Written Answers
Wednesday 20 November 2013
Armed Forces: Aircraft
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 6 November (WA 41–2), what exactly comprise national markings.[HL3363]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): All UK F-35B Lightning II aircraft will carry minimal low visibility roundels on both sides of the nose, lefthand overwing and righthand underwing. They will also carry a low visibility fin flash on the outer face of each fin. Both the roundels and fin flashes will use the aircraft skin colour as one tone and light grey as the other. The aircraft will also carry registration and essential flight safety markings, but the stealth capabilities mean that it will not carry single Service or Squadron markings.
Armed Forces: Living Accommodation
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what improvements in the accommodation and facilities for servicemen and women at RAF Coningsby have taken place in the financial years 2012–13 and 2013–14.[HL3306]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): All Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Single Living Accommodation (SLA) at RAF Coningsby is of a good standard and there are no plans for any major improvement works.
Improvement works that have been undertaken to the accommodation at RAF Coningsby are shown in the following table:
Improvements that have been made to the facilities at RAF Coningsby are shown in the following table:
| Financial Year | Improvement |
|
Refurbishment of the fitness suite, football pitch and communal living facilities |
Improvements that are in the process of being implemented, to the facilities at RAF Coningsby, during Financial Year 2013-2014 are shown in the following table:
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what improvements in the accommodation and facilities for servicemen and women at RAF Henlow have taken place in the financial years 2012–13 and 2013–14.[HL3307]
Lord Astor of Hever: All Service Family Accommodation and Single Living Accommodation at RAF Henlow are of a good standard and there are no plans for any major improvement works.
Improvements that have been made to the facilities at RAF Henlow are shown in the following table:
| Financial Year | Improvement |
Audit Commission
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stowell of Beeston on 28 October (WA 217–8), how much was spent, either directly or indirectly, by the Audit Commission in wider preparation for the abolition of the Commission, ahead of the passage through Parliament of the Local Audit and Accountability Bill.[HL3295]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The Audit Commission has incurred no significant expenditure specifically in preparation for its planned closure in March 2015. Staff resources have been directed to supporting the Department for Communities and Local Government and others in preparing the Bill and associated workstreams. These have largely been met through existing resources or via support contracts already in place.
Defence: Assistance Fund
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 6 November (WA 44), how much of the Defence Assistance Fund allocation was used to promote military exports in (1) 2010–11, (2) 2011–12, and (3) 2012–13, and to date in the current financial year.[HL3398]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The Defence Assistance Fund (DAF) is used to develop bilateral relationships and partnerships in support of current and contingent operations and wider government objectives. A large number of DAF-funded activities serve multiple objectives (e.g. staff talks) which may include exports but the specific costs cannot be disaggregated, therefore the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Furthermore, resources other than the DAF provide the primary funding mechanism for Ministerial, Chiefs and Senior Officials visits, and the deployment of military equipment to exhibitions and shows, which can make a significant contribution to export campaigns.
Economy
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the new Governor of the Bank of England regarding differences in economic performance between south-east England and other nations and regions of the United Kingdom. [HL3300]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Chancellor of the Exchequer has frequent discussions with the Governor of the Bank of England on a wide range of issues on the UK economy.
Returning the UK economy to sustainable economic growth that is more balanced across the UK and sectors is a key priority. Every locality must be able to fulfil its potential by taking responsibility for decisions and resources that affect their local economies. The Government has already taken action, including:
Promoting the establishment of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)—39 strategic partnerships between local business leaders, local authority leaders and other partners;Allowing the local retention of business rates—incentivising local areas to prioritise growth and keep 50 per cent of the proceeds; creating the Growing Places Fund and the Regional Growth Fund—providing support to businesses, LEPs and local authorities for local projects and programmes;Introducing City Deals—negotiating bespoke deals with cities and their LEPs to give them the powers and tools they need to drive local economic growth;Establishing Enterprise Zones—areas around the country that support both new and expanding businesses by offering incentives, creating local jobs and growth; andRemoving £7 billion of ring-fences from local government at Spending Review 2010.
Education: Missing Children
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 17 July (WA 123), when they plan to publish the revised statutory guidance on children missing from education. [HL3278]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Government plans to publish the revised statutory guidance on children missing from education by the end of the year.
EU: Regulation
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to create a Cabinet committee to monitor proposals for new European Union directives and regulations by COREPER and departmental ministers and to publish an assessment of such proposals. [HL3194]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The UK Government has no plans to create an additional Cabinet Committee. Departments maintain responsibility for monitoring EU proposals in their areas, with oversight from the European Affairs Cabinet Committee and Sub-Committee, and the Reducing Regulation Committee.
Female Genital Mutilation
Questions
Asked by Baroness Scotland of Asthal
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report Tackling Female Genital Mutilation in the UK, and in particular its assertion that 66,000 women in England and Wales have undergone Female Genital Mutilation and more than 24,000 girls under 15 are at risk of it. [HL3251]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to implement the recommendations made in the report Tackling Female Genital Mutilation in the UK.[HL3252]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Government welcomes the inter-collegiate report Tackling FGM in the UK published last week. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is illegal. We are absolutely committed to preventing and tackling female genital mutilation and affirm that safeguarding and prevention are important so that girls and young women are protected from this abhorrent procedure.
It is a priority of the Department to continue working with the medical Royal Colleges and other organisations supporting this report, Government departments and the Director of Public Prosecutions towards eradicating female genital mutilation in England.
Accurate data and information are essential to this and the most recent data available relates to 2007 draws from a respected 2007 study by the charity FORWARD; the inter-collegiate report also draws on this source. The Home Office is contributing to fund Equality Now and the City University to update the 2007 estimated prevalence figures by the end of this financial year. The Department has also commissioned the Health and Social Care Information Centre to undertake a feasibility study on how to improve National Health Service data collection on incidences of female genital mutilation. This will improve information sharing for better care of those affected by female genital mutilation and support prevention and safeguarding in communities that are at risk.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health (Jane Ellison) is meeting the organisations behind the Tackling FGM in the UK report to discuss how to take it forward.
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 have been turned down by the Northern Ireland Office since May 2010; and how many of those requests have subsequently been upheld on appeal and fulfilled.[HL3404]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publish annual statistical reports on the handling of requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for Central Government. The Northern Ireland Office submits quarterly and annual returns to the MoJ. The published reports include statistics on the outcomes of internal reviews and appeals to the Information Commissioner.
These reports can be accessed on the following webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.
One decision made by the Information Commissioner has been appealed to the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights). This case remains outstanding.
Health: Birth Defects
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to introduce mandatory fortification of white flour with folic acid in order to address the number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects; and, if so, when.[HL3279]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Ministers are considering the recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition on reducing the number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects and the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid and will set out next steps as soon as possible.
Health: Cardiology
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recent report by the All- Party Parliamentary Group on Atrial Fibrillation Commissioning for Change: AF within the new NHS.[HL3234]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Responsibility for determining the overall national approach to improving clinical outcomes from healthcare services lies with NHS England.
We are advised that NHS England welcomes the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Atrial Fibrillation's report and that it recognises the importance of improving management of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the impact this could have on reducing premature mortality. NHS England is working to deliver improved care for patients with AF, both in terms of earlier diagnosis and in terms of improving the rates of anticoagulation.
NHS Improving Quality is taking forward a complementary programme of work on AF. This includes promoting use of the Guidance on Risk Assessment and Stroke Prevention AF tool in general practice, which aids the risk stratification and effective management of AF.
Many of the strategic clinical networks are also working with local commissioners to increase the proportion of patients who are receiving effective treatment.
Intelligence Law
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the effectiveness of current intelligence laws; and whether they will need to be updated to reflect the Tempora program.[HL3203]
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Hill of Oareford) (Con): The Government believe that we have a tough and robust system for overseeing the work of our intelligence services, involving the Intelligence Commissioners, the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament and the statutory roles of the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary. Accordingly we do not propose to review the effectiveness of intelligence laws at this time.
Internet: Regulation
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to regulate future online content based on its length.[HL3169]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): We are satisfied with our current approach to regulation. In preparation for a more converged future, however, we want industry and regulators to work together on a voluntary basis to ensure that there is a common framework for media standards, so that a more consistent approach applies across different media, and to ensure that consumers continue to understand what content has been regulated and to what level.
Magna Carta
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta in schools.[HL3326]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Overall plans to commemorate the Magna Carta are being co-ordinated by the Magna Carta 800th Committee of the Magna Carta Trust, an independent organisation chaired by Sir Robert Worcester. The Ministry of Justice keeps in close contact with the Committee.
We encourage schools to commemorate this important anniversary and have clarified the place of Magna Carta and the emergence of Parliament as an area that pupils can be taught in the new national curriculum for history, to be introduced from September 2014. It may also be covered as part of the new national curriculum for citizenship, which covers the development of democratic government and the precious liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United Kingdom.
NHS Property Services Limited
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Department of Health has provided a further £100 million of working capital to NHS Property Services Ltd in addition to the £190 million of working capital already provided to the company for 2013–14; whether the increased working capital will be carried forward to 2014–15; when they expect the company to be able to reduce the level of working capital provided by the Exchequer; and what proportion of the company’s turnover in 2013–14 working capital represents.[HL3269]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): A total of £290 million has been made available to NHS Property Services Limited (NHS PS) as a working capital loan. This loan was required partly because time was needed by the company to complete the detailed, initial preparations for issuing invoices to commissioners and property occupiers, and because a number of organisations (commissioners and property occupiers) have not made payments on the anticipated dates.
Because of the chaotic state of the primary care trust and strategic health authority estate which it has inherited, the Department agreed to make the loan to ensure NHS PS had sufficient cash to meet its obligations in the absence of the outstanding income. The turnover for NHS PS is expected to be around £800 million, therefore the current working capital loan represents 36% of this amount.
The ability to reduce the level of loans outstanding in 2014-15 relies on tenants and commissioners paying the company's invoices when they are due. The Department is working with NHS PS, NHS England and other bodies to improve the company's collection of its outstanding income. This includes strengthening of the company's credit control function and discussions with NHS bodies about prompt payment.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who are the auditors of the accounts of NHS Property Services Ltd; and who appointed those auditors.[HL3272]
Earl Howe: The National Audit Office is the auditor for NHS Property Services Limited (NHS PS). They were formally appointed by the NHS PS Board on 26 March 2013.
Offenders: Dependants
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people (1) refused bail, and (2) given a custodial sentence, in 2012–13 had caring responsibilities for (a) a child, or (b) a vulnerable adult.[HL3284]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally) (LD): Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database does not include the circumstances behind each case beyond the description provided in the statute. It is not possible to separately identify from this centrally held information whether, in all cases, a defendant refused bail or given a custodial sentence was a carer or a person with caring responsibilities for a child or a vulnerable adult. As such, this information is available only at disproportionate costs. The Government is however looking at practical ways to increase awareness among criminal justice professionals of the importance of taking account of dependants of those about to be detained in custody. Our reforms to transform rehabilitation will also see the introduction of an unprecedented through-the-gate service. Under these plans we are developing a Basic Custody Screening Tool that will be completed by prison staff for all sentenced offenders and remand prisoners. This tool will record whether an offender has any children.
Pakistan
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 3 December 2012 (WA 109), what is the total amount that the Department for International Development's Education Awareness Programme has spent so far from the total budget of £20 million for 2012–15. [HL3240]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total amount of money they have paid to the Mir Khalil Ur Rehman Foundation to date; and whether that money was paid in the United Kingdom in pounds sterling or in rupees through a bank transfer in Pakistan.[HL3241]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether organisations in Pakistan other than the Mir Khalil Ur Rehman Foundation, but with similar expertise and access to public funds, have been approached to take part in the Department for International Development's Education Awareness Programme; and, if so, what are the names of those organisations.[HL3242]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what links the Department for International Development has with the Mir Khalil Ur Rehman Foundation; and whether they have published details of any such links. [HL3243]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations, media outlets, public relations or education specialists, other than the Mir Khalil ur Rahman Foundation, have been granted money from the media campaign grant of the Pakistan education awareness programme for advocacy and transforming education; and what were the total amounts in each case.[HL3344]
Baroness Northover (LD): Education is one of the most important factors which can transform Pakistan’s future. It boosts the economy, broadens outlooks, and offers a brighter future for poor children who may otherwise be on the streets. Our education programmes in Pakistan work with the Government, private sector and civil society and by 2015 we aim to help 4 million children in school; train 90,000 teachers; and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa construct more than 20,000 classrooms.
The Transforming Education in Pakistan programme implementing partners were appointed following a rigorous assessment process. Any organisation can apply for DFID funding, provided they meet DFID’s eligibility criteria. DFID has to date spent £8m of the total allocation for the Transforming Education in Pakistan programme.
The Mir Khalil ur Rahman Foundation runs the entire media campaign element of the Transforming Education in Pakistan programme. £4.6 million has been paid to date in Pakistani Rupees through a bank transfer.
DFID has management structures and third party validation in place across all our education programmes in Pakistan, as well as strict fiscal and audit checks, and rigorous monitoring and reporting. This is designed to prevent corruption and ensure UK taxpayers’ money is spent properly, achieves maximum value for money, secures results, and gets to where it is intended.
Under the Transforming Education in Pakistan Programme, DFID awarded MKRF an Accountable Grant of £6.9 million from January 2011 to January 2014, following a detailed assessment of their proposal. In accordance with DFID policy when awarding Accountable Grants to NGOs, no other organisations were approached.
Prisoners: Medical Treatment
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to review the practice of restraining ill or disabled prisoners while they receive medical or hospital treatment.[HL3351]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally) (LD): The decision to restrain a prisoner during a hospital visit or while undergoing medical treatment outside the establishment is taken on a case by case basis. While the application of restraints to a prisoner must always be proportionate to risk and be balanced by consideration of care and decency, there is an overriding duty on prisons to ensure that those who may pose a danger to the public, patients or staff do not escape.
Any assessment of risk must take into account not only the physical and mental condition of the prisoner and their ability to escape or cause harm while they are outside the secure environment of the prison, but also the likelihood of intervention by outside parties (including the potential for the use of firearms or other weapons) in order to facilitate escape.
The National Offender Management Service will always strive to provide ill prisoners with an environment that is conducive to their well-being and takes proper regard of the intensity of the treatment being received. The risk assessment of prisoners undergoing treatment is regularly reviewed in the light of changes to their clinical condition, the treatment being provided and any input from healthcare professionals.
As part of NOMS regular review of its policies, the policy on the external escort of prisoners (including to hospital) is due to be reviewed during 2014.
Royal Charter: Press Regulation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Royal Charter on Self-Regulation of the Press does not apply to Northern Ireland.[HL3350]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): This is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland. While the Charter is capable of operating across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it is, of course, for the Northern Ireland Executive to decide whether to take this approach.
Smoking
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what evidence they based the information on the NHS website that the toxicity of e-cigarettes is one thousandth of that of tobacco cigarettes.[HL3232]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The National Health Service website states that the level of toxins in electronic cigarettes is about one thousandth of that in cigarette smoke, which came from the findings of United States scientists Zachary Cahn and Michael Siegel published in the Journal of Public Health Policy in December 2010.
The available evidence is that electronic cigarettes are likely to be substantially less harmful that smoking tobacco cigarettes; however, the scientific evidence on the long term health effects of using these products is limited.
Sudan
Questions
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of improvements in Sudanese policing and prisons as a result of United Kingdom funding for those services.[HL3333]
Baroness Northover (LD): The UK does not directly fund the Sudanese police or prison service. The UK does support the training of police through an independent
service provider with the aim of building the capacity of the police to increase the coverage, accessibility and effectiveness of services offered to citizens. Close monitoring of the programme shows some progress on policing at the local level in a difficult environment.
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the “huge” development programmes in Sudan referred to by the United Kingdom ambassador to that country in his statement on 12 March following the visit of Lynne Featherstone, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for International Development.[HL3334]
Baroness Northover: DFID is expected to provide £48 million of programmes to Sudan in fiscal year 2013-14; about 70% of this is for humanitarian programmes which provide lifesaving support to Sudan’s most vulnerable people. We will shortly begin implementing new programmes to provide water to 500,000 people and build the resilience of communities. Funds will not go through the Government of Sudan.
Swaziland
Questions
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what bilateral and multilateral assistance they have given to Swaziland in each of the last three years; and on what that assistance has been spent.[HL3380]
Baroness Northover (LD): DFID closed its bilateral programme to Swaziland in 2005. Other UK net bilateral assistance to Swaziland over the last three years totals £4,862,662. The categories of UK net bilateral expenditure are:
2010: £11,000 for administrative costs of donors linked to colonial pensions2011: £18,000 for education, civil society and administrative costs2012: £4,834m for education, civil society, forestry and administrative costs.
UK core funding to multilateral organisations is not earmarked for a particular country or purpose and it is not possible to directly track core funding to a country or sector level. The funding eligibility decisions are made by the management and Board of each organisation. However, being members or shareholders of these organisations provide an opportunity for the UK Government to influence the design and implementation of their policies.
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they measure the effectiveness of bilateral and multilateral assistance given to Swaziland.[HL3381]
Baroness Northover: DFID’s direct bilateral support to Swaziland ended in 2005. The bilateral funding other HMG departments provide to Swaziland is tracked according to UK standards on accountability and transparency.
Core funding to multilateral organisations is not earmarked for a particular country or purpose. The funding eligibility decisions are made by the management
and Board of each organisation. However, being members or shareholders of these organisations provides an opportunity for the UK Government to influence design and implementation of their policies. DFID undertakes periodic reviews on multilateral effectiveness to ensure the UK is value for money from the core funding it gives.
Taxation: Scotland
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers to tax Scottish residents have been devolved to the Scottish Government; what are the taxes in question; and when they came or will come into force. [HL3267]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness) (LD): The power to set business rates was transferred to the Scottish Government in the Scotland Act 1998 and Local Authorities in Scotland have set Council Tax for Scottish residents since its introduction in 1993.
On 1 May 2012, the Scotland Act 2012 received Royal Assent. The Act devolves tax powers to the Scottish Government and Parliament in several areas.
Firstly, the Act included the power to set a Scottish rate of income tax. This is expected to become operational in April 2016. The main UK rates of income tax will be reduced by 10 pence in the pound for those identified as Scottish taxpayers, with a corresponding adjustment to the Scottish block grant, and the Scottish Parliament will set a rate to be added to all of the reduced UK rates. This supersedes powers which were devolved in the Scotland Act 1998 allowing the Scottish Government to vary the basic rate of income tax by up to 3 pence in the pound for Scottish taxpayers.
The Scotland Act 2012 also legislates for the switching off of UK Stamp Duty Land Tax and Landfill Tax in Scotland and devolves powers to the Scottish Government to introduce Scottish taxes to replace them. Again, there will be a corresponding adjustment to the block grant. It is expected that the switchover from UK to Scottish taxes in these areas will take place in April 2015.
The Scotland Act 2012 also introduced a process through which the two Governments can agree to create new devolved taxes in Scotland. This came into force on the same date as the Scotland Act 2012, and to date has not been used.
Telephone Calls: Unsolicited Calls
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to make it an offence for unsolicited telephone callers to withhold their numbers. [HL3323]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): The Government has no plans to do this, in view of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive (2002/58/EC) enabling callers to withhold their number. I should add that the Office of Communications (Ofcom) requires a valid calling number to be provided for calls that are made by a predictive dialler, which is how most marketing calls are made. Furthermore, the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) code of practice requires all calls made by its members to include the calling number. The Government remains keen build on work underway to tackle nuisance calls and will be publishing its action plan later this year.
Young Offenders
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children are currently held in secure units in England and Wales.[HL3330]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The number of crimes committed by young people has fallen and there has been a significant reduction in the overall number of young people in custody in the last five years. For the small minority of young people for whom custody is the most appropriate option we are committed to improving their welfare, safety, and chances of rehabilitation.
As of 27 September 2013, there were 1,249 young people aged under 18 held in custody in England and Wales. This is the most recent published data available. Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-custody-data.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the range and type of offences for which children are currently held in secure units in England and Wales.[HL3331]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Custody is the appropriate sanction for those young people who commit the most persistent and most serious crimes. We are committed to improving the welfare, safety and chances of rehabilitation for the small minority of young people who do receive a custodial sentence.
Table 1 below shows the range of actual offences for young people held in the youth secure estate in September 2013. Where more than one offence is considered in a court case or cautioning occasion, the offence that would attract the most severe sentencing outcome is deemed to be the primary offence, and other offences also dealt with in that case are ignored. If two offences in the same case attract the same sentence, the offence with the statutory maximum sentence is deemed the primary offence.
|
Using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of/ to provoke violence |
This information has been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time. The under 18 custody population data comes from the eAsset database. This is the booking system the Youth Justice Board's Placements Service uses to book young people into custody. eAsset contains the full Criminal Justice System Exchange offence list.