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8 Dec 2009 : Column WA105

Written Answers

Tuesday 8 December 2009

The Answer printed on Thursday 3 December 2009 was submitted incorrectly. The correct version appears below.

National DNA Database

Question

Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The National DNA Database (NDNAD) does not hold self-reported ethnicity data, but data on the "ethnic appearance" of persons who have a DNA profile on the database. The ethnic appearance data have six broad ethnic categories plus "unknown". They are based on the judgment of the police officer taking the sample and are recorded for police intelligence purposes to assist in subsequent identification. The ethnic appearance data have only been recorded for volunteer samples since 2005.

The table below shows the number of DNA profiles on the NDNAD broken down by ethnic appearance, as at 16 October 2009. "Unknown" means that no ethnic appearance was recorded by the officer taking the sample. The number of profiles held is not the same as the number of individuals. This is because some profiles are replicates-ie, more than one profile is held for one individual. This may occur if, for example, an individual gives different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests. It is estimated that 13.8 per cent of the subject profiles held on the entire NDNAD are replicates.

Data on the number of subject profiles retained on the NDNAD broken down by ethnic appearance are published in the NDNAD annual reports. The latest annual report for 2007-09 is published on the NPIA website at http://www.npia.police.uk/en/14399.htm.

Ethnic Appearance Breakdown of subject profiles retained on NDNAD for all forces as at 16 October 2009 (1)
Ethnic Appearance (2)Subject ProfilesPercentage

Unknown (3)

539,038

9.12%

Asian

315,166

5.33%

Black

436,897

7.39%

Chinese, Japanese or any other south east Asian

38,864

0.66%

Middle Eastern

45,399

0.77%

White-North European

4,419,812

74.78%

White-South European

114,996

1.95%

Total

5,910,172

100.00%



8 Dec 2009 : Column WA106

(1) The table shows data on profiles loaded by all forces (England and Wales, Scotland, PSNI, plus other forces such as Joint Armed Services, Isle of Man, Jersey, et cetera).

(2) The ethnic appearance categories were renamed during 2008-09. The new category names are shown in the table.

(3) The number of "unknowns" is partly accounted for by Scotland, which does not record ethnic appearance data.

Al-Muhajiroun

Question

Asked by Baroness Warsi

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Al-Muhajiroun publicly disbanded in 2004. In 2006, two successor groups to Al-Muhajiroun-Al-Ghurabaa and the Saved Sect-were proscribed by the then Home Secretary. We are aware of media reports that Al-Muhajiroun has been relaunched. Organisations which cause us concern are constantly reviewed and should fresh information come to light which would bring them within the definition of being "concerned with terrorism" as defined in the Terrorism Act 2000 it opens up the possibility of proscription, which we believe is a tough but necessary power to tackle terrorism. Any decision on proscription must be proportionate and based on evidence that a group is concerned in terrorism.

Where individuals incite violence or commit other crimes, this is a matter for the police. We have strengthened our powers to catch those who cross the line from legitimate debate into inciting violence or who commit offences motivated by racial or religious hatred. Where there is any evidence of criminal activity, the police take the appropriate and necessary action. However, the challenge to extremists who skirt the bounds of legality cannot just be one of law enforcement. We also have to provide a robust legal challenge to groups that espouse intolerant and divisive ideologies. Where individuals or groups continue to articulate views which fall short of supporting violence and are within the law, but which reject and undermine community cohesion, the Government will challenge these views. Alongside this challenge, we also work with community organisations and individuals to give them the skills they need to be able to counter the messages of violent extremists themselves.

Asylum Seekers

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton



8 Dec 2009 : Column WA107

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The attached table shows information on the number of principal asylum applicants accepted at Oakington, Harmondsworth and Yarl's Wood detained fast-track centres, of which asylum applicants subsequently achieved refugee status or humanitarian protection in each of the years 2000 to 2008.



8 Dec 2009 : Column WA108

Information on immigration and asylum is published annually and quarterly. Annual statistics for 2008 and the latest statistics for Q3 2009 are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum- stats.html.

Principal asylum applicants accepted at Oakington, Harmondsworth and Yarl's Wood detained fast-track centres, of which initial decisions made 2000 to 2008 (1)(2)
Number of principal applicants
Oakington (3)Harmondsworth (4)Yarl's Wood
YearGranted AsylumGranted HP, DL, ELR (5)Granted AsylumGranted HP, DL, ELR (5)Granted AsylumGranted HP, DL, ELR (5)

2000(6)

25

10

:

:

:

:

2001

65

30

:

:

:

:

2002

65

10

:

:

:

:

2003(7)

25

10

-

-

:

:

2004

90

35

*

*

:

:

2005

275

60

10

-

*

-

2006

190

10

10

-

-

*

2007

*

*

5

*

5

*

2008 (P)

:

:

10

*

10

*

(1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5 ( - = 0, * = 1 or 2).

(2) Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

(3) The detained non-suspensive appeal process for males at Oakington has been moved to Harmondsworth alongside the male detained fast-track process already there, which followed an earlier move of the process for females to Yarl's Wood.

(4) May include a small number of cases dealt with at other scheduled sides under the Harmondsworth fast- track procedure.

(5) Humanitarian protection (HP) and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain (ELR) from 1 April 2003.

(6) Part year March to December 2000 for Oakington as the Oakington fast track started in March 2000.

(7) Part year April to December 2003 for Harmondsworth as the Harmondsworth fast track started in April 2003.

(P) Provisional figures.

: Not applicable / not available.

Banking: Charges

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): The Government recognise that consumers, who have been waiting a number of years, will be disappointed with the outcome of the test case about bank charges. The Government will set out the action they propose to take in the Pre-Budget Report on 9 December 2009.

Central Asia

Question

Asked by Viscount Waverley

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): We support a regional approach where it offers the best path to a solution acceptable to the parties concerned. The current priorities of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy are entirely consistent with its mandate. In taking forward its work on these issues, the centre is taking care not to cut across or duplicate the role of other international players.

Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Horticulture) Regulations

Question

Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach



8 Dec 2009 : Column WA109

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): 867 applications were received by 13 August and 73 were received after this date. Applications had to be received by 13 August 2009 in order not to attract late application penalties. Applications could be received up until 7 September with penalty. The 13 August date was set to allow time for the applications to be checked and processed and farmers notified of their entitlements allocation ahead of the 2010 SPS scheme year.

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