Wales
Correspondence
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans to increase the number of replies within his Department's working day standard; and if he will make a statement. [206473]
Alun Cairns: The Wales Office has a 15 working day target for responding to correspondence. The Office responded to 98% of all correspondence within the working day standard in 2013-14.
Transport
Driving: Eyesight
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of drivers whose visual acuity was poor who were involved in road traffic accidents in each year since 2010. [206308]
Mr Goodwill: The numbers of motor vehicle drivers who were assigned with "uncorrected or defective eyesight" as a contributory factor by a police officer attending the scene of an accident are given in the following table, for each year since 2010.
2 Sep 2014 : Column 224W
| Number of motor vehicle drivers with "uncorrected or defective eyesight" as a contributory factor in reported injury accidents, Great Britain 2010-13 | ||
| Number of accidents/percentage | ||
| All accidents | ||
| Contributory factor reported in accident1 | Number | Percentage |
| 1 Includes only accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which a contributory factor was reported. | ||
The Department does not collect information on specific conditions such as "visual acuity", but it is likely to be captured by the broader contributory factor above.
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost is of road traffic accidents in the UK where poor visual acuity was a contributory factor in each year since 2010. [206309]
Mr Goodwill: The total costs of reported road accidents in which "uncorrected or defective eyesight" was reported as a contributory factor by a police officer attending the scene of the accident, in each of year since 2010 for Great Britain, are as follows:
| Cost of reported road accident (£ million) | |
The Department does not collect information on specific conditions such as "visual acuity", but it is likely to be captured by the broader contributory factor above.
These costs have been calculated using the values for prevented casualties and accidents given in tables A4.1.1 and A4.1.3 of the TAG data book
www.gov.uk/government/publications/webtag-tag-data-book-may-2014
which are used in the valuation of accident impacts in infrastructure investment and relevant policy business cases. They include the human costs of casualties and fatalities, lost economic output and other factors such as police, ambulance and medical costs but do not include any costs relating to delays arising from accidents. All the costs are given in 2010 prices.
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were injured in road traffic accidents where the driver's visual acuity was found to be below the legal acceptable level in each year since 2010. [206318]
Mr Goodwill: The numbers of casualties in injury accidents where a motor vehicle driver was assigned contributory factory “uncorrected or defective eyesight” by a police officer at the scene of an accident are given in the following table, by casualty severity, for each year since 2010.
2 Sep 2014 : Column 225W
| Number of motor vehicle drivers with "uncorrected or defective eyesight" as a contributory factor in reported injury accidents by casualty severity: GB 2010-13 | ||||
| Contributory factor reported in accident1 | Killed | Seriously injured | Slightly injured | All casualties |
| 1 Includes only accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which a contributory factor was reported. | ||||
The Department does not collect information on specific conditions such as “visual acuity”, but it is likely to be captured by the broader contributory factor above.
Motorways: Accidents
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent the Highways Agency keeping motorways out of action for any longer than necessary in the aftermath of incidents; [206842]
(2) what steps he is taking to improve the management of traffic in the aftermath of motorway incidents. [206843]
Mr Hayes: I agree that roads should be re-opened as quickly as possible following an incident to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. Unfortunately, roads do need to be closed when critical infrastructure repairs cannot be performed whilst part of the carriageway remains open. In addition, when an incident has resulted in serious injury or a fatality, the police have a duty to conduct a thorough investigation in accordance with their recently revised Collision Investigation Manual.
A review of the closure procedures for motorway incidents has been undertaken; this has been carried out jointly with the Home Office, Association of Chief Police Officers, Fire and Ambulance services, Department for Transport (DfT) and the Highways Agency, to identify what can collectively be achieved to reduce incident clear up times.
The review, known as CLEAR {Collision, Lead, Evaluate, Act, Re-open) aims to reduce the time taken to re-open motorways following an incident and will minimise both the economic impact of closures and the delay experienced by road users.
In addition, laser scanners are being operated by 27 police forces across England to significantly reduce the time taken to gather essential evidence at incident sites.
At this time, there is no intention of introducing legislation as the Highways Agency is already mandated to reduce the time that motorways are subject to restrictions or closures following incidents.
Nuclear Installations
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates the no-fly zones around nuclear facilities have been violated since May 2010; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure such violations do not occur in future. [206186]
2 Sep 2014 : Column 226W
Mr Goodwill: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) maintains a complaint log for three years. Since June 2011, it has received 12 complaints from onsite Security Guards about aircraft which they believe may have overflown their respective sites at low level. The dates of these incidents were:
12 June 2011
14 June 2011
24 June 2011
17 August 2011
25 July 2012
2 January 2013
14 January 2013
15 August 2013
25 August 2013
9 September 2013
3 October 2013
21 May 2014
All these recorded incidents were investigated, but due to a lack of evidence the only case which led to a successful prosecution occurred on 25 August 2013 and involved the use of a small unmanned aerial vehicle.
The need to report to the CAA all aircraft which appear to be low flying is written in the nuclear site’s security procedures manual. The successful prosecution demonstrates that the CAA investigates all such reported incidents and that it will take enforcement action when there is sufficient evidence available. In addition, both the CAA and the Department for Energy and Climate Change seek to learn what they can from the investigations into reported incidents.
Ragwort
Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Highways Agency is taking to remove ragwort from (a) roadsides and (b) other land for which the Highways Agency is responsible. [206869]
Mr Hayes: The Highways Agency has an obligation to take account of ragwort and other injurious weeds growing on verges and other land for which it is responsible. In common with other landowners they are subject to the provisions of the Weeds Act 1959 as amended by the Ragwort Control Act 2003.
On roadsides along the Strategic Road Network and other land under its control the Agency requires its service providers to follow the DEFRA Code of Practice to control ragwort. The code promotes a risk-based approach with targeted use of control measures in locations close to land used either for animal grazing or fodder production. The principle measures used by the Agency are spot treatment with herbicide in spring and early summer followed by hand pulling of the weed later in the season.
Railway Signals
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on improving rail signalling; [206845]
(2) what future discussions he has planned with Network Rail on improving rail signalling. [206846]
2 Sep 2014 : Column 227W
Claire Perry: There have been no recent discussions with Network Rail specifically about signalling improvements. The Secretary of State and ministerial colleagues will continue to meet with Network Rail to discuss a range of issues including improving rail signalling.
Network Rail is funded, as part of its five-year Control Period 5 settlement, to maintain and upgrade its signalling systems. The Office of Rail Regulation will monitor Network Rail's performance in the delivery of its Control Period 5 objectives.
Railways: Birmingham
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will initiate a study into adding a halt on the Lichfield Trent Valley to Redditch cross-city line at Curzon Street in Birmingham adjacent to the proposed Birmingham High Speed 2 (HS2) station to enhance connectivity with HS2 and with Birmingham City University and Millennium Point; and if he will make a statement. [206679]
Mr Goodwill: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), is seeking powers through the Hybrid Bill to construct the HS2 scheme as set out in that Bill. This does not include a new station adjacent to Curzon Street as proposed. There are a range of potential infrastructure schemes, such as new stations, which could further increase connections for the travelling public above and beyond the scheme set out in the Bill. The Department is not evaluating the case for such proposals and will therefore not undertake a study on a new station to serve Curzon Street. The Department will continue to work with local authorities who are taking the lead in identifying and evaluating options for wider connectivity that will extend the benefits offered by HS2.
Railways: North of England
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the passenger figures are for each of the last five years for the Transpennine Cleethorpes to Manchester service; and what information is held on the number of people who (a) alight and (b) board in (i) Doncaster and (ii) Sheffield. [206419]
Claire Perry: The Department for Transport holds this information on a commercially confidential basis. However, as I stated in the debate of 16 July 2014, Official Report, column 984, I am happy to consider whether the Department can release such information and I will meet with the hon. Member and other hon. Members for the local area shortly.
Railways: WiFi
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual investment of each franchised train operating company in wi-fi services has been since the start of each franchise agreement with his Department. [206430]
Claire Perry: The Department cannot release this information as it is commercially sensitive.
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Roads: Accidents
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents there were per 100,000 of the population in (a) the UK, (b) London and (c) Barnet in each of the last five years. [206320]
Mr Goodwill: The numbers of reported personal injury road traffic accidents per 100,000 population in (a) Great Britain, (b) London and (c) Barnet for the years 2009 to 2013 are shown in the following table:
| Number of reported personal injury road traffic accidents in (a) Great Britain (b) London and (c) Barnet per 100,000 population: 2009-13 | |||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor vehicle accidents occurred in (a) Preston constituency, (b) Preston and (c) Lancashire in each month in 2013. [206740]
Mr Goodwill: The numbers of reported personal injury motor vehicle accidents in (a) Preston constituency, (b) Preston and (c) Lancashire in each month of 2013 are shown in the following table:
| Number of reported personal injury accidents involving at least one motor vehicle1 in Preston constituency, Preston and Lancashire: 2013 | |||
| (a) Preston constituency | (b) Preston | (c) Lancashire | |
| 1 Excludes pedal cycles, horse riders, mobility scooters and trams | |||
Roads: North Yorkshire
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been invested in road infrastructure in (a) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency and (b) North Yorkshire in each of the last four years. [206809]
Mr Goodwill: The Highways Agency is responsible for the motorway and strategic trunk road network. There have been no Major Road Schemes in the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency during the last four years.
2 Sep 2014 : Column 229W
The table shows the investment in the two Major Road Schemes that are in the North Yorkshire area. Please note the 14/15 expenditure includes actual spend to the end of June 2014 and a forecast up to and including the end of March 2015.
| £ million | |||||
| Actual | Forecast | ||||
| Scheme | 11/12 | 12/13 | 13/14 | 14/15 | Estimated total out-turn cost |
| 1 The -5.9 reported in 13/14, is made up of a change in accounting policy and a reduction in the provision for post construction activity. | |||||
The Highways Agency does not separately identify the investment on its roads by constituency area. The Highways Agency has invested approximately £33 million on safety and improvement schemes, renewal of carriageway surfaces and repairs to structures in the North Yorkshire region within the last four years. The breakdown of investment by financial year is shown in the following table:
| Investment (£ million) | |
For the local road network the Department for Transport provides capital funding to local highway authorities for maintenance. The Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency falls within North Yorkshire county council’s area of responsibility and therefore we do not allocate any funds directly to that area for local road infrastructure. Over the four year period from 2011 North Yorkshire county council’s allocation is:
| Allocation (£ million) | |
| 1 Includes the top up announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement 2012 and the Wet Weather funding paid in March 2014. 2 Includes the top up announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement 2012 and the Pothole Fund. | |
The Department for Transport is funding one local major scheme in North Yorkshire, the Bedale Aiskew Leeming Bar Bypass which has £10.760 million of funding in 2014/15.
South West Trains
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the punctuality of South West Trains passenger rail services in each month since South West Trains formally entered into a deep alliance with Network Rail in April 2012. [206319]
2 Sep 2014 : Column 230W
Claire Perry: The Public Performance Measure is a measurement of train punctuality against the planned services for the day. The Department regularly monitors each operator’s performance. This includes regular meetings with their senior management where performance figures are scrutinised and challenged. South West Trains publish their performance by four-week period at:
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/our-performance.aspx.
For comparative performance figures, please see:
http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/d9ef4972-9eec-486b-b40b-901f94548252
Cabinet Office
Correspondence
Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has any plans to increase the number of replies within his Department's working day standard; and if he will make a statement. [206485]
Mr Maude: My Department aims to respond to all correspondence within 15 working days.
Guidance on handling correspondence from Members of Parliament, Peers, MEPs and Members of devolved Administrations will be updated in due course.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61196/guide-handling-gov-correspondence.pdf
Food Banks
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the oral answer from the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, to the hon. Member for York Central of 17 July 2014, what the details are of the joint visits made by Government Ministers and the Church to examine the role of food banks; what the Government's policies are to reduce the number of people living in poverty and dependent on food banks; and if he will make a statement. [206403]
Mr Newmark: Discussion on the use of food banks involves various Government Departments. I lead on Government's engagement with civil society organisations. There has been an extremely impressive response by civil society and faith groups to support vulnerable people. Following the meeting of my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (Mr Hurd) with a regional group of Church leaders to listen to and discuss the Church's views on food banks, I will be meeting with three more such groups in the near future.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Thirsk
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the current claimant rate is for jobseeker's allowance in Thirsk and Malton constituency. [207427]
Mr Newmark: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
2 Sep 2014 : Column 231W
Letter from Caron Walker, dated September 2014:
In the absence of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the current claimant rate is for jobseeker's allowance in Thirsk and Malton constituency. (207427)
The ONS compiles data on the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance from the Jobcentre Plus Administrative System.
In July 2014 the proportion of people in Thirsk and Malton aged 16 to 64 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance was 1.0%.
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
Home Department
British Nationality
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants to the UK have received full UK citizenship in each year since 2010. [206951]
James Brokenshire: The information requested is given in the following table:
| Grants of British Citizenship 2010 to 2013 | |
| Grants | |
| Source: Table cz_02 (Citizenship tables), Immigration Statistics January to March 2014 | |
The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas granted (by category and by individual nationality) are published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics release, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department’s website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
EU Justice and Home Affairs
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of whether Framework Decision 2002/465/JHA requires the competent authorities of member states to have discretion to establish joint investigation teams under that Framework Decision rather than under the Second Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, where that Protocol is available. [207066]
Karen Bradley: A full impact assessment has been conducted on Framework Decision 2002/465/JHA. Details of this assessment can be found in Command Paper 8897.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326698/41670_Cm_8897_Accessible.pdf,
2 Sep 2014 : Column 232W
Framework Decision 2002/465/JHA does not specify that this measure must be used above other frameworks allowing for joint investigation teams. However, this is the only instrument that allows for a joint investigation team to be formed with every other member state.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to her dated 17 June 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms S Rasheed. [206847]
James Brokenshire: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 21 July 2014.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to her dated 16 June 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr F M Bondoki. [206848]
James Brokenshire: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 4 July 2014.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to her dated 10 June 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Zabada Begum. [206849]
James Brokenshire: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 25 July 2014.
Money Laundering: EU Law
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many requests for information that were fulfilled by other EU member states were made by the UK's financial intelligence unit under (a) Council Decision 2000/642/JHA and (b) other means of co-operation in each of the last five years; [207057]
(2) what assessment she has made of the efficacy of information exchange with other EU member states on the relevant financial matters that would be likely to continue through other means should the UK cease to be bound by Council Decision 2000/642/JHA on 1 December 2014; [207058]
(3) what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Egmont Group in promoting and enabling international co-operation between financial intelligence units. [207074]
Karen Bradley: A full impact assessment has been conducted on Council Decision 2000/642/JHA. Details of this assessment can be found in Command Paper 8897.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326698/41670_Cm_8897_Accessible.pdf
The alternative methods open to the UK to exchange information with other EU member states on relevant financial matters are not considered to be as effective as cooperation under the measure.
2 Sep 2014 : Column 233W
The UK is an active participant in the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) and shares information with other Egmont members. The UKFIU experience in sharing financial intelligence through Egmont is positive and is viewed as vital in the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing and other predicate offences.
However, Council Decision 2000/642/JHA provides additional benefits that are not available to Egmont members. For example, if we ceased to be bound by the Framework Decision we might lose access to FIU.net, the IT network that facilitates information exchange between EU FIUs.
The number of requests made via Council decision 2000/642/JHA and by other means over the last five years is not available. However, the figures for the period 2011 to 2013 were as follows:
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the implications for the UK of possible future interpretations and applications of Article 4(3) of Council Decision 2000/642/JHA by the Court of Justice of the EU should the UK continue to be bound by that Decision after 1 December 2014. [207062]
Karen Bradley: A full impact assessment has been conducted on Council Decision 2000/642/JHA. Details of this assessment can be found in Command Paper 8897.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326698/41670_Cm_8897_Accessible.pdf
The Government have considered the potential impacts of CJEU jurisdiction very carefully in deciding which pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures it was in the interests of the UK to rejoin.
Offences Against Children: Internet
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential effect on the implementation of the UK's strategy against indecent images of children online of placing that strategy within the full jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU, including its human rights jurisprudence, should the UK remain bound by Council Decision 2000/375/JHA after 1 December 2014. [207065]
Karen Bradley: A full impact assessment has been conducted on Framework Decision 2000/375/JHA. Details of this assessment can be found in Command Paper 8897
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326698/41670_Cm_8897_Accessible.pdf
2 Sep 2014 : Column 234W
The Government have considered the potential impacts of CJEU jurisdiction very carefully in deciding which of the pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures it is in the interests of the UK to rejoin. Article 72 of treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) makes clear that the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security is a responsibility for member states.
Article 276 of the TFEU states that the CJEU shall have no jurisdiction to review the validity or proportionality of operations carried out by the police or other law enforcement services of a member state, or the exercise of responsibilities incumbent upon member states with regard to the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security.
The Government’s decision to seek to opt in to Framework Decision 2000/375/JHA will therefore not bring the Government’s strategy in tackling indecent images of children under the jurisdiction of the CJEU or any action taken by UK law enforcement pursuant to that strategy. The UK is fully compliant with this Council Decision, and we assess the risk of an adverse judgment in this area to be low.
Organised Crime: EU Law
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department through what means the UK can take part in the sharing of advice and best practice between EU member states on fighting organised crime other than being bound by Joint Action 97/827/JHA. [207073]
Karen Bradley: A full impact assessment has been conducted on Joint Action 97/827/JHA. Details of this assessment can be found in Command Paper 8897.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326698/41670_Cm_8897_Accessible.pdf
There are no alternative methods open to the UK to share advice and best practice collectively between all EU Member States on matters covered by this Joint Action that are considered to be as effective as cooperation under the measure. This measure increases UK influence both in terms of practical cooperation in the fight against organised crime and EU action in this field. The UK could continue to share advice and best practice with other EU Member States on a bilateral basis if it was not bound by this Joint Action, but this would not be as effective.
Passports
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the volume of overseas applications for passports has been in each month since her Department assumed responsibility for such applications. [201025]
James Brokenshire: The following table shows the number of overseas passport applications received by Her Majesty's Passport Office each month since it assumed responsibility for such applications.
2 Sep 2014 : Column 235W
| Number of overseas applications received1 | |
| 1 HMPO took responsibility for overseas passports applications in April 2011, commenced the repatriation of the printing of overseas passports in summer 2011, but only commenced repatriating application processing in December 2012 with that repatriation completed in February 2014. | |
Schengen Agreement: ICT
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment she has made of the possibility of the UK connecting to the Schengen Information System II via a bilateral treaty with the EU instead of remaining bound by Decision 2007/533/JHA; [207060]
(2) what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that UK authorities are not overburdened by alerts issued by other EU member states in the event that UK connects to the Schengen Information Systems II; [207064]
(3) what steps the UK authorities would take to carry out the specific checks required under Chapter VIII of Decision 2007/533/JHA if the UK connects to the Schengen Information System II; [207067]
(4) what steps UK authorities would take to carry out discreet checks required under Chapter VIII of Decision 2007/533/JHA if the UK connects to the Schengen Information System II; [207068]
(5) what information the UK would be required to pass on to other EU member states under Chapter VII of Decision 2007/533/JHA if the UK connects to the Schengen Information System II. [207069]
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Karen Bradley: A full impact assessment has been conducted on Council Decision 2007/533/JHA. Details of this assessment can be found in Command Paper 8897:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326698/41670_Cm_8897_Accessible.pdf
No viable alternative mechanisms for connecting to SIS II have been identified. The Commission has been clear during negotiations that a bilateral treaty between the UK and the EU on any matters falling within the scope of the block opt-out is not feasible. Furthermore, on 16 January 2013 President Barroso responded to a European Parliamentary Question from Daniel Hannan MEP on this matter and stated that
‘the Commission sees no room for the conclusion of international agreements between the EU and the United Kingdom on such matters.’
SISII will be integrated into existing UK law enforcement infrastructure to keep to a minimum any additional burden. In addition, the UK’s central office for managing SIS II requests (the SIRENE Bureau) has been established within the National Crime Agency (NCA) to act specifically as the UK's single point of contact for all exchanges of information relating to SISII alerts. On 21 July 2014, the Home Secretary commenced the proportionality provisions in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. This includes a proportionality filter in relation to SISII Article 26 alerts (European Arrest Warrants).
The filter will enable the weeding out of the most trivial European arrest warrants, ensuring resources are dedicated to the most serious criminals and that the police are not overburdened with Article 26 alerts. In terms of other SISII alerts, they only require the UK to notify the issuing member state that the individual has come to our attention. Therefore, there is expected to be a minimal impact on existing resources. The UK has made no distinction between the definitions used in Article 36 (chapter VIII) as concerns discreet and specific checks. Any UK law enforcement check that matches a SISII Article 36 alert will be coordinated through the NCA’s SIRENE Bureau, and the issuing member state will be notified in accordance with the SISII Council Decision. UK law enforcement agencies will use Article 34 alerts (chapter VII) for locating witnesses, persons summoned to appear in criminal proceedings and others.
The accompanying information will include a combination of name, age, sex, colour and height of the individual. The information submitted in response to Article 34 alerts from other member states will be in the form of supplementary information and in most cases this will just include the individual’s place of abode.