| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Crime: Detection Rates
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Detection rates for each police force area in England and Wales are published in table 8.01 of Crime in England and Wales 2005/06. The relevant table can be accessed at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb1206chap8.xls. Statistics for Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the respective Secretaries of State.
Crime: Genital Mutilation
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Male genital mutilation is not a specific offence. There have been no prosecutions under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, nor were there any under the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 which it replaced. But the success of the Act cannot be measured only by the number of prosecutions. Prosecution after the fact does not relieve the victim of a lifetime of pain and discomfort. We want to prevent female genital mutilation from happening in the first place. The 2003 Act, with its increased maximum penalty, from five to 14 years’ imprisonment, is designed to deter this unacceptable practice.
7 Nov 2006 : Column WA112
Crime: Mental Health Act
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether statistics on crimes committed by individuals while detained or sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 are collected by individual police forces.[HL8042]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The information requested is not available centrally. Data collected outside Home Office requirements are a matter for individual chief officers. The statistics collected by forces also vary according to the computer systems used in individual forces.
Home Office statistical bulletin 22/05, entitled Statistics of Mentally Disordered Offenders 2004, gives statistics on admission of unrestricted patients by offence and reconvictions of restricted patients. It does not, however, give statistics on crimes committed by those already detained or sectioned. A copy of this publication is available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb2205.pdf.
Crime: Non-emergency Number Schemes
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which areas have applied to take part in the second wave of 101 non-emergency number schemes for reporting certain non-emergency crimes, policing and anti-social behaviour; and which areas have asked for more time to put in an application; and [HL7699]
Whether areas that have been given more time to put in an application to take part in the second wave of 101 non-emergency number schemes for reporting certain non-emergency crimes, policing and anti-social behaviour will have their applications treated on the same basis as those areas that met the original deadline.[HL7700]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The partnership areas (by police force or region and including all local authorities within force or region area) that submitted bids to participate in the second wave of 101 schemes were:
7 Nov 2006 : Column WA113
Two of these areas, Cumbria and Lancashire, had requested further time to refine their bids before final decisions were taken.
The Government have decided not to proceed with the further roll-out of the programme in any areas beyond wave one at this time, although wave one will continue to be maintained. This decision has been taken to allow more time to fully assess the learning from wave one, including optimum costs and benefits. Decisions on future programme development will be deferred pending the outcome of a fuller evaluation of wave one in autumn 2007.
Defra: Budget
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
How the Statement by the Lord Rooker on 30 October (HL Deb. col. 9) that there has been no £3 million cut to the State Veterinary Service (SVS) this year can be reconciled with the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary for Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs, Barry Gardiner, on 24 October (HC Deb. cols. 1723—24) that the resource budget for 2006—07 for the SVS will be subject to a £3 million reduction. [HL8095]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary for Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs, Barry Gardiner, on 24 October referred to a £3 million resource reduction. This is consistent with my reply on 30 October that there had been a switch of funding to increase the capital budget by £3 million from the resource budget.
Devolution: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have the power to cap or change the rating system in the event that power is devolved to an Administration in Northern Ireland.[HL8002]
Lord Rooker: An enabling power has been included within the Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, which would allow a restored Assembly to introduce a range of measures, including a valuation cap, and doing so by bringing forward the necessary regulations. As rating matters are a transferred power within the terms of the Northern Ireland Act, the devolved Administration would have the power to make such changes and in those circumstances it would not be a matter for the Government.
The Government have agreed that a cap should be introduced as part of the St Andrews agreement.
7 Nov 2006 : Column WA114
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any new arrangements for intervention in Northern Ireland's affairs by the Government of the Republic of Ireland would be subject to approval by the United Kingdom Parliament or a Northern Ireland Assembly.[HL8003]
Lord Rooker: At present, institutional and constitutional relationships between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are governed by strands 2 and 3 of the Belfast agreement, relevant international agreements and the related provisions in the Northern Ireland Act 1998 which provide for the North/South Ministerial Council, the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. Changes to these arrangements would require the approval of either Parliament or any restored Northern Ireland Assembly. Co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland under these existing frameworks does not necessarily require parliamentary or Assembly approval.
Disabled People
Lord Ashley of Stoke asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Information about legislation enacted since 1970 is available from the Libraries in both Houses. A full analysis of all legislation which has benefited disabled people could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
However, this Government are committed to extending rights and opportunities for disabled people and, since taking office in 1997, have introduced several significant pieces of legislation to strengthen the rights of disabled people, including: the establishment of the Disability Rights Commission Act 1999; the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001; extending the coverage of the original DDA from 2004 to significantly improve protection from discrimination in employment and occupation, and to introduce new duties on service providers to tackle physical barriers to accessing their services; the Disability Discrimination Act 2005; and the recent Equality Act.
Drugs: Cannabis
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
In respect of juveniles, how many of the total offences for the possession of cannabis brought to justice so far this year and in (a) 2005-06; (b) 2004-05; and (c) 2003—04 were made up of (i) penalty notices for disorder; (ii) reprimands; (iii) final warnings; (iv) prosecutions; (v) court appearances; and (vi) convictions; and in each case (i) to (vi) what was the proportion of the total offences for the possession of cannabis brought to justice; and [HL7863]
7 Nov 2006 : Column WA115
In respect of adults, how many of the total offences for the possession of cannabis brought to justice so far this year and in (a) 2005-06; (b) 2004-05; and (c) 2003—04 were made up of (i) penalty notices for disorder; (ii) reprimands; (iii) final warnings; (iv) prosecutions; (v) court appearances; and (vi) convictions; and in each case (i) to (vi) what was the proportion of the total offences for the possession of cannabis brought to justice.[HL7864]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): It is not possible to provide figures for the total number of cannabis possession offences brought to justice (OBTJ) as one component of the OBTJ measure—offences taken into consideration—cannot be broken down to the requested level of detail.
Available information relates to the number of persons dealt with at court in 2003 and 2004 under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for unlawfully possessing cannabis. The number of cautions issued to persons aged 18 and over are also provided, as well as the number of reprimands and warnings, which replaced cautions for persons aged between 10 and 17 (inclusive) in England and Wales from June 2000.
Since 2004 those aged 18 and over caught in simple possession of cannabis may have been eligible for a police formal warning, which does not involve an arrest. Data have been available since April 2004; police issued 27,520 formal warnings between April and December 2004.
Emissions Trading
Lord Dixon-Smith asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Tom Watson, on 10 July (HC Deb, 1430W), for the purpose of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme, on what basis the additional permit costs of establishments are calculated.[HL7713]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): To address the shortfall in the initial allocation of free carbon emission permits against the actual carbon emissions between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2005, additional permits were bought by the Ministry of Defence on the open market at the going rate of exchange.
The calculation of the additional costs depends on whether permits were bought on one or more than one dates, as exchange rates will vary. The required information is being checked by Defence Estates—the MoD agency responsible for these matters—and I will write to the noble Lord as soon as this exercise is complete.
7 Nov 2006 : Column WA116
Employment: County Antrim
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: At a local level, Invest NI, through its regional office network, works closely with clients and other stakeholders to encourage entrepreneurship through supporting new business starts and assisting the development and expansion of existing firms. Coupled with its support for innovation and capability development, this approach is intended to facilitate the provision of sustainable employment opportunities throughout Northern Ireland.
The urban regeneration and community development group within the Department for Social Development utilises a number of different policies and regeneration tools to tackle disadvantage and deprivation and consequently promote economic regeneration and employment opportunities.
The department's comprehensive development schemes and urban development grants unlock development opportunities by releasing underused or derelict land and buildings to encourage economic and physical regeneration and promote job creation, inward investment and environmental improvement.
In addition, the department launched the neighbourhood renewal strategy in 2003, aimed at tackling deprivation in the top 10 per cent most deprived areas in Northern Ireland. The strategy has four key strands, one of which is economic renewal. The department aims to encourage business development in these areas and to make sure that people from these areas have the skills they need to participate in the labour market.
The Department for Employment and Learning will support employers who are expanding their workforce or creating new jobs by providing job brokering services and suitable training programmes where appropriate.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development delivers the rural development programme 2000-06, which aims to create 1,000 jobs in rural areas in Northern Ireland.
Energy: Nuclear Waste
Lord Inglewood asked Her Majesty's Government:
How they define the meaning of host communities when considering the long-term storage of nuclear waste; and what are the physical limits of a host community.[HL7990]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): In developing the implementation framework for the geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste, the Government will consider the definition of host communities. The implementation framework will be subject to public consultation next year.
7 Nov 2006 : Column WA117
Energy: Savings
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have proposals for a campaign to identify the benefits of energy saving in Northern Ireland.[HL7884]
Lord Rooker: Northern Ireland's Strategic Energy Framework includes an energy efficiency target of reducing electricity consumption by 1 per cent per annum from 2007 until 2012. There are already ongoing programmes across various government departments that seek to contribute to this target and wider energy-efficiency objectives by identifying and exploiting the benefits of energy saving.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, which has overall strategic responsibility for energy efficiency, has plans for developing a new energy efficiency strategy, expected to be available in early 2007.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |