to the all-party group chaired by Dr Richard Haass; and if she will publish those submissions. [174621]

Mrs Villiers: I have made no submissions to the all-party group.

Telephone Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0845, (b) 0844 and (c) 0843 her Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how many calls each number has received in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at the BT local rate are available in each case. [175003]

Mrs Villiers: My Department operates one telephone line with the prefix 0844 for the purpose of updating staff in the event of an emergency situation. Details of the number of calls to this line are not recorded and no alternative number is available at the BT local rate. My Department does not operate or sponsor any telephone lines with the prefix 0845 or 0843.

Victims

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which victims' groups she has met since her appointment. [174623]

Mrs Villiers: I have met a number of victims’ groups and their representatives, both formally and informally, since my appointment. Scheduled meetings have included:

La Mon survivors;

South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF);

Omagh Support and Self Help Group (OSSHG);

Foundation4Peace at the Warrington Centre;

WAVE;

Ballymurphy Families;

Amnesty International;

Derg Valley Victims Voice (DVW);

Families of the Disappeared.

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Egypt

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Egyptian Government regarding the need for a fair trial for former President Mohammed Morsi. [174948]

Hugh Robertson: We are concerned by the high number of arrests and charges brought against members of political parties in Egypt. In a statement on 1 August 2013, after speaking to the Egyptian Vice President, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said

“I also called for the release of all political detainees, including Dr Morsi, unless there are criminal charges to be made against them, and emphasised that it is vital that any charges are not politically motivated.”

We continue to press for the release of detainees, and call for the respect of their human rights.

The trial is a matter for the Egyptian courts but it is important that due process is observed. We are following developments closely.

Iran

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with other Security Council members on Iran's reported contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747. [174883]

Hugh Robertson: The United Kingdom is an active member of the UN 1737 Committee, which is tasked with implementing UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) regarding Iran, including UNSCR 1747. The Committee examines reports of alleged violations of the UN sanctions regime and issues regular 90-day reports to the UN Security Council on sanctions implementation—including incidents of potential violations. Ministers regularly discuss Iran sanctions with their international counterparts.

Middle East

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the governments of Yemen and Saudi Arabia on child executions in those countries. [174922]

Hugh Robertson: The Government oppose the use of the death penalty against people of all ages. In Yemen, where prosecutions are currently based on confessions and witness statements, the UK is supporting transition to collection and analysis of evidence by organising and funding training in basic forensics and crime scene investigations. In September 2013 the UK co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council Resolution on Yemen. We regularly lobby the Government of Yemen on human rights issues bilaterally and with our EU partners.

Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) publicly condemned the execution of Rizana Nafeek in Saudi Arabia in January 2013. He, the then Secretary of

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State for Justice, the Minister without Portfolio, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), and my right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Warsi raised the death penalty separately with the Saudi Justice Minister when he visited last year and called for the cessation of public beheading. The UK pressed the Saudi Government to implement measures designed to prevent the application of the death penalty for children during Saudi Arabia's recent Universal Periodic Review.

Palestinians

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on how many Palestinians receiving United Nations Relief and Works Agency aid are surviving refugees from 1948. [174632]

Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for International Development.

The registration of refugees falls under the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. DFID does not hold this information.

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Palestinians who were born and live in the West Bank and Gaza are considered by his Department to be refugees. [174634]

Hugh Robertson: Under the operational definition used by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Palestine refugees are people whose normal place of residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948, and who lost both their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, and their dependents. The descendants of Palestine refugee males are also eligible for registration. Some of those eligible were born and/or live in Gaza and the west bank. UNRWA's mandate has been regularly considered and renewed by the UN General Assembly.

Palestine refugees are not necessarily refugees as defined by the 1951 UN refugee convention. Those Palestinians receiving UNRWA assistance or protection are ineligible for refugee status under the convention, pursuant to article 1D of the convention. Those Palestinians who have not been assisted or protected by UNRWA must establish, if seeking asylum, that they meet the definition of a refugee in article 1A of the convention.

Russia

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Russian Government in respect of members of Greenpeace held by the authorities in Russia. [175250]

Mr Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 November 2013, Official Report, column 366W.

Syria

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what next steps were agreed with Syria's neighbours following the London 11 meeting in October. [174884]

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Hugh Robertson: The London 11 countries—which include Syria's neighbours, Turkey and Jordan, as well as other regional actors—agreed on 22 October to throw their full and collective weight behind the UN-led Geneva II process to deliver a political transition in Syria to end the crisis. The communiqué set out a number of next steps, including agreement to urge the Syrian National Coalition to commit fully to the Geneva II process and to provide them, as well as the United Nations and its Special Envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, the intensive political and practical support needed to give the Geneva II process the best chance of success.

Telephone Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0845, (b) 0844 and (c) 0843 his Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how many calls each number has received in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at the BT local rate are available in each case. [174998]

Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its agencies do not have any 0845, 0844 or 0843 telephone numbers in use for the public. On 22 February 2013 the FCO discontinued the consular travel advice helpline which was handled by a contracted company and was a national rate 0845 number.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) business and (b) tourist visas were issued by the British Embassy in Sana'a, Yemen, in each year since 2005. [173943]

Mr Harper: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.

We do not record whether visit visa applicants are ‘tourists’—the visit category covers a number of other routes, including to visit friends or distant family members. The following table shows the statistics for business visa and visit visa applications issued in Sana'a, Yemen from 2005. The visa section in Sana'a was closed in October 2010, so these statistics only cover the period up to that date.

Prime Minister

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Mr Llwyd: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to Sir John Chilcot's letter of 4 November 2013 to him, published on the Iraq Inquiry website (1) if he will disclose to the Iraq Inquiry the 25 notes from the right hon. Tony Blair to President Bush, referred to in that letter; and if he will make a statement; [175254]

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(2) on which date the Iraq Inquiry requested the Cabinet Secretary to disclose records of conversations between the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown) and President Bush in the period leading to the conflict in Iraq; [175255]

(3) if he will disclose to the Iraq Inquiry records of conversations between (a) the right hon. Tony Blair and President Bush and (b) the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and President Bush referred to in that letter; [175256]

(4) if he will disclose to the Iraq Inquiry the material relating to some 200 Cabinet-level discussions referred to in that letter; [175257]

(5) on which date the Iraq Inquiry requested the Cabinet Secretary to disclose records of conversations between the right hon. Tony Blair and President Bush in the period leading to the conflict in Iraq. [175258]

The Prime Minister: The Inquiry Committee has had full access to all documents relevant to its work, including records of Cabinet level discussions and notes and records of discussions between Mr Blair, the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown), and President Bush.

Justice

Crime: West Midlands

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the overall number of crime levels for the West Mercia Police Force was in each of the last five years. [172039]

Damian Green: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.

The table shows the total number of offences recorded by the West Mercia police force for each year from 2008-09 to 2012-13. These numbers exclude fraud, to allow for a consistent comparison between years.

Domestic Violence

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents of domestic violence were reported to the police in each year since 2010; and how many of these incidents resulted in (a) referral to the Crown Prosecution Service, (b) a prosecution and (c) a conviction in each such year. [175281]

The Solicitor-General: I have been asked to reply.

It is not possible to identify domestic violence cases from the recorded crime figures returned to the Home Office by police forces as these figures are based on

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counts of crime under the appropriate offence classification (e.g. GBH, ABH) and there are no details on the offender-victim relationship.

The records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) identify the number of suspects referred to it for a charging decision, the number of defendants prosecuted and the outcome of the prosecution, in cases identified and flagged as domestic violence. The CPS does not collect data showing the number of incidents of domestic violence reported to the police.

The CPS defines domestic violence as any threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between those who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. Family members include mother, father, son, daughter, sister and grandparents, whether directly related, in laws or step family.

The number of suspects referred to the CPS, for a charging decision since January 2010, for allegations of domestic violence was as follows:

In the same period, the numbers of defendants prosecuted by the CPS, and convicted of offences involving domestic violence, was as follows:

European Supervision Orders

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment she has made of the benefits to the UK of the European Supervision Order; and if she will make a statement. [173116]

Mr Vara: On 9 July 2013 the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) announced to Parliament that the Government intended to exercise the UK's opt-out under the Lisbon treaty and seek to rejoin a package of 35 police and criminal justice measures which are in the UK's national interest. Following debates and votes in both Houses of Parliament the Prime Minister wrote to the President of the Council of Ministers on 24 July 2013 to provide formal notification that the Government has decided to exercise its right, provided for by Article 10(4) of Protocol 36 to the Treaties, to opt out of all pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures.

The Government have committed to providing Parliament with an Impact Assessment on the final list of measures that the UK will apply to rejoin. This will be done in good time ahead of the second vote on this matter and contain all relevant information.

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Immigration: Appeals

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many decisions subject to an appeal to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the First-tier tribunal have been withdrawn by the Home Department within five days of the appeal date in each of the last five years. [174694]

Mr Vara: The First-tier Tribunal—Immigration and Asylum Chamber (IAC), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against the Home Office relating to a range of immigration, asylum. and nationality decisions.

HMCTS does not collate centrally the information requested on appeals withdrawn by the Home Office. While data are held on withdrawal numbers, published here,

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics

it is not broken down on the basis of which party withdrew the appeal. To collate the information would mean the examination of each of those electronic records, which would be at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Education

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding his Department has allocated for (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 on each of the contracts to deliver education services in prisons in England and Wales. [175179]

Matthew Hancock: I am replying as Minister responsible for prison education in England.

I have asked the interim chief executive of Skills Funding to write to the hon. Member with details of funding allocated to prison education contracts in England, and I will place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.

In Wales, education in the public sector prisons is delivered through funding from the Welsh Government.

Prisons: Health Services

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) when each of the contracts between his Department and the organisations that provide healthcare provision in prisons in England and Wales was signed; [175180]

(2) which organisations provide healthcare provision to each prison in England and Wales; [175181]

(3) when each of the contracts between his Department and providers of healthcare provision in prisons in England and Wales terminate; [175182]

(4) how much his Department spent in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 on each of the contracts to deliver healthcare provision in prisons in England and Wales. [175183]

Norman Lamb: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Health.

Since 1 April 2013, NHS England has commissioned health care in all publically-run prisons in England. Commissioning is discharged by NHS England through a national structure, comprising four regional and 27 area teams (ATs). 10 ATs are designated to

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undertake health care commissioning across the entire public prison estate in England. Health care in any individual prison may be provided by several contractors, including national health service, private and voluntary sector organisations but this information is not collected centrally by NHS England.

We are informed by NHS England that data are not collected centrally on starting and end dates of provider contracts. NHS England collects data on central funding allocations made to the 10 ATs which commission prison health care, but not on health care spending in individual prisons, which is determined locally. Data on NHS England's central funding allocations made to the 10 ATs in 2013-14 have been placed in the Library.

As of July 2013, the following 12 prisons in England were contractually managed by the private sector, with health care services commissioned directly either by the private operator or by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) through NHS or private sector providers: Altcourse; Ashfield; Birmingham; Bronzefield; Doncaster; Dovegate; Forest Bank; Lowdham Grange; Oakwood; Peterborough; Rye Hill; and, Thameside. Information about these prisons is not collected by the Department.

Prior to 1 April 2013, the Department allocated funding to primary care trusts (PCTs) with prisons in their catchment areas to commission primary health care, mental health and substance misuse services in prisons. Data on spending allocations by the Department to PCTs and on PCT allocations made to individual prisons in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 were collected by the Department and have been placed in the Library.

Data in respect of Welsh prisons are collected by the Welsh Government.

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with police and crime commissioners about funding for rape support centres; and if he will make a statement. [175233]

Damian Green: The Ministry of Justice's consultation and response papers ‘Getting it right for victims and witnesses' outlined the Government's intention on the future commissioning of victim services, including extending the existing coalition commitment to provide sustainable funding for rape support centres via a national fund. The previous Victims Minister, wrote to PCCs on 29 May 2013 as part of our engagement, outlining the intention for the rape support arrangements beyond 2013-14.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners were informed when we launched our new £4 million per annum Rape Support Fund recently. The fund will commence in April 2014, when the previous fund ends, for two years with the option to extend for a further year. This is a joint commissioning process with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime who are offering an additional £1.26 million per annum which is ring-fenced to fund services across London's four quadrant areas. This does not preclude PCCs providing additional support from the core funding they will receive in 2014-15 for the commissioning of local victims services.

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Recruitment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many new staff his Department has employed under (a) fixed-term contracts and (b) short-term contracts since May 2010. [174464]

Mr Vara: Fixed-term and short fixed-term appointments, which include interns and apprentices, are made in accordance with the rules set out in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code. These appointments enable the Ministry of Justice to respond flexibly to changes in demand for its services. In particular, HM Courts and Tribunals Service has used short-term appointments of less than 12 months during periods of restructuring and business change.

The numbers of fixed-term and short-term staff contracts awarded in each year by the Ministry of Justice since May 2010 are set out in the following table. It is not possible to identify whether any of the contracts are for the same members of staff.

Sunningdale Park

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how often his Department has used Sunningdale Park for Civil Service events since May 2010; what the nature of each such event was; and what the cost of each such event was. [174405]

Mr Vara: Until the end of March 2012, Sunningdale Park was part of the civil service college, later the national school of Government. Information on how often the Ministry of Justice has used Sunningdale Park for civil service events between May 2010 and March 2012 is not available centrally. It would require a Ministry- wide exercise to collect the information. This would incur disproportionate costs.

Support for Victims of Crime

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what support his Department provides to victims of crime. [901044]

Damian Green: We currently provide around £50 million of funding for services supporting victims of crime. In future, more money than ever before will be available for victims' services, with a potential budget of up to £100 million. Services will be commissioned locally, by police and crime commissioners, though there will remain some services which will be commissioned nationally.

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Home Department

Animal Experiments: Scotland

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2012 were in the (a) mild, (b) moderate, (c) substantial and (d) unclassified severity banding. [170626]

James Brokenshire: Of the project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2012, 42% were in the mild, 56% moderate, 1% substantial. The remaining 1% were not allocated to any of these bands.

Antisocial Behaviour

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate she has made of the number of injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance that will be issued to (a) under 18s and (b) adults in the first 12 months following their introduction; and if she will make a statement; [174377]

(2) what assessment she has made of the potential change in the length of time from application to issue arising from abolishing anti-social behaviour orders that are issued by magistrates' courts and moving to injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance that will be issued by county courts; and if she will make a statement; [174379]

(3) what estimate she has made of the cost to (a) local authorities and (b) police forces of bringing contempt of court proceedings against persons in breach of injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyances; and if she will make a statement. [174381]

Norman Baker [holding answer 8 November 2013]: It will be for frontline professionals to decide when use of the new Injunction to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance (IPNA) is appropriate. However, our impact assessment, published alongside the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill in May, assumes that there will be a 5% increase in the number of injunctions in the first year, compared to the orders it will replace.

We also assumed in that document that approximately 30% of injunctions would be issued to under 18s, based on the current proportion of anti-social behaviour orders issued to those in that age group.

Our published impact assessment assumes that breach proceedings for the IPNA will be similar to the process for the anti-social behaviour injunction. As such, the unit cost of a breach hearing is estimated to be approximately £600 for someone aged over 18 and £700 for someone aged under 18.

We have assumed that this cost will be the same whether the applicant is a local authority or a police force.

The lower test and lower civil standard of proof for the new injunction, compared to the anti-social behaviour order on application, means that it will be faster and easier for the police, councils and other frontline professionals to use it.

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Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many breaches of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have resulted in a custodial sentence in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the likely change in the number of custodial sentences caused by the abolition of ASBOs and the introduction of injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance. [174380]

Norman Baker [holding answer 8 November 2013]: The total number of occasions on which offenders received an immediate custodial sentence for breaching their antisocial behaviour order in 2010, 2011 and 2012 (latest currently available) is shown in the table. Antisocial behaviour orders can be breached more than once and in more than one year. This table counts all the occasions on which courts imposed sentences of immediate custody for breach of an antisocial behaviour order.

The breach rate of 58% for antisocial behaviour orders shows that enforcement alone is not effective at stopping antisocial behaviour. Importantly, the new injunction will give the court powers to include positive requirements to address the underlying issues that may be driving an individual's behaviour. That notwithstanding, the injunction will have serious penalties on breach—including imprisonment for adults and, as a last resort, for under-18s.

Arrest Warrants

Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many European Arrest Warrants the UK has (a) issued and (b) received in each year from 2004 to 2011. [173875]

Mr Harper [holding answer 5 November 2013]:I have been informed by the National Crime Agency (NCA) that the number of European Arrest Warrants (EAW) that they received and issued in each year from 2004 to 2011 was:

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Asylum

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2013, Official Report, column 642W, on asylum, what the total number of complaints made against the Commercial and Operational Managers Procuring Asylum Support Service project was. [174811]

Mr Harper [holding answer 11 November 2013]: The total number of complaints made against the Commercial and Operational Managers Procuring Asylum Support Service project in the period January 2013 to June 2013 was 309.

Asylum: Females

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications for asylum were made by women fleeing sexual violence or genital mutilation from each country of origin in each year since 2005; and how many such applications (a) have been granted, (b) have been rejected, (c) were withdrawn and (d) remain unconcluded; [174337]

(2) what guidance is given to UK Border Agency staff on the treatment of women seeking asylum on the grounds that they are fleeing sexual violence or genital mutilation. [174339]

Mr Harper: Statistics are recorded and published on the number of applications for asylum and they are

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disaggregated by gender. However information on the basis of claim for asylum is not routinely recorded, and the information requested could only be obtained through a manual search of individual case files. To do this would incur disproportionate cost.

All asylum case workers received dedicated and mandatory training on gender issues and have specific guidance on managing gender related asylum claims. This includes guidance on considering claims with regards to persecution which is gender-specific or predominantly gender-specific, including sexual violence and genital mutilation. Each claim is considered on its own merits in the light of country of origin information and guidance.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female asylum seekers have been deported back to countries where female genital mutilation is (a) legal or (b) illegal but widely practised in each year since 2005. [174338]

Mr Harper: The list of 29 countries across Africa and the middle east where female genital mutilation (FGM) is prevalent is taken from the UNICEF report found at:

http://www.childinfo.org/files/FGCM_Lo_res.pdf

24 of those countries have enacted decrees or legislated against FGM but the law is often not enforced. It is believed that FGM is practised all over the world including western countries that have migrant communities.

The number of women returned to countries where FGM is known to be prevalent is shown in the following table.

The UNICEF paper ‘Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting’ provides a statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change, and draws on “... 70 nationally representative surveys over a 20-year period” and presents the most comprehensive compilation to date of statistics and analyses on FGM/C. The report identifies 29 countries in Africa and the middle east where FGM/C is most prevalent.

The table lists the 29 countries referred to above, prevalence and where legislation/decrees have been put in place to prevent FGM/C and numbers of removals per year.

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26 countries in Africa and the middle east have prohibited FGM/C by law or constitutional decree. Two of them—South Africa and Zambia—are not among the 29 countries where the practice is concentrated. With the exception of Guinea and the Central African Republic, where bans on FGM/C were instituted, in the mid-1960s, the process of enacting legislation or revising the criminal code to outlaw the practice only began to take hold in Africa quite recently. Legislation prohibiting FGM/C has also been adopted in 33 countries on other continents, mostly to protect children with origins in practising countries.

Borders: Personal Records

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date she expects the e-Borders programme to fulfil its original objective of covering all international travellers using all UK ports. [159974]

Mr Harper: The Government remain committed to e-borders, which is currently covering around two-thirds of passenger movements. The UK has one of the most comprehensive passenger data systems currently operating in Europe. The Government are working closely with passenger operators, ports and international partners to provide for more comprehensive coverage, with a view to introducing exit checks by 2015.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been taken forward as a result of the work of Child Exploitation and Online Protection in each of the last three financial years. [174096]

Damian Green [holding answer 5 November 2013]:The above information is not held centrally.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command housed within the National Crime Agency receives and develops intelligence which is then disseminated to police forces for intervention locally. The decision to progress a particular intelligence package and ultimately to recommend prosecution of an individual rests with the police force concerned.

Civil Disorder

Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of claims made by businesses in relation to the August 2011 riots under the Riots (Damages) Act 1886 is; how many such claims have been settled; how many such claims have been rejected; how many such claims remain outstanding; what total sum has been paid to businesses under the Act in relation to the August 2011 riots; and what the total amount claimed by businesses to date is. [175088]

Damian Green [holding answer 11 November 2013]:The Home Office does not hold comprehensive details of the claims made under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 in relation to the August 2011 riots. Under the 1886 Act, all claims for compensation are made directly to the relevant police authority (from November 2012, police and crime commissioner or in London to the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime).

Community Orders

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 October 2013, Official Report, column 476, on community orders, what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to increase the number of victims of crime who have their views taken into consideration by the police or Crown Prosecution Service; and if she will make a statement. [174259]

Norman Baker: Under the new Victims’ Code, published on 29 October 2013, where an out of court disposal (including a community resolution) is being considered by the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or youth offending team, victims are entitled, where practicable, to be asked for their views and to have these views taken into account when a decision is made. Victims are entitled to be notified of the reasons following a CPS or a police decision not to prosecute. Under the new code, victims are also entitled to information about how they can access further information about a CPS decision and how they can seek a review of a CPS decision if they are dissatisfied with it as part of the CPS “Victims’ Right to Review”.

As announced by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the right hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), on 29 October 2013, Official Report, columns 44-45WS, the Government intend shortly to carry out a review of all out of court disposals. This review will include community resolutions and consider the role that victims’ views play in the process.

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Council of Europe Convention On Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2013, Official Report, columns 509-10W, on the Istanbul Convention, what timetable her Department has put in place to ensure that all articles of the Convention are fully met before ratification. [174382]

Norman Baker [holding answer 11 November 2013]: The criminalisation of forced marriage is a vital component of the UK's compliance with the articles of the Istanbul Convention. The Coalition Government have brought forward provisions in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise forced marriage and the timetable for ratification of the Convention is subject to our receiving Royal Assent for the Bill.

Crimes of Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will launch a call to end violence against men and boys strategy. [174195]

Norman Baker: The coalition Government takes the issue of male victims of domestic violence and abuse seriously. We have always been clear in our definition that domestic violence and abuse is gender neutral, and that while the majority of incidents of domestic violence and abuse are against women and girls, men and boys can also suffer accordingly. That is why the actions set out in the Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan apply to both men and women.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to protect men from domestic and sexual violence. [174199]

Norman Baker: The Government's Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan also includes actions to protect men from domestic and sexual violence, such as funding the men's advice line and Broken Rainbow helplines. We are committed to supporting this vital service for male victims. In addition, we will be reviewing reports from projects funded by the Males Victims Fund to identify lessons that can be shared more widely.

Deportation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how her Department checks the accreditation process for detainee custody officers who work as overseas escorts during the enforced removal of foreign nationals from the UK. [174608]

Mr Harper: Detainee Custody Officers who are employed as overseas escorts are accredited by Home Office Immigration Enforcement in accordance with Detention Services Order 4/2011 which is available at:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/detention-services-orders/

—Detainee custody officer certification

12 Nov 2013 : Column 542W

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has introduced realistic scenario-based training replicating situations and safe restraint techniques for use on board aircraft for overseas escorts undertaking enforced removals of foreign nationals from the UK; and if she will make a statement. [174609]

Mr Harper: Following a review of current restraint techniques we have asked the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) to design a bespoke Home Office training package for escorts. The new training package will have a focus on specific scenarios replicating key stages in the removals process, most importantly aircraft. In January 2013 an Independent Advisory Panel on Non-Compliance Management were appointed to provide support in the development of this package as well as providing independent advice on the quality and safety of systems of restraint and equipment proposed by NOMS.

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many removal directions served on immigration detainees have been cancelled and reset in each of the last five years. [174610]

Mr Harper [holding answer 8 November 2013]: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men have been victims of domestic homicide in each police force area in each of the last five years. [174194]

Norman Baker: The available information relates to crimes recorded by the police on the Homicide Index in England and Wales.

The ONS publication “Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences”, available at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/focus-on-violent-crime/stb-focus-on--violent-crime-and-sexual-offences-2011-12.html

provides figures on the number of homicides where the victim’s relationship to the principal suspect was partner or ex-partner in England and Wales. Information by police force area and where the victim was male is given in the following table.

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EU Justice and Home Affairs

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which EU member states have informed the Council and the European Commission that they have implemented the obligations laid down in Council Decision 2008/615/JHA; and which of those member states have indicated that they will apply that Decision immediately in their relations with other member states that have given the same indication; and what her assessment is of when (a) other EU member

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states and

(b)

the UK will inform the Council and the European Commission that they have implemented the obligations of that Decision. [172090]

James Brokenshire: The Commission published a report on the implementation of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA of 23 June 2008 on the stepping up of cross-border co-operation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime (the ‘Prüm Decision') in December 2012. This report includes details of steps taken by other EU member states to implement the obligations laid down by the Prüm Decisions.

A full text version of the report is available online at:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0732:FIN:EN:PDF

The UK Government have been clear that they cannot fully implement all the requirements of the Prüm Decisions before 1 December 2014. As the UK has indicated that the Prüm Decision is not one of the 35 measures which we will seek to rejoin in the national interest, it is important to note that on 1 December 2014 there would be no risk that the UK will be subject to infraction proceedings by the European Commission as a result.

Firearms: Crime

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will set a date to meet the police forces to discuss the expansion of data collection on the use of (a) illegally held and (b) legally held firearms in crimes committed in Britain. [175290]

Damian Green: The Home Office is currently considering whether the current data collection should be expanded and will discuss with the police at the appropriate point.

Illegal Immigrants

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal migrants to the UK were found entering the country on freight in each year since 2010. [168097]

Mr Harper: The breakdown of information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigrants: Detainees

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish the number and locations of individuals held in prison solely for immigration purposes as part of the quarterly immigration statistics. [175068]

Mr Harper [holding answer 11 November 2013]: Currently we do not publish data relating to the number and locations of individuals held in prison solely for immigration purposes. However, the quarterly immigration statistics are kept under review, taking into account the needs of users and burdens on suppliers and producers in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of people detained in the United Kingdom for immigration purposes, within Immigration Statistics. The data on people in detention

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are readily available in the latest release, “Immigration Statistics: April to June 2013”, from the gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Published figures on people detained in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers include those held in short term holding facilities, pre departure accommodation and immigration removal centres. Figures exclude those held in police cells, Prison Service establishments, short term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours) and those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants.

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2013, Official Report, column 116W, on migrants: detainees, how many individuals held in prisons solely for immigration purposes had been held for (i) less than six months, (ii) between six and 12 months, (iii) between one and two years and (iv) longer than two years; and if she will provide a breakdown of the prisons in which individuals held solely for immigration purposes were held. [175110]

Mr Harper [holding answer 11 November 2013]: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration Controls

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will implement a same-day checking service for employers. [174682]

Mr Harper [holding answer 8 November 2013]: There are no current plans to reduce the response time for the employer checking service to a same day service.

Our current service standard is five working days and we often exceed this. Currently our year to date response rate is 3.69 days.

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private flights arriving in the UK are not checked on arrival by UK Border Force staff. [175020]

Mr Harper [holding answer 11 November 2013]: Border Force risk assess 100% of flights notified to us and seek to deploy to all high priority flights. Between April and August this year Border Force met 98% of high priority flights. We do not hold data on how many arriving private flights were not notified to us.

Members: Correspondence

Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to correspondence from the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire of 1 July, 16 September and 9 October 2013 on the EgyptAir flight that landed on 15 June 2013 and the five Syrian passengers it contained who were seeking asylum. [175138]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the hon. Member on 11 November 2013.

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Police and Crime Commissioners

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the powers and responsibilities of Police and Crime Panels are. [174646]

Damian Green [holding answer 8 November 2013]:Police and crime panels (PCPs) perform a scrutiny function, providing both support and challenge to police and crime commissioners (PCCs) on the exercise of their functions. The powers and responsibilities of PCPs are set out in sections 28 to 30 and 32 to 33 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, and there is further relevant provision in schedules 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 to the Act. These give PCPs the power to:

scrutinise all decisions or actions of the PCC;

require the PCC to provide information and answer questions;

make reports and recommendations on the police and crime plan and annual report, of which the PCC must take account and respond;

hold public meetings to discuss the annual report and to question the PCC on its contents;

carry out confirmation hearings when a PCC proposes to appoint a new deputy PCC, a chief executive or a chief finance officer;

work to resolve non-criminal complaints made about the PCC;

ask Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary for a professional view when the PCC intends to dismiss a chief constable;

publish all reports and recommendations that it makes;

suspend the relevant PCC if he/she is charged with an imprisonable offence which carries a maximum term of two years or more;

appoint an acting PCC if the elected one cannot carry out their role eg for health reasons, or following suspension, resignation or disqualification.

PCPs also have the power to veto (with a two-thirds majority) the PCC's proposed policing precept (the element of council tax that is raised for policing) and the appointment of a chief constable.

Police: Information

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she has issued on police information notices and circumstances in which they are appropriate. [175118]

Damian Green [holding answer 11 November 2013]:The use of harassment warnings, also known as police information notices (PINs), is an operational matter for the police. Guidance on investigating stalking and harassment, including using PINs, was issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Policing Improvement Agency in 2009.

Police: Lancashire

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the 2013 Spending Review, what the change in allocated funding for Lancashire Police Authority has been in 2013-14; and what assessment she has made of the effect of that change on the effectiveness of policing in Preston constituency. [174946]

Damian Green: The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s spending round announcement on 26 June concerned

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decisions on Government funding for the financial year 2015-16 only. It therefore had no impact on 2013-14 police budgets.

Central Government funding for the Lancashire police and crime commissioner in 2013-14 was set out in the Home Office Police Grant Report 2013-14, laid on 4 February 2013 and accompanying written ministerial statement, 4 February 2013, Official Report, columns 3-6WS.

In 2013-14, core funding to the Lancashire police and crime commissioner from the Home Office is £198 million.

As a result of spending round 2013, the Home Office has committed to resource savings of 6.1 % in 2015-16. However, central Government revenue funding to the police has been prioritised, and will reduce by 4.9% in real terms in 2015-16.

Provisional funding allocations for 2014-15 will be laid in Parliament later in the year as part of the annual police funding settlement process.

Police: Northern Ireland

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-PSNI officers have been deployed in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and from which constabulary each such officer was deployed. [174780]

Damian Green: The deployment of officers by police forces in England and Wales is an operational matter for those forces, under mutual aid arrangements.

The Home Office does not routinely collect this information for England and Wales. Figures for Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government.

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Garda Siochana have been seconded to work in police forces in Great Britain in each year since 2010. [174781]

Damian Green: The Home Office does not hold this information for England and Wales. Figures for Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government.

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers have been seconded to work in police forces in Great Britain since 2010. [174782]

Damian Green: The Home Office does not hold this information for England and Wales. Figures for Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government.

Police: Sussex

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police information notices have been issued by Sussex Police in each of the last three years; [175065]

(2) how many people have been issued with a police information notices by Sussex Police in each of the last three years which led to a subsequent charge of harassment. [175119]

Damian Green [holding answer 11 November 2013]: The information requested is not recorded centrally.

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Police: Wales

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what criteria her Department used to assess the request made by South Wales Police in 2012 for National, International and Capital City funding; [175177]

(2) for what reasons the Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice declined the request made by South Wales police in 2012 for National, International and Capital City funding and other additional funding to recognise the challenges of policing Cardiff as a capital city; [175184]

(3) when the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice last discussed funding for (a) South Wales police and (b) the policing of Cardiff with the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner. [175205]

Damian Green: In February 2012, the Chief Constable of South Wales police submitted a formal request for additional funding based on the fact that they police the capital city of Wales. The former Policing Minister concluded that Cardiff did not face the same challenges and responsibilities as those that come with policing London.

The reasons to support this were as follows:

Although Cardiff is a busy city with a large number of visitors, events, sporting fixtures and protests, these factors are not unique to Cardiff. Many other cities such as Manchester and Birmingham have higher numbers of visitors, similar sized sports venues and see regular protests on a range of issues.

The National and International Capital City Grant (NICC) reflects the additional burdens placed on the metropolitan police. These include the seat of Government, a permanent Royal presence and significant numbers of events that require policing including a multitude of international conferences such as the G20.

The application referenced the fact that the Lothian and Borders force receives an additional payment for policing Edinburgh. The Home Secretary does not have responsibility for policing in Scotland and therefore this is a matter for the Scottish Government.

The application also referred to the challenges that South Wales faces in relation to the Olympics and counter-terrorism. South Wales were provided with additional funding for the Olympics and they also receive funds for counter-terrorism policing.

I last discussed funding for South Wales police on a visit to Wales in January 2013.

Safety Belts

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces permit persons found guilty of an offence under section 14(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to attend a driving safety course paid for by the offender that includes instruction on the benefits of wearing seat belts in lieu of a fine; and if she will make a statement. [174532]

Damian Green: The police do not give offenders a fine as these can only be given by a court after a person has been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt. 19 police forces now offer the “Your Belt—Your Life” seat belt educational course within the national driver offender retraining scheme (NDORS) that covers poor driving behaviours or attitudes. Details of courses offered outside the scheme are not held centrally. It is a matter for the police as to who provides a course and for police to decide if they wish to participate in the scheme.

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Vetting

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) standard and (b) enhanced disclosure Criminal Records Bureau checks have been applied for in each of the last five years. [173931]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 5 November 2013]:The following table contains the number of applications for standard and enhanced disclosure checks for each of the last five years.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bovine Tuberculosis

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has for the allocation of the £32 million EU fund for bovine tuberculosis eradication; and if he will make a statement. [175143]

George Eustice: The EU lays down rules for its financial contribution for animal disease eradication programmes including details of eligible expenses and the maximum contributions payable.

Commission Implementing Decision 2012/761/EU enables lump sum contributions for domestic animals sampled, tuberculin tests, gamma-interferon tests, bacteriological tests and a contribution to the costs of compensation payable to owners for slaughtered animals, for approved bovine tuberculosis eradication programmes in 2013.

The Decision enables the UK to receive a maximum financial contribution of EUR 31,800,000 for its bovine tuberculosis eradication programme in 2013. Following claim in 2014, any reimbursement received will be used to offset the devolved costs of bovine tuberculosis sampling, testing and compensation already incurred by DEFRA, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the licence conditions for using cage traps on badgers for the pilot culls are monitored in severe weather; and whether such cage trappings are suspended due to the risk of exposing badgers to extreme weather. [175288]

George Eustice: Requirements for cage trapping are set out in best practice guidance, which is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69544/pb13715-badger-shooting-cage-trapping.pdf

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Natural England carry out monitoring to ensure that the culls are being conducted in accordance with the Best Practice Guidance: Monitoring activity levels are not weather dependent.

In the winter, the closed season for cage trapping (which starts at the beginning of December) aims to protect trapped badgers from poor weather conditions.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether cage trapping for badgers in the two pilot areas was suspended due to severe weather on 27 and 28 October 2013. [175289]

George Eustice: Cage trapping was not formally suspended for any periods during the pilot culls. It is for the cull companies to decide how they deploy cage trapping during the cull, provided it is carried out in accordance with best practice Guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69544/pb13715-badger-shooting-cage-trapping.pdf

and in accordance with the conditions of their licence.