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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 8 April 2014

Culture, Media and Sport

Communication

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 719W, on public expenditure, what the sources are of the funding for communications. [195305]

Mr Vaizey: Pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 719W, on public expenditure, the communications budget is solely Exchequer funded.

Consultants

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department has spent on consultancies in each year since 2010-11. [195219]

Mrs Grant: DCMS has spent the following amounts on consultancy services since 2010-11:

Figures for 2013-14 are still being finalised as final accounts are now being drawn up.

The increase over the three years is primarily the result of spend on the London 2012 Olympics and the Department's broadband programme.

Culture: Exports

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps she has taken to increase UK cultural exports; and if she will make a statement. [194402]

Mr Vaizey: With support from colleagues across Government, I am leading the GREAT Britain campaign, which showcases the very best of what Britain has to offer in order to encourage the world to visit, study and do business with the UK. The campaign aims to deliver significant and long-term increases in trade, tourism, education and inward investment in support of HMG's prosperity and growth agenda. Cultural exports are at the heart of that agenda. I am working to ensure we share the best of British culture with the world, and enable audiences here to experience the best of contemporary culture from around the world. In the last six months I have visited the United States, Russia and China to bang the drum for British culture, and signed agreements with my counterparts in China and the Republic of Korea which support cultural exports to those important and growing markets. Through the Creative Industries Council, I am working closely with UK business to further strengthen cultural exports.

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Football

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will make a decision on the need for Government intervention in football governance. [194798]

Mrs Grant: I continue to work closely with the football authorities to press for improvements in their governance of the sport; they have made welcome progress, and I expect them to maintain this momentum. We will move to intervene further only if football fails to demonstrate that they can reform their own governance of the game.

Football: Homophobia

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to tackle homophobia in football; and if she will make a statement. [194382]

Mrs Grant: DCMS and the FA take matters of discrimination very seriously. Following the 2012 Downing Street summit on racism in football, the FA is now delivering against a whole sport Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Plan called “Football's for Everyone” to widen football's talent pool, clarify antidiscrimination regulations and sanctions, instil confidence in reporting discrimination and increase understanding of equality and inclusion in football. I welcome this commitment, and their engagement with specific initiatives, such as “Football vs Homophobia”: any form of racism, anti-Semitism or homophobia is completely unacceptable.

Gambling Commission

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people the Gambling Commission has employed in each year since 2010; and how many people the Gambling Commission plans to employ in 2014-15. [R] [194656]

Mrs Grant: The tables show the average number of people the Gambling Commission has employed in each year from 2010-11 until it merged with the National Lottery Commission on 1 October 2013, and the average number of people employed by the merged organisation in each period thereafter.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Gambling Commission has paid in salaries for each of the last three years; and how much it plans to spend in 2013-14 and 2014-15. [R] [194666]

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Mrs Grant: The tables show the amount paid in salaries by the Gambling Commission for each year from 2010-11, until it merged with the National Lottery Commission on 1 October 2013. The table also shows the projected amount paid in salaries for the merged organisation in each period thereafter.

National Lottery

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much in grant or lottery money has been given to (a) the Churches Conservation Trust, (b) Channel 4 Television Corporation, (c) Historic Royal Palaces, (d) Chatham Historic Dockyard, (e) the Design Museum, (f) Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College, (g) the National Film and Television School, (h) the People's History Museum and (i) the Royal Household in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14. [195164]

Mrs Grant: DCMS did not provide grant funding to Channel 4 Television Corporation or the Historic Royal Palaces between 2010-11 and 2013-14.

Figures for grant funding provided by the Department to the following bodies are as follows:

Details of all Lottery grants awarded since Lottery funding began can be found on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) Lottery Grants Database, which is searchable at:

http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk/AdvancedSearch.aspx

and uses information on Lottery grants supplied by the Lottery distributors.

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Telecommunications

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the actual and forecast profile of spend by her Department on the (a) Broadband Delivery Programme, (b) Mobile Infrastructure Project, (c) Spectrum Clearance and Awards Programme and (d) Urban Broadband Fund (Super-connected City Initiative) was or will be in each year between 2010-11 and 2020-21. [195218]

Mr Vaizey: The budgets for these DCMS programmes are subject to regular re-profiling. The forecasts and actual spends for them are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-major-projects-portfolio-data-for-dcms-2013

Attorney-General

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) barristers, (b) solicitors and (c) witness care staff were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service at the end of (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2009-10. [194711]

The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table:

Notwithstanding the staff reductions, conviction rates have remained broadly unchanged since 2009-10.

Witness attendance remains constant over the last two financial years (to February 2014).

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Crown Prosecution Service was required to pay in wasted cost orders in 2013-14. [194727]

The Solicitor-General: The CPS maintains records of the overall value of costs payments made but does not distinguish between the various types of costs order available. To ascertain the types and value of individual costs awards made over the last five years would require a review of each case and this would incur disproportionate cost.

The CPS central financial records indicate that the Department was required to pay £772,129.54 in costs awards in 2013-14. It should be noted that the accounts for 2013-14 are not finalised and this figure will be subject to audit and adjustment. Finalised figures will be available at the end of May 2014.

The value of total costs payments made in 2013-14, £772,000, represents about 0.13% of overall CPS expenditure.

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Domestic Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the (a) positive and (b) negative effects of serving a witness summons on a complainant in a court case involving alleged domestic violence. [194675]

The Solicitor-General: I have made no formal appraisal, but Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance to prosecutors sets out the circumstances in which witness summonses can best be used in such cases. This guidance is published on the CPS website at:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/domestic_violence_aide-memoire/#a25

Witness summonses can be effective in ensuring complainants attend court when they would not otherwise do so. They can also support victims who are concerned about how a voluntary decision to attend court might be perceived by “removing” the pressure of making that decision for them. Where a victim attends as a result of a witness summons, there is often a guilty plea.

However, it is also possible that a witness will still not attend, or may come to court but refuse to give evidence.

Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of judicial directions to prosecutors in criminal cases were (a) carried out on time, (b) carried out late and (c) not carried out in 2013-14. [194728]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service intends to publish the number of, and compliance with, judicial directions in prosecution proceedings heard at the Crown court for 2013-14 when they are available.

Judicial directions to prosecutors are monitored by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on an individual case basis and there is no central record maintained at present. The information requested in respect of SFO cases could therefore be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Cabinet Office

Big Lottery Fund

Mr Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many members of the Board of the Big Lottery Fund have their main residence north of the city of Birmingham. [195132]

Mr Hurd: There are currently nine members of the UK Board of the Big Lottery Fund, two of whom have their main residences north of Birmingham. Of the remainder, three live in London and the others are based in other parts of the UK.

The Big Lottery Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need, across the United Kingdom.

Heart Diseases

Andrew Percy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) men and (b) women in (i) Brigg and Goole constituency, (ii) Yorkshire and Humber and (iii) the UK have died from coronary heart disease in each of the last five years. [195273]

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Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated April 2014:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) men and (b) women in (i) Brigg and Goole constituency, (ii) Yorkshire and Humber and (iii) the UK have died from coronary heart disease in each of the last five years. [195273]

Table 1 shows the number of deaths where ischaemic heart disease was the underlying cause of death for (a) Brigg and Goole parliamentary constituency, (b) Yorkshire and The Humber region, (c) the United Kingdom in each year from 2008 to 2012 (the latest year available).

Self-employed: Brigg

Andrew Percy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Brigg and Goole constituency are registered self-employed. [195274]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated April 2014:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Brigg and Goole constituency are registered self-employed. (195274)

The ONS compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.

There were 5,000 people who were self employed and resident in Brigg and Goole constituency, according to APS survey responses in the period January to December 2013, the latest available period.

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As with any sample survey estimates from the APS are subject to a level of uncertainty. This estimate has been deemed as acceptable for statistical purposes.

National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Ukraine

16. Dr Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Ukraine. [903591]

Mr Hague: We are gravely concerned about the situation in Crimea and in the east of Ukraine, where armed groups have seized Government buildings in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lugansk. There can be no justification for this action, which bears all the hallmarks of a Russian strategy to destabilise Ukraine. Russia should be clear that a deliberate and further escalation of the crisis will bring serious political and economic consequences.

19. Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for free and fair elections in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement. [903595]

Mr Lidington: The Prime Minister said:

“We need international support for free elections, which should enable Ukrainians to choose their leaders fairly.”

We welcome the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights mission to Ukraine that will be providing advice and training to the authorities and monitoring the May elections. It is vital that required standards are met.

Jammu and Kashmir

17. Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the political and economic situation in Jammu and Kashmir on the families of British people resident in that territory. [903592]

Mr Swire: We welcome the meeting between the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India in September. We encourage both sides to continue to maintain dialogue that will help strengthen the political and economic development of the region. However, we recognise that the scope and pace of this is for both sides to determine.

Malaysia

18. Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met ministers of the Government of Malaysia; and what issues were discussed at that meeting. [903593]

Mr Swire: We maintain frequent ministerial contact with the Government of Malaysia. The Prime Minister most recently spoke with Prime Minister Najib on 18 March. The Prime Ministers also met in October 2013. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member

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for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met Foreign Minister Anifah in July 2013 and I visited Malaysia in June 2013 meeting several Ministers. In our contacts, we discuss a wide variety of issues, not least our growing economic relationship and regional security.

European Union Powers: Repatriation

20. Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on repatriation of powers from the EU. [903596]

Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I regularly speak to our ministerial colleagues in the UK as well as to our European counterparts about a range of EU issues, including the Government's EU reform priorities as set out in the Prime Minister’s speech in January last year.

Burundi

21. John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political and human rights situation in Burundi; and what representations he has made to the Government of that country on that matter. [903597]

Mr Hague: We are deeply concerned by recent events in Bujumbura and increased violence by the youth wings of political parties. The limitations on political space pose a significant challenge for next year's elections. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds), is currently in Burundi discussing these issues with the Burundian Government. Reconciliation and free and fair elections are key to Burundi's future.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of torture of prisoners detained in Bahrain. [194723]

Hugh Robertson: The British Government consistently and unreservedly condemn torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and it is a priority for us to combat it wherever and whenever it occurs. The UK continues to work closely with the Government of Bahrain to share best practice on torture prevention measures and provide forensic training to increase investigative techniques and reduce reliance on confessions to contribute towards preventing torture.

Gulf Co-operation Council

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the recent Gulf Co-operation Council Security Agreement; and if he will make a statement. [194775]

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Hugh Robertson: I have not discussed the recent Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Security Agreement with my international counterparts although I discuss other issues with the Gulf Co-operation Council regularly. The British Government share the Gulf States' commitment to ensuring security and stability in the GCC and will continue to cooperate closely with our Gulf allies to help enhance their ability to respond to threats in line with international standards.

India

Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on Kashmir of the forthcoming Indian general election. [195123]

Mr Swire: It would not be appropriate to speculate on the result of the Indian general election. India's elections are the largest in the world and represent one of the brightest beacons for democracy in the modern age. We await the decision of India's voters with respect and interest.

Iran

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme. [195228]

Hugh Robertson: E3+3 negotiations with Iran on a comprehensive agreement, which began in February, have so far been constructive and substantive, covering a range of issues, including enrichment, the Arak reactor, civil nuclear co-operation and sanctions relief. The Iranian negotiators have repeatedly stressed their commitment to reaching an agreement before the end of July. We, however, have no illusions about the challenge ahead in reaching an agreement which addresses our proliferation concerns.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Iranian counterpart on strengthening UK-Iran diplomatic ties. [195234]

Hugh Robertson: We are ready to improve relations with Iran for the benefit of both countries on a step-by -step and reciprocal basis. The appointment of non-resident Chargés d'Affaires was an important step in this process and allows us to have direct discussions on a range of issues of importance. The UK and Iran agreed that as of 20 February we would no longer have formal Protecting Power arrangements in place. This is a sign of increasing confidence that we can conduct bilateral business directly between capitals, rather than through intermediaries. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last discussed bilateral relations with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on 21 January.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on lifting existing trade sanctions with Iran in the near future. [195235]

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Hugh Robertson: As set out in the Geneva interim deal, Iran is currently receiving limited sanctions relief for six months. This involves suspension of sanctions on petrochemicals, and some precious metals. The E3+3 is now negotiating with Iran on a comprehensive agreement that would see the full lifting of sanctions, including on trade, providing Iran takes the necessary steps to ensure its nuclear programme is for entirely peaceful purposes. The UK Government is not encouraging trade with Iran. Economic pressure is crucial in maintaining Iran's incentive to reach a comprehensive agreement.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the recent seizure of a cache of long-range rockets from an Iranian shipment in the Red Sea; and if he will make a statement. [903589]

Hugh Robertson: The transfer of such weaponry undermines regional security. We have called on the UN 1737 Committee's Panel of Experts to investigate. Should their findings point to Iran being responsible, it would be a breach of UNSCR 1737 and a worrying sign of Iran's ongoing support for militant groups throughout the region.

Iraq

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on accepting end-use certificates from the Kurdistan Regional Government in respect of military and dual-use goods being exported from the UK to Kurdistan; and if he will make a statement. [194817]

Hugh Robertson: The Government follows the requirements set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546 when granting licenses for the export of military and dual-use goods from the UK to Iraq, including to the Kurdistan region.

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on which EU member states have accepted end-use certificates from the Kurdistan Regional Government in respect of military and dual-use goods being exported from their respective countries to Kurdistan. [194818]

Hugh Robertson: We do not hold any information on which EU member states accept end-user certificates from the Kurdistan Regional Government, or any other countries of final destination, in respect of military and dual-use goods.

The British Government follow the requirements set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546 when granting licenses for the export of military and dual-use goods from the UK to Iraq, including to the Kurdistan region.

North Korea

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the situation of Christians in North Korea. [903576]

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Mr Swire: The UN Commission of Inquiry report on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) confirmed ongoing persecution of Christians, alongside other appalling human rights violations. The UK played an important role in ensuring a strong UN Human Rights Council resolution on this issue. We continue to work with partners to maintain international pressure on the DPRK.

Palestinians

Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK's policy is on the intention of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation to seek official recognition from UN bodies; and if he will make a statement. [195175]

Hugh Robertson: We would ultimately like to see a Palestinian state represented throughout all the organs of the United Nations. At this stage, we continue to believe that negotiations are the only route to ending the occupation once and for all. We urge all parties to focus on achieving that goal.

Poland

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Polish Government on the return of property stolen during World War Two to UK families and heirs of Holocaust victims. [194718]

Mr Lidington: The issue of property restitution was last raised with the Polish Government in January 2014 during a visit to Poland by Sir Andrew Burns, Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust issues to Rajapaksa the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The Government attach great importance to supporting the families tragically affected by the Holocaust, including on the issue of property restitution. Sir Andrew Burns will continue to fulfil his mandate to raise concerns such as compensation and redress with Governments in countries including Poland, at every opportunity. We remain hopeful that the Polish Government will revive legislation and we will continue to encourage them to do so, including through our embassy in Warsaw.

Roads: Safety

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent promoting road safety in other countries in each of the last three years. [194658]

Mr Lidington: The promotion of road safety abroad has been covered in recent years as part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's ‘Know Before You Go' travel safety campaign.

As part of this we have undertaken a range of activities to deliver messaging on road safety and vehicular security to UK nationals travelling and living overseas. This includes a global campaign in 2012, the creation of two widely-used radio fillers, a short video on driving safely in Europe and targeted local initiatives undertaken in Portugal and France. Our records have identified costs associated with this activity of around £28,300 over the last three years.

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Sri Lanka

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether any Minister of his Department is scheduled to meet President Rajapaksa at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games; [195118]

(2) when the hon. Member for East Devon next plans to meet representatives of President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka's (a) Government and (b) political party. [195129]

Mr Hague: The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), has no current plans to meet representatives of Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa's Government or political party.

St Petersburg International Economic Forum

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2014, Official Report, column 433W on St Petersburg International Economic Forum, when he expects to take a decision about Government representation at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. [195209]

Mr Lidington: We do not expect any UK Ministers to attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum this year.

Venezuela

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's latest assessment is of the political and security situation in Venezuela. [195124]

Mr Hague: I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Venezuela and condemn all acts of violence. It is important that the Venezuelan Government respect the right to protest peacefully, and ensure that public security and due process is afforded in investigations.

I welcome the visits of the commission of Foreign Ministers from the Union of South American Nations, who have met with President Maduro, opposition leaders and civil society representatives. I am aware, from my visit to the region in February, that Governments in the region are keen to support broad and constructive dialogue.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), has called for all sides to take steps to avoid confrontation, and has written to the Venezuelan Government to stress the need for dialogue to take place and offered the UK's assistance in the reconciliation process. We are monitoring the situation closely, and keeping travel advice for British nationals under review.

Justice

Fines: Surcharges

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the proportion of offences where the victim surcharge is ordered and there is no victim. [194381]

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Mr Vara: The Ministry of Justice does not collate the information in the manner requested, and it is not possible to identify the amount of victim surcharge collected in relation to offences where there was no victim.

The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not the specific circumstances of each case. This centrally held information does not include details of the amount of victim surcharge imposed for the majority of cases. Below is a link to our most recent quarterly bulletin.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/282983/1-executive-summary-tables.xls

Offensive Weapons

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people aged (a) under 18 years old and (b) 18 years and over (i) were prosecuted and (ii) received a custodial sentence for the offence of threatening with article with blade or point or offensive weapon in each year since the offence's inception; [194379]

(2) how many people aged 18 years and over convicted of the offence of threatening with article with blade or point or offensive weapon have received a sentence of (a) under six months, (b) six months and (c) over six months in each year since that offence's inception; and if he will make a statement. [194374]

(3) how many individuals aged under 18 years convicted of the offence of threatening with an article with blade or point or offensive weapon received a sentence of (a) under four months, (b) four months and (c) over four months in each year since the offence's inception; and if he will make a statement. [194378]

Jeremy Wright: The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2013 introduced new offences of threatening with a knife or offensive weapon in a public place or school. These offences carry a mandatory minimum sentence of a four month Detention and Training Order for 16-17 year olds, and six months custody for adults.

Since the new offences came into force on 3 December 2012, 88 adult convictions have resulted in an immediate custodial sentence, of which nine received a sentence for less than six months, 12 received exactly six months and 67 received a sentence for over six months.

Since the new offences came into force on 3 December 2012, there have been 16 convictions against offenders aged 17 or under which resulted in an immediate custodial sentence. Of that number two resulted in a sentence of exactly four months and the remaining 14 over four months.

The latest available figures on the number of offenders by age group who were convicted or received a custodial sentence for offences involving threatening with a knife or offensive weapon are available in table 9 of the Knife Possession Sentencing Quarterly Brief October-December

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2013 which was published on 13 March 2014. The quarterly bulletin is available from the Ministry of Justice website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/knife-possession-sentencing-quarterly

The figures provided have been drawn from an extract of the Police National Computer (PNC) data held by the Department. The PNC holds details of all convictions and cautions given for recordable offences committed in England and Wales. In addition, as with any large scale recording system the PNC is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Data on prosecutions for threatening with a bladed article or offensive weapon are due to be published for the first time in the Annual Criminal Justice Statistics in May 2014.

This Government are clear that people who are convicted of threatening with a knife should go to prison. Sentencing in individual cases remains a matter for the courts and they may depart from the mandatory minimum custodial sentence if there are particular circumstances which would make it unjust to do so. Parliament has provided the courts with tough sentencing options and we continue to keep this under close scrutiny.

Prisoners: Diabetes

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many prisoners suffer from diabetes; [194662]

(2) how many prisoners are recorded as having had diabetes-related amputations; [194663]

(3) what guidance his Department gives to prisons on the management of offenders with (a) diabetes and (b) diabetes-related amputations; [194664]

(4) what specialist facilities are available for prisoners with (a) diabetes and (b) diabetes-related amputations. [194665]

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

Information is not collected centrally about the number of prisoners in English prisons with diabetes or recorded as having diabetes-related amputations.

NHS England commissions prison health services in England. The same range and quality of treatment and care is provided to prisoners in England as is provided to the rest of the population. Commissioners ensure that providers make appropriate treatments and services available for prisoners with diabetes.

All prisons in England have on-site primary health care services which treat most health problems, including diabetes. When appropriate treatment cannot be provided in a particular prison, a prisoner can be transferred to another prison which is able to provide the required treatment, or escorted to hospital as an in-patient or out-patient.

Health care professionals in English prisons are expected to take National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, and the NICE Quality Standard on Diabetes into account when deciding treatment for prisoners with diabetes or with diabetes-related amputations.

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Prisoners: Muslims

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 284W, on Muslim prisoners, how many and what proportion of Muslim prisoners included in the figures listed for 2013 have converted to that religion since they arrived in prison; and if he will make a statement. [194707]

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of prisoners who convert to each religion (including Islam) while in prison is not held centrally. The data held centrally relates to prisoners' current declared religion, not any previously declared religion.

In order to provide data relating to offender conversions to Islam in prison, it would be necessary to manually examine the individual prison records of over 11,700 Muslims in prison as at 31 December 2013. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Finance

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget is for each (a) private and (b) public prison. [194760]

Jeremy Wright: Allocated budgets for individual prisons for financial year 2014-15 are in the process of being finalised and are not yet available.

Budget allocations will be made on the basis of need and according to departmental priorities.

Prisons: Libraries

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what books in (a) foreign languages and (b) Welsh prison libraries have; [194761]

(2) what newspapers are provided in prison libraries; [194763]

(3) what cultural events have been organised in prison libraries in the last year. [194765]

Jeremy Wright: Prison library providers ensure that the range of reading and reference material available in each library reflects the needs and diverse nature of the prisoners held.

Prisons holding a high proportion of foreign national prisoners who are speakers of other languages offer a range of relevant texts within their libraries.

Alternatively, prisoners can order newspapers for personal use. Prisoners cover the cost of any newspaper they personally order. Newspapers based on the needs of the population will be available for general use in the library.

Prison libraries will facilitate a range of cultural activities such as reading and creative writing groups, special interest clubs, outreach work to families as well as exhibiting art, hosting writers, artists and speakers on subjects of interest. Additional support may be brought in from local community groups and charities.

Information about what particular foreign language and Welsh books are held within each prison library, which newspapers are stocked, and what cultural events have been organised, is not collected centrally and could be obtained only through local inquiries at each prison. This would incur disproportionate cost.

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Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what facilities prison libraries have to help prisoners order books through the internet; [194762]

(2) how much prisoners have to pay to order a book through the inter-library loan system. [194764]

Jeremy Wright: The NOMS policy on prisoner retail allows prisoners (via prison staff) to order books from approved mail order providers. This is at the discretion of the Governor.

An inter-library loan request service, facilitated by the librarian or library assistant, enables prisoners to request books in the same way as library users in the community.

No charge is made for prisoners using the inter-library loan service. Where a special request is necessary, for example to the British Library, a charge will be made. This is consistent with the policy applied to service users in the community.

Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been given more than one life sentence on separate sentencing occasions in the last 10 years; and what the offences were for which they received those life sentences. [194380]

Jeremy Wright: A life sentence is mandatory for murder and discretionary life sentences are available to judges for other very serious offences. This Government have introduced an automatic life sentence for a second very serious violent or sexual offence.

Under a life sentence, the court determines the minimum period to be served in prison for the purposes of punishment and deterrence. Once that period has been served it is for the Parole Board to determine if and when the offender may be released from prison on life licence and subject to recall for the rest of their life.

Table 1 shows the number of offenders who have been sentenced to life in the 12 months ending September 2013 who previously had one or more previous life sentence on a separate sentencing occasion within the last 10 years, in England and Wales. The table also shows details of their latest and previous offences for which they received a life sentence.

The number of offenders who receive a second life sentence is small. A number of life sentence prisoners commit offences in prison which result in a second life sentence. Some life sentence prisoners can also receive a second life sentence on conviction for offences committed prior to being imprisoned (e.g. a previous murder or rape). Only one of the offenders shown in Table 1 had been released from prison on life licence when he committed a further offence which resulted in a second life sentence.

The figures provided have been drawn from an extract of the Police National Computer (PNC) data held by the Department. The PNC holds details of all convictions and cautions given for recordable offences committed in England and Wales. In addition, as with any large scale recording system the PNC is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

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Sentencing: West Yorkshire

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average custodial sentence was for people of each gender sentenced in the West Yorkshire police force area to immediate custody for (a) summary only offences, (b) either way offences and (c) indictable only offences; and for which offences such people were sentenced. [194705]

Jeremy Wright: The sentencing framework and sentencing guidelines apply equally to all offenders. Sentencing is entirely a matter for the courts, taking account of all the circumstances of each case. This will include all aggravating and mitigating factors, the criminal history of the offender and a guilty plea.

Defendants are now more likely to be convicted for committing crime and sent to prison for longer than they were a decade ago. In addition criminals convicted since 2010 are more likely to receive an immediate custodial sentence, both overall and for a first time offence.

Offenders sentenced at all courts, by gender, class type, offence type in West Yorkshire police force area from 2008 to 2012 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. In many cases the numbers are too small for the average custodial sentence length to be meaningful.

Court proceedings data for 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.

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