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Written Answers
Thursday, 4th July 2002.
Criminal Justice System: Funding
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they agree with the Audit Commission (Route to Justice, 2002, paragraph 49) that the separate funding of the criminal justice system through three government departments "runs the risk of detracting from an integrated strategic approach"; and, if so, what action they will take to tackle the problem identified by the commission.[HL4871]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): While recognising and accepting the independence of the component parts of the criminal justice system, the Government have a whole-system approach to provide clear strategic direction for the criminal justice system and to encourage closer working. The CJS business plan sets out system-wide aims, objectives and targets to which all CJS organisations work.
To oversee the delivery of the Government's policies for the management and reform of the CJS, a Ministerial Committee on the Criminal Justice System has been set up, chaired by the Home Secretary. Ministers are advised by a recently established strategic board, made up of the most senior officials from across the CJS organisations and chaired by the Home Office Permanent Secretary. Other trilateral boards have been created to focus on CJS performance, resourcing and planning. This process of working together has helped highlight where policy and process change is needed, both within the individual organisations and across the CJS. The Government do not wish to deflect effort on direct service delivery improvements by going for major departmental reorganisations.
To encourage closer trilateral working, the 2000 spending review introduced the CJS Reserve—£525 million over three years (£200 million in 2002–03)—that is jointly managed by the Home Secretary, the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney-General. This reserve is used to fund initiatives which contribute to jointly agreed objectives. It provides CJS Ministers with funding flexibility and the ability to respond to changing pressures on the system.
Wolvercote Clinic
Baroness Pitkeathley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have made a decision about the Wolvercote Clinic and about plans for the provision of residential treatment for sex offenders living in the community.[HL5076]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: In the interests of public protection, we have commissioned the National Probation Service to undertake a national review of the provision of residential treatment for sex offenders. This will encompass the work of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which runs the Wolvercote Clinic in Epsom.
We have also decided not to proceed with the relocation of the Wolvercote Clinic to Silverlands.
The Wolvercote Clinic will cease to operate at Horton Hospital in Epsom following the sale of the site. Contingency plans will be implemented for the nine remaining residents so that they can complete their treatment on a non-residential basis, and for those under licence or supervision formal contact with the authorities will continue.
British Overseas Citizens
Lord Rea asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to make a decision on the future of British overseas citizens who hold no other nationality.[HL5077]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin): Following representations made during passage of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill about the continuing difficulties faced by British overseas citizens who have no other nationality, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has decided that those British overseas citizens who currently do not hold and have never given up another nationality will be given an entitlement to register as British citizens. We are doing this to address the situation which left those people concerned with no right of abode in any country. An amendment to this effect will be made to the Bill at Report stage in the House of Lords. Applicants will be dealt with at our posts overseas and will not need to meet any United Kingdom residence requirements. There will be no deadline for applications.
EU Tax Package
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 13 June (WA 44–46), whether they discussed the European Union tax package with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man before giving their consent to its provisions in the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers (ECOFIN); and, if not, why not.[HL4828]
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): There were contacts between the Government and the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man prior to the debate in the ECOFIN Council meeting of 1 December 1997 on measures to tackle harmful tax competition.
ECOFIN's aim is to reach agreement on the EU tax package by the end of 2002. The Government have had extensive discussions with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man in advance of this deadline, and continue to do so.
Gibraltar
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they propose to legislate for the people of Gibraltar to vote in the next European parliamentary election; and whether Gibraltar, whose people have close links of birth with Northern Ireland, can be considered as part of the Northern Ireland constituency for European parliamentary elections.[HL4864]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government intend to seek to introduce legislation at the next convenient opportunity to allow people of Gibraltar to vote in the European parliamentary elections; and to consult the independent Electoral Commission about which existing United Kingdom regional constituency Gibraltar will form a part.
Chinook ZD576 Crash
Lord Jacobs asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In relation to the Chinook ZD576 crash: (a) on what date the Ministry of Defence commissioned new simulation tests; (b) on what date the results of the tests have been or are to be submitted to the Ministry of Defence; (c) what the simulation tests are designed to prove; and (d) whether the results of the tests can assist Boeing Corporation, the manufacturer of Chinook, in its view that there were no faults in the helicopter that could have caused the crash.[HL4878]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): As part of the investigations into the crash of Chinook ZD576, Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, was asked to conduct simulations to model the likely flightpath during the final seconds prior to impact. The House of Lords Select Committee was critical of certain aspects of these simulations, which did not include full FADEC parameters, although the engineers who conducted the original simulation factored in known FADEC performance criteria.
Boeing was commissioned in early March 2002 to revisit its original analysis to include full FADEC performance parameters. Boeing is the sole manufacturer and design authority of the Chinook. Only Boeing possesses the necessary detail about the design and material and its capabilities.
This work has just been received and is being reviewed. We intend to make the results of Boeing's work available as part of the Government's response
to the Select Committee report, although there may be matters of commercial sensitivity which would preclude the publication of some elements. It remains our intention to produce our response before the Summer Recess.Trident
Lord Parekh asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the latest estimate of the cost of the Trident Acquisition Programme.[HL5032]
Lord Bach: The current estimate of the total acquisition cost of the Trident programme, with payments already made expressed at the prices and exchange rates actually incurred and future spend at the current financial year exchange rate (the hybrid) estimate, is now £9,800 million. Since the 2001 estimate and leaving aside the effects of price inflation and exchange rate variation (+£11 million), there has been a real cost increase of £25 million. This increase derives principally from additional costs associated with dockyard projects and with missiles and related equipment, offset by a reduced acquisition cost for the four submarines. Expenditure on the Trident acquisition programme to 30 September 2001 represented over 98 per cent of the total estimate. If all expenditure, past and projected, is brought up to this current year's economic conditions (the non-hybrid estimate) the estimate is £14,376 million.
The programme continues to show an overall reduction in real terms on its original 1982 estimate. This reduction, including the savings resulting from the decision to process missiles at the United States facility at Kings Bay, Georgia, now stands at over £3.7 billion at current prices.
The proportion of the estimate for work undertaken in the United Kingdom continues to be around 70 per cent.
Three in-service Vanguard class submarines are successfully maintained continuous at-sea deterrence, with the fourth, HMS Vanguard, now undergoing planned major overhaul.
| US | UK | Total | |
| Hybrid Previous estimate (2001) at 2000–01 economic conditions (£1=$1.6086) | 2,859 | 6,904 | 9,764 |
| Real changes | +18 | +8 | +25 |
| Price inflation on unspent balance | 0 | +3 | +3 |
| Exchange rate variation on unspent balance | +8 | n/a | +8 |
| Revised estimate at 2001–02 economic conditions (£1:$1.46) | 2,884 | 6,916 | 9,800 |
| Non-hybrid Previous estimate (2001) at 2000–01 economic conditions (£1.6086) | 3,604 | 10,058 | 13,662 |
| Real changes | +18 | +8 | +25 |
| Price inflation | +62 | +252 | +313 |
| Exchange rate variation | +375 | n/a | +375 |
| Revised estimate at 2001–02 economic conditions (£1:$1.46) | 4,059 | 10,318 | 14,376 |
Notes:
Figures rounded to nearest £ million, hence any apparent imbalances.
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