Monday Volume 504 18 January 2010 No. 25
HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)
Monday 18 January 2010
£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
MEMBERS OF THE CABINET
(FORMED BY THE RT.HON.GORDON BROWN,MP,JUNE 2007)
PRIME MINISTER,FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY AND MINISTER FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE—The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, MP LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,LORD PRIVY SEAL AND MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND EQUALITY—The Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman, QC, MP FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE,SECRETARY OF STATE FOR BUSINESS,INNOVATION AND SKILLS AND LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL—The Rt. Hon. Lord Mandelson CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER—The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS—The Rt. Hon. David Miliband, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR JUSTICE AND LORD CHANCELLOR—The Rt. Hon. Jack Straw, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT—The Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT,FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS—The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT—The Rt. Hon. Douglas Alexander, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT—The Rt. Hon. John Denham, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CHILDREN,SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES—The Rt. Hon. Ed Balls, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE—The Rt. Hon. Edward Miliband, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH—The Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND—The Rt. Hon. Shaun Woodward, MP LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER —The Rt. Hon. Baroness Royall of Blaisdon MINISTER FOR THE CABINET OFFICE AND FOR THE OLYMPICS, AND PAYMASTER GENERAL—The Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell, MP (Minister for London)* SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND—The Rt. Hon. Jim Murphy, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WORK AND PENSIONS—The Rt. Hon. Yvette Cooper, MP CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY—The Rt. Hon. Liam Byrne, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WALES—The Rt. Hon. Peter Hain, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE—The Rt. Hon. Bob Ainsworth, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT—The Rt. Hon. Lord Adonis SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CULTURE,MEDIA AND SPORT—The Rt. Hon. Ben Bradshaw, MP DEPARTMENTS OF STATE AND MINISTERS Business, Innovation and Skills— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Lord Mandelson § MINISTERS OF STATE— Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills—The Rt. Hon. Pat McFadden, MP Minister for Science and Innovation—The Rt. Hon. Lord Drayson § Minister for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination—The Rt. Hon. Rosie Winterton, MP (Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber)* § Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business—The Lord Davies of Abersoch, CBE § Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property—The Rt. Hon. David Lammy, MP Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs—Kevin Brennan, MP § PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— The Rt. Hon Stephen Timms, MP § The Lord Young of Norwood Green Ian Lucas, MP Cabinet Office— MINISTER FOR THE CABINET OFFICE AND FOR THE OLYMPICS, AND PAYMASTER GENERAL—The Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell, MP (Minister for London)* MINISTER OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Angela E Smith, MP PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY—Dawn Butler, MP Children, Schools and Families— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Ed Balls, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— Minister for Children, Young People and Families—The Rt. Hon. Dawn Primarolo, MP Minister for Schools and Learners—Vernon Coaker, MP Kevin Brennan, MP § PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Iain Wright, MP The Baroness Morgan of Drefelin Diana R Johnson, MP ii HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT—cont.
Communities and Local Government— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. John Denham, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— Minister for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination—The Rt. Hon. Rosie Winterton, MP (Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber)* § Minister for Housing—The Rt. Hon. John Healey, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Barbara Follett, MP (Minister for the East of England)* Shahid Malik, MP Ian Austin, MP (Minister for the West Midlands)* The Lord McKenzie of Luton § Culture, Media and Sport— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Ben Bradshaw, MP MINISTER OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Margaret Hodge, MBE, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Gerry Sutcliffe, MP Siôn Simon, MP Defence— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Bob Ainsworth, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— Minister for the Armed Forces—Bill Rammell, MP The Rt. Hon. Lord Drayson § PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— The Rt. Hon. Baroness Taylor of Bolton § Quentin Davies, MP Kevan Jones, MP Duchy of Lancaster— CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER AND LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS—The Rt. Hon. Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Energy and Climate Change— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Edward Miliband, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— The Rt. Hon. Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, OBE Joan Ruddock, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE— David Kidney, MP Environment, Food and Rural Affairs— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn, MP MINISTER OF STATE— Jim Fitzpatrick, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Huw Irranca-Davies, MP Dan Norris, MP The Rt. Hon. Lord Davies of Oldham § Foreign and Commonwealth Office— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. David Miliband, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— Minister for Africa and the UN—The Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business—The Lord Davies of Abersoch, CBE § Ivan Lewis, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Minister for Europe—Chris Bryant, MP The Rt. Hon. Baroness Taylor of Bolton § Government Equalities Office— MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND EQUALITY—The Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman, QC, MP § MINISTER OF STATE—Maria Eagle, MP § PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY—Michael Jabez Foster, MP (Hastings and Rye) Health— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— The Rt. Hon. Mike O’Brien, QC, MP Phil Hope, MP (Minister for the East Midlands)* Gillian Merron, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE— Ann Keen, MP HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT—cont. iii
Home Office— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— Minister for Borders and Immigration—Phil Woolas, MP (Minister for the North West)* § Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism—The Rt. Hon. David Hanson, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Admiral The Lord West of Spithead, GCB DSC Meg Hillier, MP Alan Campbell, MP The Lord Brett § International Development— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Douglas Alexander, MP MINISTER OF STATE—Gareth Thomas, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE— Michael Foster, MP (Worcester) Justice— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Jack Straw, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— The Rt. Hon. Michael Wills, MP Maria Eagle, MP § PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Bridget Prentice, MP The Lord Bach Claire Ward, MP Law Officers’ Department— ATTORNEY-GENERAL—The Rt. Hon. Baroness Scotland of Asthal, QC SOLICITOR-GENERAL—Vera Baird, QC, MP ADVOCATE-GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND—The Lord Davidson of Glen Clova, QC Leader of the House of Commons— LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,LORD PRIVY SEAL AND MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND EQUALITY—The Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman, QC, MP § PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY,OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS— Barbara Keeley, MP Northern Ireland— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Shaun Woodward, MP MINISTER OF STATE— The Rt. Hon. Paul Goggins, MP Privy Council Office— LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL,FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR BUSINESS,INNOVATION AND SKILLS—The Rt. Hon. Lord Mandelson § Scotland Office— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Jim Murphy, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE— Ann McKechin, MP Transport— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Lord Adonis MINISTER OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Paul Clark, MP Chris Mole, MP Treasury— PRIME MINISTER,FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY AND MINISTER FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE—The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, MP CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER—The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling, MP CHIEF SECRETARY—The Rt. Hon. Liam Byrne, MP FINANCIAL SECRETARY—The Rt. Hon. Stephen Timms, MP § MINISTER OF STATE—Phil Woolas, MP (Minister for the North West)* § ECONOMIC SECRETARY—Ian Pearson, MP EXCHEQUER SECRETARY—Sarah McCarthy-Fry, MP PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY—The Rt. Hon. Nicholas Brown, MP (Minister for the North East)* FINANCIAL SERVICES SECRETARY—The Lord Myners, CBE iv HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT—cont.
LORDS COMMISSIONERS— Frank Roy, MP Steve McCabe, MP Dave Watts, MP Tony Cunningham, MP Bob Blizzard, MP ASSISTANT WHIPS— Mark Tami, MP George Mudie, MP John Heppell, MP Lyn Brown, MP Mary Creagh, MP Sharon Hodgson, MP Kerry McCarthy, MP David Wright, MP Wales Office— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Peter Hain, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE— Wayne David, MP Work and Pensions— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt. Hon. Yvette Cooper, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform—The Rt. Hon. Jim Knight, MP (Minister for the South West)* Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society—Angela Eagle, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Jonathan Shaw, MP (Minister for the South East)* Helen Goodman, MP The Lord McKenzie of Luton § Her Majesty’s Household— LORD CHAMBERLAIN—The Rt. Hon. Earl Peel, GCVO, DL LORD STEWARD—The Earl of Dalhousie MASTER OF THE HORSE—The Rt. Hon. Lord Vestey, KCVO TREASURER—The Rt. Hon. Thomas McAvoy, MP COMPTROLLER—The Rt. Hon. John Spellar, MP VICE-CHAMBERLAIN—Helen Jones, MP CAPTAIN OF THE HONOURABLE CORPS OF GENTLEMEN-AT-ARMS—The Lord Bassam of Brighton CAPTAIN OF THE QUEEN’S BODYGUARD OF THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD—The Rt. Hon. Lord Davies of Oldham § LORDS IN WAITING—The Lord Tunnicliffe, The Lord Young of Norwood Green, The Lord Brett §, The Lord Faulkner of Worcester BARONESSES IN WAITING—The Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton, The Baroness Thornton, The Baroness Crawley
§ Members of the Government with responsibilities in more than one area
* Regional Ministers (in addition to other ministerial responsibilities)
Full list: Ministers for the English Regions— Ian Austin, MP (Minister for the West Midlands) The Rt. Hon. Nicholas Brown, MP (Minister for the North East) Barbara Follett, MP (Minister for the East of England) Phil Hope, MP (Minister for the East Midlands) The Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell, MP (Minister for London) The Rt. Hon. Jim Knight, MP (Minister for the South West) Jonathan Shaw, MP (Minister for the South East) The Rt. Hon. Rosie Winterton, MP (Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber) Phil Woolas, MP (Minister for the North West)
SECOND CHURCH ESTATES COMMISSIONER,REPRESENTING CHURCH COMMISSIONERS—Sir Stuart Bell, MP HOUSE OF COMMONS
THE SPEAKER—The Rt. Hon. John Bercow, MP CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS—The Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP FIRST DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS—Sylvia Heal, MP SECOND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS—Sir Michael Lord, MP CHAIRMEN’S PANEL Mr. David Amess, MP, Janet Anderson, MP, Mr. Peter Atkinson, MP, Hugh Bayley, MP, Miss Anne Begg, MP, Mr. Joe Benton, MP, Mr. Clive Betts, MP, Mr. Graham Brady, MP, Sir John Butterfill, MP, Mr. Martin Caton, MP, Mr. Christopher Chope, MP, Frank Cook, MP, John Cummings, MP, Mrs. Janet Dean, MP, Mr. Nigel Evans, MP, Christopher Fraser, MP, Mr. Roger Gale, MP, Mr. Mike Hancock, MP, Mr. Jim Hood, MP, The Rt. Hon. George Howarth, MP, Mrs. Joan Humble, MP, Mr. Eric Illsley, MP, Mr. Martyn Jones, MP, Robert Key, MP, Dr. William McCrea, MP, Mr. Eric Martlew, MP, Mr. Edward O’Hara, MP, Mr. Bill Olner, MP, Mr. Greg Pope, MP, Bob Russell, MP, Jim Sheridan, MP, Mr. Gary Streeter, MP, Joan Walley, MP, Mr. Mike Weir, MP, Hywel Williams, MP, Mr. David Wilshire, MP, Ann Winterton, MP, Sir Nicholas Winterton, MP HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION The Rt. Hon. The Speaker (Chairman), Sir Stuart Bell, MP, The Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman, QC, MP, Nick Harvey, MP, The Rt. Hon. David Maclean, MP, The Rt. Hon. Sir George Young, MP SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION—Dorian Gerhold ASSISTANT SECRETARY—Robert Cope ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATE AUDIT COMMITTEE The Rt. Hon. Sir George Young, MP (Chairman), Clive Betts, MP, Nick Harvey, MP, Mark Clarke, Alex Jablonowski, David Taylor SECRETARY OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE—Hannah White, PhD MANAGEMENT BOARD Malcolm Jack, PhD (Chief Executive), Robert Rogers (Director General, Chamber and Committee Services), John Pullinger (Director General, Information Services), Andrew Walker (Director General, Resources), John Borley, CB (Director General, Facilities), Joan Miller (Director of Parliamentary ICT) (External Member), Alex Jablonowski (External Member) SECRETARY OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD—Philippa Helme SPEAKER’S SECRETARY—Angus Sinclair SPEAKER’S COUNSEL—Michael Carpenter SPEAKER’S CHAPLAIN—Rev. Canon Robert Wright MEDICAL ADVISER TO THE SPEAKER—Dr. Ron Zeegen, OBE, FRCP, MRCS, DObst, RCOG PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER FOR STANDARDS—John Lyon, CB PARLIAMENTARY SECURITY CO-ORDINATOR—Peter Mason
18 January 2010
THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT
IN THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE FIFTY-FOURTH PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND [WHICH OPENED 11 MAY 2005]
FIFTY-EIGHTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
SIXTH SERIES VOLUME 504 FOURTH VOLUME OF SESSION 2009-2010
but I wonder how readily schools and other organisations House of Commons know how to start a partnership with that excellent scheme. Monday 18 January 2010 Mr. Sutcliffe: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising the issue. I know that he does a lot of work on The House met at half-past Two o’clock sport in his constituency and that he has excellent sports colleges in his constituency. The idea behind the programme is that the premier league, with all the PRAYERS power of its branding, can work with schools to give youngsters tasters in some of the sports in which they would not normally be involved, including Olympic and [MR.SPEAKER in the Chair] Paralympic sports such as badminton, volley ball, table tennis and judo. Oral Answers to Questions Product Placement
3. Mr. Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) (Lab): What recent representations he has received on product placement CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT in UK-made television programmes. [310889]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, The Secretary of State was asked— Media and Sport (Mr. Siôn Simon): Around 1,400 responses Premier League 4 Sport have been received to the Department’s consultation on this subject. 2. Mr. Bill Olner (Nuneaton) (Lab): How many premier league 4 sport partnerships have been established; and Mr. Hoyle: I am sure that my hon. Friend would what assessment he has made of their effectiveness. agree that product placement is needed. Indeed, there is [310888] cross-party support for product placement, which provides an important revenue stream to ensure that we can have The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, political programmes in our regions. However, would he Media and Sport (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): There are 20 premier agree that we need a European standard, because at the league 4 sport partnerships, which have led to 240 clubs moment, we have children watching films from America being set up in schools, with associations to 75 community that are uncensored in any way for product placement? hub clubs. Data on the number of young people who took part in a premier league 4 sport session during its Mr. Simon: My hon. Friend makes his point first term will be available by the end of this month. outstandingly well and in his inimitable fashion. We are currently at a competitive disadvantage compared with Mr. Olner: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer other European nations and other English-speaking and congratulate the premier league 4 sport partnerships, countries— but how do schools manage to connect with the programme? We have a sporting college in my constituency, Mr. Edward Vaizey (Wantage) (Con): America. 3 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 4
Mr. Simon: Indeed. The hon. Gentleman wisely helps that the way to get school and pupil activity up is by me along from the Opposition Front Bench. However, continuing to invest in this area, which is something many of the consultation responses are about ensuring that his party is not committed to doing. that we put in place the right safeguards to protect children, in both the programming that we allow and Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): Will my right hon. the product categories that we allow. Friend take this opportunity to join me in congratulating Iqbal Singh Bola, a British gold medallist in taekwondo Christopher Fraser (South-West Norfolk) (Con): The who has lived in Slough since he was born in 1989? He British Medical Association has said of product placement: provides an inspiration for other young people in sport. “Studies show that children are particularly susceptible to Will my right hon. Friend urge communities to recognise embedded brand messages and these operate at a subconscious the contribution that excellence and winning in sport level.” can make to fostering aspiration among young people? We still await the Government’s response to the review Mr. Bradshaw: Yes, I gladly congratulate my hon. launched last November, but can the Minister clarify Friend’s constituent. She makes a good point, because what safeguards have been considered in the event of she has named a sport mentioned by some who are the status quo being retained? critical of the broad range of sports and physical activities now offered to children in schools. Not only traditional Mr. Simon: The consultation, which closed a couple sports but less traditional ones are being offered, which of weeks ago, mainly concerned itself with the programme means that some children who would not otherwise categories that might be excluded—children’s programming have become physically active or involved in sport are is already excluded under the European directive—but now doing so, like her constituent. it also looked at whether we should include family entertainment or other programming that children might David Tredinnick (Bosworth) (Con): Will the Minister watch, even though it might not be aimed at them, and then support the Conservative initiative for a schools whether we should include product categories, such as Olympics? Does it not fit in with his policy, and would it alcohol or foods that are high in fat, sugar or salt. not be another way to improve health care?
Competitive Sports (Schools) Mr. Bradshaw: We already have what I would call two schools Olympics. They are the UK School Games, which give elite athletes from our schools a chance to 4. Mr. Shailesh Vara (North-West Cambridgeshire) compete annually, and National School Sport week, (Con): What recent steps he has taken to encourage which involves every school in the country competing. I children to undertake competitive sports in school. do not know what would be new about the Conservatives’ [310890] idea except that they would have a major row with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Paralympic Games for copyright reasons if they (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): There has been a steady rise in the tried to use the Olympics name. number of young people taking up competitive sport since 2003, thanks to the large investment in both Sport (Integrity and Reputation) schools sport in general and competitive sport in particular, so that, for example, 100 per cent. of primary schools 5. John Robertson (Glasgow, North-West) (Lab): What and 98 per cent. of secondary schools held sports days recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of in the past academic year. his Department’s measures to protect the integrity and reputation of sport. [310891] Mr. Vara: I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that response, but notwithstanding his comments, a The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, recent report by the British Heart Foundation found Media and Sport (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): It is the responsibility that more than 1.5 million children are either overweight of sport’s national governing bodies to run their sports or obese. Given that, how do the Government propose in a way that protects their integrity and reputation. to deal with the fact that less than a fifth of pupils in Government will assist where appropriate and where it years 3 to 13 regularly take part in active sport between is necessary to safeguard those involved, not least schools? participants and spectators. Recent measures include setting up the anti-doping agency to tackle the traffic Mr. Bradshaw: That is not strictly the case. If the hon. and supply of doping substances and commissioning Gentleman looks closely at the figures, instead of the an independent report on sports betting integrity. rather tendentious coverage of them given by one or two newspapers, he will find that whereas only one in John Robertson: I thank my hon. Friend for his four children did at least two hours of high-quality PE answer, but he will be aware of what effect internet and sport each week in 2002, more than 90 per cent. of gambling could have on sport in years to come. The children do so now. When it comes to competitive sport Government have set up the Sports Betting Integrity between schools, 69 per cent. of pupils were involved in Panel. When can we expect its report so that we can find competitive sports within schools, on top of their regular out exactly what is going on and protect the integrity of PE, and 44 per cent. of schools were involved in inter-school sportsmen and women? activities. Each of those figures is higher than the year before, and each figure for the year before was higher Mr. Sutcliffe: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for than the year before that. There has been a year-on-year raising that point. I know that he is keen on sport and increase. However, I have to tell the hon. Gentleman the integrity of sportsmen and women. We are dealing 5 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 6 with the issue in a particular way because we want to Mr. Don Foster (Bath) (LD): Although, as the hon. ensure that those people who participate in sport know Member for North-East Derbyshire (Natascha Engel) the dangers of betting issues. I commissioned a report rightly pointed out, the Conservatives threaten the by Rick Parry, which I hope will be delivered soon. independence of the BBC, does the Secretary of State There are issues relating to the work of the Gambling not accept that he and his party are just as guilty? Does Commission to be ironed out, but we expect the panel’s not top-slicing mean that the BBC will constantly have report very soon. I think that most sport is clean, but to look over its shoulder to ensure that it does not the panel will set about ensuring that people who participate offend the Government of the day, for fear that the know the rules and the penalties if they do not operate top-slicing will be made even bigger, as happened in properly and that sports have the right rules for dealing Ireland, for example? How does top-slicing defend the with integrity issues. independence of the BBC?
Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): Given that bookmakers Mr. Bradshaw: The hon. Gentleman knows very well are usually the victims when there is any such cheating that there is nothing in the charter that obviates the use in sport, and given that the Government are trying to of a fraction of the licence fee to help to fund digital extricate themselves from a levy on horse racing, does switchover, as we are already doing. What would threaten the Minister agree that it would be completely wrong to the independence of the BBC would be to fund it try to go down the line of having a sports levy? through general taxation, which at least some of the Conservatives seem to be proposing. I do not believe Mr. Sutcliffe: The hon. Gentleman has been involved that the public would want that, because they value the with such issues for some time; indeed, as a member of independence of the BBC very highly, and they would the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport, he be worried by the prospect of a taxation-funded BBC, has taken evidence on them. There must be a fair return given the liability of Governments to interfere, editorially to sport, and I am keen to ensure that. I would prefer it and financially. to be through a voluntary arrangement, but we must Television Licence Fee ensure that where the Government are involved—he is right that we want to extricate ourselves from the levy, but that is proving more difficult than we thought it 7. Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): What might—there needs to be a balance between racing and recent representations he has received on the level of betting. I hope that both parties can work together. the television licence fee. [310893] The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport BBC (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): I regularly receive representations on the licence fee, but, for the reasons that we have just 6. Natascha Engel (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab): been discussing, we believe that it is an important If he will take steps to maintain the financial guarantee of the BBC’s independence, and that independence of the BBC. [310892] Governments should therefore respect the multi-annual nature of the license fee agreement. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): The financial independence of the Mr. Evans: Well, here is another representation. Forty- BBC helps guarantee its editorial independence and, nine executives at the BBC earn more than the Prime until recently, has been respected by all parties. The Minister. That means that the licence fee payments of Labour party will do all that it can to ensure that all the constituents of Ribble Valley and neighbouring financial and editorial independence are maintained Chorley go on their salaries alone. If that were happening and defended. in any other institution, the “Today” programme would have done a hatchet job on it by now. Can we have a freeze on the licence fee until Auntie sorts herself out? Natascha Engel: I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. I am grateful that he has put on record our Mr. Bradshaw: The hon. Gentleman needs to speak strong support for the BBC’s independence, and I hope to those on his own Front Bench. That is indeed what that he shares my concern that the constant threat to they advocated last year, but their position changed in BBC funding from Opposition parties serves only to October. It changed again in November, and it has now undermine the BBC’s editorial independence and creative changed back to the original one—[HON.MEMBERS: output. “What is your policy?”] Our policy is as I have stated. There has been consensus on both sides of the House Mr. Bradshaw: I agree entirely. It would be helpful if for decades that an important guarantor of the BBC’s my Conservative opposite number would take this independence is that Governments do not interfere opportunity to clarify his party’s policies, as it is not at with or—as some in the hon. Gentleman’s party have all clear whether the Conservatives support the licence advocated—tear up the multi-annual licence fee agreement. fee or, as Greg Dyke does—he chairs their media group If we were to go down that road, we would be threatening but has not yet reported, rather to our surprise—funding the very independence of the BBC. That is an important by taxation. matter for the British people, because they value the BBC’s independence, which would be threatened by his Mr. Speaker: Order. May I say gently to the Secretary party’s policies. of State that I know that he will not want to dilate on Opposition policy, or indeed expect Opposition Members Mr. John Grogan (Selby) (Lab): Does my right hon. to do so? He will have more than enough to say about Friend agree that, in any assessment of the level of the Government policy. licence fee, it is well worth taking into account the 7 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 8 recent report by Deloitte, which observed that the licence Margaret Hodge: I will indeed to try to visit the fee generated £7.2 billion, which is twice its value in exhibition by the university of Sunderland. Many of terms of the BBC’s support of the independent sector our universities have excellent museums, and I consider and the wider creative economy? at regular intervals how they are to be funded and sustained to ensure that we maintain the excellence that Mr. Bradshaw: I agree with my hon. Friend. We can many of those university museums promote. all make criticisms of individual decisions that the BBC may or may not have taken, but the licence fee costs Mr. John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford) about the equivalent of a pint of beer a week. It costs (Con): As well as the consternation felt about the cut in considerably less than the licence fee for German television, the amount of lottery income going to heritage and at which carries adverts. Anyone who has ever suffered the absence of the draft Heritage Protection Bill, is the German television will agree with me that the BBC is Minister aware of the consternation in the heritage far better, and delivers far better value for money than sector at the original draft of planning policy statement 15, many of its competitors abroad. which the Royal Town Planning Institute called National Lottery “a charter for people who want to knock buildings down”? Can she confirm that she is talking to the Department 8. Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con): What proportion for Communities and Local Government to ensure that of national lottery income has been spent on heritage in the redraft offers historic buildings in this country the each of the last three years? [310894] protection they need? The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Margaret Hodge): Since 1997, the national Margaret Hodge: I am indeed in constant conversations lottery has raised more than £3.3 billion for the heritage with my colleagues in the Department for Communities sector. The Heritage Lottery Fund spent almost £1 billion and Local Government about their review of such of lottery money in the last three years, equivalent to planning guidance. I hope shortly to bring forward a 26.2 per cent., 21.3 per cent. and 22.3 per cent. of total statement—a cross-Government statement—about the lottery income during those years. importance of heritage. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that we should try to reintroduce the lost Bill as soon as Mr. Swire: That is all very well, but the Minister we possibly can because it is an important Bill that knows full well that, in 2008-09, the Heritage Lottery would demonstrate our commitment to heritage. Until Fund distributed £88 million less than in 2005-06. One that comes about, however, I hope that my statement of the reasons for that, as she knows equally well, is about the value of heritage and the work I do with that, consistently over the years, the Government have colleagues across Government will reassure the heritage raided more than £3 billion to shore up their own pet sector that we value its contributions. projects. Is it not time, in the dying days of this Government, for them to support the Conservative policy of having a Mr. Edward Vaizey (Wantage) (Con): As well as cutting new national lottery independence Bill, which would the funding to heritage, does the Minister take note of stop the Government sticking their sticky fingers into the report of the Public Accounts Committee, which lottery funds? pointed out that the Department’s targets for broadening the audience were unrealistic, obsolete, set without clear Margaret Hodge: It may be “all very well”, but it is evidence and that free education visits to heritage sites actually true that the percentage of the lottery fund that had fallen by 20 per cent.? Is that not another damning went to heritage during the three years that the hon. indictment of her Department’s heritage policy? Gentleman asked about exceeds the percentage that the Conservatives would give under their proposals. The Margaret Hodge: At a recent speech, the hon. Member way in which we currently administer the lottery fund is for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) quoted Harold Pinter in the interests of the country. Were the Conservative as saying party’s proposals to be put in place, investments in community libraries and other good causes would go. “as important as what is said, is that which is left unsaid”. Furthermore, the money that goes to heritage is only I urge the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr. Vaizey) to partly funded through the lottery fund. More than have regard to those words when he sets his questions. £660 million comes directly from my Department, and The PAC report was not about the heritage sector as a £130 million comes from the Big Lottery Fund. Under whole; it was about English Heritage. English Heritage the Conservative party’s proposals, those amounts contributes to the targets we set across the heritage would be— sector as a whole. Those targets are important, because we want to see who participates and enjoys the vast Mr. Speaker: Order. We have got the drift. That is array of heritage on offer in this country. We will very helpful, thank you. continue with those targets, although we will have regard to the PAC recommendations on other matters that Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton, South) (Lab): Does my pertain to English Heritage alone. right hon. Friend know that the university of Sunderland is exhibiting its glass in the Upper Waiting Hall? I hope Channel 4 that the ministerial team will visit the exhibition and congratulate the university on it. In what way is her Department supporting the brilliant work that is being 9. David Cairns (Inverclyde) (Lab): What progress his done by universities such as Sunderland? It is internationally Department has made on the implementation of the renowned and now, through the national lottery, has initiative contained in the Digital Britain report to give accepted responsibility for the National Glass Centre. Channel4anewpublicservice remit. [310895] 9 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 10
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, for the arts and culture, yet at the same time he has cut Media and Sport (Mr. Siôn Simon): A new remit for funding for the Tate, the Science Museum, the national Channel 4 is being agreed as part of the Digital Economy museums of Liverpool, and the Wallace collection. So Bill, which is currently in the other place. Its remit will should the arts world believe what the Government say, be extended particularly to cover digital aspects, older or what they do? children and young adults, as well as to the making and distribution of British films. Margaret Hodge: First, I hope that you, Mr. Speaker, will allow me to draw attention to the apparent split in David Cairns: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. the Conservative party between the Front-Bench Does he agree with me that Channel 4 has made a spokesperson and the Mayor of London, who consistently magnificent contribution to public service broadcasting says publicly what some Opposition Front-Bench Members in this country for well over a quarter of a century? Will say privately about the policy of free admissions. May I he take this opportunity to dismiss any advice to the also invite the hon. Gentleman to write to me with the contrary that he may be receiving and today rule out the details of these alleged cuts, because what I see from all privatisation of Channel 4? the figures in front of me is that we have recently been able to find additional resources to enable the Tate to go Mr. Simon: I am very happy to agree that Channel 4 forward with its further development, and that all other is overshadowed in its contribution to public service museums have enjoyed an increase in this comprehensive broadcasting only by the BBC. It is an outstanding spending review? institution—one that needs to continue to deliver public service in the public sector. The recent proposals by Mr. Hunt: I would be happy to do so, and also to Policy Exchange, the Conservatives’ favourite think-tank, send the Minister details of a leaked Treasury document to privatise Channel 4 are, I agree with my hon. Friend, saying that non-ring-fenced Departments would face as absurd as their creative industries taskforce’s idea to funding cuts of 17 per cent. in order to meet Government get rid of the BBC licence fee. spending requirements. We have announced policies to help the arts get through this difficult period, such as Museums and Galleries (Admission) reforming the lottery, boosting philanthropy and cutting arts administration. Those are our policies; what are the 10. Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes) (Lab): When his Government’s? Department plans next to review its policy on free admission to national museums and galleries. [310896] Margaret Hodge: The hon. Gentleman’s policies are akin simply to moving the deckchairs on the Titanic. The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media Cutting the lottery fund from many of the very good and Sport (Margaret Hodge): The free admissions policy causes to which it currently contributes in order to continues to be immensely successful. Visits to museums substitute for Government funding is no answer. Let me that previously charged have risen from 7.2 million also say to him that we have yet to enter into discussions when we first introduced the policy in 2001 to 16 million about the next CSR, but he will be aware that we on this in 2008-09—an increase of 124 per cent. My Department, team secured a very good settlement last time, although unlike the Conservative party, remains fully committed there were cuts across Government. I have no doubt to maintaining free admission to all our national museums. that we can in future persuade our colleagues about the importance of investment in arts and culture from the Shona McIsaac: I totally agree with my right hon. taxpayer, not through the lottery. Friend about the success of the policy of free admissions to galleries in London, but I would like a little of that Holiday Lettings (Taxation) generosity to flow out from London to support many of our regional galleries, particularly the national Fishing 13. Mr. Robert Goodwill (Scarborough and Whitby) Heritage Centre in Grimsby, whose opening hours, I am (Con): What recent discussions he has had with the sorry to say, the local Lib-Dem council is going to cut. Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effects on the tourism industry of changes in taxation of furnished Hon. Members: Shame! holiday lettings. [310899]
Margaret Hodge: While I cannot account for the The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media shameful actions of that Liberal Democrat council, I and Sport (Margaret Hodge): I met my right hon. Friend can assure my hon. Friend that there are museums the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in December to outside London that also benefit from this policy, such discuss the tourism industry’s concerns about the potential as the national museums in Liverpool, which have had impact of the rule changes on the self-catering sector. I a 279 per cent. increase in visitor numbers, and the also helped to convene a meeting in December between Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, where representatives of the Tourism Alliance, the Financial there has been a 158 per cent. increase in attendance. Secretary and Treasury officials.
Mr. Jeremy Hunt (South-West Surrey) (Con): Like Mr. Goodwill: Well, I actually managed to speak to the Government, I am very happy to confirm that we the Chancellor about this before Christmas in one of fully support the policy of free admission to museums. the Division Lobbies, when I told him how angry farmers Unlike the Government, however, we are prepared to be in the north Yorkshire moors area are that some of much more honest about the financial challenges ahead. their diversification projects have been holed below the Last week, the Secretary of State told the RSA that he waterline by these changes. If only 10 per cent. of the was confident that he would be able to sustain funding jobs in this sector go, that will amount to 2,400 jobs. Is 11 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 12 it not beyond the bounds of possibility to think of a The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, way to give an exemption to genuine businesses, and not Media and Sport (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): The latest figures to throw the net around those private people who have from Sport England’s active people survey show that holiday cottages, who were previously getting this more than 31 per cent. of 16 to 24-year-olds regularly exemption? participate in sport—the definition used is three 30-minute moderate-intensity sessions per week. I am pleased to Margaret Hodge: I would be delighted to hear from say that that continues the upward trend of sports the hon. Gentleman if he has ideas as to how we can participation among this age group since 2006, and ensure that we implement this change, which is required reflects the good progress that we have made in growing because of European legislation, in a way that does not grass-roots community sport over that time. damage the particular sector that he mentions. I have been in constant discussion with people in the sector. Derek Twigg: One way to encourage young people to They have put forward three proposals so far, none of continue in sport after they leave school is to showcase which actually work—we have examined them in detail. our best sport as widely as possible in the media. If he or any other Conservative Member has any practical Therefore, does the Minister agree that it would be a proposals to make that would enable us to meet our EU major mistake if a decision were taken to remove the obligations and benefit the sector, I would be more than rugby league challenge cup competition from terrestrial happy to listen to those and take them forward. television? Mr. Sutcliffe: May I congratulate my hon. Friend on Mr. Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth, East) (Con): I putting his question as he did? He will know that we are am afraid that this is yet another example of tourism consulting on the listed system for broadcasting, but he being pushed to the back of the queue by this Government. makes a good point about rugby league. I know that The tourism industry is right to ask, “What have this that is his favourite sport; it sits alongside his beloved Government done for us?” The tourism budget has Liverpool football club. It is important that we ensure been slashed, the sea change funding has all but dried that people participate in sport and that we use role up, the responsibility for English tourism has been models in particular sports to encourage young people thrown into confusion by the introduction of regional to take part. development agencies, nothing has been done to harness the opportunities provided by the Olympics and now Domestic Film Industry there has been a raid by the Treasury on the furnished holiday lets. So I ask the Minister: what have this 15. Mr. Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway) Government done for tourism? The Romans can at (Lab): What plans he has for future assistance to the least point to the aqueducts and the roads. Let us hear domestic film industry; and if he will make a statement. from her as to how the industry is going to be helped. [310901]
Margaret Hodge: The Government invest some £2 billion The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, in support of our tourism industry, and the Conservatives, Media and Sport (Mr. Siôn Simon): The UK Film with their plans to cut public spending before we are Council annually receives about £25 million of grant properly out of the recession, would damage it far more funding and £30 million of lottery funding, which it than we would. invests in supporting British film. The Government May I give a few examples? This Government introduced will continue to provide film tax relief; we provided free admissions to our museums. Eight out of 10 of the £100 million-worth of tax credit last year. The proposed most popular destinations for visitors in the UK are merger between the UK Film Council and the British those museums, so we supported the tourism industry Film Institute will create a single streamlined body that in the way that we have made our museums more will deliver even more for UK audiences and for the attractive. This Government introduced the sea change film sector. programme, which has enabled us to invest, through Mr. Brown: May I thank the Minister for his reply? It heritage funding and in other ways, to bring back— is reassuring that the British film industry appears to be [Interruption.] May I say to the hon. Member for in a reasonably healthy state. What is the Department Bournemouth, East (Mr. Ellwood), who is speaking doing through other bodies to encourage young people from a sedentary position, that that programme is funded from disadvantaged backgrounds to engage in art and and has been funded? I look forward to a commitment drama and, thus, have the potential to become the stars from those on the Conservative Benches that they will of the future? continue to fund it in the way that we intend to do.
Mr. Speaker: Order. I am grateful to the Minister. Mr. Simon: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his Her answer was a little on the long side, but it was question. He is a great champion of such access for prolonged by excessive chuntering from a sedentary people from ordinary backgrounds in his constituency. position by Opposition Front Benchers, of which we He is right that British film is undergoing a bumper need to see no repetition. year, with three quarters of fantastic figures so far and fabulous figures expected tomorrow thanks to 10 years of the kind of investment that I have been talking Sports (Young People) about. Last week, I visited the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, which cannot be 14. Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab): What his most beaten in the world as an elite institution that is bending recent estimate is of the number of 16 to 24-year-olds over backwards to draw in pupils from the broadest who regularly participate in sport. [310900] possible social base and to support them. 13 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 14
Libraries Mr. Bradshaw: The first thing that I would say to my hon. Friend is that local newspapers and local newspaper 16. Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): What recent groups have warmly welcomed the Government’s proposals representations he has received on maintaining libraries for the new regional news consortia. Many local newspaper as a statutory service required from local government; groups are involved in bidding for some of the pilots to and if he will make a statement. [310902] which I have just referred. I have some sympathy with his point about the impact of local government free The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media sheets and their advertising on local newspapers. He and Sport (Margaret Hodge): We have received a number might have noticed that we announced in December, of representations on public libraries as part of our just before Christmas, that we would continue to require modernisation review consultation exercise, including local authorities to advertise in paid-for newspapers. some comments on libraries as a statutory service. We The Department for Communities and Local Government will consider these responses in detail when the consultation is undertaking a review of the publicity code for local closes on 26 January and publish a policy statement authorities, in which we have made our opinions quite incorporating responses to the consultation in the spring. clear.
Tony Baldry: Does the Minister agree that there is Topical Questions always a risk that libraries will end up as something of a Cinderella service? Does she also agree that for those T1. [310907] Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) who have listened to this afternoon’s exchanges in questions, (Lab): If he will make a statement on his departmental the idea that the Government will be able to maintain responsibilities. exactly the same spending on her Department after the general election, whoever wins, and that that will simply The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport continue in a steady state is wholly unrealistic? Is it not (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): My Department is responsible for time for a collective grown-up debate about how we are a range of policies to support culture, media and sport, going to make savings and reduce the public deficit which, taken together, had their best year ever last year. while causing the minimum danger and damage to They now account for 10 per cent. of the United public services— Kingdom’s gross domestic product, which is the highest proportion for the creative sectors, broadly speaking, of Mr. Speaker: Order. I am extremely grateful to the any country in the world. hon. Gentleman, but I think that we have the thrust of his question. Derek Wyatt: Will the Minister tell us why there has been such a delay in implementing the Legal Deposit Margaret Hodge: Funding for libraries is actually a Libraries Act 2003? matter for the Department for Communities and Local Government, which funds libraries through the local The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media government settlement and local government grants. I and Sport (Margaret Hodge): I agree that there has been agree with the hon. Gentleman that libraries can become an unacceptable delay in implementing this particular a Cinderella service in many local authority areas, and part of the Act, which is why we have taken action. Just it was because of that danger that I instituted this two or three weeks ago, we put out to consultation the review. I want to ensure that we get a library service that necessary drafts to ensure that we can implement at is fit for purpose in the 21st century and that can be least part of the Act and so that libraries can start to afforded by local authorities on a firm footing. collect books that are published online as well as hardback books. I accept the criticism and hope that the speedy Local News Services action that I have taken will rectify that position.
17. Mr. David Crausby (Bolton, North-East) (Lab): T4. [310910] Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con): Has What steps his Department is taking to secure the the Secretary of State made an assessment of the effect future of local news services. [310903] on the Met Office if it loses its contract with the BBC, and what safeguards can he give to the 1,200 employees The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of the Met Office who work in his own constituency? (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): We intend to secure the future of local and regional news through new regional news Mr. Bradshaw: I am sure the hon. Gentleman recognises consortia, starting with pilots in Wales, Scotland and that the work of the Met Office is much broader and the Tyne Tees and Borders region. Last week, the more comprehensive than simply the service that it Government announced the successful bidders that will provides to the BBC, although that is an important go through to the next stage of the process. We do not service. The BBC is required under its charter to review agree with those who appear to believe that the market such contracts in terms of providing value for money alone can secure the future of high quality regional for the licence fee payer. I am sure the Met Office, which news, which is greatly valued by both the public and is probably the best and most respected meteorological Members of this House. office anywhere in the world, in spite of recent criticisms of its long-term forecast for the winter, will have a Mr. Crausby: Local newspapers, such as The Bolton strong chance of maintaining that contract. News, face increasing competition from other media sources. What can my right hon. Friend do to ensure T3. [310909] Mrs. Linda Riordan (Halifax) (Lab/Co-op): that Government advertising is steered towards these Will the Minister join me in congratulating the vital local sources? 16,000 people who signed up to the recent campaign to 15 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 16 save our central library from the Tory council, which T6. [310912] Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) planned to bulldoze Halifax central library without any (Ind): The AllStarz gymnastics group has benefited consultation? Will she outline the Government’s plans from the Government’s extended schools programme, a to keep libraries at the centre of our communities in the supportive community school, Addington high, and 21st century? the local authority, but its continued existence is somewhat compromised by financial difficulties. I Margaret Hodge: I take pleasure in congratulating know that English Gymnastics and Sport England are the citizens of Halifax and the hon. Member who supportive, but where should I turn to try and get represents them on mounting such a successful campaign, proper support for the group? which has kept that library open. I remind all local Margaret Hodge: The voluntary sector in arts and authorities that as they plan a comprehensive and efficient particularly dance activities is hugely important. There library service, it is imperative that they consult local are some 50,000 voluntary organisations, and nearly people. Our policy statement on the future of libraries 10 million people participate in some way in voluntary will, I hope, help us to keep libraries at the heart of organisations in the arts and culture sector, so it is vital every community throughout the country. that we do all that we can to maintain and grow that sector. Dance is crucial not only for what it does for T5. [310911] Mr. Henry Bellingham (North-West Norfolk) individuals’ health, but because it is an innovative and (Con): Is the Secretary of State aware that of the last creative art form. We have invested more than £5 million 160 BT exchanges that were upgraded to deliver in a dance strategy for young people. I urge the hon. enhanced broadband, none were located in either Gentleman— Norfolk or Suffolk? Will he find time to look at the excellent Eastern Daily Press campaign on the subject, Mr. Speaker: Order. May I gently say to the right and will he also speak to the chairman of BT to find hon. Lady that at topical questions I am always keen to out why rural areas of England are being discriminated get through the lot, if humanly possible? I appreciate against? the comprehensiveness, but we must move on. Mr. Andy Reed (Loughborough) (Lab/Co-op): Those Mr. Speaker: Order. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. hon. Members who were present for the Special Olympics One subject will do. I have had reason to mention that in Leicester in 2009 will be aware that it leaves a lasting to him before, but I feel sure that I will not need to do legacy, but what can Ministers do to ensure long-term so again. support and funding for Special Olympics Great Britain so that not just Leicester but the rest of the country can Mr. Bradshaw: Without knowing the detail—I will benefit? look into it on behalf of the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham)—I imagine that that was a The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, commercial decision made by BT, which is a strong Media and Sport (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): I congratulate argument in favour of the Government’s policy of securing my hon. Friend on his work for the Special Olympics in high quality next generation broadband for the whole Leicester. He is quite right: sport should be available to of our country, including rural areas such as Norfolk, everybody and be inclusive of everybody. We are working through a small fixed-line levy—a policy that is opposed with other Departments, including the Department of by his party. Health and the Department for Work and Pensions, to see what we can do to fund the Special Olympics in all its formats. T8. [310914] John Robertson (Glasgow, North-West) (Lab): A recent report on illegal downloading by children T2. [310908] Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): found that 31 per cent. of children aged six to 14 admit Digital Britain will bring many opportunities for the that they regularly watch programmes that they have new, digital age, but it could create a two-tier system illegally downloaded or streamed to a television, and for commercial radio, which will not be treated as that 16 per cent. also download pirate films before they preferably as BBC radio. Will the Government ensure are released. That was a survey of 4,500 children. Will that there is not a two-tier system, with second-rate my right hon. Friend look into the matter? We cannot commercial radio compared with the BBC? turn our children into criminals for having done something that they consider okay, but we need to educate them Mr. Simon: I understand those concerns, and I am better— talking to the commercial radio industry all the time about the matter. The essence of the answer to the Mr. Speaker: Order. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. question is what is called an electronic programme The same principle applies: one question will suffice. guide, in which smaller commercial stations, which stay on FM, will appear by name on the dial of digital sets. An FM ghetto will not, therefore, be created, and The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, stations will be the same as far as consumers are concerned. Media and Sport (Mr. Siôn Simon): My hon. Friend is right. Large numbers of young people who are doing Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent, North) (Lab): Stoke-on- something that is illegal need to be educated and informed Trent city council has gone ahead with proposals to that that behaviour is not okay and that it is against the close down the city’s gymnastics centre and Tunstall law. When the Bill comes from another place to this swimming pool at a time when the Government are place, there will be specific provisions and procedures to trying to get more people involved in sport. Will my explain to them gently that they cannot continue to hon. Friend see that his officials urgently consider whether break the law. funding can be made available with a joint, holistic 17 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 18 approach, so that the inequalities in a place such as objective of reducing the flow of traffic through those Stoke-on-Trent can be reversed and we can get more beautiful parks is helped by singling out a very small people, not fewer, to participate in sport? percentage of users—mainly local people—who go there specifically to walk? Mr. Sutcliffe: Clearly, that is what we want to achieve—to get 2 million more people involved in sport and physical Margaret Hodge: Car park charges are being introduced activity. I am dismayed to hear about the situation in in the two parks, so that there are car park charges in all Stoke. I shall see what we can do, through my officials, the royal parks across the whole of the capital. If there and get back to my hon. Friend. is a charge, it can be said to act as a disincentive on the use of their cars. Today, I will be going from the T7. [310913] Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Does the Chamber to a meeting with the leader of the hon. Secretary of State anticipate his Department making Gentleman’s local authority and other local authority any contribution to reducing the public deficit? leaders to discuss whether we can provide some sort of train to go across Richmond park, to make it easier for Mr. Bradshaw: Unlike the Opposition, we are committed elderly people to enjoy all aspects of the park, right to our spending review until 2011. We do not think that across the park. is it sensible, for economic reasons, to take money out of the economy now. We did not think that it was Several hon. Members rose— sensible last year, as the hon. Gentleman’s party advocated, and we do not think that it is sensible this year. I am Mr. Speaker: Order. There will now be questions for pleased to say that our record support for arts and the Minister for the Olympics. I reiterate that there are culture, which has helped this country’s creative sector only 10 minutes for this session, so we need pithy become No. 1 in the world as a proportion of GDP, is a questions and pithy answers. result of our investment; and I am confident that I can convince my Government colleagues that the very small amount of money that we spend in this country gives an OLYMPICS absolutely fantastic return.
Rob Marris (Wolverhampton, South-West) (Lab): My The Minister for the Olympics was asked— understanding is that the Government currently propose London 2012 that analogue radio be switched off in 2013. If that is the case, it is absolutely potty. Will the Government 1. Andrew Selous (South-West Bedfordshire) (Con): reconsider? What steps she is taking to control the size of the budget for the London 2012 Olympics. [310879] Mr. Simon: My hon. Friend is, for once, slightly wrong on the detail. The policy is that we move to The Minister for the Olympics (Tessa Jowell): The digital in 2015, but not that analogue radio be switched £9.325 billion public sector funding package that I off. Most big radio stations will move to digital, but announced in March 2007 remains unchanged. The smaller commercial and community radio stations will rigorous scrutiny includes significant savings—£390 million stay on FM and will be, as I have said, on the same dial alone in 2008-09. I shall sacrifice the rest of my answer as the big digital stations. in the interests of pith.
T9. [310915] Mr. Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): Andrew Selous: Are the assumptions about land values Does the Secretary of State believe that the wearing of still valid following the recession? the burqa in public should be banned? Tessa Jowell: The land values have certainly been Mr. Bradshaw: No. reviewed. As the hon. Gentleman may be aware, negotiations are currently taking place between the Government, the Mayor and the board of the legacy Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab): Is my hon. Friend company to determine on what terms and at what level aware that last summer Conservative-controlled Bradford debt should be reassigned. city council excluded the wonderful Ilkley lido in my constituency from the free swimming initiative for young Mr. Don Touhig (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op): Will my right people and pensioners? Is he also aware that many of hon. Friend assure the House that there will be no my constituents, having travelled from Keighley, were further raids on lottery funds to sustain and keep up the very disappointed to find that the lido was quite expensive? budget for the Olympics?
Mr. Sutcliffe: I am concerned that the council in Tessa Jowell: Until 2012, the Olympics are a sixth question signed up to that initiative for the over-60s and good cause, as was the millennium in 2000. There will under-16s but excluded Ilkley. That was a big mistake, be no further take from the lottery, but the lottery is and the council should look at its swimming pool contributing in a very handsome way towards the creation strategy. I shall work with my hon. Friend to ensure that of the Olympics, which will be one of the greatest events we try to put the situation right. that people in the whole UK have ever known.
Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham) (LD): This morning, Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD): Around the Minister of State wrote to me about her unpopular 250,000 Olympics devotees are desperate to volunteer in decision to introduce car parking charges for the use of 2012, yet only 70,000 of them will be able to act as royal parks. Will she explain how the environmental official volunteers. What steps will the right hon. Lady 19 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 20 take to ensure that the existing budget provides meaningful contributed, which are diverse and significant. The north- and satisfying volunteering opportunities for the hundreds west is also benefiting from the commercial opportunities of thousands of sports fans who are not going to be arising from the Olympics. part of the official volunteering team? Mr. Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster) Tessa Jowell: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right (Con): While I appreciate that this is a national games that thousands more people want to volunteer for the and that we want benefits across the country, will the Olympics than there are specific opportunities in the Minister give some indication of the small businesses Olympic park. We are looking across the UK to create within a 5-mile radius of the Olympic village that will what I hope will become the biggest participation and feel the benefit? Does she have data to hand so that she engagement programme ever. I also hope that one of can give us that information at this stage, or perhaps in the criteria that will attach to the selection of volunteers writing? in the Olympic park will be experience of having volunteered in the community. Tessa Jowell: About 50 per cent. of all the businesses that have so far contributed to the supply of the Olympic park are within London. I am not able, at this point, to Hugh Robertson (Faversham and Mid-Kent) (Con): give the hon. Gentleman the precise detail that he During a recent briefing, the London Organising Committee wants, but I am happy to supply it. The ODA is about of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games reported to issue another £1 billion-worth of contracts, and that one of its greatest operational challenges was LOCOG £700 million-worth of contracts, so there are Government Departments outside the Government opportunities for businesses of all sizes not only in Olympic Executive rowing back on their commitments London but right across the UK. in the current public expenditure round. Those Departments promised to deliver on those commitments at the time of the bid. Is the right hon. Lady in a position to tell us Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): Will my what action she has taken to prevent that, and can she right hon. Friend write to me—and put a copy in the place in the Library of the House a copy of all those Library and send one to the Rotherham Advertiser—about commitments, across Government, with the budgets how Rotherham workers can find jobs in construction attached? and other related work that is going on, because there is a tremendous sense in South Yorkshire that they are not getting a fair crack of the whip? Tessa Jowell: I am surprised by the hon. Gentleman’s remarks; those concerns have not been raised with me Tessa Jowell: I am very happy to do that, and I am in those terms by LOCOG. Nineteen Government happy to come to South Yorkshire again to set out the Departments are engaged in delivering the games and potential for its contribution to the Olympics. At every to my knowledge, through the Cabinet Committee and stage, we have sought to open up the tendering processes other forms of co-ordination, Government Departments to create opportunities for the whole UK—and South are making every bit of their contributions. For instance, Yorkshire is not usually slow in coming forward. the Home Office is overseeing perhaps the most difficult job of all—security. The Olympics will be the biggest London 2012 (Multi-Media Coverage) peacetime logistical exercise, and they could not happen without the wholehearted support of the Government; London 2012 has that. 4. Richard Ottaway (Croydon, South) (Con): What representations she has received on the provision of multi-media coverage of the London 2012 Olympics; London 2012 (UK Businesses) and if she will make a statement. [310882]
3. Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton) (Lab/Co-op): Tessa Jowell: These will be the first games to be What her latest assessment is of the financial effects on filmed wholly in high-definition standards. There will UK businesses of the London 2012 Olympics. [310881] be access to information via additional channels and mobile devices, ensuring the games are accessible to Tessa Jowell: The games are creating work and business everyone. The International Olympic Committee and opportunities for businesses large and small across the the International Paralympic Committee are responsible UK. The Olympic Delivery Authority has awarded for global broadcast rights of the London 2012 games more than £5 billion of contracts to more than via many platforms, including multi-media platforms. 1,000 suppliers. It has been our determined effort to make sure that businesses right around the country, Richard Ottaway (Croydon, South) (Con): We all including in my hon. Friend’s region, benefit from this expect the games to be the most watched ever, but the shot in the arm for UK plc at a time of downturn. introduction of multi-media coverage presents a huge logistical and technological challenge, particularly as it comes just after digital switchover. To what extent will Jim Dobbin: More specifically, can the Minister say an analogue signal still be available to those who what benefits the games construction programme has want it? delivered to companies in the north-west? Tessa Jowell: The expectation is that the television Tessa Jowell: Through the ODA, some 43 suppliers switchover will have been completed by 2012, subject to from the north-west have sought contracts to supply the any last-minute issues that might affect the coverage of Olympic park. I will send to my hon. Friend, and place the Olympics. In that sense, the analogue signal will no in the Library, a detailed list of the firms that have longer be available. However, much preparation is under 21 Oral Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 22 way to ensure access to multi-media platforms, starting Olympic Delivery Authority with ensuring the availability of spectrum. I thank Ofcom for the invaluable work that it has done, so early 7. John Robertson (Glasgow, North-West) (Lab): What on, to ensure that that spectrum is available. recent discussions she has had with the Olympic Delivery Authority on the implementation of its commitment to maximise local employment opportunities; and if she Crystal Palace will make a statement. [310885] Tessa Jowell: I am a member of the ODA’s employment 6. Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): If and skills board, which is responsible for overseeing the she will make it her policy to promote the sporting creation of the skills and employment legacy. One of facilities at Crystal Palace as part of preparations for the most important aspects of the legacy is ensuring the London 2012 Olympics. [310884] that local people and young people working in businesses as part of the supply chain have the opportunity to Tessa Jowell: Yes, Crystal Palace sports centre is an leave their Olympic-related job better trained and with official London 2012 pre-games training camp—no an increased chance of staying in work. surprises there. Essentially, the onus is on Crystal Palace John Robertson: My right hon. Friend will be aware to market itself to the international teams to train at the of those trade unions that have been complaining about venue. There are incentives, however, with £25,000 from the lack of local people being trained—such training LOCOG available for every national Olympic and would be beneficial in the years to come. Will she meet Paralympic committee to encourage them to use official the trade unions in question to find out what the pre-games training camps. I hope to visit Crystal Palace problems are and to try to help to solve them? again before the end of this month. Tessa Jowell: I am surprised by my hon. Friend’s observation. The apprenticeship level to which we are Mr. Pelling: The Minister is very supportive of Crystal committed for the Olympic park is in fact three and a Palace. Given that it represents the internationalism of half times the regional average, and every single supplier the 19th century which, in some ways, is mirrored in the understands the obligation on them. Alan Ritchie, the Olympics now, might we do well to co-ordinate the general secretary of the Union of Construction, Allied setting of a foundation stone for a new Crystal Palace Trades and Technicians, recently observed that the Olympics with the timing of the Olympics and the Queen’s diamond have one of the best regulated construction sites in jubilee? Britain. Principles of co-operation have been signed between the ODA and the TUC. If there are any Tessa Jowell: I am sure that that very good idea concerns, however, we will of course do everything that justifies further examination. we can to address them. 23 18 JANUARY 2010 24
Point of Order Crime and Security Bill Second Reading 3.31 pm Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East) (Con): On a Mr. Speaker: I inform the House that I have not point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will remember that selected either of the amendments. during last Thursday’s business questions there was strong and welcome agreement between the Leader of the House and her shadow that when the general election 3.34 pm is held, the votes should be counted on the night and The Secretary of State for the Home Department not the following day, unless that is absolutely unavoidable. (Alan Johnson): I beg to move, That the Bill be now read Is it in order to ask you to express your definitive a Second time. viewpoint on the matter? The Bill builds on an unrivalled record that, since Mr. Speaker: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, 1997, has seen the first sustained fall in crime for more both for his point of order and his courtesy in giving me than 100 years. Overall crime is down by 36 per cent., advance notice of it. I hesitate to say that my opinion violent crime by 41 per cent., burglary by 54 per cent. would, in any way, be considered to be definitive, but I and vehicle crime by 57 per cent. Since 2000, the reoffending am happy none the less to offer him and the House an rate for both adults and juveniles has fallen by more opinion. than 20 per cent. That is a tremendous achievement by our police forces and other agencies across the country. For my own part, I am a passionate believer in The Bill will build on those achievements by strengthening instant, not slow motion, democracy. It seems to me our efforts to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour that it is in the interests of the House and the country among young people. It will bring greater protection to that the count should take place on the night, and there the victims of domestic violence, cut police bureaucracy are two overwhelmingly compelling reasons why: first, I and establish a new framework for the retention of believe that there could be a threat to the security of the DNA records. ballot if the count is delayed; and, secondly, it seems to me that on the day the election takes place, it should be possible for the count also to take place so that we get Mr. Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy) (PC): If the result speedily. Frankly, it should not be beyond the things are going so well and crime rates are improving, wit and sagacity of humankind—or indeed of local why is the intention behind the Bill to keep the DNA of authorities—to ensure that that happens. I politely suggest people who are innocent? to the House that what is required is not a passive acceptance of the particular views of individual local Alan Johnson: The DNA database has actually been a authority chief executives, but rather an assertion of contributory factor to the astonishing reductions in leadership nationally and politically, at a local level, to crime achieved in this country, but I give the hon. achieve what I sense the House is uniting in wishing Gentleman full notice that he will have plenty of chances to see. to intervene when I get to that part of my speech. The Bill will make it an offence not to take reasonable BILL PRESENTED precautions to prevent an air weapon from coming into the hands of children, thus sending a strong message PEDICABS BILL about the need to improve safety. Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57) Mr. Mark Field presented a Bill to make provision Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent, North) (Lab): Because for the control of pedicabs; and for connected purposes. of tragic circumstances, we have campaigned on that issue in Stoke-on-Trent. Can my right hon. Friend Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on assure me that clause 42, which requires reasonable Friday 5 March, and to be printed (Bill 33). safeguards, can ensure that there is safe storage of airguns, to prevent further tragic accidents?
Alan Johnson: I do think that we can do that through the Bill, although it is not concerned only with guns in storage. We aim for greater safety as they are being transported and used as well, and of course the definition of “reasonable precautions” will vary in accordance with the circumstances involved. We can ensure that air weapons are properly locked away, which is an important point that my hon. Friend has raised for many years.
Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): The Home Secretary will know of the many tragic incidents that we have had in Scotland as a result of airguns, and the repeated calls from the Scottish Government to have the issue devolved so that we can put in place the licensing of airguns to help address the problem. The Labour party agreed, through the Calman 25 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 26 commission, that that should happen. Can we not devolve an opportunity to adjust the law on universal jurisdiction—I the responsibility for airguns, so that we can deal with refer to the case of Tzipi Livni, the former Foreign the problem in Scotland? Minister of Israel. Do the Government intend to use the Bill to adjust the law on universal jurisdiction or will Alan Johnson: We have agreed to devolve this issue, as they use some other means to do so? If it is the latter, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland what other means will they use? reported recently. The mechanics of doing that are a subject for the usual channels, but we very much agree Alan Johnson: I cannot answer that question at the on the matter. moment. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary By introducing a compulsory licensing scheme for and others are looking into the situation—the unacceptable wheel-clamping businesses, which will allow us to set situation in respect of Tzipi Livni—and will come to the limits on the fines that they can impose, the Bill will House with proposals in due course. outlaw rogue operators who extort vast sums from As I said, in accordance with the long-standing general drivers and bring the entire sector into disrepute. It will principle, we will not apply the measure retrospectively, also make it an offence to possess a mobile phone but we recognise that we need something for past victims within a prison without authorisation. of terrorism. Subject to the passage of the Bill, we will provide assistance to eligible victims of overseas terrorist Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): Can the Home attacks since 2002 and will announce further details in Secretary assure the House that, having taken some due course. time to consult on those proposals, if the Bill is passed, he will try to ensure that they come into force as soon as Prior to the introduction of the Crime and Disorder possible after its date of commencement? Act 1998, police and local authorities could do very little about behaviour that stopped short of being criminal Alan Johnson: I do give that assurance, although as but that was profoundly disruptive and the cause of my hon. Friend will be aware, it seems from the amendments intense distress. Following that groundbreaking piece of that you did not select, Mr. Speaker, that both Opposition legislation and the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, parties intend to vote against Second Reading. We have the police and local authorities have the powers they to get the Bill through to enable those measures to come need to tackle antisocial behaviour. Problem behaviour into force. usually ceases after one intervention, whether that is an I wish also to announce a new provision that we acceptable behaviour contract or a simple letter from intend to introduce in Committee. The House will be the police, and 93 per cent. of such behaviour ends after aware of the long-standing arrangements under the three interventions. However, the police alone cannot criminal injuries compensation scheme to compensate tackle the root causes of antisocial behaviour, and victims of violent crime, including terrorism. However, police powers, although necessary, are insufficient. that scheme offers compensation only to victims of We now need to consider what further action to take crimes committed in Great Britain. Although a number to tackle the very small number of persistent young of other countries have their own compensation schemes, offenders. Although young people are far more likely to there are many parts of the world where, should a be the victims rather than the perpetrators of antisocial British citizen become a victim of terrorism, they would behaviour, those who are persistently involved in antisocial have no access to compensation. Sadly, many recent behaviour often graduate to petty crime or gang activity. British victims of terrorist attacks abroad have been Their disruptive behaviour is usually indicative of more injured or killed because they are westerners, and there deep-rooted problems, such as instability at home or has been a particular increase in such attacks since 9/11. chronic disaffection at school. Whether those attacks are targeted at individuals or are Family intervention projects have proved phenomenally more indiscriminate, terrorism is intended as a political successful in addressing the problems of the most chaotic statement and an attack on society as a whole and, as and dysfunctional families involved in persistent antisocial such, it has ramifications far beyond those who are behaviour. An independent study of the first 700 families directly affected. We will therefore introduce a new to take part in a family intervention project shows victims of overseas terrorism compensation scheme, dramatic reductions not only in antisocial behaviour, which will broadly mirror the domestic criminal injuries but in drug and alcohol problems, domestic violence compensation scheme. In accordance with the long-standing and mental health problems. There have also been better general principle that the Government and Parliament educational outcomes for the children involved. do not legislate retrospectively, the new scheme will apply only to designated terrorist incidents that take As the Prime Minister announced in September, we place from today. However, we recognise that victims of will roll out that project to cover 56,000 families by overseas attacks in recent years continue to face hardship 2015. Parenting orders have also been of immense because of disabilities arising from the injuries they importance for parents who are either struggling to stop sustained. their child’s problem behaviour or who are adamant in their refusal to take any responsibility for their child’s Mr. Edward Garnier (Harborough) (Con) rose— actions.
Alan Johnson: The hon. and learned Gentleman is Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) (Lab): The Home Secretary silently asking me to give way. will recall the case in Leicestershire, when he criticised the lack of speed with which the police dealt with a Mr. Garnier: I am now going to get a bit noisier. On complaint of antisocial behaviour. Is he satisfied that another overseas matter, it has been suggested by once such matters are brought to the attention of the Government spokesmen that they may use this Bill as police, there is sufficient contact between them and the 27 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 28
[Keith Vaz] fallen by 64 per cent. since 1997, and the conviction rate is rising, it still accounts for 14 per cent. of all violent local authority, at a high enough level, to ensure that crime and its impact continues to ruin the lives of they act swiftly to deal with any outstanding issues of women and children. Having been apprehended by the that kind? police, but released, a perpetrator of domestic violence has little to stop him returning to the family home. Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend raises the tragic The victim then faces a stark choice between enduring case of Fiona Pilkington and her children. It is clear further abuse or leaving their home altogether, which is that in the two and half years since that happened, why domestic violence remains a significant cause of dramatic improvements have been made by Leicestershire homelessness among women. Domestic violence protection police, but the coroner pointed out the failures at the orders will give the police powers to ban the attacker time. from the home of their victim for up to 28 days, On the second point, I am not yet confident that all providing vital respite for victims to consider their police forces in all police authority areas are giving the options. Thus it will not be the victim who is forced to necessary priority to this issue. That is why my right leave her home—as is too often the case at the moment—but hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and the perpetrator. Local Government and I have asked the crime reduction partnerships to ensure that by March we have a version Mr. Humfrey Malins (Woking) (Con): Obviously of the policing pledge applicable to antisocial behaviour, domestic violence protection orders are important, but so that people—wherever they live—can depend on a I cannot see in the Bill what the penalty will be for minimum standard of response and diligence on this breaching one. Can the Secretary of State help us on issue. That is the right way to ensure that we have that? consistent standards across the country. Alan Johnson: Breaching a domestic violence protection Although local authorities and youth offending teams order would be like breaching an injunction—we used have been able to issue parenting orders since 2004, they to use injunctions for those purposes until a Court of have not been used widely enough, despite their proven Appeal ruling a few years ago—and we envisage that effectiveness. Under the proposals set out in this Bill, the punishments would be the same. The similarity with when the courts issue an antisocial behaviour order an injunction should guide the Committee. against a young person, they will be required to consider that child’s parenting needs. If that antisocial behaviour Mr. Llwyd: Can the Secretary of State please elaborate order is breached, a parenting order will be automatically on what he is saying and tell the House why a domestic triggered. The requirements imposed on parents by the violence protection order is different from a non-molestation courts will vary, from requiring them to address their order under the Family Law Act 1996? drug or alcohol problems, or attend intensive parenting classes, to supervising their child at certain times of the Alan Johnson: I am not equipped to go into the fine day or night. detail about that—unlike my right hon. Friend the In addition, this Bill will address gang violence among Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism, young people. Although the numbers involved in violent who will be equipped to do just that in Committee—but gangs are very small, the damage they do to their as hon. Members from both sides of the House will communities, not to mention their own lives, is immense. realise, we thought that there were effective tools to use The Policing and Crime Act 2009 gives police and local in those cases, but they were found to be ineffective authorities new powers to issue injunctions to prevent because of those Court of Appeal rulings. Since those gang violence. In bringing forward that legislation, we rulings were made three or four years ago, we have been considered carefully whether such injunctions should looking seriously at replacing those tools with domestic also be extended to under-18s. Our conclusion at the violence protection orders. time was that we needed to explore in more detail, along with the Youth Justice Board and other key partners, Mr. Malins: Will the Secretary of State give way? how such legislation would address the issues that were specific to children and young people. In particular, we Alan Johnson: I have given way once. Let us move on. needed to ensure that as well as offering greater protection to communities, such injunctions would also divert Over the past few years, we have made huge efforts to young people from long-term involvement in crime. cut police bureaucracy. Thirty-six data collection requirements have been either removed or significantly The Crime and Security Bill will therefore set out reduced. Scrapping activity-based costing alone has how gang injunctions can be applied to 14 to 17-year-olds. saved around 260,000 hours of police time. The foot-long As with such injunctions for over-18s, they can be used stop-and-account form has gone, saving another to prevent the young person from going to a particular 690,000 hours. The Bill will advance that agenda by place, from meeting with other gang members or from significantly reducing the length of the stop-and-search using dogs as weapons to intimidate their community. form. Under current legislation, when the police stop But critically, they will direct young people towards and search a suspect, they have to record the person’s targeted support that will help to address any underlying name—or a description, if the person refuses to give issues—problems at home or school, drug or alcohol their name—the details of any vehicle stopped and abuse—that may be contributing to their unacceptable whether any injury or damage to property has been behaviour. caused, even though the question is not applicable in One of the most important elements of this Bill is the the vast majority of cases. Under the proposals outlined greater protection it will give to victims of domestic in the Bill, the police will still be required to record the violence. Although incidents of domestic violence have date, time and place of the stop. Officers will also 29 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 30 continue to record the ethnicity of the person involved. justice and put inside. I know that my right hon. Friend It will still be possible to monitor the police’s use of is only just beginning, but we have not heard any data in stop-and-search both locally and nationally, and to the House for the past two years about the number of hold them to account accordingly, but without the crimes cleared up due to such records. The number for added burden of the unnecessary and time-consuming the first 10 years was well over 250,000. Does he have requirements of the current form. more up-to-date figures?
Keith Vaz: I am most grateful to the Home Secretary Alan Johnson: I do, and I will give my right hon. for giving way a second time. Of course we welcome the Friend exact figures. I believe that it is about 400,000 now, proposals to reduce bureaucracy and the work that has but I will update the House and ensure that— been done by Jan Berry on behalf of the Home Office. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell However, I wonder whether he recalls that I wrote to (Chris Grayling) says from a sedentary position that it both him and his predecessor about the Staffordshire is going down. Crime is going down. The total number example, whereby the local police force reduced the of detected crimes in which DNA match was available bureaucracy involved in the recording of information, decreased by 11 per cent. between 2003-04 and 2008-09. and asked that that good practice be transmitted to Over the same five-year period, police-recorded crime other police authorities. We do not have to wait for fell by 17.1 per cent. That is why the number of DNA legislation to make a move on that, do we? matches is going down.
Alan Johnson: I do recall that correspondence. The Mr. Field: But is the number not also going down for Staffordshire example is a good example— an even more obvious reason? There was a stock of crime that was not cleared up. When the DNA of Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): Hear, hear. people who commit further crime is related back to the stock, it clears up those crimes. Under normal procedures, Alan Johnson: So says an MP from Staffordshire. The one would expect that, over time, the number of crimes Staffordshire example is a good example that is being cleared up due to the keeping of historical data in the rolled out across the country. However, my right hon. data bank would decline. It seems obvious. Friend will know that it sometimes takes an interminable amount of time to get best practice spread out among Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend is absolutely 43 different police forces. However, even despite the best right. We are now discussing something on which I practice in Staffordshire, I still think that we should use thought all parties in the House agreed: the benefits of this opportunity to reduce bureaucracy through legislation, DNA. DNA was a British discovery, by the way. We as we did with those two other overlong forms. have not even got to discussing how long information is kept, and already we are seeing signs of opposition Chris Grayling (Epsom and Ewell) (Con): Can the from those on the Conservative Benches. Home Secretary clarify one point? My understanding is that under the current rules if a vehicle with a number Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney, North and Stoke of occupants is stopped and searched, the police officer Newington) (Lab): No one in the House disputes the has to fill in a separate form for each occupant and a importance of keeping the DNA of guilty people; it is separate form for the motor vehicle. What will the the indefinite keeping of innocent people’s DNA that is situation be now? at issue. However, I wanted to make a particular point. Much of the unhappiness about keeping the DNA of Alan Johnson: If a motor vehicle is involved, a separate innocent people would be avoided if there were a clearer, form for that vehicle will have to be filled out by the consistent national system for the removal of innocent officer. The problem at the moment is that even if a people’s DNA from the database. At present, it varies vehicle is not involved, the police officer has to fill out a from one police authority to another, and the unfairness form that is applicable to one being involved. Whether breeds discontent. we are talking about doing all four occupants in the car at one hit is another matter, but we must seek to reduce Alan Johnson: My hon. Friend is absolutely right, the bureaucracy to a bare minimum. which is why the Bill contains provisions, which I will One major feature of the Bill is the proposed new discuss in a moment, to deal with that. She is also right framework for the retention of DNA records. No one in that the issue at the moment is the benefit of DNA to the House can doubt that the development of DNA the police and other authorities in detecting and deterring profiling has had a profound impact on the police’s crime. ability to bring to justice the perpetrators of some of the most horrific crimes. That was underlined yet again David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) (Con): The when Paul Hutchinson was convicted just before Christmas Home Secretary knows that nobody disputes the value of the 1983 murder of 16-year-old Colette Aram, the of DNA in solving cold cases as well as current crimes, subject of the first ever appeal on the television programme but there is one figure that I would like him to confirm “Crimewatch”. Hutchinson was traced only because or deny. It relates to the holding of the DNA of innocent DNA had been taken from one of his relatives, who had people—people who have not been found guilty and been convicted of a minor offence in 2008. were released after arrest. Just over a year ago, the Prime Minister attributed the clearing up of 114 murders Mr. Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab): In my constituency, to such DNA. In other words, as a result of holding the where a young woman was brutally murdered more DNA of previously innocent people, the police cleared than a decade ago, the DNA record allowed a person up 114 murders. Is that correct, and if so, will the Home who probably would have gone free to be brought to Secretary provide a list of them? 31 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 32
Alan Johnson: The right hon. Gentleman says—this Gentleman wants, but I have already given the House is the third time that I have heard it—that no one is two very dramatic cases that would not have been disputing the advantage of DNA. I am stuck at this solved under the policy being put forward by the Liberal part of my speech because so many people have disputed Democrats, which we now know means that no one who it. We hear from a sedentary position that the numbers is innocent and not convicted could remain on the are coming down. The combination of the right hon. DNA database. Gentleman’s question and that of my right hon. Friend The position of the Conservatives, as set out in the the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) means that I amendment that you quite rightly did not select, should provide some statistics to the House, because the Mr. Speaker, is: statistics are interesting. I do not happen to have in my “That this House declines to give a Second Reading to the speech the one for which the right hon. Gentleman Crime and Security Bill because the retention of the DNA of asked, but I have some others that he will find of innocent citizens, which is the centrepiece of the Bill, is unacceptable.” interest. Yet their policy is to retain the DNA of innocent I mentioned Paul Hutchinson. We can also take the people. At least the Lib Dems, whose policy on this was case of Matthew Fagan. In 2006, he was sacked from a overturned at their conference, say that we should not London company. In January 2007, he returned to the keep anyone’s records. At least their policy is clear. The offices at the weekend to steal computers and was Conservatives’ policy is actually contrary to their own disturbed by a former colleague, Cathy Marlow, whom amendment. They think that people who have been he brutally murdered. A significant factor in Matthew arrested for, but not convicted of, less serious charges Fagan’s conviction was that DNA retrieved from under should not remain on the DNA database, but that those Cathy Marlow’s fingernails matched his profile, which who have been arrested for, but not convicted of, serious was on the database because he had previously been offences should remain on it. The most recent research arrested but not convicted for a disorder offence. shows that there is no difference between the two in There was also the case of Abdirahman Ali Gudaal, regard to what is known as the hazard curve, and to the arrested in July 2006 for robbery, but not convicted. His propensity of those people to be arrested again. DNA was sampled and his record retained. In June this year, he was found guilty of the brutal rape and kidnap Chris Grayling: If the Home Secretary is so convinced of a woman in Coventry, his DNA having matched of his viewpoint, why are the Government not proposing samples found at the crime scene. Those are two examples to introduce a compulsory DNA database for the whole of people who had been arrested but not convicted, and nation? who subsequently committed brutal crimes, who would not have been brought to book without the DNA Alan Johnson: So far as I am aware, only one country database. is currently looking at that possibility: the United Arab In a recent debate, the hon. Member for Eastleigh Emirates. For reasons of sheer practicality, no Government (Chris Huhne), who speaks for the Liberal Democrats of any persuasion in this country would introduce such on this issue, described such cases, including the tragic a scheme. That does not in any way suggest that the case of Sally Anne Bowman, as “anecdotal”. They are, Opposition are right to—[Interruption.] The hon. Member of course, the personal tragedies that make this legislation for Ashford (Damian Green) can chatter away on the necessary, and the response of the hon. Gentleman’s Front Bench, but the simple fact is that their policy is to party is woefully inadequate. have innocent people on the DNA database, despite declaring that it is wrong to do so. Their problem is that In developing this framework, we have sought to there is absolutely no research to show that those people balance several important issues: first, human rights are more or less likely to be re-arrested than those who considerations. The House will be aware of the judgment are arrested but not convicted on less serious charges. by the European Court of Human Rights. Chris Huhne (Eastleigh) (LD): I am slightly mystified David Davis: I am afraid that the Home Secretary did by the position that the Home Secretary has taken. He not answer my question. Of course the individual cases just told the House that he thought it was crucial for the that he mentions are incredibly important; indeed, I clearing up of crimes that this innocent DNA should be shall refer to some of them if I am lucky enough to held on the DNA database. Will he kindly explain to us, catch your eye later, Mr. Speaker, and deal with them— then, why he does not have a consistent policy—it [Interruption.] I shall do so despite the heckling from probably would get through the ECHR—of having the Home Secretary’s colleague. The simple fact is that every single person in the country giving their DNA? the Home Secretary has not answered my question about the Prime Minister’s assertion that 114 murders Alan Johnson: First, I do not think that that would be were solved as a result of previously innocent people’s proportionate. Secondly, we do not have compulsory DNA being checked. Is that figure right or wrong? If it vaccinations in this country for similar reasons. The is right, may we have a list of those cases? thought of having to hold someone down to take a swab from the inside of their cheek because they were reluctant Alan Johnson: I told the right hon. Gentleman that I to give one is something that no serious politician could would provide the House with statistics, and I have suggest. However—[Interruption.] The hon. Member given two examples. Actually, even if there were only for Ashford says from a sedentary position that we do one example of a vicious murderer or rapist being that all the time. I do not know which policies he has brought to book in this way, I know that many Conservative been looking at, but we do not hold anyone down to Members would believe that this was worth doing— take human material from them. We would not do that, [Interruption.] Hon. Members are asking me to give just as other countries would not propose having a names. I will provide the information that the right hon. compulsory system. 33 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 34
What Conservative Members have to explain is the Bill will require all DNA samples—namely, the actual huge disparity and contradiction in their argument. genetic material—to be destroyed after six months. Either there should be a DNA database that has people What is retained by the database is the unique 20-digit who are arrested but not convicted on it for a period of code that forms the DNA profile. time; or, the logic is followed of the argument that the Fourthly, we must be mindful of the public’s very right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David reasonable expectation that the police will harness this Davis) has made—that people are innocent until proven enormous scientific advance to protect them from the guilty. If that is the case, the Conservatives’ policy—God most horrific crimes, and ensure justice for victims and forbid—should be the same as that of the Liberal their families. Under the framework proposed by the Democrats, not the halfway house they are in at the Bill, the DNA profiles of all those convicted of crimes, moment. and all juveniles convicted of serious offences, will be David Davis rose— held indefinitely, and the police will be given the powers to take DNA samples from people who were convicted Alan Johnson: I give way to the right hon. Gentleman of serious violent and sexual offences in the past, before one last time. DNA was routinely taken, and from those who have committed such offences and are returning from overseas. David Davis: And anything further I can take up on The DNA profiles of those who are arrested but not the train later, no doubt. The right hon. Gentleman is convicted will be retained for six years, in line with the generous in giving way and I have two points for him. findings of the best available research. I will talk more First, the policy he is mocking is, of course, the policy about that soon. introduced by the Labour Government in Scotland at There is one important exception to the six-year rule. the time, so he should take that up with them. Secondly, As national security investigations, including counter- I would not want him to mislead the House, inadvertently terrorism cases, can go on for many years, setting a or otherwise, so will he return to his earlier point about six-year time frame would potentially be damaging in the hazard curve, which he says is effectively flat? He these circumstances. We therefore propose to allow the says that there is no difference in respect of the likelihood retention of DNA profiles beyond the six-year point in of committing a crime in the future between someone these exceptional cases, which have been known to be who is innocent of any crime and someone who has live for as long as 25 years. committed a crime, yet the Home Office itself has published paper after paper after paper showing that Under the framework set out in the Bill, the records that is not true. of under-18s convicted of serious crimes will be held indefinitely. However, for those convicted of minor Alan Johnson: I accept that there is not a great wealth offences, if it is a first conviction, the record will be kept of research in this area, but it will grow in all parts of for five years, and only if it is a second conviction will the world. The latest research we have is being independently that record be held indefinitely. We make this distinction peer-reviewed as we speak. It suggests that the Jill because it is right that the criminal justice system distinguish Dando Institute research on which we based our original between adults and children. For under-18s who are proposals—which showed a difference in the hazard arrested for, but not convicted of, both serious crimes curve, or the propensity to be re-arrested, between those and minor offences, their records will be retained for arrested but not convicted for serious offences and three years. The records of 16 to 17-year-olds—those those arrested but not convicted for less serious offences—is entering the peak offending years—will, however, be wrong. In fact, the Jill Dando Institute itself said— retained for six years where they have been arrested for, unfortunately, nine months after it produced the research— but not convicted of, a serious offence. that it was flawed. The latest research shows that there is absolutely no difference between the two, which is a Chris Grayling: The Home Secretary appears to have very important factor. As to the Scottish scheme, I shall just said that in some cases the DNA of people found come on to that in a few moments. guilty of no offence will be stored for longer than that Let me return to what I was saying about human of people found guilty of an offence. Is that correct? rights considerations. This House is, of course, aware of the judgment handed down by the European Court of Alan Johnson: My point is that we should hold it for Human Rights on 8 December 2008, which ruled that longer for 16 to 17-year-olds, who, as the hon. Gentleman although holding DNA records of those who had no recognises, are entering the peak offending years. conviction could well be proportionate in some cases, it Currently, those seeking to have their DNA profile was unlawful to hold those records indefinitely. This removed from the database may apply to the chief Bill responds to that judgment. constable, who is, however, under no obligation to fulfil Secondly, we must consider what the most recent this request. The Bill will place a legal duty on the chief evidence in this developing field of research tells us. The constable to remove the DNA records in circumstances research we published, along with our proposals in where the arrest was unlawful, the taking of the biometric November 2009, shows that there is a link between data was unlawful, the arrest was based on mistaken previous arrests and future arrests. It also shows that, as identity, or where there were other circumstances relating time passes, that link diminishes so that after six years—not to the arrest or the alleged offender that would make it two, three or four, but six—the probability of re-arrest appropriate to destroy the material. is no higher than for the rest of the population. Thirdly, we must consider concerns about privacy. Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) (Lab): Is the Home Many people find the idea of someone retaining their Secretary telling us that chief constables will be able to genetic material disturbing, which is why, although not order the retention of DNA without reference to another required to do so by the European Court judgment, this body to review that decision? 35 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 36
Alan Johnson: What I am saying is that the current Pete Wishart: The Home Secretary will of course arrangements—which are as my hon. Friend describes, recall that it was the Labour Executive, in conjunction whereby the power is completely with the chief constable, with the Liberals, who got this Scottish system through even in cases involving mistaken identity or unlawful the Scottish Parliament. Is he saying today that the action—will change, in that we will set out in law the Scottish Parliament should simply copy and introduce circumstances in which DNA must not be retained. In his proposals just because he feels that this is the right those circumstances, it will be removed if the individual thing to do? requests that—some individuals may want their DNA to be kept on the database—but not in other circumstances, Alan Johnson: I hear the hon. Gentleman’s plea of perhaps, because we cannot be absolutely prescriptive not guilty, which I accept. I am not trying to impose our here, and we will need to define this. The matter will be system on Scotland; I am saying that the argument discussed further in Committee, no doubt. As the Bill being made by the Conservatives, which is that the proceeds through the House, we will also need to pay Scottish model is the one we should adopt, is profoundly attention to the question of whether there should be wrong. another authority to go to on appeal.
Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): Chris Grayling: May I ask the Home Secretary to The Home Secretary said earlier that the DNA of an respond to a letter written by his colleague, Lord Bach, innocent person investigated for a possible terrorist the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, on 5 July 2009? offence could be held for a much longer period—up to He said the following in relation to research carried out 25 years, I think he said. On whose authority will such into the Scottish system by Professor James Fraser: decisions be taken? “He did not uncover any evidence to suggest that this approach to retention has caused any detriment to the detection of serious Alan Johnson: That system will be set out in the Bill; crime in Scotland”. there will be no discretion for chief constables on that. Is the Ministry of Justice wrong? What I am saying is that we need to keep the DNA records of those arrested but not convicted for terrorist Alan Johnson: I am not going to respond to a quote charges for longer. taken out of context from a letter. We are all trying to The Conservative Party has made unfavourable find reasons why the Scottish model should not be comparisons between the retention framework that we considered sacrosanct, so here are the facts. Twenty-three are proposing in this Bill and the model that has been rapists and murderers would be free if this country adopted in Scotland. The Conservatives believe that adopted what the Conservative party is asking us to that system should be enshrined in this Bill, but they are adopt. Conservative Members can shake their heads as profoundly wrong. The Scottish model, like our proposals, much as they want, but those are the facts. accepts that those who are arrested for an offence, even The second issue relating to the comparison with the if they are not convicted, are more likely to be convicted Scottish model is that that model also proposes that the of an offence on a future occasion, but it differs on records of those not convicted should be initially retained three significant points. First, it only retains DNA for three years, as opposed to six. However, at the end of records of those who are arrested for but not convicted that period the Scottish courts have the power to extend of serious crimes. It does not take into account the most the retention period for successive increments of two recent research—I mentioned it in response to an years at a time. Those, like the Conservative Opposition, intervention—which shows that the seriousness of the who have argued for the Scottish model to be adopted offence for which someone is initially arrested but not here have done so on the basis that they oppose the convicted has no bearing on the likelihood of re-arrest. indefinite retention of DNA records of those who have Indeed, the Scottish model was based on no research committed no crime—the “innocent”, to the cite their whatsoever. amendment. However, in advocating this model, they In 2008-09 alone, 79 matches were drawn from the are in fact arguing in favour of a system that can retain DNA database for cases of rape, murder or manslaughter the DNA records of innocent people indefinitely. from people who had been arrested but not convicted of an offence. This is an important point. In 36 of those Finally, under Scottish legislation, it is not just the cases—nearly half of them—the DNA match was vital DNA profile that is retained, but the DNA sample—the in securing a conviction. In respect of those 36 cases, actual genetic material. For all those convicted, it is 13 of the perpetrators were on the database because retained for at least 20 years. For those arrested but not they had been arrested for but not convicted of a convicted of serious offences, it is retained initially for serious crime. That means that 23 perpetrators were on three years, but potentially for longer should the courts the database because they had been arrested for but not exercise their power to extend the retention period. convicted of a minor offence. So if we were to apply the Under our proposals, as I have mentioned, this material Scottish model, as the Conservative party urges us to must be destroyed within six months. do, it is highly likely that in this year alone these I make no criticism of the model adopted in Scotland— 23 victims of the most serious crimes and their families [Laughter.] I have made only mild criticisms of it. We would have been denied justice—23 killers and rapists have separate legal systems and, on this sensitive issue, I would have remained free to kill and rape again. It is shall not proselytise on what is in the best interests of unlikely that the cases I referred to earlier of Cathy the Scottish people. I am here to talk about what is in Marlow’s killer, Matthew Fagan, or the rapist Abdirahman the best interests of England and Wales. I believe that Ali Gudaal would have been detected through DNA the framework we propose is proportionate, led by the evidence, because both were arrested but not convicted best available evidence and guided by public opinion for less serious crimes. This is at the heart of this debate. and the professional judgment of the police. 37 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 38
Michael Connarty: I know that my right hon. Friend research that is now available, we should certainly not is trying to be fair to the present Government of Scotland, adopt the Scottish model and should adopt the measures which is now an SNP minority Government. A plea of set out in this Bill. mitigation from some of us in Scotland is that we would rather see the system he is introducing. For example, the Keith Vaz rose— murder of a dear and close cousin of mine has been, as yet, unsolved for 20 years. I would like to see a system Alan Johnson: I shall give way one last time, because where criminals can be screened, so that we might find it is my right hon. Friend. the perpetrator. I ask my right hon. Friend please to consider giving advice to our colleagues in Scotland to Keith Vaz: May I come to the defence of the hon. think again and to bring in a system such as that which Member for Ashford (Damian Green)? A few weeks he is proposing. ago he produced some interesting research about the postcode lottery. Depending on where people lived, Alan Johnson: The Association of Chief Police Officers they had their DNA removed from the database. Surely in Scotland makes the same point, as do many people in the proposal alluded to by Peter Neyroud—that one Scotland. My point is that the Government at the time body should look at the issue of retention, rather than was a Labour-Lib Dem coalition and there was no 43 chief constables—may well be more attractive. He research to go on. The introduction of the three-year would still be able to produce his guidelines, but there limit was not based on any research, because the research would be one set of certain facts and criteria, rather did not exist. The research now suggests that the hazard than 43 chief constables’. curve does not run out in three years—people do not become as likely as the rest of the population to be Alan Johnson: As always, my right hon. Friend makes arrested again if they are arrested but not convicted—but an important point. As I said, we need to look at the after six years, and we believe that that is a conservative system to replace the current postcode lottery or any estimate. other type of lottery. It is not right, and we are suggesting that we amend that in the Bill. I also think that it is wrong to keep the genetic material. For that reason, and for all the other reasons I Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Will the Home Secretary have mentioned, the Opposition are absolutely wrong give way? to seek to adopt the Scottish model under this Bill. Alan Johnson: No, I am not giving way again. Mr. Gordon Prentice: Why is it, then, that we have [Interruption.] The peroration is over. This can hardly received a briefing from the Equality and Human Rights be called a peroration. Commission, which will be aware of the research to Along with measures to curb antisocial behaviour which my friend has alluded, advising us that if my and gang involvement among young people, and to cut friend’s proposals go through, police bureaucracy and grant greater protection to victims “the Government is likely to be in breach of Article 8 of the of domestic violence, the Bill will bring greater protection Convention and be acting unlawfully”? and peace of mind to the public and make our streets How come the commission has got it wrong? safer. I commend the Bill to the House.
Alan Johnson: Do not ask me why the commission 4.26 pm has sent letters to Members suggesting that. Of course, Chris Grayling (Epsom and Ewell) (Con): As a typical there are profound misunderstandings on this point. Bill at the tail-end of a Parliament, this had all the There are profound misunderstandings among those potential to be a doggy-bag of a Bill, with a combination who sit on the Opposition Benches. Let me give one of leftovers from what the Government have been doing example of such a misunderstanding from the hon. right across the Parliament, a last-gasp attempt to win Member for Ashford, who stated a while ago—he has support from some frustrated groups ahead of the not repeated it since, so perhaps he understands—that general election—the kind of Bill that should be relatively Scotland had a better success rate than England. He uncontroversial and which, given the Government’s record, said that he had read the statistics from the 2006 national would probably turn out to be pretty meaningless as DNA database annual report, which showed that the well. But as always, the Government have left one big Scottish DNA database had a 68 per cent. success rate sting in the tail. For that reason, we will not stand by and that that in England and Wales had only a 52 per and allow the Bill to pass through Parliament before the cent. success rate. I trust that he has since found out that election. he was not comparing like with like. In Scotland at that It is nice to have a debate on a real point of principle. time, they were able to compare the matches with the That is what we will debate this afternoon. Unless the crime scene and the crime scene with the individuals. In Home Secretary finally accepts that his proposals on England, we had only half the story in 2005. Now we the DNA database are opposed across the House and have the whole story. The annual report for 2009 unless he accepts that things will have to be different, we will show that the success rate in England and Wales is cannot support what he is doing. His remarks, if anything, 13 per cent. higher than that in Scotland. have further confused rather than clarified both his There are an awful lot of misperceptions about this, position and the debate. and all I know is that this Parliament must make up its own mind. It will be bombarded with evidence from all Tony Baldry: Not only is it a last-gasp Bill, but the sides and with evidence and pleas from the victims of Home Secretary could not bring himself to brief the crime. I believe that on the basis of the evidence and House on some of its provisions. There was not a word 39 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 40
[Tony Baldry] doing something—but what that does is create more and more laws. There is then more and more confusion, on wheel-clamping, and when I intervened kindly to and, actually, we add to the bureaucracy that our front-line assist the Home Secretary to comment on wheel-clamping, professionals end up dealing with. I was uncharacteristically and uncharitably slapped down. Even the proposals on stop and search do not go far enough, though, because the Bill will only reduce the Chris Grayling: My hon. Friend is right. procedure’s reporting requirements. The Home Secretary struggled with, and was unclear about, the issue of four Fiona Mactaggart: I do not understand why the hon. people in a car who are subject to a stop-and-search Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) says that nothing procedure; in fact, he even appeared to suggest that if was said about wheel-clamping. I recall intervening on there was no car, the form for a car would still have to be the Home Secretary to ask when proposals on wheel- filled in. The reality is that the current process is much clamping would be introduced. He did exactly what the too complex. hon. Gentleman says he did not do. I do not know whether the Home Secretary has ever stood on the street with a police officer who is trying to Chris Grayling: That will be an interesting subject for grapple with current stop-and-search procedures. Why debate in the Tea Room later. We were so confused by does not the Home Secretary adopt our proposals to some of the Home Secretary’s remarks that I am not scrap the form altogether? Officers could radio in the entirely surprised that my hon. Friend may have overlooked basic search details, creating a taped or transcribed a comment slipped in. I leave it to him and the hon. police log at the centre without the need to fill in official Lady to discuss what really happened. forms. The Bill simplifies an extremely complex situation; The Government’s track record of running the Home it does not make the scale of change that we could Office has been a chapter of disasters. Successive Ministers genuinely make. have struggled to get to grips with the challenges that we face and the briefs that they have. Time and again Ms Angela C. Smith (Sheffield, Hillsborough) (Lab): they have failed to do so. They even tried splitting the Does the hon. Gentleman not acknowledge that we Department in half to make things easier, and still it did introduced stop-and-search recording because the procedure not work. We have had fiasco after fiasco—the foreign was being used indiscriminately against ethnic minority prisoner releases, yobs to be marched to cash points, communities throughout the country, especially in London, illegal immigrants working in the Home Office canteen, and that we still need to monitor how that procedure is and the abortive attempt to merge police forces, yet being used? under the Government’s stewardship we have seen Britain become a more violent society. Chris Grayling: The hon. Lady makes a good point. Last year more than a million violent crimes were It is one reason why we have been so concerned about recorded by the police. We have seen antisocial behaviour the indiscriminate use of section 44 of the Terrorism become more and more endemic in communities Act 2000, which the courts have now ruled illegal. That throughout the country. We have seen our police spending section included anti-terror powers that had been used more and more time on process rather than policing. for purposes not related to terrorism, and that has All that has happened while the principles on which our happened too many times under this Government. We criminal justice system is founded have been steadily are not arguing for the lack of any record at all; we are eroded. This is a Government who do not believe that arguing that it is possible to go further than the someone is innocent until proven guilty, who do not Government. Our work should be about simplifying the understand how much damage is done to the principles job for our professionals on the street. We put them in a of democracy when traditional freedoms are curtailed difficult position when we leave them filling out forms in the name of security, and who knowingly allow their on the streets, and we could go further. It is a shame tough new anti-terror powers to be used for routine that the Government remain unambitious in that respect. policing. In many ways it is not surprising that the Bill is The Home Secretary himself admitted recently that a collection of odds and sods, combined with yet another the failure to understand the importance of civil liberties. There is no vision and no strategy—more evidence of a “bureaucracy dragon had yet to be slain”, Government who are out of ideas and out of time. and the Bill would barely do anything to change that. The Bill has aspects on which we can agree, however. Worryingly, there is evidence that things are getting The measures on stop and search are a step in the right worse, not better. Asked whether officers were spending direction, and they come after years of pressure from more time on patrol now than two years ago, Jan Berry, Conservative Members on the scale of police bureaucracies. whom the Government brought in as their reducing We do not actually believe that our police officers like bureaucracy advocate, said: spending time in police stations in the warm; we think “If you talk to police officers they would say it has remained that they want to get out on to the streets and do the the same or got slightly worse”, job, but that the bureaucracy that this Government which is worrying. She said also that “progress had impose keeps them in police stations. been slow” on reducing red tape. We already have a The right hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith clear sense that the Government’s efforts are half-hearted, Vaz), the Chairman of the Select Committee on Home and the Bill will not do much to change that. Affairs, made a valuable point: a number of changes We have to look only at the Government’s damp could be made without primary legislation. The squib of a policing White Paper to see the extent to Government have a habit of introducing laws in this which they have run out of ideas and direction. After House to create a headline—to create a sense of their all, they do not really believe in the existence of excessive 41 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 42 police bureaucracy. Has the Home Secretary, unlike the we publish our detailed proposals, the Home Secretary Justice Secretary, ever been into a police station and will see that our approach will make a difference, unlike gone through their filing cabinets, which are full of the the record of the Government in the past 12 years. forms that officers have to fill in to deal with cases? Their approach has made very little difference to Information is duplicated, and they have to write down communities up and down this country. In some cases, the same things time and again. If the Home Secretary it has led to a shocking abuse of the lives of innocent has not, I suggest that he does, because he will be people. genuinely shocked at the burden that we place on our The Bill also seeks to create a new offence of possession police officers. That really needs to change, and he without authorisation of a mobile phone, or parts of certainly needs to tell his friend the Justice Secretary one, in a prison. We support that measure, but why has before he makes comments that, frankly, I found insulting it taken so long for the Government to realise that they to our police officers. need to address the problem? Yes, phones are banned The Bill contains a provision requiring a court to from prisons, but thousands have been found in the past impose a parenting order when a young person is found year, hundreds in high-security prisons. The number of to have breached their antisocial behaviour order. When phones found in prisons has more than tripled; in 2008, will the Government realise that more of those top-down more than 8,000 mobile phones and SIM cards were solutions is simply not good enough. The courts can confiscated in prisons in England and Wales, compared already impose a parenting order on the breach of an with just over 2,000 in 2007. ASBO. The problem is that ASBOs themselves do not In 2007, a convicted al-Qaeda supporter was caught work. The process of getting an ASBO is so complicated. using a mobile phone to build a website from inside a They take months to introduce, a huge amount of time high-security prison. A report by the counter-extremism is spent by local officials, there are multi-agency meetings, Quilliam foundation wrote that in 2007 Tariq al-Dour, and, for many persistent offenders, they end up being a jailed for running jihadist websites from London, was badge of honour. Almost two thirds of under-16s breach caught accessing the internet from Belmarsh prison their ASBOs. What we need in this country is a fresh using his laptop, provided by the Prison Service, and a approach to tackling antisocial behaviour— smuggled mobile phone. Furthermore, the extremist cleric Abu Hamza is thought to have got an audio The Minister for Borders and Immigration (Mr. Phil message out of Belmarsh that may have been recorded Woolas): Go on then. on a mobile phone and passed to supporters outside. [Interruption.] Government Ministers—[Interruption.] Chris Grayling: I shall be delighted to. I hope that the Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Perhaps Government Minister’s Government will call the election soon, that Front Benchers did not hear what I said a moment ago. there will be a change of Government and that we can They listened to the Secretary of State with respect, and get on with the job of making the changes that Britain they should do the same for the Opposition spokesman. needs. What we need are instant responses to antisocial behaviour; we do not need to let offenders get away with Chris Grayling: The Minister for Borders and it again and again. [Interruption.] Immigration is very excited this afternoon. He is particularly excited to find out what we will do to tackle those Alan Johnson rose— problems, and I hope to give him the opportunity to ask questions from these Benches after 6 May, or whenever Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): Order. I say it is. At that point, we will be delighted to set out our to Members on both Front Benches, particularly the policies. For now, however, we are scrutinising his Government Front Bench, that interjections from a Department’s record, which is lamentable in this area. If sedentary position are not allowed. If Ministers want to he thinks that these cases are isolated, he should talk to intervene, they should get to the Dispatch Box and do some of the families involved in some of the highest-profile so in the normal way, so that we can have a sensible criminal acts in this country in recent times, including debate. I think that the Secretary of State was about to brutal murders. Those families have been at the raw end intervene. of bullying from within prisons, on Facebook and other networking sites, and have been extremely distressed as Alan Johnson: Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that a result. There are things happening in our prisons that one of the measures that he believes should replace are not acceptable and it is for the Ministry of Justice, ASBOs is the confiscation by police officers of children’s to which I hope they will be making representations, to iPods and mobile phones? take stronger measures to prevent prisoners from gaining access to electronic equipment in prison to perpetrate Chris Grayling: I suggest that at some time the Home activities of a different sort. Secretary goes and looks at the detailed statistics behind David T.C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con): I am sure that offending. He will know that the peak age for antisocial most people in the House agree that the measure is a behaviour is 15; the age of onset for antisocial behaviour very good idea. However, is not the real problem the is 12. The right hon. Gentleman’s Government came up fact that at the moment prisoners carry out assaults on with an option to march yobs to cash points. Most of us prison officers and are very rarely prosecuted for it? If who are parents know that 15-year-olds do not have they are, the amount added to their sentences is so cash cards. minimal that it makes no real difference in overall The Government might get their policies right if they terms. What on earth is the point in passing this legislation did the detailed work and did not come up with ideas if no real sanction is to be applied? Does the shadow utterly unrelated to the lifestyles of the young people Secretary of State agree that sanctions must be heavily who commit these acts of antisocial behaviour. When applied to those who are caught? 43 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 44
Chris Grayling: My hon. Friend makes an extremely That does not create the sense that they have sought to important point. He will know that I have also expressed stamp out something that has been a problem for many the view that how we treat assaults on our police years. officers is shamefully lax. In many cases, such assaults We will have to look carefully at how the proposed are dealt with using virtually no penalty at all. That domestic violence protection notices and domestic violence sends out all the wrong messages. It is not acceptable protection orders will work in practice. Concerns have not to protect our criminal justice professionals against been raised about the proposed breadth and scope of the actions of those who would attack them. those civil measures. It is important that they are not used as inappropriate substitutes for pursuing proper The Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism sanctions in the courts against perpetrators of domestic (Mr. David Hanson): Will the hon. Gentleman confirm violence. None the less, there is agreement across this that in the past two years, when I was prisons Minister House that domestic violence remains an issue of very at the Ministry of Justice, we signed with the Prison great importance, and it is right and proper that we Officers Association an agreement on zero tolerance on should take measures to try to deal with it. attacks on prisoners? I will not take lessons on that, because there has been co-operation on the issue. The We welcome measures to clamp down on wheel-clampers. Government will not tolerate attacks on prisoners. I am not usually one to argue for greater regulation of Furthermore, they have put massive investment into the business, but this business deserves everything that is mobile phone problem, with body orifice security coming to it. While no industry is ever all bad, the scanner—BOSS—chairs and extra security measures. wheel-clamping sector has acted with little regard for They have looked at blocking measures and security the public and often in a way that is not far short of the with police forces at a local level. tradition of the highwayman. It is time that those who impose swingeing targets on the public, with little or no accountability in doing so, face tough restraints on their Chris Grayling: There are only two points to make in activities. Not all companies involved in the sector are response to that. First, will the Minister then explain bad, but there are enough to have brought it discredit why the Government have not taken steps to provide and for there to be a genuine need for tougher regulation. greater protection to our police officers? Secondly, if the Government have such a good record, why do they Those are measures that we would happily see passed need to introduce measures in this Bill at all? Why have into law, but none of them is of sufficient significance to they not already succeeded in dealing with the problem? get us to back away from the key point of principle that divides us from the Government—the DNA database. Mr. Hanson: On the first point, attacks on police The current system is all wrong. I am seldom a fan of officers are intolerable. On the latter point, we have the European Court, but on this matter it has clearly acknowledged that there is a loophole. Having looked got things right. We have, for years, been storing the at blocking measures and considered investment in DNA of innocent people on our national DNA database. BOSS chairs in prisons, and having taken security measures, People who go into a police station voluntarily to help including with the police, this is another measure to with an inquiry, like my hon. Friend the Member for help to tighten up a difficult situation. I cannot guarantee Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands), find themselves that no mobile phone will ever be smuggled into prison, on the list. People who are briefly questioned in a police but there will be an extra penalty for people who are station about a crime that they did not commit find found in possession of one. themselves giving DNA to be stored for the future. People who are arrested on one of those occasions when the police hugely overreact, as in the case of my Chris Grayling: The point that the Minister misses is hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), that we are 12 years into a Labour Government. They find their DNA being taken, and few succeed, as he did, have had year after year to deal with this problem, and in having their DNA removed. now they are trying to do so in a last-minute Bill in the last hurrah of their third term. Nobody will take them Indeed, data that we recently obtained revealed that seriously when they say that this is a big priority given innocent people trying to have their DNA removed that they have missed all the opportunities they have from the database face a postcode lottery. Some police had over the years to do something about it before now. forces refuse to remove any records at all once a case is closed and the person declared innocent, while others Mr. Hanson: Will the hon. Gentleman accept that comply with 80 per cent. of requests for deletion. On mobile phone technology changes year on year, and average, only 22 per cent. of requests to have DNA that the mobile phone that he used in 1997 is slightly removed are granted. different from the one that he uses today and will be slightly different from the one that he uses next year? Keith Vaz: The shadow Home Secretary is probably The technology changes and we have to keep on top of aware that tomorrow the hon. Member for Hammersmith it; this offence will help to support that initiative. and Fulham is giving evidence to the Select Committee on this very issue. Whatever system is proposed, it is Chris Grayling: The reality remains that this Government better that one authority, rather than 43 chief constables, have been in power for 12 years. We have been through a deals with applications for removal. There is a lack of situation, year after year, where the number of mobile clarity at the moment, and that is part of the problem. phone seizures in our prisons has risen rather than However, does the shadow Home Secretary agree, and fallen. It is all well and good the Government saying, as will he confirm whether it is Conservative party policy, a last hurrah three years after some of these things that instead of leaving it to local discretion, there should happened, that they are introducing these measures. be national guidelines, with one authority, not 43? 45 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 46
Chris Grayling: I am sympathetic to what the right records may be kept for up to three years, and for a hon. Gentleman says, although I would like to wait to further two years with the agreement of the Scottish see the recommendations that his Committee makes at equivalent of a magistrate. Such a system might provide the conclusion of its investigation. Some decisions should the independence of judgment that my right hon. Friend certainly be taken nationally rather than locally. I am the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) open to considering what he says, and I look forward to wants. reading his Committee’s report and the transcripts of We think that that system strikes the right balance, so its proceedings. a Conservative Government would adopt the Scottish system for England and Wales. We will not accept the David Davis: Although the Chairman of the Home measures set out by the Government in the Bill, which Affairs Committee made an important point, he did not are illiberal, inconsistent with the values of our judicial mention the fact that this is not just a question of one system and our nation, and opposed by the majority of authority, but of an independent quasi-judicial authority. the public. One of our difficulties is that the motivation of police chiefs and chief constables is to minimise crime at The Home Secretary attacked the Scottish system, almost any cost. In my area—it is also the Home although he then said that he would not criticise it. He Secretary’s area—of Humberside, we have a good chief cited unpublished statistics to defend his view, but totally constable who is very determined, but data are almost ignored my intervention about independent research. never handed back. The person who takes such decisions Such research was carried out for the Scottish Executive must have a more balanced view of the security regarding by Professor James Fraser, the director of Strathclyde an individual and their rights. university’s centre for forensic science. It was reported in July 2008, and Lord Bach, a Justice Minister—the Chris Grayling: My right hon. Friend makes a good Home Secretary’s Labour ministerial college—said last point. If we were to adopt the Scottish system, some summer of Professor Fraser’s report: concerns might be waylaid, as a number of decisions to “He did not uncover any evidence to suggest that this approach remove would be taken automatically. to retention has caused any detriment to the detection of serious There is a postcode lottery. Some people find it very crime in Scotland.” difficult to get their DNA removed from the database I am afraid that I would rather take my views from although, interestingly, some convicted offenders, such independent research provided to the Scottish Executive as the Leader of the House, seem to get away without than from the Home Secretary himself. having their DNA taken at all. The Government have been completely cavalier with Alan Johnson: Of course that approach would not the traditional rights and liberties of this country and, have led to any such detriment, and I presume that that on the DNA database, they have got things plain wrong. research was done two years after it was introduced. This is not just about what is right and wrong for civil That is not the question. If we believe that those who liberties. The DNA database has grown rapidly in recent are arrested but not convicted have a greater propensity years. Nearly 250,000 subject profiles were loaded on to to be re-arrested, as the hon. Gentleman obviously does the database in 1998-99, but that figure has now more given that the Conservative policy is to retain data on than doubled. By October 2009, there were 5.9 million the DNA database for those accused of committing individuals’ DNA samples on the database, making it serious offences, the question is whether their data the largest in the world per head of population. One should be retained for three years or six years. The would have expected the number of detections and quote that he gave does not relate to that matter at all. convictions using DNA to have increased at the same Other independent, peer-reviewed evidence and research time, but the opposite has been the case, both in overall that has come along since suggests the need for a terms and proportionately. As the number of DNA six-year period, and he simply cannot ignore it. records has increased, the number of detections has fallen from a peak of 41,148 in 2006-07 to 31,915 in Chris Grayling: The Government have set great store 2008-09—a drop of 22 per cent. There is no evidence by the evidence of the Jill Dando Institute, which the that building a bigger and bigger database will help to Ministry of Justice has again quoted. It stated that solve more and more crimes. “the seriousness of the initial offence cannot predict the seriousness Grudgingly, the Government have accepted over the of any potential future offending”. past few months that they cannot win the argument on The Home Secretary bases his argument on an intellectually DNA. After the European Court ruling that a system reasonable position, but the logic of what he says is that that keeps innocent people’s DNA indefinitely is illegal, we should have a national DNA database. We must Ministers first proposed to keep records for up to accept either one side of the argument or the other. We 12 years. When that was resisted, they introduced their happen to believe that we should protect civil liberties in current proposals for a six-year limit. More importantly, this country, that there is a balance to be found and that however, they still want to keep a DNA record of the Scottish system reflects that balance. Of course we everyone arrested by the police, regardless of whether need to be robust in the fight against crime, but we also they are charged or convicted, and regardless of the need to be robust in defending the liberties and values severity of the offence under investigation. We will not that underpin our society. We are not willing to stand accept that. idly by while the Government make yet another attempt We have argued consistently for the approach that is to force through a scheme that we believe to be wrong in use in Scotland, under which DNA from people who for this country. are neither charged nor convicted for minor offences is When I debated the Queen’s Speech with the Home not retained. The only exceptions arise when the offences Secretary in the House back in November, I warned are of a serious sexual or violent nature, in which case him that our position had not changed and that we 47 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 48
[Chris Grayling] accept the Bill. In the final days before a general election, there will be no deals to be done. If we have our way, the would not accept what the Government had proposed. Bill will not pass, and then it will be for a Conservative There are things in the Bill that we would otherwise Government to make rapid reforms to how our DNA welcome. A Conservative Government would certainly database works and to ensure that its use is proportionate take steps against rogue clampers and seek to do more and that we do not continue to store the DNA of people to combat domestic violence. There are things in the accused of minor infractions who, in reality, have done Bill that are meant well. Given the usual Labour baggage nothing wrong. that comes with them I am sceptical about whether they will actually make a difference, but they are superficially innocuous. However, the DNA issue is a real point of 4.54 pm principle. We will not back the Bill as long as the DNA Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) (Lab): The hon. Member proposals remain in it. In Committee, on Report and in for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling)—the shadow the other place we will again seek to table amendments Home Secretary—and the Home Secretary agree that that would implement the Scottish system in England there are important points of principle in the Bill, and and Wales. therefore it is right that Parliament has a full and frank discussion of the issues contained within it, especially Alan Johnson: The hon. Gentleman believes that the with regard to the DNA database, which I will address issue of principle and civil liberties is important. Does at the end of my speech. he believe, therefore, that it was wrong to convict 23 killers Like the shadow Home Secretary, I welcome a number and rapists on the basis of evidence that he believes of the measures that the Home Secretary has put before should not have remained on the DNA database? Does the House. First, the Government’s decision to allow he believe that that was a breach of their civil liberties? compensation for the victims of terrorist outrages abroad and bring provisions into line with the criminal injuries Chris Grayling: In reality we do not know the evidence compensation legislation for victims in this country is behind the Home Secretary’s comments, and there is no most welcome. I pay tribute to the work of so many such thing as a perfect system. The jury system will not Members, in particular my right hon. Friend the Member always get it right, but we do not argue that we should for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney), in convincing the not have a jury system. We believe that we should stand Government of the need to introduce such measures. by the principles of our democracy and the traditions of All I ask is that if the system is going to be similar to the our criminal justice system, and we do not accept the compensation scheme in this country, it should be as Government’s view. transparent and efficient as possible. I receive many complaints from those who apply for compensation Chris Huhne: The Home Secretary really must not be under the current criminal injuries compensation scheme allowed to get away with his last intervention. The that it takes too long for them to get compensation, so I Association of Chief Police Officers statistics that he hope the bureaucracy that will inevitably go with the refers to are for 2008-09 database matches, and they expenditure of public money will be as simple as possible, refer not to any criminal convictions but only to matches because of course we are talking not about ordinary with a “direct and specific value” to the investigation. In criminal injuries but about very serious injuries. the absence of a conviction, there is no way of knowing whether the matches between the database and the cases Secondly, I welcome what has been said about wheel- concerned were ultimately innocent or whether they clamping. Again, the measures are in line with a number provided evidence of guilt. The Home Secretary is of the recommendations made by the Select Committee eliding two issues and talking about arrests leading to on Home Affairs over a number of years. Wheel-clampers evidence that there should be re-arrests, not to convictions. have felt able to move in and cause innocent people A re-arrest is not evidence of a conviction. great difficulty. I admit that I was wheel-clamped once, many years ago—I declare that interest—but it is important Chris Grayling: The hon. Gentleman makes extremely that we try to regularise the situation. valuable points. The Government have become utterly I hope that when we get to Committee, we will look at confused on this issue, and Labour Members will find the situation—I will come on to this when I talk about their position hard to justify. There are Members on the the database—of those who have found that information Labour Benches who have campaigned over the years in about them that has been stored on a Government defence of civil liberties and for the traditions of this computer has ended up not necessarily with wheel-clampers, country’s legal system. Ironically, they have looked on but with those who are able to issue parking tickets to Conservative Members as the ones who are unduly those who are following Government advice. I am referring authoritarian. The worm has clearly turned. in particular to the case of a member of the Select The DNA issue is a real point of principle, and we Committee, the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell), will not back the Bill as long as the DNA proposals who is not in the Chamber—no doubt he is busy in his remain in place. We will table amendments in this constituency. House and the other place to seek to implement the Taking Department for Transport advice on travelling Scottish system, and we will challenge Ministers again on our motorway system, the hon. Gentleman pulled to accept a proposal that we believe is fair and proportionate. over because he was feeling tired, and parked in the car We will seek to win that argument this time and persuade park of a Welcome Break service station. He was advised them that we are right and they are wrong. I hope that by the Department to rest, so he parked and went to we will find support on all Benches in both Houses, but sleep for a while. When he woke up, he drove on to his in the end, if the Government will not concede and next engagement. A few days later, he received notice of Ministers will not accept what we propose, we will not a fine for parking in the car park for more than two 49 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 50 hours. He found out, through his own investigations, as though it thinks antisocial behaviour is beneath it. that the company concerned obtained his vehicle registration That is wrong, and we need to ensure that cases are number from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. followed through. It passed the information to a private company, which then issued a fine. Keith Vaz: The hon. Gentleman is right, and the Those who know the hon. Gentleman will know that victims also need to be kept informed. The decisions are he would not keep matters to himself. He challenged the taken by the agencies, but no one bothers to tell the decision, and the parking ticket has now been quashed. people who complain. The best way to build confidence The Committee has agreed to investigate the matter, but in the system is to ensure that complaints are investigated I draw it the Home Secretary’s attention because it is and, if sufficient evidence is found, a prosecution is another example of the private sector being involved brought, justice is done and the victims are informed in but not responsible. good time to attend court and make their views heard. We need to ensure that the CPS does its job effectively. Tony Baldry: I agree with everything the right hon. I am concerned about two areas—stop and search, Gentleman says, but the difficulty is that clauses 39 and and the DNA database. As far as stop and search is 40 simply put companies on the same basis as individuals concerned, it is right that we take every opportunity to regarding wheel-clamping licensing. Last year, the Home reduce the amount of bureaucracy with which the police Office issued a number of press releases saying that it have to battle. I am sure that senior police officers have was going to cap the fines and introduce an appeals been telling the Home Secretary that since the very system, and that there would be no double-dip—in moment he took office. Probably every Home Secretary other words, fines for both parking and towing away—but in the 23 years that I have been in this House has talked none of those measures is in the Bill. Does he agree that about the need to reduce police bureaucracy and release we need to ensure that, in Committee, Ministers give officers to the front line to deal with the issues that some very firm undertakings that they are going to concern members of the public—our constituents. I am introduce a code of conduct to impose such regulations sure the Home Secretary will find, on reflection, that on wheel- clampers? Otherwise, we have a headline but some of the requirements imposed by this Government no substance to those clauses. will need to be removed—so we have added to the bureaucracy of the police, although we have also provided Keith Vaz: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman’s Whip, more resources for the police than any other Government the hon. Member for Reading, East (Mr. Wilson), has in history. noted that bid to serve on the Committee, which would The Home Secretary is right to use this Bill to reduce be the best way to ensure that those matters are raised police bureaucracy, because that is in line with what there. Sir Ronnie Flanagan said in his important report two The third aspect of the Bill I am pleased with are the years ago, and with what the Home Affairs Committee provisions on antisocial behaviour. The Home Secretary said in our report “Policing in the 21st Century”. It also has made this a priority for the Home Office. It is useful takes on board the comments made by the very robust for politicians to say that they are against antisocial and clever Jan Berry when she presented her report to behaviour, but the Home Secretary has gone out of his the Home Secretary. There is no need for the Home way to ensure that this Department has treated this Secretary to be embarrassed by the fact that someone issue sensibly and given it priority. I liked what he said like Jan Berry is prepared to make radical proposals, about the Fiona Pilkington case, because it is easy to because they are in line with what Ronnie Flanagan accept that the relationships between various agencies said, with what the Committee said and with what the are going well, but in that case there was clearly a Home Secretary in fact believes. breakdown in communication between the police and I felt a little concerned about the fact that the Home other agencies, which meant that the reports made by Secretary said, “Well, it takes a long time to get things the Pilkington family were not acted on as quickly as rolling.” Why does it take so long? I wrote to the they should have been. Every hon. Member will have previous Home Secretary following a visit that my hon. had constituents coming to their surgeries and complaining Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) and I made about antisocial behaviour, and we write to the police to Staffordshire police headquarters. We were told about and local authority asking for something to be done a form, which the force expects its police officers to fill urgently. Our wish is to ensure that the system works. in, that will reduce 24 pages to one page. I thought that Legislation is fine, and new orders will be great, but we that was excellent, so I wrote to the previous Home need to ensure—and I think that the Home Secretary Secretary and said, “This is a great idea. It’s best “gets this”— that all the agencies act together quickly practice, so don’t let’s just circulate it; let’s have it so that if people complain to the police they feel that adopted. Let’s just say to chief constables, ‘This is a something positive is being done quickly. wonderful way of saving paper’—it reduces 24 sheets of paper down to one—‘and saving time, which means less Mr. Colin Breed (South-East Cornwall) (LD): I agree bureaucracy and more police officers out on the beat, with the right hon. Gentleman about the need for rather than filling in forms.’” agencies to work together. In my part of the world, the The Home Secretary gave me a Home Secretary’s police have been praised by many people for that. The response today—that it takes time to get things done—and problem has been getting the Crown Prosecution Service I regret that. If a good idea is being used by one police to pursue cases. The police and other agencies—and I authority to save time and reduce bureaucracy, it ought as a Member of Parliament—have been frustrated that to be used all over the country. I still do not know we cannot seem to get the CPS to take these matters whether the Staffordshire example has been followed. I seriously. It appears to want to deal with bigger matters, raised the matter with the Home Secretary when he gave 51 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 52
[Keith Vaz] I am not satisfied that the Government have dealt with the ruling of the European Court on the issue. I evidence to the Select Committee—the hon. Member regret that, because there has been a long gap between for Monmouth (David T.C. Davies) was there when we the end of last year, when the ruling was made, and had those discussions—and with my right hon. Friend now, when we ought to have had a debate on the matter the Member for Redditch (Jacqui Smith). If it has been in Government time, rather than tying it to a piece of adopted across all 43— legislation that has so many good things in it. I want to pay tribute to the many Members who have campaigned Mr. Hanson indicated assent. on the issue for so long—for example, my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington Keith Vaz: The Minister is nodding cheerfully to say (Ms Abbott) recently secured a debate in Westminster that the Staffordshire example has been adopted. If so, Hall that was answered by the Under-Secretary of State that is good news, but it has taken us 18 months from for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member the day that we visited Staffordshire. for Tynemouth (Mr. Campbell). Chris Grayling: If I may add a word of caution, there The hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green), who are a number of things that are supposed to have been is not in his place at the moment, went through what I abolished, but which, when one goes out with police regard as the trauma of having to make a request under officers, one finds have not been. For example, the the Freedom of Information Act for some very simple foot-long stop-and-search form and the full stop-and- pieces of information, including how many applications account form are still being used in plenty of places for removal from the DNA database had been made in around the country. I would therefore advise the right each area. Why he had to go through all that palaver to hon. Gentleman to be cautious about accepting absolute get such simple information from the Home Office is guarantees from his Front-Bench colleagues that the beyond me. That is the kind of information that the 24-page form has gone. Home Secretary should feel happy to publish, because he did not make the decisions; they were made by Keith Vaz: I can assure the shadow Home Secretary 43 different chief constables. that I will be writing to the Home Secretary to confirm that what I have described is the case. Of course I accept The Home Secretary is going in the right direction, the assurances of Front Benchers—they are right hon. but he has not arrived at the position in which I would and hon. Members, and we cannot possibly not do like to see him and the Government. He is right to so—but just to be on the safe side, I will write and reduce the period for which such data are held, for a confirm that point, and perhaps even get the date on start; in my view, it should be reduced further, in line which all that happened. with the principle that innocent people’s DNA should We give the Government full marks for their intention not be on the database. That is why, in our inquiry to try to reduce bureaucracy, but let me say this to the tomorrow, the Committee is taking evidence from the Home Secretary. I know that we are near a general hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands), election, but both Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Jan Berry, who was totally innocent of all allegations against him, as well as the Select Committee, in a unanimous report, as he will tell the Committee. I do not want to pre-empt have suggested that there is a need to invest in new his evidence, but a remote family situation was the technology and give every police officer a hand-held reason his DNA was taken in the first place. computer, whether that be a BlackBerry, a blueberry, an We asked the hon. Member for Hammersmith and iPod or whatever—I am 53 and I do not know what the Fulham to give evidence not because of the family technology is; I just know whether it works when I circumstances that he went through but because it took switch it on and I can communicate. We should give the him so long to get a reply from the chief constable of police what they need so they do not have to run back the West Midlands police. In the end, he had to table a and take statements, but can take them from witnesses parliamentary question. Members of the public cannot at the scene. We should save time and reduce bureaucracy table parliamentary questions to find out whether they by investing in technology. That is not in the Bill, are on the database. because it does not need to be—it can be done by the Home Secretary in his settlement or in his frequent meetings with the Association of Chief Police Officers—but David Davis: The Chairman of the Select Committee let us get on with it. has raised a fundamental and central point—although That leads me to my last point, which is about the it will look elliptical to the public—about the reticence DNA database and the reason why, although I support of the Government and police authorities to put in the much of what the Government propose in the Bill—for public domain much of the information necessary to example, on compensation and the reduction in police make this decision. When Chief Constable Sims appeared bureaucracy—and do not feel that I can vote against before the Committee, he gave a series of comments Second Reading, I none the less cannot support them that GeneWatch subsequently took to pieces forensically with a positive vote. I shall be abstaining, unless I can because he had conflated so many data. be convinced by the Minister when he winds up that I A huge amount of information is involved. It is am doing the wrong thing, over the issue of the DNA computerised, so it is by definition on a database. It database. I appreciate what the Home Secretary is doing ought to be available to the Select Committee and to today—he is allowing us to have a debate on this other, academic authorities to enable us to make rational issue—but I cannot possibly support a measure that decisions both about the kinds of issue that the Home will keep the inadequacies of the DNA database for six Secretary mentioned, such as hazard curves, and different years when I was not satisfied that they should be kept strategies for minimising impingement on people’s liberty for 12 years. while maximising effectiveness. 53 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 54
Keith Vaz: The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely the police and the judicial system that makes them right. The information ought to be available. When the single out men, arrest them and take their DNA? Of Home Secretary and Ministers come before our Committee, course not. Is not the reality that the whole process is as they have done whenever we have asked, they have colour-blind—indeed, blind to sex and colour? Those been absolutely transparent and provided huge amounts who get arrested get their DNA taken, whether they are of information, but the right hon. Gentleman is right to black, male, Asian or anything else. say that that information should be made available in the first place. Keith Vaz: The hon. Gentleman is a distinguished We will hear from the hon. Member for Hammersmith member of the Select Committee, and his questions are and Fulham. We will also hear from a gentleman from always incisive. I have to take issue with him on this Oxford whose DNA was taken after he simply threw a point, however. The figure of 77 per cent. represents a bottle of water up to a protester in a tree in order to give huge and disproportionate number of young black people. him refreshment. His DNA was taken as a result, and I understand his point, but if the process is having a he has been unable to get it removed from the database. disproportionate effect on a section of the community, The Home Secretary is right: he knows that there is a we need to be careful. This is another argument that we problem with the current system. If there were a transparent, are putting forward. easy-to-understand system for applying for and getting a reply on DNA retention, people would probably be Ms Abbott: On the point about disproportion, my satisfied, but he has not gone far enough. That is why I right hon. Friend will be as aware as I am that the am attracted by the evidence given by Chief Constable number of black youths on the DNA database is Peter Neyroud of the National Policing Improvement disproportionate to the amount of convictions. That is Agency, which was set up by this Government to be—it the key correlation. Regarding the Home Secretary’s is a perfect function for the agency—a central authority proposals for removing innocent people from the DNA to examine applications consistently, so that the balance database, I have run clinics with Liberty in Hackney to is right, as the shadow Home Secretary said, and it is help young people to get their DNA off the database. not just a question of what a local chief constable says. The criterion of unlawful arrest that the Home Secretary has put forward would not help most of the people I What is interesting about what the right hon. Member deal with. Some of them were bystanders when they for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) just said is were arrested; others had simply gone into shops to that the chief constable of the West Midlands police—I return jumpers when they were arrested. Although the do not know whether anyone spotted this—kept referring principle of having criteria is good, the criteria that he is in his evidence to the database held by each chief outlining are completely inadequate for dealing with constable as “theirs”, as though it belonged to them. the sporadic hoovering up of innocent people’s DNA Quite frankly, it does not, in my view. The best way to that is going on. make things consistent is to have one authority to handle them. Keith Vaz: I agree. My hon. Friend was not here when I paid tribute to her work in this area. Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, and does he agree, that measures such as the ones I will abstain in the vote on Second Reading today that we are discussing will only add to the distrust of because the Home Secretary has not convinced me on police in many inner-city constituencies such as mine, the DNA issue. A Select Committee inquiry is also where it is greater, although decreasing? Many young ongoing, and it would be quite wrong for me to pre-empt people in inner-city areas are arrested frequently, often the conclusions in its report. I promise to place that when they have not done anything, and keeping their report before the House as soon as possible—subject to records will only add to the existing distrust. members of the Committee agreeing with it, of course, because we like our reports to be unanimous. That has Keith Vaz: I am happy to accept that from my hon. been the case with all but one of our reports over the Friend. She represents Brixton in the House. As I past two and a half years. mentioned earlier, my hon. Friend the Member for I hope that the Home Secretary will have a chance to Hackney, North and Stoke Newington stated in her go away and do further work on the Bill before it debate that 77 per cent. of young black men were on the reaches its Committee stage. There are many good DNA database. That is a serious matter. I know that the points in it, and it would be a tragedy if it were lost Home Secretary had a lot to cover today, but he did not because of this issue. I hope that it will reach its address that. The disproportionate nature of those statistics Committee stage and come back to us for its Third cannot be dealt with by putting everyone on the database. Reading as soon as possible, because I reckon that there Who says that that would be a bad idea? None other are only 35 working parliamentary days between now than the father of DNA, Sir Alex Jeffreys. He thinks it and 31 March. Time is therefore pressing if he wants to is wrong to keep the DNA of innocent people on the get it on the statute book, and I hope that that can be database. He, too, will give evidence to the Select Committee. done as quickly as possible. If the person who discovered this process and is renowned as something of a genius on these issues says that to the 5.19 pm Government, I am surprised that they have not accepted his views. Chris Huhne (Eastleigh) (LD): I am always delighted to follow the right hon. Member for Leicester, East David T.C. Davies: The Chairman of the Home Affairs (Keith Vaz), who speaks a lot of wise words on this Select Committee will also know that four fifths of the subject, and on many others. He has certainly elucidated people on the DNA database are male. Does this suggest matters of evidence for the House this afternoon. I that there is some kind of anti-misogynistic view among cannot say that about the hon. Member for Epsom and 55 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 56
[Chris Huhne] Ms Abbott: The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the officials in the Box are flushed pink with pride. Ewell (Chris Grayling), however, or about the Home Secretary. Earlier, we heard a slightly unedifying spat Chris Huhne: I am glad that the hon. Lady has about whether crime figures had been falling or not. pointed that out; there certainly seemed to be more The hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell knows perfectly commotion in the Box than is usually the case. well that the figures that Conservative Home Secretaries Before moving on to the DNA proposals, let me deal were pleased to use when the Conservatives were last in with some of the less controversial passengers on this government were those of the British crime survey. particular bus. We welcome a reduction in police red Those figures show incontrovertibly that there has indeed tape, but in reducing the length and number of forms been a fall in crime. Before the Home Secretary thinks I that the police are required to complete, we must ensure am sidling up to him on this issue and before he decides that we also monitor fair dealing. Stops and searches of to take credit for this development, however, let me all kinds, but particularly those carried out under terrorism point out that crime has fallen in every single western legislation, disproportionately affect ethnic minorities. European country except Belgium. I am not quite sure Since 1997-98, black people have been almost eight what the Belgians are doing wrong, but this fall is times more likely to be stopped and Asian people twice certainly not something that the Labour Government as likely to be stopped as white people. I accept that the can realistically claim credit for. If the Home Office had requirement in primary legislation to record the person’s not ended its research on model building—I am delighted ethnicity is a welcome move, but this must be kept to see that the Justice Department is now doing this under constant management review. Stop and search again—it would have known that all sorts of other must be seen to be proportional to the threat if the factors, including technology, technological development police are to retain the confidence of minority communities, and, of course, demographic factors, play a part in the which is so crucial in terms of gathering intelligence crime trends. and ensuring that witnesses come forward to secure This is an omnibus Bill. As such, it is a random convictions. cross-section of measures that have been thrown together The Bill fails, however, to consider the problems of for no greater reason than the fact that they happened stops and searches under sections 44 and 45 of the to be hanging around at the bus stop at the time when Terrorism Act 2000, whereby they can be undertaken the Bill was going past. There are some pleasant-looking without the need for any suspicion at all. Just last week, passengers dotted around the bus, but the overall impression the Government again found themselves on the wrong is, I fear, tainted by the leering ogre picking its teeth on side of a European Court of Human Rights ruling on the front seat on the top deck—namely the Government’s this very legislation. There have long been concerns proposals for the DNA database. Although a comb has about the massive overuse of section 44 powers, particularly been raked through this beast’s tangle since the White by the Metropolitan police. Only 0.6 per cent. of people Paper, the effect is scarcely pleasing. stopped under these powers in the second quarter of It is the dominance of those proposals that will 2008 went on to be arrested, and the Government’s own determine the fate of the Bill, at least as far as Liberal terrorism adviser, Lord Carlile, pointed out last year Democrat Members are concerned. If the Government that searches were being carried out to provide “racial do not accept dramatic amendments in Committee, we balance”. Yet in this Bill the Government have made no will be entitled to draw the conclusion that they are moves to tighten up on their use. I hope that in Committee merely cocking a snook at the European Court of Ministers will table amendments that address the issues Human Rights judgment in the S and Marper case. that the European Court of Human Rights has raised That would be entirely unacceptable, and we would not about sections 44 and 45, and will ensure that these only oppose the Bill on Third Reading, but would do stop-and-search powers are used in a proportionate our utmost to beach it like a whale during wash-up. manner by more tightly drawing the conditions in which I have spoken before about the ministerial tendency they can be deployed. to overdose on legislative laxatives. This is the 69th David T.C. Davies: Is not the reason why so few home affairs Bill since 1997 and the 60th criminal people are arrested as a result of section 44 precisely justice Bill. The Government are the proud father and because these searches are meant to be random and mother of more than 3,600 new criminal offences. Even thereby send out a message? Because of their randomness, those in favour of law, as I am, recognise that it is all sorts of people are stopped and searched who would possible to have too much of a good thing. This legislative not normally expect to be so. Also, if the searches were diarrhoea is, frankly, a conspiracy between Ministers not random, but instead were targeted at certain groups who want to leave their footprints in the legislative sand of people by age, ethnicity or anything else, the hon. and civil servants who recognise that the fast track to Gentleman would be the first to complain. promotion is to spend time with Ministers discussing their pet legislative proposals. Chris Huhne: Apart from anything else, I disagree Even for this Government, this Bill breaks new ground. that this is a sensible use of police time. In order to see It amends the Policing and Crime Act 2009, which that, we need only look at the success rate and the received Royal Assent just 13 days before the current potential for alienating minority communities, who we Bill was announced. The Home Office Bill team have need to have on board if we are to tackle terrorism. This really outdone themselves on this occasion, and I think power needs to be revisited, as the ECHR has made we can be sure that there is at least one part of the very clear. public sector where there can be no doubt about Part 5 of the Bill introduces measures to tackle productivity performance, even if there remains some domestic violence further, and to protect the victims of doubt—if I read what is happening across the House— it in the immediate aftermath of a suspected offence. about the quality of the product. We welcome these so-called “go” orders as a useful way 57 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 58 to giving victims of domestic violence the time and discredited and overused ASBO; ideally, parenting orders safety to make decisions about their future. However, it should be used well ahead in this process. These measures is imperative that these orders are coupled with support do nothing to address the root causes of antisocial and counselling for victims, and temporary housing for behaviour before they get out of hand. We need to catch the perpetrators, as is the case in the other countries children early, create schemes that divert them away upon whose provisions they appear to be modelled. from crime and antisocial behaviour, and get them to take responsibility for their actions when they stray, Mr. Malins: On domestic violence protection notices, particularly through restorative justice schemes and I wonder whether there really is a serious gap in the law neighbourhood justice panels. that needs to be filled or we have sufficient criminal On part 8, we thoroughly dislike the licensing regime charges to enable the mischief to be dealt with under for wheel-clamping businesses operating on private land. existing laws. I see no justification for yet another licensing regime, so let us instead opt for a simple Scottish-style solution Chris Huhne: The hon. Gentleman has considerable and declare such clamping illegal entirely, as it is tantamount professional experience of the law, and he makes a very to extortion. We should not be attempting to clean up good point, which I take seriously. He is certainly right this industry’s act by providing a licensing regime. to raise this issue given how many offences have been Finally, I turn to parts 2 to 4, which concern the introduced since 1997—and, indeed, some even before DNA database. To say that the Government’s proposals then—that it was perfectly possible to prosecute under are a disappointment is an understatement—they are a existing legislation. I am happy to look at this in Committee scandal. They have roundly failed to address any of the if what the hon. Gentleman is suggesting is indeed the concerns outlined in the European Court of Human case, although I am absolutely convinced that we need Rights ruling in the case of S and Marper about the to do more to tackle domestic violence. I suspect that “blanket and indiscriminate nature” of the database. we will achieve a lot in that regard by persuading more The UK has the largest DNA database in the world; it is police forces to adopt the best practice of some, which far larger than its American counterpart, despite the is to go ahead with prosecutions even when the victim is population of the United States being so much bigger. unwilling to give evidence, such as by using circumstantial Our database contains records from more than 5.5 million or medical evidence about what has happened. That people, almost 1 million of whom are innocent—they appears to be an effective way of tackling domestic have no record on the police national computer—and violence. However, having been out with my local police almost one in two of all black men are on the database. force and seen cases of domestic violence, I really do This is little more than a random accretion of profiles think we need to deal with this as forcefully as we from anybody who happens to run into the police. We possibly can. have heard in great detail, particularly from the Chair Part 6 concerns gang injunctions for under-18s. We of the Select Committee on Home Affairs, how difficult are less happy about this area of the Bill, since it it can be, depending on where one lives in the country, appears to be another case of legislating on the hoof. to get one’s details removed from this database, even These clauses amend the recent Policing and Crime when one wants to do so. Act 2009, and they are baffling since the Minister told As I briefly mentioned, in December 2008 the ECHR the Joint Committee on Human Rights in March last ruled that the retention of the DNA samples of two year that the Government had no intention of covering men who had not been convicted of any crime—S and children and young people explicitly. My party has long Marper—was illegal and violated their right to a private argued that antisocial behaviour orders, or ASBOs, life. The Court ruled that should be a last resort. If overused—there are parallels here with the so-called “gangbos”—they become ineffective “the retention in question constituted a disproportionate interference and costly and potentially criminalise a generation of with the applicants’ right to respect for private life and could not be regarded as necessary in a democratic society”. young people. Its ruling that this was not necessary in a democratic These gang injunctions seem to me to repeat many of society is a staggering criticism—it said that the UK the same mistakes. They again blur the line between Government have collected the most personal information criminal and civil law. They criminalise young people from innocent people in a database that is not fit for a without any thought as to how or why they find themselves democratic society. Yet, rather than be humbled or caught up in the dark world of gang-related violence, chastened by that, the Government are presenting proposals and they simply mimic many powers that are already that fly in the face of the ruling. It seems that they on the statute book. Furthermore, they give the courts would rather continue their dangerous obsession with powers to impose draconian orders on young people creating massive and illegal databases of any information who breach these injunctions. As Liberty has so aptly they can get their hands on than accept that they were put it, we are, in essence, talking about wrong and that they have gone beyond the law. “a mixture of control orders and ASBOs”. The effectiveness of the DNA database for innocents It is staggering that the Government are intent on as a tool for fighting crime is itself highly questionable. expanding these types of orders for children, and we Figures have shown that despite the huge increase in the shall certainly seek to amend these provisions in Committee. number of profiles on the database from 2.1 million in Part 7 makes the issuing of a parenting order mandatory 2002 to 5.6 million at the last count, the number of upon the breach by a child of an ASBO. Parenting detected crimes for which a DNA match was available—we orders, in themselves, are often beneficial, but we are are not even talking about it being crucial to the concerned that these provisions may result in such conviction—has fallen from 21,098 to 17,614 last year. orders being used as a last resort, at the point when a That does not surprise me because, as I said, the database child has already been criminalised by breaching a is random. It includes 1 million innocents and excludes 59 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 60
[Chris Huhne] paper was based on an extremely small sample of research carried out by the Jill Dando Institute of crime science, more than 2 million people who were convicted before which its own director later noted was incomplete and the database began. One sensible aspect of these proposals based on data to which the institute was not given direct is to collect the DNA of such convicts. We will support access. The director stated that it that. There seems to be an absolutely clear basis for “was probably a mistake with hindsight, we should have just said ensuring that that goes ahead. ‘you might as well just stick your finger in the air and think of a number’”. Ms Abbott: Does the hon. Gentleman share my concern Further criticism came from Professor Sheila Bird, a about the way in which Ministers, when they advance vice-president of the Royal Statistical Society, who said their arguments about the super-database, seem to have that the consultation’s difficulty holding in their heads the difference between “use of statistical science does not enhance public trust” being guilty and being innocent? I had an Adjournment and that debate on this question, and a Minister stood at the “misleading statistical arguments in public consultations should Dispatch Box and talked about “allegedly innocent” be regarded as a statistical felony”— people. Do not Ministers need reminding that under the statistical equivalent of “lying to the House”. British law a person is either guilty or innocent? Although All the Home Office has done is halve the period we do not say that there are no circumstances in which proposed in the consultation document, as if splitting we should keep the DNA of innocent people, Ministers the difference were a substitute for evidence. The Home need to be reminded of some of the principles of Secretary said today at the Dispatch Box that there was English law. tremendously important evidence that would support his evidence and that, as we speak, it is in the process of Chris Huhne: The hon. Lady is absolutely right. That being peer-reviewed. I have news for him—there is a is a crucial principle. Ministers surreptitiously begin to difference between something appearing in a learned talk not about how a previous arrest is a good indicator journal once it has been peer-reviewed and something of some future conviction, but about how a previous that is going through the process of peer review. arrest is a good indicator of another future arrest. Just because somebody is arrested twice, that does not make If research is going through the process of peer them any more guilty than they were when they were review, it has not yet been accepted for publication in a arrested the first time, which was followed by no successful learned journal. That process can involve a substantial prosecution. I fear that Ministers are being naive in amount of revision on the part of the authors. If, after their approach. The issue of principle is exactly as the getting its fingers burned in the case of the consultation hon. Lady says. paper and the Jill Dando Institute, the Home Office has not learned not to present to the House a load of David T.C. Davies rose— half-baked evidence, it damn well ought to have done so. The Home Secretary ought to know that he should Chris Huhne: I shall happily give way again, but come here with evidence that is incontrovertible and probably for the last time to the hon. Gentleman. based on research that is published in a learned journal, not something that he hopes will support his point of David T.C. Davies: The hon. Gentleman is being very view at some time in the future. fair. Will he or the hon. Member for Hackney, North Our preferred alternative is a strict split between and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) take the opportunity innocence and guilt. If a person is found guilty of a to tell us whether they agree that the five people named crime, their DNA is retained on the database. If they by the Daily Mail as the murderers of Stephen Lawrence are not convicted of a crime, their DNA is removed killed him? I believe that they did and so do most people from the database at the end of the investigation. It is as who have considered the case. I believe that it is right simple as that. The principle of being innocent until that their DNA should be collected and I would never proven guilty is the cornerstone of our criminal justice describe them as “wholly innocent people”. Would the system. I have seen nothing in any of the so-called hon. Gentleman describe them as completely innocent? evidence provided by the Government today to convince me that we should abandon that principle now. Chris Huhne: I know that the hon. Gentleman is a To conclude, the inadequate DNA proposals loom so member of the special constabulary, and that he will large over the entire Bill that although there are positive therefore have had a certain amount of legal training, elements elsewhere, it is well overdue for the Government and he is aware that there is a difference between the to take seriously their obligations towards the European standard of proof in a civil case and that in a criminal convention on human rights not just in this matter, but case. The standard of proof in a criminal case is that in the matter of sections 44 and 45 of the Terrorism somebody has to be convicted beyond reasonable doubt. Act. They should start with the Bill. The DNA proposals As a former journalist, I know that the standard of fail to respect the right to private life. They sacrifice the proof in a civil case, when it comes to libel, is on the presumption of innocence over guilt on the basis of a balance of probabilities. I salute the campaign that the cooked consultation. They are an affront to British Daily Mail has run on this issue, but I merely point out traditions of hard-won liberty and justice. I am sad to to the hon. Gentleman that it is slightly more difficult to say that for that reason, despite some of the positive bring a successful prosecution on a criminal basis than provisions in the Bill, we will not support it this evening. it is to defend oneself in the libel courts. Let me return to the DNA database. The evidence 5.41 pm provided by the Government to support the retention of Mr. Ian McCartney (Makerfield) (Lab): I support my the DNA of all innocent people for six years is a right hon. and hon. Friends and when the time comes, I shambles. The so-called evidence in the consultation will vote in favour of the Bill being given a Second 61 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 62
Reading. I go further and suggest that so far this Ewell (Chris Grayling), on the Conservative Front Bench. evening we have heard from the Liberal Democrats a They made it absolutely clear that they were prepared in victory of pomposity over intellectual rigour, and from another place and here tactically to stop the Bill going the Conservatives, a rant. One would have thought that through. as we are so close to the election, they would give us The issue is so important, however, that I plead with some insight into the alternative positions they take on the hon. Gentlemen—whatever their views on other the Bill. matters and whether they can be resolved—not to use The spokesmen of both parties failed to respond at their tactics to the point where, as a result, their fellow all to the Government’s announced improvements to citizens and their families, who have waited since 2002, the legislation on compensation for British citizens do not receive any recognition of what went wrong or who are victims of terrorism overseas. I do not make a any financial support for the ongoing physical and partisan point. For more than five years my noble mental damage that has been inflicted on them and Friend Lord Brennan and I have worked with victims their loved ones. groups on a non-partisan basis, day in and day out, to resolve the issues arising when the lives of innocent Keith Vaz: My right hon. Friend speaks with great British citizens and their families are blighted for ever as passion on that issue, which is very important to him. a consequence of attacks on them simply because they However, he cannot say that it is being used as a were British citizens. camouflage by those who oppose the database proposals. An announcement has been made of a scheme for the We support him on the issue, but if he is, rightly, so keen future, which I warmly welcome, along with recognition on it, the Government could make time in the House of something I asked the Government to consider last and a Bill—just on that issue—could go through with autumn—that any new compensation scheme should the support of all Members. No one is trying to stop his not overlook victims who have already suffered and will proposals. continue to suffer for the rest of their lives. I would have expected at least 30 seconds’ acknowledgement from Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend knows very the Opposition Front-Bench spokesmen and an indication well that I never suggested that hon. Members were that they would support the proposals in the House using my issue as a camouflage. I asked them, as I do tonight. my hon. Friends, to make a simple commitment. What I am saying to Members is absolutely clear: I am not Victims’ families throughout Britain may feel concerned playing footsie and asking people to make a trade-off. that, for other partisan political reasons, the proposed We cannot trade off the lives of fellow British citizens; schemes may not be implemented before the general we cannot trade off the consequences of Bali, Mumbai election. That would be scandalous, particularly for the and all the other instances of terrorism, where British families who have been waiting since Bali for financial citizens have suffered grievously. My point is that this support and recognition of the consequences of such issue goes beyond the other aspects of the Bill. Its status terrorist attacks. as a vehicle for this issue is important, however, because Chris Huhne rose— the Government have for the past five years had to consider evidence from me and others and from the Mr. McCartney: I will give way to the hon. Gentleman families concerned; and, in a very difficult situation, in a moment. I have made my criticism, so I will allow they have now responded positively. him to respond. I say so because it is important to Once again, I suggest that we establish a transparent guarantee that, by the end of the debate, all Opposition scheme for the future with clear rules of engagement, Members concerned have clearly stated, whatever their if, sadly, British citizens again become victims of terrorist view of the whole Bill, that they will grant fair weather attacks in a far-off land; and, I suggest that those who and support to the Government to ensure that those have already suffered and continue to suffer—those two aspects of the Bill—the future scheme and the who have been grievously injured, physically and mentally scheme for current victims—get through the House and —be given the opportunity to receive compensation. are implemented, so that the victims and their families The issue is about justice denied for 10 years. We should can start to rebuild their lives. not allow people in the few weeks of the Bill’s consideration to reach the point whereby, in their desire to amend it, Chris Huhne: I am sure that, when we have had a they miscalculate the situation and allow the injustice to chance to look at those measures, they are likely to continue. That is my plea to all hon. Members. command a great deal of support from all parts of the House, but I urge the right hon. Gentleman—particularly When my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary because the measures are likely to get so much support—not opened the debate, I was pleased to hear him recognise to try to use the issue as a camouflage for much more two points. He recognised that an act of terrorism is an controversial proposals on the DNA database. I assure attack on the nation state and, therefore, an entirely him that, if the Government accept in Committee our different crime from normal criminal activities—as amendments on the DNA database or, indeed, the dangerous and as difficult as they may be. As a consequence expected Conservative amendments, the Bill is likely to of that recognition, I believe that in all circumstances go through with the measures that he cares so much from now on the state has an overwhelming duty—a about. first duty—to protect, look after and defend its citizens, whatever the reason why they are not within the shores Mr. McCartney: Having spent 15 years as a Front of the United Kingdom when that attack takes place. It Bencher in government and in opposition, I must say could not have been right then, and would not be right that I am not using the issue as a camouflage. I raise it now or in future, for the nation not to look after the in this way simply because I fear the responses from the interests of someone simply because they had a toenail hon. Gentleman and the hon. Member for Epsom and over the white cliffs of Dover when they were attacked 63 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 64
[Mr. McCartney] I understand that the Foreign Secretary will be responsible for designating who will be eligible for the hardship by a terrorist. That surely should never have been the payments. So that things will not be held up, will the case. Thankfully, following my right hon. Friend’s statement Foreign Secretary and appropriate Ministers meet today, it will not be the case in future. representatives of the various groups to talk the issue My right hon. Friend also recognised something else, through with them? In that way, victims’ organisations for which some of us have been arguing for some time. would clearly understand precisely how applications Many of the British citizens attacked in such incidents can be made for injuries incurred in certain incidents in the past decade have been attacked for one sole reason: and how they can refer cases to the Foreign Secretary they are British citizens. That became even more true in for designation. Mumbai, where British citizens were killed and maimed I am certain that in making the announcements today, simply because they were British. Sadly, attacks—small the Government will have found resources from the or large—will take place in future, and I believe that appropriate legislation. I welcome that and thank them those who carry them out will seek out citizens from for it. I also thank the Home Secretary for the work he particular nations, including ours, and will afflict and has done to bring together a complex issue to ensure damage those citizens. Given those circumstances, it is that justice is at last won for victims. He has done so in a so important to recognise that it is unacceptable for way that ensures that every part of Whitehall accepts there to be a legal loophole through which victims of that the state has an obligation to look after its citizens attacks overseas are treated differently from those who who are attacked abroad, and that the state recognises are attacked within our own borders. I am glad to say the ongoing needs of victims who have survived with that my right hon. Friend is putting that right. horrific illnesses. My right hon. Friend also said that he would broadly One thing about those who have survived is for sure: mirror the domestic criminal injuries compensation scheme. their ongoing daily courage and that of their families. It Will my right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, is a humbling experience to stand here and speak on Crime and Counter-Terrorism, in Committee if not behalf of people who do not have a voice to speak tonight, give a clear indication of what exactly that here—those who have lost their children, grandchildren, means? I ask the question seriously. On 15 January, Ned wives or husbands. It is difficult to speak up for those Temko, a journalist who has followed with great knowledge who cannot speak for themselves in this Chamber, and and commitment the cause of victims of terrorism who are now limbless or who suffer from mental illnesses. overseas, wrote this in The Guardian: A constituent of mine survived the Sharm el-Sheikh “Planned amendments going before the Commons on Monday attacks, having gone back into the hotel time and again will include a more generous scheme for future victims, along the lines of the settlement for victims of the 7/7 terror bombings in to help rescue survivors, not knowing whether there London.” would be another bomb in a few moments. He has to The second part of the scheme relates to two other live with the consequences of that for the rest of his life. Departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office He protected a young child who, only minutes before, and the Ministry of Justice, so I shall not press my right had been talking with friends who moments later no hon. Friend to answer about it today. It is about how we longer existed. That is a humbling experience. Until will introduce a non-statutory scheme for those who today, it has been hard to put into words what those have been damaged since 2002. I understand that there families have felt at the fact that no one would recognise— will be hardship payments, that the scheme will be just recognise—the consequence of those terrorist attacks limited to a certain period and that it will be ex gratia on them and how devastated their lives became. For and non-statutory; it will not be a retrospective scheme many of their loved ones, there was no life at all. according to the legal definition. I am certain that there will be disappointments about It will be interesting if we find out in Committee how some of the restrictions in the scheme. Overall, however, different—or broadly similar—that part of the scheme I think people will accept that at last the House has the will be from the scheme announced today for future opportunity to recognise that our fellow citizens require victims. Will the eligibility for hardship payments be the protection. When that protection does not work and same as that in the prospective scheme the Home Secretary they become the victims of terror attacks, the one thing announced today? I do not ask my right hon. Friend the that should not concern them is an unwillingness or Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism to lack of ability on the part of their state to look after respond in detail today; I am giving him pointers for the them and their families. Committee, to ensure that, in the days and weeks to I thank my right hon. and hon. Friends for this come, victims and their families have a clearer understanding announcement today. A lot of hard work, effort, tears of what the scheme will look like and what they can and sweat have gone into getting where we have reached. expect. However, all that pales into insignificance when we I understand that hardship payments could be calculated consider what has happened to the families I have been according to the tariff of injuries in the domestic criminal discussing. Whatever else the House does with the rest injuries compensation scheme and that no payments of the Bill, I ask it not to jump off the cliff, as it were, by would be made to the families of those killed or for using tactics that leave those families devastated again. injuries that did not lead to an ongoing disability. Equally, no payments would be made for loss of earnings. 5.58 pm That is in line with what the current criminal injuries compensation scheme delivers in the UK. However, it David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) (Con): I would help those concerned if they knew whether in commend the right hon. Member for Makerfield future there would be consideration in respect of (Mr. McCartney) on his speech; he clearly put a lot of compensation for those who had lost their lives. passion, time, energy and work into delivering this 65 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 66 change for his constituents and others. However, he of what happened following that attack, he was arrested should not take opposition to elements of the Bill as on a charge of affray, which was then dropped because tactics. The House is big enough not to deliver justice it was clear that he was not at fault. He was not the for some at the price of injustice for others. aggressor—he was simply defending himself, and those I was serving on the Front Bench when the issue first two men were guilty of attacking him. came up, and I do not pretend that it was easy to resolve So far, so good—an unpleasant incident, but it was in our minds. After all, it involves balancing an incredibly over. Then, two months ago—I take up the story in his powerful anti-crime tool—one that will deliver convictions words: to deal with criminals, which is what we want—against “I dropped a friend off at Manchester Airport and double the imposition of a presumption of guilt, perhaps a parked. A foolish mistake and on returning to my car the police lifetime presumption in some respects, to people who had arrived and given me a ticket. They asked if I was ‘known to are seen as innocent by the state and who are, in most the police’ and I said no, having no criminal record. I was already apologetic and admitted my mistake and had accepted the parking cases, innocent. There will, of course, be exceptions fine. when the judicial system fails, but mostly such people But when they then heard over the radio that I was on the will be innocent. I shall give some examples in a moment. DNA database, they treated me with total contempt—as if I were I do not pretend that the issue is easy. a serious criminal. ‘You lied to us’, they said. ‘You’re on the Some of the Government’s proposals on the DNA database. So you’ve obviously done something wrong’”— database are very welcome. When we considered this an interesting assumption— before, Conservative Members, and I think the Liberals “‘What are you trying to conceal now?’…There was no separation too, took the view that one way of improving the between my DNA records and those of a violent criminal. effectiveness of the scheme was to bring in the 2 million This characterises my main problem with the database. Anyone extra guilty people who had been overlooked by the who is on it, I think the police will have an inclination to see them original legislation. It was, frankly, governmental or as a criminal. All they heard over the radio was ‘he’s on the corporate laziness to go for the ones that it was easy to database’. Did they know I had committed no crime? I don’t take the samples from, not those who were likely to be think so.” committing crimes today and in future—namely, those That case is not unusual. However, we have been who were convicted before the Criminal Justice and talking about other categories of people on the database. Police Act 2001 went through, let alone the Criminal The Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee pointed Justice Act 2003. I approve of that. It impinges only on out that 77 per cent. of young black males—defined as guilty people, and it will greatly improve conviction 15 to 34-year-olds—are on the database; the Liberal rates for cold cases, for current cases, and for future spokesman said that the proportion is just under half, at cases. Two million guilty people will have committed 30-something per cent. It is one thing if this happens to many more crimes than 1 million innocent people, someone once, and they are angry enough to write to virtually by definition. the BBC about it, but what if it happens to them and their friends all the time? What does that do to their That is why we came to the conclusion that the presumption of justice? What does it do to their perception Scottish system was the best compromise. I know that of the police? What does it do to their belief in law and we differ with the Liberals on this, although it was their order in their community? This is not a theoretical brothers and sisters in Scotland who put that system issue, or some namby-pamby, civil liberties piece of through; indeed, I think it was a Liberal justice spokesman high-flown rhetoric: it affects ordinary citizens in our who did it. I understand, however, that the compromise country day by day, and it drives a stake through the was, as the Home Secretary said, based on “no data at presumption of innocence in our society. the time”, not “no data today”, because the Scottish Government have had the sense—I am not often heard David T.C. Davies rose— speaking well of an Scottish National party Government —to review the policy, as did the Labour-Liberal David Davis: I give way to my namesake. Government before them. Their review showed that the outcome in Scotland was at least as good as, if not David T.C. Davies: I thank my namesake for giving better than, that achieved under the system that we have way; I am intervening at my peril. There may be some in England and Wales, despite the Home Secretary’s genuine confusion in such situations. When the police new statistics; I shall talk about the presentation of new take somebody’s details, they conduct a police national evidence at the Dispatch Box in a moment. computer check that will often come back saying, “No, not wanted.” The police may have assumed that the There will be those in the House who think, “My person was known to them, but they would not have constituents worry about being hurt, murdered, assaulted known that he was on the DNA database and may well or burgled. They’re not worried about these technical, have been referring to the fact that his name came up on civil libertarian concerns.” I should therefore like to the computer records as being known, but not wanted. take a moment or two to explain how this is, in practical terms, very real to those who suffer in this way. The case David Davis: I thank my hon. Friend for his explanation; that I am going to cite is in the public domain, on the he is expert in this, as he serves as a special constable. BBC website; I will summarise so that people can check However, I am afraid that in all truth—please do not the extended details themselves. The man involved is take this wrongly—I do not care about that: what I care called David Sweeney. He says that in 2004 he was on about is the impact on an ordinary citizen, who could his way home and was assaulted by two other men. He be one of my constituents. In fact, I do not have any was about 28 years old at the time of writing, and he is a immigrant minorities in my constituency, but it could white and—I think, from the language he uses—middle- be one of my constituents in another context. My point class male. That is an important point to remember: he is this: if these things happen to a whole community on was a white, probably middle-class male. In the course a regular basis, just think what that does. 67 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 68
[David Davis] Crime and Counter-Terrorism, who will serve on the Committee, is a capable man, and I think that the Incidentally, there is nothing in the Bill about the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, PNC database, as far as I can see—perhaps I have the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Campbell), is misread it and the Minister can intervene to tell me so. too, so where does it come from? The Government talk about taking off a person’s DNA I cannot remember whether Disraeli or Mark Twain details after six years, but their entry on the PNC originated the phrase “lies, damn lies and statistics”, database showing that they were arrested will stay for but heavens above it applies here, because the conflation life. Even if somebody is successful under this scheme of statistics and so-called facts that has taken place and gets their DNA details taken off, the fact that they throughout this debate has been astonishing, which was were arrested stays on the record. why the quote from the leading statistician cited by the I do not know how many of those in the House have hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) was apposite. tried to get a visa to enter the United States and have That was why I asked the Home Secretary earlier to do seen the form that is filled in and the record check that something that the Home Office has refused to do for is done, but it is clear that someone who has been the past year. He agreed and we will hold him to it. I arrested is very unlikely to get that visa. Indeed, the asked him to comment on the Prime Minister’s claim principal concern of my hon. Friend the Member for that 114 murderers have been convicted and locked up Ashford (Damian Green) after the disgraceful piece of as a result of the 1 million database entries from innocent neo-totalitarian treatment that he experienced was that people—not the others, because we all accept that there he would never be able to go on holiday to America is a reason for the guilty to be on the database—and to again, let alone go on political trips and whatever else provide the list. The information is in the public domain, he does there. This Bill affects that, as well as a person’s so there is no reason why the entire list of 114 murderers ability to get a job. This is for life, remember. Under should not be published. However, I believe that that these provisions, a person is declared a suspect for assertion is simply untrue. In the words of GeneWatch, life—again, a stake through the heart of civil liberties. the independent experts: It is not uncommon for total innocents to be caught “These claims are demonstrably false”. up. My constituency is the 10th richest constituency in It also describes the claims as ridiculous, and says that it the country, as hon. Members who went there during does not believe that locking up our children will protect the by-election probably know. It is not all dark satanic us in the future. mills—it is very pretty, like Surrey in the north. It is very Both Opposition Front-Bench spokesmen and the well-off and very orderly; indeed, it has the lowest crime Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee have made rate in the country. When I was shadow Home Secretary, the same point. The key period is between 2004 and my local paper rang up and said, “You’ve got the lowest now. In 2001, there was the first change to the law to crime rate in the country,” and I said, “I should bloody allow retention after charge, while the second change, well hope so.” The simple truth is that that is the nature which made the big difference, happened in 2004, with of the constituency. Yet I have there three people on the retention allowed after arrest. Between 2004 and now, DNA database who are clearly, to my mind, innocent; the size of the database has doubled and become the two of them are children arrested on the basis of biggest in the world. Of course, however, the number of malicious allegations from other children. My police direct DNA convictions went down by about 2,000—from authority is one of those where people are never taken around 21,000 to 19,000. The number was about that off the database. Perhaps that is not surprising, as it was order of magnitude, but it certainly did not go up. involved in the Soham episode; I think that if I were the chief constable in Humberside I would be very chary The Home Secretary responds to that by saying that about taking that decision. However, that means that it has happened because crime has gone down. He is the the youngsters will be on it pretty much until they are only person in the entire country who believes that adult—at the time of their first application for a job, if crime is going down, but let us take him at his word. they do not go off to university. The third person is a However, even if that is the case, crime has gone down man who works in the care sector—or at least he did on the Government’s figures—rigged as they are—by until last year. These are innocent people who are about 10 per cent., but although the database has having their lives destroyed, damaged or in some way doubled in size, the proportion of convictions achieved harmed by this situation. through it has stayed between 0.34 and 0.37 per cent. There is no upward trend—the figures go up and down— What is the basis of this? The Home Secretary is and it has remained the case that roughly one in 250 cases actually a rather close friend of mine. We travel back to have been solved through DNA. The database inflation our consistencies on the train together, we are next-door has not delivered more justice and security; it has simply neighbours and we co-operate on all sorts of things—I delivered huge insecurity to the people who are on it, am probably doing him great harm by saying all this, but should not be. but never mind. Why has this happened? What has led Ministers to take such an approach? They do so not for ill intent. I Mr. Llwyd: You are not doing yourself any good suspect that my namesake, my hon. Friend the Member either. for Monmouth (David T.C. Davies), supports them, and he does not have ill intent at all—there is not a David Davis: That does not matter—I am past it. malicious bone in his body. I think that their belief The simple truth, therefore, is that I do not believe largely results from a misconception of the way in that the Home Secretary is making an evil, point-scoring, which the system works. Very few hon. Members have electoral point. I presume that he and other Ministers served in uniform of any sort, let alone police uniform, believe in this approach. The Minister for Policing, and they do not really think this through. They form a 69 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 70 lot of their impressions of everything from terrorism to that the Home Secretary had made the case for a crime by watching too many editions of “Spooks” and national database. If the Home Secretary believes that “CSI”. the data should be there, they should cover all innocent people, not just those who are unlucky enough to get Mr. Hanson: Or “The Wire”. caught up by a random process. Let us think about the people who get caught. First, David Davis: My hon. Friend the Member for Epsom there are the victims, because if a person is mugged and and Ewell (Chris Grayling) is not in the Chamber, but I the police happen to turn up on that occasion, the would have mentioned that if he had been. mugger will be much slicker than the victim by saying, We too often take our understanding of what is “He hit me first.” We have read in the newspapers and happening in reality from popular culture, which the heard anecdotally about many such cases. Home Secretary did today when he suddenly cited, out Secondly, there are the have-a-go heroes who try to of thin air, one of his new examples—it was the first stop a fight but also get caught in this messy process. time we had heard about it—and talked about DNA Then there are the children who are accused by another under victims’ fingernails. The truth is that the relevant child, whom I mentioned earlier, and the teachers who DNA in most murders is not the perpetrator’s, but the are accused by a malicious child—there are two such victim’s. That is the blood that is found on clothes, in cases in my constituency. There are also the care workers the car, on the weapon, or on the skin of the person who who are accused by people who are mentally unstable. carried it out—usually a man, to go back to earlier They might have spent their lives trying to support statistics that we heard. The database has no implications those people but—bingo!—there is another case. All for such cases, because the body is generally there. those innocent people are caught in this trap, yet we are The most common circumstances in which DNA is doing what is convenient to the police. used is when the criminal—the guilty man or woman—is Frankly, the police gave disgracefully poor evidence identified first, with DNA taken second. In such to the Home Affairs Committee, and I recommend that circumstances, the database does not feature at all. The hon. Members read GeneWatch’s summary of the next category is when the DNA that is taken comes up contribution of the representative from the Association as relevant to a cold case—we heard earlier from the of Chief Police Officers—almost every piece of data right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), who is that he gave was wrong. To put it bluntly, ACPO’s very keen on the issue of cold cases. However, the understanding of the statistics and probability is non- database has absolutely no implications for cold cases. existent, and I am afraid that it is down to the House to The argument about cold cases is complete rubbish, insist that Government agencies do their job properly, because the relevant database for a cold case is that of rather than sloppily and in a way that impinges on the cold case DNA samples from crime scenes, and there rights of the people whom they are there to protect. have not been more solutions of cold cases because that That all leads me to believe that there is a problem database is incomplete—and what is more, the Government to be dealt with. As I said, the Scottish system is not propose to close Operation Stealth, the unit that runs it. perfect. However, I say to Ministers—they might have If we really want to fix the cold case problem, we need been discounting the rest of what I said, but I would like to get the database of DNA from cold case crime scenes them to listen carefully to this—that in this area, there is up to date, and then check DNA against that every time a massive amount of data under the Government’s a person is arrested. I will return to how that has caused control. The data are in a manageable, electronic, coded the House to be misled in a moment. database form. It is possible to do a great deal to pursue The last category of DNA use is the one that is the effectiveness of that database, yet we have seen relevant to today’s debate. It relates to future cases when almost no published data from it. a match is found to DNA that is already held, and an The data that we have seen have been desperately individual is arrested on the back of that. No one flawed. Again today, we heard the Home Secretary argues that that is not important. After all, not one conflate the issue of re-arrest with that of conviction person who has spoken has said that we should take after arrest, behaving as though being arrested twice guilty people—4 million of the 5 million—off the database. somehow made a person guilty. To a young black man Both the Conservatives and Liberals argue that 2 million in Brixton, I do not think that that is true. It is no more such people should be put on the database, because surprise if somebody who is on the database gets picked that is where the system’s power lies. That is because, up again—how do we think policemen work? It is not despite what the Home Secretary says, every piece of wrong that they should work in that way, but it is simply scientific research that has been carried out on criminality wrong to draw that conclusion. A couple of months is clear that criminals are almost always repeat offenders. ago, I was so horrified by the Jill Dando Institute data Those who commit big crimes precede them by committing that I asked its research director whether I could see the small crimes. Those who are socially undisciplined by information and interview the researcher. Just 10 days committing one sort of crime are undisciplined on later, the data were withdrawn because the same conflation everything, whether that is stealing things, cheating on error had been made. fines or not paying following driving offences. Some of It is not hard to solve the problem. The Government the Government’s more sensible strategies hang on that have the information, and they should put it in the understanding. public domain, or at least in the domain of authorised There is an enormous difference between the likely academics who can examine it independently. Then we criminality of innocent people and those who have could get some sensible answers on the mathematics of already committed crime. If that was not true, there the matter, so that we could judge how much freedom, would be a case for a national database. That was why privacy and presumption of innocence we should trade the hon. Member for Eastleigh was right when he said off against the right to security from violent criminals. 71 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 72
[David Davis] The Bill proposes changes to how stop and search is recorded. I absolutely understand the reasoning—we This is a dangerous matter, because juries take DNA do not want excessive bureaucracy in the police, and we evidence as the golden bullet. Too many of them have want them to spend as much time as they possibly can watched “CSI”, “Bones” or “Cold Case Files” and on the street dealing with crime, rather than filling in believe that DNA evidence is perfect. I shall ambush the cumbersome forms or records. However, the use of stop Home Secretary on his way home on the train on and search can be controversial and it is important that Thursday and give him a copy of this week’s New we get it absolutely right. Scientist. I recommend that the other Ministers read it, Stop and search can take several different forms, and too. It contains a long overdue piece about the doubts there are three main powers to exercise it. There is that many scientists have about the veracity of the section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, presumption that there is a one in 7 million chance of which is the commonest form, but there is also section 44 DNA evidence being wrong. There are all sorts of of the Terrorism Act 2000 and section 60 of the Criminal reasons why that should not be the case, and I shall not Justice and Public Order Act 1994. These last two do bore the House with the technicalities today—my first not require a police officer to have reasonable suspicion degree is too long ago for that. It is likely that the about an individual before they conduct a stop and probability of a mismatch is much greater than we search. Section 60 of the 1994 Act, in particular, is often think. ignored when there is discussion of stop and search. We come up against what is known as the “birthday There was a recently a prominent court case about syndrome”. The chance of me and the Home Secretary section 44 of the 2000 Act, and there has been a great having the same birthday is one in 365—that is pretty deal of publicity about how it has been used in relation straightforward to work out. The chance of me and one to recent demonstrations in central London. However, of the entire Home Office ministerial and Parliamentary when we consider the regulations governing stop and Private Secretary team having the same birthday is search during the passage of this Bill, we need to about 25 per cent. If we add in the people in all their examine what happens under section 60. private offices, it is about 50 per cent. Actually, the The proposal in the Bill is to reduce the recording chance of my having the same birthday as the Home requirements under PACE. There will not be any need Secretary is zero, because his is in May, but the point is to record whether anything was found during the stop that the probability of a mismatch rises steeply the and search, whether any injury or damage were caused greater the database gets. to the person stopped, or their name. Monitoring will The presumption among those who are tied to databases continue in relation to ethnicity, but not age. We need to is that the bigger the database, the better it will be. No, consider what the consequences of that might be. If the bigger the database, the geometrically bigger the someone wished to make a complaint that a stop and chance of a mismatch. That is the mathematics. Members search was unlawful, or wished to show in their defence should not believe me, they should go and get themselves in a case that they had been stopped and searched two a mathematician to explain it to them. It is straightforward, or three times in the same day—that sometimes happens— and it is called the birthday syndrome. A bigger database they would find it very difficult without names and carries a greater chance of a mismatch. If a quarter or a other details being recorded. fifth of those on the database are innocent, there is a We need to think much more carefully about how we serious risk of a miscarriage of justice. monitor the use of stop and search. There is obviously DNA is a powerful and effective tool, but we make an an issue with section 44 of the 2000 Act following the awful lot of presumptions if we jump to the conclusion court case. It must be reviewed and there is likely to be that it is perfect. The Government are in a position to an appeal—there is of course no guarantee that that release the information from the database to the scientific will succeed—but it is absolutely certain that all the community so that it can make the judgments that I reservations about the use of section 44 given in the have mentioned. The American Government have been judgment apply equally well to section 60 of the Criminal approached to do that and turned down the request. I Justice and Public Order Act 1994. suggest that if the British Government really want to do I was in the House when that Bill was debated back in something in their last few months in office, they should 1994, as were one or two others in the Chamber today. accede to it. They are right that DNA is a powerful tool In the debate on section 60, we were told that the that can protect British citizens, but it can also create power would be used only in exceptional circumstances, serious miscarriages of justice. It is in their interest to when a superintendent considered that there was the ensure that that does not happen. possibility of serious violence in their area. However, the power is being used absolutely routinely in certain 6.25 pm police forces, as a method of doing stop and search without having to have suspicion regarding the individuals Mr. Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow) (Lab): I apologise concerned. In the Met, in 2000-01, there were 2,800 recorded for having been absent for part of the debate, but I had uses of section 60; in 2002-03, the figure was up to to attend a statutory instrument Committee upstairs. 8,600; and in 2003-04, it was 4,400; but by 2007-08, it I listened with a great deal of interest to what the had risen to 17,000. The latest figures show that in just right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David one year, in one London borough—Newham—there Davis) said about DNA, about which I shall make a few were 25,500 searches using section 60. That happens to comments later. I wish to talk first about another part be the borough that uses section 60 most heavily, but in of the Bill, which in some ways relates to the problems my borough, Waltham Forest, there were 6,000 in one that he mentioned of the effect on communities. That is year, which is more than there were in the whole of the the part that deals with stop and search. Met just a few years ago. 73 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 74
The excuse for those figures is Operation Blunt 2. under anti-terrorism powers and their DNA samples That was when the big increase occurred. However, the were taken. In neither case has there been any charge, usage of section 60 is simply not being monitored nor is there going to be. That is quite clear. However, properly. In fact, there is very little relationship between from what the Home Secretary said in his opening knife crime and the number of searches under section 60. speech, those two men, who have not been charged or Like the DNA provisions, the use of section 60 is a convicted, and who have no previous record whatever, source of resentment among young men—it is generally may remain on the database for years, because they young men—who are stopped again and again. It is were stopped and questioned under anti-terrorism powers. about time we looked again at how section 60 is used I cannot see what the hard evidence is to support the and monitored, and we should be looking to amend proposals in the Bill. I heard the statistics the Home how it operates. The Bill gives us an opportunity to Secretary mentioned, but the basis for his argument do that. from those statistics is extreme flimsy—it was based on I welcome the fact that the law on DNA retention is thin research that has not decided anything definitively. being looked at and reformed, but I am afraid I cannot That the data are thin has been admitted, and yet they welcome how it is being done. There are some very basic are the basis on which we are going to bring in primary issues. The fact that three quarters of young black men legislation that specifies the number of years for which between the ages of 16 and 34 are on that database has data can be held. At the very least, we should be been mentioned by the right hon. Member for Haltemprice looking at a measure that allows the number of years to and Howden and others. There is evidence that there is be changed quickly and easily if we get the definitive a higher rate of arrest among young black men, but research that I believe we need. often a lower rate of conviction than among the corresponding white cohort. It is almost a no-smoke-without-fire argument: the fact that somebody has been arrested at one point leads David T.C. Davies: I have also heard the criticism that to the assumption that they are more likely to commit a there are proportionately more young black men in crime than somebody who has not been arrested. The prison and other institutions than white males, but evidence to back that up that I have seen—the hard there are all sorts of possible reasons for that, one being evidence, based on solid data going back over a significant that the former group may be committing more crime. I period—seems remarkably thin. I do not think we should accept that there are many other possible reasons. be going down that road on the basis of data of that standard. Mr. Gerrard: I would not pretend that statistics relating Finally, I welcome another part of the Bill that the to ethnicity and crime are not complex. We need to look Home Secretary mentioned—the measures to regulate at the causes of crime and the age groups involved and wheel-clamping. That has been a real nightmare to deal all sorts of issues. However, it should concern us that with in many areas, and certainly in my constituency. I there are considerable disproportionalities between one have seen a number of cases of the absolute abuse of population and another. That certainly happens with power by private companies carrying out wheel-clamping the stop and search, as I mentioned. A young black on private land. I have seen cases of people who work in male is much more likely to be stopped and searched, shops—not shop owners—being conned into signing a and in London in particular, in recent years, the stop contract with a company, which then comes along and and search of young Asian men has increased. In turn, clamps people in the back alleyway behind the shop. I that is reflected in the DNA database. have seen cases of people being clamped on a garage The retention of the DNA data of someone who has forecourt after they have simply gone into the shop to not been charged with, let alone convicted of, an offence buy something. They have come out to find that they is a basic issue. The right hon. Member for Haltemprice are being charged £400 or some other ridiculous amount and Howden gave some specific examples, so let me give of money to release their car. I welcome measures to a couple concerning people I have dealt with in the past deal with that. The Bill contains the power to regulate, few months. One 15-year-old girl was accused, exactly and what we need as soon as possible is the statutory as the right hon. Gentleman suggested, by another girl code of practice that will put the detail into effect. That in the same school. There was an argument at school is what is needed, not just the requirement for the and there was perhaps a little bit of pushing one way or companies to register. the other, and that girl ended up being arrested and is now on the DNA database. When her mother and Alongside that, I hope that we can also use this Bill to I asked for her data to be removed, the answer was no. consider some of the other activities of private security I looked at the procedure that is currently used in the companies. I am really concerned about how many Metropolitan police. Its guidance on removing people areas they operate in. I dealt recently with the case of a from the database states that constituent who had had a problem in a department “exceptional cases will be extremely rare” store. The private security company involved handled her somewhat roughly, she was thrown out of the store and gives examples of when that might happen, which and banned from entering it again. She was also accused include of being racist, but that was totally untrue, as the store “where the original arrest was found to be unlawful” eventually admitted. However, she had no comeback or when “no offence” whatever “existed”. The reality is against the store, because the private security company that virtually no one is removed. That 15-year-old will was responsible. Such companies operate in far too remain on the database. many places, and they seem to operate without any I have had two examples in the past few months of significant regulation. They may have to be registered Asian men—one in his 30s, one in his 50s—who had and obtain licences from the Security Industry Authority, been on holiday to visit relatives in the US. On their way but if they behave badly it is difficult to get anything back through Gatwick and Heathrow, they were stopped done about it. 75 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 76
Tony Baldry: Is not the real problem that when the work in practice—what it will mean in extra bureaucracy police indicate that they are no longer willing to investigate for those who have to enforce it and what the results will problems such as shoplifting, the private sector intervenes, be on the ground. I refer to clause 21 onwards and the but it is unregulated and some companies can act like provisions on domestic violence protection notices—the cowboys? People receive letters threatening prosecution ability of the police to issue a notice to someone who or telling them that they have been put on lists, and it is has been violent or threatened violence to another in a very intimidating. There is no redress in the magistrates domestic situation. Such a notice could have some nasty courts, and no supervision or overview. results for the person who received it. However, if we are dealing with violence—and the Bill specifically mentions Mr. Gerrard: That is right, although the police have someone who “has been violent towards” another, as not withdrawn. In the street market and shopping centre well as threatening violence—I contend that we have in my constituency, there is a local police team which enough provision in the criminal law to deal with the takes an active interest in what goes on. There is however perpetrator, without adding another layer of statute. a growing trend to employ private security, especially in Let us say that I am cohabiting with a woman and I stores, and then if something goes wrong, there is no am violent towards her, and she calls the police. The Bill redress. If people have a problem with the police, there would provide that I could be issued with a domestic is a complaints procedure and—if necessary and in violence protection notice, but the police can already major cases—it can end up with the Independent Police arrest me, take me to the police station and charge me Complaints Commission. As with wheel-clamping, for with a criminal offence. They can charge me with common which we are considering codes of practice and increased assault, which is only triable summarily in a magistrates regulation, we should consider other areas in which court and carries six months in prison. They could private security companies operate. This Bill may be an charge me with actual bodily harm, which is triable on opportunity to do that. indictment, or—if the violence is very nasty, with grievous The Bill deals with some big issues—the reforms to bodily harm or malicious wounding with intent. If I stop and search, the DNA database and private security. threaten to kill my partner, they can charge me with I am disappointed by some aspects, especially those to threatening to kill. They cannot charge me under the do stop and search, on which we need more monitoring, Public Order Acts because those offences apply only not less, and the DNA database. As the Bill makes outside dwellings, but they have several options for progress, I hope that we will be able to improve those dealing with me. If the police are not happy with those aspects. options, they can move on to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, which I think was introduced by 6.44 pm this Government. It would apply if I had embarked on a course of threatening or abusive conduct—the Act Mr. Humfrey Malins (Woking) (Con): I begin, as requires such conduct to be carried out only twice always, by declaring an interest as a lawyer, a Crown before an offence is committed. That Act also gives the court recorder and a part-time district judge. I wish to courts the fullest powers to impose non-molestation or address an aspect of the Bill that has not yet been raised restraining orders on me. in any great detail—the clauses on domestic violence and domestic violence protection notices and orders. I Mr. Llwyd: I am following the hon. Gentleman’s wish to speak from a practical point of view and tell the argument carefully and I fully agree with him. I would House and the Minister—I have no expectation that the make the further point that, with the various assaults to outside world, or even any other hon. Members, will which he has referred, there could be a remedy whereby have the slightest interest in what I say—about some the person who had committed the assault could be problems that will need to be considered carefully in freed on bail, albeit on conditions that state that he Committee. should not return to the property or go within so many We all agree that domestic violence is a very serious yards of the person concerned. issue. The official figure for domestic violence is 14 per cent. of violent offences, but anecdotally it seems higher Mr. Malins: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. in the cases that have come before me. Such incidents He has extensive legal experience and makes the point, usually involve a man being violent to a woman, although which I was about to make, that the ability of the police not always. They are, sadly, under-reported, but the to act in relation to charges of common assault, ABH Government have taken the issue seriously over the and so on is not restricted to just charging a person. years. As well as introducing several important initiatives Rather, they can deal with the issue in exactly the same for the police, they have also set up specialist domestic way that is proposed in the Bill, namely through the violence courts. The Government recognise the importance granting of bail or not. So if I go to the police station of the issue and have tried to act on it as best they can. and I am charged, the police can make it a condition of bail that I do not attend the premises or go within I once heard it said that domestic violence is even 100 metres of it, and so on. Therefore, my direct question worse than stranger-to-stranger violence, because it involves is: what exactly is not covered in the law as it stands a breach of trust and therefore has a longer lasting today that the Bill seeks to cover? impact. Be that as it may, we all agree that domestic violence is terrible, and everything that we can do as Tony Baldry: Obviously this is a discussion for those legislators to stop it should be done. We should punish who are selected to serve on the Committee, but I those of either sex who are guilty of it. suspect that, in part, the point is to be declaratory to However, I am not sure that the provisions in the Bill individuals who commit domestic violence about how are necessary. The Government are nearly always well they are likely, for that reason, to be removed from the intentioned, but they have had a tendency to legislate a matrimonial home. However, I have a slightly different bit too much and forget about how the legislation will concern that I would like to put to my hon. Friend, who 77 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 78 has much greater experience, sitting on tribunals, than I When the Minister winds up, will he also set out the do as an advocate. In the past, much would have been relationship between domestic violence protection notices done by way of injunctive or other relief in the civil and other non-molestation orders in our law at present? courts on behalf of the wife. The difficulty now is that it I refer in particular to orders under the Family Law is almost impossible for people to get legal aid or, in Act 1996 and the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims market towns such as those that he and I represent, to Act 2004, which give identical powers to what we are find solicitors who still do matrimonial and family law, trying to achieve in the Bill. Is there a problem with because of the attrition on legal aid. Thus, we are those powers, or is there no problem with them? If there effectively in a situation where the only people who can is no problem with them, what is the problem that we protect and act on behalf of, usually, wives or partners now need to address? Have those powers gone hopelessly who have been attacked are the police. wrong? Or is it—the Minister will intervene on me to clarify this—that one or more of those pieces of legislation Mr. Malins: My hon. Friend is so right. His distinguished have not yet been brought into play, like the provisions career at the Bar in earlier days— of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on custody plus and custody minus? That was from 2003, when it was deemed Tony Baldry: And, I hope, in present days too. terribly important to have new sentences through custody plus and custody minus. We debated them for months Mr. Malins: Indeed. My hon. Friend’s experience will upstairs. It is now seven years later and none of those have led him to the absolutely sure conclusion, which provisions has been implemented—what a waste of we all share, that legal aid rates have been so dramatically space that debate was—the reason being, of course, cut that things are very hard. He has rightly said that that there is no money to do it. Even today—I know what should be going through the civil courts in a that the Minister will correct me now if I am wrong—those proper manner is now, in a sense, being taken over by provisions from the 2003 Act have still not been the police; and what is more, they are being given implemented. extensive powers under the Bill that we should query. The existing criminal law, including common assault, Mr. Hanson indicated assent. ABH, GBH, threats to kill, harassment and so on, covers a great deal. Mr. Malins: The Minister is nodding—they have not implemented. So what about the provisions in the 1996 Mr. Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent, South) (Lab): I and 2004 Acts? Have they all been implemented? Would am enjoying listening to the hon. Gentleman’s contribution the Minister like to intervene and tell me? to the debate, but do the provisions in the Bill not Mr. Hanson: Let me try to be helpful to the hon. answer my concern, which I have had for quite some Gentleman, who I know takes such matters seriously. time, that often the police will be called to attend The points made by my hon. Friend the Member for premises where domestic violence is clearly taking place Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Flello) are the driving force and yet the victim of that violence will usher them out behind the potential implementation, should the House and say, “No, please, go. I don’t want to press any agree, of domestic violence protection orders. The hon. charges. I don’t want anything to happen”? Often the Gentleman will know that it is proposed that they police are frustrated, knowing that they will be called should act as a pilot, so that we can look at how they back time and time again, on subsequent evenings or work and determine whether they are a helpful addition possibly even the same evening, whereas the powers in to other proposals that will reduce domestic violence the Bill give them the ability to ban the perpetrator from and help the victim. I hope that he will support them the premises concerned, so as to create a breathing this evening for those purposes. I am happy to reflect on space. Is the hon. Gentleman’s view on that different the points that he is making in his constructive speech from mine? and respond later. Mr. Malins: Very slightly. I understand the hon. Mr. Malins: The Minister, for whom I have a great Gentleman’s point, because it is very frustrating for the deal of respect, is clearly listening. Although many of police to turn up and be told by, usually, the woman, the points that I am making would be better made in “Yes, he thumped me, but I don’t want to go ahead.” Committee—I think that I am old enough now to be However, the hon. Gentleman should know that even in released from Standing Committees; after a while one those circumstances, where the police believe that an gets to that stage—I thank him for what he has just offence has taken place, notwithstanding the view of, said. usually, the woman, they can go ahead and make an However, the relationship between DVPNs and other arrest or bring a charge under the current law. The parts of statute is quite important. Let us have a brief frustrations that exist in the scenario that he has outlined look at what is going on. Clause 21 says that a will be similar to those in the situation that is envisaged superintendent can issue a DVPN. Well, fine—the in the Bill, although I accept his general point. superintendent will issue it him or herself, but on the The Government say that there is a gap in the protection basis of what a police constable says. So the police offered to victims of domestic abuse in the immediate constable wanders up to the superintendent and says, aftermath of a violent incident. That is a Government “Now boss, will you please issue a domestic violence argument, but I do not think that it is right, because of protection notice?” “Well,” says the superintendent, the ability of the police not only to arrest and charge “what do you think? Tell me what’s going on.” So then someone, but, as was pointed out in an earlier intervention, the policeman gives an account of what is going on. to impose exactly the same bail conditions on a proposed “Okay. I am satisfied,” says the police superintendent. defendant as those proposed in the Bill, or even more “I have reasonable grounds for believing that there has stringent ones. There is plenty of time for an injunction. been violence or the threat of violence. I will issue a 79 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 80
[Mr. Malins] what is going on, found a superintendent, got a DVPN and filled out the paperwork; it is probably Saturday notice under subsection 2(a)” which he or she does. The lunch time by now. He whizzes round and serves the next subsection says that the superintendent must consider domestic violence protection notice on me, the perpetrator. the opinion of the victim before issuing a DVPN, but Will it be heard within 48 hours? I do not see how a oddly enough the next subsection suggests that he can substantive hearing can take place within 48 hours. An ignore it completely if he wishes to, although he must interim hearing might, but we do not talk about interim consider it. That is just a little odd. hearings here. Frankly, most courts would want a little Then there is the notice. I assume that the Minister help and evidence when they first come to hear the case. will confirm that some of it involves paperwork—I Imagine insisting that the magistrates court hear the thought that we were trying to stop bureaucracy and application on the Monday morning. It is not possible. paperwork, but there must be some. Presumably the The courts will not do it. How could they? They are so constable will have taken a written statement from the clogged up and busy. They will say, “Come Wednesday.” lady concerned—the Minister really must confirm that, “I’m sorry, the notice says it must be heard.” In goes the because there is no requirement, by the way, to take defendant, as I call him; it could be me. “Can I have my one, even though they must, otherwise it will be solicitor present? I wish to object. Am I denied my double hearsay and the application for the order, which lawyer, or can I go get him for tomorrow or the next comes later, could not possibly succeed. Anyway, the day?” A hearing within 48 hours is difficult. superintendent then issues a notice saying, “You must Tony Baldry: There is also a logistical issue. My hon. not molest”—it stops the party molesting. “Molesting” Friend is doing the House a great service in drawing is one word, although it is used more in our civil law attention to the clauses. The Bill refers to a superintendent. than in our criminal law, for the obvious reason that In Oxfordshire at night, there is usually only one duty “molesting”, properly defined by the Chambers and superintendent for the whole county. At the divisional Oxford dictionaries, does not amount to a criminal level, there is a duty inspector, and most patrols in offence. For example, molesting means to interfere with towns such as Banbury have a duty sergeant and constables. in a troublesome or vexing way, to annoy or to pester in If someone is taken to Banbury police station under a hostile way. That is not exactly a criminal act, but here one of the orders, they will then have to be ferried to again, in a criminal statute— Oxford. Effectively, half the police officers patrolling Banbury on a Friday night will have to leave to ferry Tony Baldry: We have non-molestation orders. someone to Oxford simply to find a superintendent. It cannot be done properly over the telephone, because Mr. Malins: Yes, but there are more in civil proceedings. the individual concerned must have the opportunity to Here is the crunch. I am not entirely happy that the make representations to the superintendent. police constable—it says “superintendent”, but it is really the police constable—has the power in a domestic Mr. Malins: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. He violence protection notice to evict the so-called perpetrator makes a nuts-and-bolts point. The more such points are from his or her home. That is a serious power. In my made in debates like this, the better. Where does one judgment, it is a very serious power to be used when no find a superintendent on a cold Friday night in Oxfordshire? crime is committed or charged. There is a lesser standard So much for dealing with such cases with speed; it will of proof: reasonable belief rather than the balance of be quite the reverse. probabilities or certainty. We move on to breach of a domestic violence protection That is a major power to give a police constable. They order, assuming that an order is made after the notice. It will be able to serve me with an order saying, “Out of says here that the defendant “must”—not “may”—be your house, under penalty.” I do not like it. I do not held in custody. Again, that removes a tremendous mind the courts doing it, and I do not mind the police amount of discretion from those whose position it is to granting me bail subject to those conditions after they consider bail and somebody’s liberty. have charged me with a crime, but it is a big power to After a domestic violence protection notice is issued, give a policeman on the basis of no more than a bit of apparently, hearsay evidence. “the constable must apply for a domestic violence protection order”. Mr. Hanson: Again, the hon. Gentleman will know What happens if circumstances change dramatically that the courts must uphold the issuing of the order. between the issue of the notice and the hearing of the order? The constable must still apply for an order, Mr. Malins: Yes, but I am thinking of the first 48 hours, because it says so in the Bill. It is another troubling not afterwards when I go to court and say, “Thank situation. God, I’ve come before a tribunal. I’ve had two days out I asked the Home Secretary earlier about penalties of my house with nowhere to go.” That is a serious for breach of an order. There is no reference whatever thing to do on the say-so of a policeman and no other to any. However, the Home Secretary has not been long tribunal. It is a worry. in the job, and I would not expect him to know the Oddly enough, the domestic violence protection notice details of the Bill, although I am sure that his Ministers “must” say that the application for the domestic violence do. There is no provision for breach of an injunction. I protection order assume that it is imprisonment, but the Minister will “will be heard within 48 hours”. confirm. Now that is a funny one. Picture the scene: it is a Friday Mr. Hanson: To help in winding up, the proposed night, and there is possible violence. By some miracle, penalties are up to two months’ imprisonment or a fine the constable has whipped round to the house, seen of £5,000. 81 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 82
Mr. Malins: Are they in the Bill? into the same room to listen to the concerns of the communities about issues such as section 30 dispersal Mr. Hanson: Yes, they are. orders. It was a nightmare. Inspector Asha Kaur, who was the local neighbourhood police inspector at the Mr. Malins: Where in the Bill are they? I must have time, had great difficulty in satisfying the local authority missed them. that the huge, 1-foot-thick volume of correspondence, information and statements was sufficient to get a section 30 Mr. Hanson: I am trying to be helpful, and the hon. order, but that situation has now improved. Gentleman is trying to test still further. I will ensure We now have a much better situation in Stoke-on-Trent. that he gets the proper reference in due course. We have police and communities together—PACT— meetings, for example, and we have police community Mr. Malins: I have a huge amount of time for the support officers out there doing a fantastic job. Indeed, Minister, but that is the first time that I have been told only recently a couple of PCSOs in the Longton area that a penalty is in the Bill, asked the Minister where it were on the front page of the local newspaper, The was and been told that we do not know. Those in the Sentinel, because they had given chase on their pushbikes Box will tell us, no doubt, as they have been listening. It to a criminal on a motorbike. They apprehended the must be in a clause that I have missed, but we shall come criminal and justice was subsequently done. There have to it. been some incredible improvements. Unfortunately, one My advice to the Government is: do not just legislate. of the issues for Stoke-on-Trent—and, I think, for Think things through. Take on board the practical much of the country—is that they are quite patchy, and point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury there is still room to improve. (Tony Baldry) and do things in the criminal justice Some of the other local successes involve Inspector system that actually work. This is my final tip for the Sharrard-Williams, the neighbourhood inspector who day: forget some of the old-fashioned initiatives such as covers the south-eastern part of the city. He has had the night courts at Bow street. When Mr. Blair was some fantastic successes on Cornelius street, and I Prime Minister, he wanted instant justice and for people recently attended court to witness the closure order for to come before the courts at Bow street straight away, the crack house. The legislation involved has been on so that was done as a pilot scheme. What a shambles. the books for a while now, but that was the first instance According to official answers, 97 per cent. of the defendants of its use for that purpose in Stoke-on-Trent. That were drunk and could not be dealt with that night troubles me greatly. As I said, we have some great tools anyway, so the cases were adjourned for weeks. Eventually, in the toolkit, but their use is very patchy. My thanks after spending an absolute fortune on getting one guilty and praise go to Inspector Sharrard-Williams and the plea over three months, the night courts were abandoned. force solicitor for taking that case through to Fenton The Government should forget all that and stick to magistrates court and getting the job done. what is real. When somebody in a domestic violence The hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) situation hits a woman so hard that damage—blood mentioned statistics earlier. Some of the statistics for and a wound—is caused, make sure that the police the south-east region of Stoke-on-Trent in the past five charge them with actual bodily harm, because they do or six months speak for themselves. In that period not do so at the moment. They charge common assault, alone, there has been a 43 per cent. reduction in serious because it does not go to the Crown court, so they get a acquisitive crimes, including robbery, theft of or from quick guilty plea and a lesser sentence. Very nasty motor vehicles, and household burglary. That means violence is not being dealt with in the courts as it should there were 158 fewer victims in that period than in the be due to under-charging. The problem is endemic same period in the previous year. Breaking down that among police forces in the south-east, as far as I can see. figure, we see a 44 per cent. reduction in thefts from We need to stick to what works, and the Minister should motor vehicles. That means there were 81 fewer such know that I have my doubts about the efficacy of the victims in that period than in the same period in the new domestic violence protection orders. previous year. That is an incredible improvement for the 81 people who did not did not have to go through 7.8 pm the trauma of waking up one morning to find that their Mr. Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent, South) (Lab): It car had been broken into, or who came back from the has been an extremely interesting debate so far, and I shops to find their car still intact. I could go on. hope to add to it. First, however, I will set in context Customer satisfaction figures for that same period how I think the Bill—and some amendments that I show that 94 per cent. of victims of antisocial behaviour hope to table if the opportunity arises during its progress said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with through the House—will affect my constituents. the police response. I hope the Minister will pay tribute The hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) discussed to all the officers in Stoke-on-Trent, and particularly to the vast amount of new legislation introduced over the Inspector Sharrard-Williams and his team, for achieving past 12 or 13 years. That toolkit of measures has been such fantastic results. extremely useful, but my concern is that unfortunately, Successful working together on these issues can be some councils, including Stoke-on-Trent city council, patchy, however. I attended a raid on a property in part have been hesitant even to look into the toolkit, let of the Meir to deal with drug use on the premises. The alone take out the pieces of equipment inside. That has police arrived and gained entry to the premises, which now improved. The situation is markedly different from were in a horrendous condition. Anyone keeping animals what it was three or four years ago, when it was up to in such conditions would rightly be arrested and prosecuted, me as the local Member of Parliament to hold meetings but there was a small child running around these premises. to bring communities together and to get the agencies It was absolutely horrendous. The city council officer 83 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 84
[Mr. Robert Flello] I was interested to receive a briefing from an organisation called Catch22, which outlined a number of elements turned up within about 15 minutes of receiving a call that it would like to see included in any parenting from the police, and secured an agreement from the assessment. I know from my previous experience outside tenants that they would vacate the property within the House, working with a Birmingham-based charity—the 28 days. That was an extremely good result, which Malachi Community Trust—that works with young showed how the police and the city council can work people with behavioural or mental health difficulties, together very well. Unfortunately, as I have said, such that some of those elements are absolutely crucial. For good responses can be patchy; they are not happening example, sometimes, something as simple as improving uniformly across the city or, indeed, across the country. a person’s housing situation can make all the difference, An extremely effective local resident, a gentleman and even provide a miraculous outcome not only for the called Brian Jones, came up with the fantastic idea of family but for the whole neighbourhood. If we solve mobile CCTV. This involves great long columns with someone’s housing problem, we often solve the deeper wireless cameras at the top, which can be moved around problems that are manifesting themselves in antisocial the footprint of the area, as and when problems arise. and criminal behaviour. That system should certainly be taken up elsewhere, and Catch22’s briefing also mentioned the need to take I give credit to Brian and all those involved with it. into consideration a family’s financial situation, debt, Another local resident is Fred. I will not use his family breakdown, conflict and bereavement. In my surname, but he will know who he is. He is a very experience, family breakdown can have a huge impact forthright man who lives on the eastern side of my on the way in which families behave, and can result in constituency. He and his neighbours were having problems antisocial and criminal behaviour. with the local yobbos and idiots, as he put it. He got them into his front room, sat them down and asked David T.C. Davies: It took a moment to sink in: is the them what the problems were. They explained that they hon. Gentleman seriously suggesting that we should had nothing to do. They certainly would not argue with reward people who exhibit antisocial behaviour by giving Fred. I am sure he will forgive me for saying that he is them a brand-spanking-new house to live in? no youngster, but he embraced the problem, got to the heart of it and came up with a solution. Mr. Flello: I am not suggesting that at all. I am So there are good, positive things happening, but grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, there is still room for improvement. Conservative and because it will allow me to clarify my comments. I am Liberal Democrat Members mentioned antisocial behaviour saying that my experience working with organisations orders being ineffective, being used far too liberally—if such as the Malachi Community Trust has shown me I can put it like that—and being a badge of honour. I that families often live in desperate housing circumstances. wish that that were the case in Stoke-on-Trent, because A family of a dozen, for example, might be living in a only 12 antisocial behaviour orders have been issued two-bedroom home. One child at school might be struggling there in the past year. What is the point of our meeting to find anywhere quiet to do their homework, which here, having these debates and passing legislation if becomes very frustrating, leading to detachment from local authorities are not going to make full use of the school life and lack of interest in school, perhaps ending powers available to them? with the child being drawn into gang activities. It can On empowering local officers to issue fixed-penalty happen for a whole host of reasons, but I concur notices, I asked the city council nearly two years ago to completely with Catch22 that this is just one area that allow people to go through the training and get a needs to be looked at. I am not suggesting that there warrant card so that if they saw some mindless idiot should be a reward mechanism, but I will come back to throwing a bag of chips into the middle of the street the point when I talk about family intervention projects. and walking off up the road, they would be able to Worklessness or, indeed, having to work long hours tackle them. Nearly two years later, I am still waiting for away from home can impact on children and create that training to take place. many difficulties with their behaviour. Mental health Gating orders are a wonderful thing. They result in issues and drug or alcohol dependency in the family instantaneous improvement to an area by getting alleyways should also be on the list. I ask the Minister to look at and passageways—places where teen gangs can gather the Catch22 briefing paper as it relates particularly to and cause a nuisance—gated off. In Stoke-on-Trent, clause 37, because it is important to have a wide-ranging however, there is a requirement for a 100 per cent. assessment of the parental situation rather than to take-up by local residents. What nonsense! What is the focus solely on whether the parents have control over point of having the legislation if councils are going to the young person in question. use it in such a way that it becomes very bureaucratic Having said all that, I have some concerns that in and difficult to get through? cases where local authorities are hesitant to use antisocial The legislation that we have is extremely good, but behaviour orders, particularly where young offenders some of it is just not being used. We need to see a are concerned, these alternatives might be used as a recognition of that in the Bill. Some of the powers in it further excuse not to go down the route of imposing could be improved further, and I will go on to talk ASBOs. I am concerned that where parental orders and about that shortly. The provisions in clauses 37 and 38 the reports on family circumstances are being looked at, are certainly welcome, however. They include a requirement these will not be used as an excuse by a local authority for family circumstances to be taken into account and to avoid going down that route at all. reported on when considering ASBOs—that is, of course, I mentioned family intervention projects. I have seen if we can actually persuade our local authorities to such projects for myself in Stoke-on-Trent and I was make more use of ASBOs in the first place. extremely impressed by them. I met one family living in 85 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 86 extremely inadequate housing. Both parents were drug police can indeed arrest the perpetrator—or the alleged users, while the daughter was herself a parent but took perpetrator—but that arrest is often followed by no no parental responsibility, preferring to spend all day further action being taken because the victim does not in bed, and the son—of primary school age, but close wish to press charges. It may well be that the following to secondary school age—was truanting. The family morning or 24 hours later, the perpetrator is released intervention project went in and literally transformed and goes home, only for further domestic violence to the lives not only of this family, but of those in the ensue. surrounding area, whose lives had been blighted. I recently went out with a police constable one Friday The last I heard was that the mother was off drugs night and we were called out to a particular home. The and attending college with her daughter, who had stopped officer told me, “I know where this house is; this is not spending her day in bed and was now taking parental the first time I have been called out here.” It was a responsibility for her own child. The father was doing domestic violence incident. We arrived to find that his best to get clean of drugs, and the son was at school, other officers had arrived slightly before us and had enjoying it, doing well and thriving. This was a complete taken charge of the incident. As we left, the constable transformation, as I said. Yes, it is expensive; yes, it is a told me, “We will be back to these premises again lot of hard work; yes, it takes dedication—but it works. tonight. This will not be the only time we’ll be called out I certainly welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement here, but the victim never wants to press charges.” on tackling the 50,000 most challenging families in the Sadly, all too often in this situation, women—it is country. That project needs resources and work put into predominantly women—who are the victims will, for a it; anything that can be done through this Bill to strengthen whole host of reasons often including the fact that they that would be a very positive thing indeed. love the perpetrator, refuse to press charges. Some of Let me move on to what I believe is an omission from us find that hard to understand, but it is nevertheless the Bill. An investigation of an issue that has been a the case. concern of mine, and, more importantly, of many of As I see it, the benefit of being able to apply these my constituents—certainly for as long as I have represented orders is that police officers will, under instruction from them—is reported in today’s Daily Mirror.Idonot their superintendent—I take the point about only one think of myself as a killjoy; I like a drop of alcohol superintendant covering the Oxfordshire area—be able from time to time, as do many people. I like to think not only to arrest the alleged perpetrator, but to take that I control it, rather than it controlling me. Unfortunately, him back to the police station, at which point the notice however, as reported in this article, there is a culture of can be served. Rather than being released a few hours pubs opening up with the mentality of “Have all you later to go home and continue the cycle of violence, the can drink for a tenner”. We need to address the problem order will mean a two-week, or perhaps longer, window of alcohol misuse, which is taking place on a huge scale. of opportunity for the relevant agencies to work with Sadly, Stoke-on-Trent tops some of the league tables the victim. One hopes that we will reach a point at on various negative things, one of which is alcohol which the victim says, “Enough is enough.” It is right to misuse. I petitioned some of my local residents groups move things on and to tackle the victim-perpetrator and asked them for their views on a particular issue, on relationship so that the ongoing cycle of violence does the basis of which I hope to table amendments to the not continue. Bill in Committee. That issue was drinking in public. At the moment, it is possible for the local authority to ban John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD): I recognise drinking in public in a city centre or to bring in alcohol the difficulty that the hon. Gentleman mentions. A restriction zones in particular residential areas where number of victims have told me that they feel out of there are problems. So far as I am aware, however, local control of the situation when they ask for help. Does he authorities do not have the ability, in consultation agree that we must be very careful not to create a with residents, perhaps through a referendum, to ban situation in which victims suffer in silence because they all drinking in public, save in designated picnic areas feel they will not have control over what will happen if across the city. they ask for help? At the moment, some residents may feel that their Mr. Flello: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for area is tainted by being designated an alcohol restriction that intervention. He makes an extremely good point, zone. In other areas, such as privately owned shopping and it brings me on to my next point, which is that arcades, the owners might be too liberal in allowing financial intimidation is often a factor in domestic people to sit on the steps drinking cans of strong beer violence, in that the victim, who is often a woman, from an early hour of the day. That problem blights might think that she will be made homeless. She will people’s lives. I see no excuse or reason to allow people often have children, too, and she will be considering to walk up and down residential streets from early their needs. She might feel that if she takes the children in the morning, drinking alcohol or hanging around in and leaves the family home, she will be more vulnerable. parks where children are trying to enjoy themselves in There is further intimidation—a further level of domestic play. I shall be looking to table an amendment to bring violence—in such mental cruelty being heaped on to in a provision whereby a local authority, perhaps through somebody already suffering in an abusive relationship. a referendum of the public, could bring in an authority-wide The orders give breathing space, by in effect saying, ban on drinking alcohol, save in certain areas designated “No, you don’t need to leave your family home; you as picnic areas where alcohol is allowed. don’t need to take your children at dead of night and Domestic violence is another issue. I enjoyed the get away. Actually, it is the person creating the problems contribution of the hon. Member for Woking(Mr. Malins). in this relationship who has to go,” thereby creating I intervened in his speech on the issue of the victim not some safe space around the family to sort out what to wishing to pursue action against the perpetrator. The do next. 87 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 88
[Mr. Flello] not be simpler for prisons to employ the same systems that are now being employed in theatres? They are used The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty by the military, too, and they jam all mobile phone to Children has issued a briefing, which many hon. signals. Members have probably read. It talks about the current official definition of domestic violence, which is Mr. Flello: I am grateful for that intervention, because “any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse it brings me nicely on to my next point, which is about (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between jamming equipment. It is not only the military who are adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, exploring that. I gather that some hotel chains routinely regardless of gender or sexuality.” install jamming equipment so that residents are more I entirely agree with the NSPCC’s point that that definition inclined to use the hotel’s telephone system than their fails to capture the impact of such abuse on children. own mobile. Perhaps that is just an unfounded allegation, Where children have witnessed—perhaps for many years— but I understand that it does happen. ongoing domestic violence, their perceptions of what is There does not necessarily need to be jamming a normal, healthy adult relationship can be extremely equipment. Prisons could be constructed in ways that tarnished, and sometimes, although by no means always, minimise the possibility of getting a mobile phone their own relationships in future years are very damaged signal. Certainly, some of the offices in and around by what they have witnessed. The Bill must take note of Parliament seem to have been constructed in a way that the fact that children can be silent victims. The main minimises that. This afternoon, as I was on my way to victim—very often a woman—is the physical victim on the Chamber, I could not get a signal on my mobile whom the violence is being inflicted. However, any phone, even though it was telling me I had a couple of children witnessing it—even if just remotely, such as new messages. Therefore, as well as the active jamming by being upstairs and hearing the shouting and sounds of signals, there are also passive methods that can be of violent activity—can be extremely damaged by that. used to make getting a signal impossible. That is particularly The Government, and certainly the Department for important for those prisoners whom we do not want to Children, Schools and Families, should consider offering be able to have any such communications—but such greater support through the schools network for young people have been caught using laptops, logging on to people who have witnessed domestic violence in their the internet and creating websites. That important point home. was missed by the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell. I understand that there are to be pilots for the Bill’s The legislation that is already in place needs to be domestic violence programme, and I would like to make looked at, too. There are some 3,000-odd measures, a plug for Staffordshire. We have already heard some which are important tools in the toolkit, and they extremely positive comments about what Staffordshire should be used. I would like the Home Office to do has achieved in minimising form-filling, and I would some work on which local authorities are using the like it to be considered as a possible location for a pilot. powers that are available, which do not use the full The hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell said that range, and which use them only very rarely. prison security is a much greater issue, and phone smuggling a much more common crime, than 12 years One overlooked area of legislation that needs to be ago. Over that period, the availability and use of mobile considered involves pubs that serve people who are phones among the general population has increased a clearly drunk. This is of relevance to my point about lot, and the size of handsets has reduced dramatically. alcohol misuse leading to many crimes. If an area, such He may not realise that mobile phones are getting as a city centre, increasingly becomes a place where, smaller, but the inmates who smuggle them into prison fuelled by alcohol, criminal activity and antisocial behaviour via their bodily orifices have realised that. Phones are occur, we should look at the pubs or nightclubs in that being routinely and regularly smuggled in, and that is a area that are serving people who are clearly drunk and problem. I see that my right hon. Friend the Minister who then go out on to the streets and cause problems. for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism is shifting in My final point is about an issue that might be addressed his seat; I hope he is not reaching for his phone to check in an amendment to the Bill. I am currently dealing the size of it. [Interruption.] I knew I would get his with a dispute between two neighbours. The police have attention one way or another. [Interruption.] Thatisan done everything they can within the law to resolve it, extremely chunky phone. The smuggling of phones into and the local authority has done everything it can to prison is a problem, but that is not a result of lax resolve it, too. They have concluded that it is a lifestyle security—of it somehow being worse now than 12 years difference between the two neighbours, but I am concerned ago. It is simply a fact of life that mobile phones are that the neighbour who is suffering—who is at the smaller and more accessible, and component parts are receiving end of what she perceives to be the problems—is more easily taken apart and smuggled inside. becoming more and more traumatised. In such situations, I fully support the measures to address this problem, the local authority and the police say that nothing more and I wonder whether their scope should be widened to can be done. Given some of the tragedies that have gone include police cells. Visitors, and even staff, are not the before, we need to consider whether there is a further only external parties who smuggle phones into prison. provision that we can introduce in the Bill to identify a Often, prisoners being taken straight to prison from the problem and try to find a solution that is not already courts are already in possession of a phone. That is an covered by legislation. However, that matter would be issue, too. better brought up in Committee. I am grateful to the House for listening to my comments. Mr. Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth, East) (Con): The The Bill is good in principle, but a lot of it needs further hon. Gentleman is making very interesting, if also detailed scrutiny, and I would like to table some slightly lurid, comments about mobile phones. Would it amendments at a future date. 89 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 90
7.40 pm “At least there is proper machinery when it comes to dealing with local authority fines.” Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): The hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Flello) spoke for nearly Wheel-clamping is out of control. The number of vehicles 40 minutes, so I can only assume that the Whips, that are clamped has risen by 75 per cent. in just the believing that there was a somewhat thin turnout on the past 19 months, and 2,100 individuals are licensed to Government side, had exhorted him to go long. He clamp, which is an exponential rise from 1,200 in March clearly had not appreciated that the cavalry had arrived, 2008 and 1,900 in April 2009. Professor Stephen Glaister in the shape of the right hon. Member for Harrow, of the RAC Foundation has observed: East (Mr. McNulty) and the hon. Member for Eltham “The figures reveal more and more people are becoming clampers (Clive Efford). As some seven Members appear to wish because the business is so lucrative and the law surrounding it to speak, I shall try—if the right hon. Gentleman is able so lax.” to contain himself—to ensure that my remarks are as He continued: concise as possible. “With charges for being clamped and towed often running into I wish to focus on just two clauses—namely, 39 and several hundred pounds, cowboy clampers”— 40 which relate to wheel-clamping. I have never had my are— vehicle-clamped, but clamping appears to be one of the “on the lookout for motorists who leave their car in the wrong few growth industries under this Government. I find it place even for a few minutes”. objectionable that so many of our fellow citizens are He went on to say: being ripped off by wheel-clampers. As I have been selected to serve on the Public Bill Committee, I obviously “The huge rise in licence holders”— look forward to contributing to detailed scrutiny of the those licensed to be wheel-clampers— all other parts of the Bill, too, but I am not clear how “proves the Government needs to act quickly. It has promised a Members will be able to scrutinise properly in Committee cap on fees, an appeals service and a binding code of conduct. In and on Report a Bill of 46 clauses and a schedule in the 2010 it needs to deliver.” time left before we have to prorogue for the general It is questionable whether this Bill will deliver, because election, let alone how we will be able to send it to the it is unclear what, if any, of those promises it will Lords. There is thus a sense that this is all distraction deliver. politics while the Prime Minister and the Government mark time until the final rising of this Parliament on It is estimated that the private clamping industry is 27 March. Frustratingly, I suspect that because of the worth about £240 million a year, and there are clearly a timetabling and guillotining provisions, the chances of number of rogue companies taking advantage of the any proper scrutiny of clauses 39 and 40, which come public. Tens of thousands of drivers, whose vehicles are near the end of the Bill, in Committee is almost zero, clamped on private land, can be charged anything up to although, as the House knows, I am an inherent optimist. £800 because the clamping companies can set whatever fees they wish. Nowadays, wheel-clamping has almost Banbury, whose population makes up about a third always become legalised extortion. of my constituency’s, is a town of about 40,000 people. It is a good-sized town, but not a large town. In fact, it People are worried not only about the clamping, but is the 232nd largest town in the UK by population. I about the attitude of the clampers. In a recent letter to discovered that last year on a day I selected completely the Banbury Guardian, a local resident observed that his at random—20 November—40 vehicles were clamped “lasting impression of the whole experience is not the dent to the in Banbury. On the basis of the “fines” that were finances but the unprofessional behaviour of the clampers. imposed that day on my constituents and on the basis The two ‘officials’ stood inches from my face in stain-covered that a random Friday in November is an average day, tracksuit bottoms. Their vehicle had two broken wing mirrors, there is a minimum—I stress that this is a minimum— cigarette packets fell out on to the floor when they opened income to the clampers of £2,000 per day. If one their…door and the documentation I was presented with looked completely ignores the so-called “towing fees”—if one like it had been designed at the Early Learning Centre.” assumes that those vehicles were simply clamped and The letter wisely concluded that people were not also charged for towing—that represents £672,000 per year to the wheel-clampers just in Banbury. “we need traffic enforcement, but like any other process where money is demanded from a member of the public it should be However, as we all know, a considerable number of regulated.” people get charged for “towing”, even if their vehicles are not towed. So in just the town of Banbury, which is Of course, if a vehicle is trespassing, clamping is not the 232nd largest in the UK by population, my constituents a particularly effective means of releasing that space, as pay getting on for £1 million a year in clamping penalties. has been clearly recognised by the Department for Transport and local authorities. Indeed, in respect of This is an abuse of the law and it must stop; wheel- provisions in the Road Traffic Act 1991 and the Transport clamping has become a state-sanctioned extortion racket. Act 2000, the guidance published alongside the Removal It is estimated that in any one year 10 per cent. of and Disposal of Vehicles (Amendment) (England) motorists are fined or clamped by private contractors in Regulations 2007, which came into force in March 2008, what is becoming an increasingly lucrative industry. observed the following: Paul Watters, the AA’s head of public affairs, has observed: “Very few authorities now use immobilisation. The Secretary “Private parking enforcement is big business generating millions of State is of the view that it should only be used in limited of pounds and no-one notices and acts when the rules are broken. circumstances such as where the same vehicle repeatedly breaks The public have absolutely no protection if a private parking firm parking restrictions and it has not been possible to collect payment acts unfairly—it is a civil matter and no-one is interested in for penalties, primarily because the keeper is not registered, or is helping.” not properly registered, with the DVLA. Where a vehicle is He continued: causing a hazard or obstruction the enforcement authority should 91 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 92
[Tony Baldry] Clause 39 takes up approximately 150 lines of the Bill, and it does just one thing. Whereas at present remove rather than immobilise. Immobilisation/removal activity individuals who engage in wheel-clamping are obliged should only take place where it gives clear traffic management to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority, the benefits.” clause provides that businesses should also be licensed The Government, the Department for Transport and by the SIA. All it does is ensure that whereas nowadays local authorities do not believe that it is sensible to individuals are regulated and licensed, in future businesses clamp, yet they allow all these rogue clampers to go will likewise have to be licensed. There is no mention of around clamping on private ground. a statutory code of conduct or of what would be in such What, in reality, is happening if a vehicle parks on a code. Notwithstanding the fact that individuals will private land? It is a civil matter, a tort and a trespass, have to be licensed by the SIA, it is clear from the and the damages should be equivalent to the compensation exponential growth in the number of wheel-clampers for the damage to the land done by the trespasser—in and in their take that despite Government efforts to most instances, this is zero or minimal. If the damage control the industry, it is effectively a state-sanctioned consists in a vehicle being parked, clamping, which extortion racket. obviously prevents the vehicle from being moved, increases Clause 40 simply extends the powers of the SIA’s that damage. Thus, this is little less than self-inflicted approved contractor scheme to allow in-house private injury by the landowner. What is all too often being security services to apply for approved status. As the extracted is not the equivalent of civil compensation, explanatory note comments: but, in effect, a punishment. It has been a long-established principle of English law that one private citizen cannot “This is a minor extension of an existing scheme”. legally punish another for his conduct. I suggest to the So there are no proposals in the Bill to cap charges or to House that those who charge £200 or more to release control the activities of wheel- clampers. The Secretary cars that they have clamped on private land are doing of State made such a fleeting reference to this subject in little more than extorting money from innocent people. his speech that it was missable. Bizarrely, the Government are conniving in this extortion, We will need to be given some real assurances and a point that was made by the Chairman of the Select undertakings in Committee by Ministers that they are Committee, the right hon. Member for Leicester, East intent on introducing a code of conduct for wheel-clampers (Keith Vaz). The DVLA is selling drivers’ names and that will give motorists protection. Otherwise, all they addresses to clamping companies. IT made more than are doing in this Bill, as is so often the case, is giving the £4 million in 2008 by selling the details of some 1.6 million impression of dealing with a public mischief—rogue drivers. It has sold drivers’ details to companies wheel-clamping—without actually tackling it. They give notwithstanding the fact that it is often aware of businesses the impression that they will do something, but nothing that repeatedly double-charge drivers for parking breaches will come of it. I hope that this Bill, if it gets through, and charge inflated bills for spurious charges. will do something to tackle rogue wheel-clampers. There Eventually, I am glad to say, the Government recognised is a lot more work to be done, many more undertakings that this is a public mischief that needs to be addressed. to be made and a lot more that we need to hear from The right hon. Member for Redditch (Jacqui Smith), Ministers in Committee before Report and Third Reading when she was Home Secretary, observed: if we are to be convinced that they mean business. “There are clearly a minority of clamping companies indulging in unacceptable behaviour including unclear signage and excessive 7.55 pm fees.” As is usual with this Government, they launched a Ms Angela C. Smith (Sheffield, Hillsborough) (Lab): consultation and told the press what they hoped it This is a wide-ranging Bill, and I originally intended to would deliver. Way back in April of last year, The Daily speak about the provisions on wheel-clamping, as the Telegraph reported: hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) just did, on “The Home Office wants to set a maximum penalty charge—likely antisocial behaviour orders and parenting orders, on to be £135—to stop cowboy clampers fleecing the public. DNA and fingerprinting and on gang-related violence. Clamping firms will also have to prove vehicles had breached However, I must take this opportunity to refer to the parking restrictions and will be forced to make warning signs provisions on domestic violence. more obvious and visible”. The hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Malins) earlier By October, the Home Office had briefed the press pointed out that domestic violence is often not physical. that Ministers had proposed a £125 maximum charge I would agree with that. The violence can be mental, for removing a clamp, a £250 ceiling for returning a car emotional, psychological or sexual and will often originate that had been towed away and a ban on double-charging— not just in disputes between husbands and wives, partners that is, it would not be possible to levy both the clamp and so on. Abuse can be against elders, and it can also removal fee and the tow-away fee. A Home Office press be honour-related. Increasingly, we are seeing evidence notice stated: of that in the courts. “Proposals within the bill will make it mandatory for all wheel clamping businesses to be licensed under the terms of a strict The provisions in the Bill—this is all I want to say on code of conduct. The code will include a cap on fines, time limits this point, because a lot of what I was going to say has on towing cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped”. been brought to the attention of the House by my hon. It also stated: Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Flello) “Ministers are also looking to introduce an independent appeals —are firmly supported by the Association of Chief process for motorists who feel unfairly penalised by firms and Police Officers. It is ACPO’s firm view, as expressed in their employees.” evidence to the Home Secretary: The only problem is that those changes are not provided “In many incidents, the victim is in no fit state, physically or for in the Bill. emotionally, to make complicated and life-changing decisions 93 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 94 regarding her safety, residence…and the well-being of her children The provisions need to be matched by a serious at the time when the police are investigating an incident or analysis of how best we can support parenting within offence.” the education system. That is the best place for intervening It is quite clear that there are occasions when an individual with parents and helping them to support their children. is released without charge or without being placed on Sure Start is based on that principle, and I am convinced police bail, partly, sometimes, because the woman that we should see that throughout the primary system concerned—it is more often a woman than a man—is in and the secondary system, wherever necessary. no fit state to make decisions about whether to bring On the DNA provisions, I agree with hon. Members charges or to make the necessary decisions to react to who have expressed grave concerns about the Government’s the incident that she has just suffered. She needs the movement on the European Court of Human Rights protection and time to make the necessary decisions on judgment. The Government have not gone far enough future steps to secure her safety and, more often than in responding to the judgment. For me, the very articulate not, that of her children. I agree with ACPO and think speech from the right hon. Member for Haltemprice that the provisions in the Bill are sensible. They represent and Howden (David Davis), who is no longer in his an intermediate step that can help women, in particular, place, summarised the range of reasons why the to deal with the situation in which they find themselves. Government have not gone far enough in implementing I want to refer to the wheel-clamping provisions. I that judgment. agree with much of what the hon. Member for Banbury Someone who is innocent is innocent. I accept, however, said, but I would add that many drivers and motorists that within the large pool of people who have been across the country would argue that it is not just wheel- arrested for various offences there is a degree of complexity clamping that is the problem, but private parking services that makes it difficult to argue that one kind of person per se. Many of my constituents complain to me that arrested is the same as another, so I disagree with the companies such as Excel—no doubt I will get another Liberal Democrat position. We need to examine more nasty threatening letter from that company as a result carefully the massive range of complexities involved in of this speech—fleece customers. Such companies’ signage the pool of people who have been arrested by the police is appalling and they fine customers on the basis, sometimes, and released without charge, charged with an offence of parking slightly over a line in a parking space. The and found not guilty in court, and so on. signage is so unclear that motorists do not know whether they have broken the rules or not, and the DVLA is A young girl caught shoplifting at 13 is often taken passing on the information about these motorists to into police custody, given the fright of her life and such companies. In addition, companies such as Excel released without charge, with a caution, precisely because offer no appeals process whatsoever when it comes to the police do not want to criminalise that young woman. the penalty notices that they issue for so-called parking At that stage, the police’s view is that the experience of offences. I hope that the Bill can be extended to cover being arrested and put in a police cell will, more often some of these issues. Problems with private parking than not, probably be enough to put that girl on to the provision are raised repeatedly in the media nowadays, straight and narrow. That, together with a strict word and I hope that the Bill can be extended to do something with the parents, is often seen to be the means by which about it. I would welcome the Minister’s comments on the police can avoid turning her into a convict and this issue. putting her on a path to criminality in the long term. Let me move on to refer to the provisions in the Bill It is a contradiction, therefore, to say that that young that deal with ASBOs and parenting orders. I support woman’s DNA should be taken and kept on the database these provisions wholeheartedly. Many parents who find for X years on the basis that her arrest means that she is that their children end up in court to discuss whether an more likely to commit an extremely violent and serious ASBO should be issued want to help their children but offence in the future. The Government’s argument does find that they are often not equipped to do so. Parenting not relate to whether an individual who has been arrested orders are therefore an essential part of the ASBO once is likely to be arrested for a minor offence in the package. There are parents who do not want any support future—another disorder offence or another drink driving or help in handling their children. They have a completely offence. The arguments have been about rape, murder different attitude. For that reason, the provisions in the and the most serious forms of physical violence. Bill are welcome. We need to focus in the immediate In some cases DNA is taken from people who have future on that hard core of parents who do not care been given fixed penalty notices for extremely minor about the impact of their children on the local community. offences that are not even recordable or arrestable. I I welcome the Home Secretary’s prioritisation of that. find it appalling that it can be assumed that such Parents who want to help their children keep out of people, or the vast majority of those who have had their trouble and stay on the straight and narrow are best DNA taken because they shoplifted as a 13-year-old, helped before their children end up in trouble. The are far more likely than the general population to Government have done a great deal to pilot initiatives in commit an extremely serious crime in the future. The schools in order to involve parents in their children’s right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden was education—for example, through home to school liaison right to say that often people find themselves on the officers and support for adults in schools, helping them receiving end of a demand for DNA because they have to deal with their own literacy problems and involving been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The building them in the education of their children. However, much of the DNA database has often been incredibly random. of that piloting has not been mainstreamed, usually Members in the Chamber will know that I am not because the funding has been ring-fenced or temporary, given to opposing the Government at every twist and and there has not been a proper evaluation of the turn. It is not my way of doing business, but on this issue effectiveness of such interventions and the mainstreaming I do not think the Government have gone far enough. of parenting support in the education system. That does not mean, however, that I will vote against 95 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 96
[Ms Angela C. Smith] to nail the gang leaders. But we reached the point whereby news about a private meeting that had been Second Reading tonight, or even abstain. The Government called to discuss the issue got out to the local community, have moved to some degree to implement the European and we ended up with almost 100 people in the hall. Court of Human Rights judgment and should be given They did not care that the meeting was private; they the chance to respond in Committee and on Report and turned up because they wanted to discuss the issue. It Third Reading on this important part of the Bill. I will had become so serious that their lives were being seriously push the Government for a fuller implementation of the hindered and hampered by the behaviour of that gang judgment that takes account of the complexities of the of young people, who were led by the children of one issue more clearly, but that does not mean that I want to family—peddling drugs and causing havoc. I therefore jeopardise the other provisions in the Bill on account of stress the need for such partnerships, which involve that one disagreement. In that, perhaps, I differ from elected representatives, to deal with those issues. some of those who have spoken in the Chamber today. Finally, the provisions on gang-related violence have Michael Fabricant: I am listening to the hon. Lady hardly been mentioned in the debate, but I consider with considerable interest, and particularly with regard them extremely important. I support wholeheartedly to the websites that she just mentioned. I fully understand the extension of the provisions in the Policing and that it may be difficult to prove that people are smoking Crime Act 2009 to a younger age group—specifically, cannabis or handling real guns, but has she investigated, the 14-to-18 age group. The problem is not new. From or does she know whether the police have investigated, what we read in the media, most people would believe any way in which they might just close down the website that gang-related violence is a symptom of the new and, therefore, stop communication between gang members? millennium, but that is clearly not case. Mention gang- Ms Smith: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that related violence to anybody over the age of 70 or 80 in intervention. The police say that a ten-minute Bill, making Sheffield, and they will quiver with fear and talk about it either easier to close those sites down or harder to set the Mooneys, one of the most dangerous gangs ever to them up in the first place, is probably the way forward. have operated in the city of Sheffield, especially in However, gangs are increasingly tuning into the use of Sheffield, Attercliffe. That does not mean that my hon. the web as a way of threatening and intimidating people, Friend the Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts) and that is very worrying. has to deal now with a problem on a similar scale. He does not. Some people will oppose the Bill, saying that the measures on 14 to 18-year-olds employ a lower standard We have had gang-related violence in the past. Sheffield of proof, but we do not have any real choice, because had it in the 1930s and London in the 1950s and 60s. It some of the activities in which those gang members are is not a new problem. Such violence is not related to the involved are so extreme. Serious crime is being perpetrated use of guns or knives. It is an age-old problem, but we by the users of guns, knives and—this is why I have need to deal with it. The emergence of postcode gangs raised the issue—dangerous dogs. I was absolutely delighted is a new development and an extension of the old form to hear the Home Secretary make it clear that he of gang warfare which I find particularly worrying. The believes that, increasingly, gang members are using as use of the internet and mobile phones makes it so much weapons not just knives and guns, but dogs. A dog that easier for such gangs to organise. I do not know whether is dangerously out of control is as dangerous as any gun any hon. Member in the Chamber has had a good look or knife. I look forward to the Minister’s comments on at some of the internet sites of postcode gangs. They that issue, because we must ensure that the gang-related are terrifying. One sees very young individuals, typically violence provisions that are extended to that younger aged 12 upwards, in balaclavas and uniforms, handling generation are applied equally—regardless of the weapon what look like terrifying weapons—guns, knives and so that they employ. on. More often than not, we see cannabis leaves and cannabis on those websites. I have raised the matter In London, in particular, there is a growing problem with the local police, and they point out the problem with the use of dogs as dangerous weapons—so much that one cannot prove that what is being smoked in so, that the Greater London authority is pressing for video clips on such sites is genuinely cannabis, or that changes to legislation on the issue. There has been a the guns and knives are anything other than replicas. nineteenfold increase in the number of dangerous and The situation is very difficult, but my point is that those status dogs in London since the early 1990s. The problem sites are meant to intimidate and terrorise, and they is emerging in Merseyside and Birmingham, too, and it exist throughout the city of Sheffield. The S3 and S4 will not be long before we see it in Sheffield and other gangs are particularly difficult, and we have had gun-related cities and communities throughout the country. gang killings in Sheffield. One case went to Crown court It is my firm view that we must look again at the recently, and it resulted in long life sentences for two or dangerous dogs legislation, and strengthen it. We need three individuals. There are gangs in S6 and S12, too. to strengthen the penalties for gangs, in particular, and Whatever the postcode in Sheffield, there is likely to be the police’s ability to respond to gang members’ use of a gang attached to it. dangerous dogs as weapons. We need also to give the We need to do something about that problem, because police the tools that they need to deal with the issue, it absolutely terrifies the communities that make up and that means increasing the penalties that are available cities such as Sheffield. When I was a councillor in to the courts to deal with people who own dogs that are Attercliffe, we had a problem with a gang that was dangerously out of control and endangering innocent peddling drugs and taking control of the neighbourhood. people in our communities. Tackling that problem took a partnership between the The provisions on gang-related violence are to some police, us councillors, and local residents, who had to be extent supported by strong legislation on the ownership given the confidence to gather the necessary information of a knife, and how and when one carries it, and on the 97 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 98 ownership of guns. We have strict legislation on knife the problem of domestic violence. I practised in that and gun ownership, and I applaud it. No way would I area of law for many years and know how awful that want this country to liberalise the ownership of those problem can be. I agree in large part with what the hon. weapons as the United States has. However, we need to Member for Woking (Mr. Malins) said. It is my belief think more seriously about supporting the provisions that there is sufficient provision to deal with what the on gang-related violence, particularly those involving Bill proposes to address. We do not need to introduce a the use of weapons. We need to make sure that our plethora of new legislation; we should ensure that the dangerous dogs legislation is just as tough and effective current legislation is properly employed. That is an at ensuring that individuals do not deliberately use dogs honest response to that aspect of the Bill. to intimidate, threaten, injure and, sometimes, kill other On fingerprints and samples, we know that the individuals. Government are seeking to address the judgment of 8.16 pm December 2008, which held that “The blanket and indiscriminate nature of the powers of Mr. Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy) (PC): retention of the fingerprints, cellular samples and DNA profiles May I first declare an interest? I have practised in the of persons suspected but not convicted of offences” family and criminal courts for more than 30 years as a breached the solicitor and as a barrister. “right to respect for private life” It is self-evident, to me at least, that the problems we have discussed today are real. The moot point is whether under article 8 of the European convention on human we have the right answers. Today’s problems cannot be rights. I would say further that the right to life is an addressed effectively by eroding civil liberties, and there absolute right, although it can be limited in certain has been enough talk about the balance between the cases. This general case, however, has not been made freedom of the individual and the all-important security out. of society. Of course that is important, and it should be Earlier, there was much talk about the preferable as central to this debate as to any other, but many system in Scotland, which probably has the right balance. people believe that the scales have fallen too heavily on It is worthy of further consideration. the side of the interests of the state, at the expense of It has been said before but I feel obliged to say it guaranteed rights that we have recognised for centuries. again: every person has the right to be presumed innocent Those rights and freedoms meant that we stood out as until the opposite is proven, and acquitted persons must an example of a civilised system that provided for the be treated in the same way. The national DNA database interests of the individual alongside the interests of risks stigmatising people, as inclusion on the database society or the state. That used to be the situation, at leads to the perception that suspicions exist in relation any rate. to that person—as somebody said earlier, “no smoke Recently, Amnesty International published a report without fire”. The retention of samples and profiles of on the state of the world’s human rights in which the unconvicted people may be especially harmful in relation then secretary-general said that giving one group of to children; currently, unconvicted children and minority people security at the expense of other people’s rights is ethnic people are hugely over-represented on the database. bound to fail, and that many anti-terrorist measures The proposed replacement measures in the Bill are and laws have failed because they do not give that really and truly only a marginal improvement on the element enough consideration. They have, she said, existing regime. Those arrested but not charged or “done little to reduce the threat of violence…and much to damage convicted may still have their DNA profile kept on the human rights and the rule of law.” database for at least six years and as many as eight. In The tension between this form of legislation and human the view of Justice, retaining the DNA profile of an rights has led to several recent cases in the Strasbourg innocent person for six years is both excessive and Court. There are genuine concerns in this Chamber and unnecessary.The organisation opines that the Government there will be in the other place. I do not make these have failed to follow the much more appropriate model points simply to play politics; it is my sincere belief that in the 1995 Scottish legislation, under which the DNA there are some very bad and insidious parts of the Bill. I of persons arrested but not convicted is destroyed following do not impute any wrong intentions to the Minister for an acquittal or a decision not to charge. If they are Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism or to any of his enacted, the Government’s proposals would replace the colleagues. However, I believe that some of this legislation existing “blanket and indiscriminate” retention policy must be thought through a great deal before it can go with one that is only slightly less sweeping and is still through. disproportionate. Here is another crime Bill, a pre-election one. As The other thing that I find a little concerning is that a always, it contains some sensible measures; tucked in chief police officer will make a decision on whether to with them, however, are measures that are not sensible extend that time, based on national security needs. I am and even insidious—a continuation of the sad trend to not being disparaging of the police, less still of senior which I have alluded. But I should say that I welcome officers; my own brother is a fairly senior officer in without qualification the proposed provisions on airguns. north Wales. However, I do not think the police are I also accept and appreciate without qualification the necessarily qualified to decide on what is a security compensation for victims of terrorism abroad—indeed, issue. As somebody said earlier in this interesting debate, I applaud it. We will have to see how the legislation on the police are there to do their job and to do it in any wheel-clamping works out, but I am pleased that the way they can: they want to maximise convictions and to Government are recognising the problem. bring down crime rates, and that is to their credit. I shall now attempt to explain—hopefully in short However, some elements within the police might be order—why I do not think that the provisions on domestic over-zealous in the way they go about it, and that is a violence are necessary. That is not to say that I underplay problem. 99 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 100
[Mr. Elfyn Llwyd] unnecessary for several other reasons. I note what the Minister says but ACPO would say that, would it not? Under-18-year-olds arrested for a recordable offence The proposal would allow the say-so of one police but not convicted will have their fingerprints and DNA officer to get something done without reference to the retained for three years unless the offence is a qualifying courts, meaning that the result would be achieved first, offence of a sexual or violent nature and the child is and there would be a subsequent court hearing. aged 16 or 17, in which case their fingerprints and DNA will be retained for six years. Neither of those more Michael Fabricant: The hon. Gentleman points out limited periods of retention applies if the chief officer that his constituency is 100 miles from north to south for a particular police area determines that that is and from east to west. However, is it not worth emphasising necessary for the purposes of national security. A that his constituency is so hilly, with such difficult determination to that effect can be made every two years, terrain, that the time it takes to get across it would be and there is no limit on the number of such determinations. equivalent to that for a constituency in England that Effectively, then, an unconvicted person’s DNA could was 200 miles from east to west, and 200 miles from be retained indefinitely despite the European Court north to south? ruling of December 2008. Since then, the four Welsh police forces have added 23,778 DNA profiles to the Mr. Llwyd: I am not absolutely sure about that. I database, and only 10 have been removed. That shows have a motor car; perhaps the hon. Gentleman still has how difficult this is. I am sure we have all had experiences a mule—[Interruption.] Let us not continue to talk of trying to assist constituents who feel hard done by about motor cars just now—I am sure the Minister for under this provision. It really is a disgrace, because it Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism will not sink to can genuinely affect people’s lives in many different that level. ways, including their job prospects. To put it in a simple Travelling is difficult, for sure, and this is a genuine form of words, it is not fair. issue. I do not downplay the need to protect people—they Looking at the DNA regime in general, there is the are mostly women—in such situations, and I have never whole notion of a person who has been arrested having been blasé about this. I worked in the field for many a greater tendency to reoffend. Evidence from the Jill years. I am still disgusted and appalled when I think Dando Institute is not exactly evidence that one can about the things I witnessed, so I am not making light heavily rely on. Mr. Justice Beatson, the outgoing president of this. However, under the Family Law Act 1996—I of the British Academy of Forensic Science and a High served on the Standing Committee that considered the Court judge, has referred to research in this area as Bill that became that Act, and I was pleased that it being less than convincing. He says: made the statute book—it appears that there is sufficient “The issues involved raise difficult scientific and technical protection for women in such a position, through an questions, and the policy choices in this area also have constitutional ouster order and a non-molestation order, coupled with and civil liberties implications. The need is for an objective, the power of arrest. Indeed, if there is a more serious impartial and balanced assessment in which the public can have initial assault, the perpetrator can no doubt be bailed confidence. Bearing these factors in mind, I suggest that the issue on very strict conditions. is one on which, for most of the twentieth century, advice would I will not expand on other relevant considerations have been sought from a Royal Commission made up of the leading experts in all the relevant disciplines or a body such as the because I do not want to take up too much time, but the Law Commission.” hon. Member for Woking made a comprehensive case in support of the view that we already have these powers I do not accept the idea that a person who has been in place. When I asked the Home Secretary about the arrested is more likely to offend in future: that offends difference between the provisions in the 1996 Act and common sense. There are serious flaws in the Government’s those in the Bill, I did not get much of a response, so I research and analysis. Frankly, this part of the Bill await one from Ministers. I do not understand how the should go back to the drawing board. need for the Bill’s provisions arises. There are problems with the manner in which the new The proposals on gang-related violence risk introducing domestic violence protection notice is meant to be a whole panoply of criminal penalties on a civil standard enforced, in that the offender and the person who has of proof. This is not the first Bill to do that, and it is been offended against have a right to be heard by the a disturbing tendency. Those provisions could be superintendent in charge. There is no superintendent in challengeable on behalf of young people. Again, I am the constituency that I represent, which covers an area not playing the problem down. We do not have this kind that is 100 miles from north to south and 100 miles of thing in my local town, thank God, but I heard the across. Need I say more than that this is balderdash in speech made by the hon. Member for Sheffield, terms of practicality? It might work in an urban area, Hillsborough (Ms Smith) and I have no doubt that it is however. a major problem in some places. However, we need legislation that will stand the test of time and tests in Mr. Hanson: The order was suggested by the Association the courts. In the McCann case, the House of Lords of Chief Police Officers, which has examined the matter found that even though antisocial behaviour orders practically. Secondly, it will be established as a pilot so, were civil orders, the criminal standard of proof—beyond if legislative approval is given, the issues the hon. Gentleman reasonable doubt—should be employed, not the civil raises may be considered as part of our examination of standard, because the finding of guilt has with it that pilot. serious criminal penalties. I make that point because the proposals in the Bill might be challenged on similar Mr. Llwyd: I am pleased that there will be a pilot lines. However, I listened carefully to what the hon. because this aspect of the Bill is flawed. The proposal Lady said, and perhaps I live in a fool’s paradise from could not be made to work in a rural setting, and it is that point of view. 101 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 102
I am very concerned about the keeping of DNA and resources, ban mobile phones and their use from prisons fingerprint samples, and I am not the only one. full stop, with all the resource implications that that [Interruption.] The Minister whispers from a sedentary entails for both staff and prisoners. position; if he would like to turn around, he will see that We have been up, down and sideways going through there is huge support behind him—massive support for technically possible and cost-effective ways to dampen the Bill! the signal so that calls cannot be received in prisons, as has been suggested. Everyone knows the stories, not The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the least of assassinations and drug deals organised on Home Department (Mr. Alan Campbell): I was simply contraband mobile phones in prisons. I would rather making the point that we have no intention of keeping see the Prison Service bring in a total and absolute ban samples. We will be keeping profiles. on mobile phones inside prisons, for staff and prisoners, and then see what that entails for their resources, than Mr. Llwyd: I beg the Minister’s pardon; I apologise have the limitation on the possession of contraband for what I said, in that case. phones set out in the Bill, although I welcome that as We must be ever careful of eroding civil liberties. The far as it goes. deputy chief constable of Hampshire said a couple of I should like there to be a link between a contravention years ago: of the provisions against the possession of contraband “We are sleepwalking through the lobbies of Parliament whilst phones and the early release scheme. I do not want the Britain is slipping toward Authoritarian Rule.” individuals concerned to get simply a couple of months That is pretty tough stuff from a deputy chief constable. or a fine, or whatever the Bill says— I believe that the Bill in its present state will add fuel to the fire, and we might well see a further slip towards Mr. Hanson: Two years. authoritarian rule. I hope that much of it is removed in Committee, but at this stage I will vote against it. Mr. McNulty: Nevertheless, we should start from the premise of a forfeiture of any participation in the early release scheme for someone who does anything as serious 8.36 pm as possessing contraband, not least mobile phones. I Mr. Tony McNulty (Harrow, East) (Lab): I am pleased still feel, somewhere in my water, if I may put it in those to follow the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant terms, that we are dealing with very serious matters Conwy (Mr. Llwyd), not least because I have a high through the resource nexus, rather than deciding what regard for what he says on this matter. I do not always we should be doing and working backwards towards agree with him, but I know that he approaches it in a resources. If that sounds harsh, I do not apologise, terribly thoughtful way. I must say, however, that I because the use of mobile phones and other such things disagreed absolutely with his opening and closing remarks. by terrorists are serious matters. The notion that we are anything other than a beacon for If I may say so, I think we have also wimped out on much of the rest of the world in our record on civil wheel-clamping. I have asked those who know far more liberties and criminal justice is wrong. He bases his than I whether there is anything under law, or unique to remarks on a flawed report by Amnesty International, the English and Welsh system, that means we cannot which really should know better. It took what the say that wheel-clamping on private land, and the way it House clearly and explicitly passed as extraordinary has been executed over the past number of years, is legislation, to be used very sparingly and only in specific effectively licensed theft and extortion, as the Scottish circumstances, and judged us as though it were universal. law did some time ago. That is where we should start That is profoundly flawed. from. If we need to go back from that and allow some I disagreed also with the remarks by the deputy chief limited, albeit licensed, clamping for doctors’ surgeries constable of Hampshire that the hon. Gentleman quoted. or other specific use, that is fine, but I do not think that The House is not sleepwalking towards authoritarianism. a licensing regime will do what we want. I do not doubt that there are issues to consider in the That was brought sharply into focus in the past Bill, which I will come on to describe, but hyperbole couple of weeks. Quite rightly, people stopped and does not help. We have had a good debate thus far parked because of the snow and the impassability of except, as is the case on these occasions, from the roads, only to come back the next day to find their car Opposition Front Bencher, for whom hyperbole was clamped, because some little man from the wheel-clamping everything and substance was seriously lacking. That organisation decided, regardless of the snow, that there was a shame, because regardless of what happens over was another £140 or £200 to be made for the company. the next couple of months, we are considering profoundly Rather than this sequential law or proper law by accretion, serious issues for our country and our civil liberties. we should go where we want to go: we should ban it as I wish to touch on some matters on which I agree the Scots have done and work back from that. I hope with the Government and some on which I do not. I that that proposal will be explored in Committee. I shall start with those on which I do not, which is should say right now that I am not in any profound unusual for me. From my knowledge and expertise of sense offering myself to serve on that Committee. Having the use of mobile phones in prisons, not least by convicted done three and a half years in the Home Office, I have terrorist prisoners, I do not believe that simply putting a had my fine share of Home Office Bills and legislation, possession offence on the statute book is good enough. and I will sadly have to let this one go and let others It is the Ministry of Justice, happily, not the Home serve far better than I would. Office—my right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, This is why I do not like the tedium—it is repeated ad Crime and Counter-Terrorism may wear two hats—that nauseam by the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris needs to get serious about that matter and, notwithstanding Huhne)—of saying how much new legislation there has 103 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 104
[Mr. McNulty] meant to be, a database of the convicted or of those who will be convicted. That has never been its purpose been, and how many new crimes and offences have been since it came into existence in 2001. It is a device, a tool created: it does not help us at all. We live in a complex and an adaptation of science for our use today, and it is world. Something like three quarters of the Bill reviews, no more than that. The suggestion by some, although revises and updates legislation, albeit very recent legislation, not all, that DNA is what the right hon. Member for because of externalities and other factors that go to the Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) called a golden complexities of the world. Ten, 12 or 15 years ago, as bullet that is sufficient to make a jury convict on that someone already suggested, we would not have thought sole basis just is not the case. Rarely, if ever, is someone about the perniciousness of mobile phones in prison, convicted on DNA evidence alone. At best, it is an because they did not exist. Twenty or 30 years ago, or analytical device, a locational device and a corroborative when I was at university, e-mails and computers did device. In some cases, all that it has done is hastened the not exist. Occasionally, we might see such things on conviction of an individual who was in the frame already, “Tomorrow’s World”, but we all laughed. Given the with spectacular success. People will know the examples pace of change, we must keep on top of such sensitive of those arrested for relatively minor offences, such as matters. affray or car theft, who had their DNA taken—some hon. Members have suggested that it should be removed Chris Huhne: Surely the right hon. Gentleman recognises from the database if no conviction occurs—and it later that the extraordinary spate of new offences is simply put them in the frame for a more serious offence. DNA unnecessary.I have corresponded with the Justice Secretary does not of itself lead to a conviction—it does not hang on this matter, in which I gave him clear examples of the person, if I may put it like that—but it puts them in offences that it was already perfectly possible to prosecute. the location of the crime or adds to the jigsaw of The most ridiculous one is the new offence, which was evidence that is available. It is confirmatory, corroborative created in 1997, of creating a nuclear explosion. What is and locational, but it is never enough alone to lock wrong with murder and criminal damage? It seems to people away. me that either would be quite likely to cover the bases. We need to take that aspect of DNA seriously. I do not agree that retention is antithetical to civil liberties. I Mr. McNulty: I was going to agree with the hon. got into trouble on the “Today” programme when the Gentleman, but I do not agree with the example he report came out recommending a national database. I used. I was very firmly in favour—my case has still not told John Humphrys—I think that was the interviewer— prevailed—of anything remotely attached to a terrorist that I had some sympathy with the report’s logic. I have cause having a proper terrorist statute associated with learned my lesson since, because for the next two or it. I did not want a terrorist tariff, which we found three days that ran in the papers as “Government terribly cumbersome, and I did not want always to rely edging towards national database”. I was not saying on the Explosives Act 1875 or whatever. I wanted to that at all. However, there is a great distance between give a proper footing in terrorist legislation, as we did saying that we should retain the DNA only of those for DNA in the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008. convicted and saying that we should have a national I am not saying, hand on heart, that since 1997, every database. Wherever the line is drawn, it will be arbitrary. statute and new offence passed by the Government has The ECHR case on article 8 was probably right in been absolutely necessary. I would be foolish if I did. In one regard—that it was the blanket and indiscriminate fact, I spent much of my three and half years in the nature of retention that was the difficulty. I firmly Home Office telling people that if it is not absolutely believe that the Government have gone far enough to necessary, we are not having it. show that the criteria for retention are no longer blanket or indiscriminate. However, the position should be kept Chris Huhne: Not very successfully. under constant review, because things change—not least the technology involved in DNA. In some recent cases Mr. McNulty: No, the hon. Gentleman will find that involving low copy number DNA, it would not have over those three and a half years, I was relatively been possible to extract the DNA five or 10 years ago. successful in that way, and terrorism and immigration But the criteria are definitely not a proxy for saying “We took up the lion’s share of my time. will keep the DNA of the guilty or those who are likely It must be right and proper that legislation and to be guilty one day.” The database is purely an analytical revisions to legislation are debated in the Chamber, device for the police. Whatever the algorithms, logarithms rather than dealt with up in the Committee corridor by or other things that scientists and occasionally GeneWatch statutory instrument, or simply by review. can throw up about the probability of solving cases, That takes me neatly on to the issue of DNA. Everybody they do not change the fact that there are significant must agree at the very least that it is right to put the serious crimes—cold-case and more recent crimes—that DNA database—and some of the elements around it, have been dealt with through DNA. which have been much discussed—on a statutory footing, We will be profoundly worse off, in terms of the rather than as part of code B, C or D of the Police and overall liberties of our people and the efficacy of the Criminal Evidence Act 1984, which was a wonderful criminal justice system, if we lose the DNA database or piece of legislation by the way. Given the importance went where the hon. Member for Eastleigh wants to go. and sensitivity of the DNA database, putting it on a It is not the case that, as the right hon. Member for proper statutory footing must be right. The Government Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) said, some are to be commended for that. degree of criminality is a precursor or a useful factor—I I do not accept, and never have done, the premise that am not sure whether it is an exogenous or endogenous somehow the national DNA database is an adjunct of factor—in determining who will commit crime later on. the police national computer. It is not, and was never Would that it were that simple. In many low-level cases, 105 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 106 that may be so—we could all name the 10 or 12 individuals was the Minister responsible for policing from the policing in our areas who cause a lot of the low-level difficulties—but world two and a half years before, so Lord knows what he was profoundly wrong to say, “Keep the convicted the rate of change was five or 10 years ago. on, because that then is the body of subsequent criminality.” We need to keep abreast of that, which is why the He said it far more eloquently, but that was the gist work that we have already done on stop and account of it. and the work that will come out of the Bill on stop and In one specific case the right hon. Gentleman was search are all positive developments. However, I would absolutely wrong. There are no predictive qualities in say—someone raised this earlier—that there is no need people’s behaviour, criminal or otherwise, for murder— for a review of section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in absolutely none. He might be right in the case of breaking the Bill in quite the terms suggested, because that is and entering, burglary or certain other serious crimes, already being done. I said to the Metropolitan police including some violent crimes, but he is not right in the time and again—happily, the Metropolitan Police Authority, case of murder. We know that, overwhelmingly, murderers the service and the commissioner all agree—that it have never committed crimes before—some have, of cannot be right as we proceed beyond 2005 that all of course, but overwhelmingly they have not. If there is London is still signed off every month as a section 44 some chance, on a cold-case basis or otherwise, of area. Whether they have done this yet or not I do not giving people final closure on some of those outrageous know, but the sooner we create specific permanent cases involving violent crime, rape and murder, then, in section 44 areas— the balance of things, it is worth paying that price Mr. Hanson: We have. collectively as a society. I understand the Liberals’ position—it has always Mr. McNulty: That is good. There will always be a been their position—but it is a real shame that the section 44 area around Heathrow, and rightly so. Sussex Opposition have chosen to use their opposition to those always had one around Gatwick. The notion of making provisions as a fig leaf for not voting for the Bill this a blanket section 44 area of the 32 boroughs just for the evening. I hope that the hon. Member for Hornchurch hell of it—throw in the City of London and it is 33 (James Brokenshire) will give us more reasons for their —has changed, rightly. Much of that change is happening. not doing so than were given at the start of this debate We completed a consultation on how to use section 44 by his hon. Friend—I suppose he might be right hon.—the in terms of working with communities throughout London, shadow Home Secretary, who, for me, only showed which is all to the good as well. clearly why, if tragedy happens and his side ever gets in, he should not be Home Secretary for long. I hope that Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): I am that is the case for the sake of the country, because he is grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for giving way, clearly not up to it, and he showed that again tonight. particularly bearing in mind what an effective Minister he was. I am sure it is a great loss that he is no longer I have a couple of other points to make. It takes too one. Surely section 44 has been grossly abused. I was long for good ideas in government to come to fruition. I stopped and detained on suspicion of terrorism for absolutely welcome the tail-end elements in the Bill on taking a photograph of some roadworks near my local stop and search, which are rooted in what Flanagan railway station. Perhaps I should have said that it was said some 18 months ago. Everyone will remember wrong to stop me, a Member of Parliament, from going Ronnie’s point about “good cholesterol” and “bad about my parliamentary duties by using that law cholesterol”, which was a very good one. I do not accept against me. the premise, parlayed about by someone on our side fairly recently, that somehow the only difference between Mr. McNulty: I could make a joke about the hon. good police forces and bad police forces on clear-up Gentleman looking shifty and all sorts of other things, rates is not bureaucracy but the fact that some officers but I shall not. on some forces would rather stay in the canteen. For an I think and have said, both as a Minister and ex-Home Secretary to say that was quite shocking, I subsequently, that the definition of photography in thought. I know all 43 forces in this country intimately, public places and how it rubs up against section 44 and I do not know of any force in which people would needs serious consideration, because most police forces rather stay in the canteen than be out on the streets throughout the country use the powers wrongly. Happily, doing their job. when it is pointed out to them, they change, but I was The Police Federation and the Association of Chief slightly worried that in a recent court case involving a Police Officers have sometimes—indeed, consistently— conspiracy that largely revolved around photographs overplayed their hands on bureaucracy. Much has been taken by the individuals, some in the police family—but done to get rid of bureaucracy, by previous Governments not all—tried to offer that up almost as justification for and certainly by this one. What Ronnie meant by “good what police community support officers and police cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol” was that, because of officers do to people going about their lawful business democratic accountability and the rights of the individual and taking photographs. I think the police understand and for a host of other reasons, some of that “good that. If they do not, we need to say it louder. cholesterol” bureaucracy is essential for fairness, the Notwithstanding that, section 44 has, broadly, worked defence of liberty and the rights that the hon. Member well. There has been no blanket application throughout for Eastleigh mentioned. However, even with all the the country. Most forces, bearing in mind the fact that I advances that we have made on bureaucracy, I would signed them off for two and a half years, were sparing not say that we had gone far enough. We always need to in their use of the powers, unless they had a key facility go further, not least because, rather like the law and such as an airport nearby, or used them and gave society, policing does not stand still. The policing world significant reasons why. However, none were as universal was profoundly different two and a half years after I as London or areas with sensitive locations. 107 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 108
[Mr. McNulty] do anything except introduce effective measures that build on all that we have already done on domestic There is another important issue running through violence. this debate and that on DNA, although it is not germane I do not accept people’s broader points objecting to to the Bill: the nexus between race and the criminal the principle of ASBOs—I will not say that those points justice system. I accept and have said publicly that there were tediously made, but I have been listening to them is a disparity in the number of young black men, for 10 years—and now to gangster ASBOs, or GASBOs. especially, on the database—we heard the figures earlier— Where ASBOs have worked, up and down the country, and in the criminal justice system. That is troublesome they have worked tremendously effectively. They have in the context not of the DNA database but of the worked incredibly well for many communities, but I criminal justice system. take the point that some hon. Members made about the The notion suggested recently that race is somehow interface between the law, some local councils—although, no longer a factor in our politics—it is now class, to be fair, they are getting better—and the CPS and the apparently—is profound nonsense, especially in terms local prosecutorial powers. All those elements need to of the criminal justice system. It must matter to all of us be lined up properly if the orders are to be effectively, that 77 per cent. of 15 to 35-year-old black men are on and sparingly, used. I welcome the advances made in the DNA database, but not because of the database. relation to GASBOs, if I may use that shorthand to The database, in its universal application thus far, simply describe them. reflects what is going on in the criminal justice system. I want to finish by mentioning three elements that are My point is not that it is worrying that so many young not in the Bill, but which matter and which merit black men are on the database; I find it worrying that so serious discussion in regard to the policing world. It is many young black men are being arrested and entering my profound regret that, at one of my first meetings as the criminal justice system that way. That is what needs Minister with responsibility for policing, I had to tell to be tackled; the DNA database is purely a reflection the Lancashire and Cumbria police forces that they of it. That is overcome by the measures proposed by my could not merge. I shall leave that on the table and say hon. Friends. no more, save that I absolutely agree with Hugh Orde, The same applies to stop and search. It is important the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, to keep the ethnicity element, but although it is often when he says that 43 police forces to cover the best part said that section 44, 30 or 60 powers have been used of 54 million people is simply not sustainable. I believe wrongly and impinge on community relations, much of that we could have between nine and 12, which could the evidence for that does not stack up, save for the then become much more localised—rather like the relationship between where many of our communities Metropolitan police are seeking to do—and hold the live and the propensity for crime in those areas. I am not police accountable at that very localised level. The linking the two at all, however. This is simply about notion of having 43 forces for 54 million people in protecting those communities. England and Wales is complete nonsense, and that is a matter that we shall collectively have to return to— The Bill has got the provisions on DNA about right, but the matter needs to be kept under constant review. I welcome the provisions on bureaucracy, and many of Chris Huhne indicated dissent. the other elements that have already been put in place. I shall no doubt take further the matter of section 44 Mr. McNulty: Don’t shake your head; you’re supposed with colleagues, especially those in London— to be a radical.
Mr. Ellwood: And in Committee. Chris Huhne: The right hon. Gentleman has a lot of experience in this area, but there are real problems with the case that he is trying to make in regard to size per se. Mr. McNulty: Not in Committee. I have already The biggest police force in the country certainly has a made that very clear, and if I have to take another half lot of problems that other police forces—even those in an hour to make it even clearer, I shall do so. No, I other urban areas—do not have. It also has some pretty shan’t. poor performance indicators, compared with other police I understand the concerns expressed by the hon. forces. So bigger does mean more beautiful. Members for Woking (Mr. Malins) and for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy about the whole notion of orders. They Mr. McNulty rose— have made the same points before. The hon. Member for Woking made some quite fair comments about the Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): Order. I am architecture—the nuts and bolts—required to achieve sure that the right hon. Gentleman is now coming to the them. Much has been achieved on domestic violence in end of his remarks. He said that he wanted to make the past 10 years, however, in regard not only to the three points about things that were not in the Bill. police interface with the victims and perpetrators, but Perhaps he will bear that in mind as he closes his to the proper response by our courts system and others. remarks. Where it works, it works very well, and the provisions in the Bill need to be seen in that broader context. Mr. McNulty: I was simply using the device of a I am happy for hon. Members to explore the concerns Second Reading debate to mention other things that expressed by the hon. Member for Woking in more could have been explored but were not. I was not asking depth in Committee—I promise that I will pop back to for a debate with the hon. Member for Eastleigh, although discuss them on Report—and I take seriously what he I would be happy to have one if that is the best response and others have said. The Government do not want to he can make. 109 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 110
There are two further points that we need to address. stopped and said there would be no charge to them I do not think that either side has got them right yet. whatever. “Yes, sign the paper”, they said, and the next There needs to be much more accountability at local thing was that all and sundry were getting tickets. level, and we have not got there yet. Police commissioners Fortunately, we were able to get that retracted and to are a daft idea—that is not the way to do it—and if take the signs down so that the clamping ceased. I Boris Johnson is the answer, it must have been a silly accept that not all the companies involved are like this, question. The only new moneys that the Metropolitan but the vast majority brought to my attention in my police will get over the next two years will be the 2.7 per Ilford, North constituency are certainly nothing more cent. increase from this Government. From Boris Johnson, than extortionists. This must be stopped. I would like to they will get absolutely nothing, and we will make sure see these people completely banned from doing it. I that the people of London know that. believe that there is a role for local councils in respect of Lastly, I realise that this matter is not appropriate for parking enforcement, but not a role for rogue traders to a fifth Session Bill, but at some point the House will take money from innocent people going about their need to address the issue of police finance. It cannot be work and legitimately parking their cars. I add that right that the lowest contribution to the overall budget there are no appeals against these companies. There is gathered locally from any police force is just 18 per either small signage or no signage whatever and I say cent., while the highest is 56 per cent. A couple of years again that this practice should be made illegal. ago, that disparity worked out at £80 a head as opposed Let me touch briefly on domestic violence. Without to £260 a head. These disparities exist for a whole range question, it is vile and we all abhor it. However, in many of historic political reasons that make no sense now. Of cases drawn to my attention at my constituency surgery, course policing in the south-west is different from that young women have told me that it can happen because in the north-east, but the price should not be as disparate of intimidation, low self-esteem, fear or even because as that. the man has had children with the partner and is These three issues will have to be addressed in the concerned about their future, yet they say that the near future, hopefully by a Labour Government in attack has never taken place. Except through some power, but beyond that, and beyond my little critiques— measures already in place and measures proposed in the unusual for me—about areas where the Government Bill, if someone says, “It did not happen; I walked into have wimped, especially on mobile phones in prisons a door; I fell down the stairs”, it would not be covered. and wheel clamping, I commend the Bill to the House. I That greatly concerns me. I am not asking to be made a shall be happy to come back on Report and look at member of the Committee, but if I were on it, I would what the Committee has done. raise the issue again. Let me say a few words about antisocial behaviour 9.6 pm orders and parenting orders. Antisocial behaviour is a Mr. Lee Scott (Ilford, North) (Con): Although I blight on our communities, but we must distinguish share the concerns of hon. Members of all parties what is antisocial behaviour from what is not antisocial about the DNA aspects of the Bill, the House will be behaviour. Groups of young people who gather together pleased to know that I do not intend to talk about that doing no harm is not antisocial behaviour, no matter subject at this late hour. Neither shall I bring up any how disconcerting their presence may be. Groups that issues that do not appear in the Bill. intimidate people and make people fear to leave their I want to speak about some provisions to which I am homes is antisocial behaviour, however. I believe parental sympathetic, including those on wheel-clamping. I shall responsibility is vital in this context, and I want to tell two brief stories about incidents, one affecting a commend Peter Terry, the borough commander in constituent, the other my own office. A constituent Redbridge, and his colleagues for the work they have came to see me to complain that they had parked their done with me in tackling this problem. car on private land outside a shop where they actually I am aware of the time and of the fact that other worked, yet it had been clamped and towed away, Members wish to speak, but let me tell a brief story. requiring a payment of £600 to get the car back. The There was a problem with some youths, and one Sunday constituent did not have the resources to pay that bill. It morning I went out and met them. I asked them why turns out that when these private companies—in some they wanted to cause these disturbances, and I asked if respects, I view them as nothing more than thugs—go they would be happy if this was happening to their in and intimidate people, they do so on the basis of grandparents and they were too scared to leave their choosing someone who may not own the land or the homes. The problem did not go away—these problems shop but who just happens to be around to sign a never will go away completely—but I am pleased to be contract. That contract allows them to clamp people able to say that reports of antisocial behaviour fell by and issue these vile fines of hundreds of pounds. more than 70 per cent. after the police and I had held The story relating to my own constituency office is those meetings. that I received a phone call from one of my office staff, Finally, I want to touch on the issue of gang-related telling me that a small sign had gone up, saying that violence. As the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough clamping was in place and fines would be applied. I was (Ms Smith) said, this is nothing new. I am told by told that two hefty men were there to enforce the said people who are older than me that in the ’60s there fines. How had they got permission to carry out this were groups called mods and rockers. Obviously, I am clamping on what was private land, servicing about five far too young to remember that myself, but we all know or six different shops or businesses? Apparently, these that violence took place in seaside towns such Margate men went in to someone who had a temporary lease in a and Southend. The major concern today is the age of shop and said that a lot of illegal was parking going on. the people involved in the gangs, however. I do not They asked whether the person would like that parking remember in my youth boys and girls as young as 12, 13 111 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 112
[Mr. Lee Scott] which would probably be impractical, although I would not have any problem with my DNA being on it. I have or 14 being involved in gangs and carrying knives and no intention of taking up a career as a burglar or some other weapons. This is a serious issue, and it must be other kind of criminal if I ever leave this place, so what tackled. would I have to fear? I would have nothing to fear. I support parts of the Bill, therefore. Sadly however, Perhaps all those in favour of the database—on both because of the DNA provisions and other measures, I sides of the House—ought to be willing to put our will not be voting for it this evening, but I hope that in DNA on it and encourage the police and the judges to Committee we can all come together to change the do so too. The other extreme is to have almost nobody parts of it with which we disagree. on the database, but I do not think many in the House would wish that to happen. 9.12 pm Of course I am aware of the concerns about disproportionality, but when one examines the statistical David T.C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con): There is not evidence, one finds that it is very hard to say that just much time left in the debate, but I must say that I have because somebody is black they will end up on the greatly enjoyed the contributions to it, and it has occurred DNA database; we heard statistics of 70 per cent, then to me that most of the Bill’s provisions ultimately come 50 per cent. and then something else. The reality is that down to a simple argument about the price of civil the police do not go around arresting people for no liberties as against the price of security. While travelling reason. If a police officer arrests somebody erroneously, into London on the tube this morning, I was reading they get bawled out by a custody sergeant in front of the dreadful stories of what is going on in Haiti. I their colleagues. So arresting somebody for no good suppose that at present the people in that country have reason is not an option that police officers have and it is the ultimate in civil liberties, in that they can go out and not something that they go out and do. In most cases, do and say what they want and steal what they want, the people who have been arrested have been perfectly but is anyone more secure for it? No, they are not. properly arrested. Would anyone want to live in Haiti at present, or in any of the other failed states of the world? No, they would If one wants to talk about disproportionality, one not. could mention the fact that four fifths of the people on the database are men. I am a man, but I do not mind the Mention was made earlier of one of the Gulf states, fact that four fifths of the people on it are men. I do not where apparently there is a universal database. I forget think that the police are discriminating against men. I the name of the country, but I remember thinking that happen to think it unfortunate that more men are it is a country where many British people and other committing crimes. It may well be that more black westerners have gone to work. They are perfectly happy youths are committing crimes. Most people do not want in that environment. It may not be the paradise of a to consider that, but we should consider it. I suspect, Liberal Democrat-run council in the desert, but people however, that if one looked at the statistics, one would feel very safe regardless of the level of civil liberties they find that white youths from certain backgrounds—those apparently enjoy. from deprived backgrounds, broken homes and so What I am trying to say is that, in many ways, on—would feature in them just as prominently. I do not security is more important to us than civil liberties. think that this is as straightforward as some speakers Security has to come first. We all remember that in the have tried to suggest. ’70s we used to say, “Better dead than red”, but the Those on one side of the House are saying that we reality is that I would prefer just about anything to will keep the details on the database for six years and being dead or to living in a failed state, even if it meant those on the other side are saying that we will keep them giving up some of my civil liberties. on there for three years, although we may extend that by a further two years, if necessary. There is not much Chris Huhne rose— difference between what those on either side of the House are saying, because we all accept that some David T.C. Davies: The hon. Gentleman was very people who may be found innocent by the courts will generous in giving way to me, but time is now running nevertheless have their DNA retained on a database—I very short because of his contribution and many others, am perfectly comfortable with that. so if he will forgive me, I shall continue. When listening to the contribution of my right hon. Let me now turn to the practical elements of the Bill. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David I am not a philosopher. I do not pretend to be one—and, Davis), I was reminded of the confusion that police to be honest, there are too many people coming out of officers can create when they say, “You are on the universities with degrees in philosophy, and they cannot database.” What they actually mean is that someone is relate what they have learned to real situations, which is on the police national computer, which is something what it should all be about. The DNA database might very different. When police officers put details in, a have an impact on civil liberties, but is it making us strict radio protocol is in operation and they do not get more secure? Yes it is, and the vast majority of Members into conversations about who is on what database. They fully agree that it is a wonderful thing and a very useful are told, “This person is known not wanted” or, “This tool. person is known and wanted”. The former description I commend the Government’s enthusiasm for getting may be followed by certain other codes, one of which I this database going, because they were clearly bringing recall from the following anecdote. I remember stopping about something to reduce levels of crime. Of course somebody once in my capacity—I should have declared someone could say that just putting on to it everyone this—as a special constable and the code given to me who was arrested was not entirely logical, but what are was “Foxtrot, India”. As that is code for “FI”, my the extremes? One extreme is to put everyone on it, colleague said to me, “Leave him alone. He is a female 113 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 114 impersonator. He is harmless enough, he is a transvestite.” to us, “We carry knives and guns because the other gang As it turns out, “Foxtrot, India” stands for “firearms”— carry knives and guns.” I asked why they did not tell the “India, Foxtrot” would have been the code for police about it and they said, “Oh, we don’t trust the “impersonates females”—so we got that one wrong and police and we’ve got a code. We never grass people up.” that person went merrily on his way. The reason I tell I am afraid that if that is their attitude, they will have to this story is because even if we had twigged that he was accept that the police will have to have fairly wide likely to have a firearm on him, we would not have been powers to deal with the lot of them. If they think that it able to search him; that would not have been grounds is unfortunate that the gang down the road have guns, for a stop and search. and that is why they want them—although they are very That brings me neatly to what I really wanted to say, sad about it—we will help them out. We will give the which relates to stop and search legislation. Again, I police the powers to take away the guns and anything give the Government a bit of credit, because section 44 else that they can to try to help the gang members and of the Terrorism Act 2000 was a good idea. It was not their neighbourhoods. about, and it was not meant to be about, catching lots Let me say one last thing before I sit down. Although of people. We can quote statistics all day long, but every I welcome the new provisions on domestic violence, I day thousands of people are searched at airports and am very sad that there is no mention in the Bill of how many bombs do we find? We rarely find any female genital mutilation. We passed a law seven years bombs, and thank goodness for that. So the statistics ago and not one person has been convicted of that are that thousands of people are searched, but only a heinous crime. There is also nothing in the Bill to do handful are arrested. We continue to do those searches with forced marriages despite the fact that we know that because if we did not do so, people would get on to thousands of young girls are being virtually sold into planes with bombs. That was what section 44 was all domestic servitude by their relatives. I shall certainly about. It was not designed to catch lots of criminals; the play my part, on the Committee or not as people decide, aim was to send out a message to potential terrorists and I look forward to contributing to the Bill as it that they could be randomly stopped and searched, proceeds through Parliament. regardless of what they looked like. That is why section 44 was important, and I hope that the Government will 9.22 pm address in the Bill the recent and very unfortunate European Court of Human Rights ruling. Mr. Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth, East) (Con): It is If we accept that people who are deemed innocent by a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for a court can have their DNA kept and that people can be Monmouth (David T.C. Davies), who speaks with such randomly stopped and searched under section 44 or, authority on these issues because of his experience as a because they are in an area where a lot of crime occurs, special constable. It is also a pleasure to be the concluding under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Back-Bench speaker in this wide-ranging debate. Of Order Act 1994, it is perfectly reasonable and logical for course, it has had to be wide ranging, because we are us to say that where somebody has a criminal record for discussing 46 clauses that cover all sorts of issues. carrying a firearm, it is perfectly logical to search them During these final few minutes of the debate I want if they are stopped for carrying out another offence. to talk about an issue that is not on the face of the Bill. However, under the rather complicated legislation that It is based on a press release that the Ministry of Justice police officers and Ministers have to wrestle with, that is issued today, which was mentioned by the Home Secretary not possible. The gentleman whom we thought was a during his speech, on the new support for victims of transvestite but who was actually a gunman was in no terrorism overseas. I should make it clear that I declare danger of being searched because, unless we had evidence an interest, in that, sadly, I lost my brother in the Bali that he had a firearm on him at that moment in time, we bombing of 2002. I welcome the proposal and, in fact, I would have had no grounds to search him. That is why, have been campaigning very hard for such an initiative during the passage of this Bill, I want to see an amendment for some time. My worry is that the Bill is so busy and to section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 so complicated that it might not pass through its stages that would allow people to take into account somebody’s in time for this provision to reach the statute book. previous criminal record when deciding whether a search My experience in Bali when I lost my brother—he would be warranted. It would be an easy change to was a teacher based in Vietnam who died along with write into the relevant code of PACE. 201 others—was one of absolute confusion and devastation. Let me turn, very briefly, to some of the other aspects He left the hotel he was staying in to join some friends of this Bill. The Government have come up with some in the Sari club, and at 11.05 pm the first bomb exploded proposals to deal with gang violence and my party, in Paddy’s bar opposite. People left the Sari club to quite rightly, has come up with even more stringent see what was going on, and that was when the second proposals. Both sides of the House seem to recognise bomb—the killer bomb—exploded and took out most that gangs can start forming and causing problems at of the 202 people. quite a young age. It does not matter to the victim of Absolute confusion followed. A lady called Lucy, a gang-related violence whether the person involved is 18, Briton, who was in Paddy’s bar, had fortunately gone to 17, 16 or 14. The victim wants action to be taken and the toilet the moment before the bomb struck. She was action is what we are suggesting. It is a shame that some in a cubicle made of concrete, which saved her life, but Members of the House, on one particular wing, do not when she came out she found that the three Australians feel willing to support that. whom she had met half an hour before were blown I would say to the gangs that if they do not like it, apart. Lucy suffered no injuries but she received no they need to wake up a bit. We went to talk to gang compensation or support to help her through these members with the Home Affairs Committee. They said difficult times. She is traumatised by that incident. 115 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 116
[Mr. Tobias Ellwood] disembarking at the other end of an aircraft journey, we will now be able to gain the support we expect. Terrorism Another person, who has become a friend of mine, does not recognise borders, and nor should our support Paul, lost his left arm in the incident. He has had to pay for Britons. Although I disagree with other aspects of for his own prosthesis because when he returned to the Bill, I certainly commend the proposal to the House. England, he found that there was no support. Insurance companies do not pay out for terrorist attacks. The fact that the terrorist attack took place abroad meant 9.29 pm there was no compensation from the criminal injuries compensation scheme. James Brokenshire (Hornchurch) (Con): This has been a wide-ranging, well informed and passionate There was total chaos, to the point where no help was debate. I had intended to deal with overseas victims provided by the British embassy. I flew out there and later in my contribution, but in the light of the eloquent, had to do a lot of the work myself, including managing measured and passionate speech of my hon. Friend the the process of my brother’s repatriation, which included Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Ellwood), I will sealing the lid of the coffin myself with a Black & start with that. It was very moving to hear his contribution, Decker drill. That is just one example of the absence of describing the direct impact that terrorism can have on support during that horrible incident. individuals. He spoke from the heart about his real-life I am pleased to say that the Government have done experience, including the trauma, the issues that are wonders in correcting many of those failings by setting thrown up and the unfairness of the current system in up emergency response teams based at various embassies terms of compensation. I say to him and to the right across the world that are able to move rapidly to a hon. Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney) that we location when a disaster takes place, and through will look closely and carefully at the Government’s improvements to the website. The final, missing part of proposals. They are not in the Bill, so it is difficult to the jigsaw is the compensation for overseas victims of comment on them specifically, but the right hon. Gentleman terror. They are not hit because of the person they are. certainly has my assurance that the issue will not be They are being used as a pawn to send a message to the treated as a political football. It is too important, too Government. That is why the Government have a serious and touches the lives of far too many people to responsibility to ensure that they are looked after. be treated in that way, so we will look carefully at what It is interesting to make a comparison with the events transpires in the Government’s proposals. of 7/7 here in London, where, regardless of the victims’ nationality, the compensation scheme made sure that Mr. McCartney: I call the hon. Member for Bournemouth, everybody was looked after and compensated, no matter East (Mr. Ellwood) my hon. Friend, because we have the scale of their injuries or whether the families of worked on the issue closely, and I thank the hon. Member those who were killed also needed looking after. That for Hornchurch (James Brokenshire) for what he has was the level of care that we provided here in the UK. said so far. Whatever happens with this Bill, and whatever Unfortunately, up to now, once one goes past Dover, all comes out of the discussions, all I ask is that every Front that support disappears. Bencher concerned ensures that the propositions are We have been late in catching up with many other preserved so that the families can move on from the countries across the world—including Spain, France, tragedies they have had to bear since 2002. the United States and Australia—in bringing our laws up to date to make sure that we provide the necessary James Brokenshire: I respect the way in which the assistance. It is all very well introducing another Bill right hon. Gentleman has raised the issue, and we will that builds the walls around us higher and higher—yet look closely and carefully at the proposals that come another Bill that provides more ways of chasing the forward. terrorists—but we must be able to protect the small This has been an important debate, because at its number of people who are affected when those laws do core have been the concepts of individual freedom, not work. When those walls are not high enough, the personal liberty and the scope and extent of the power Government have a responsibility to make sure that of the state: the balance between the collective desire to British civilians are looked after. retain and control information, ostensibly for collective I am pleased with the legislation proposed today. My interest and protection, and the right of the individual worry is that there may not be enough time to ensure to control the most personal information that the state that it reaches the statute book. There has been huge retains on them. With DNA, that issue could not be frustration among the survivors and families of British more sensitive. It is at the heart of an individual’s victims of terrorism overseas. On the one hand, we see genetic make-up—the coding to our being and our the energy and determination expended to fight terrorism, family. It is, one could almost say, our very essence. which in many cases has not been matched by countries We are all aware of cases in which evidence provided overseas. On the other hand, the energy and determination by DNA forensics has played an important part in to prevent the bomb going off in the first place is not securing the convictions of serious criminals who have matched by the commitment and support to the victims committed heinous crimes, and we have heard several once the bomb has gone off. I am therefore pleased that examples today. DNA information can also be important the terrorism proposal has been put forward. in showing that someone was not involved in acts of If the blanket of security fails, Britons need to be criminality, or in securing identification evidence; and assured that the Government will ensure that appropriate we agree that DNA samples can be an important evidential mechanisms are in place. I hope that, thanks to the new tool in prosecuting and bringing crimes to justice. However, counter-terrorism legislation, we will feel a little safer; we have to acknowledge that there are limits to its and that, when exposed to the same dangers when effectiveness and, if we go too far, to its acceptability. 117 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 118
Many Members have made important and telling DNA match was available was 36.5 per cent. two years contributions, describing the impact that such measures ago and 32.4 per cent. last year. The Government may have on people’s trust and confidence in policing cannot argue that the change is due to a reduction in and in our whole criminal justice system. The right hon. crime; the proportions do not justify the statement Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz), the Chairman made about effectiveness. of the Home Affairs Select Committee, highlighted that The status of DNA obviously has particular significance. disproportionate aspect, and we look forward with The retention of cellular samples is particularly intrusive interest to his Committee’s work and report. I hope we given the wealth of genetic and health information have an opportunity to reflect on it as the Bill progresses contained therein. There is, however, a point of agreement in Committee and through the House. across the House this evening; we welcome the fact that The hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Ms Smith) the Government are saying that they would destroy the also made the point about the Bill not having gone far forensic samples, and we understand that some of the enough on the European Court of Human Rights time periods relate to the specific coding information judgment, and she accepted that the issue is complex. It on the DNA database. certainly is, and there are balances to be struck and However, we need to consider carefully the potentially judgments to be made, but that is necessarily part and conflicting interests of the state and the individual. It is parcel of the debate. welcome that the Government should have undergone The hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) some movement and conversion, in that they now accept also highlighted the over-representation of black and that their previous Big Brother approach to DNA retention minority ethnic communities—the fact that there are is not acceptable. But let us not forget the background more young black men on the DNA database and the to where we are today. As a matter of principle and implications that that may have for certain communities’ policy, the Government had wanted to grow the DNA trust in law and order and in the police, and for their database for the sake of it. They now cannot do that. chances of being dealt with appropriately. The hon. They wanted to retain for ever and a day the DNA Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) profiles on those arrested but never charged or convicted made some similar points. for any offence. They have grudgingly accepted that My right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice they can no longer do that, either. They then tried to and Howden (David Davis) made a powerful and passionate hide DNA retention powers away in an order-making speech, analysing the evidence—or lack of it—in terms power that gave huge discretion to Ministers, but they of performance data. The Government have sought to were thwarted in that regard, too. After that, they back up the Bill’s proposals, in part, through their wanted to retain for 12 years the DNA profiles of those re-arrest hazard rate analysis, which they have used to arrested but never convicted of an offence. They have justify the six-year period on which they have alighted. now backed away from that position. Heavy caveats are being applied even in that report, In this Bill, we have ended up with new proposals on which was generated by the Home Office. The report DNA retention, but the Government still have not got it says that the lines used are measured with “some degree right. We believe that they have failed to strike a proper of uncertainty” and that information is being balance on DNA retention. Even with the proposals “extrapolated”. It goes on to say that outlined in the Bill, they continue to be on the wrong “The comparison arrest rate for the general population is…not side of the line regarding what is proportionate and known”. justified. As some Members have said this evening, There is also a whole host of different points, including questions still remain about whether even these revised the use of proxy measures. Even on the basis of that proposals satisfy the Court judgment. analysis, there is not the firm and undisputed support The Bill also contains a whole raft of other proposals. for a six-year period in the way that might have been On antisocial behaviour, the hon. Member for Stoke-on- suggested. Trent, South (Mr. Flello) mentioned the lack of a toolkit—the fact that there are so many provisions that My hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (David many agencies do not know how to use them. We could T.C. Davies) made his point very well. However, a make the same point about compulsory parenting orders balance has to be struck between the individual, and for children who breach ASBOs, the latest proposal on safety and security. If we do not strike that balance antisocial behaviour. These powers are aimed at the appropriately—and we argue that this Bill does not—trust parents of 10 to 15-year-olds who breach their antisocial and confidence in the police, the criminal justice system behaviour orders. Ministers claim that such measures and all the things we hold dear will be eroded. would help to prevent young people from being sucked Let us be clear. The number of profiles stored on the into a life of crime, but the reality is that even if they DNA database by police forces in England and Wales were put on to the statute book, hardly anyone would has topped 10 per cent. of the population; more than receive them. The Bill’s regulatory impact assessment 5.5 million individual profiles are held on the database shows that ASBOs have fallen so far out of favour that by police forces in England and Wales. Furthermore, fewer and fewer are being issued, and consequently the database continues to grow at an exceptional rate. fewer are being breached. Mandatory parenting orders Some 32,467 profiles were added in November 2009 apply only well after ingrained problem behaviour has alone. occurred, and even then they will apply only to a small Yet despite that growth, the proportion of crimes number of parents. I have to say in all honesty to the detected by DNA has fallen, although one might have Home Secretary and to the Government that they are thought that it would have increased given how science deluding themselves if they think these proposals will has moved on. In fact, two years ago the figure was make any significant material or sustained difference in 0.76 per cent. and in the past year it was 0.67 per cent. preventing antisocial behaviour or in getting parents to Similarly, the proportion of crimes detected in which a take responsibility for delinquent children. 119 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 120
[James Brokenshire] are in operation in many other countries. However, the telling contributions by my hon. Friend the Member We then move on to the proposals for gang-related for Woking (Mr. Malins) and the hon. Member for injunctions, which take a similar approach to those set Meirionnydd Nant Conwy illustrated the fact that there out in the Policing and Crime Act 2009. Clearly, gang is overlap with existing laws, and we need better to violence blights too many communities across the country. understand what difference these provisions would make The hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough discussed over and above those laws. this serious issue very effectively in her speech. The My hon. Friends the Members for Banbury (Tony recent Catch22 study on the impact of crime on young Baldry) and for Ilford, North (Mr. Scott) made some people highlights the challenge. It paints a dark picture, useful and powerful remarks on wheel-clamping, rightly with more than a quarter of young people having been describing it as being, in certain circumstances, extortion. threatened with a gun or a knife, and one in six having We also heard a welcome contribution on the subject had a weapon used against them. The children’s charity, from the right hon. Member for Harrow, East Action for Children, reports that becoming a victim of (Mr. McNulty). I find such abuses intolerable—they crime, particularly violent crime, is a real fear for children represent extortion. I have heard of pensioners who and young people growing up in the UK today, and have gone to pick up their pension but have landed a gang-based violence is very much part of this disturbing £300 bill simply for parking in the wrong place. Such a picture. thing is unacceptable and must be addressed. However, simply doing a cut-and-paste exercise on Ultimately, the retention of DNA and issues of personal provisions from the previous Act, thereby bypassing the rights and freedoms are at the heart of the debate. If the youth court, makes a significant change to youth justice Government were prepared to accept their responsibilities that has not been properly considered. Indeed, during and to act by realising that the DNA records of the the passage of that Act the same point was made in innocent should not be retained, it would be a step relation to these injunctions, and Ministers accepted forward. It would also be a step forward if they were to that it was a relevant and serious point. It is therefore recognise that the Scottish system works and is effective. surprising that it has not been catered for in the Bill, However, while they retain their standpoint that, for the which means that breaches will go not to the youth DNA database, the presumption of innocence is reversed, court but to civil courts. That is a serious issue that meaning that a person is presumed guilty unless the requires further detailed examination and review as to contrary can be shown, we would be failing in our duty its likely effects. to the House, the British people and the liberties of our We welcome the Government’s recognition of the country if we were to let this Bill pass—and we will not level of bureaucracy and the paperwork it has wrapped do it. the police up in. The Government are right to examine the paperwork surrounding stop and search. Her Majesty’s 9.45 pm inspectorate of constabulary estimates that recording The Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism and administration takes 25 minutes per form. The (Mr. David Hanson): I thank right hon. and hon. Members problem is that the Government’s proposals do not go for their contributions. Those who were present at the far enough. It is right that stop and search information start, when we heard the speeches of my right hon. be recorded, but the Government would make a more Friend the Home Secretary and the hon. Member for significant impact on police bureaucracy and form filling Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), might have thought if they allowed it to be recorded by radioing it into the that the debate was solely about DNA, which was also control room, instead of wasting police time on filling raised by the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) out paperwork. and formed a key part of all the opening speeches. The Government had the opportunity to address However, those who, like me, have been in the Chamber other problems connected with stop and search. The for the past five and a half hours will know that a wide hon. Member for Walthamstow raised some relevant range of issues have been raised across the spectrum of points about this. The case of Gillan and Quinton has the Bill. Hon. Members have focused on key aspects of seen the Government on the wrong side of the law yet it, and I wish to talk about them, as well as the question again, and they had the opportunity to address the of DNA. court’s judgment in the Bill. Rather than take that step, There have been two notable aspects of the debate. however, they have said that they will appeal the judgment The hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Ellwood), even though there are legal questions as to the grounds to whom I pay tribute, spoke about funding help and available for them to do so. This leaves the police in a support for the victims of overseas terrorism, which was period of considerable uncertainty, partly reflected by also raised by my right hon. Friend the Member for the actions of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in Makerfield (Mr. McCartney). The hon. Gentleman spoke scaling back the use of stop and search under section 44 powerfully from his personal experience, and whatever of the Terrorism Act 2000. However, that does not meet the outcome of our debates on the rest of the Bill, I the requirements of the ECHR judgment. This period know that he will support the Government’s approach of uncertainty should be limited, and direction should on that issue, given his experience. be given to the police to address the concerns that have been expressed. Mr. Ellwood: I am grateful to the Minister for his The principle of an order to enable a victim of kind words. The Ministry of Justice press release comments domestic violence to have relief from abuse for a period on retrospective compensation for survivors, not those to consider their options, free from pressure from the who have been killed. Can the Minister give some alleged perpetrator, is well understood, as the hon. clarity on when the details will come through? He will Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South said, and such orders know that Will Pike was injured in the Mumbai attacks. 121 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 122
He is in a wheelchair and has had to set up a charity to covered in section 63 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, make ends meet. I know that he would be grateful for an which relates to standard financial penalties and answer. imprisonments for a breach of a penalty such as the one set out in the Bill. I shall return to that in Committee. Mr. Hanson: Those are the very issues that we are There will be a pilot and we will consider those issues, looking at. I will table amendments on the issue for which are key. consideration in Committee, by which stage we will have further clarity on the points that the hon. Gentleman The provisions on air weapons received general support made. His contribution was important, and I know that across the board, and I do not need to reflect on them in my right hon. Friend has also been supportive on the particular. matter. Mobile phones in prisons were discussed, particularly by my right hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East, The second notable aspect of the debate was the fact who wished that we would do more about them. A that, for the first time in my parliamentary life, I agreed penalty of two years for possession of a mobile phone with almost every word in a speech made by the hon. in prison, which will be brought in if the Bill is passed, Member for Monmouth (David T.C. Davies). He is is severe. It supports previous legislation that we took certainly out of tune with members of his party on through in the Offender Management Act 2007 to ensure DNA, and I will return to that shortly. that it is an offence to bring phones into prison, not just There are key aspects of the Bill other than DNA, the to have possession of them. We have taken further steps first of which is antisocial behaviour, which was raised on blockers and are considering closely whether we can by my hon. Friends the Members for Sheffield, Hillsborough block signals altogether. (Ms Smith) and for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Flello), The private security industry has featured heavily. both of whom made valuable contributions. The parenting The hon. Members for Banbury (Tony Baldry) and for orders will be a valuable tool. Antisocial behaviour is Ilford, North showed their broad support for the measures also linked to under-18 gangs and injunctions. My hon. in the Bill but expressed the wish to explore them to Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough talked ensure that they are effective. We will have a compulsory about early intervention, which is important, and gang licensing scheme, and in conjunction with the Security injunctions will make a major contribution towards Industry Authority we will consider legislation on limiting support for preventing individuals from becoming involved penalty fees, the regulation of towing, requirements for in gangs, which the hon. Member for Ilford, North warning signs and effective and fair complaints processes. (Mr. Scott) also mentioned. I know that not only were those ideas supported in the My hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough debate today, but my right hon. Friend the Minister for also talked about dogs. My right hon. Friend the Home Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination Secretary is in discussion with the Department for has been instrumental in undertaking work on them. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the issue We will return to them, and we have proposals to do so. but, as he said, the Bill’s injunction elements for serious We will consider other matters in relation to the industry violence will cover dogs. in due course. The Bill addresses police bureaucracy and stop-and- All the issues that I have mentioned have been important, search papers, which were raised by my right hon. but the key debate has been on the national DNA Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) and database. There have been a range of contributions on my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow that, and I think I speak fairly and openly when I say (Mr. Gerrard). I assure them that the ethnicity of a person that with the noble exception of that of my right hon. who is stopped will still be included, but our principle is Friend the Member for Harrow, East, none has been in one of reducing bureaucracy through not only the Bill, support of the proposals that my right hon. Friend the but the work of Jan Berry, who produced her report just Home Secretary has introduced. I have to say that I before Christmas. We will look at the issues raised in believe other hon. Members will be proved wrong in detail and, even now, we are taking further steps with due course by our proposals. We have had to make a Jan on those concerns. judgment, and it was made on the basis of protecting Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 was mentioned, the public, preventing the creation of future victims and and as my right hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, ensuring that we meet the obligations that we rightly East (Mr. McNulty) said, it is a valuable tool. My right have under European legal judgments. hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I were both My right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East, disappointed with the judgment last week and are in the the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden process of appealing, and if necessary we will consider (David Davis), the hon. Member for Eastleigh, my hon. legislative options to support the retention of that provision Friends the Members for Walthamstow and for Sheffield, so that we can do what the hon. Member for Monmouth Hillsborough and the hon. Member for Meirionnydd indicated—have a random deterrent for individuals in Nant Conwy all expressed concerns, which will be debated the community at large. further and were mentioned in the opening speeches. Domestic violence has featured heavily in the debate. We have been clear about what we want, and we had Again, my hon. Friends the Members for Sheffield, previously consulted on the DNA database. My right Hillsborough and for Stoke-on-Trent, South mentioned hon. Friend the Secretary of State has moved from our it, and the hon. Members for Woking (Mr. Malins) and original proposals to ones that are the maximum that for Monmouth supported the provisions on it. Issues we can undertake under legal judgments, but that will need to be explored in Committee, as the hon. Member ensure that the measures in the Bill are fair, proportionate for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) mentioned, and achieve their objectives. and I will consider all the points that were made. The Our original consultation proposal in May 2009 was hon. Member for Woking asked about penalties, and I a 12-year retention period in a non-conviction case. We gave him some indication of my response. They are have changed that to six years following consultation, 123 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 124
[Mr. Hanson] policing. If the Bill does not get a Second Reading, those matters will not be considered in Committee or which is in line with European legal judgments but gives reach the statute book, and the benefits about which us the flexibility to do what we need, which is protect hon. Members have spoken this evening will not be the public, prevent the creation of victims and bring introduced. people to justice. We have similarly moved on the issue I say this to all Opposition Members: DNA is important of under-18s. We originally proposed retention of six years and we have taken a judgment to ensure that we proceed or until the age of 18, whichever was the sooner, and we in a fair and appropriate way for the protection of the now have revised proposals for three years’ retention. public, but ultimately, a vote against the Bill is a vote The Government have listened, but ultimately we have against all the measures in it. Certainly, I will not let to make judgments. Our judgment in the Bill is that we hon. Members who vote against the Bill forget that they need indefinite retention of fingerprint and DNA for did so in the run-up to the forthcoming election, and convicted adults. nor will my colleagues. The Bill is about making our streets safer, preventing Keith Vaz: I am grateful for the way in which the crime against the vulnerable, ensuring that we stop Minister is putting his arguments across. Having listened criminal activity, and bringing justice to victims and to the debate, he realises there are still concerns about potential victims through the use of the DNA database. the Government’s proposals. Is he prepared to engage The debate has been extremely useful and I know we in a discussion in Committee to improve the proposals, will continue it in Committee. We have heard some some of which, of course, are still open? positive suggestions, including from the hon. Member Mr. Hanson: As my right hon. Friend knows, I am for Woking, and we will reflect on them. However, on always willing to listen to debate in Committee because, behalf of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and ultimately, I must carry the Committee with me, but we my colleagues, I commend the Bill to the House and have made our position clear, and it is based on our urge hon. Members to support it. judgment about the protection of the public, risk and Question put, That the Bill be now read a Second preventing the creation of future victims. time. Our judgment, which is subject to the will of the The House divided: Ayes 272, Noes 197. House tonight and another place in due course, is that Division No. 42] [9.59 pm convicted adults will have their profiles and fingerprints AYES retained indefinitely; arrested adults will have theirs retained for six years; under-18s will have theirs retained Ainger, Nick Butler, Ms Dawn for a range of years, depending on the seriousness of Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Byrne, rh Mr. Liam their crime; and in cases involving terrorism and national Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Caborn, rh Mr. Richard security, profiles will be retained for life, subject to Allen, Mr. Graham Cairns, David Anderson, Mr. David Campbell, Mr. Alan review by senior police officers. We are doing that Anderson, Janet Campbell, Mr. Ronnie because we believe in protecting the public. Atkins, Charlotte Caton, Mr. Martin I should like to draw the House’s attention to three Austin, Mr. Ian Cawsey, Mr. Ian examples of how that has been working to date. Mr. Ali Austin, John Chapman, Ben Gudaal was arrested on suspicion of robbery on 16 January Bailey, Mr. Adrian Chaytor, Mr. David 2006. DNA was taken and he was released without Bain, Mr. William Clapham, Mr. Michael charge, yet in June 2009, he was convicted of rape and Baird, Vera Clark, Ms Katy kidnapping at Coventry crown court. The DNA evidence Balls, rh Ed Clark, Paul was fundamental in helping to bring about that conviction. Barlow, Ms Celia Clarke, rh Mr. Tom That would not have been allowed under the Opposition’s Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Clelland, Mr. David Battle, rh John Clwyd, rh Ann proposals. Bayley, Hugh Coaker, Mr. Vernon Similarly, Matthew Fagan, who was sacked from a Beckett, rh Margaret Coffey, Ann London company in 2006, had his DNA taken when he Begg, Miss Anne Cohen, Harry was given a penalty notice for drunk and disorderly Bell, Sir Stuart Connarty, Michael behaviour. Ultimately, he was convicted of the murder Benn, rh Hilary Cooper, Rosie of a colleague, Cathy Marlow, in his office, on the basis Benton, Mr. Joe Cooper, rh Yvette of that DNA evidence. Berry, Roger Cousins, Jim Finally, Kensley Larrier was arrested in May 2002 Betts, Mr. Clive Crausby, Mr. David for possession of an offensive weapon. The proceedings Blackman, Liz Creagh, Mary were discontinued. Ultimately, he was convicted of rape Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Cruddas, Jon Blunkett, rh Mr. David Cryer, Mrs. Ann in the north of England on DNA evidence at a later Borrow, Mr. David S. Cummings, John date. To put it simply, we must make a judgment. Our Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Cunningham, Mr. Jim judgment is that six years is within the remit of the Brennan, Kevin Cunningham, Tony court judgment—it pushes the judgment to its boundaries, Brown, Lyn Curtis-Thomas, Mrs. Claire but this is about ensuring we do all we can to protect Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas David, Mr. Wayne the public. Brown, Mr. Russell Davidson, Mr. Ian Opposition Members say that they will vote against Browne, rh Des Dean, Mrs. Janet the Bill on the ground of DNA, but let me remind them Bryant, Chris Denham, rh Mr. John that they will also be voting against the provisions on Buck, Ms Karen Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit mobile phones in prisons, wheel-clamping licensing, Burden, Richard Dobbin, Jim domestic violence orders, helping under-18s in gangs, Burgon, Colin Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. antisocial behaviour orders and tackling bureaucracy in Burnham, rh Andy Doran, Mr. Frank 125 Crime and Security Bill18 JANUARY 2010 Crime and Security Bill 126
Dowd, Jim Laxton, Mr. Bob Salter, Martin Tipping, Paddy Drew, Mr. David Lepper, David Seabeck, Alison Todd, Mr. Mark Eagle, Angela Levitt, Tom Shaw, Jonathan Touhig, rh Mr. Don Eagle, Maria Lewis, Mr. Ivan Sheerman, Mr. Barry Trickett, Jon Efford, Clive Lloyd, Tony Sheridan, Jim Truswell, Mr. Paul Ellman, Mrs. Louise Lucas, Ian Simon, Mr. Siôn Turner, Dr. Desmond Engel, Natascha MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Skinner, Mr. Dennis Turner, Mr. Neil Etherington, Bill Mactaggart, Fiona Slaughter, Mr. Andy Twigg, Derek Farrelly, Paul Malik, Mr. Shahid Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Walley, Joan Field, rh Mr. Frank Mallaber, Judy Smith, Ms Angela C. Waltho, Lynda Fisher, Mark Mann, John (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Watts, Mr. Dave Flello, Mr. Robert Marsden, Mr. Gordon Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Whitehead, Dr. Alan Flint, rh Caroline Martlew, Mr. Eric Smith, Geraldine Wicks, rh Malcolm Flynn, Paul McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas Smith, rh Jacqui Williams, rh Mr. Alan Follett, Barbara McCabe, Steve Snelgrove, Anne Williams, Mrs. Betty Foster, Mr. Michael McCafferty, Chris Soulsby, Sir Peter Wills, rh Mr. Michael (Worcester) McCarthy, Kerry Southworth, Helen Wilson, Phil Foster, Michael Jabez McCarthy-Fry, Sarah Spellar, rh Mr. John Winnick, Mr. David (Hastings and Rye) McCartney, rh Mr. Ian Spink, Bob Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Francis, Dr. Hywel McDonagh, Siobhain Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Wood, Mike Gardiner, Barry McFadden, rh Mr. Pat Stewart, Ian Woolas, Mr. Phil George, rh Mr. Bruce McFall, rh John Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Wright, David Godsiff, Mr. Roger McGovern, Mr. Jim Stringer, Graham Wright, Mr. Iain Goodman, Helen McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Wright, Dr. Tony Griffith, Nia McIsaac, Shona Tami, Mark Wyatt, Derek Griffiths, Nigel McKechin, Ann Taylor, Ms Dari Tellers for the Ayes: Hain, rh Mr. Peter McKenna, Rosemary Thomas, Mr. Gareth Mr. George Mudie and Hall, Patrick McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Thornberry, Emily Mr. Bob Blizzard Hanson, rh Mr. David Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Harris, Mr. Tom Meale, Mr. Alan Healey, rh John Merron, Gillian NOES Henderson, Mr. Doug Michael, rh Alun Afriyie, Adam Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth Hendrick, Mr. Mark Milburn, rh Mr. Alan Ainsworth, Mr. Peter Clifton-Brown, Mr. Geoffrey Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Miller, Andrew Alexander, Danny Conway, Derek Heppell, Mr. John Mitchell, Mr. Austin Amess, Mr. David Cox, Mr. Geoffrey Heyes, David Moffatt, Laura Ancram, rh Mr. Michael Crabb, Mr. Stephen Hill, rh Keith Mole, Chris Atkinson, Mr. Peter Davies, Mr. Dai Hillier, Meg Morden, Jessica Bacon, Mr. Richard Davies, David T.C. Hodge, rh Margaret Morgan, Julie Baker, Norman (Monmouth) Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Morley, rh Mr. Elliot Baldry, Tony Davis, rh David Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Mullin, Mr. Chris Barker, Gregory Djanogly, Mr. Jonathan Hope, Phil Munn, Meg Barrett, John Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen Howarth, rh Mr. George Murphy, Mr. Denis Beith, rh Sir Alan Duddridge, James Howells, rh Dr. Kim Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Bellingham, Mr. Henry Duncan, Alan Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Benyon, Mr. Richard Ellwood, Mr. Tobias Humble, Mrs. Joan Naysmith, Dr. Doug Beresford, Sir Paul Evans, Mr. Nigel Iddon, Dr. Brian O’Brien, rh Mr. Mike Binley, Mr. Brian Fabricant, Michael Irranca-Davies, Huw O’Hara, Mr. Edward Blunt, Mr. Crispin Featherstone, Lynne Jackson, Glenda Owen, Albert Bone, Mr. Peter Field, Mr. Mark James, Mrs. Siân C. Palmer, Dr. Nick Boswell, Mr. Tim Foster, Mr. Don Jenkins, Mr. Brian Pearson, Ian Brady, Mr. Graham Francois, Mr. Mark Johnson, rh Alan Plaskitt, Mr. James Brake, Tom Fraser, Christopher Johnson, Ms Diana R. Pound, Stephen Brazier, Mr. Julian Gale, Mr. Roger Jones, Helen Prentice, Bridget Breed, Mr. Colin Garnier, Mr. Edward Jones, Mr. Kevan Prescott, rh Mr. John Brokenshire, James Gauke, Mr. David Jones, Mr. Martyn Primarolo, rh Dawn Brooke, Annette George, Andrew Jowell, rh Tessa Prosser, Gwyn Browne, Mr. Jeremy Gibb, Mr. Nick Joyce, Mr. Eric Purnell, rh James Browning, Angela Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Keeble, Ms Sally Rammell, Bill Burns, Mr. Simon Goodwill, Mr. Robert Keeley, Barbara Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Burrowes, Mr. David Grayling, Chris Keen, Alan Reed, Mr. Andy Burstow, Mr. Paul Green, Damian Keen, Ann Reed, Mr. Jamie Burt, Alistair Greening, Justine Kelly, rh Ruth Reid, rh John Burt, Lorely Greenway, Mr. John Kemp, Mr. Fraser Riordan, Mrs. Linda Butterfill, Sir John Grieve, Mr. Dominic Kennedy, rh Jane Robertson, John Cable, Dr. Vincent Gummer, rh Mr. John Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Hague, rh Mr. William Kidney, Mr. David Rooney, Mr. Terry Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Hammond, Mr. Philip Kilfoyle, Mr. Peter Roy, Mr. Frank Carswell, Mr. Douglas Hammond, Stephen Knight, rh Jim Roy, Lindsay Cash, Mr. William Hancock, Mr. Mike Kumar, Dr. Ashok Ruane, Chris Chope, Mr. Christopher Hands, Mr. Greg Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Ruddock, Joan Clappison, Mr. James Harris, Dr. Evan Lammy, rh Mr. David Ryan, rh Joan Clark, Greg Hayes, Mr. John 127 Crime and Security Bill 18 JANUARY 2010 128
Heald, Mr. Oliver Redwood, rh Mr. John Committal Heath, Mr. David Reid, Mr. Alan 1. The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee. Heathcoat-Amory, rh Rennie, Willie Proceedings in Public Bill Committee Mr. David Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm 2. Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not Hemming, John Robathan, Mr. Andrew previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday Hendry, Charles Robertson, Hugh 23 February 2010. Herbert, Nick Robertson, Mr. Laurence 3. The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the Hoban, Mr. Mark Rogerson, Dan first day on which it meets. Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Russell, Bob Hollobone, Mr. Philip Sanders, Mr. Adrian Consideration and Third Reading Holmes, Paul Scott, Mr. Lee 4. Proceedings on consideration shall (so far as not previously Howell, John Shapps, Grant concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the Hughes, Simon Shepherd, Mr. Richard moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings Huhne, Chris Simmonds, Mark are commenced. Hurd, Mr. Nick Simpson, Mr. Keith 5. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously Jack, rh Mr. Michael Smith, Chloe concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption Jackson, Mr. Stewart Smith, Sir Robert on that day. Jones, Mr. David Soames, Mr. Nicholas 6. Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall Kawczynski, Daniel Spelman, Mrs. Caroline not apply to proceedings on consideration and Third Reading. Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Spicer, Sir Michael Other proceedings Kirkbride, Miss Julie Spink, Bob 7. Any other proceedings on the Bill (including any proceedings Knight, rh Mr. Greg Spring, Mr. Richard on consideration of Lords Amendments or on any further messages Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Streeter, Mr. Gary from the Lords) may be programmed.—(Mr. Watts.) Lait, Mrs. Jacqui Stuart, Mr. Graham Question agreed to. Lamb, Norman Stunell, Andrew Lansley, Mr. Andrew Swayne, Mr. Desmond Laws, Mr. David Syms, Mr. Robert CRIME AND SECURITY BILL (MONEY) Leech, Mr. John Tapsell, Sir Peter Queen’s recommendation signified. Leigh, Mr. Edward Taylor, Mr. Ian Motion made, and Question put forthwith, (Standing Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Taylor, Dr. Richard Order No. 52(1)(a)), Lidington, Mr. David Thurso, John That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Crime and Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn Timpson, Mr. Edward Luff, Peter Security Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of Tredinnick, David money provided by Parliament of— Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew Turner, Mr. Andrew Maclean, rh David (1) any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State by virtue Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Main, Anne of the Act, and Vaizey, Mr. Edward Malins, Mr. Humfrey (2) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable Vara, Mr. Shailesh Mates, rh Mr. Michael under any other Act out of money so provided.—(Mr. Watts.) Viggers, Sir Peter May, rh Mrs. Theresa Question agreed to. McIntosh, Miss Anne Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Mercer, Patrick Walker, Mr. Charles Miller, Mrs. Maria Wallace, Mr. Ben Business without Debate Milton, Anne Walter, Mr. Robert DELEGATED LEGISLATION Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Waterson, Mr. Nigel Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Moore, Mr. Michael Watkinson, Angela Order No. 118(6)), Mulholland, Greg Webb, Steve Murrison, Dr. Andrew Wiggin, Bill HEALTH CARE AND ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONS Neill, Robert Willetts, Mr. David Newmark, Mr. Brooks Williams, Hywel That the draft Pharmacy Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 11 November, in the previous Session of Parliament, O’Brien, Mr. Stephen Williams, Mr. Roger be approved.—(Mr. Watts.) Öpik, Lembit Williams, Stephen Ottaway, Richard Willis, Mr. Phil Question agreed to. Paice, Mr. James Willott, Jenny Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Paterson, Mr. Owen Wilson, Mr. Rob Order No. 118(6)), Pelling, Mr. Andrew Winterton, Ann Penrose, John Yeo, Mr. Tim SOCIAL SECURITY Price, Adam Young, rh Sir George Prisk, Mr. Mark That the draft State Pension Credit (Disclosure of Information) (Electricity Suppliers) Regulations 2010, which were laid before Pritchard, Mark Tellers for the Noes: this House on 2 December, be approved.—(Mr. Watts.) Pugh, Dr. John Mr. John Baron and Randall, Mr. John Mr. Philip Dunne Question agreed to.
Question accordingly agreed to. DELEGATED LEGISLATION Bill read a Second time. Motion made, That, for the purposes of its approval under section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993, the Government’s CRIME AND SECURITY BILL (PROGRAMME) assessment as set out in the Pre-Budget Report 2009 shall be Motion made, and Question put forthwith, (Standing treated as if it were an instrument subject to the provisions of Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees).— Order 83A(7)), (Mr. Watts.) That the following provisions shall apply to the Crime and Security Bill: Hon. Members: Object. 129 Business without Debate 18 JANUARY 2010 130
PROCEDURE Charity Trustees Ordered, Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House That Andrew Gwynne be discharged from the Procedure do now adjourn.—(Mr. Watts.) Committee and Mr Ian Cawsey be added.—(Rosemary McKenna, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.) Mr. Speaker: Order. Before I call the hon. Member for High Peak (Tom Levitt), I appeal to right hon. and SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY hon. Members who are leaving the Chamber to do so Ordered, quickly and quietly, so that we can hear the oration of the hon. Gentleman. That Dr Doug Naysmith be added to the Science and Technology Committee.—(Rosemary McKenna, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.) 10.15 pm Tom Levitt (High Peak) (Lab): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know that being the trustee of a charity or community organisation is a responsible and important role. Indeed, trustees are the keepers of a charity’s soul. They define and perpetuate its mission and direction; they are its ultimate managers; and they uphold standards of good governance. They do not run their charities on a day-to-day basis. Nor do the vast majority of trustees gain financially from their involvement. They take an interest, however. They care about those who work for their organisation, as either employees or volunteers, and for the charity’s beneficiaries. Trustees have duties that are laid down in law. They have a duty of prudence: to ensure that the charity is and will remain solvent; to use charitable funds and assets reasonably, and only in furtherance of a charity’s objects; to avoid undertaking activities that might place a charity’s endowment, funds, assets or reputation at undue risk; and to take special care when investing the charity’s funds or borrowing funds for it to use. What I have described sounds like a very tall order, and a very responsible, if not daunting, position. That need not be the case, however. Trustees act collectively, sharing those burdens of responsibility. It is what is in their hearts and their heads, not what is in their wallets or their diaries, that makes a good trustee. Having said that, everyone knows that if you want something done, you ask a busy person. In England and Wales today, there are 816,825 known charity trustees, and probably many more, according to the Charity Commission. They are busy people, and a small number are trustees of more than one charitable body. They are divided roughly equally between males and females and their average age is 57. Only one in three are under the age of 50, and just 2 per cent.—one in every 50—are under the age of 30. One in 20 are from a black or ethnic minority background. A typical board of trustees will have six members—three is the minimum—although larger organisations have correspondingly larger trustee numbers. Perhaps 2,000 trustees are appointed or re-appointed to their posts every week. That is not a large number, when we consider that, on average, eight brand-new charities are created in every constituency in the country each year, each with its own board of trustees. I am a trustee myself; I chair the board of trustees of the Community Development Foundation. We know that three quarters of our population engage in volunteering and voluntary activity at some point each year, many of them on a regular basis. But, when asked how they might act to support a local charity, fewer than one person in 20 responded with the idea of becoming a trustee. Four out of every five charities say 131 Charity Trustees18 JANUARY 2010 Charity Trustees 132
[Tom Levitt] matters”, the organisation New Philanthropy Capital reported that the marketplace in which new trustees are that they recruit trustees principally by word of mouth. to be found is fragmented and very difficult to navigate. Is it therefore any surprise that there are reckoned to be The NCVO is the lead partner for the leadership 1 million vacancies for trustees in Britain today? According and governance national support service, funded by to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Capacitybuilders, which aims to increase the supply of almost half of all trustee boards say that it is more board members and improve the recruitment and induction difficult to recruit trustees today than it was a year ago. processes of front-line organisations. It is working with My purpose in stimulating this debate today is to ask local organisations to launch local trustee recruitment the Minister—a good friend with a real feel for the third campaigns, increase the awareness of trusteeship among sector and volunteering—what she is doing to support, the public, and work with boards to prepare them for recruit and retain trustees, without whom our voluntary recruitment. organisations simply would not exist. I put it to her that Given that trusteefinder is partly funded by the Cabinet charities need to plan to replace existing trustees when Office, will the Minister look at the various ways of they retire and to attract people with a range of skills, recruiting trustees and assess whether the geographical experience and perspectives that can contribute to the spread of trustee vacancies reflects the true position; successful running of their organisations, while at the how long trustee vacancies are advertised for on average same time understanding and reflecting the communities and what conclusions can be drawn from that; and how they serve. awareness of trusteefinder and other recruitment processes We need to invest in trustee recruitment for the sector can be raised throughout the country? to ensure that there are enough people to run our Perhaps I am putting the cart before the horse. Perhaps voluntary and community organisations across the country. we need to consider why people might want to become Charities need to use open and broad selection methods trustees in the first place, before they find out about to reach out to an ever wider group of people as what vacancies exist. Pushing people towards a website potential trustees. Word of mouth is not enough. is all very well, but there are other ways of promoting Professional recruitment, newspaper advertising and trusteeship. People become trustees for a number of head-hunting do not always feel appropriate for, say, a different reasons. It might be, for example, to acquire charitable endowment trust with a just few hundred transferable skills, or as a result of the desire to do pounds to give away to young people in a particular something different or because of the inspiration one parish each year. gets from working with staff, trustees and service users. I commend to the Minister the work of the charity The NCVO found that 81 per cent. of trustees said trustee network—an organisation that does what it says they became a trustee to help the good cause associated on the can. Its trusteefinder website is excellent, a great with the organisation, while 56 per cent. had a particular facility for putting the right potential trustee in touch skill they felt would be of use to the organisation; 37 per with the right charity. Within five miles of where we are cent. wanted to shape how things happened; and others sitting tonight, I found easily 100 opportunities to gave other reasons, including their own personal volunteer as a trustee or a chair of trustees or a treasurer development—and why not? Rodney Buse, the chair of for a voluntary organisation. When I put my home the charity trustee network, also reports that both the postcode of Buxton into the search engine, I found just Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Whitehall six vacancies, three of which were with the same charity. and Industry Group actively promote trusteeship among Toy libraries are valuable institutions, I am sure, but their members. Whether they use another website in they are not everyone’s cup of tea. I do not believe that which the NCVO is involved—Trustees Unlimited—for six is a true representation of the vacancies on trustee this purpose, I do not know, but they should, as it acts boards in my constituency. as a brokerage for trustees seeking charities and vice-versa, What I am saying is that this is London—a city full of as well as a source of good practice and information for volunteering opportunities, not least as trustees, with a trustees. strong element of competition for people’s time and The Cabinet Office has a good reputation generally energy, with millions of people packed into a relatively for promoting volunteering within its own work force. I small area. That there are hundreds of known vacancies understand that employees are encouraged to take several for trustees here reflects the low awareness and possibly days off work each year to carry out voluntary work, low prestige that the trustee role enjoys as well as a lack but may I ask my right hon. Friend whether this specifically of volunteers ready to fill the vacancies. includes trusteeship? Are opportunities for trusteeship In Buxton, I guess that six reflects not a calm brought to employees’ attention within the Cabinet complacency in a quiet trustee marketplace, but a lack Office and Government service generally? of awareness of the trusteefinder facility, even though Let us consider for a moment these two fictitious there are typically 5,000 trustee vacancies advertised on adverts. The first is: “Come and be a trustee at our it at any one time. I am sure—indeed, I know, having charity. Four times a year, you will sit in a cold church been for a time a trustee of my local citizens advice hall with half a dozen others who share the same sense bureau and of an endowment trust—that the right of obligation. You’ll be told about the crumbling fabric trustees with the right blend of skills are difficult to of the building, which is your responsibility. You’ll be come by. told about the finances which are dire, thanks to the low These observations are broadly backed up by the interest rates affecting the endowment fund—also your experience of the trusteebank page of the National responsibility. You may have to take difficult decisions Council for Voluntary Organisations website. The NCVO about the future of a couple of employees, something believes that about half of all boards have between one which you consider yourself totally unqualified to do—and and five vacancies for trustees. In its report “Board all of this for no money.” 133 Charity Trustees18 JANUARY 2010 Charity Trustees 134
Now let us compare that with: “Come and be a compact on 16 December give reason to believe that the trustee at our charity. At least four times a year, you’ll compact is still relevant and appropriate, and we must meet with a diverse group of other community members make sure that all trustees are aware of it. Will my right who share your passion. You’ll be presented with an hon. Friend confirm that the measure that I put forward opportunity to turn our centre into a real community in an unsuccessful ten-minute Bill in the previous Session asset as you take collective decisions on key areas of to put the Commission for the Compact—not the compact activity, working closely with a professional manager itself—on a statutory footing still has Government approval who is responsible for day-to-day affairs. Although as a and is still on Ministers’ radar? body trustees may have to take difficult decisions from Government are, and always have been, one of the time to time, training and support are available. Your voluntary sector’s biggest funders, both through grants reward: knowing you’re making a real difference to your and tax concessions. At a time when Government funding community.” It is important to talk-up and sell the idea to the sector has been both growing and changing in of trusteeship, and to provide the resources for the nature, towards the contractual commissioning of services, training and skills acquisition that trustees need. trustees face challenges. How far, for example, should I looked on the charity trustee network website again taking up funding opportunities determine what services to search for trustee training. Of the nine courses available they provide? How can the temptations of “mission from different providers in the first week of December creep” be avoided in these circumstances? How do we alone, eight were in London. In the category “north of develop the skills for working in a more competitive, England”, which appears to include both Manchester contractual environment? Can we afford to say no? and Middlesbrough, there were just six courses spread There is no single or simple answer to these questions, over the next six months. Typically, they cost £200 or but trustees must work together collaboratively and more to attend, which is a lot of money if someone is either stick to their historical mission—which is, after considering becoming a trustee on a small community all, one of their fundamental responsibilities—or change board. There are courses available from councils for it on their terms, at a time of their choosing, while voluntary service at considerably lower cost, but I ask taking the organisation with them. These decisions are my right hon. Friend to make sure that training for big challenges to trustees, and so is surviving an economic trustees and would-be trustees is available online throughout recession. At a time when interest rates on endowments the country and at a realistic price so that those from are low, borrowing is difficult and charitable donations low-income backgrounds can benefit from it. are not flowing as well as they did, trustees are presented I have already said—and it is blindingly obvious—that with new challenges. Growing organisations may have members of boards of trustees need to come from to check their growth. Static ones may find themselves diverse backgrounds, not only in order to reflect the asking real questions about their future. Questions of communities, real or virtual, that they represent, but so merger and the protection of assets present new and that we bring forward the right combination of skills to real difficulties to trustees. their roles. Those skills need to be diverse. Not all A third challenge is professionalisation. As organisations members of a board need to be financial whizz kids, nor grow, their operation becomes more sophisticated, they do they all need to be good people managers or experts take on employees as well as volunteers and they operate in the core mission of their organisations. in a different market, albeit with the same core mission. The small-time trustee may get left behind as a different Does my right hon. Friend recognise that not just the mix of skill and experience may be required on the skills that trustees bring but those they acquire as board of a growing organisation. Organisations may trustees are valuable and should be measurable? These outgrow their trustees and, indeed, ambitious trustees skills and expertise may be in the fields of finance, may outgrow their organisations. The one consolation company, employment and charity law, health and safety, is that the bigger the biggest players grow, the more equal opportunities and an almost endless list of further room there is for new saplings to germinate, and so the skills. Becoming a trustee can, and should, be encouraged cycle turns. as a valuable entry on a CV. I am sure that my right hon. Friend will wish to take My final point is about the challenges that trustees this opportunity, as I do, to say thank you to that band face, other than those of recruitment and skills. Whatever of almost 1 million people who give up their time and those challenges are, trustees have a friend in the Charity energy to be a trustee. Many, if not most, volunteer in Commission. Over the years, but perhaps especially other ways too, and their organisations really are part under the wise leadership of Suzi Leather and Andrew of the glue that holds our society together. For them, Hind, the commission has become less of a burden, and the activists’ talk of “broken Britain” is inaccurate, more of a critical friend to the sector: less distant and misplaced and insulting. They know that what they are more engaged; less of a regulator and more of a mentor doing is right and in a noble cause, and that their to the sector generally and to trustees in particular. I motives are unselfish in the extreme. They know what recommend guidance leaflet CC3a, “The Essential Trustee: would happen without them; the voluntary organisations an introduction”. on which we increasingly rely to deliver sophisticated Last month, we celebrated the re-launch of a compact and personalised services, on both informal and formal for the 21st century. The new compact will help trustees levels, depend on them. They know that being a trustee in their relations with partner organisations, protecting means that when someone brings their skills and experience the interests of both public and third sector bodies to an organisation they not only bring comfort to its when they come together in partnership, and in this age beneficiaries, but they personally gain more skills and of commissioning—to which I shall return in a moment—it experience at the same time. They know that they do is vital that the compact is relevant and appropriate and not deserve to have to struggle to recruit trustees and that all trustees are aware of it. Comments from all that they should not need to pay or to travel excessively sides of the debate following the launch of the refreshed to gain the skills their organisations need. They also 135 Charity Trustees18 JANUARY 2010 Charity Trustees 136
[Tom Levitt] talent to be rewarded not financially but by seeing the difference that their charity makes. Whether it works on know that they currently have a Government who are a local, national or international issue, they get huge well disposed towards the third sector generally, who personal benefits from the activity. regard the public sector and the third sector as partners A good example is a young person I spoke to who and who believe that together we can achieve more then became a trustee of a charity. The skills and experience we do apart. that that young person gained helped to provide a Although, on the face of it, there is cross-party platform for employment or further education. My agreement on the value and role of charities themselves, hon. Friend will recognise those benefits from his experience underneath the water line the similarities in the approach as a trustee. Let me share a quotation from a young of the main parties are perhaps less obvious. But whether person who is on the board of the Government-funded the trend towards partnerships, co-working between youth volunteering charity, v. He is 25 and he said: sectors and generous funding continues, or whether “I really like the fact that I am equal at the meeting and the charities find themselves standing on their own two feet other trustees see me as an equal. I enjoy seeing the impact that and working more independently, without the support, Ihave.” funding or structures that partners can bring, the role of My hon. Friend asked about measuring the skills and the charity trustee is likely to become even more important experience gained. Some interesting work has been in the future than it is today. I hope my right hon. undertaken on this by the volunteering charity, v, which Friend will now take the opportunity to assure our enables young people to record those skills and experience. army of trustees that such challenges are opportunities It is new, but it shows us how other volunteers can have for us to work on together, rather than threats to them their skills and experience measured. alone. I could easily spend the rest of my speech talking about the virtues of trustees, but I want to turn to the 10.32 pm questions and issues raised by my hon. Friend. There The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Angela E. were three main themes. The first is the need to make it Smith): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for easier to find opportunities to be a trustee. As he said, High Peak (Tom Levitt) on securing this debate and about 58 per cent. of people who volunteer hear about thank him for doing so. You will be aware, Mr. Speaker, opportunities from somebody who is already a volunteer. that he commands huge respect and affection in the That shows the power of recruitment by word of mouth, sector for his work over many years and for his support but how does an individual who is interested in volunteering for the sector throughout his time in the House and or being a trustee but who does not have links to an previously. I pay a personal tribute to him for his existing volunteer, trustee or organisation find opportunities? enthusiasm and, in particular, for his support for, and How does someone easily find an opportunity that role on, the Commission on the Future of Volunteering. meets their interests and motivation? That is a particularly He will recall that when we were both new to this place, important focus of Government work, as a survey of we joined the all-party group on the community and organisations showed that 17 per cent. did not have voluntary sector—he has become its distinguished chair. sufficient trustees to meet their objectives. My hon. Friend knows that this Government have a In response to that problem, as my hon. Friend will long and proud track record of supporting the third know, since 2001 the Government have funded the sector. I am pleased that he has chosen trustees as the national volunteering database, “Do-it”, which contains subject of this debate, because, as he has outlined, more than 900,000 opportunities. They include many although they often play a crucial role, it is too often trustee roles and, crucially, in order to aid searching for uncelebrated and unrecognised in the sector. I have no opportunities the “Do-it” database is searchable by hesitation in placing on the record my thanks and postcode and also by interest so that individuals can appreciation for all the work that they do. I hope that find opportunities to volunteer quickly and simply. this debate will assist in raising awareness of the vital Trustee opportunities from “Do-it” are also provided role that they play. to the charity trustee network’s trusteefinder service, as I know that my hon. Friend is, as he said, a past and my hon. Friend said. On his specific questions, the CTN current trustee, so he speaks on this issue with authority does not capture information on how long vacancies are and personal knowledge. He has given us some statistics, advertised for. I can report that nearly 1,500 searches of such as the number of trustees. The Charity Commission vacancies are made each month using the service and estimates that there are more than 800,000 charity that almost all users of the service have said that they trustees in the country. Although a trusteeship may be will use it again. We are continuing to work with CTN viewed by some as perhaps less exciting than some other on the development of this service. Let me share with volunteering opportunities, no third sector organisation, my hon. Friend a quotation from a user of the service from the smallest community group to the largest brand- that I received this week. A lady called Selima Gurtler, name charity, could operate without the leadership, who is the founder and chief executive of East meets commitment and strategic direction of their trustees. I West—The Peace Charity, said: loved the phrase that he used for them: the “keepers of “I know you will be really pleased to know that I have found a charity’s soul”. two fantastic trustees via your website. I am absolutely thrilled!” Unfortunately, as my hon. Friend has said, when we We should use this as a way to publicise the value to hear the word “trustee”, we often hear about bureaucracy organisations of seeking trustees as well as to get the and difficulty, but we hear less about the rewards. We better geographical spread to which my hon. Friend should celebrate the rewards of being a trustee. I wish to referred. A good opportunity to promote the website say a few words about that before discussing some of will be the fact that next year is European year of the Government action to support some of the issues volunteering. I think that we should use that further to that he has raised. Trustees freely give their time and promote trusteeship and trustees. 137 Charity Trustees18 JANUARY 2010 Charity Trustees 138
Of course, as my hon. Friend said, online methods spread and see whether there is more that we can do to rely on an individual’s having positively decided to address the points that my hon. Friend raised on that issue. become a trustee. The evidence shows that one of the The Office of the Third Sector funds activity to help main reasons that people do not volunteer is that they trustees understand governance roles and to help are not asked. In 2005 the Charity Commission, working organisations identify the governance system that is with a number of partners, did just that and asked proportionate and appropriate to meet their individual people to become a trustee through the “Get on Board” needs. These are specific ways in which we are supporting campaign: 900 people registered an interest in becoming trustees, but I would like to highlight our work to a trustee in the first three weeks and more than 7,800 people reduce unnecessary burdens, particularly in the context have now registered an interest in becoming a trustee of reporting and monitoring. Two examples are the through the campaign. Leading on from that work, we changes that we have made to charity law and accounting are also providing help for organisations to review the and reporting thresholds, and the joint Office of the make-up of their boards and develop better recruitment Third Sector/ National Audit Office guidance to reduce and induction procedures, including local and regional red tape associated with the £12 billion a year that the training, as well as to develop simple tools and best sector gets from the Government. practice information. The opportunity to be a trustee should be as open as May I thank my hon. Friend for his comments about possible. My hon. Friend spoke of the make-up of promoting volunteering in the Cabinet Office? Civil trustees in society, and I know that he shares my concerns servants in the Cabinet Office are encouraged to volunteer on the issue. The Charity Commission’s research shows for up to five days a year. That is organised through the that trustees are predominantly over 30 and male. Given organisation TimeBank, which I know that he knows. that charities deliver support to a wide range of different The scheme offers civil servants a range of opportunities people within our society, it would be good to see this including trusteeship and I will look for opportunities reflected in the people setting the direction of the to promote trusteeships further in that scheme. organisations. In many ways this is an issue for the sector As crucial as it is to recruit new trustees, it is equally itself, but the Government’s role is to provide support to important to retain the expertise of existing trustees the sector in this area, and we want to continue to do so. and to provide support to them. My hon. Friend was My hon. Friend spoke about the compact and the part of the 2008 commission on the future of volunteering need to ensure that trustees are aware of its value. I am and will know that one issue raised by organisations sorry that he was not successful in the recent ballot for and individuals consulted by the commission was the private Member’s Bills, and I can confirm that the “legal responsibilities of trustees” and their “increasingly Government have the issue on their radar, support the demanding role”. Being a trustee is not to be undertaken commission for the compact being placed on to a lightly, but I assure my hon. Friend that where the statutory footing and are looking for a legislative vehicle Government can take action to support trustees and for that. Given that the passage of legislation takes make their role easier, we will do so. time, we are looking at the changes and improvements Prior to the commission’s report in 2008, as my hon. that can be made in the implementation of the compact Friend knows, the Government introduced the Charities without the need for legislation. I am happy to discuss Act 2006, which brought into force a number of provisions that further with him. to address concerns about the potential legal responsibilities I opened my speech by stating that without trustees and liabilities of trustees. The Act granted the Charity we would not have the vibrant and healthy third sector Commission a new power to relieve trustees from personal that we have in this country.Trustees of many organisations liability for breach of trust or duty where they have have even more important roles to play as their organisations acted honestly and reasonably and ought fairly to be face the challenges of the recession. My hon. Friend excused. The Act also recognised that it is reasonable raised some issues along those lines. To support these for charities to buy trustee indemnity insurance, and it trustees the Charity Commission has begun an initiative removes most of the obstacles to this. Trustees may pay called the “big board talk”. This asks 15 questions to the premiums with the charity’s money, subject to certain help trustee boards look at the options and opportunities limitations and conditions. available to them in the recession. It is intended to be a As well as these legislative changes, the Government practical tool that can be used by all charities, particularly have worked closely to ensure that practical support is small to medium-sized ones, to help inform their board available to trustees in three ways. In my hon. Friend’s and planning discussions. comments, he specifically asked about training and I thank my hon. Friend for raising what I believe is a support being made available online and not being so very important matter, and place on record his commitment expensive that it excludes those whom it would benefit. to the third sector, which has been unstinting throughout I know that he is aware of the Charity Commission’s his time in Parliament and before. I can assure him that excellent publication, “The Essential Trustee”, which by raising the debate tonight, he has drawn attention to sets out in plain language the key points and information the value of trustees and the need to encourage and that all trustees should know. That has been made support them, and allowed me to place on record my widely available in different formats. A version for people thanks and appreciation. I have outlined some of the with learning difficulties will be available soon. action that the Government are taking, and I assure The Government also fund the charity trustee network, him that I share his commitment and that we will which supports charity trustees across England and remain focused on the issue. promotes good practice in trustee recruitment and retention. Question put and agreed to. Membership of the organisation provides access to events, support networks, legal advice and extremely 10.45 pm useful publications. I will look again at the geographical House adjourned.
1WS Written Ministerial Statements18 JANUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 2WS
also an important element of “Skills for Growth”, our Written Ministerial national skills strategy, where we committed to a new apprenticeships scholarship programme so that the best Statements apprentices can go on to higher education if they wish. We have also launched skills accounts for all which will put power to choose courses and access to course Monday 18 January 2010 information firmly in the hands of the learner. These are just some examples of the work we are undertaking to create a more socially mobile society through fairer access to the professions. The full BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS range of activity is set out in our response. Of the total 88 recommendations, we accept the vast majority today. Fair Access to the Professions Our relaunched Gateways to the Professions Collaborative Forum will be instrumental in driving this work across all the professions. It will both advise The Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr. Pat on and help to implement the fair access agenda in the McFadden): I have today laid before Parliament professions themselves. the Command Paper “Unleashing Aspiration—The Government Response to the Final Report of the Panel Our commitment to social mobility is long-term. on Fair Access to the Professions”. This responds to the That is why we announce today the creation of a Social report of the same name led by my right hon. Friend Mobility Commission to be based in the Cabinet Office. the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn), published It will give expert advice to Government and report on on 21 July 2009. progress towards a fairer, more mobile society. To further assist this work we will soon be receiving the report of Social mobility lies at the heart of this Government’s the national equality panel, chaired by Professor social policies. That is why, in our White Paper “New Sir John Hills. This will outline how economic Opportunities—Fair Chances for the Future”(Cmd. 7533) inequality, social background, gender, race and other last year, we set out our commitment to give everyone a factors impact on life chances. Sir John’s report will fair chance to get ahead and it was following the publication inform the implementation of the socio-economic duty of that paper that my right hon. Friend the Member for in the Equality Bill, as well as wider Government action Darlington was commissioned by the Prime Minister to in this area. write his report. We have raised the glass ceiling of social mobility in The fair access to the professions report has already this country, now we must break it. The document we had a profound impact on the policies of this Government publish today outlines the next steps we will take towards since its publication: “Quality, Choice and Aspiration” this goal. Let me conclude by thanking my right hon. the information advice and guidance strategy launched Friend the Member for Darlington and the panel on by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for fair access to the professions for their work. I am Children, School and Families is making it easier for confident that the panel’s work will help raise the aspiration young people and their parents to access high quality of millions of people in this country and give them advice and guidance about education and careers. Today reassurance that all they need to succeed is ability, we will set out a guarantee, building from the “New talent and determination. Opportunities” White Paper, for up to 130,000 of the brightest young people from low-income backgrounds to benefit from a structured package of support towards higher education from 2012. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS In “Higher Ambitions”the higher education framework, we made it clear to universities that social mobility must remain at the heart of their mission. We accepted the panel’s recommendation on asking universities to take Agriculture and Fisheries Council into account the context of educational achievement when assessing admissions. Lord Browne is leading an independent review of higher education funding and The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and student finance to ensure the system caters for full and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn): My hon. Friend the Minister part-time students and finance is not a barrier to accessing for Food, Farming and Environment will be representing higher education. the United Kingdom at the Agriculture and Fisheries We announced in the pre-Budget report £8 million of Council in Brussels on 18 January. No Ministers from financial support for up to 10,000 undergraduates from the devolved Administrations are scheduled to attend. low-income backgrounds to take up short internships. This will be the first Agriculture and Fisheries Council With the help of employers, we have set up the graduate under the Spanish presidency, and they will outline talent pool advertising thousands of internship their work programme on agriculture and fisheries dossiers. opportunities and today we announce a new online Discussions will also take place on two substantive national internship service providing both undergraduate items—the Commission Communication “A better and graduate internships in one place. functioning food supply chain in Europe” and the Italian Our plans are not just about young people. We are state aid request for the purchase of agriculture land. asking universities to run shorter and more flexible Under any other business, a Bulgarian request for courses for all. The provision of flexible learning was state aid for producers of raw tobacco has been tabled. 3WS Written Ministerial Statements18 JANUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 4WS
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Argentina areas which comprise the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory. Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. The UK also has no doubt about its sovereignty over the British The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): The UK Antarctic Territory (south of latitude 60°S and bounded firmly rejects the enactment and promulgation, on by longitudes 20°W and 80°W). 9 December 2009, of Argentine law 26.552 and thus the The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has delivered additional paragraph in article 1 of Argentine law 23.775 a Note Verbale to the Argentine Charge d’Affaires in in so far as it purports to include within a province of London outlining the UK’s rejection. 1P Petitions18 JANUARY 2010 Petitions 2P
management and unions themselves requested, and Petition Government have assumed an arm’s length role as a shareholder in a public limited company. Subject to Monday 18 January 2010 agreeing its strategic plan with us, the board can structure the business as it decides best to meet the challenges of market development and changing customer needs. OBSERVATIONS The Government have introduced clearly defined national access criteria to maintain a national network and BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS guarantee a reasonable level of access to post office services for all. Within the access criteria framework, Post Office (New England) however, the precise location of post office branches is The Petition of residents of Millfield and New England an operational matter for Post Office Ltd and not for and others, Government. Declares that New England Post Office ought to be In 2007 the Government announced that up to 2,500 re-opened Post Offices out of around 14,000 would have to close The Petitioners therefore request that the House of to help stem losses of £4 million per week and to ensure Commons urges the Government to take all possible the viability of the remaining network. steps to ensure that New England Post Office can be The New England post office was closed as part of re-opened. Post Office Ltd’s Network Change Programme following And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by a six-week local consultation period. Post Office Ltd Mr. Stewart Jackson, Official Report, 9 December 2009; took the decision to close the branch according to the Vol. 502, c. 468 .] criteria set out under the Network Change Programme. [P000529] Post Office Ltd took into account feedback from the consultation, in particular the accessibility of nearby Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, post offices for elderly people, the effect of the closure Innovation and Skills: on local shops and the adequacy of local bus services. The Government recognise the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and As there are two other post office branches within deprived urban communities. That is why we are determined one mile of the New England branch and a regular bus to maintain a national post office network allowing service with disabled access, Post Office Ltd took the people to have reasonable access across the whole country decision to close the branch. Additional services have and have put in place a new policy and financial framework been added to the two nearest alternative branches. to achieve this. Post Office Ltd had to make hard choices in deciding Under the Government’s postal sector reforms introduced which post offices should be closed but adhered to the in 2001, Royal Mail (which includes Post Office Ltd) Government’s access criteria to ensure continuing reasonable has been given greater commercial freedom, as the access to services for customers.
1W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 2W
Paul Goggins: Only one employment tribunal relating Written Answers to to the Northern Ireland Office core Department has been held in the last five years. The hearing took place Questions in 2007 and found in favour of the Department. Legal costs of £1,762.50 have been paid to date.
Monday 18 January 2010 Olympic Games: Canada
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Ministers and (b) NORTHERN IRELAND officials from his Department are planning to attend Departmental Pay the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance. [310852] Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) year end and (b) Paul Goggins: Since 1999, the Government have in-year bonuses were paid to officials in his Department published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits in each of the last three years; and how much was paid by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well in such bonuses in each such year. [307108] as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. The list also provides information on the number of officials Mr. Woodward: Non-consolidated performance payments who accompany Ministers. Copies are available in the are made to staff in the senior civil service in line with Libraries of the House. Information for 2009-10 will be Cabinet Office guidance and also to staff at grades D2 published as soon as the information is available. to A in line with HM Treasury guidance. These payments All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken are made to reward performance throughout the previous in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Civil reporting year. Service Management Code respectively. Under a separate scheme, non-consolidated special performance payments are awarded to staff to reward particularly meritorious contributions throughout the year. CHURCH COMMISSIONERS The total amount of non-consolidated performance payments made to Northern Ireland Office (NIO) staff Church of England: Pay since 2006 is shown in the following tables. Number of non-consolidated year end performance payments Norman Lamb: To ask the hon. Member for Number of payments Total amount (£) Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how much the Church of England pension funds paid 2006-07 324 557,000.00 in bonuses to staff in each of the last three financial 2007-08 1409 609,875.00 years. [310796] 2008-09 563 599,048.50 1 This figure does not include non-consolidated performance payments Sir Stuart Bell: Neither the Church of England Pensions made by the Northern Ireland Prison Service to staff below senior civil service. Board (which is responsible for clergy pensions earned Number of in-year special performance payments on service after I January 1998 as well as pension Number of payments Total amount (£) schemes for lay employees of Church organisations) nor the Church Commissioners (responsible for pre-1998 2006-07 891 174,882.00 clergy pensions) have paid staff bonuses in the last three 2007-08 809 227,349.48 financial years. 2008-09 996 260,865.00
Departmental Training HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sessions of media training Manpower were organised for Ministers in his Department in each of the last three years. [310755] Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Commission how many people were employed by the has not organised media training sessions for Ministers House in (a) visitor services, (b) the Parliamentary in the last three years. Education Service, (c) catering and (d) security in each of the last 10 years; at what cost in each of those Employment Tribunals Service years, how many police worked on security for the House on the parliamentary estate in each of those Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for years; and at what cost in each of those years. [310543] Northern Ireland how many employment tribunals relating to his Department have been held in each of Nick Harvey: The number of people directly employed the last five years; and what the cost to his Department on these services together with the related cost in the was of such tribunals in each such year. [309939] last three years has been: 3W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 4W
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Number Cost (£000) Number Cost (£000) Number Cost (£000)
Visitor Services 25.0 475 24.0 766 31.0 1,044 Parliament’s Education Service 11.0 271 13.7 385 19.0 539 Catering 277.5 7,983 269.3 9,074 276.7 9,185 Security (Metropolitan Police Service) 470 20,720 520 19,985 520 20,601
The figures show the total number of staff at 1 April and Local Government, on a range of issues relating to each year, excluding casual staff recruited to meet short-term ensuring a sustainable legacy for east London from the work requirements (e.g. summer tour guides). With the games, including on housing provision on the park site. exception of catering, these services are bicameral with After the games the Olympic village will become a the House of Lords being re-charged a proportion of significant asset to this part of east London, with over the expenditure incurred. The costs shown represent the 2,800 homes providing a mixture of private and social Commons share only of all salary-related expenditure. housing, available for take-up by both local people and Comparable information before 2006-07 is not available. others. Security staff listed are not employed by Parliament but provided by the Metropolitan Police Service under the London 2012: Legacy Special Service Agreement. Judy Mallaber: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the legacy to Amber SCOTLAND Valley and the east midlands of hosting the London Departmental Internet 2012 Olympics. [310880] Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Tessa Jowell: Amber Valley, the east midlands and Scotland which websites his Department’s staff are the whole of the UK will benefit from the sporting, blocked from accessing from departmental networked economic and cultural opportunities created by the computers. [310246] 2012 Games. I am aware of two companies based in Amber Valley Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office shares an that have secured contracts to supply the London 2012 information technology system (SCOTS) with the Scottish Aquatics Centre. 36 businesses registered in the east Executive, which is responsible for the development, midlands have won work supplying the Olympic Delivery administration, maintenance, monitoring and security Authority. of the system, including the provision of hardware and Furthermore, 21 cultural projects in the east midlands software. An IT Code of Conduct is in place which have been awarded the Inspire Mark, which provides provides advice and guidance to staff on safe usage of brand recognition to projects which have been inspired the system, along with software which blocks user access by the 2012 Games, and the Japanese National Olympic to websites in specified categories for reasons of Committee have agreed to use Loughborough university appropriateness of content or to protect the integrity of and other selected facilities to prepare for the 2012 the network. This conforms to the same standards as Games. are set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework. Olympic Games: Canada London 2012: UK Businesses Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Clarke: To ask the Minister for the Olympics Scotland how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials what her latest assessment is of the financial effects on from his Department are planning to attend the Winter UK businesses of the London 2012 Olympics. [310883] Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance. Tessa Jowell: I have had a number of discussions on [310844] multi-media coverage. These will be the first Games to film wholly in High Definition standards. There will be Ann McKechin: Neither my right hon. Friend nor I access to information via additional channels, such as have any plans to attend the winter Olympics in Vancouver. mobile devices, ensuring the Games are accessible to There are no plans for his officials to visit the winter everyone. The IOC and IPC are responsible for global Olympics either. Consequently, there will be no costs. broadcast rights of the London 2012 Games, including via multi-media platforms. OLYMPICS Departmental Billing Olympic Village John Mason: To ask the Minister for the Olympics 8. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what proportion of invoices from suppliers the Government when she next expects to meet representatives of relevant Olympic Executive paid within 10 days of receipt in local authorities to discuss use of the Olympic Village November and December 2009. [311202] after the London 2012 Olympics. [310886] Tessa Jowell: The proportion of invoices paid within Tessa Jowell: I hold regular meetings with the leaders 10 days of receipt by the Government Olympic Executive and mayors of the five east London host boroughs, (GOE) was 98.46 per cent. in November 2009 and along with my ministerial colleagues at Communities 94.55 per cent. in December 2009. 5W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 6W
As GOE reports to me as Minister for the Olympics Local people, those who give a permanent address in through the permanent secretary to the Department for one of the five host boroughs, are given priority access Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), information on to vacancies that arise on the park. Vacancies are initially invoices paid by GOE will be included within the overall offered exclusively and equally to each of the five host DCMS figure which will be provided by the Parliamentary borough employment brokerage services and through Under-Secretary of State at DCMS. local Jobcentre Plus offices for a period 48 hours. If no suitable candidates are put forward by the local employment Government Olympic Executive: Pay brokerage services, vacancies are then made available throughout London for a further 24 hours though Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Olympics Relay London Jobs. If after this time vacancies are how many (a) year-end and (b) in-year bonuses were unfilled, they are then advertised nationally through the paid to officials in the Government Olympic Executive Jobcentre Plus network. in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in such bonuses in each such year. [307100] Olympic Games 2012: Bexley Tessa Jowell: The Government Olympic Executive (GOE), which reports to the Minister for the Cabinet Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Olympics Office, Olympics, London and Paymaster General through how many businesses in the London borough of Bexley the Permanent Secretary to the Department of Culture, are under contract in respect of the construction of Media and Sport (DCMS), makes non-consolidated venues for the London 2012 Olympic Games. [308848] performance payments to its employees for two purposes: (a) in year non-consolidated performance payments to Tessa Jowell: As of November 2009 the Olympic reward outstanding contributions in particularly demanding Delivery Authority (ODA) had directly awarded contracts tasks or situations; and (b) year end non-consolidated to five suppliers registered in the London borough of performance payments to reward highly successful Bexley. This does not include companies that have won performance over a whole year. In both cases they help contracts in the supply chains of the ODA’s tier one drive high performance. contractors. The ODA has recently published a map showing that many suppliers are winning work both Non-consolidated performance payments are an integral directly with the ODA and within the supply chains of element of the reward package for staff, have to be its contractors. Details of these are available in the re-earned each year and do not add to future pay bill business section of the London 2012 website costs (e.g. pensions). www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/oda- Details of both in-year and year end non-consolidated suppliers/index.php performance payments for GOE are set out in the table. http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/ These figures are exclusive of two key senior staff in oda-suppliers/index.php GOE, who were appointed on fixed term contracts ending in 2012 and whose remuneration reflects extensive Olympic Games 2012: Manpower relevant experience and the unique challenge of delivering the Olympics to a fixed deadline. Details of their remuneration were published in the departmental Annual Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics Reports and Accounts 2009. how many people of each sex in each age group have been working on the Olympic site in each month since Number of Number of construction began; and how many of these are in-year non- year end non- apprentices. [310358] consolidated consolidated performance performance payments payments Total (£) Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority publishes details of the Olympic Park workforce on a quarterly 2008-09 25 26 76,793 basis. The latest report, with data for September 2009, 2007-08 25 24 67,791 showed that there were 4,842 people working on the 2006-07 9 9 21,341 Park at that time, and of these, 94 per cent. were male and 6 per cent. were female. As GOE is part of DCMS, GOE bonus payments were included in the overall DCMS figures given in the The ODA does not publish information on the age of answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State the workforce, but does monitor the age characteristics at DCMS on 2 December 2009, Official Report, column of the total Park workforce using voluntary information 722W. provided by workers when they begin employment on the site. In September 2009: Olympic Games 2012 0.5 per cent. of the workforce were under the age of 18 44 per cent. of the workforce were aged between 18 and 35 Mr. MacShane: To ask the Minister for the Olympics 35 per cent. of the workforce were between 36 and 50 what procedures are in place under which British 17 per cent. of the workforce were aged over 51 citizens may apply to work on construction projects in The ODA does not have this information for the remaining connection with the London 2012 Olympics. [310928] 3.5 per cent. of the workforce Tessa Jowell: Through the ‘Jobs, Skills, Futures’brokerage In November 2009, a total of 120 apprentices were service the Olympic Delivery Authority works in partnership working on the Park. with contractors on the Olympic Park to identify job The next set of figures will be issued this month and vacancies that can be made available to local people. will be available on the London 2012 website. 7W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 8W
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS how many people she expects to be employed on the Olympic site over the duration of the project; and how Domestic Waste: Elderly many of those are apprentices. [310359] Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether guidance Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority forecasts has been issued to waste collection authorities on the that 30,000 people will work on the Olympic Park and provision of wheeled refuse containers to households Village over the lifetime of the construction programme. with (a) disabled and (b) frail or elderly residents. The ODA is working closely with its contractors to [311482] create 2,250 trainees, apprenticeships and work placements across the park and village, 350 of these are to be Dan Norris: While no specific guidance has been apprenticeships. issued on this matter, it is normal practice for local authorities to take account of the needs of the frail or disabled when operating waste and recycling services. Olympic Games 2012: Marketing They do this by either offering a choice of containers or by providing assisted collections. The Disability Discrimination Act now requires local authorities to Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the consider these issues, but the practice of assisted collections Olympics how much has been spent on social media was well established before the legislation came into and networking accounts in respect of the London force. 2012 Olympic Games; and on what accounts those funds have been spent. [308474] Genetically Modified Organisms: Regulation
Tessa Jowell: The Government are committed to Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for involving, informing and engaging local people in all Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent stages of planning for the Olympic and Paralympic representations he has received on the (a) safety and Games which will transform East London. Recognising (b) regulatory approval process of genetically modified that the Games will have greatest impact on local crops and foods. [311435] communities, the official bid commitments for London 2012 included an extensive engagement programme. Dan Norris: DEFRA has received various items of The Government Olympic Executive has used social correspondence recently from members of the public media to support this engagement work and runs an and other stakeholders on the environmental safety and online forum for residents of the five host boroughs in regulatory control of GM crops. The Food Standards East London. This forum enables invited local people— Agency has lead responsibility for the safety and regulation representative of the wide range of communities in the of GM foods and animal feeds. five host boroughs—to give their views on the Olympics in a context which encouraged ongoing debate and Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for discussion. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which genetically- The forum has discussed a variety of topics and modified products are authorised for sale in the UK. issues important to local residents. These include how [311441] local people can access jobs and training opportunities created by the Olympics; ensuring that all opportunities Dan Norris: Decisions on the commercial release of are inclusive and benefit everyone; planning of the genetically modified (GM) products are taken at European Olympic site and surrounding areas; and how to promote Union (EU) level. Currently there are 31 GM products disability issues using the Paralympics. The Government that are authorised for food and animal feed uses in the Olympics Executive responds to the information gathered EU. Full details are available on the European Commission accordingly. website. Only one type of GM crop seed has EU approval for cultivation and is being sold in some EU member The cost of managing this forum to date, including states, but it is not being marketed in the UK because it set up costs, site hosting and recruitment of members is unsuitable for our growing conditions. It is a type of has been £128,523.08. insect-resistant maize known as MON 810. Waste Management Olympic Games: Canada Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when he expects to finalise Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics the draft end-of-waste protocol; [311360] how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Office are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in (2) when he expects to respond to comments made Vancouver in February 2010 in an official capacity; and under Article 8(2) of the Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) on the draft end-of-waste protocol. [311361] at what cost. [310256] Dan Norris: On 23 and 26 November 2009 the European Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I Commission and Austria respectively commented under gave on 11 January 2010, Official Report, column 648W, Article 8(2) of the Technical Standards Directive on the to my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate draft end-of-waste protocol for fuel produced from waste Hoey). lubricating oil that the UK notified under Article 8(1) 9W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 10W of the Directive. The UK is required to take such Departmental Internet comments into account as far as possible in the subsequent preparation of the protocol. Our aim is to conclude Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales consideration of these comments within the three month which websites his Department’s staff are blocked from period that would have applied in the event of the UK’s accessing on networked computers. [310765] receiving a detailed opinion under Article 9(2) of the Directive. The Environment Agency will make a statement Mr. David: The Wales Office obtains its information about the finalisation of the protocol on conclusion of technology services from the Ministry of Justice. Staff our consideration of the comments made under Article are expected to comply with rules regulating the use of 8(2) of the Directive. departmental computers, including internet use. The IT system uses specialist blocking software to Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for prevent users gaining access to inappropriate websites, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in such as those containing offensive, racist or defamatory the Library a copy of his Department’s research report content; gambling or betting sites; those that may WR0105 on measuring waste prevention. [311484] circumvent information security rules such as web-based e-mail; and sites that may affect the efficiency of the Dan Norris: The report for project WR0105 (Project network. REDUCE Monitoring and Evaluation - Developing Tools to Measure Waste Prevention) is available from Departmental Training DEFRA’s website by entering ″WR0105″ into the search tool at the following address: Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Location=None Wales how many sessions of media training were &Module= FilterSearchNewLook&Completed=0 organised for Ministers in his Department in each of the last three years. [310756]
Mr. Hain: None. WALES Human Trafficking Departmental Billings Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has had recent discussions with the First what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Minister on the extent to which people are trafficked Department paid within 10 days of receipt in between Wales and England for purposes of sexual December 2009. [311200] exploitation. [309358]
Mr. David: The Wales Office paid 96 per cent. of its Mr. Hain: While I have not discussed this matter invoices in December 2009 within 10 days. recently with the First Minister, the aim of both Governments is to ensure that we tackle the horrendous Departmental Buildings crime of human trafficking. The Government’s comprehensive victim-focused strategy Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for to combat all forms of trafficking throughout the UK is Wales what the (a) area and (b) estimated value is of contained in the UK Action Plan on Trafficking first (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and published in 2007 updated in October 2009. This is (B) rented by his Department. [310518] available at Mr. David: The Wales Office has a main building in http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/human trafficking004.htm London and rents serviced office space in Cardiff. The Department has no vacant office space. We recognise the vulnerability of children to trafficking to and within the UK and that this can happen for the The London building has 9,655 square feet of office purpose of sexual exploitation. Following consultation space and was last valued in 2008 at £1.4 million. guidance for practitioners on child trafficking has been The Cardiff office has an area of approximately published by both Governments. This is available at: 6,000 square feet. As it is part of a larger, privately-owned http://wales.gov.uk/topics/childrenyoungpeople/publications/ building, it is not possible to give an estimation of its trafficked/?lang=en value. http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction= productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=HMG- Departmental Food 00994-2007&
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales Olympic Games: Canada what estimate he has made of the quantity of food waste generated by his Department in each year for Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for which figures are available. [310815] Wales how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics Mr. Hain: The Wales Office does not collect information in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he on food waste generated. My Department does not has made of the cost of such attendance. [310853] have any catering facilities in house, and therefore does not routinely generate food waste. Mr. Hain: None. 11W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 12W
DEFENCE Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 November 2009, Official Report, column Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations 1150W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox). In that table, the “Number Fit for Task”column represents Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence the actual deployable strength of each infantry battalion. whether there are plans to allocate part of Kandahar Just under 89 per cent. of current infantry strength is province to the UK’s area of responsibility. [309613] deployable. This includes those who have some limitations placed on the roles they can perform on operations. The Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We are not aware of any such vast majority of the remainder are contributing to plans. military capability in a variety of supporting roles in home locations. Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value was of allowances Armed Forces: Health Services paid to civilian staff based in Afghanistan in each of the last five years. [310651] Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the average cost per service personnel Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 14 January 2010]: patient was for (a) below knee and (b) above knee This information is not held centrally and could be prosthesis follow-up in the (i) Defence Medical Services provided only at disproportionate cost. and (ii) NHS in the latest period for which information is available; [309990] Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for (2) how often (a) above knee and (b) below knee Defence how many (a) UK armed forces personnel amputees were routinely followed up in the (i) Defence and (b) personnel of other coalition forces were Medical Services and (ii) NHS in the latest period for deployed in the operation to deliver a turbine to Kajaki which information is available. [309991] dam in September 2008; and what the duration was of that operation. [311002] Mr. Kevan Jones: Information on the cost per service personnel patient to the DMS for prosthesis follow-up Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The operation took 17 days but is not held centrally, and could be provided only at the number of UK and other coalition forces deployed disproportionate cost. However, in general, the long is difficult to collate because of the various different term cost of maintaining an above-knee amputee are phases and the number of support tasks involved. This considerably more that a below-knee amputee because information is not held centrally and could be provided of the expensive artificial knee components. only at disproportionate cost. As regards frequency of follow-up for DMS patients, on average the numbers of follow-up appointments for Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for above-knee and below-knee amputee patients are equal. Defence what (a) deaths and (b) injuries to personnel The average patient will require diminishing prosthetics were sustained in the operation to deliver and install input up until year three when only regular servicing is the turbine to Kajaki dam in September 2008. [311004] required. Outlined as follows is the average number of follow-up appointments: Mr. Bob Ainsworth: No UK deaths were sustained in the operation to deliver and install the turbine at Kajaki Average number of follow-up dam in September 2008. Four UK personnel sustained appointments injuries in the operation. Year one 17 Armed Forces: British Overseas Territories Year two 12 Year three and beyond 3 per year Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for NHS information on the cost per patient, whether a Defence with reference to the answer of 14 October veteran or not, for prosthesis follow-up is not held 2009, Official Report, columns 1362-3W,on armed forces: centrally. foreigners, how many of the 390 British Overseas Territories NHS assessments for prosthetics are undertaken at personnel serving in the armed forces (a) are trained any one of 35 prosthetic centres within England with helicopter pilots and (b) serve in the Royal Air Force. decisions on follow-up and aftercare being included [309275] within the assessment. This decision is agreed with an individual to ensure their circumstances and requirements Bill Rammell: Of the 390 British Overseas Territories are taken into consideration. personnel serving in the armed forces as at 1 September 2009, fewer than five are trained helicopter pilots. 10 are Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence serving in the Royal Air Force, one of whom are trained what rules are in place in respect of routine visits by helicopter pilots. All figures are rounded to the nearest regimental associations to soldiers in the military ward five. of Selly Oak hospital. [310794]
Armed Forces: Deployment Mr. Kevan Jones: Visits by members of regimental associations would usually be treated as “pastoral” Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence rather than “official” visits. Pastoral visits are always what the (a) required and (b) actual strength is of welcome, but are subject to the wishes of the patient deployable troops of each infantry battalion. [311107] and to local hospital visiting rules and hours. 13W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 14W
Further, visits by family and close friends take precedence, Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The total cash equivalent transfer and consequently there may not always be the capacity value for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme to allow visits by regimental associations. For that pensions (PCSPS) of the 10 highest paid members in reason, associations are strongly advised to check first the Ministry of Defence (MOD) totals some £4.672 with the Headquarters Joint Medical Command Visits million as at 15 January 2010. Some of these individuals Coordinator in order to avoid conflict with higher will be named in the Remuneration Reports that form priority visitors before travel. part of the MOD’s Resource Accounts in which the Armed Forces: Hearing Impaired People cash equivalent transfer values of their PCSPS pensions are reported annually. The Remuneration Reports are in the public domain. These figures relate solely to Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence civilian staff and do not include members of the armed how many servicemen have suffered hearing loss in the forces. course of their duties in each year since 1999. [304010]
Mr. Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for answer I gave on 13 January 2010, Official Report, Defence what the cost of the enhanced early retirement column 993W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob scheme for civil servants in his Department and its Russell). agencies has been in each year since 1997. [311009] Armed Forces: Uniforms Mr. Bob Ainsworth: This information is not centrally available and could be provided only at disproportionate Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence cost. what recent progress has been made on the army uniform contract; and if he will make a statement. [311005] Defence: International Cooperation Mr. Quentin Davies: Invitations to tender for the cut and sew contract (for army uniforms) were sent on 11 Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for January 2010 to the six companies/consortia that passed Defence what role the UK has in the NATO Airlift pre-qualification. Responses are due by 17 March 2010 Management Agency. [303005] and the contract is scheduled to be awarded by summer 2010. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: None. Armoured Fighting Vehicles Departmental Billing
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for what the (a) requirement, (b) actual number available Defence what proportion of invoices from suppliers his and (c) percentage shortfall is of each type of armoured Department paid within 10 days of receipt in vehicle used for pre-deployment training in the latest December 2009. [311266] period for which figures are available. [309235]
Mr. Quentin Davies: I am withholding the information Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In December 2009, the Ministry requested to avoid deductions being made about current of Defence (MOD) paid 98.7 per cent. of invoices and future operational capability. Its disclosure would, within 10 days. or would be likely to prejudice the capability effectiveness This figure relates to invoices processed by the MOD or security of the armed forces. However, I can confirm Financial Management Shared Service Centre and the that the number of vehicles available for pre-deployment four MOD trading funds: training continues to improve as procurement programmes Defence Science and Technology Laboratory deliver against requirements. For example the number Meteorological Office of Ridgback vehicles in the training pool increased by Defence Support Group 87 per cent. between July and January. UK Hydrographic Office. Atomic Veterans Claimant Group Departmental Carbon Emissions Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates in 2008, 2009 and 2010 his Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Department’s lawyers met legal representatives of the Defence whether (a) his Department and (b) each of Atomic Veterans Claimant Group. [311462] its agencies plans to sign up to the 10:10 campaign to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 per cent. in Mr. Kevan Jones: The Department’s lawyers met 2010. [311464] legal representatives of the Atomic Veterans Claimant Group on 6 July, 27 July, 15 September, 30 September Mr. Kevan Jones: The MOD is committed to reducing and 1 October 2009. its carbon dioxide emissions, and has already met the Civil Servants: Pensions Government target to reduce emissions from its estate by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11 relative to the 1999-2000 Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence baseline. There is a programme of work to further what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the Principal reduce our emissions across the entire Defence Estate. Civil Service Pension Scheme pension of each of the 10 Noting the work already under way in MOD the highest paid members of staff in his Department and its Secretary of State wrote to staff in October 2009 agencies. [311008] encouraging them to join 10:10. 15W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 16W
Departmental Food Mr. Kevan Jones: We hold no central information on the amount charged for personnel services. Such information Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence is not accounted for discretely and does not need to be what estimate he has made of the quantity of food reported centrally. waste generated by his Department in each year for which figures are available. [310816] Future Large Aircraft Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence does not hold data on the amount of food waste generated. It is Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for included as part of the overall figure for departmental Defence what the estimated total cost is of the Airbus waste arisings. A400M project. [308622] Departmental Internet Mr. Quentin Davies: The value of the fixed price acquisition contract for A400M, let on behalf of Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for participating nations, is ¤20 billion. Defence which websites his Department’s staff are The current forecast cost of A400M for the UK, blocked from accessing from departmental networked including initial training and support, is £3285 million, computers. [310055] as published in the Major Projects Report 2009. Mr. Kevan Jones: The vast majority of MOD’s networked computers with Internet connection access the World Haslar Hospital Wide Web via the Department’s Enterprise Gateway Service (EGS). The EGS uses commercial web Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for categorisation software, which places the huge number Defence to whom Haslar Hospital was sold. [311289] of websites on the Internet (believed to exceed 100 million) into about 100 categories. MOD then determines Mr. Kevan Jones: The Haslar Hospital site in Gosport which categories can be accessed, and which ones are was sold to Our Enterprise (Haslar) Ltd. in November blocked. 2009. Categories are blocked because they fall into one of the following types: Israel: Armed Forces They contravene the MOD Acceptable Use Policy; They pose a risk to the technical security of the network, or to Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for broader information security; Defence what aspects of military co-operation were to They result in excessive consumption of bandwidth or other have been discussed with the group of military officers technical resource, or of staff time. from Israel whose proposed visit to the UK was Also, to safeguard security of MOD networks, MOD recently cancelled. [311031] does not permit access to sites using mobile code (e.g. Java, Active X). Bill Rammell: The Israeli delegation planned to attend The attached document, Information Management a joint Israeli-Kings College academic workshop. This Protocol 049, is published by the Chief Information was not at the invitation of MOD and, therefore, no Officer on the Defence Intranet, and this explains further official discussions of UK-Israel defence co-operation detail. A copy of the MOD Acceptable Use Policy (JSP were planned. 740) is also attached. Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Departmental Pay Defence (1) on how many occasions Israel Defence Forces personnel have been invited to the UK for John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for discussions with (a) Ministers or officials of his Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2009, Department and (b) members of the armed forces Official Report, column 831W, on departmental pay, on since 2005; and what topics were discussed; [311032] what basis £1,860 was paid to two individuals; and to (2) what areas of expertise of the Israel Defence which executive agency or non-departmental public Forces that have been shared with (a) his Department body they were engaged. [310148] and (b) members of the armed forces. [311033] Mr. Bob Ainsworth: One payment was made by the Met Office for performance against pre-agreed targets, Bill Rammell: This information is not held centrally and one payment was made by the Defence Storage and and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Distribution Agency for exceptional effort. Israel is an important strategic partner of the UK and, as part of that relationship, the MOD has an ongoing Departmental Public Expenditure and wide ranging dialogue with the Israeli Defence Force and Israeli Ministry of Defence. This engagement Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State is in line with HMG’s policy of supporting the Middle for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 December East Peace Process by having a balanced relationship 2009, Official Report, columns 521-2W,on armed forces: with the Israelis and the Palestinians. Recent areas of costs, what information his Department holds centrally discussion have included regional defence issues, the on the amount it has charged (a) other Government Middle East Peace Process, and the UK’s role in training departments, (b) private sector companies and (c) foreign Palestinian Authority security forces. However, detailed governments in employment costs for (i) members of his information is withheld as its disclosure would, or would Department’s civilian staff and (ii) military personnel. be likely to, prejudice relations between the United [310009] Kingdom and Israel. 17W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 18W
NATO Cyber-security Centre of Excellence: Overseas inform the International Atomic Energy Agency of any Aid such acquisitions as MOD HEU is held outside international safeguards for defence purposes but is Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence subject to a strict materials accountancy regime. what (a) financial and (b) other assistance the UK is providing to the NATO Cyber-security Centre of RAF Fairfield Excellence in Estonia. [311352]
Bill Rammell: The United Kingdom is fully supportive Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence of this Estonian-hosted Cyber Defence initiative and what steps his Department is taking to establish the their endeavours in this important area. exact boundaries of the site of RAF Fairfield. [310795] We have not made a direct financial contribution to the costs of the Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Mr. Kevan Jones: This Department has reviewed the Excellence. Both the current head of the MOD Defence boundaries of RAF Fairford so that accurate maps can Security and Assurance Service and his predecessor, as be produced. These maps will be used for making new well as other senior officers and Government officials, Ministry of Defence byelaws under the Military Lands have visited the Centre of Excellence, participated in its Act 1892 and for revising the property title in the Land conferences and in specific mutually beneficial work-streams. Registry. The work is ongoing. A number of issues which emerged during the review Radioactive Materials: Imports process will be taken up with the appropriate authorities including the highways Agency and neighbouring property Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for owners. Defence from which countries uranium used in (a) British nuclear warheads and (b) nuclear submarine propulsion fuel has been obtained since 1980; and what information has been provided to the International Atomic Energy Agency on such imports. [310089] WOMEN AND EQUALITY
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In March 2006 the Ministry of Defence (MOD) produced a report entitled “Historical Equality and Human Rights Commission Accounting for UK Defence Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU)”. The report was announced on 22 March 2006, John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Official Report, column 24WS. The report, covering the Equality how many staff of the Equality and Human period from the start of the UK’s nuclear programme Rights Commission from each ethnic group (a) lodged through to 31 March 2002, confirms that the UK grievances, (b) started employment tribunal proceedings, obtained HEU for its military programme from two (c) were subject to disciplinary action and (d) were sources—The Gas Diffusion Plant at BNFL Capenhurst, subject to capability procedures between 1 October and through exchanges with the US Department of 2007 and 31 March 2009. [310481] Energy under the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement. This does not contravene our obligations under the Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights non-proliferation treaty. There has been no subsequent Commission has provided the information in the following change to this position, nor is there any requirement to table:
Number of people who Number of people who Number of people in a Number of people subject to Ethnic origin submitted grievance submitted ET1 disciplinary procedure formal capability procedures
White 16 6 3 — Asian 2 — — — Chinese 2 — — — Mixed5——— Black 3 2 — — Other — — — — Not stated 4 5 1 — Total 32 13 4 0
John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Equality for what reasons staff of the Equality and Commission has provided the following table showing Human Rights Commission of each ethnic group left reasons for staff exit by ethnic group. the employment of the Commission between 1 October 2007 and 31 March 2009. [310482]
Ethnic origin group Death Dismissal Other reasons Redundancy Resignation Retirement Grand total
Asian———— 3— 3 19W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 20W
Ethnic origin group Death Dismissal Other reasons Redundancy Resignation Retirement Grand total
Black1——— 2— 3 White — — 7 1 24 2 34 Chinese—————— 0 Mixed———— 2— 2 Other—————— 0 Not stated — 1 1 — 12 — 14 Total118143256
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Manpower (b)(i) Secured permanent employment between October 2007 and March 2009 Ethnicity Total
John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Asian 11 Equality how many staff from each ethnic group were Black 9 employed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission Chinese 1 between October 2007 and March 2009. [310515] White 99 Mixed 3 Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Other 2 Commission has provided the following information. Not stated 26 Total 151 Ethnic origin group Total (b)(ii) Secured temporary1 employment between October 2007 and March 2009 Asian 11 Ethnicity Total Black 9 Asian 2 Chinese 1 Black 0 White 99 Chinese 0 Mixed 3 White 4 Other 2 Mixed 0 Not stated 26 Other 0 Total 151 Not stated 0 Total 6 John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and 1 Temporary employees include those on fixed term contract and exclude agency Equality how many people from each ethnic group (a) and consultancy workers. applied for and (b) secured (i) permanent employment, Applied for, and secured, staff training between October 2007 and March 20091: 2 (ii) temporary employment, (iii) promotion and (iv) 1 January 2008 to 31 March 2009 Number received staff training at the Equality and Human Rights Ethnicity Total employees training Commission between 1 October 2007 and 31 March 2009. [310516] Asian 31 30 Black 37 32 Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Chinese 4 5 Commission has provided the following data: White 305 250 Mixed 11 12 (a)(i) Applied for permanent recruitment 1 July 20081 to 31 March 2009 Other 4 4 Ethnicity Total Not stated 16 10 Total 408 343 Asian 224 1 No formal training took place between 1 October 2007 and January 2008, Black 198 when our mandatory training programme commenced. 2 Chinese 27 This includes both permanent and temporary staff. White 1,510 There were five unsuccessful applications for funding Mixed 93 for training. Following is a breakdown of the ethnic Not stated 60 origin of the applicants. Total 2,112 1 Detailed records for recruitment monitoring for the Commission are available Ethnicity Total from 1 July 2008. White 5 (a)(ii) Applied for temporary1 recruitment 1 July 20082 to 31 March 2009 Ethnicity Total
Asian 47 JUSTICE Black 23 Courts: Interpreters White 414 Mixed 20 Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Not disclosed 9 with reference to the answer of 12 November 2009, Total 528 Official Report, column 842W, on interpreters: finance, 1 Temporary employees include those on fixed term contract and exclude agency for what reasons he has not yet written to the hon. and consultancy workers. 2 Detailed records for recruitment monitoring for the Commission are available Member for West Chelmsford with the information he from 1 July 2008. undertook to provide by Christmas 2009. [310642] 21W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 22W
Bridget Prentice: I apologise for the delay. However, Ashford (Damian Green) on 20 April 2009, Official during the collation of the information requested, we Report, column 337W, on the subject of interpreters identified that inconsistent answers had been given by expenditure. This necessitated an investigation which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Justice (Maria has now concluded. The information requested is provided Eagle) to the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. Goodman) in the following table and covers all the information the on 9 May 2008, Official Report, columns 1270- 71W Ministry of Justice holds on interpreters expenditure. I and the hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) on will also write to the hon. Members who received incomplete 2 June 2008, Official Report, columns 640-41W and by information with a full response as soon as possible. my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) to the hon. Member Expenditure on interpreters in England and Wales by the for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) on 16 March 2009, Official Department and its agencies Report, columns 955-56W and the hon. Member for
The expenditure for financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 To nearest £000 2008-09 2007-08
Ministry of Justice HQ 26 19 HM Courts Service (HMCS) 638 704 HMCS Crown Courts paid from Central Fund Budget 4,503 4,034 Tribunals Service 5,283 6,126 Office of the Public Guardian 40 40 National Offenders Management Service1 966 868 Total 11,456 11,791 1 This figure includes translation costs as well as interpretation costs. The amounts are not separately recorded and can only be disaggregated at disproportionate costs.
The information in the table excludes the following Mr. Wills: There was no refurbishment, improvement expenditure: or emergency repair works undertaken to Ministers’ It is not possible to separately identify expenditure on interpreters offices in the Ministry of Justice within the timeframe by magistrates courts from other magistrates costs financed from of the question. the Central Fund Budget without incurring the disproportionate There has been some normal maintenance work to cost of examining every transaction, the supporting records for heating, cooling and lighting systems in Ministers’ offices. which are held locally. Sample exercises have been undertaken in The costs for these visits are part of an overall building the past to estimate the proportion of magistrates expenditure that relates to interpreters but they have yielded inconsistent maintenance agreement and, while it is not possible to results. separate them out with accuracy, these costs are estimated to be less than £2,000. The NOMS figure excludes expenditure by the National Probation Service which is held locally by 42 probation boards and trusts who use separate and different accounting systems. Information Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for could only be determined at disproportionate cost through Justice what the (a) area and (b) estimated value is of examination of local records. (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department. [310524] Expenditure on interpreters in Essex by the Department and its agencies Mr. Wills: The departmental estate of the Ministry of Expenditure by Her Majesty’s Courts Service for Justice currently has: interpreters in Crown courts in the Essex region in (a) Office space of 68,240 square metres (net internal area), all of 2008-09 was £101,941. The comparable figure for 2007-08 which is rented and none of which is vacant. cannot be separately identified from the Central Fund (b) Annual rental cost of £25,588,986. payment records which did not include regional identifiers. The Department also occupies 641square metres in Information for other parts of the Department is not Gwydyr House, Whitehall, London. This site is owned recorded on a regional basis and could be provided only by the. Crown Estate and the Department does not pay at disproportionate cost. rent for this office accommodation. Suspects, charged individuals and victims The Ministry of Justice’s Estates Transformation Her Majesty’s Courts Service meets interpreters’ costs Programme is currently working to reduce the number for victims, which are provided above. The police meet of MOJ buildings in central London. interpreters’ costs for suspects and charged individuals. Police costs are funded by the Home Office. EC Immigration
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Departmental Buildings Justice what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government’s policy of the European Commission draft regulation on jurisdiction Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice applicable law, recognition and enforcement of how much his Department spent on works and decisions and authentic instruments of succession and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers in his the creation of a European certificate of succession; Department’s buildings in the last 12 months. [305695] and if he will make a statement. [307382] 23W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 24W
Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member to the disclosed owing to Government’s obligations to foreign written statement made by my right hon. Friend, the governments or international bodies; and if he will Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor make a statement; [310188] (Mr. Straw) on 16 December 2009, Official Report, (3) how many and what proportion of the (a) columns 140-41WS. documents and (b) other items of information held in Freedom of Information: Academies electronic format at each level of security classification requested by the Iraq Inquiry have been provided to it by his Department; and if he will make a statement. Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for [310191] Justice when he expects to designate academy schools as public authorities under the Freedom of Bridget Prentice: My right hon. Friend the Minister Information Act 2000. [311244] of State for the Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith) has answered on behalf of all Departments. Her answer was Mr. Wills: Section 5(3) of the Freedom of Information published on 14 December 2009, Official Report, columns Act requires the Secretary of State to consult with 840-41W. persons to whom a section 5 order may relate. The consultation with Academy Trusts concluded on 1 December 2009 and the responses received are being Legal Aid considered. Subject to the outcome of this consideration, the Government intend to bring forward a section 5 Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for order in this session of Parliament. Justice how much of the legal aid budget has been spent on very high cost cases in the last five years. Iraq Committee of Inquiry [309629]
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission Justice (1) how many (a) documents and (b) other manages individual case contracts on all very high cost items of information held in electronic format at each criminal cases for trials lasting 41 days or over. The level of security classification the Iraq Inquiry has costs are agreed between the service providers and the requested from his Department; and if he will make a LSC at each stage. The LSC also manages civil cases statement; [310187] where the costs are likely to exceed £25,000 under (2) whether any (a) documents and (b) other items individual case contracts. Expenditure on criminal and of information held in electronic format sought from civil very high cost cases is shown in the following his Department by the Iraq Inquiry have not been tables.
Crime very high cost cases Percentage of total Crown court and Expenditure (£ million) Percentage of total criminal defence service expenditure higher courts expenditure
2004-05 96.0 8.0 14.0 2005-06 103.2 8.6 14.8 2006-07 104.6 8.9 16.1 2007-08 124.6 10.8 17.9 2008-09 112.1 9.5 16.5
Civil very high cost cases Expenditure (£ million) Percentage of total community legal service expenditure
2004-05 51 6.0 2005-06 57 6.8 2006-07 69 8.5 2007-08 65 7.7 2008-09 75 8.4
Legal Systems: Islam do not legally recognise divorces granted by any faith groups. The Government do not maintain statistics on Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if either marriages or divorces conducted by sharia councils. he will estimate the number of marriages and divorces Prison Sentences registered by sharia courts in England and Wales in each year since 1997. [311454] Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many indeterminate sentences for public Bridget Prentice: Sharia councils do not describe protection were given tariffs of 23 months or less in (a) themselves as ’courts’ as they do not have powers to 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008. [310660] enforce their decisions. Sharia councils are not part of the court system in England and Wales, and are not Maria Eagle: The number of offenders sentenced to unified under one system. Marriages conducted under an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public sharia law are not legally recognised in England and protection (IPP) with a tariff of 23 months or less Wales unless they also comply with the provisions of sentenced in each of the years requested is shown in the the Marriage Act 1949. The English and Welsh courts following table: 25W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 26W
IPPs sentenced with a tariff of 23 months or less David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Number Justice what recent assessment his Department has 2005 196 made of the level of accuracy of mandatory drug 2006 529 testing statistics. [308758] 2007 547 2008 365 Maria Eagle: A comprehensive assessment of the accuracy of mandatory drug testing (MDT) was undertaken These figures exclude those sentenced to an indeterminate by the Office for National Statistics published in 2005 sentence for public protection who subsequently had at: their sentence quashed. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdso1r0305.pdf By virtue of provisions in the Criminal Justice and It concluded that the mandatory drug testing programme Immigration Act 2008, which took effect from 14 July provides a reliable and statistically valid way of measuring 2008, an IPP may not be passed where the minimum patterns and trends of drug misuse in prisons. Random tariff is less than two years, except where offenders have MDT continues to be the best overall measure of drug committed extremely serious crimes in the past. misuse in prisons. The figures in the table above are taken from the In addition, MDT processes are assured by a rolling Public Protection Unit Database in the National Offender programme of internal audits and an independent quality Management Service, and, as with any large scale recording assurance provider. The last audit concluded that system, it is subject to possible errors arising from either comprehensive guidance was available to prisons and, data entry or processing. by extension, did not require updating. Further, urine samples were taken correctly and chain of custody was Prison Sentences: Mentally Disturbed Offenders generally well documented. The audit also identified areas of concern, which Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for NOMS is now working with prisons to address: Justice how many offenders imprisoned with an at a third of establishments sampled, there were long periods indeterminate sentence for public protection have been each month where no random testing was undertaken; held in secure hospitals since 2005; and if he will make at one establishment the disciplinary award given for test a statement. [310956] refusals was more lenient than that for positive results; and establishments were not sending details of refusals to the Maria Eagle: Prisoners may be detained in hospital laboratory. Central records on refusals therefore did not match under powers of the Mental Health Act 1983, either if those held locally. directed to hospital by the court on sentencing or if MDT roles were not always properly recorded in staff performance directed by the Secretary of State during their sentence. and development records. They may also be remitted to prison during sentence. Where urine samples were left with the prison gate prior to Information is not available in the form requested. To collection, a number of establishments did not require gate staff answer how many offenders sentenced to an IPP who to complete a form to acknowledge receipt of samples. have been detained in a secure hospital at some time since 2005 would require manual checking of a large Victim Support Schemes: Finance number of case files, which could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost. Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for On 14 January 2010, Ministry of Justice records Justice how much funding his Department and its showed 115 prisoners in hospital under powers of the predecessors have allocated to Victim Support in each 1983 Act, who were also serving indeterminate sentences year since 1997. [310957] of imprisonment for public protection (IPP). Claire Ward: The following table details the amount Prisons: Drugs of Government funding allocated to Victim Support since 1997. David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) internal and (b) external audits of Total Government funding to Victim Support mandatory drug testing in prisons have been £ million undertaken. [308738] 1996-97 11.68 Maria Eagle: The most recent thematic internal audit 1997-98 12.68 of mandatory drug testing (MDT) was undertaken in 1998-99 12.68 2009. Mandatory drug testing will be included in the 1999-2000 17.5 NOMS audit programme which means that the extent 2000-01 18.6 to which each prison is complying with MDT policy 2001-02 25.1 will be assessed and reported once every three years. 2002-03 29.3 Independent research on the effectiveness of mandatory 2003-04 30 drug testing was published by the Office for National 2004-05 30 Statistics in 2005 at: 2005-06 30 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdso1r0305.pdf 2006-07 30 2007-08 35.8 The performance of the MDT analytical laboratory is 2008-09 37 the subject to regular independent audit. 27W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 28W
Voluntary Work: Offenders HOME DEPARTMENT
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Borders: Personal Records Justice how many people have been (a) convicted and (b) prosecuted for offences committed while working as a volunteer with vulnerable adults. [311109] Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what impact assessment has been made of the cost of the e-borders programme to the Claire Ward: Statistical data held by the Ministry of aviation industry. [310312] Justice on the Court Proceedings Database records the number of defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Mr. Woolas: The potential financial costs to the Wales. aviation industry of implementing the data collection Other than where specified in a statute these data do requirements of the e-Borders programme were analysed not include information on the circumstances of an as part of a regulatory impact assessment published in offence and it is therefore not possible to identify whether January 2008. The link to the RIA can be found on: an offence was committed by a volunteer while working http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/eBorders-RIA- with vulnerable adults. 2008-01-10.html The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been created to help prevent unsuitable people from Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the working with children and vulnerable adults. Increased Home Department what the (a) original and (b) safeguards introduced under the Vetting and Barring current estimated cost is of establishment of the Scheme from 12 October 2009 make it a criminal offence e-borders programme. [310321] for individuals barred by the ISA to work or apply to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wide range Mr. Woolas: The original planned expenditure for of posts. e-Borders from award of the contract to Trusted Borders Court proceedings data for 2009 are expected to be in November 2007 through to November 2017 was £1.2 published in the autumn of 2010. billion. The current forecast of expenditure for this period, including contingency, is £1.2 billion. Youth Custody Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department pursuant to the Oral Statement of Justice how many hours on average a young offender 5 January 2010, Official Report, columns 28-32, on spent in (a) general education, (b) literacy work, (c) aviation and border security, what proportion of the numeracy work, (d) training, (e) physical education e-borders programme is complete. [310337] and (f) recreation/association in each (i) secure children’s home, (ii) secure training centre and (iii) Mr. Woolas: We estimate that e-Borders is currently young offender institution in the latest period for which tracking 45 to 50 per cent. of all passenger movements figures are available. [308780] into and out of the UK, which equates to approximately 100 million passengers annually. This figure is pending Mr. Coaker: I have been asked to reply. formal verification by statisticians. Figures collected by the National Offender Management e-Borders aims to track 95 per cent. of all passenger Service (NOMS) and the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for and crew movements by December 2010. This will September 2008 to August 2009 indicate that in Young represent all major commercial traffic. The remaining People in Prison Service YOIs received an average of 5 per cent. represents private aviation and the small 27.5 hours per person per week of education, training craft category. e-Borders expect that there will be 100 and personal development. From October 2009 NOMS per cent. coverage by March 2014. have implemented new data collection systems which, along with data returns from the LSC will allow greater Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the accuracy and detail in reporting on education, training Home Department pursuant to the oral statement of and constructive activities in the future. 5 January 2010, Official Report, columns 28-32, on The YJB report that in private YOIs, young people aviation and border security, whether his consideration received an average of 33.9 hours of education, training of additional targeted passenger profiling includes and personal development activity per week during non-behavioural profiling. [310338] August 2008 to September 2009. Data from the YJB indicate that between September Paul Clark: I have been asked to reply. 2008 and August 2009, 91.3 per cent. of young people We are examining carefully whether targeted passenger in SCHs received a minimum of 30 hours of provision profiling might help to enhance airport security. We will and in STCs this was 99 per cent. of young people. be considering all the issues involved, mindful of civil These figures encompass a range of education and liberties concerns, aware that identity-based profiling constructive activities and information is not collected has its limitations, but conscious of our overriding broken down by specific type of activity. obligations to protect peoples’ life and liberty. 29W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 30W
Departmental Advertising National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) staff that have been disciplined for inappropriate use of information obtained from police databases1 Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Disciplined Dismissed Total Home Department what estimate he has made of his Department’s expenditure on (a) television, (b) radio, 2007 0 0 0 (c) print and (d) online advertising in (i) 2009-10 and 2008 0 0 0 (ii) 2010-11. [309931] 2009 0 0 0 1 The NPIA has had responsibility for national police databases since 1 April 2007. No information is available prior to 2007. Mr. Woolas: The forecast for Home Office media UK Border Agency (UKBA) staff that have been disciplined for spend for 2009-10 is as follows: inappropriate use of information obtained from an immigration database and/or an identity card or passport database1 £ Disciplined Dismissed Total
TV airtime 4,457,477 2005 3 0 3 Radio airtime 1,121,206 2006 0 0 0 Print (Newspapers and Magazines) 1,294,174 2007 3 0 3 Online 1,705,195 2008 2 1 3 2009 2 0 2 The activity that has been scheduled may still be Total 10 1 11 subject to alteration and the total for each media may 1 UKBA have no information available prior to 2005. change. Activity that has not yet been planned and Identity and Passport Service (IPS) staff that have been disciplined booked is not included as specific media spend will not for inappropriate use of information obtained from identity card or yet be known. passport database The figures quoted are for net media costs and do not Disciplined Dismissed Total include production costs or fees. 1999 to 2004 0 0 0 The projected Home Office media spend on television, 2005-06 1 1 2 radio, print and online advertising for 2010-11 cannot 2006-07 0 0 0 be forecast as budgets have yet to be allocated. 2007-08 1 1 2 2008-09 0 0 0 Departmental Buildings Total 2 2 4 Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) staff that have been disciplined for inappropriate use of information obtained from police databases Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residential properties his Disciplined Dismissed Total Department owns; and how many (a) are occupied 1999 to 2009 0 0 0 and (b) have been empty for more than six months. [304000] Departmental Official Cars
Mr. Woolas: The Department owns one residential Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the property which has been empty for more than six months. Home Department what the cost of provision of Agents have been appointed to dispose of it. Government cars to special advisers in his Department was in the last 12 months. [301387] Departmental Data Protection Mr. Woolas: No special advisers are provided with an allocated Government car and driver. As with all civil Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home servants, special advisers may use an official car or taxi Department how many members of staff of his in properly defined circumstances. Details of such use is Department and its agencies have been disciplined for not held centrally and could be provided only at inappropriate use of information obtained from (a) a disproportionate cost. police database, (b) an immigration database and (c) an identity card or passport database in each of the last Departmental Public Expenditure 10 years. [310128] Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Hanson: The available information is set out in Home Department how much his Department has spent the following tables. on (a) consultants, (b) advertising, (c) publishing, (d) public relations, (e) professional training and (f) other Home Office headquarters staff that have been disciplined for inappropriate use of information obtained from a police, immigration activities in respect of each campaign (i) operated by his database and identity card or passport database1 Department and (ii) commissioned from other organisations Disciplined Dismissed Total in (A) 2005-06, (B) 2006-07, (C) 2007-08 and (D) 2008-09; and which organisation operated each campaign not 2005 0 0 0 operated by his Department. [308818] 2006 0 0 0 2007 0 0 0 Alan Johnson: The following table summarises the 2008 0 0 0 spend of the Home Office on advertising and public 2009 0 0 0 relations broken down by individual campaign area for 1 No central records exist prior to January 2005. the years 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09. 31W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 32W
£ £ Campaign Advertising PR Campaign Advertising PR
2005-06 Alcohol Harm Reduction 2,790,203 — Acquisitive Crime Reduction 4,123,311 — Justice Seen Justice Done 2,246,390 — Alcohol Misuse Enforcement 92,204 — Drugs (including FRANK 717,397 427,815 Campaign campaign) Anti-Social Behaviour 396,475 363,040 Human Trafficking 8,928 — Child Protection on the Internet 862,229 — Immigration—Points Based 2,453,007 — System Clean Up Campaign 39,819 — Child Sex Offender Review / — 55,860 Crime Stoppers 82,182 — Violence against Women Domestic Violence 534,587 — Knife crime 917,764 — Drugs (including FRANK 1,524,701 474,386 Knife crime stakeholder PR — 358,119 campaign) UKBA toolkit — 118,443 Park Mark Car Parks—car 94,260 — crime R1CU—Research Information — 5,000 Communications Unit Police Specials Recruitment 1,389,166 — Total 10,051,859 965,237 Police recruitment High — 41,400 Potential Development Scheme Notes: 1. There were no costs incurred on consultants for any of the Community Support Officers 2,380 campaigns set out above. Recruitment 2. There is no central record of Home Office spend on publishing Rape 66,153 — activities. To collate this information would incur disproportionate Year of the volunteer — 74,027 costs. Criminal Justice System — 265,780 3. There were no costs on Professional Training associated with the campaign set out in the table above. Tackling violent crime — 156,620 4. There were no costs on “other activities”; the costs given cover the Total 9,205,087 1,377,633 total costs of each campaign. The figures for advertising refer to the cost of media for TV, print, radio, cinema and posters net of VAT 2006-07 for public facing advertising campaigns. They do not include classified recruitment advertising or digital advertising. Acquisitive Crime Reduction 3,266,192 — 5. The Alcohol Harm Reduction and Drugs campaigns are both Alcohol Binge drinking 1,975,005 — cross-government campaigns. The figures that have been provided Alcohol Misuse Enforcement 231,713 — are those billed to the Home Office. Campaign Departmental Sick Leave Child Protection on the Internet 46,824 — Domestic Violence 800,384 — Drugs (including FRANK 3,467,021 374,666 Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the campaign) Home Department how many working days were lost Immigration 790,860 — due to (a) illness and (b) stress of employees in his Knife Amnesty 137,083 — Department in each of the last three years. [309916] PCSO Recruitment 1,748,743 — Rape 280,022 — Mr. Woolas: Sick absence within the Home Office is Single Non-Emergency Number 780,325 — reported using Cabinet Office standards and definitions, Stop and Search 134,501 — which were introduced with effect from 1 April 2007. Community Sentences — 193,181 Sick absence is defined as the absence of a civil servant due to their illness or injury. No distinction is made on Police Recruitment High — 28,716 Potential Development Scheme recording systems between “illnesses” and “injuries”; Police Community Support — 113,511 the information provided therefore covers both illnesses Officer Recruitment and injuries. The data provided for 2006-07 includes the Respect — 61,568 Prison Service which was part of the Home Office Single Non-Emergency Number — 29,186 before machinery of government changes in May 2007. Criminal Justice — 174,473 (a) Total working days lost due to illness/injury of paid Total 13,658,673 975,301 civil servants: Total working days lost 2007-08 Number Alcohol Harm Reduction 2,900,411 — 2006-07 803,653.00 Community Safety 866,889 — 2007-08 264,501.10 Drugs (including FRANK 898,509 290,584 2008-09 228,520.63 campaign) Immigration 1,973,558 — Kerb Crawling 218,025 — (b) Absence due to stress is reported within the category “Mental Disorders”, in line with Cabinet Office guidance Mobile Phone Blocking 190,162 — to report absences using the World Health Organisation Total 7,047,554 290,584 (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 10. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide 2008-09 consistent information below this group as it covers Acquisitive Crime Reduction— 918,170 — anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as other more Burglary severe mental health conditions. 33W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 34W
Total working days lost of paid civil servants due to mental disorders Alan Johnson [holding answer 10 December 2009]: Number The following table shows the number of time limited visas issued to applicants from 2004. Data prior to 2004 2006-07 171,637.39 is not considered accurate and reliable; therefore it has 2007-08 65,410.80 not been included in the table. 2008-09 24,947.41 Endorsement category Issued Detention Centres: Children 2004 EEA family permits 23,877 Family visit 248,154 Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Other non- 95,541 for the Home Department what his assessment is of settlement progress made in improving provision for families with Other visitor 1,140,775 children at immigration removal centres; and how much has been spent on making such improvements in Student 201,793 the last 12 months. [310109] Transit 62,076 Work permit 98,320 Mr. Woolas [holding answer 12 January 2010]: We Working holiday 70,304 take the welfare of children in our care very seriously maker and are proud of the investment made to improve Total 1,940,840 services at Yarl’s Wood over the last couple of years, the main centre for holding families with children. These include: 2005 EEA family permits 23,858 Family visit 331,100 A dedicated Ofsted inspected school delivering 30 hours per week of tuition by qualified teachers for children aged five-16 Other non- 109,656 years. settlement A crèche staffed seven days a week from nine-five by appropriately Other visitor 1,112,301 qualified child care professionals for children under school age. Student 210,399 Professional supervision and support for teaching staff, in the Transit 54,905 form of oversight from the head teacher of another establishment. Work permit 113,052 Establishment of a softer and more child-focused reception Working holiday 58,433 area and further provision of age-appropriate activities such as a maker bouncy castle, and a library of games and toys for use in the children’s rooms. Total 2,013,704 Relocation of the youth club to a larger room with access to grassed outside play area. 2006 EEA family permits 25,217 The introduction of a fortnightly children’s forum and development Family visit 376,377 of dedicated children’s complaints forms. Other non- 115,103 The provision of a midwife, healthcare visitor, paediatric nurse settlement and child counselling services. Other visitor 1,202,704 The improvements we have made have been considered Student 238,880 and acknowledged by the likes of the Children’s Transit 53,977 Commissioner for England, the Independent Monitoring Board and HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. Work permit 123,807 Working holiday 46,138 At the same time, we have recently conducted an maker internal review of the services provided at other centres Total 2,182,203 where children may be detained. This highlighted a number of areas where improvements need to be made at Tinsley House. A programme of improvement has 2007 EEA family permits 22,743 commenced, and while this is being undertaken, we Family visit 354,351 have taken the decision to reduce the maximum period Other non- 120,112 of stay for families with children from 72 hours to 24 settlement hours. Other visitor 1,101,832 Services provided for children are funded within the PBS tier 1 — operating contracts for centres, the value of which is Student 242,885 commercially confidential. It is therefore not possible to Transit 40,327 provide a figure on how much has been spent on improvements in the last 12 months. Work permit 96,750 Working holiday 39,392 Entry Clearances maker Total 2,018,392 Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many time-limited visas of 2008 EEA family permits 18,083 each type have been issued in each year since 1997; Family visit 313,426 [307632] Other non- 112,089 (2) how many time-limited visas of each type have settlement been issued in each year since 1997. [306002] Other visitor 1,073,547 35W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 36W
Illegal Immigrants Endorsement category Issued PBS tier 1 12,052 Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the PBS tier 2 90 Home Department how many people were (a) PBS tier 5 382 prosecuted and (b) found guilty of employing illegal immigrants in each month of (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) Student 233,020 2009. [306001] Transit 32,599 Work permit 78,973 Alan Johnson [holding answer 10 December 2009]: Working holiday 34,467 The “prosecution” of an individual employer for an maker offence relating to employing illegal migrant workers Total 1,908,728 formerly occurred through the courts under section 8 of Note: the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. The prosecution Information above is provisional and subject to change. offences in 1996 were replaced by the introduction of civil penalties for employers in the Immigration, Asylum Entry Clearances: Overseas Students and Nationality Act 2006 in February 2008. An individual employer who has received a civil penalty for offences related to illegal working under the 2006 Act does not Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the undergo prosecution through the courts. Home Department when he plans to issue his response to the recent consultation on proposed changes to Tier Between 29 February 2008 and 30 November 2009 a 4 student visa arrangements. [310366] total of 3,376 Notices of Liability for a Civil Penalty were issued to employers of illegal migrant workers. Mr. Woolas [holding answer 12 January 2010]: The This data are derived from local management information outcome of the review of tier 4 announced by the Prime and is therefore provisional and liable to change. Minister on 12 November will be announced shortly. An employer may still be prosecuted under section 21 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 Foreign Workers: Immigration Controls where it can be established that the employer “knowingly” employed an illegal migrant worker after 29 February Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the 2008. Home Department if he will require the Migration Data on the number of defendants proceeded against Advisory Committee in formulating its advice on the and found guilty in 2007 and 2008 of offences relating level of immigrant labour needed to complete the (a) to employing a person subject to immigration control is London Olympics and (b) Crossrail construction work published by the Home Office in table 3.4 of the Control to obtain information on whether jobs on these projects of Immigration. are first advertised through Jobcentre Plus. [310657] Statistics United Kingdom 2008, which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Mr. Woolas [holding answer 14 January 2010]: The Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate Government have no plans at present to ask the Migration website at: Advisory Committee (MAC) for specific advice relating http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum- to the London Olympics or Crossrail. stats.html It is possible that the MAC may review jobs relating Data for 2008 remains provisional and subject to to these projects independently as part of their regular change. Data for 2009 will be published in summer work on the Shortage Occupation List. 2010. Unless a job is on the Shortage Occupation List, it The following tables from the Ministry of Justice must be advertised through Jobcentre Plus before it can provide a monthly breakdown of the overall figures set be offered to a migrant worker under tier 2. out in the above publication.
20072, 3, 4 20081, 2, 3, 4 Proceeded against in Proceeded against in magistrates court Found guilty in all courts magistrates courts Found guilty in all courts
January 0 0 5 3 February 4 4 12 6 March4442 April 3 1 5 7 May2121 June 1 1 5 3 July4342 August 1 0 6 7 September 7 5 7 0 October 3 2 8 4 November 3 2 7 5 December 7 2 2 0 37W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 38W
20072, 3, 4 20081, 2, 3, 4 Proceeded against in Proceeded against in magistrates court Found guilty in all courts magistrates courts Found guilty in all courts
Total 39 25 67 40 1 Provisional. 2 Includes offences of employing a person aged 16 and above and employing a person knowingly that they are an adult subject to immigration control. 3 These are data on the principal immigration offence basis. 4 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitation are taken into account when those data are used.
Immigrants: Detainees leaving detention and the number of children leaving detention. The information is now available for Quarter Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the 1, Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2009. Table C shows these Home Department how many and what proportion of figures, they will continue to be published quarterly in people in each age group held in immigration detention the future; however data for earlier years will remain centres have been (a) released and (b) deported in unavailable. each year since 1997. [308447] Table D shows persons removed from the United Kingdom on leaving detention held solely under Alan Johnson: Tables A and B show the number of Immigration Act powers, by age for 2005, January to persons recorded as leaving detention in the United September 2006, 2007, 2008 and January to September Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers, by age 2009. Data for earlier years are unavailable. and reason for leaving detention for the year 2005 and Published statistics on immigration and asylum are the period January to September 2006. These figures available from the Library of the House and from the are not available prior to or after this period. Home Office Research, Development and Statistics However, in August 2009 the Control of Immigration Directorate website at: Quarterly Statistical publication was expanded to include http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum- management information on the total number of persons stats.html
Table A: Persons recorded as leaving detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers, 2005, by age1 and reason for leaving detention2,3 (excluding Oakington and Harwich4)
Number of individuals
Children
Total of Adults1 18 yrs+ Under 5 yrs 5-11 yrs 12-16 yrs 17 yrs Total children persons5 whom:
Reason for leaving detention No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
Removed from the 20,420 70 19,185 70 555 70 355 61 265 67 55 67 1,230 66 UK
Granted leave to 130 0 130 0 — 0 — 0 — 0 — 0 — 0 enter/remain6
Granted temporary 7,290 25 6,715 25 225 28 210 36 120 30 25 31 575 31 admission/release7
Bailed8 1,370 5 1,320 5 20 2 20 3 10 3 * 1 50 3
Other 5 0 5 0 — 0 — 0 — 0 — 0 — 0
Total persons 29,210 27,350 795 585 395 85 1,860 leaving detention
Table B: Persons recorded as leaving detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers, January to September 2006, by age1 and reason for leaving detention2,3 (excluding Oakington and Harwich4) Number of individuals Children Total of persons5 whom: Adults1 18 yrs+ Under 5 yrs 5-11 yrs 12-16 yrs 17 yrs Total children Reason for leaving detention No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
Removed from the 14,360 68 13,625 69 315 60 250 59 135 59 35 67 735 60 UK Granted leave to 110 1 110 1 * 0 — 0 — 0 — 0 * 0 enter/remain6 39W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 40W
Table B: Persons recorded as leaving detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers, January to September 2006, by age1 and reason for leaving detention2,3 (excluding Oakington and Harwich4) Number of individuals Children Total of persons5 whom: Adults1 18 yrs+ Under 5 yrs 5-11 yrs 12-16 yrs 17 yrs Total children Reason for leaving detention No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
Granted temporary 5,470 26 5,000 25 205 39 160 38 85 38 15 31 470 38 admission/release7 Bailed8 1,10551,080510210353*2252 Other * 0 * 0 — 0 — 0 — 0 — 0 — 0 Total persons 21,045 19,810 530 425 230 50 1,235 leaving detention 1 Recorded age at the end of their period of detention. Figures for children will overstate if any applicants aged 18 or over claim to be younger. 2 Numbers rounded to the nearest five (— = 0, *=1or2)andmaynotsumtothetotalsshownbecause of independent rounding. Percentages rounded to the nearest per cent. and may therefore not sum to 100. Figures exclude persons recorded as leaving detention from police cells and Prison Service establishments, those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers at time of removal/release and their children. 3 Some detainees may be recorded more than once if, for example, the person has been detained on more than one separate occasion in the time period shown. 4 Oakington Reception Centre and Harwich were not controlled by the same part of UKBA as the removal/detention centres in the UKBA estate before 2007. Oakington and Harwich data on the database were incomplete so they were excluded prior to 2007. 5 Figures include dependants and those detained in family groups. 6 Short or long term stay in the UK has been granted. 7 Decision on case has not been made. 8 Detainee has applied for, and been granted, bail at a bail hearing.
Table C: Persons leaving detention in the United Kingdom held solely under Immigration Act powers, January to September 20091,2,3,4 Number of individuals Period Total persons4, of whom: Children5
Quarter 16 6,765 250 Quarter 2 6,910 225 Quarter 3 6,975 305 1 These figures are based on management information and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics. They are provisional and may be subject to change. Excludes persons detained in Harwich short term holding facility, police cells and Prison Service establishments. 2 Figures rounded to the nearest five. 3 Some detainees may be recorded more than once if, for example, if the person has left detention then been detained again and left once more in the time period shown. 4 Figures include dependants and those detained in family groups. 5 Recorded age at the end of their period of detention. Figures for children will overstate if any applicants aged 18 or over claim to be younger. 6 Figures include those leaving detention between 28 and 31 December 2008.
Table D: Persons removed from the United Kingdom on leaving detention1 held solely under Immigration Act powers, by age2,3,4,5, for 2005, January to September 2006, 2007, 2008 and January to September 2009 Number of individuals Children Total persons, of Period whom: Adults2 18 yrs+ Under 5 yrs 5-11 yrs 12-16 yrs 17 yrs Total children
20056 20,420 19,185 555 355 265 55 1,230 2006 Jan to Sep6 14,360 13,625 315 250 135 35 735 20077 16,120 15,490 300 195 110 25 630 20088 16,310 15,695 280 195 125 15 615 2009 Q18 4,035 3,925 55 40 10 5 110 2009 Q28 3,815 3,720 55 30 15 — 100 2009 Q38 4,085 3,930 65 55 25 5 150 1 Some detainees may be recorded more than once if, for example, the person has been detained on more than one separate occasion in the time period shown, such as a person who has left detention for the purpose of a removal, but who has subsequently been re-detained. 2 Recorded age at the end of their period of detention. Figures for children will overstate if any applicants aged 18 or over claim to be younger. 3 Figures rounded to the nearest five (— = 0,*=1or2)andmaynotsumtothetotalsshownbecause of independent rounding. Figures exclude persons recorded as leaving detention from police cells and Prison Service establishments, those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers at time of removal and their dependants. 4 Not necessarily removed in the same year as leaving detention. 5 Figures include dependants and those detained in family groups. 6 Oakington Reception Centre and Harwich were not controlled by the same part of UKBA as the removal/detention centres in the UKBA estate before 2007. Oakington and Harwich data on the database were incomplete so they were excluded prior to 2007. 7 Figures exclude persons recorded as leaving detention from Harwich short term holding facility. 8 Provisional figures.
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Alan Johnson: Information on persons held on more Home Department how many people in each age group than one occasion in each year and on how many have been held in immigration removal centres on more occasions is not held centrally and would be available than one occasion in each year since 1997; and on how only through the detailed examination of individual many occasions such people were held in a removal case files at disproportionate cost. centre. [308777] 41W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 42W
However, in August 2009 the Control of Immigration services has recently begun. It is not possible to provide Quarterly Statistical publication was expanded to include details of the potential value of this arrangement at this management information on persons entering detention, time as this may prejudice the Department’s commercial total number of persons leaving detention and the position during the tendering process. number of families with children held in detention. This information is available by age (to separately identify Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the children), and will be published quarterly in the future; Home Department what his most recent estimate is of however data for earlier years will remain unavailable. the cost of including fingerprint data in passports in Information on the number of adults and children each year from 2010-11 to 2018-19. [310386] under the age of 18 entering detention solely under Immigration Act powers in Q1-Q3 2009 by age and Alan Johnson [holding answer 12 January 2010]: It is country of nationality is available in: intended that passports incorporating fingerprints will Q1 and Q2 2009 be introduced from 2012 onwards and applicants for such passports will be enrolled on the National Identity Table 8a and 8b of the Control of Immigration Register. From that point, common business processes Quarterly Statistical Summary United Kingdom and technology infrastructure will be used to register publication: applicants on the National Identity Register and issue http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq209.pdf them with an identity card and/or a passport. Tables G and H of the supplementary tables: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq209supp.xls Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Identity and Q3 2009 Passport Service has spent in each month since Table 9 of the Control of Immigration Quarterly October 2006; how many passports were issued in each Statistical Summary United Kingdom publication: such month; and how much revenue accrued in fees for http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq309.pdf such passports in each such month. [310387] Table H of the supplementary tables: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq309supp.xls Alan Johnson [holding answer 12 January 2010]: The following table outlines passport revenue, total expenditure Published statistics on immigration and asylum are for the Agency and volumes of passports issued for available from the Library of the House and from the Identity and Passport Service from October 2006 to Home Office Research, Development and Statistics September 2009: Directorate website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum- Passport revenue Passports issued stats.html (£) Expenditure (£) (Number)
October 2006 to 162,620,052 159,661,963 2,547,467 Immigration: Chelmsford March 2007 April 2007 to 375,681,000 430,098,000 5,900,000 Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the March 2008 Home Department what his most recent estimate is of April 2008 to 366,289,000 468,492,000 5,225,115 the number of people in West Chelmsford constituency March 2009 April 2009 to 198,889,236 241,108,460 2,960,654 who are awaiting a decision on an application for leave September 2009 to remain in the UK; and what estimate he has made of the number of people in West Chelmsford constituency Expenditure for the Agency includes that incurred who made an application for leave to remain in the UK for Passport, Home Office funded and GRO activities, a in the last 12 months. [310737] breakdown for which can be obtained in the segmental reporting note of the Annual Report and Accounts for Mr. Woolas: The information is not recorded centrally respective years. and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Passports: Biometrics Passports Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of Home Department how many contracts relating to whether biometric information in the UK passport biometric passports his Department plans to let; when complies with (a) International Civil Aviation Organisation he expects each such contract to be put out to tender; standards, (b) American visa waiver standards and (c) and what the estimated monetary value is of each such Schengen standards. [310656] contract. [310384] Alan Johnson [holding answer 14 January 2010]: The Alan Johnson [holding answer 12 January 2010]: The UK passport contains a facial biometric, which complies Home Department has no current plans to let any with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) further contracts in relation to the design and/or production standards for the inclusion of globally interoperable of biometric passports. Several support arrangements biometrics in travel documents. The UK passport also that will facilitate the delivery of biometric passport meets the requirements for the US Visa Waiver programme. books are either under consideration or in the early As the UK is not a member of Schengen, the UK stages of the tender process. passport is not required to meet Schengen standards for Procurement activity in the form of a request for passports. However the inclusion of a facial biometric expressions of interest for the provision of front office in the UK passport is consistent with the EU Passport 43W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 44W
Regulation (EC 2252/2004) by which Schengen states Mr. Hanson: The available data can be seen in the are bound. The UK plans to implement fingerprint following table. biometrics in passports from 2012. These and other related data are published annually Police: Essex as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at: Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of Essex Police http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html Authority in each of the last two years. [305836] and bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House. Mr. Hanson: Essex police authority has maximum Police officer strength (FTE)1, 2 forThamesValleyasat31March flexibility to make the best possible use of their resources. 2005 to 31 March 2009 According to the published statements of account of Number Essex police authority, the corporate and democratic core line lists the costs in the last two years as: 2005 4,189 2006 4,288 £ million 2007 4,260 2008 4,186 2007-08 1.562 2009 4,317 2008-09 1.766 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Police: Nottingham 2 Figures include officers on career break or maternity/paternity leave.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Vetting Department how many police officers were based in Nottingham North constituency in (a) 1997 and (b) James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the last year for which information is available. [309301] the Home Department what guidance his Department provides to employers in receipt of information from Mr. Hanson: Police personnel statistics are not collected enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks on by parliamentary constituency. Nottingham, North assessment of the nature of the data provided. [311137] constituency is in the ‘City of Nottingham’ basic command unit (BCU) (area C). Data for police officers by BCU Meg Hillier: There are a number of published guidelines for Nottinghamshire were first available as at 31 March issued to organisations undertaking Criminal Records 2003. Bureau (CRB) checks, all of which are available on the There were 821 police officers in ‘City of Nottingham’ CRB website at: BCU as at 31 March 2003 and 783 police officers as at www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk 31 March 2009. The CRB regularly provide advice and guidance to Police: Preston registered organisations relating to best practice through its customer newsletter and the website. Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the The CRB advises organisations that certificates should Home Department what the percentage change in the be kept securely, in lockable, non-portable, storage number of full-time police officers in Preston has been containers with access strictly controlled and limited to since 1997. [310996] those who are entitled to see it as part of their duties. It is a requirement of the CRB’s code of practice that Mr. Hanson: Police personnel statistics are collected all registered organisations must treat applicants who at police force level on a full-time equivalent (FTE) have a criminal record fairly and do not discriminate basis. A breakdown below police force level to the level because of a conviction or other information revealed. of basic command unit level (BCU) has been collected Organisations are also advised not to make their recruitment only since 2002-03. Preston falls within the BCU of decision solely on the contents of a certificate. Lancashire Central, where there were 13 less FTE officers in 2009 than in 2003, a fall of 3.4 per cent. Overall The CRB obliges registered organisations to have a figures for Lancashire constabulary show an increase of written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders’ a 406 FTE officers or 12.5 per cent. since 1997. copy of which can be given to applicants at the outset of Figures are as at 31 March in each given year. Figures the recruitment process. at BCU level include officers on career break or maternity/ paternity leave. Figures for Lancashire constabulary Visas: Tourism exclude these in order to provide a like-for-like comparison with 1997. Further breakdown is available in the annual Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the “Police Service Strength” publication available on the Home Department what recent research his Department Home Office website and the Library of the House. has evaluated on the economic effects of the cost of Thames Valley Police: Manpower tourist visas on the tourist industry. [310296]
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Woolas: In July 2008 research was carried out to Home Department how many police officers Thames see if a direct link between application fees for short Valley Police have employed in each year since 2005. term visit visas and demand could be identified. This [311250] was jointly funded by the UK Border Agency, DCMS 45W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 46W and Tourism Alliance. Research concluded that in general Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls there is no link between application fees for short term within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. visit visas and demand. I have asked the authority to reply. The UK Border Agency also ran two piloted schemes Letter from Stephen Pennick, dated January 2010: to see if a lower visit visa fee would stimulate demand. As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I From March to September 2007 the pilot was for travellers have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many from China applying to enter the UK on the Approved deaths where (a) alcohol and (b) the misuse of drugs was the Destination Status (ADS) scheme. From December 2008 primary cause there were in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Hemel to April 2009 the pilot was carried out in India for Hempstead constituency in the last five years. (311028) visitors on an organised tour with a Trusted Partner The tables attached provide the number of deaths where (a) (TP) travel agent. The pilot schemes demonstrated that the underlying cause of death was alcohol-related (Table 1) and visa cost is not the single most important driver to (b) the underlying cause of death was drug poisoning, where any encouraging applications. drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was mentioned on the death certificate (Table 2), in England and Wales, and Hemel Hempstead parliamentary constituency, for 2004 to 2008 (the latest year available). CABINET OFFICE Table 1. Number of alcohol-related deaths1, England and Wales2 and Hemel Hempstead parliamentary constituency3, 2004-084 Central Office of Information Deaths (persons) England and Wales Hemel Hempstead
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet 2004 6,488 7 Office what the (a) name, (b) cost and (c) sponsoring 2005 6,627 11 Department was of each advertising campaign 2006 6,964 15 supported by the Central Office of Information during 2007 7,042 9 2008-09. [309843] 2008 7,344 8 1 Tessa Jowell: I have asked the chief executive of the Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific causes of death Central Office of Information to reply to the hon. categorised as alcohol-related, and their corresponding ICD-10 codes, Member. are shown in Box 1 Letter from Mark Lund, dated 7 January 2010: 2 Figures for England arid Wales include deaths of non-residents. 3 Based on boundaries as of 2009. Re: COI Advertising Spend 2008/9 4 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information Table 2. Number of deaths from drug misuse1, 2, England and Wales3 (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary and Hemel Hempstead parliamentary constituency4, 2004-085 Question on COI advertising spend in 2008/9 (309843). Deaths (persons) The information requested is given in the table which will be England and Wales Hemel Hempstead placed in the Libraries of the House. 2004 1,495 * It should however be noted that this reflects only the expenditure that has passed through COI and not necessarily the total cost for 2005 1,608 3 the campaign. 2006 1,573 * 2007 1,604 * Civil Servants: Travel 2008 1,738 * 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the Office if she will publish the travel guidelines issued to underlying cause was due to drug poisoning (shown in Box 2) and where a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (prior to (a) permanent secretaries, (b) senior civil servants and the Amendment order 2009) was mentioned on the death certificate. (c) other civil servants. [311060] 2 Small numbers (those under three) have been suppressed, so potentially identifiable data is not revealed. Suppressed numbers are indicated by Tessa Jowell: The Cabinet Office does not issue service- the symbol *. Details of the ONS policy on protecting confidentiality wide travel guidelines. within birth and death statistics are published on the ONS website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads_theme_health/ The Civil Service Management Code provides a central ConfidentialityBirth&Death.pdf framework that Departments must adhere to when 3 Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. 4 Based on boundaries as of 2009. setting up their policies. However, as this is a delegated 5 area, Departments are responsible for issuing and operating Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. Box 1. Alcohol-related causes of death—International Classification their own guidelines in relation to travel. of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) The Civil Service Management Code is available in its ICD-10 code(s) Description entirety, with chapter 8, section 8.2 setting out the central framework in relation to travel, at: F10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/csmc/index.aspx G31.2 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol Deaths: Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs G62.1 Alcoholic polyneuropathy I42.6 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy K29.2 Alcoholic gastritis Mike Penning: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet K70 Alcoholic liver disease Office how many deaths where (a) alcohol and (b) the misuse of drugs was the primary cause there were in (i) K73 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified K74 (excl. K74.3- Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver (excl. Biliary England and Wales and (ii) Hemel Hempstead K74.5) K86.0 cirrhosis) Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis constituency in the last five years. [311028] 47W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 48W
Box 1. Alcohol-related causes of death—International Classification and 55 and (c) 56 and 65 years old died of diseases of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) related to obesity in (i) England, (ii) East Sussex and ICD-10 code(s) Description (iii) Lewes constituency in each year since 2000. [311168] X45 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X65 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls alcohol within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. Y15 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, I have asked the authority to reply. undetermined intent Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: Box 2. Drug-related poisoning deaths—International Classification of As General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people ICD-10 code(s) Description between (a) 35 and 45, (b) 46 and 55 and (c) 56 and 65 years old died of diseases related to obesity in (i) England, (ii) East Sussex F11-FI6, F18, F19 Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug and (iii) Lewes constituency in each year since 2000. (311168) use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) X40-X44 Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments The tables attached provide the number of deaths where obesity and biological substances was the underlying cause of death (Table J), and where obesity X60-X64 Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the medicaments and biological substances underlying cause or as a contributory factor (Table 2), for persons X85 Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological aged between (a) 35 and 45 years, (b) 46 and 55 years and (c) 56 substances and 65 years, in (i) England, (ii) East Sussex and (iii) Lewes Y10-Y14 Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and constituency, for the years 2000 to 2008 (the latest year available). biological substances, undetermined intent It is not possible to identify all deaths ’related’ to obesity. For example, obesity may play an important role in deaths due to Deaths: Obesity heart disease or diabetes, but it is rarely recorded on the death certificate. The figures presented in Tables 1 and 2 are therefore Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet likely to underestimate the actual number of deaths in which Office how many people between (a) 35 and 45, (b) 46 obesity is involved.
Table 1: Number of deaths where obesity was the underlying cause of death1 by age group,2 England3, East Sussex and Lewes constituency,4 2000-085 Deaths (persons) England East Sussex Lewes 35-45 46-55 56-65 35-45 46-55 56-65 35-45 46-55 56-65
2000 28 25 35002000 2001 25 38 35000000 2002 24 40 35101000 2003 33 47 54100000 2004 31 40 65000000 2005 29 51 58000000 2006 36 53 63004000 2007 30 60 49001000 2008 48 70 74011001 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 278.0 (Obesity) for the year 2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code E66 (Obesity) for 2001 onwards. 2 There are 11 years within age group (a) and 10 years within age groups (b) and (c), so the figures are not completely comparable. 3 Figures for England exclude deaths of non-residents. 4 Based on boundaries as of 2009. 5 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.
Table 2: Number of deaths where obesity was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate1 by age group,2 England3 East Sussex and Lewes constiuency,4 2000-085 Deaths (persons) England East Sussex Lewes 35-45 46-55 56-65 35-45 46-55 56-65 35-45 46-55 56-65
2000 75 121 162 003000 2001 71 141 146 010000 2002 72 129 178 133011 2003 96 162 207 110010 2004 102 154 241 012000 2005 101 155 276 112000 2006 113 184 285 005001 2007 117 222 316 022000 2008 129 257 371 044001 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 278.0 (Obesity) for the year 2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code E66 (Obesity) for 2001 onwards. Figures are included where obesity was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor. 2 There are 11 years within age group (a) and 10 years within age groups (b) and (c), so the figures are not completely comparable. 3 Figures for England exclude deaths of non-residents. 4 Based on boundaries as of 2009. 5 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 49W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 50W
Departmental Information and Communications Tessa Jowell: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Technology answer I gave on 6 January 2010, Official Report, columns 429-30W. Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what pay band her Department’s chief information officer (CIO) is employed; whether the Manufacturing Industries: Manpower CIO is employed on a fixed-term or permanent contract; and what the size is of the budget for which Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office the CIO is responsible in the period 2009-10. [307572] what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of people employed in manufacturing in Angela E. Smith: The chief information officer for (a) the UK, (b) Gloucestershire and (c) Stroud the Cabinet Office is employed at senior civil service pay constituency in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the band 2. The incumbent is also Director of the Government latest year for which figures are available. [310984] IT Profession. The current incumbent is on a fixed term contract Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls and the budget for which the incumbent is responsible within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. for 2009-10 is £12.123 million. I have asked the authority to reply. Departmental Surveys Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question Office if she will place in the Library a copy of the concerning what estimate has been made of the number and results of her Department’s most recent staff survey; proportion of people employed in manufacturing in (a) the UK, which organisation carried out the survey; and what (b) Gloucestershire and (c) Stroud constituency in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the latest year for which figures are the cost of the survey was. [311507] available. (310984) Table 1 shows the number of employees in the manufacturing Angela E. Smith: The Cabinet Office will publish the sector for the United Kingdom. Table 2 shows the number of October 2009 people survey results on our website in employees in the manufacturing sector at the regional level. February 2010. Following publication we will place a Figures for both tables are for the number of employees and copy of the results in the Library. exclude self employed. At a regional level figures are unavailable The supplier of the Cabinet Office October 2009 for 1980 and 1990 and so estimates for the nearest available people survey was ORC International which was procured period have been provided. by the Department to deliver the first cross-civil service Table 1: Number and proportion of employees in the manufacturing sector in the people survey. The people survey replaced all existing United Kingdom Proportion of people staff surveys in the civil service with a single questionnaire. employed in the The cost of the Cabinet Office survey will be £30,550. manufacturing sector Period Employees (thousand) (percentage) By procuring a single supplier for people surveys in 2009-10 the civil service has saved 35 per cent. on the 1980 6,209 26.0 total cost of staff surveys in 2008-09. 1990 4,664 19.2 2000 3,886 15.0 Iraq Committee of Inquiry 2008 2,835 10.5 Note: Dr. Fox: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office Figures are based on a quarterly series. 1980, 1990, 2000 are based on quarter 4, 2008 is based on quarter 3. This is consistent with the annual figures in table 2. what the scale of allowance is for members of the Iraq Source: Inquiry. [305777] Workforce jobs
Table 2: Number and proportion of employees in the manufacturing sector in Gloucestershire and Stroud constituency Gloucestershire Stroud constituency Period Employees (thousand) Proportion (percentage) Employees (thousand) Proportion (percentage)
19811 65.5 32.7 n/a n/a 19912 49.1 24.8 9.4 30.5 20003 48.2 20.3 8.8 25.1 20083 37.3 14.8 9.2 22.3 1 Figures are from the Census of employment based on SIC(68). 2 Figures are from the Annual Census of Employment. 3 Figures are from the Annual Business Inquiry. Estimates from the Annual Business Inquiry for 2000 and 2008 are on different bases. An assessment of changes in survey methodology suggests that the estimated total number of employees for the manufacturing sector for GB was increased by 8,000 or 0.3 per cent. Direct comparisons of employee estimates over these different periods and surveys should be treated with caution.
Married People Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: how many adults were living in marriage in each year As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I since 1980; and if she will make a statement. [310670] have been asked to reply to your question asking how many adults were living in marriage in each year since 1980. (310670) 51W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 52W
The attached table shows the married population aged 16 and As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject over, resident in Great Britain, for the years 1981, 1986 and to a margin of uncertainty as different samples could give different annually from 1991 to 2008. Estimates of the married population results. are not available for all years in the 1980s. Table:1 Number of married couples1 by various characteristics, United These figures are based on the mid-year population estimates Kingdom, January to December 2008 and mid-2008 is the latest year for which data are available. They Number of people (thousand) relate to Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom because population estimates by marital status are not available for Northern Number of married couples 12,170 Ireland. of whom Mid-year married population aged 16 and over, resident in Great Britain both are over the age of 65 2,060 Married persons (thousand) aged 16+ both are in employment 5,270
1980 — have no children 6,040 19811 26,934 have one or more children under the 1,730 age of five 1982 — 1 Excludes cohabiting and same sex couples. 1983 — Source: 1984 — APS household datasets (ONS). 1985 — 1986 26,249 Ministers: Travel 1987 — 1988 — Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet 1989 — Office if she will publish the travel guidelines issued to 1990 — Ministers in respect of (a) air, (b) rail and (c) car 1991 25,799 journeys. [311059] 1992 25,645 1993 25,484 Tessa Jowell: Section 10 of the “Ministerial Code” 1994 25,326 provides guidance to Ministers on travel arrangements. 1995 25,156 1996 24,993 New Businesses: Preston 1997 24,817 1998 24,668 Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet 1999 24,555 Office how many businesses have started up in Preston 2000 24,466 since 1997. [311130] 2001 24,425 2002 24,301 Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls 2003 24,177 within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. 2004 24,060 I have asked the authority to reply. 2005 23,991 2006 23,886 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: 2007 23,797 As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, 1 2008 23,740 have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question 1 Scottish data for 1981 is taken from the 1981 Census and refers to the married concerning how many businesses have started up in Preston since population on 5 April. 1997 (311130). Sources: Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are Office for National Statistics (ONS) and available for 2002 onwards from the ONS release on Business General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) Demography at: www.statistics.gov.uk Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many married couples (a) are both over the age of The table below contains the latest statistics available on business births for Preston district. 65, (b) are both in work, (c) are living apart, (d) have no children and (e) have one or more children under Counts of births of enterprises for 2002 to 2008 the age of five; and if she will make a statement. Preston district [310671] 2002 565 2003 665 Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls 2004 785 within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. 2005 785 I have asked the authority to reply. 2006 600 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: 2007 670 As Director General for the Office for National Statistics 2008 635 (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many married couples (a) are both over the age of 65, (b) Official Residences are both in work, (c) are living apart, (d) have no children and (e) have one or more children under the age of five; and if she will make a statement. (310671) Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many residential flats there are in the The latest, available information requested is given in the table attached. The figures are from ONS’s Annual Population Survey Admiralty House complex; how many are designated (APS) household datasets for the period January to December as ministerial residences; and which Ministers have had 2008. Information on the number of couples living apart is not use of such flats as residences in each of the last three collected and is therefore not presented. years. [311427] 53W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 54W
Tessa Jowell: There are three residential flats in Admiralty As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I House which have, under successive administrations, have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking been occupied by Ministers. what proportion of 18 to 24 year olds in England are unemployed under International Labour Organisation definitions but not in On the issue of occupancy over the past three years I full-time education have (a) no qualification, (b) below Level 2 refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 qualifications, (c) Level 2 as their highest qualification, (d) Level 3 January 2010, Official Report, column 713W. as their highest qualification and (e) Level 4+ as their highest qualification. 310550. Unemployed: Qualifications The table attached provides the information requested. Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office Estimates of unemployment are derived from the Labour what proportion of 18 to 24 year olds in England are Force Survey (LFS). In accordance with the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention, people are classed as unemployed unemployed under International Labour Organisation if they are: without a job, want a job, and have actively sought definitions but not in full-time education have (a) no work in the last four weeks; or, out of work, have found a job and qualification, (b) below Level 2 qualifications, (c) are waiting to start it in the next two weeks. Level 2 as their highest qualification, (d) Level 3 as their highest qualification and (e) Level 4+ as their The estimates in the table are derived from the LFS microdata which are weighted using the official population estimates published highest qualification. [310550] in autumn 2007. Consequently they are not entirely consistent with the figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistical Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls Bulletin, which are weighted using more up-to-date population within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. estimates. I have asked the authority to reply. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: to a margin of uncertainty.
Unemployment of 18 to 24 year olds in England by highest qualification held: Three month periods ending September 2009: England, not seasonally adjusted Thousands and per cent. Unemployed and not in full-time National qualification framework (NQF) Total economically active education Rate1
No qualifications 120 ****40 33 Below NQF Level 2 522 ***121 23 NQF Level 2 761 ***119 16 NQF Level 3 1,044 ***88 8 NQF Level 4 and above 780 ***124 16 Trade apprenticeships or other qualification 262 ****43 16 Total2 3,568 **551 15 1 The number of 18 to 24-year-olds in England who are unemployed and not in full-time education divided by the economically active population of 18 to 24-year- olds in England, in accordance with ILO definition. 2 Includes those that did not state their highest qualification. Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below: Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key Coefficient of Variation (CV)(%) Statistical Robustness *0≤ CV< 5 Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV < 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV < 20 Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes It should be noted that the above estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites etc.) Source: Labour Force Survey
Unemployment: Older Workers Table 1 shows the number of people aged 50 years and over, claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in the UK, England, the North East and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland for November Dr. Kumar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet 2009, the latest date for which data is available. Office how many people over 50 years old in (a) the National and local area estimates for many labour market UK, (b) England, (c) the North East and (d) statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency count are available on the NOMIS website at are in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance. [311349] http://www.nomisweb.co.uk Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls Table 1. Number of people aged 50 years and over claiming jobseeker’s within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. allowance I have asked the authority to reply. Number Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: United Kingdom 239,545 As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I England 201,675 have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking North East 12,785 how many people over 50 years old in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Middlesbrough South and East 425 the North East and (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Cleveland constituency are on jobseeker’s allowance. 311349. Note: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number Data rounded to nearest five. of claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Source: Plus administrative system. Jobcentre Plus administrative system. 55W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 56W
Unemployment: Preston Unemployment: Young People
Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Mr. Burns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office Office what the level of unemployment has been in (1) how many people aged between 16 and 24 years Preston in each year since 1997. [311018] resident in (a) Chelmsford local authority area and (b) West Chelmsford constituency had been Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls unemployed for over (i) six and (ii) 12 months in each within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. of the last six months; [310739] I have asked the authority to reply. (2) how many people aged between 16 and 24 years Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: resident in (a) Chelmsford local authority area and As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I (b) West Chelmsford constituency were unemployed in have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking (i) May 1997 and (ii) each of the last six months for what the level of unemployment has been in Preston in each year which figures are available. [310710] since 1997. (311018) The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey and Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, I have asked the authority to reply. estimates of unemployment for the requested age band and Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: geography are not available. As an alternative, in Table 1 we have provided the number of As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, 1 persons claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for the Preston constituency have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking for November 2009 and November of each year since 1997. how many people aged between 16 and 24 years resident in (a) Chelmsford local authority area and (b) West Chelmsford constituency National and local area estimates for many labour market had been unemployed for over (i) six and (ii) 12 months in each of statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant the last six months; and how many people aged between 16 and 24 count are available on the NOMIS website at: years resident in (a) Chelmsford local authority area and (b) West http://www.nomisweb.co.uk Chelmsford constituency were unemployed in (i) May 1997 and Table 1: Number of persons resident in Preston parliamentary constituency (ii) each of the last six months for which figures are available. claiming jobseeker’s allowance (310739 & 310710) As at November each year Number of claimants The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey and 1997 2,831 its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following 1998 2,530 International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, 1999 2,351 estimates of unemployment for the requested age bands and 2000 2,106 geographies are not available. 2001 1,920 As an alternative, in Table 1 we have provided the number of 2002 1,810 persons, aged 16 to 24, claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, in the 2003 1,744 requested geographies, for (a) over 6 months and (b) over 12 2004 1,710 months in November 2009 and the previous 5 months. Table 2 2005 1,884 contains the number of persons aged 16 to 24 claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in the requested geographies for (a) May 1997 and (b) 2006 1,914 November 2009 and the previous 5 months. 2007 1,811 2008 2,179 National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant 2009 3,047 count are available on the NOM1S website at: Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system. http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
Table 1: Number of people aged 16 to 24 claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Chelmsford local authority and West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency foroversix months and 12 months Chelmsford West Chelmsford Claiming over six months Claiming over 12 months Claiming over six months Claiming over 12 months
June 2009 155 10 115 5 July 2009 145 10 105 10 August 2009 170 10 120 10 September 2009 150 10 110 10 October 2009 140 10 105 10 November 2009 125 10 95 10 Notes: 1. Data has been rounded to nearest five. 2. People claiming for over 12 months are included in the counts of people claiming for over six months. Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system. Table 2: Number of people aged 16 to 24 claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Chelmsford local authority and West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency Chelmsford West Chelmsford
May 1997 565 385
June 2009 800 560 July 2009 845 590 57W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 58W
Table 2: Number of people aged 16 to 24 claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Chelmsford local authority and West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency Chelmsford West Chelmsford
August 2009 900 630 September 2009 870 610 October 2009 850 610 November 2009 800 555 Note: Data has been rounded to nearest five. Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
WORK AND PENSIONS Departmental Pay
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Cold Weather Payments and Pensions how many (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses were paid to officials in her Department in Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and each of the last three years; and how much was paid in Pensions how many cold weather payments were made each year. [302781] in each postcode area (a) between 1 November 2008 and 31 March 2009 and (b) since 1 November 2009. Jim Knight: There are two pay-related employee reward [310828] schemes operating in the Department for Work and Pensions. They comprise end of year non-consolidated Helen Goodman: The information is not available. performance pay and in-year special awards. End of year non-consolidated performance pay Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and DWP employees below the senior civil service are Pensions whether her Department has plans to (a) eligible for an annual individual non-consolidated increase the level of and (b) extend the eligibility performance payment if they attain a “top”, “higher” criteria for the cold weather payment. [310829] or “majority” rating under the annual performance and development system. The actual payment awarded is Helen Goodman: We have no current plans to increase determined by the employee’s pay band and the the level of cold weather payments or extend the eligibility performance level achieved. criteria. For the senior civil service, end of year non-consolidated Cold weather payments were increased to £25.00, performance pay is determined by the relevant departmental from £8.50, for winter 2008-09 and kept at that level for Pay Committee, in line with recommendations by the 2009-10. This helped approximately 4.0 million people independent Senior Salaries Review Body. in homes across Great Britain. In all £210 million was The total payments made in respect of the last three spent in 2008-09 and 8.4 million payments were made financial years were as follows. (Figures for 2009-10 (some received more than one payment). For this current already include all non-consolidated performance payments winter we have already committed approximately £261 to be made in the current year.) million at 12 January 2010. Total number Total paid Average Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Financial year of recipients (£ million) payment (£) Work and Pensions what information is contained in 2007-08 111,943 36.61 327.04 the notification of a cold weather payment sent to each 2008-09 107,726 23.32 216.48 recipient of the payment. [311358] 2009-10 109,334 21.81 199.48
Helen Goodman: The cold weather payment notifications from the Pension Service and Jobcentre Plus contain Special awards common information relating to the amount, how it Individuals may be awarded a special award either as will be paid, the weather conditions that apply and the cash or retail vouchers. These are one-off recognition right of appeal. awards, payable at any time during the performance year, to recognise exceptional achievements beyond what Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for would normally be expected. Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 The total number of awards made was as follows (a January 2010, Official report, column 651W, on cold small number of individuals may have received more weather payments, if she will bring forward proposals than one cash or voucher payment during the year): to enable wind chill factors to be taken into account in determining eligibility for cold weather payments. Cash payments [311387] Financial Total number of Total paid Average year recipients (£ million) payment (£) Helen Goodman: I refer the hon. Member to the 2007-08 11,250 2.70 240 written answer I gave on 14 January 2010, Official 2008-09 14,612 3.04 208 Report, column 1109W, to the hon. Member for Orkney 2009-101 5,079 0.91 179 and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael). 1April 2009 to August 2009. 59W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 60W
Voucher payments Angela E. Smith: I have been asked to reply. Financial Total number of Total cost year vouchers issued (£ million) Value The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority 2007-08 31,237 1.77 Between £25 and to reply. £50 2008-09 47,121 2.02 Between £25 and Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: £50 As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I 2009-101 17,918 0.95 Between £25 and have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question £50 concerning the level of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth employment 1April 2009 to August 2009. in Preston in each year since 1997. (311073) Regrettably an error has been identified in the reply Long-term employment is not a concept for which the Office that I gave to question 290416 from the hon. Member for National Statistics produces statistics. for Putney (Justine Greening) on 12 October 2009, Official Report, columns 56-58W. The reply said the Jobcentre Plus number of vouchers issued in 2008-09 was 28,869 and the cost was £1.03 million, whereas the correct information is 47,121 vouchers issued at a cost of £2.02 million. I Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for have written to the hon. Member for Putney to apologise Work and Pensions whether all employers offering jobs for this inadvertent error. to be advertised through Jobcentre Plus are asked whether the job can be offered on a flexible, part-time Employment Schemes or jobshare basis. [309978]
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Jim Knight [holding answer 11 January 2010]: The and Pensions (1) what estimate she has made of the administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the number of Jobcentre Plus customers who have had chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have fortnightly jobsearch reviews shorter than their asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information allocated time in the latest period for which figures are requested. available; [309333] Letter from Darra Singh: (2) what guidance her Department has issued on the The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to time an adviser should spend with jobseekers at their reply to your question whether all employers offering jobs to be fortnightly jobsearch review; [309334] advertised through Jobcentre Plus are asked whether the job can be offered on a flexible, part-time or jobshare basis. This is (3) what information her Department collects on the something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as time spent by staff with Jobcentre Plus customers Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. during their fortnightly jobsearch review; [309335] Jobcentre Plus always asks for details about the hours that are (4) what estimate she has made of the average time required, including any relevant terms and conditions, though taken to perform a fortnightly jobsearch in each month employers are not routinely asked whether the job can be offered of 2009. [309349] on a flexible or jobshare basis. If, however, the employer wishes to include information about jobshare or flexible working this information can be recorded on the vacancy. Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Jobcentre Plus also contacts employers about each vacancy once they have been displayed by us for 48 hours. This enables us Singh. I have asked him to provide the right hon. to discuss the employer’s recruitment needs and identify if the Member with the information requested. employer may be interested in other Jobcentre Plus initiatives as Letter from Darra Singh: well as identifying if there are other ways which could be considered to help the employer fill their vacancy. This will include the The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions possible options around flexibility, part time working and job asking what estimate she has made of the number of Jobcentre share. Plus customers who have had fortnightly jobsearch reviews shorter than their allocated time in the latest period for which figures are Jobcentre Plus is currently looking at options to obtain this available; what guidance her Department has issued on the time type of information from employers as part of its transforming an adviser should spend with jobseekers at their fortnightly labour market services programme. The programme aims to jobsearch review; what information her Department collects on provide a personal service that helps individuals access sustainable the time spent by staff with Jobcentre Plus customers during their work part of which will be to include details of flexibility and fortnightly jobsearch review; and what estimate she has made of jobshare options where they apply when the employer initially the average time taken to perform a fortnightly jobsearch in each places the vacancy. month of 2009. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. Jobseeker’s Allowance The average time allocation for fortnightly jobsearch reviews (at which customers “sign on”) is 7.5 minutes, but the actual time taken will vary depending upon individual customer needs. Data Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work on the average length of time actually taken to undertake jobsearch and Pensions how many unprocessed jobseeker’s reviews is not collated. allowance claims there were in each (a) region and (b) I hope this information is helpful. Jobcentre Plus district in each of the last six months; what the average time taken to process claims in each Employment: Preston instance was; and if she will make a statement. [300684]
Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a and Pensions what recent estimate she has made of the matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra level of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth employment Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member in Preston in each year since 1997. [311073] with the information requested. 61W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 62W
Letter from Darra Singh: Pensioners: Poverty The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many unprocessed Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claims there were in each (a) region and (b) Jobcentre Plus district in Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work each of the last six months; what the average time taken to and Pensions how many pensioners in poverty there process claims in each instance was. This is something which falls were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2009. [311777] within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. Jobcentre Plus does not process claims at District level but in Angela Eagle: The Government use a basket of three Benefit Delivery Centres. Therefore the Management Information supplied will be for each Benefit Delivery Centre. I have also key thresholds of income, after housing costs, to measure provided data at regional level as requested. pensioner poverty. The most commonly used figures relate to those with incomes below 60 per cent. of Jobcentre Plus gathers information on the volume of unprocessed claims from its internal benefit processing systems. As claims are contemporary median income, after housing costs. received in Benefit Delivery Centres they are recorded on this Estimates of poverty are published annually in the system. The count of these unprocessed claims is a snapshot of ‘Households Below Average Income’ publication. The which claims have yet to be fully processed to the point a decision is made on entitlement on the last working day of every month. most recent estimate which can be made is for 2007-08, The data provided may also slightly underestimate the volume of due to availability of data. claims being processed as some cases could be in transit and/or be Latest information is provided in the following table: waiting to be logged onto the system. Jobcentre Plus has a target for the average actual clearance Number and proportion of pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of median household income, after housing costs, in 1997-98 (GB) and time taken to process JSA claims, currently 11.5 days. Current 2007-08 (UK) year to date performance, as of November 2009, is 10.0 days. The time is calculated across an average of all the claims cleared in any Total number of Proportion of given month looking at the date the customer first contacted pensioners pensioners Jobcentre Plus or the customer’s first day of unemployment, 1997-98 2,900,000 29 whichever is the later. The end date is the date a formal decision is made on the claim and a notification is issued to the customer on 2007-08 2,000,000 18 entitlement. Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income Information on the number of unprocessed claims and the (HBAI) data, sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). FRS average time taken to process claims from May 2009 to October figures are for Great Britain up to 1997-98, and for the United 2009 in each Region and Benefit Delivery Centre has been placed Kingdom from 1998-99, with estimates for Northern Ireland imputed in Library. for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. New Deal Schemes: Preston Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners her Department and Pensions how many women resident in Preston estimates were in absolute poverty in (a) the East have participated in (a) the New Deal for Lone Parents Midlands Government Office Region and (b) England and (b) the New Deal for Partners since 1997; and if in each year since 1997. [311111] she will make a statement. [311077]
Helen Goodman: The available information can be Angela Eagle: Estimates of poverty are published found in the following tables. annually in the Households Below Average Income series. The Government use a basket of three key thresholds New Deal for Lone Parents—starters (individuals) caseload: gender of income, after housing costs, to measure pensioner (female) by Westminster parliamentary constituency up to August 2009 poverty. Absolute poverty is referred to as 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median income uprated in line with prices. Preston parliamentary constituency Caseloads (female) A: East midlands Government office region Total 1,960 Latest information for the east midlands Government New Deal for Partners—individuals starting the caseload since April office region, is based on three year averages and is 2004 People starting: gender (female) by Westminster parliamentary provided in Table 1. constituency up to August 2009 Table 1: Number and percentage of pensioners falling below 60 per Preston parliamentary cent. of 1998-99 median household income (uprated in line with constituency Caseloads (female) prices), after housing costs, in the east midlands Government office region, since 1997, information in three year averages Total 20 Number Percentage Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 1997-98 to 1999-2000 200,000 30 2. Westminster parliamentary constituency (post May 2005) is allocated 1998-99 to 2000-01 200,000 26 using the ONS postcode directory and customer’s postcode. 3. The New Deal for Lone Parents was introduced in October 1998, 1999-2000 to 2001-02 200,000 22 latest data is to August 2009. 2000-01 to 2002-03 100,000 19 4. Data for New Deal for Partners is available from April 2004 2001-02 to 2003-04 100,000 15 (programme started in May 1999), latest data is available to August 2002-03 to 2004-05 100,000 12 2009. Source: 2003-04 to 2005-06 100,000 10 Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate 2004-05 to 2006-07 100,000 11 63W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 64W
Table 1: Number and percentage of pensioners falling below 60 per Table 2: Number and percentage of pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median household income (uprated in line with cent. of 1998-99 median household income (uprated in line with prices), after housing costs, in the east midlands Government office prices), after housing costs, in England since 1997 region, since 1997, information in three year averages Number Percentage Number Percentage 2005-06 to 2007-08 800,000 9 2005-06 to 2007-08 100,000 11 Notes: Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data, sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The (HBAI) data, sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. Three reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. Three sample years have been combined for regional statistics as single year sample years have been combined for regional statistics as single year estimates are subject to volatility. estimates are subject to volatility. 2. Small changes in estimates from year to year, particularly at the 2. Small changes in estimates from year to year, particularly at the bottom of the income distribution, may not be significant in view of bottom of the income distribution, may not be significant in view of data uncertainties. data uncertainties. 3. Numbers of pensioners have been rounded to the nearest 100,000, 3. Numbers of pensioners have been rounded to the nearest 100,000, while proportions of pensioners in low-income households have been while proportions of pensioners in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. rounded to the nearest percentage point. Social Security Benefits: Publicity B: England Latest information for England, again based on three Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for year averages, is provided in Table 2. Work and Pensions how much money her Department (a) spent in each year since 2005 and (b) expects to Table 2: Number and percentage of pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median household income (uprated in line with spend in each of the next three years to raise public prices), after housing costs, in England since 1997 awareness of benefit entitlements. [303400] Number Percentage Jim Knight: We want everyone to claim all the help 1997-98 to 1999-2000 2,400,000 28 they are entitled to but primarily we want people of 1998-99 to 2000-01 2,100,000 25 working age to work rather than claim benefits so our 1999-2000 to 2001-02 1,700,000 20 focus is on promotion of in-work benefits. For pension 2000-01 to 2002-03 1,300,000 15 age customers, we promote pension credit and associated 2001-02 to 2003-04 1,100,000 12 benefits such as council tax benefit, housing benefit and 2002-03 to 2004-05 900,000 10 winter fuel payments. 2003-04 to 2005-06 800,000 9 The breakdown for direct expenditure on these issues 2004-05 to 2006-07 800,000 9 is as follows:
£ Pension age benefits Working age benefits Breakdown
2005-06 3,073,000 — Pension credit 910,000 Council tax benefit 743,000 Winter fuel allowance 1,420,000
2006-07 2,509,000 — Pension credit 2,040,000 Winter fuel allowance 469,000
2007-08 2,030,000 12,000 Local housing allowance 12,000 Pension credit 1,437,000 Council tax benefit 277,000 Winter fuel allowance 316,000
2008-09 1,154,000 — Pension credit 786,000 Council tax benefit 84,000 Winter fuel allowance 284,000
2009-10 1,381,000 175,000 Housing/council tax as in-work 175,000 benefits and overall working age strategy development Pension credit 1,107,000 Council tax benefit 50,000 Winter fuel allowance 224,000 65W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 66W
Anticipated level of expenditure for 2010-11 is £175,000 Winter Fuel Payments: Preston on working age benefits and £1,226,000 on pension age benefits. Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Budgets are not set as yet for 2011-12 and 2012-13. and Pensions how many pensioners resident in Preston have received the winter fuel allowance since its State Retirement Pensions introduction. [311078]
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Angela Eagle: Information on winter fuel payments and Pensions if she will estimate the (a) gross and (b) was not broken down by parliamentary constituency net additional spend on the basic state pension if it were for winters 1997-98 and 1998-99. The information from increased by the rate of increase in average earnings, the winter 1999-2000 onwards is in the following table. retail price index or 2.5 per cent., whichever was the Preston constituency highest, in each of the next five years. [306375] Payments made
Angela Eagle [holding answer 14 December 2009]: 1999-2000 15,375 The information requested is given in the following 2000-01 16,830 table: 2001-02 16,735 Additional basic state pension spend from uprating the basic state 2002-03 16,570 pension by the higher of earnings, the retail prices index or the 2.5 per 2003-04 16,520 cent. underpin, £ billion 2009-10 price terms, net of income related 2004-05 15,970 benefits, UK and overseas 2005-06 15,940 Additional spend 2006-07 15,900 2010-11 0.0 2007-08 16,110 2011-12 0.0 2008-09 16,200 2012-13 0.3 Notes: 2013-14 0.3 1. Figures up to 2001-02 are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures from 2002-03 onwards are rounded to the nearest 10. 2014-15 0.3 3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes Notes: against the relevant ONS postcode directory. 1. Baseline projections of expenditure on pensioner benefits used for Source: these costings assume that the basic state pension is increased by Information Directorate 100 per cent. data earnings from 2012. Prior to 2012, projections assume that the basic state pension is uprated by the greater of RPI or 2.5 per cent. 2. Estimates given are net to baseline, they do not include the gross additional basic state pension spend from implementing the 2007 Pensions Act reforms to the basic state pension from April 2010. Winter Fuel Payments: Walsall 3. During the next Parliament, we will re-link the uprating of the basic state pension to average earnings. Our objective, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, is to do this in 2012, but in any Mr. Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work event by the end of the next Parliament at the latest. We will make a statement on the precise date at the beginning of the next Parliament. and Pensions how many claims for winter fuel payments 4. In the financial years up to and including 2014-15 Treasury were made by households in (a) Aldridge-Brownhills economic assumptions consistent with table B1 of the pre-Budget constituency and (b) the Walsall Metropolitan Borough report 2009 have been used in the above modelling. Council area in each of the last five years. [310787] 5. The costs and savings estimates provided are based on future projections of earnings and price inflation—which are inherently uncertain and subject to change particularly in light of the current Angela Eagle: Information on winter fuel payment economic uncertainty. This is underlined by the fact that the estimated claims made by households in Aldridge-Brownhills and cost of earnings uprating has changed from estimates based on Treasury economic assumptions consistent with Table C1 of the Walsall metropolitan borough council is not available. Budget 2009. Information about the number of payments made to 6. Estimates are in 2009-10 prices, have been rounded to the nearest households in Aldridge-Brownhills and Walsall £100 million and include UK and overseas claimants. Source: metropolitan borough council is in the following table. DWP calculations 2008-09 is the latest year for which information is available. Winter Fuel Payments: Barnsley Walsall metropolitan Aldridge-Brownhills borough council Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Barnsley East 2004-05 13,935 39,260 and Mexborough constituency are in receipt of winter 2005-06 14,190 39,670 fuel allowance. [310669] 2006-07 14,380 39,870 2007-08 14,700 40,490 Angela Eagle: For winter 2008-09 (the last year for 2008-09 14,910 40,790 which information is available), 18,700 people received Notes: a winter fuel payment in Barnsley, East and Mexborough. 1. Figures from 2004-05 are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures from 2005-06 onwards are rounded to the nearest 10. Notes: 3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. against the relevant ONS postcode directory. Source: 2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes Information Directorate 100 per cent data. against the relevant ONS postcode directory. 67W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 68W
TRANSPORT Paul Clark: Robust measures are in place, as a component of the National Aviation Security Programme. These Automatic Number Plate Recognition measures are always subject to review, if necessary.
Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department Department for Transport what recent discussions he for Transport whether he plans to introduce new security has had with operators of motorway service areas on measures at airports outside the security screened area. the installation of automatic plate registration number [310309] equipment; and if he will make a statement. [310618] Paul Clark: Robust measures are in place, as a component Chris Mole: Operational issues affecting the management of the National Aviation Security Programme. These of a service area are the responsibility of the site operator measures are always subject to review, if necessary. and Government have not been involved in discussions regarding the installation of automatic number plate Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department recognition equipment. for Transport what recent steps have been taken to increase the security of airport perimeters. [310310] Aviation: Security Paul Clark: Robust measures are in place, as a component of the National Aviation Security Programme. These Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department measures are always subject to review, if necessary. for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on the introduction of additional Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, security measures at UK airports. [310286] Department for Transport pursuant to the Secretary of State’s contribution of 5 January 2010, Official Report, Paul Clark: Department for Transport officials attended House of Lords, column 42, on terrorism: aviation and a special meeting of the EU’s Regulatory Committee border security, whether funds from his Department’s for Civil Aviation Security in Brussels on 7 January budget have been allocated to other countries to assist 2010, at which there was discussion about the current the improvement of airport security in the last five security situation and possible responses to the incident years. [310311] that took place on 25 December 2009. They are keeping in regular touch with senior officials in the European Paul Clark: Funds from the Department for Transport’s Commission. budget have been and continue to be allocated to assist the improvement of aviation security in other countries. Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, The Department has officials that are fully engaged in Department for Transport what recent discussions he international and European fora developing and improving has had with representatives of airlines on security aviation security. In addition since 2002 the Department training for check-in staff; and whether he plans to has had a network of five regional aviation security introduce requirements for additional security training liaison officers (RASLOs) who are tasked to provide for such check-in staff. [310290] advice and assistance on aviation security throughout Africa, Middle East and Asia. Paul Clark: The training of check-in staff is covered by regulations issued by the Department for Transport Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, under the Aviation Security Act 1982. These Regulations Department for Transport whether his Department has impose mandatory training on new check-in staff, and had discussions with its overseas counterparts on the regular refresher training for existing staff. introduction of body scanners at airports which have The UK aviation security training programme is kept services to the UK. [310313] under regular review, both through a departmental Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has held working group, at which key industry stakeholders are discussions with its counterparts overseas on the represented, and regular liaison between officials and introduction of body scanners at airports, including the industry. No representations have been received those which have flights to the UK. The most detailed seeking additional training for check-in staff and there discussions have been with the EU and with the USA. are currently no plans to introduce any. Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, for Transport pursuant to his oral statement of 5 January Department for Transport what assessment has been 2010, Official Report, columns 28-32, on aviation and made of the potential security risks posed by long border security, what equipment his Department classifies queues at airports. [310306] as explosive trace detection equipment. [310342] Paul Clark: The Department for Transport, together Paul Clark: The Department for Transport classifies with the police and the Centre for the Protection of explosive trace detection as a technique/technology that National Infrastructure (CPNI) provide airport operators has the capability to detect particulate or vapour of an with advice on landside measures to mitigate the risk to explosive material. passengers, prior to being screened at the search comb. Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to for Transport whether he plans to introduce increased prevent suicide bomb attacks on aeroplanes by people surveillance at airports (a) outside and (b) inside security prepared to ingest explosives or have them surgically screened areas. [310308] implanted. [310355] 69W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 70W
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is keeping The results are measured against Health and Safety all potential threats to aviation under review, in close Executive Workplace Exposure Limits and other European co-operation with European and international partners. exposure limits. This monitoring, which is carried out by an independent organisation, shows that the levels Body Searches: X-rays being recorded at the Dartford Crossing are consistently well below set acceptable levels. Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department Under part 4 of the Environment Act 1995, Dartford for Transport what assessment his Department has Borough Council and Thurrock Council operate Air made of the effects on health of the use of body Quality Management Areas on the A282 adjacent to scanners that use X-ray technology. [309427] the crossing. These results can be found on the following websites: Paul Clark: Some body scanners are X-ray machines, www.dartford.gov.uk so a very small dose of radiation is involved. Previous assessments carried out by Health Protection Agency www.thurrock.gov.uk and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital show the risk to be negligible in comparison to background radiation dose Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Road Traffic received from naturally occurring radiation. Further risk assessments are being obtained for future deployments. Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Borders: Personal Records Department for Transport what systems are used for switching on Q queuing signs on the Dartford River Crossing approaches; and what (a) traffic levels and Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department (b) other variables trigger the signs. [309416] for Transport what recent representations he has received from the airline industry on the e-borders programme. Chris Mole: The “Q” signs on the approaches to the [310285] Dartford River Crossing were unique to Dartford and did not conform to signs used on the rest of the highway Paul Clark: The Department for Transport and the network. Their use was terminated in April 2009. Home Office both hold regular stakeholder meetings to facilitate contact between the airline industry and At present, traffic flows are monitored and when Government on the e-borders programme. These meetings operators perceive that congestion has developed on the provide a forum for industry representations on all approach to the crossing, signs warning of queues are aspects of the e-borders programme. set manually. The Highways Agency are in the process of implementing Dartford-Thurrock Crossing proposals for variable message signs to display the word “Queue” and be automatically set by the Motorway Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling system for Transport what monthly indicators are used by (a) based on various factors including traffic levels. This his Department and (b) the Highways Agency to monitor system is expected to operate from April 2010. performance in respect of the operation of the Dartford River Crossing. [309419] Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport between which points journey time Chris Mole: A wide range of performance indicators measurements relating to the Dartford River Crossing are measured by the Highways Agency for the operation are monitored on a monthly basis by (a) his Department of the Strategic Road Network which includes the and (b) the Highways Agency. [309417] Dartford River Crossing. The Highways Agency’s contract with the Dartford Crossing operator (Connect Plus) Chris Mole: The Dartford Crossing is part of the includes the following four other specific performance strategic road network, which is monitored by the Highways indicators for the Dartford River Crossing: Agency. 1. The average queue length at the toll booths; The crossing lies within one of the routes monitored 2. The average time for payment transactions; for progress against the Department for Transport’s 3. The effectiveness of responding to faults within technology public service agreement indicator on journey time reliability equipment at the Dartford Crossing; on the strategic road network. The public service agreement 4. The rate of injuries, accidents and near misses to road indicator relates to delays rather than specific journey workers at the Dartford Crossing. times. Information is collected by the Highways Agency Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Air Pollution on behalf of the Department. The indicator route from Junction 30 to Junction 7 of Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, the M25 (clockwise and anti-clockwise) includes the Department for Transport what aspects of air quality road over the crossing. are monitored at the Dartford River Crossing; and if Journey time information is also collected by the he will make a statement. [309418] Highways Agency for each junction to junction link on the motorway network. Links from Junction 30 to Chris Mole: The Highways Agency undertakes workplace Junction 2 of the M25 (clockwise and anti-clockwise) exposure surveys to ascertain background concentrations are used to provide journey time estimates for vehicles of diesel exhaust fumes, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, using the crossing. The crossing itself is most closely nitrogen oxides, toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene and benzene represented by links from Junction 31 to Junction 1A of during the normal working day. the M25. 71W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 72W
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department Average traffic flows by lane for the period 13 September 2009 to 2 January 2010, figures for charging period only (06:00 a.m. to for Transport what estimate he has made of the average 10:00 p.m.) traffic flow through each of the toll-collecting lanes at Lane Daily Weekly the Dartford River Crossing toll plaza during each (a) day and (b) week in the last 12 months. [309422] 17 4,135 28,943 18 3,933 27,528 Chris Mole: The average traffic flow through each of 19 4,227 29,592 the toll-collecting lanes at the Dartford River Crossing 20 4,435 31,042 toll plaza during each (a) daily period and (b) week are 21 4,860 34,017 as follows: 22 5,200 36,399 23 5,419 37,934 Average traffic flows by lane for the period 13 September 2009 to 2 January 2010, figures for charging period only (06:00 a.m. to 24 5,032 35,224 10:00 p.m.) 25 5,321 37,247 Lane Daily Weekly 26 5,550 38,852 27 5,559 38,915 1 3,532 24,722 2 4,443 31,102 3 4,934 34,541 Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department 4 4,150 29,051 for Transport what recent progress has been made against 5 4,564 31,947 public service agreement targets relating to congestion 6 4,691 32,836 at (a) the Dartford River Crossing and (b) roads 7 4,492 31,446 leading to that crossing. [309423] 8 4,734 33,136 9 5,020 35,140 Chris Mole: On 3 December 2009 the Department 10 4,505 31,537 published the latest monthly statistics (October 2009) 11 4,839 33,873 on congestion on inter-urban roads as part of monitoring 12 4,630 32,413 progress on its public service agreement (PSA) target. 13 4,803 33,623 The Dartford River Crossing lies within one of the 14 4,385 30,698 routes monitored (M25 junction 30 to junction 7) for 15 4,672 32,706 the PSA target. Table 1 shows the provisional figures for 16 4,619 32,334 this route for the year ending October 2009.
Table 1: Average vehicle delay (minutes per 10 miles) on the slowest 10 per cent. of journeys on the PSA route incorporating the Dartford Crossing Average vehicle delay year Average vehicle delay year Road number Route start point Route end point ending March 2008 ending October 2009
M25/A282 J30 Dartford J7 Redhill 9.46 7.30 M25/A282 J7 Redhill J30 Dartford 11.35 8.42
Table 2 shows the provisional figures for the year ending October 2009 for the PSA routes approaching the Dartford Crossing.
Table 2: Average vehicle delay (minutes per 10 miles) on the slowest 10 per cent. of journeys on the PSA routes approaching the Dartford Crossing Average vehicle delay year Average vehicle delay year Road number Route start point Route end point ending March 2008 ending October 2009
A13/A1089 A1089 Tilbury A13 Aveley 4.86 4.40 A2 London M2 (J1) 8.42 3.60 A2 M2 (J1) London 6.49 3.22 M25 J23 Barnet J30 Dartford 10.63 9.11
This information can be also found on the Department a requirement for a traffic throughput at the Dartford for Transport website at: Toll plazas of 5,000 vehicles per hour, without generating http://www.dft.gov.uk/excel/173025/221412/221546/227050/ traffic queues extending beyond the Toll Plaza areas. 227328/srnroutes.xls To monitor performance against this requirement, the average queue length is measured and reported Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, separately for each payment plaza and time of day Department for Transport whether (a) his Department (peak, off-peak, night). The average toll collection transaction and (b) the Highways Agency has set targets to time each month is also measured and reported upon. increase the rate at which vehicles may pass through the Dartford River Crossing toll plaza. [309424] Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls Chris Mole: The Dartford River Crossing is part of the Strategic Road Network which is monitored by the Highways Agency. The Highways Agency’s contract Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department with the Dartford Crossing operator (Connect Plus) has for Transport whether he has made a recent estimate of 73W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 74W the average balance of a Dartford River Crossing pre- Dartford River Crossing including discounts, was for payment Dart-Tag user’s account in respect of each each vehicle type (a) when a Dart-Tag was being used vehicle type. [309420] by a driver registered in (i) Dartford constituency, (ii) Thurrock constituency, (iii) Gravesham constituency Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not and (iv) another area and (b) when a driver was not make estimates of average balances of Dartford River using a Dart-Tag in 1997; on what dates such charges Crossing pre-payment Dart-Tag accounts. have changed since 1997; and what the new charge was in each case. [309421] Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department Chris Mole: The daytime charges for use of the for Transport what the daytime charge for use of the Dartford River Crossing in 1997 were as follows:
£ Dartford Constituency Thurrock Constituency Gravesham Constituency Other Areas 1997 Cash Dart-tag Cash Dart-tag Cash Dart-tag Cash Dart-tag
Car 1 0.93p 1 0.93p 1 0.93p 1 0.93p 2 axle goods 1.80 1.67 1.80 1.67 1.80 1.67 1.80 1.67 vehicles Multi-axle 2.90 2.69 2.90 2.69 2.90 2.69 2.90 2.69 vehicle Charges effective from 15 November 2008 Car 1— 1.50 1.00 1.50 1.00 2 axle goods 2.00 1.75 2.00 1.75 2.00 1.75 2.00 1.75 vehicles Multi-axle 3.70 3.20 13.70 3.20 3.70 3.20 3.70 3.20 vehicles 1 For an Annual registration fee of 10.00, residents within Dartford and Thurrock council areas are entitled to make 50 free crossings each year and then pay 20p for each subsequent crossing. Note: Charge for towing a trailer or caravan was the same as charge of towing vehicle e.g. one car = two with caravan
In 1997 there were no discounts available to local Planned advertising campaign expenditure 2009-10 residents and there was no differentiation between day Organisation Campaign £000 and night time charges. Any vehicle towing a trailer or Enhanced Rider Scheme 87 caravan was charged double the above amount. Eco-Safe DSA 9 Revised charges came into effect on 15 November 2008 and all vehicles became free of charge between 10pm and 6am. In addition, there is no longer a charge DVLA Sale of Marks 2,960 for towing a trailer/caravan. VED Enforcement 1,383 Electronic Vehicle Licensing 1,660 Driver Licence on-line (DLO) 2,233
Departmental Advertising GCDA — 0
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, HA Roadworker Safety 292 Department for Transport what advertising campaigns Don’t be that Guy 57 for which his Department is responsible have (a) Summer Getaway 87 commenced and (b) continued in 2009-10; and what the cost of each such campaign has been. [309945] MCA Sea Smart (Dial 999 for the 34 Coastguard) Chris Mole: Estimates of planned advertising expenditure Tombstoning 15 for 2009-10 on campaigns being run by the central Lifejackets 65 Department and its executive agencies are set out in the following table. VCA — 0 Planned advertising campaign expenditure 2009-10 Organisation Campaign £000 VOSA ATF Campaign planned for 2010 2 DfT(C) THINK! 11,084 Act on C02 4,400 Departmental Buildings Transport Direct 430 Sarah Teather: To ask the Minister of State, Department DSA Passplus 26 for Transport what the (a) area and (b) estimated Driver CPC 38 value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department. [310520] 75W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 76W
Chris Mole: The information requested for the Department for Transport and its seven Executive Agencies, is provided in the following table.
(i) Vacant (ii) Occupied DfT Organisational Unit (A) Owned (B) Rented (A) Owned (B) Rented
DfT Central (a) Area 0 0 2,046 38,829 (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a 1— 212.3 million
Driver and Vehicle Licensing (a) Area 0 2,294 46,508 40,203 Agency (b) Estimated value (£) n/a 0.5 million 6.1 million 6.4 million
Driving Standards Agency (a) Area 0 2,995 0 6,620 (b) Estimated value (£) n/a 415,000 n/a 1 million
Government Car and Despatch (a) Area 0 0 0 5,172 Agency (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a n/a 2910,117
Highways Agency (a) Area 0 1,300 3,450 26,500 (b) Estimated value (£) n/a 0.18 million 1.7 million 25 million
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (a) Area 0 0 19,699 32,216 (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a 54.3 million 22.2 million
Vehicle and Operator Services (a) Area 0 0 2,474 7,035.00 Agency (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a 2.1 million 21.4 million
Vehicle Certification Agency (a) Area 0 0 0 2,024 (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a n/a 2188,126 1 Data not available. 2 Based on passing rent. Note: Driving Standards Agency response excludes properties shared with other Government Departments—Maritime and Coastguard Agency estate is classified as either “core” or “non-core” and is not divided into “office” or “other”. The figures above reflect “core” space.
Departmental Conferences administrative penalties in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [309267] Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much was spent by his Chris Mole: The following administrative penalties Department and its agencies on conferences they have been identified as being within the scope of the organised which were subsequently cancelled in each of question. the last three years; and what the title was of each such 1. By sections 54, 62 and 75 of the Road Traffic conference. [308835] Offenders Act 1988 vehicle examiners working within the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) (an Chris Mole: This information is not held centrally Executive Agency of the Department for Transport) and the Department for Transport can provide the have power to issue fixed penalties in respect of certain detail of the cost of conferences organised which were road traffic offences. An example of an offence for subsequently cancelled and what they were called in which VOSA may issue a fixed penalty is an offence in each of the last three years only by incurring relation to drivers’ hours (under section 96(11) of the disproportionate costs. Transport Act 1968). Departmental Fines From May 2009 (when the power was introduced) to December 2009, VOSA issued fixed penalties to the Mr. Garnier: To ask the Minister of State, Department total value of £2.4 million. for Transport what powers (a) his Department and (b) 2. The Railways Act 1993 provides for certain each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies administrative penalty powers within the scope of the (NDPBs) have to impose administrative penalties; what question: the statutory basis is for each such power; and how (a) Section 55(7A) allows the Secretary of State to make a final much (i) his Department and its predecessor and (ii) or provisional order against a relevant operator (most obviously a each of its agencies and NDPBs have recovered in franchisee). The order may contain a requirement to pay the 77W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 78W
Secretary of State a specified sum in the event of a specified Under section 111 of the Transport Act 1985 (as contravention of the order. The specified sum may not exceed amended by section 158 of the Transport Act 2000), 10 per cent. of the relevant entity’s annual turnover. Traffic Commissioners could require the operator of (b) Section 57A allows the Secretary of State to impose a unregistered or unreliable local services to repay up to penalty on a relevant operator (most obviously a franchisee). A 20 per cent. of a bus fuel duty grant. Section 111 was penalty imposed under this section may not exceed 10 per cent. of repealed with effect from 2002. the relevant entity’s annual turnover. The following table sets out the penalties imposed The Strategic Rail Authority (from which the Secretary under the section 39, the section 111 and the section 155 of State took over responsibility for imposing penalties powers (taken together; in some cases the amounts have under sections 55(7A) and 57A) imposed one penalty of been estimated). £2 million in 2002 under section 57A. The Secretary of State has never imposed a penalty under section 55(7A) Penalties imposed (£) or 57A and is not aware that the Strategic Rail Authority imposed any further penalties. 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 45,000.00 The Office of the Rail Regulator (and its predecessor—it 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 181,209.00 was established in its current form in 2004) has also 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 140,725.00 imposed penalties under the Railways Act 1993 but 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 275,580.00 details are not included in this response as it is a 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 90,050.00 separate (non-ministerial) Government Department and 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 214,978.00 not an agency or NDPB of the Department for Transport. 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 407,590.00 3. Section 7A of the Vehicle Excise and Registration 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 199,170.00 Act 1994 and regulation 9A of the Road Vehicles 1 April 2009 to 30 September 2009 32,900.00 (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 operate 5. The British Transport Police Authority (″BTPA″) so that where registered keepers of motor vehicles do is an NDPB of the Department for Transport. A constable not pay their vehicle excise duty on time (and renew of the British Transport Police Force (″BTP Force″, their vehicle licence) they are charged a supplement. being the police force that the BTPA maintains and This supplement may be collected as a debt by the oversees) has power to issue penalty notices. The principal Crown. By regulation 9A(3): powers are: ″The supplement shall be £80, except when it is paid to the (a) Section 2 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, Secretary of State before the expiry of 28 days beginning with the under which a constable of the BTP Force may issue penalty date on which the registered keeper is notified that a supplement notices in respect of the disorderly behaviour offences listed in may or has become payable, when it shall be £40.″ section 1 of that Act. An example of such an offence is trespassing The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (an Executive on a railway (under section 55 of the British Transport Commission Agency of the Department for Transport) is responsible Act 1949). for collecting the supplements. It has recovered the Section 2 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 extends following amounts since supplements were introduced to England and Wales, but not to Scotland. in January 2004: (b) Sections 54, 62 and 75 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, under which a constable of the BTP Force has power to Financial year Penalty income (£ million) issue fixed penalties in respect of certain road traffic offences. An example of such an offence is failure to stop a vehicle upon being 2003-04 0.1 so required by a constable in uniform (under section 163 of the 2004-05 17 Road Traffic Act 1988). 2005-06 24.1 (c) Section 129 of the Anti-social Behaviour etc. (Scotland) 2006-07 24.5 Act 2004, under which a constable of the BTP Force in Scotland 2007-08 28.3 has power (since 1 April 2009) to issue fixed penalty notices in respect of the antisocial behaviour offences specified in section 2008-09 30.1 128 of that Act. An example of such an offence is vandalism (under section 52(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) 4. Traffic Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary Act 1995). of State for Transport. From 2006 (when constables of the BTP Force started They have the power to impose administrative penalties issuing fixed penalties in England and Wales) to 2009, under section 155 of the Transport Act 2000 (which has the following amounts have been recovered by way of been amended by the Local Transport Act 2008). Section payment for fixed penalties in England and Wales: 155 enables the Commissioners to impose financial sanctions of up to £550 per vehicle operated under a Penalty income (£) Public Service Vehicle operator’s licence. The recent amendments made by the 2008 Act also enable the 2006 109,320 Commissioners to require operators to pay compensation 2007 180,270 to passengers affected by poorly operated services, or to 2008 169,500 require operators to spend money either on specific 2009 189,140 services or facilities, or on improvements to such services or facilities. Section 155 extends to England and Wales. In the time available, it has been possible to obtain There is an equivalent provision in relation to Scotland payment figures only for England and Wales. contained in section 39 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 6. Section 129 of the Energy Act 2004 allows certain 2001 (sums recovered are paid to the Scottish Ministers). provisions of that Act which are relevant to renewable Section 39 has not, however, been amended in the same fuels to be “designate” by Order, and then for civil way as section 155 was by the 2008 Act. penalties to be imposed by the Renewable Fuels Agency 79W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 80W
(an NDPB of the Department for Transport) in respect Chris Mole: Motorway service areas are required, as of non-compliance with those designated provisions. outlined in the Government’s Policy on Roadside Facilities Article 23 of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation on Motorways and All-Purpose Trunk Roads (DFT Order 2007 details the designated provisions in question. circular January 2008), to provide free parking for up to The civil penalty mechanism has not been used and two hours for all types of vehicle. This allows drivers of so no sums have been paid. commercial vehicles to comply with the break requirements in the EU drivers’ hours rules which were introduced to Departmental Food support road safety. After two hours, operators are permitted to charge for parking. Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of State, Department The Government plan, as part of their strategy for for Transport what estimate he has made of the lorry parking provision in England, to undertake a quantity of food waste generated by his Department in formal review of the whole policy, which will include its each year for which figures are available. [310817] role in contributing to road safety and operational efficiency. Chris Mole: Within the Department for Transport, on-site catering services are only available at the Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department Department’s main headquarters building in London, for Transport (1) when he last had discussions with (a) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) sites representatives of road safety organisations and (b) in Swansea, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Training motoring organisations representing drivers of (i) private and Development centre in Cardington (Bedfordshire) cars and (ii) commercial operators regarding drivers on and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) long journeys on motorways taking a break; and if he HQ in Bristol. will make a statement; [310615] The requested information is not recorded at our main headquarters building in London nor is it recorded (2) what his policy is on encouraging drivers of all at the DVLA or at VOSA. categories of vehicles to take breaks while on long journeys; and if he will make a statement. [310617] Since July 2009, all food waste at the DSA Training and Development Centre in Cardington has been sent for recycling by anaerobic digestion and then converted Paul Clark: The Department for Transport meets into energy. Between July 2009 to December 2009, 3.76 and consults with road safety and motoring organisations tonnes of food waste has been recycled. to discuss a range of motoring related issues from time to time. It was a member of a recent sub-group on Departmental Public Expenditure fatigue issues of the Health and Safety Executive’s Road Death Action Group which met with the industry Robert Neill: To ask the Minister of State, and trade unions to agree best practice and advice to Department for Transport with reference to the answer employers. of 29 October 2009, Official Report, column 495W, on The Department’s policy is to encourage drivers to departmental public expenditure, how much funding is plan their journeys to include breaks every two hours or being transferred from his Department’s budgets to the so. Advice is contained in rule 91 of the current Highway Department for Communities and Local Government; Code, which is available online. The Department’s THINK! and from which of his Department’s budgets that Road Safety and Driving for Better Business campaigns funding will be transferred. [308660] also provide advice on driver sleepiness. These are online at: Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has www.dft.gov.uk/think transferred £350 million from its capital budget for 2009-10, to the Department for Communities and Local and Government. Of this, £300 million was made available http://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/ from the release of rail fiscal stimulus funding with the respectively. remaining £50 million coming from the Departmental Unallocated Provision. Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department Driving: Safety for Transport if he will make it his policy to erect ‘tiredness kills, take a break’ signs on trunk roads in the Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department vicinity of service areas; and if he will make a statement. for Transport (1) what consideration he has given to the [310616] effects on (a) road safety and (b) operational efficiency of the displacement of commercial vehicles from motorway Chris Mole: The Highways Agency does authorise service areas whose drivers are required by the terms of the use of signs with the legend ‘Tiredness can kill Take their operators licence to take breaks of in excess of two a break’ to raise driver awareness of the need, on a long hours in driving; and if he will make a statement; journey, for drivers to stop at a service area for a break [310614] in their journey. There is no evidence to prove that this (2) if he will investigate the effects on the drivers of type of sign, if installed in advance of every service commercial vehicles who are required by the terms of area, would generate significant road safety improvements. their operator’s licence to take a break of in excess of They are placed on motorways and dual carriageway two hours of motor service areas restrictions on trunk roads where there is a very considerable distance parking for more than two hours; and if he will make a between service areas or where there is a known problem statement. [310619] of driver fatigue. 81W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 82W
Heating: Housing Parking
Mr. Chope: To ask the Minister of State, Department Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will extend the derogation on for Transport for what reason powers to ban pavement drivers’ hours for the delivery of home heating fuels parking outside London were not included in the revised beyond 18 January 2010. [311307] civil enforcement powers introduced in 2009. [311206]
Paul Clark: On 15 January a further extension to the Mr. Khan: Local authorities outside London already relaxation of the enforcement of the EU drivers’ hours have powers to prohibit parking on the footway where rules was granted for the distribution of gas/oil and they consider this to be a problem, using Traffic Regulation liquid petroleum gas. The relaxation runs until 23.59 on Orders and appropriate traffic signs. They are also able 25 January 2010. to use physical measures such as high kerbs or bollards, which are self-enforcing and effective. Local Government: Parking There are no powers in primary legislation for the Secretary of State to make regulations that would enable Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, local authorities to ban parking on the footway without Department for Transport what guidelines his a Traffic Regulation Order. Department has issued on the setting of council car park charges since 1997. [310772] Passenger Ships: Liverpool
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport’s Operational Mr. Brazier: To ask the Minister of State, Department Guidance to Local Authorities on Parking Policy and for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement Enforcement states that the setting of charges for parking of 16 December 2009, Official Report, column 142WS, on-street or off-street in designated areas is a matter for on Liverpool Cruise Terminal, whether he has received the authority in accordance with the provisions of the a further application from Liverpool City Council for Road Traffic Regulation Act (RTRA) 1984. The Secretary change of use linked to repayment of (a) grant funding of State recommends that authorities set charges at from the European Regional Development Fund and levels which are consistent with the aims of the authority’s (b) funding from the North West Development Agency. transport strategy, including its road safety and traffic [309982] management strategies. The Operational Guidance makes clear that authorities Paul Clark: No. This would primarily be a matter for should never use parking charges just to raise revenue the Government Office North West which authorised or as a local tax. Where there is surplus income local the European regional development fund grant and the authorities must ensure that any on-street revenue is North West Development Agency. used according to the provisions of section 55 of the If repayments were made such that the Liverpool RTRA. Cruise Terminal could no longer be regarded as having relied on public subsidy there would be no barrier to the Motorways: Road Traffic proposed change of use on grounds of state aid, ports competition or harbour regulations. Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer Railways: Bus Services to the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire of 23 June 2009, Official Report, column 768W, on motorways, Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department what assessment he has made of the effects on the level for Transport when the bus rail replacement service of motorway congestion of the DAB radio service between Ealing Broadway and Wandsworth Road first Traffic Radio since its introduction. [309477] began operation; how much it has cost to date; and whether it is still running. [311207] Chris Mole: Traffic Radio is one of a suite of Highways Agency information services designed to provide road Chris Mole: The rail replacement bus service between users with access to the very latest traffic information. Ealing Broadway and Wandsworth Road first started Research has shown that awareness and usage of operation in December 2008 following timetable changes information services can influence levels of motorway by Cross Country. The service costs approximately £2,000 congestion. It is not possible to directly correlate the per month. impact of Traffic Radio to motorway congestion due to It is planned that the service will cease in spring this the complexity of assessing one information service in year when Southern will commence operation of a isolation from the others. In addition, information is service between Ealing Broadway and Wandsworth Road. only one of a series of measures that can contribute towards congestion reduction. Roads: Police The Highways Agency is undertaking a piece of research to evaluate whether the anticipated benefits of Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department Traffic Radio, as outlined in its original specification, for Transport what evaluation his Department has made have been realised. This work is due to be completed by of the effects of the joint Home Office/Department for April 2010 and will be supplemented by information Transport/Association of Chief Police Officers strategy from the agency’s annual Measuring Improvements in on roads policing published in January 2005; and if he Network Information Services survey. will make a statement. [309528] 83W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 84W
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has not Agency entered this winter period with 13 days capacity made any formal evaluation of the effects of the joint and the Government regard this as the right response Roads Policing Strategy. However, the strategy provides following last year’s events. a useful framework for our close cooperation with the It is for each authority to consider the recommendations Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers and decide for themselves how best to take them forward, towards the goal of making our roads safer for all road however, a write-round in late October by regional users. resilience teams (RRTs) in the Government offices found Roads: Repairs and Maintenance that of those local authorities that responded (third of local highway authorities) all but one were holding at least six days’ supply, and more than half of those Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department responding arranged to hold 10 days’ supply or more. for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the extent of damage to roads as a result of the Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, weather since December 2009; what estimate he has Department for Transport what steps his Department made of the costs to local authorities of such damage; is taking to ensure the availability of road salt. [310226] and what assistance his Department plans to provide to local authorities for their repair. [311205] Mr. Khan: The Government have convened a group Mr. Khan: It will be for each local highway authority called the ‘Salt Cell’, bringing together the Department to assess the damage to its network resulting from the for Transport, the devolved Administrations (Scotland severe weather, and to estimate the costs of repair. and Wales), the Highways Agency, the Local Government Association (LGA), County Surveyors Society, Met The Department will consider any requests for financial Office, the Department for Communities and Local assistance that local authorities may make, in line with Government and the Cabinet Office. its established criteria. It will also provide engineering consultancy support to local authorities formulating The aim of the ‘Salt Cell’ is to provide advice to bids. It will be for each bidding authority to demonstrate suppliers on the most effective distribution of available that the damage is exceptional. salt supplies in order to minimise the risk to public safety. The ‘Salt Cell’ is continuously gathering and Roads: Safety assessing information on salt stock and resilience levels and is working hard to ensure salt goes to where it is Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department needed most. for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement On 12 January, the Government directed the Highways of 3 December 2009, Official Report, columns 136-38WS, Agency to conserve the maximum possible salt usage on road safety, when he plans to publish his Department’s each day consistent with maintaining the continued safe response to its consultation on road safety entitled “A operation of the national motorway and truck road Safer Way”. [309451] network. The Highways Agency will conserve significantly more salt than the 25 per cent. which it committed to Paul Clark: On 3 December 2009, we announced that conserving on 8 January. an independent expert, Sir Peter North, had been appointed For local roads, local authorities will also need to to examine the possible changes to the law on drink and conserve significantly more than 25 per cent., recognising drug driving. the importance of mutual support to keep Britain moving The timing of the new road safety strategy will depend safely. Local authorities are taking their own decisions on the outcome of Sir Peter North’s report, which will as to the priorities of supplies in their localities. They inform the final contents of the strategy. We therefore also need to follow the Highways Agency in reviewing expect to publish our response to the “A Safer Way” their salt spreading strategy. road safety consultation alongside the new road safety In aggregate, these measures will conserve between 40 strategy. and 50 per cent. compared to usage before the Roads: Snow and Ice announcement on 8 January.On this basis, the Government expect salt supplies to be sustainable throughout the period of snow and extreme cold weather. Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what quantity of road salt was held in We have also set up mutual aid arrangements, between stock by each local authority on 30 November 2009. the Highways Agency and local authorities, to help [310225] relieve areas which are experiencing particularly tight stocks of salt. Mr. Khan: Following the severe weather conditions We will continue to monitor salt supplies and work last February, the Government asked the UK Roads with all stakeholders, including the Highways Agency, Liaison Group to identify the lessons that should be Local Government Association and salt suppliers, to learnt regarding highway authorities’ preparedness for ensure that we continue to take the necessary collective extreme weather events. The UK Roads Liaison Group action to ensure salt supplies are provided to those who made 19 recommendations, one of which advised that: need it most. “in considering appropriate service standards, at least six days resilience would represent sensible good practice for determining Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, the number of days resilience during the core winter period”. Department for Transport if he will give further The group noted that the Highways Agency was consideration to returning responsibility for road gritting already holding a minimum of six days continuous to lower tier local authorities in two tier areas; and if he heavy salting capacity in winter periods. The Highways will make a statement. [310699] 85W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 86W
Mr. Khan: Winter service is an integral part of highways strategy for 2012 which will look at ways to integrate maintenance, and contributes to highways authorities’ 2012 games messages into everyday work. In essence discharge of their traffic management duties. To separate this means that every aspect of tourism work will feature it from these other aspects of providing a highway the 2012 games. service would offer no benefits but could create inefficiencies. There will also be standalone 2012 games activity such as a campaign to tackle displacement during 2012, Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department a 50 per cent. increase in media coverage, a travel trade for Transport on how many occasions the Highways engagement programme, offline and online visitor Agency has requested to borrow (a) grit and (b) salt information and UK summits for the media/world travel from local authorities in (i) each of the last five years leaders and the business travel market. and (ii) the last six months; how many such requests Very simply, in partnership with industry and the were granted; and how many tonnes of (A) grit and (B) wider public sector, I am seeking to use the 2012 games salt were borrowed in each such case. [311208] to promote the wider messages and interests of destination Britain. Mr. Khan: Grit is not used to treat the Highways Agency’s road network and as such, no grit has been World Cup 2018 requested from local authorities. Over the last six months, the Highways Agency has Mr. Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, made one request to borrow salt from a local authority. Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had on This was granted on 3 January 2010 when one of the the Football Association’s bid to host the 2018 football areas in the agency’s north-eastern region borrowed 40 World Cup. [310887] tonnes from Northumberland county council. Other than this occurrence, the Highways Agency is not aware Mr. Sutcliffe: There are regular discussions between of any other circumstances where salt was borrowed the Department and we have recently been able to agree from local authorities in the last five years. all necessary Guarantees to FIFA and a loan of £2.5 million to support the bid. Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate his Department has made Free Swimming Initiative of the amount of salt which has been stolen from (a) the Highways Agency and (b) local authorities since 1 Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, December 2009. [311209] Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of its free swimming Mr. Khan: There has been no salt stolen from the initiatives for young people and the elderly; and if he Highways Agency since 1 December 2009. We have no will make a statement. [310897] information about salt stolen from local authorities. Mr. Sutcliffe: The 10.4 million free swims undertaken in the first six months are a huge vote of confidence in CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT free swimming and indicate the initiative is being embraced by young and old alike. Legal Deposit Libraries Act We are delighted that 81 per cent. of all eligible councils are signed up to offering free swimming to the 19. Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for older age group and 61 per cent. are also offering free Culture, Media and Sport when the Legal Deposit swimming to the those aged 16 and under. Libraries Act 2003 will be fully brought into effect. The Government have commissioned a robust [310905] independent evaluation of the free swimming programme which is led by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Margaret Hodge: The Legal Deposit Libraries Act PricewaterhouseCoopers will draw together a range 2003 commenced on 1 February 2004. It was always the of data over the coming months to evaluate the impact intention that the Act would be implemented progressively, of the programme. We expect an evaluation report to be as it is enabling legislation in a complex and challenging published in early summer 2010. area. We are currently consulting on proposals for UK Holiday Lettings: Taxation Offline Publications and UK online publications (available free of charge and without access restrictions). In the Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for event that draft regulations result, they would be subject Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he to affirmative resolution in both Houses. has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effects on the tourism industry of changes in taxation Olympics 2012: Tourism of furnished holiday lettings. [310898]
20. Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Margaret Hodge: I met my right hon. Friend the Culture, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take Financial Secretary to the Treasury during December to promote the UK as a tourist destination in to discuss the tourism industry’s concerns about the association with the London 2012 Olympics. [310906] potential impact of the rule changes on the self catering sector. I also helped to convene a meeting in December Margaret Hodge: My Department’s sponsored body, between representatives of the Tourism Alliance, the VisitBritain, will shortly be publishing their marketing Financial Secretary and Treasury officials. 87W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 88W
Competitive Sports: Schools Departmental Electronic Equipment
Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is Media and Sport how many iPods have been bought by taking to facilitate the development of competitive his Department since 2005; and at what cost. [311906] sports in schools. [310904] Mr. Simon: My Department has not bought any Mr. Sutcliffe: The annual school sport survey has iPods since 2005. shown a steady rise in the number of young people taking up competitive sport since 2003. Departmental Manpower This reflects the fact that competitive school sport is a top priority for this Government as part of our Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for commitment to give every young person the opportunity Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer to do five hours PE and sport a week. of 14 October 2009, Official Report, column 907W, on From 2008-11, Government are investing over £25 departmental consultants, what the job title is of each million into a network of 225 competition managers to of the 43 policy and senior advisers employed by his increase the number of young people engaged in regular Department; and which of the posts are occupied by high quality inter-school competitive events. people on 12 month fixed-term contracts. [308286] This is part of the £780 million being invested from 2008-11 into the PE and sport strategy for young people Mr. Simon: The 43 policy and senior advisers are to help create a sustainable sporting legacy from hosting known as either a policy or senior adviser and do not the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. have any other job title. None of the posts are occupied by people on fixed- term contracts. Furthermore, we have made universal access to regular competitive sport a key part of our new pupil guarantee, which will enshrine in law this Government’s commitment Fraud: Telephones to provide competitive sport for all. Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Arts Council of England: Pensions Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints regarding fraudulent schemes conducted by telephone Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Ofcom has received in each of the last 10 years. Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 12 [311285] January 2010, on Arts Council England, whether Arts Council England has used (a) National Lottery Mr. Simon: This information is not held centrally by proceeds and (b) grant-in-aid funding to reduce its the Department. pension fund deficit in each of the last three years. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom [311085] to write direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Margaret Hodge: As stated in the answer of 12 January 2010, Official Report, column 860W, issues such as pay Gambling: Crime and pensions are operational matters for Arts Council England. Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Arts Culture, Media and Sport (1) what estimate he has Council England to write direct to my hon. Friend. made of the loss in revenue to the Exchequer Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of consequent on illegal gambling in each of the last five both Houses. years; [310116] Community Radio Fund (2) what his most recent estimate is of the monetary value of the illegal gambling market in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [310149] Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding the Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have been asked to reply. Government has allocated to the Community Radio Estimates of the loss in revenue due to illegal gambling Fund in each of the last five years. [310723] are not available. Mr. Simon: The information requested is set out in No estimate is available for the monetary value of the the following table. illegal gambling market in the UK.
Funds provided to Community Parliamentary Questions: Administrative Delays Financial year Radio Fund (£)
2005-06 444,026 Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, 2006-07 828,775 Media and Sport when he plans to answer Question 2007-08 468,215 307583, on the reorganisation of Arts Council England, 2008-09 454,994 tabled on 14 December 2009. [311445] 2009-10 1233,460 1 Further funding will be allocated in the final quarter of this Margaret Hodge: I answered my hon. Friend’s question financial year. on 13 January 2010, Official Report, column 1039W. 89W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 90W
Radio Services Mr. Simon: The Government have no plans at this time to remove the current advertising and sponsorship Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for restrictions which were placed on community radio Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to stations in the Community Radio Order 2004. promote the provision of local radio services. [310721] However, following reviews of the sector by Ofcom and as part of the Digital Britain Review we have Mr. Simon: We have proposed a number of regulatory introduced a draft Community Radio Order 2010 which changes in the Draft Digital Economy Bill and the draft seeks to reduce the regulatory burden on community Community Radio (Amendment) order 2010, in particular stations. The order would allow stations to take greater in the regulation of localness, which will support the than 50 per cent. of their funding from a single source local radio sector by providing greater business certainty and allow stations to apply for a renewal, of up to five and the opportunity to reduce costs. years, of their existing licence. Taken together we believe these measures will support the community radio sector Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for in the future without any significant impact on local Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment his commercial stations. Department has made of the effects on commercial Serpentine: Swimming radio stations of community radio advertising and sponsorship. [310724] Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Simon: While no specific assessment has been Culture, Media and Sport for what reasons the made of the effects on commercial radio stations of the Serpentine has been closed to swimmers in January advertising and sponsorship restrictions placed on 2009; and if he will make a statement. [R] [310947] community radio stations, it was examined, in the context of the regulatory changes proposed in the impact assessment Margaret Hodge: The Royal Parks advise that the which accompanied the draft Community Radio swimming area in the Serpentine is open for swimming (Amendment) Order 2010. to the general public daily between June and September. Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club may use the swimming area throughout the year. The Serpentine Radio: Licensing swimming area was not closed during January 2009.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many community radio Culture, Media and Sport on which occasions the licences (a) were awarded and (b) ended in each Serpentine has been closed to swimmers due to icy month of the last five years. [310719] conditions in the last 30 years. [310948]
Mr. Simon: This information is not held centrally by Margaret Hodge: The Royal Parks (TRP) advise that the Department. they do not keep records going back 30 years about when and why the Serpentine swimming area was closed. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom In recent years TRP has never closed the swimming to write direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the reply facility due to icy conditions. During the recent cold will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. weather, access to the path immediately adjacent to the swimming area by the general public was restricted, Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for because of safety concerns, after some visitors had Culture, Media and Sport what service criteria must be walked on to the ice. The Serpentine Swimming Club met by community radio stations in order to receive a has been allowed to operate throughout the period and radio licence. [310720] has been issued with keys to the gates to allow the Club access. Mr. Simon: The terms under which Ofcom must assess an application for a community radio licence Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, were set out in the Community Radio Order 2004. Media and Sport for what reasons the Serpentine in These include: Hyde Park has been closed to swimmers. [311583] the extent to which the provision of any such proposed service would result in the delivery of social gain to the public or the Margaret Hodge: The Royal Parks advise that the relevant community; Serpentine swimming area is not closed. Members of the provision that each of the applicants proposes to make in the Serpentine Swimming Club may use the swimming order to render himself accountable to the relevant community area throughout the year. The swimming area is open to in respect of the provision of the proposed service; the general public between June and September. the provision that each of the applicants proposes to make to allow for access by members of the relevant community to the Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, facilities to be used for the provision of the service and for their Media and Sport on how many occasions the training in the use of those facilities. Serpentine in Hyde Park has been closed to swimmers since 1980. [311643] Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to bring Margaret Hodge: The Royal Parks does not retain forward proposals to remove the restrictions on full records going back to 1980 about the times the community radio licence areas in respect of advertising Serpentine has been closed to swimmers. I understand and sponsorship. [310722] that there was only one short period during the late 91W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 92W
1990s when the whole of the Serpentine was closed The number of holiday visits to North Yorkshire and while remedial treatment was undertaken to deal with England by visitors from outside the United Kingdom serious problems relating to algae. for the last three years is: Visits Sports and Culture: Job Creation Thousand 200620072008 Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the planned North 190 170 185 10,000 additional jobs in the sport and cultural sectors Yorkshire have been created; how much the Government has England 8,989 9,139 9,351 contributed to the creation of such jobs; and what timetable he has set for creating the remainder. [310977] The United Kingdom Tourism Survey records the number of holiday visits taken in North Yorkshire and Mr. Sutcliffe: Information on the Future Jobs Fund England by United Kingdom residents as: is not currently available but will be made available Visits from spring 2010 through a statistical release that is Million planned to cover the whole of the Young Persons 200620072008 Guarantee. This is normal practice for Department for Work and North 2.69 2.68 2.75 Yorkshire Pensions employment programmes and it allows time for input from the UK Statistics Authority and for the England 40.67 41.63 40.05 information to be collected, understood, verified and reported. The scheme runs until 2011. Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for A major step on the way to the target was the Culture, Media and Sport what his latest estimate is of announcement of 624 cultural jobs in December 2009. the number of (a) non-UK residents who took one or more holidays in the UK and (b) UK residents who Television: Advertising took one or more holidays abroad in 2009. [309614]
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has Margaret Hodge: The Office for National Statistics received on the likely effect on health of the relaxation has published provisional monthly holiday figures up to of product placement rules in the context of broadcast October 2009. The complete 2009 statistics will be available in July 2010. The estimated number of holidays television programmes. [310970] to the UK by overseas residents in the 10-month period Mr. Simon: Our consultation on product placement January to October 2009 is 9,920,000. The estimated on television closed on 8 January. We had approximately number of holidays abroad by UK residents in that 1,400 responses and plan to make an announcement as period is 35,000,000. However, the number of holidays soon as possible on how we intend to proceed. A taken by UK residents in the UK from January to summary of responses will be published by the end of September 2009 has risen to 49.9 million from 42.6 million January. in the equivalent nine months of 2008.
Televisions: Licensing Tourism: Local Government Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost to the public Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for purse is of the provision of a free television licence. Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is [312013] taking to encourage best practice among local authorities on the promotion of tourism. [310273] Mr. Simon: The provision of free television licences for people aged 75 or over is undertaken by TV Licensing as agents for the BBC. According to the BBC’s Annual Margaret Hodge: Working with local authorities will Report and Accounts, licences to the value of £532.9 million be a central part of the tourism strategy for England, were issued to those aged 75 or over in 2008-09. currently being developed by VisitEngland, and which is expected to be launched shortly. My Department also Tourism supports an initiative called the Charter for Placemaking and Destination Management. This provides guidance Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for to local authorities on the promotion, development and Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists had a measurement of the impact of tourism within their holiday in (a) the Vale of York, (b) North Yorkshire localities, and on working with the industry and public and (c) England in each of the last three years. sector partners. [309496] The Department continues to engage with the Department for Communities and Local Government, Margaret Hodge: VisitEngland has supplied the following the Local Government Association, and other partners information. They are unable to disaggregate the (for example, Destination Performance UK and the information down to the Vale of York constituency British Resorts and Destinations Association) to promote level. these initiatives and the local visitor economy in general. 93W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 94W
VisitBritain: Expenditure Further information about the conference can be found on its website at: Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for http://afghanistan.hmg.gov.uk/en/conference/ Culture, Media and Sport what the percentage change in Visit Britain’s total budget in real terms was in each Afghanistan: Reconstruction of the last five years. [310122] Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Margaret Hodge [holding answer 11 January 2010]: Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the The following table details the grant in aid expenditure answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column by VisitBritain from 2004-05 through to 2008-09 and 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the the percentage change on a year on year basis. In purpose of the Survey Monitoring Target Verification 2003-04 there was a merger between the British Tourist project is; for what reason his Department decided to Authority and the English Tourist Council and an fund the project; how much it received from his additional one-off amount of £2.0 million was allocated Department in its first year of operation; for what to the new body VisitBritain, to assist with the merger. reason its funding was reduced in (a) 2007-08, (b) This one-off payment is reflected in the figures for 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10; and how much it received 2003-04 and explains the difference between 2003-04 from his Department in each such year. [310153] and 2004-05. VisitBritain grant in aid funding Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Survey Monitoring, Target and £000 Verification (SMTV) Project provides timely and accurate Grant in aid as Real terms Percentage data to support the Government of Afghanistan’s per resource grant in aid at change in real implementation of the Afghan National Drug Control account 2008-09 prices terms Strategy, through surveying and monitoring poppy 2003-04 51,372 58,374 cultivation in Afghanistan and verifying poppy eradication. It also provides advice and technical training to the UN 2004-05 48,400 53,510 -8.3 Office for Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) annual Opium 2005-06 48,900 53,072 -0.8 Surveys. As the UNODC’s capability has grown and as 2006-07 49,900 52,601 -0.9 poppy cultivation has contracted, the scope of SMTV’s 2007-08 50,650 51,892 -1.3 work has changed, focusing more on the fewer high 2008-09 49,900 49,900 -3.8 cultivation provinces resulting in a reduced funding requirement. The figures are derived from the grant in aid data in the Department’s Resource Account and converted to The funding the project received was as follows: 2008-09 prices. Financial year £ Following the three year comprehensive spending review (CSR) settlement for VisitBritain from 2008-09 2006-07 2,598,000 to 2010-11, we carried out a strategic review of British 2007-08 2,492,965 tourism in order to ensure better co-ordination of the 2008-09 1,682,918 estimated £2 billion public funding invested in tourism 2009-10 1,411,059 during the current CSR period, from local, regional and national sources, and to identify ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of that support. As a result, Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for there has been a fundamental restructuring of VisitBritain Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the and a strengthened role for VisitEngland. The Government answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column are confident that these new arrangements will provide 182W,on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose a more robust and responsive vehicle to grow and of the UN Office for Drugs and Crime project is; for sustain the tourism and hospitality industry. what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10; FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE and how much it received from his Department in each such year. [310154] Afghanistan Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UN Office for Drugs and Crime Sir Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State (UNODC) Project supports the publication of the for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who has been UNODC’s annual report on poppy cultivation. This invited to the conference on Afghanistan which he report provides reliable, independent data on the extent announced in December; and where and when it will be of poppy cultivation and poppy eradication in Afghanistan, held. [310931] informing counter narcotics policy. Mr. Ivan Lewis: The conference will be held at Lancaster The funding the project has received has been: House on 28 January 2010. Invitees include Foreign Ministers from countries contributing troops to the Financial year £ International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan’s 2006-07 1,021,300 immediate neighbours and key regional players, and 2006-07 1,021,300 representatives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, 2007-08 450,000 the UN, the EU, international financial institutions and 2008-09 300,000 other organisations. 95W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 96W
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Financial year £ Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the 2009-10 200,000 answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 182W,on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose Funding for the project has reduced as other international of the Extend Afghan Media Content project is; for partners (primarily the US and Norway) increased their what reason his Department decided to fund the project; financial support for the project. how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for reduced in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and how much Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the it received from his Department in each such year. answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column [310159] 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Counter Narcotics Research and Mr. Ivan Lewis: The purpose of the Extend Afghan Analysis project is; for what reason his Department Media Content project is to support the development of decided to fund the project; how much it received from an independent media, which is essential to undermining his Department in its first year of operation; for what the insurgency and increasing the credibility of the reason its funding was reduced in (a) 2007-08, (b) Afghan Government and the international community. 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10; and how much it received The decision to fund was taken because the project from his Department in each such year. [310155] supports UK Afghan strategy on strategic communications. The project received £150,000 in financial year 2006-07, Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Counter Narcotics Research its first year, and subsequently received £3.49 million in Programme provides the analytical basis for the UK’s 2007-08, £362,000 in 2008-09 and £485,000 in 2009-10. Counter Narcotics (CN) policy and aids its implementation. The amount of funding has fluctuated, because this In ensuring a rigorous evidence base, monitoring and project is a “bundle” of media programming items, evaluation for CN, the programme contributes to the which have evolved over time as strategic priorities UK’s effort to reduce harm of the drugs trade to changed. In some years, there was a higher outlay for Afghanistan. A key product encompassing this information media content due to start-up costs. The project is is the UK’s annual Drivers Report that provides in-depth meeting its programme goals, and is contributing to analysis of the factors that affect a farmer’s decision to UK strategic objectives. It has not yet been completed. plant poppy or other crops. It continues to directly improve the knowledge base of farmers planting decisions Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for in Afghanistan, informing UK policy and lobbying Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the decisions on CN in Afghanistan. answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column Funding for the programme has been: financial year 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the 2007-08—£241,631; financial year 2008-09—£243,401; purpose of the Lashkar Gah Prison Build project is; and a budget for financial year 2009-10 of £296,000. for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for its first year of operation; for what reason its funding Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the was reduced in 2008-09; and how much it received from answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column his Department in that year. [310160] 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Eradication Support project is; for what Mr. Ivan Lewis: The objective of the Lashkar Gah reason his Department decided to fund the project; Prison Build project is the establishment of a prison in how much it received from his Department in its first Lashkar Gah, Helmand, that meets international minimum year of operation; for what reason its funding was standards for the treatment of prisoners. Secure and reduced in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and how humanitarian prison facilities are an important part of much it received from his Department in each such building a trusted criminal justice system. In addition year. [310156] to the construction of new prison facilities, the project includes a programme of operational training for prison Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Eradication Support project, staff, with a focus on human right awareness and humane supports the Government of Afghanistan in conducting prisoner management. The project received £790,000 in eradication. Eradication is one of the eight pillars of its first year (2007-08), £623,813 in 2008-09, and £762,164 the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy. It provides in 2009-10. The annual variation in funding reflects the information to ensure that eradication can be targeted high proportion of infrastructural costs paid for in on land belonging to major drugs traffickers and in 2007-08 and subsequent fluctuations in the year-on-year areas where farmers have access to sustainable alternatives project costs. to poppy. Funding received by the project was as follows: We assess that this ongoing project is meeting its objectives. In October 2009, the project’s first phase was Financial year £ completed when prisoners moved into the newly constructed 2006-07 1,672,000 prison facilities. The project’s final phase, intended to 2007-08 598,000 further increase capacity, will continue throughout 2010-11. 2008-09 285,656 A final assessment will follow the project’s completion. 2009-10 517,205 Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for There were reductions following the first year as Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the capital costs were only necessary for the first year. answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 182W, 97W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 98W on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of districts and to fund delivery of local programmes and the Counter Narcotics Interdiction project is; for what projects. The stabilisation advisers help to mentor and reason his Department decided to fund the project; how coach the Afghan district governors so that they can much it received from his Department in its first year of extend their reach and authority. Local projects delivered operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in through the district governor also demonstrated the 2009-10; and how much it has received from his Department Government’s ability to deliver whilst at the same time in that year to date. [310161] improving the lives of local people. In financial year 2008-09, its first year, funding was Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Counter Narcotics Interdiction distributed among the regions of the Province as follows: Project, mentors the Counter Narcotics Police of Lashkar Gah £1.08 million, Musa Qala £2.92 million, Afghanistan in policing techniques, building technical Sangin £2 million, Garmsir £1.25 million. In 2009-10 capacity and developing the capability to disrupt key the funding was distributed as follows: Lashkar Gah drugs networks. Funding for the project has been in £1.14 million, Musa Qala £697,000, Sangin £792,00, FY 2006-07—£9,972,452; FY 2008-09—£15,778,000; Garmsir £513,000. The budget was reduced in Musa FY 2009-10—£12,540,000. Qala, Sangin and Garmsir for a number of reasons. The Funding for this project has been adjusted during 2008-09 budgets included a number of large infrastructure each year to meet the project’s necessary financial projects (such as road builds) which were completed in requirements. year and therefore not budgeted for in 2009-10. The projects are meeting their programme goals and are Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for contributing to UK strategic objectives. The projects Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the have not yet been completed. answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for purpose of the Political Activity (Elections) project is; Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the for what reason his Department decided to fund the answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column project; how much it received from his Department in 183W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the its first year of operation; for what reason its funding purpose of the Publicity Project was; for what reason was reduced in 2009-10; and how much it has received his Department decided to fund the project; how much from his Department in that year to date. [310162] it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason his Department ceased to Mr. Ivan Lewis: The purpose of the Elections project fund the programme in 2007-08; and what assessment is to support Afghanistan’s electoral cycle in 2009 and has been made of its effectiveness. [310167] 2010—strengthening Afghanistan’s electoral legislative framework, voter registration efforts, the capacity of Mr. Ivan Lewis: Detailed information not readily the country’s Independent Election Commission including available without incurring disproportionate cost. its commissioners, secretariat, departments and provincial and regional offices, and support to broader electoral Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for stakeholders, for example, civic education, the media Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the and domestic observation. The project was funded to answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column build confidence in Afghanistan’s democratic institutions 183W,on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose and provide a basis for sustainable government and of the Support for Afghan National Army—patrol democratic legitimacy, a core part of our stabilisation vehicles project was; for what reason his Department efforts. The project received £4.1 million in 2008-09, its decided to fund the project; how much it received from first year, and subsequently received £200,000 in 2009-10. his Department in its first year of operation; for what Funding reduced in the second year because the aim of reason his Department ceased to fund the programme the project was to enable pre-election activity (elections in 2007-08; and what assessment has been made of its were held in August 2009). The project is meeting its effectiveness. [310168] programme goals and is contributing to UK strategic objectives through the delivery of the Afghan elections Mr. Ivan Lewis: Detailed information not readily in 2009. available without incurring disproportionate cost.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 182W,on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose 183W,on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Lashkar Gah District Stabilisation project is; for of the Drug Demand Reduction project was; for what what reason his Department decided to fund the project; reason his Department decided to fund the project; how how much it received from his Department in its first much it received from his Department in its first year of year of operation; for what reason its funding was operation; for what reason his Department ceased to reduced in 2009-10; and how much it has received from fund the programme in 2007-08; and what assessment his Department in that year to date. [310165] has been made of its effectiveness. [310169]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The purpose of the District Stabilisation Mr.IvanLewis:The Drug Demand Reduction Project project is to support the Government of Afghanistan in aimed to build capacity within the Afghan system to extending and exerting its authority in key districts, deal with the growing drug use problem and highlight increasingly isolating the insurgency. The project was the extent of that problem to Afghan policy makers and funded to provide stabilisation experts to work in the the Afghan public. Drug Demand Reduction is one of 99W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 100W the eight pillars within the Afghan National Drug Control the case with their Moroccan counterparts throughout Strategy. The project received £760,000 in FY 2007-08. the period Ms Haidar was on hunger strike. The The project closed as the support was taken on by the Government are pleased that the situation has been US and integrated into their wider Drug Demand resolved. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials Reduction programme. will continue to monitor the human dimension of the Western Sahara conflict and encourage greater transparency Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for on human rights issues by all parties to the conflict. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the We have not received any representations regarding answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column Saharawi human rights activists being prevented from 183W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the travelling abroad. purpose of the Helmand Police Drug Control project was; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department Belarus: Elections in its first year of operation; for what reason his Department ceased to fund the programme in 2008-09; Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the [310171] answer of 6 January 2010, Official Report, column 407W, on Belarus, whether his Department plans to Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Helmand Police Drug Control provide assistance to international missions to monitor project was intended to provide drug education, the conduct of the forthcoming (a) local and (b) detoxification and rehabilitation services to the Afghan presidential elections in Belarus. [310453] National Police (ANP) in Helmand, and to make strategic recommendations on further reducing drug dependency Chris Bryant: Our policy on Organisation for Security within the ANP. We provided £500,000 in the project’s and Co-operation in Europe election observation missions only year (2008-09). This was a 12 month pilot project remains to provide up to 10 per cent. of observers on an only intended for funding in 2008-09. ad hoc basis. In the case of the elections in Belarus, and We assess that the project met its objectives. We have others in the next financial year, we have not yet decided received positive feedback from international partners on the level of assistance we will provide. about the project. ANP drug-dependency reduction is now a programme under development between the Ministry British Overseas Territories of Interior and international partners.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits he has answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column made to UK overseas territories in the last 12 months; 183W,on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose and what the purpose was of each visit. [311443] of the Newsletters for Mullahs project was; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how Chris Bryant: In the last 12 months my right hon. much it received from his Department in its first year of Friend the Secretary of State has made two visits to the operation; for what reason his Department ceased to Overseas Territories. fund the programme in 2008-09; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness. [310172] He visited Gibraltar on 21 July 2009 to attend the latest ministerial meeting of the Trilateral Forum of Mr. Ivan Lewis: Local Mullahs in Helmand requested Dialogue on Gibraltar. From 24 to 26 November 2009 funding for the production of a newsletter to distribute he accompanied Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal to the literate members of the communities they lived Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on their visit to in, to assist in countering the insurgent narrative in Bermuda to mark the 400th anniversary of the first Helmand. The project was initially allocated £9,960 in settlement of the island. financial year 2008-09, but the Mullahs did not take the project forward and so the budget was cut before the Departmental Flags project started. Aminatou Haidar Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010, Official Report, column Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State 951W, on departmental flags, whether any EU flags for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make were purchased by his Department in each of the last representations to the Moroccan authorities against the five years. [311552] (a) deportation from Western Sahara of Aminatou Haidar and (b) prevention of Saharawi human rights activists from travelling abroad. [310700] Chris Bryant: Three EU flags have been purchased in the UK since 2008, one in 2008 and two in 2009. Prior Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary to 2008 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office contracted of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, discussed an external contractor to provide a flag raising service the case of Aminatou Haidar with the Moroccan Foreign and therefore did not buy flags. Minister, Mr. Taieb Fassi Fihri, on 11 December 2009. Details of flags purchased overseas are not held His officials in London, our embassy in Rabat and the centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate UK’s Mission to the UN in New York, also discussed cost. 101W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 102W
Departmental Training Israel: Attorney General
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many sessions for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was of media training were organised for Ministers in his informed of the content of the speech made by the Department in each of the last three years. [311514] Attorney-General to the Hebrew University in Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I Jerusalem on 5 January 2010. [310437] gave on 13 January 2010, Official Report, column 977W. Mr. Ivan Lewis: Ministerial speeches, statements and Government Hospitality: Wines publications on any subject in Government are discussed and cleared by Ministers and officials as appropriate as Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign part of normal business. and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010, Official Report, column 954W, on Languages Government hospitality: wines, what software package is used to maintain a record of wine (a) used and (b) Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for purchased for the Government wine cellar. [311438] Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 21 July 2009, Official Report, columns Chris Bryant: Government Hospitality has been working 1256-57W,on languages, whether more Dari and Pashto with Foreign and Commonwealth Office Services over speakers will be required to accompany the recent troop the last 24 months to develop a new software package, surge. [307758] based on the Windows SharePoint system, for the management of all cellar transactions. This system is Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply. now operational, but a substantial backlog of data are The Ministry of Defence continually reviews language still being updated. support to those forces deployed in Afghanistan, and Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for there has been an increase in both Dari and Pashtu Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the speakers to support the recent troop surge. answer of 12 January 2010, Official Report, column Morocco: EU External Trade 954W, on Government hospitality: wines, what the cost to the public purse was of bottles of wine purchased Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for for the Government wine cellar in 2008-09. [311439] Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the issue Chris Bryant: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer of Morocco’s compliance with UN Security Council given to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant resolutions on a referendum on self-determination were Shapps) on 26 November 2009, Official Report, raised in discussions between the EU and Morocco on column 305W. advanced status. [311123] Haiti: Earthquakes Mr. Ivan Lewis: UN Security Council resolutions were not raised in discussions between the EU and Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Morocco on advanced status. The UK remains committed and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department to a mutually acceptable political solution to the Western is providing to British citizens in Haiti following the Sahara dispute, which provides for the self-determination recent earthquake in that country. [311444] of the people of Western Sahara. We continue to support the work of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to Chris Bryant: Our ambassador and consular staff Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, and his efforts towards from our embassy in neighbouring Dominican Republic building confidence between the parties. have been deployed in Haiti since the day after the earthquake, providing support to our honorary consul Nosratollah Tajik in Port-au-Prince. An eight-man Rapid Deployment Team has been sent to provide additional support to Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for British nationals affected by the disaster. Our staff have Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the been making every effort to contact all British nationals answers of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column in Haiti to ensure their welfare and provide assistance 205W, on Nosratollah Tajik, for what purpose officials to those who wish to leave the country. in his Department have had discussions with officials Iraq Committee of Inquiry of the US Administration in London and Washington; and whether officials on each occasion indicated that Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for extradition was a judicial process over which the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) Foreign Secretary had no control. [311126] documents and (b) other types of information held in electronic format at each level of security classification Mr. Ivan Lewis: Officials regularly discuss issues of the Iraq Inquiry has requested from his Department; mutual interest with their US counterparts, both in and if he will make a statement. [309366] London and in Washington. Such discussions have included updates on the extradition of Mr. Nosratollah Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the Tajik. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of consistently made clear that this is a judicial process State for the Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith), on 14 over which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary December 2009, Official Report, columns 840-41W. has no control. 103W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 104W
Sri Lanka We are in the process of discussing participation and the agenda with key international partners. Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Yemen: Foreign Relations Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is providing in respect of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka; and Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for if he will make a statement. [310639] Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of Yemen. [311412] Mr. Ivan Lewis: In the run up to the presidential election in Sri Lanka on 26 January 2010, we are Mr. Ivan Lewis: Yemen continues to face economic providing funding to help support the work of the crisis and state failure. Any worsening of the instability, Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), an terrorist activity and poverty already present in Yemen independent Sri Lankan election monitoring body. will have a detrimental effect on security—within Yemen We also continue to encourage the Government of and in the region. Sri Lanka to take effective measures to ensure the The UK strategy is to tackle the core social, political election is free and fair. Most recently, my right hon. and economic causes of these problems, in co-operation Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to the Sri Lankan with the international community. The meeting in London Foreign Minister on 11 January 2010 to urge his on 27 January 2010 is part of our wider strategy towards Government to ensure effective measures are in place to Yemen, which aims to work with the international prevent and control election related violence, as well as community to support the efforts of the Yemeni ensuring the Election Commissioner’s rulings are Government to address the fundamental problems they implemented effectively by the police and other authorities. are facing. Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of levels of press freedom in Sri INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [310641] CDC Mr. Ivan Lewis: We are aware of the serious threats against media personnel who are critical of the Government Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for of Sri Lanka and monitor the subject closely. On 27 International Development if he will make an October 2009, the EU expressed its concern about assessment of the impact of the privatisation of CDC reports of severe harassment of journalists, restrictions on achievement of his Department’s development on freedom of the press and freedom of expression in goals. [310297] Sri Lanka. We regularly urge the Government of Sri Lanka to take decisive action to guarantee press freedom. Mr. Douglas Alexander: Between 1997 and 2003, the In August journalist JS Tissainayagam was sentenced Department for International Development (DFID) to 20 years following a conviction related to his writing. reviewed several restructuring options for CDC, including We are concerned about the message this sentence sends privatisation. CDC remains in HMG ownership and on the state of media freedoms in Sri Lanka. the investment process of CDC was reformed in 2004. Mr. Tissainayagam was granted bail this week pending All CDC funding is now channelled through investment the outcome of his appeal. We are monitoring developments funds that invest in the creation and growth of viable in the case closely. business in poorer developing countries. Investigations have so far failed to identify those A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) in 2008 responsible for the assassination of Lasantha concluded that Wickrematunga the Editor of the Sunday Leader “by achieving the strong financial results that it has, CDC will newspaper, who was shot dead in Colombo on 8 January have made a credible contribution to economic development in its 2009. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most target countries while also encouraging other foreign investors to recently wrote to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 11 engage with them”. January 2010 to urge his Government to do everything Through this contribution to economic growth the CDC possible to investigate the killing and ensure that those has continued to contribute to the Department for responsible are brought to justice. International Development’s (DFID’s) goal of long-term poverty reduction. Yemen Departmental Buildings
Sir Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what International Development what the (a) area and (b) arrangements have been made for the conference on estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office Yemen which he recently announced. [310932] space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department. [310525] Mr. Ivan Lewis: The meeting on Yemen which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced will Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International take place on 27 January 2010, and is likely to last for Development has two office buildings in the UK. Our around two hours. It will be principally at Foreign office at 1 Palace Street, London is a leasehold, with a Minister level. net internal area of 16,405 square metres. Our office at 105W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 106W
Abercrombie House, East Kilbride is freehold with a COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT net internal area of 10,680 square metres. Affordable Housing: Staffordshire Both buildings are fully occupied, although in the case of 1 Palace Street the building is shared with Visit Britain and Visit England, agencies of the Department Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for of Culture, Media and Sport. Communities and Local Government how many people are classed as key workers eligible for assistance The estimated market annual rental value assuming with housing costs in Staffordshire. [310469] an underletting to another Government Department is as follows: John Healey: We do not hold data on how many 1 Palace Street: £9.6 million people are classed as key workers and eligible for assistance with housing costs in Staffordshire. Abercrombie House: £1.9 million. Data on the number of key workers in Staffordshire will be held by the relevant employers of key workers. A North Korea: Food full list of eligible key worker roles for the homebuy scheme can be found in the Capital Funding Guide on the Homes and Communities Agency’s website at; Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for http://cfg.homesandcommunities.co.uk/kwl-applicant- International Development (1) what his most recent eligibility.htm estimate is of the number of people in North Korea The homebuy scheme enables first time buyers with a affected by food shortages and malnutrition; and if he household income of less than £60,000, who cannot will make a statement; [310424] afford to purchase without assistance, to buy a share of (2) what his most recent assessment is of the extent a home and get a first step on the housing ladder. Key of food shortages in North Korea; and if he will make workers are a priority group for this scheme. a statement. [310425] Buildings: Energy
Mr. Michael Foster: It is not possible to give a recent Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for assessment of the level of food shortages in the Democratic Communities and Local Government what percentage People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Government of Government buildings haveaGrating in their of the DPRK refused to allow the relevant UN agencies display energy certificates; and if he will make a (the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture statement. [310626] Organisation) to carry out a crop and food assessment during October 2009 that would have established the John Healey: Information about the number of outcome of the harvest. The Government of the DPRK Government buildings that have Display Energy Certificates, has said that the harvest last year was 7 per cent. larger including the proportion that haveaGrating, can be than 2008, but this figure cannot be confirmed. found on the Office of Government Commerce website at the following address: The World Food Programme estimates that 8 million http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Pan_Govt_DEC_Data_ inhabitants of the DPRK do not have enough food for Sept09.xls a basic standard of living and that chronic malnutrition continues to be a major concern. Fires: Injuries
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Olympic Games: Canada Communities and Local Government how many people rescued from fires by the fire service in each (a) fire brigade area and (b) region were (i) injured and (ii) Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for uninjured in each of the last three years for which International Development how many (a) Ministers figures are available. [311311] and (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February Mr. Malik: The number of people injured and rescued 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of from fires by fire and rescue service personnel are such attendance. [310846] shown in the table for 2006-08 by fire authority and by region. Mr. Michael Foster: Since 1999 the Government have The number of people rescued but uninjured are published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits recorded, but under the system which ran until March by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well 2009, full details of incidents for one only in five of as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. From incidents that did not involve injuries were input to 2007-08 the list was extended to include all Ministers. central databases. It has been shown that, due to this The list also provides information on the number of methodology, estimates of numbers rescued derived officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available from data held centrally are unreliable below national in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2009-10 level. will be published as soon as the information is available. Non-fatal casualties in fires rescued by FRS personnel, FRS area and region, England, 2006-08 All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken 1 in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Civil Region and FRS 2006 2007 2008 Service Management Code respectively. England 2,422 2,170 2,152 107W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 108W
Non-fatal casualties in fires rescued by FRS personnel, FRS area and region, Non-fatal casualties in fires rescued by FRS personnel, FRS area and region, England, 2006-08 England, 2006-08 Region and FRS 2006 2007 20081 Region and FRS 2006 2007 20081
Surrey361619 North West 455 352 378 West Sussex 27 28 20 Cheshire 28 16 32 Cumbria 22 26 18 London 497 455 460 Greater 230 177 199 1 Q1 2008 data have been revised since earlier publication. Manchester Source: Lancashire 93 46 82 DCLG Fire Statistics: Ref: 2010005c (2006-08).sas 15 January 2010. Merseyside 82 87 47 Government Departments: Energy
North East 168 160 100 Cleveland 38 21 25 Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Durham 39 33 12 Communities and Local Government what assessment Northumberland 6 5 4 he has made of the level of compliance with the Tyne and Wear 85 101 59 requirement to provide display energy certificates in Government buildings over 1,000 square metres in size; and if he will make a statement. [310667] Yorks and 324 273 253 Humberside Humberside 69 74 47 John Healey: Information about the number of North Yorkshire 26 20 21 Government buildings that have Display Energy Certificates South Yorkshire 95 86 64 can be found on the Office of Government Commerce West Yorkshire 134 93 121 website at the following address: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Pan_Govt_DEC_Data_ Sept09.xls West Midlands 152 159 138 Hereford and 12 19 20 Worcestershire Housing: Bexley Shropshire 8 18 7 Staffordshire 24 43 29 Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Warwickshire 20 3 6 Communities and Local Government how many home West Midlands 88 76 76 information packs have been issued in the London borough of Bexley since their introduction. [310689] East Midlands 166 128 177 Derbyshire 28 29 33 John Healey: The Department does not have a record Leicestershire 30 24 22 of the number of HIPs produced. As HIPs must include Lincolnshire 24 21 39 an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), we can estimate Northamptonshire 17 11 10 their number on the basis of the number of EPCs Nottinghamshire 67 43 73 lodged on the EPC Register. There were 6,901 EPCs lodged on the EPC Register East 196 196 189 between 1 August 2007 and 12 January 2010 for homes Bedfordshire 38 22 38 located in the London Borough of Bexley. Cambridgeshire 26 32 17 Essex345041Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Hertfordshire 47 28 41 Communities and Local Government what estimate he Norfolk 33 54 38 has made of the number of key workers resident in the Suffolk 18 10 14 London borough of Bexley who are eligible for assistance with housing costs. [310693] South West 181 198 177 Avon 45 44 28 John Healey: We have made no estimate of the number Cornwall 7 20 23 of key workers residents in the London borough of Devon597566Bexley who are eligible for assistance with housing Dorset 2 5 7 costs. Gloucestershire 9 9 14 Data on the number of key workers in the London Somerset 18 21 10 borough of Bexley will be held by the relevant employers Wiltshire 41 24 29 of key workers. A full list of eligible key worker roles for Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 the homebuy scheme can be found in the Capital Funding Guide on the Homes and Communities Agency’s website South East 283 249 280 at; Berkshire 30 24 31 http://cfg.homesandcommunities.co.uk/kwl-applicant- Buckinghamshire 24 22 10 eligibility.htm East Sussex 24 56 69 The homebuy scheme enables first time buyers with a Hampshire 88 55 60 household income of less than £60,000, who cannot Isle of Wight 1 2 3 afford to purchase without assistance, to buy a share of Kent 43 37 43 a home and get a first step on the housing ladder. Key Oxfordshire 10 9 25 workers are a priority group for this scheme. 109W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 110W
Housing: Dorset Mr. Ian Austin: The Government wish to be satisfied that the Sustainability Appraisal of the Proposed Changes Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy tested Communities and Local Government what his reasonable alternatives to those areas of search for Department’s policy is on the proposed construction of strategic housing, business and other development which 2,750 homes in the vicinity of Lytchett Minster, Dorset were added or amended following consideration of the under the revised South West Regional Spatial Examination-in-Public’s Panel’s report. Further work Strategy. [310662] on Sustainability Appraisal has been commissioned and this is expected to take until March 2010. Mr. Ian Austin: The Secretary of State’s proposed If the Secretary of State decides to propose further changes to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy changes, that will necessitate a further period of consultation (RSS) include an ‘area of search’ for 2,750 new homes on those changes and consideration of representations at Lytchett Minster. Representations about this proposal, before the final RSS is published. made during the public consultation between July and October 2008, will be taken into account before the Social Rented Housing: Greater London Secretary of State decides on the final form of the RSS. Additional sustainability appraisal work is currently being undertaken, which will look at the areas of search Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for proposed in the RSS. I expect that work to be completed Communities and Local Government how many empty in March. homes there were in (a) private and (b) social housing stock in each London local authority in 2008-09; and It is not the role of the Secretary of State to allocate what percentage change this represents in comparison land for future development. This is a matter for local with 2007-08. [311210] authorities to consider through their local development frameworks. It is also for the local authority to consider any planning application that arises in respect of Mr. Ian Austin: A table showing estimates made of development in the vicinity of Lytchett Minster. the number of empty dwellings in each London local authority area in each tenure group for 2009, and the Local Government: Inspections percentage change in comparison with 2008, has been placed in the House Library. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in The London Plan the Library a copy of the comprehensive area assessment results dataset for each local authority. Mr. Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for [311532] Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of his response to the Mayor of Ms Rosie Winterton: The full Comprehensive Area London’s plan; and if he will make a statement. Assessment (CAA) results dataset for each local authority [311394] and local area is held on the Oneplace website: http://oneplace.direct.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx John Healey: I have placed a copy of the Government’s Planning Inspectorate: Fees and Charges response to the Mayor’s London Plan in the Library of the House. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the potential revenue to accrue to the Planning Inspectorate from planning appeal charges in HEALTH their first full year of operation. [311512] Baby Care Units John Healey: The Planning Act 2008 provided powers to charge for planning appeals. However, I have decided Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for that in view of the current economic circumstances, we Health what guidance is provided to maternity units on should not impose an appeal charge at this time. In the provision of resuscitation cover for those units by a addition, I have considered the case for increasing planning (a) paediatrician and (b) midwife trained in advanced fees generally but have decided that for the same reason resuscitation. [310357] it would be wrong at this time to increase the costs of those seeking to invest in housing and development. Planning fees will therefore remain at their current Ann Keen: The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts levels and we shall review them again in a year’s time. requires as a minimum: “Resuscitation equipment that is available and ready for use at Regional Planning and Development: South West all times in all care settings where births occur; this must include the emergency department where there is one. A process for the Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for availability of a clinician (doctors, advanced neonatal nurse Communities and Local Government if he will publish practitioner, midwives) with advanced neonatal life support skills (including endotracheal intubation) at a delivery if required. A a timetable for making his response to the (a) process for 24 hour availability in obstetric units, within 30 minutes, consultation and (b) further environmental assessment of a consultant paediatrician (or equivalent staff and associate relating to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy; specialist grade) trained and assessed as competent in neonatal and if he will make a statement. [310661] advanced life support.” 111W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 112W
Brain Injuries: Prisoners For prisoners commencing a prison sentence, Prison Service Order 0500 and subsequent Prison Service Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Instruction 27/2006 states that: (1) whether he has discussed in the Council of First receptions into custody will have undergone an initial Ministers the policy of other EU member states on health assessment to determine any immediate health needs before prisoners with acquired brain injuries; and if he will they commence their first night in custody. make a statement; [311490] The initial evidence based health assessment of first receptions will include a triage that must take place before the prisoner’s first (2) what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) night, to primarily detect: evaluated on the proportion of the prison population (a) Immediate physical health problems with an acquired brain injury; and if he will make a (b) Immediate mental health problems statement; [311491] (c) Significant drugs or alcohol abuse (3) what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of prisoners with an acquired brain (d) Risk of suicide and/or self-harm. injury; and if he will make a statement; [311493] As a follow up to this, they must also be given a (4) what his policy is on the assessment of prisoners general health assessment in the week immediately following commencing a prison sentence for evidence of an reception, by an appropriately trained member of the acquired brain injury; and if he will make a statement. health care team, in order to plan any subsequent care/treatment. [311494] Bridlington and Scarborough Hospitals: Ambulance Phil Hope: There have been no discussions in the Services Council of Ministers regarding the policy of other European Union member states relating to prisoners Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for who have acquired brain injuries. Health what the effect on response times of ambulances Since 2006, national health service primary care trusts travelling between Bridlington and Scarborough Hospital have been responsible for commissioning health services of snow and bad weather was in (a) December 2009 for their offender health population. No research has and (b) January 2010. [311110] been commissioned and evaluated on the proportion of the prison population who have acquired brain injury Mr. Mike O’Brien: The information requested is not and no information is collected centrally on the number collected centrally. The latest available data for Yorkshire and proportion of prisoners who have acquired brain Ambulance Service response times is shown in the injury. following table:
Ambulance emergency and urgent incidents: response times by ambulance service and category of call, 2008-09 Category A calls Category B calls Total number of Total number of Total number of incidents with incidents with incidents with emergency Response within 8 ambulance Response within ambulance Response within Ambulance response minutes vehicle arriving 19 minutes vehicle arriving 19 minutes service (Thousand) (Percentage) (Thousand) (Percentage) (Thousand) (Percentage)
England 1,940.7 74.3 1,934.7 96.9 2,553.3 91.0 Yorkshire 203.1 69.4 202.1 96.1 204.9 90.6 Notes: 1. Category A: presenting conditions, which may be immediately life threatening and should receive an emergency response within eight minutes irrespective of location in 75 per cent. of cases. Presenting conditions which require an ambulance vehicle capable of transporting the patient to attend the incident must receive that response within 19 minutes of the request for transport (being made by the initial responder or being identified by the call taker, whichever is earlier) in 95 per cent. of cases. 2. Category B: presenting conditions, which though serious are not immediately life threatening and must receive a response within 19 minutes in 95 per cent. of cases. Source: The Information Centre for health and social care.
Cancer: Staffordshire Notes: 1. The programme budgeting data collection is complex, therefore expenditure figures are best estimates rather than precise measurements. Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Year on year comparisons are not straightforward due to annual how much was spent by South Staffordshire Primary refinements to the data collection methodology and changes to underlying data sources. Care Trust on cancer services in 2009. [310413] 2. Figures include expenditure across all sectors. Disease specific expenditure do not include expenditure on prevention, or general practitioner expenditure, but do include prescribing expenditure. Ann Keen: Information on the estimated expenditure 3. Source of data are annual PCT Programme Budgeting financial on cancer and tumours by South Staffordshire Primary returns. Programme Budgeting data for 2006-07 to 2008-09 is published Care Trust (PCT) in 2008-09 has been set out in the on the Department of Health website. following table. Source: Annual PCT Programme Budgeting financial returns. Estimated expenditure on cancer and tumours, South Staffordshire PCT £
2008-09 51,759,000 113W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 114W
Departmental Buildings The figures provided are total external costs and do not include internal staff costs. Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for The costs for each website are: Health what the (a) area and (b) estimated value is of Department of Health corporate website (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and £ (B) rented by his Department. [310527] 2007-08 Phil Hope: The area and estimated value of vacant Strategy and planning: 328,520.86 and occupied office space, owned and rented by the Design and build 647,940.75 Department is as follows: Hosting and infrastructure 549,313.75 Content provision 128,921.09 Estimated value/rent Testing and evaluation 381,770.00 paid for leasehold Area square metres properties (£) Total 2,036,466.45
Owned Vacant 0 0 2008-09 Occupied 24,483 72,350,000 Strategy and planning: 300,925.00 Design and build 644,998.00 Rented Hosting and infrastructure 599,870.75 Vacant 19,500 2,922,500 Content provision 107,614.19 Occupied 48,227 10,854,067 Testing and evaluation 381,770.00 We do not have ‘values’ for our leasehold properties Total 2,240,121.44 so the information above for rented accommodation relates to the rents paid. 2009-10 Departmental Fines Strategy and planning: 420,098.00 Design and build 924,035.00 Hosting and infrastructure 585.600.00 Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Content provision 47,799.00 what powers (a) his Department and (b) each of its Testing and evaluation 554,420.00 agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) Total 2,531,952.00 have to impose administrative penalties; what the statutory basis is for each such power; and how much (i) his NHS Choices Department and (ii) each of its agencies and NDPBs £ have recovered in administrative penalties in each of the 2007-08 last 10 years for which figures are available. [309263] Strategy and planning: 3,291,659.57 Phil Hope: The Care Quality Commission has the Design and build 4,266,748.79 power to issue fixed penalty notices (as an alternative to Hosting and infrastructure 1,871,933.81 prosecution) under sections 86-87 of the Health and Content provision 3,010,242.69 Social Care Act 2008. These sections provide for regulations Testing and evaluation 1.236.993.29 to be made to set fixed penalty offences for offences Total 13,677,578.14 under Part 1 of that Act. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Registration 2008-09 of Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009 No Strategy and planning: 8,764,040.54 660) set the penalty offences and their amounts (Schedule Design and build 7,470,562.03 1) in respect of the registration of certain NHS health Hosting and infrastructure 3,169,335.95 care providers with the Care Quality Commission against Content provision 7,156,673.03 requirements relating to health care associated infections. Testing and evaluation 1,300.208.47 To date, the commission has not used this power. Total 27,860,820.02 Departmental Internet 2009-10 Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Strategy and planning: 5,845,541.38 how much has been spent on (a) strategy and planning, Design and build 6,377,614.00 (b) design and build, (c) hosting and infrastructure, Hosting and infrastructure 2,610,803.31 (d) content provision and (e) testing and evaluation for Content provision 5,448,688.20 his Department’s websites in each of the last three years; Testing and evaluation 1,023,417.78 and how much has been allocated for each such category Total 21,306,064.66 of expenditure in 2009-10. [310757]
Phil Hope: The Department operates two main websites: Since 27 June 2007 the Department has reduced the total number of websites that it operates from 196 to 71, 1. The Department’s corporate website at: to meets its obligations under Transformational www.dh.gov.uk Government. The Department will continue to reduce 2. NHS Choices at: this number to just two websites by the Cabinet Office www.nhs.uk deadline of July 2011. 115W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 116W
Given the high number of websites that were in Final data for 2008-09 are expected to be published existence between March 2007 and January 2010, it is by the NHS Information Centre on 25 February 2010. not possible to provide information on costs for all of these, as this would incur disproportionate costs. Drugs: Preston
Direct Payments Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Preston are receiving treatment for drug addiction. [310987] Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the number of people who Gillian Merron: The information requested is not are in receipt of a direct payment. [311577] held centrally. However, the total number of adults in drug treatment Phil Hope: The NHS Information Centre for health in Lancashire in 2008-09 was 5,004. and social care collects and publishes information on Note: the number of people receiving direct payments from councils with adult social services responsibilities. Data regarding drug treatment are not collected specifically for Preston. Information is collected for clients aged 18 and over Source: both during the year April to March and as at 31 March. National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA). The number of carers receiving direct payments is also collected during the year April to March. Provisional General Practitioners: Bexley information for 2008-09 is the latest data available. All 150 councils provided provisional information on Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the number of clients receiving direct payments. Health how many GP practices in the London borough of Bexley had extended opening hours in (a) 1997 and 86,100 social care clients (aged 18 and over) in England (b) 2009. [310694] received a direct payment during the year 2008-09 and 68,600 social care clients were in receipt of direct payments Mr. Mike O’Brien: Data was not collected in 1997 on as at 31 March 2009. number of general practitioner (GP) practices offering 28,000 carers of adults aged 18 and over provided by extended opening. Information last collected in July 141 councils in England received a direct payment 2009 showed that 18 of the 29 GP practices in Bexley during the year 2008-09. care trust (62.1 per cent.) had extended opening hours, Final data for 2008-09 is expected to be published by offering their patients access to routine appointments. the NHS Information Centre on 25 February 2010 We expect this to continue to increase. (Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care data for Health Services: Isle of Man clients) and in April 2010 (Personal Social Services Expenditure and Unit Costs Return 1 data for carers). Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State This will incorporate revisions to the provisional data for Health if he will reverse the decision to discontinue including the subsequent update of missing data items. the reciprocal health arrangements between the NHS and the Isle of Man with effect from 1 April 2010; and Disabled: Social Security Benefits if he will make a statement. [311112] Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Gillian Merron: We are not minded to reverse the what his latest estimate is of the number of people who decision to end the current bilateral health care agreement are in receipt of an individual budget. [311578] with the Isle of Man, which was taken on economic grounds, as it does not represent value for money to the Phil Hope: The terms Individual Budget and Personal United Kingdom taxpayer. Budget were used synonymously during the pilot stage of the personalisation project. However, Personal Budget Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State is the term now being used for national implementation for Health what recent representations he has received and relates to social care funding only. Individual Budgets from the Isle of Man government on his Department’s is now the term used for a notional amount of funding decision on the discontinuance of reciprocal health from a variety of sources which may include social care arrangements between the NHS and the Isle of Man funding as well as other sources. The NHS Information with effect from 1 April 2010; if he will meet Members Centre did not collect information on the number of of the House of Keys to discuss the decision; and if he Individual Budgets in 2008-09. However, information will make a statement. [311113] on the number of clients planned to receive services via Personal Budgets in 2008-09 was collected and this Gillian Merron: Following representation from the information has been provided to answer the question. Isle of Man Government, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is due to meet with a delegation from The NHS Information Centre for health and social the Isle of Man Government on 19 January 2010. care collects and publishes information on the number of people receiving Personal Budgets from councils Health Services: Youth Custody with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs). Provisional data show that 13,800 social care service Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for users (aged 18 and over) in 128 CASSRs were planned Health how many and what proportion of young people to receive services via a Personal Budget as at 31 March were not given an initial physical and mental health 2009. Over 100,000 people have benefited from personal assessment within five days of entering custody in 2009. budgets to date. [310790] 117W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 118W
Phil Hope: The information requested is not collected Median waiting time (weeks) centrally. Since 2006, national health service primary Patients still waiting at period Patients seen care trusts have been responsible for commissioning end during the health services for their offender health population. quarter Period Prison Service Order 0500 and subsequent Prison ending: In-patient Out-patient Out-patient Service Instruction 27/2006 states that: First receptions into custody will have undergone an initial March 2009 4.0 2.4 n/a health assessment to determine any immediate health needs before November 4.2 2.8 n/a they were locked up for their first night. 2009 The initial evidence based health assessment of first receptions Notes: 1. Out-patient waiting times are measured from referral by the general will include a triage that must take place before the prisoner’s first practitioner to first out-patient appointment to the consultant. night, to primarily detect: 2. In-patient waiting times are measured from decision to admit to immediate physical health problems admission. immediate mental health problems 3. Out-patient commissioner data only available from June 1997. 4. Full out-patient waiting list only available from 2004-05, hence no significant drugs or alcohol abuse median available on this basis before then. risk of suicide and/or self-harm. 5. Out-patient waiting times on a ‘seen’ basis ceased in September As a follow up to this, they must also be given a 2007. 6. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather general health assessment in the week immediately following than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the average reception, by an appropriately trained member of the wait. health care team, in order to identify any existing health Source: problems and to plan any subsequent care/treatment. Department of Health QM08R, QFO1 and monthly monitoring collections All services provided in Her Majesty’s prisons are inspected by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons. Influenza: Milton Keynes Their inspection document ’Expectations—Criteria for Assessing the Conditions in Prisons and the Treatment of Prisoners’ records the standards for first and second Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health reception health screening. These standards are covered how many people were administered (a) swine influenza under Primary Care—section 4 points 27 and 28. vaccines and (b) seasonal influenza vaccines by the Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust in 2008-09. [311097]
Hospitals: Waiting Lists Gillian Merron: The total numbers of doses of swine and seasonal influenza vaccines administered by the Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust (PCT) in the 2008-09 what the average waiting time was for outpatient seasonal influenza immunisation programme and up to operations in each year since 1997. [310463] 30 November 2009 in the 2009-10 seasonal and swine influenza immunisation programmes are given in the Mr. Mike O’Brien: The median waiting times for following table. in-patient admissions and out-patient appointments is For seasonal influenza, a single dose of vaccine is shown in the table. given therefore, the figures equate to the number of Information on the average waiting time for out-patient people vaccinated. For swine influenza vaccine, most, operations is not collected centrally.While some procedures but not all, people are given a single dose of vaccine might take place in out-patients, when an operation is (some are given two doses of vaccine). Therefore, the required this will most likely be in an in-patient setting total number of people vaccinated will be a little less either as a day case or overnight admission. than the number of doses given (data on the number of The in-patient/out-patient waiting times data do not people vaccinated is not yet available). indicate what treatment the patient received. 2008-091 2009-102 Median waiting time (weeks) 3 4,5 Patients still waiting at period Patients seen Seasonal influenza 30,011 29,000 end during the vaccine quarter Swine influenza — 4,55,500 Period vaccine ending: In-patient Out-patient Out-patient 1 Figures up to the end of the immunisation programme (31 January 2009). March 1997 13.2 n/a n/a 2 Provisional figures collected part-way through the immunisation June 1997 13.6 n/a 6.3 programmes (data available up to 30 November 2009). 3 March 1998 14.9 n/a 6.4 Excludes vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) in Milton Keynes PCT for which there are no data. March 1999 12.9 n/a 7.0 4 Includes vaccination of HCWs in Milton Keynes PCT. March 2000 12.9 n/a 7.7 5 Approximate March 2001 12.6 n/a 7.5 March 2002 12.7 n/a 7.6 Mental Health Services: Prisoners March 2003 11.9 n/a 7.4 March 2004 10.2 n/a 7.1 Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for March 2005 8.5 4.8 7.0 Health whether steps have been taken to implement the March 2006 7.3 3.7 6.1 new minimum target for the national health service of March 2007 6.2 3.2 5.2 14 days to transfer a prisoner with acute, severe mental March 2008 4.5 2.6 n/a illness to an appropriate health care facility. [311221] 119W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 120W
Phil Hope: The cross-government delivery plan Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust “Improving Health Supporting Justice” published in November 2009, sets out the intention to introduce a 14-day transfer process for prisoners with acute, severe Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if mental disorder under section 47 and section 48 of the he will establish an independent inquiry under the Mental Health Act 1983. Inquiries Act 2005 into the operation of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. [311278] The Department has set up a prison transfer project to lead on the implementation of 14-day transfers. A national expert advisory group has been established to Mr. Mike O’Brien: No. An independent inquiry chaired support the work of the project. This group comprises by Robert Francis QC is currently examining evidence key stakeholders from the Her Majesty’s Prison Service, relating to the operation of Mid Staffordshire NHS the national health service, The Royal College of Nursing, Foundation Trust, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary the Care Quality Commission, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Health announced its establishment to the House on of Prisons and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. 21 July 2009, Official Report, columns 123-25W. The inquiry is due to report its findings to us by the end of this month. Mentally Ill: Young Offenders Midwives: South East Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the recommendation of Lord Bradley’s review of people with mental health Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for problems or disabilities in the criminal justice system Health how many full-time equivalent midwives were in for a review to examine the potential for early intervention post at each hospital providing maternity services in and diversion for children and young people with mental the South East in each of the last five years. [310434] health problems or learning difficulties who have offended or who are at risk of offending. [310994] Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following table. Phil Hope: “Healthy Children, Safer Communities—A strategy to promote the health and well-being of children National health service hospital and community health services: and young people in contact with the youth justice number of full-time equivalent midwives in each specified strategic system” was published on 8 December 2009. health authority area by organisation as at 30 September each year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 While this cross-government strategy sets out a wide vision for improving the health and well-being of children South East Coast 1,312 1,320 1,325 1,382 1,413 and young people in contact with the Youth Justice Strategic Health System (YJS), it also addresses the three recommendations Authority area Ashford and St. 77 84 80 88 90 about children in Lord Bradley’s review of people with Peter’s Hospitals mental health problems or learning disabilities in the NHS Trust criminal justice system. Brighton and Sussex 154 155 157 159 163 In relation to Lord Bradley’s third recommendation University Hospitals for children, work is under way (under the Offender NHS Trust Health children and young people programme in the Dartford and 73 73 65 76 85 Department) to examine the potential for early intervention Gravesham NHS Trust and diversion. This work will continue and will be East Kent Hospitals 175 178 183 191 201 overseen by the Healthy Children, Safer Communities NHS Trust Programme Board. East Sussex 143 144 148 148 138 It includes evaluation of the Youth Justice Liaison Hospitals NHS and Diversion pilots and development of guidance Trust arising from this strategy. In addition, a detailed paper Frimley Park 106 116 121 127 127 about the health needs of children in contact with the Hospital NHS YJS will be placed on the Department’s website alongside Foundation Trust Maidstone and 146 143 145 140 142 the strategy in the first quarter of this year, followed at a Tunbridge Wells later date by a paper on the evidence base for effective NHS Trust interventions. This paper will be linked to the guidance Medway NHS Trust 121 116 116 117 115 mentioned above. Queen Victoria 1 1——— A copy of the “Healthy Children, Safer Communities” Hospital NHS strategy has already been placed in the House Library. Foundation Trust Royal Surrey 79 72 76 76 82 County Hospital Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust: Hospital NHS Trust Wards Royal West Sussex 66 61 66 72 78 NHS Trust Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Surrey and Sussex 102 106 89 112 116 how many (a) mixed-sex and (b) single-sex wards Healthcare NHS Trust there are in Mid Essex NHS Trust hospitals. [310738] Worthing and 70 71 79 77 77 Southlands Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected Hospitals NHS centrally. Trust 121W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 122W
National health service hospital and community health services: Further information on the structure and remuneration number of full-time equivalent midwives in each specified strategic of Monitor’s board can be found in their Annual Reports health authority area by organisation as at 30 September each year and Accounts for 2008-09 which is available at: 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk South Central 1,248 1,187 1,145 1,255 1,301 Strategic Health Monitor: Operating Costs Authority area Isle of Wight 44 46 46 46 44 Healthcare Primary Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Care Trust (PCT) what the running costs of Monitor headquarters were Heatherwood and 101 104 116 121 132 in the latest year for which information is available. Wexham Park [311104] Hospitals NHS Trust Mr. Mike O’Brien: We are advised by the executive Milton Keynes 88 42 3 76 91 General Hospital chairman of Monitor (the statutory name of which is NHS Trust the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) Southampton 162 142 134 152 145 that in 2008-09 the total operating expenditure for University Hospitals Monitor was £14,646,000; comprising staff costs of NHS Trust £8,036,000 and other operating expenses of £6,610,000. Portsmouth 179 179 154 164 160 Further details of Monitor’s operating expenditure Hospitals NHS Trust for 2008-09 can be found in their annual report and accounts at: Royal Berkshire and 122 119 129 138 143 Battle Hospitals www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk NHS Trust Winchester and 71 70 75 80 87 Monitor: Pay Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust North Hampshire 65 62 61 62 70 Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Hospitals NHS how much the chief executive of Monitor received in Trust (a) salary and (b) expenses in the latest year for which Oxford Radcliffe 251 254 255 253 264 information is available. [311102] Hospitals NHS Trust Mr. Mike O’Brien: We are advised by the executive Buckinghamshire 166 168 172 164 163 chairman of Monitor that in 2008-09 he received a Hospitals NHS Trust salary payment of £235,647, which included a 5.5 per Notes: cent. non-consolidated payment of £12,001 and £16,361 1. Some individual trusts’ figures may in some years be subject to in business-related expenses. data quality issues. All figures are validated and signed off by trusts prior to publication. NHS: Early Retirement 2. Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 3. ‘—’ zero. Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for 4. Data Quality. Workforce statistics are compiled from data sent by Health (1) how much each (a) primary care trust, (b) more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England. The NHS hospital trust and (c) mental health trust spent on information centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid early retirement for members of the trust board in each data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing of the last three years; [310797] and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually (2) how much each (a) primary care trust, (b) being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is hospital trust and (c) mental health trust spent on significant at national level they will not be changed. Where there is early retirement for staff employed by the organisation impact only at detailed or local level this will be footnoted in in each of the last three years. [310798] relevant analyses. Source: Ann Keen: The information requested is not available The NHS information centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census. in the form requested. The total premature retirement costs including the cost of paying pensions and lump sum early, enhancements of lump sum and enhanced Monitor: Directors service after normal retirement age are set out in the following table.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health £000 how many paid directors are on the board of Monitor. Premature retirement costs [311103] Prefunded (one-off capitalised costs) Quarterly recharge
Mr. Mike O’Brien: We are advised by the executive 2006-07 162,578 64,742 chairman of Monitor (the statutory name of which is 2007-08 198,567 62,732 the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) 2008-09 73,755 50,164 that there are currently five paid directors on the board Source: of Monitor. The board is comprised of the executive NHS Pension Scheme and NHS Compensation for Premature Retirement chairman and four non-executive board members. Scheme Resource Accounts. 123W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 124W
NHS: Finance Ann Keen: National health service bodies are not required to report their planned or actual spending on Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for interpretation and translation services to the Department. Health what his latest estimate is of the amount of When planning such services, NHS bodies should take money donated to NHS institutions through charitable due account of their legal duties, the composition of giving. [310033] the communities they serve, and the needs and circumstances of their patients, service users and local Phil Hope: In 2008-09, national health service trusts populations. and primary care trusts in England received contributions NHS: South East from all charitable sources totalling £62 million in expenditure and £65 million in assets. The Department does not collect this information for NHS foundation Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for trusts who report directly to Monitor. Health how many full-time equivalent (a) managers and (b) senior managers were in post at each hospital NHS: Interpreters trust in the South East in each of the last five years. [310433] Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on interpreters in each of the Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the last five years. [311396] following table.
National health service hospital and community health services, number of full-time equivalent senior managers and managers in hospital trusts in each specified strategic health authority area as at 30 September each year 2004 2005 2006 All Senior All Senior All Senior managers managers Managers managers managers Managers managers managers Managers
South East Coast 1,278 393 885 1,064 281 783 970 293 677 Strategic Health Authority area Ashford and St. 85 21 64 97 22 75 87 26 61 Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust Brighton and 141 14 127 132 16 116 125 22 104 Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust Dartford and 34 15 19 37 17 21 40 19 21 Gravesham NHS Trust East Kent 936 87911576821567 Hospitals NHS Trust East Sussex 98 20 79 89 19 70 77 23 53 Hospitals NHS Trust Frimley Park 52 13 39 56 18 38 47 19 28 Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Maidstone and 159 16 142 134 18 116 145 27 118 Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Medway NHS 50 34 16 57 39 18 54 34 19 Trust Queen Victoria 33 22 12 36 11 25 26 12 14 Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Royal Surrey 79 20 59 80 19 61 71 17 54 County Hospital NHS Trust Royal West Sussex 52 24 28 50 26 24 50 22 28 NHS Trust Surrey and Sussex 185 141 44 83 38 45 91 41 50 Healthcare NHS Trust Worthing and 33 8 25 31 7 25 26 4 22 Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust
South Central 1,316 393 923 1,372 330 1,042 1,392 322 1,070 Strategic Health Authority area 125W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 126W
National health service hospital and community health services, number of full-time equivalent senior managers and managers in hospital trusts in each specified strategic health authority area as at 30 September each year 2004 2005 2006 All Senior All Senior All Senior managers managers Managers managers managers Managers managers managers Managers
Isle of Wight 65 23 42 75 22 53 64 19 45 Healthcare Primary Care Trust Nuffield 42 4 38 47 4 44 47 5 42 Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust Heatherwood and 126 118 8 136 43 93 130 37 93 Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust Milton Keynes 55 12 43 52 13 39 57 19 38 General Hospital NHS Trust Southampton 123 50 72 161 48 113 162 44 117 University Hospitals NHS Trust Portsmouth 190 6 184 186 11 175 212 4 208 Hospitals NHS Trust Royal Berkshire 86 21 66 94 38 56 105 41 64 and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust Winchester and 124 21 104 107 22 85 112 20 93 Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust North Hampshire 73 33 40 69 30 39 70 43 26 Hospitals NHS Trust Oxford Radcliffe 262 49 212 260 43 217 268 31 237 Hospitals NHS Trust Buckinghamshire 100 40 60 112 44 68 117 47 70 Hospitals NHS Trust
2007 2008 Senior Senior All managers managers Managers All managers managers Managers
South East Coast Strategic Health 944 246 698 1,015 231 784 Authority area Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS 6695879574 Trust Brighton and Sussex University 139 20 120 152 20 132 Hospitals NHS Trust Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 53 19 34 64 19 45 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 87 15 72 93 16 77 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 76 22 54 83 21 61 Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation 48 18 29 48 18 30 Trust Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS 157 28 129 168 31 137 Trust Medway NHS Trust 55 33 22 56 25 31 Queen Victoria Hospital NHS 26 12 14 20 7 13 Foundation Trust Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS 65 16 49 63 18 45 Trust Royal West Sussex NHS Trust 45 24 22 44 20 24 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS 43 16 27 58 17 41 Trust Worthing and Southlands Hospitals 3663054846 NHS Trust
South Central Strategic Health Authority 1,436 356 1,080 1,566 439 1,126 area Isle of Wight Healthcare Primary Care 6795865956 Trust 127W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 128W
2007 2008 Senior Senior All managers managers Managers All managers managers Managers
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust 42 7 36 40 10 30 Heatherwood and Wexham Park 130 40 91 135 54 81 Hospitals NHS Trust Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS 61 18 43 55 23 32 Trust Southampton University Hospitals 191 36 155 227 79 148 NHS Trust Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 218 6 212 245 8 237 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals 105 39 66 123 41 82 NHS Trust Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare 107 19 87 96 15 82 NHS Trust North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust 71 51 20 92 59 33 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 229 20 209 237 23 214 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 107 44 63 132 46 87 Note: Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. Source: The NHS Information centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.
Olympic Games: Canada responsible for providing national guidance on the use of medicines, medical equipment, diagnostic tests and Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for clinical and surgical procedures within the national Health how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from health service. his Department are planning to attend the Winter In January 2006, NICE published the guidance, “Statins Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what for the prevention of cardiovascular events” which relates estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance. to the initiation of statin therapy in adults with clinical [310855] evidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or in adults considered to be at risk of CVD. In May 2008, NICE Gillian Merron: None. published the guideline, “Lipid modification— Cardiovascular risk assessment and the modification of Social Services blood lipids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease”. This guideline covers adults at higher risk of CVD such as smokers and people with Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health high blood pressure. which local authorities primarily purchase their social care services through (a) block and (b) spot purchasing; and if he will make a statement. [311576] Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been prescribed statins Phil Hope: The information requested is not collected in each of the last 10 years. [310695] centrally. Local authorities are free to determine how best to purchase or arrange social care services to meet local need. Mr. Mike O’Brien: Information on the number of patients prescribed a medicine is not collected centrally. Statins The following table shows the number of prescription items for statins, written in the United Kingdom and Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for dispensed in the community, in England, in each of last Health what recent representations his Department has available 10 years. Statins are defined as atrovastatin, received on (a) prescription of statins and (b) the side cerivastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, effects of statins. [310637] simvastatin and ezetmibe.
Items dispensed (Thousand) Ann Keen: The Department has not received any formal representations about the prescription of statins 1999 6,989.6 or the side effects of statins from any organisations or 2000 9,423.0 individuals. 2001 12,600.8 2002 16,663.0 Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for 2003 21,635.1 Health what guidance his Department has issued on 2004 28,110.3 the prescription of statins to (a) women, (b) men aged 2005 33,771.7 55 and over and (c) patients with a 20 per cent. or 2006 39,800.6 lower risk of heart disease. [310640] 2007 44,576.0 2008 48,717.0 Ann Keen: The National Institute for Health and Source: Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the independent organisation Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system. 129W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 130W
Supported Housing start of the swine flu pandemic takes the amount to over £1 billion. We are not able to break down this Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for number due to confidentiality clauses in our contracts Health what guidance his Department issues to local with the various manufacturers. authorities on placing people in (a) sheltered accommodation and (b) accommodation with Swine Flu: Vaccination wardens. [311544] Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Phil Hope: The Department does not issue guidance what the monetary value is of the NHS stock of swine to local authorities (LAs) on placing people in sheltered influenza vaccine. [310840] accommodation. Under section 47 of the National Health Service and Gillian Merron: As of 3 January 2010, the total Community Care Act 1990, LAs have a duty to assess amount of vaccine delivered to the United Kingdom the needs of any person for whom the authority may was 23.9 million doses of the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine, provide or arrange the provision of community care Pandemrix, and 5.0 million doses of the Baxter vaccine, services and who may be in need of such services. LAs Celvapan. have a further duty to decide, having regard to the The Department is unable to divulge the monetary results of the assessment, what, if any, services they value of this stock as it would violate confidentiality should provide to meet the individual’s needs. clauses in the contracts with the manufacturers. These decisions should be taken in consultation with service users and/or their representatives. There are no Vauxhall set or defined levels of need which will automatically determine the care settings, such as sheltered Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health accommodation, in which service users are placed. if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Vauxhall constituency, the effects Surgery: Technology on the constituency of changes to his Department’s policies since 1997. [310331] Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been funded by the Mr. Mike O’Brien: The Government have put in NHS to be treated using the CyberKnife Robotic place a programme of NHS investment and reform Radiosurgery System (a) in the private sector in England since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the and (b) overseas since the treatment was introduced. UK. There is significant evidence that these policies [310791] have yielded considerable benefits for the Vauxhall constituency. Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally. For example: At the end of November 2009, the total number of people Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for waiting more than 26 weeks for inpatient treatment within Lambeth Health how many CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery Primary Care Trust (PCT) has fallen to 0, from 1,512 in June 2002. Systems are established in the NHS. [310792] At the end of November 2009, the total number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for outpatient treatment within Lambeth Ann Keen: There are currently no Cyberknife Robotic PCT has fallen to 0, from 954 in June 2002. Radiosurgery Systems in the national health service. A In June 2003, at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation private centre is in place at The CyberKnife Centre in Trust, 82.4 per cent. of patients spent less than four hours in Harley Street, London. accident and emergency (A&E) from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2009 show an improvement to 98.4 per cent. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for In June 2003, at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Health whether his Department has had discussions Trust, 93.8 per cent., of patients spent less than four hours in with (a) patient groups and (b) others on the applicability A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for of the tariff for radiotherapy to hypofractionated September 2009 show an improvement to 98.3 per cent. stereotactic high-precision radiotherapy. [310793] Between September 1997 and September 2008 the number of consultants at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Mr. Mike O’Brien: There is no national tariff for has increased from 140 to 408. Between September 1997 and radiotherapy. Reimbursement for radiotherapy services September 2008 the number of nurses has increased from 1,595 to is therefore subject to local negotiation between providers 2,507. and commissioners. Between September 1997 and September 2008 the number of consultants at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has Swine Flu increased from 339 to 432. Between September 1997 and September 2008 the number of nurses has increased from 2,158 to 3,597. Between September 2001 and September 2008 the number of Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health general practitioners (GPs) per 100,000 within Lambeth PCT has how much his Department has spent on preparations increased from 67.7 to 91.9. for a possible swine influenza pandemic in the last three 92.7 per cent., of urgent GP referrals to King’s College Hospital years. [310839] NHS Foundation Trust, with suspected cancer, are seen by a specialist within two weeks of the referral. Gillian Merron: The spend to date on pandemic influenza 95.9 per cent., of urgent GP referrals to Guy’s and St. Thomas’ preparedness (not swine flu specific) is about £500 million. NHS Foundation Trust, with suspected cancer, are seen by a Additional spend committed around the time of the specialist within two weeks of the referral. 131W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 132W
Gracefield Gardens health and social care centre in Streatham Aled Williams is one of London’s first polyclinics, providing faster, more convenient Alice Kehoe high quality health services to the people of Lambeth. Alon Carmel There are three new private finance initiative and capital funded hospital schemes in the area which includes a £72 million Amy Sullivan scheme at Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust which opened in November Anastasia Theodorou 2006; a £50 million scheme at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Ashley Ibbett Foundation Trust which opened in October 2005; and a £76 million scheme at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which Charlotte Coles opened in October 2002. Dagmar Droogsma Dan Yeo David Armstrong ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE David Warrilow Boilers: Government Assistance Debbie Dickinson Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Emma Williams Energy and Climate Change what timetable has been Esther Blythe established for the implementation of the boiler scrappage Faye O’Connor scheme; what homes will be eligible; and whether local Hannah Ryder authorities are required to participate in the scheme. Harriet Bristow [311548] Helen Stokes Mr. Kidney: The Boiler Scrappage Scheme was launched Ames Davey for applications on 5 January, with the first vouchers Jim Penman being distributed from the week commencing 18 January. John Ashton The scheme is open to householders, private landlords Jon Townley or their tenants in England who seek to replace a Jos Wheatley working G rated or worse boiler with an A rated boiler or a renewable heating technology. Full eligibility criteria Katie Elliott can be found on: Kaveh Guilanpour www.energysavingtrust.org.uk Laura Johansen Local authorities are not required to participate in the Libby Townshend scheme. The scheme is due to run until the sum of Liz Kitchen money allocated to the scheme (£50 million) is spent. Mads Libergren Carbon Emissions Martin Hession Mel Speight David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Mike Cork Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the proportion of carbon dioxide Neil McMurdo in the atmosphere which is directly attributable to Nick Archer human activity. [310487] Nick Turton Nina Roney Joan Ruddock: According to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, pre-industrial carbon dioxide Philip Dufty concentrations (just prior to 1750) were around 280 Philip Wright parts per million (ppm). In 2009, according to the Polly Billington World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases, carbon dioxide Rachel Ash concentrations were at 387 ppm. Based on these figures, Robin Gwynn the proportion of carbon dioxide concentrations in the Shivani Katyal atmosphere which can be attributed to human activity Shruti Dudhia is around 28 per cent. of today’s atmospheric concentrations. Sinjini Mukherjee Climate Change: International Cooperation Siobhan Stanger Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Soheila Amin-Hanjani and Climate Change who the members were of the UK Steve Cornelius delegation to Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Tom Restrick Conference. [310742] This does not include my right. hon. Friend the Joan Ruddock: The final official UK delegation to Prime Minister and the delegation from No 10. Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference comprised the following individuals: Coastal Areas Ed Miliband Joan Ruddock Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Will Cavendish and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the Pete Betts area of land in the UK which would be lost in circumstances Jan Thompson in which sea levels rose by (a) 20 centimetres, (b) 50 Aaron Gould centimetres, (c) one metre and (d) two metres. [310088] Adrian Butt Adrian Roberts Huw Irranca-Davies: I have been asked to reply. 133W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 134W
The Foresight Future Flooding study published in Departmental Training 2004 looked at future risks of flooding and coastal erosion for four different futures over a 100 year period. Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for These “futures” embodied different socio-economic and Energy and Climate Change how many sessions of climate change scenarios with associated assumptions media training were organised for Ministers in his with respect to sea level rise, but they do not correspond Department in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 to date. to sea levels. No estimate of land loss was made as this [311631] would depend on a number of variables. These include the effect of other climate change impacts such as Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer increased storminess, as well as policy and investment I gave the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant on flood and coastal erosion risk management. Shapps) on 11 January 2010, Official Report, column 737W. Departmental Advertising Energy: Infrastructure Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to the public purse Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for was of his Department’s Bedtime stories advertisement. Energy and Climate Change for how long public [308699] consultation on his Department’s draft national policy statements for energy infrastructure will run. [311644] Joan Ruddock: The cost of the climate literacy campaign (including the television adverts known as ‘Bedtime Mr. Kidney: The consultation on the draft national Story’) which formed part of the Department’s Act on policy statements for energy infrastructure will run for 15 weeks. It began on 9 November 2009 and closes on CO2 initiative is budgeted at approximately £5.75 million. This includes production and media costs and creative 22 February 2010. This is three weeks longer than the development research. The climate literacy campaign minimum time for a consultation set out in Cabinet phase began in October 2009 and ends January 2010. Office Code of Practice on Consultation to take into consideration the Christmas holiday period. Departmental Buildings Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on Energy and Climate Change what the (a) area and (b) responding to complaints arising from consultations estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office on draft national policy statements for energy space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department. infrastructure. [311645] [310530] Mr. Kidney: Our policy is to consider any complaint Joan Ruddock: The Department does not own any regarding consultations, including the consultation on office property and has no vacant space. For the buildings the draft national policy statement for energy infrastructure, it occupies (Whitehall Place, London and Atholl House, very carefully and respond in an appropriate and timely Aberdeen) the amount of occupied space is 10,900 manner. square metres. The current annual cost of this space is £4,379,000. Government Departments: Energy Departmental Domestic Visits Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Government Departments Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded a grant to Energy and Climate Change how many planned visits fund carbon saving initiatives. [311214] by Ministers in his Department within the UK were cancelled within 72 hours of the visit taking place in Joan Ruddock: Grant funding provided by the the last 12 months; and what the planned destination of Department of Energy and Climate Change for carbon each such visit was. [311580] saving initiatives in Government Departments in 2009-10 is as follows. Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on Funding is provided through the Low Carbon 13 January 2010, Official Report, column 1045W. Technology Programme for central Government Departments, and their agencies that report on carbon Departmental Internet emissions as part of the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate framework. Grants have been made Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for to fund technologies that reduce carbon emissions from Energy and Climate Change which websites his buildings and transport. 12 Departments applied for Department’s staff are blocked from accessing from funding in 2009-10 and 12 have been allocated funding. departmental networked computers. [310244] Through the Salix Finance scheme, Government Departments are able to apply for a repayable grant for Joan Ruddock: The Department runs specialist software energy efficiency technologies. The financial savings to block access to all categories of websites which do from the energy efficiency measures are paid back to not conform with our security operating procedures or HM Treasury, up to the level of the grant. In 2009-10, would be considered a network security risk. It is not six Departments submitted applications to Salix. All of possible to produce a list of the websites as they run these applications were accepted, although one Department into millions globally and come and go daily. has since withdrawn its application. 135W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 136W
Met Office At Copenhagen, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Sarkozy reaffirmed that $25 David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for billion is needed for a 25 per cent. reduction in emissions Energy and Climate Change what information the Met from deforestation by 2015, and that developed countries Office Hadley Centre uses to predict future should pay a significant proportion of this. These temperature changes. [310483] announcements were strongly welcomed by rainforest countries including Guyana, Indonesia, the Democratic Joan Ruddock: The Met Office Hadley Centre uses Republic of Congo, Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica. complex computer models of the atmosphere, land and We will continue to work with donors and rainforests ocean systems to make predictions of future climate nations in preparation for the reconvened climate change, including temperature. These models are negotiations in Mexico later this year, to ensure REDD+ mathematical representations of the climate system and continues to be central element of climate change are based on the fundamental laws of physics. negotiations. The models are tested and evaluated against actual Wind Farms: Finance observations on a number of time scales, ranging from palaeoclimate to day to day weather. Model performance John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for and improvement is aided because the Met Office uses Energy and Climate Change what financial support his the same model framework for its climate projections as Department makes available for the development of it does for weather forecasting. (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind farms. [311573] In addition to its own models, the Met Office Hadley Mr. Kidney: The Renewables Obligation (RO) is the Centre makes use of climate models from the global Government’s main mechanism for the financial support scientific community. These are used for comparison of renewable electricity. Developers of renewable and can aid improvement to Met Office models. The technologies, including wind, receive Renewable Obligation methods employed in the development of Met Office Certificates (ROCs) for the electricity they generate. models are thoroughly and independently reviewed in Suppliers can buy these certificates and present them to the peer-reviewed literature. Ofgem to meet their annual obligation. Wind plays an important role in the Government’s Olympic Games: Canada energy policy and we recently announced an increase in RO support for offshore wind stations accredited between Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for April 2010 and March 2014. This should ensure the Energy and Climate Change how many (a) Ministers industry has the confidence to continue to invest in this and (b) officials from his Department are planning to important technology. attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance. [310847] CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES Academies: Sevenoaks Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has no plans for attendance by its Ministers or Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for officials. Children, Schools and Families when he expects to make a final decision on the proposed Academy for Rain Forests: Guyana Sevenoaks. [310707] Mr. Coaker [holding answer 14 January 2010]: The Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy DCSF received the signed Funding Agreement on and Climate Change what response the Government 12 January. The Secretary of State will decide the proposal has made to the offer by the President of Guyana for once he has considered all the information. This should the Government to take responsibility for that be by the end of January. country’s rainforest; and if he will make a statement. [311309] Academies: Sponsorship
Joan Ruddock: The UK welcomed the offer by the Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for President of Guyana to keep their forests standing. We Children, Schools and Families what system his recognised that Guyana needs to reconcile development Department has in place to (a) monitor and (b) assess challenges with the need to keep forests standing in the performance of academy sponsors in improving the order to help in the fight against climate change. It is (i) Ofsted status and (ii) number of examination passes essential that Guyana is supported with sufficient incentives in academies. [311243] to maintain the services that its rainforests provide. The Mr. Coaker: The performance of academy sponsors UK was therefore pleased to hear that Guyana has is monitored and assessed through the performance of reached an agreement on support for their forest services their academies. The Department has a rigorous range with the Government of Norway. of measures to achieve this, including education advisers, Ahead of the Copenhagen Accord, the UK together School Improvement Partners (SIPs) and where appropriate with the US, Japan, Australia, France and Norway National Challenge Advisers. All of these professionals committed to provide $3.5 billion public finance for provide challenge and support to academies, help the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation academy leaders to evaluate their own performance, (REDD+) over the period 2010-12 and to scaling it up identify priorities for improvement, and plan effective thereafter. change. They report regularly to governors and the 137W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 138W
Department. Where necessary, the frequency of visits Children: Disabled to academies is increased and/or a tailored intervention programme is agreed. Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for The 2009 GCSE results show that the increase in the Children, Schools and Families when he last met proportion of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs at representatives of the True Colours Trust to discuss A*-C including English and maths is 5.0 percentage reducing levels of financial exclusion among disabled points, double the average national increase. However, children’s families; and what funding his Department is where an academy is not making satisfactory progress providing to the trust in 2009-10. [309986] we have been clear that the Department will work closely with sponsors to secure whatever changes are Ms Diana R. Johnson: DCSF does not fund the True necessary to accelerate progress. This may include a Colours Trust and we have no record of the Secretary of change of leadership, a new partnership with a successful State meeting with them. However, DCSF Ministers strong academy, sponsor, partner or school. and officials do have regular meetings with the Every Disabled Child Matters Board, which is supported by Academies: Standards the True Colours Trust to represent the interests of disabled children and their families. Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department’s Children’s Rights Director of England plans are for academy schools in the National Challenge category where fewer than 27 per cent. of Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for pupils have achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C Children, Schools and Families for what reasons including English and mathematics. [310395] Ofsted does not publish the annual costs of the Office of the Children’s Rights Director; and in respect of Mr. Coaker [holding answer 13 January 2010]: We how many offices in Ofsted annual costs are not expect all academies open for three or more years to published. [309186] have more than 30 per cent. of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and Mr. Coaker: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief mathematics by 2011, or be making very strong progress Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. with clear evidence that they will be above this benchmark Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the very soon after. Where an academy is not making Libraries of the House. satisfactory progress the Department will work closely Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 21 December with sponsors to secure whatever changes are necessary 2009: to accelerate progress. This may include a change of leadership, a new partnership with a successful strong Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as academy, sponsor, partner or school. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, for a response. Ofsted, as required by the rules governing the disclosure of Children: Barnsley remuneration for the most senior members of the organisation, discloses in its Resource Accounts the remuneration of the members of the Executive Board. The Children’s Rights Director is not a Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, member of the Executive Board and accordingly his remuneration Schools and Families how many children there are with is not disclosed. emotional, behavioural and social problems in Barnsley A copy of this reply has been sent to Vernon Coaker MP, East and Mexborough constituency. [307164] Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses. Mr. Coaker: This Department collects information on children who have special educational needs. For Children’s Services: Finance those pupils at School Action Plus and those pupils with a statement of special educational need information Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for is collected on their primary need and, if appropriate, Children, Schools and Families how much funding their secondary need. Information on primary need each unitary local authority allocated per head of only is provided in the table. population for children’s services in 2009-10. [309686] Maintained primary1, state-funded secondary1,2 and special schools3: number of pupils4 with behaviour, emotional and social difficulties5, January 2009, in Mr. Coaker: The available information on how much Barnsley East and Mexborough parliamentary constituency was allocated by each unitary local authority for children’s Number services per head of population in 2009-10 is shown in Maintained primary 100 the following table: State-funded secondary 120 Total net budget for unitary local authorities in England covering education, All special 10 community, youth justice and children and young people’s services: 2009-10 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. £ £ per head 2 Includes City Technology Colleges and Academies. 3 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general England 41,441,129,000 3,350 hospital schools. Unitary LAs 9,258,268,000 3,280 4 Headcount of solely registered pupils only. 5 The statistics relate to those children whose primary specific special educational Bath and North East 131,341,000 3,220 need is classified as behavioural, social and emotional difficulties. Only children Somerset at the School Action Plus provision category or with statements of SEN are Bedford 144,340,000 3,620 categorised according to specific need in this way. Blackburn with 139,948,000 3,220 Note: Darwen Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Blackpool 117,785,000 3,480 School Census Bournemouth 114,495,000 3,460 139W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 140W
Total net budget for unitary local authorities in England covering education, Classroom Assistants: Preston community, youth justice and children and young people’s services: 2009-10 £ £ per head Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Bracknell Forest 84,293,000 2,890 Children, Schools and Families how many full-time Brighton and Hove 190,243,000 3,560 equivalent teaching assistants there were in schools in Bristol 286,039,000 3,060 Preston in (a) 1997 and (b) on the latest date for Central Bedfordshire 201,917,000 3,170 which figures are available. [311234] Cheshire East 255,559,000 3,030 Cheshire West and 243,930,000 3,180 Mr. Coaker: There were 170 full-time equivalent teaching Chester assistants in service in local authority maintained schools Cornwall 377,451,000 3,190 in Preston constituency in January 1997 and 480 in Darlington 74,207,000 3,030 January 2009. Derby 203,003,000 3,390 Durham 395,445,000 3,420 East Riding of 246,916,000 3,280 Departmental Buildings Yorkshire Halton 105,750,000 3,430 Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Hartlepool 86,767,000 3,700 Children, Schools and Families what the (a) area and Herefordshire 118,131,000 2,960 (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied Isle of Wight 107,132,000 3,500 office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department. Kingston upon Hull 224,771,000 3,620 [310534] Leicester 280,435,000 3,570 Luton 184,588,000 3,520 Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department has the following Medway 224,506,000 3,410 office space. Middlesbrough 108,543,000 3,070 Milton Keynes 215,155,000 3,500 NIAsqm Value(£) North East 128,877,000 3,240 Lincolnshire Owned 24,936 3,073,200 occupied North Lincolnshire 123,794,000 3,210 Leased 61,550 16,592,796 North Somerset 142,746,000 3,000 occupied Northumberland 247,062,000 3,610 Nottingham 245,455,000 3,520 Owned 2,000 200,000 Peterborough 162,817,000 3,770 vacant Plymouth 212,136,000 3,620 Leased 1,323 72,720 Poole 98,711,000 3,210 vacant Portsmouth 136,877,000 3,010 Reading 105,327,000 3,180 Redcar and Cleveland 119,466,000 3,560 Departmental Conferences Rutland 25,996,000 2,490 Shropshire 198,697,000 2,960 Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Slough 130,942,000 4,120 Children, Schools and Families how many (a) away South Gloucestershire 185,383,000 2,960 days and (b) conferences that took place outside his Southampton 154,113,000 2,960 Department’s building attended by civil servants in his Southend-on-Sea 151,255,000 3,950 Department there have been since its inception; and Stockton-on-Tees 157,166,000 3,300 what the cost was of each. [307525] Stoke-on-Trent 193,586,000 3,330 Swindon 146,146,000 3,110 Ms Diana R. Johnson: To provide a response would Telford and Wrekin 128,893,000 3,010 be at disproportionate cost. Thurrock 127,624,000 3,160 Torbay 103,522,000 3,520 Warrington 149,784,000 3,140 Departmental Domestic Visits West Berkshire 135,961,000 3,480 Wiltshire 340,084,000 3,010 Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Windsor and 104,366,000 2,860 Children, Schools and Families how many planned Maidenhead visits by Ministers in his Department within the UK Wokingham 123,389,000 3,060 were cancelled within 72 hours of the visit taking place York 115,406,000 2,730 in the last 12 months; and what the planned venue or Notes: venues were for each such visit. [309883] 1. The figures for the total net budget covering education, community, youth justice and children and young people’s services are drawn from unitary local authorities’ 2009-10 Children, Schools and Families Financial Data Collection Ms Diana R. Johnson: Ministerial visits are arranged (Budget Table 1 line 8) submitted to the DCSF. Figures are rounded to the on the basis that they are provisional and subject to nearest £1,000 and may not sum due to rounding. parliamentary and Government business. 2. The per head figures are calculated by dividing the total net budget by the projected population aged 0 to 19 at mid-2009 in each LA. Figures are It is not normal practice for Government to report on rounded to the nearest £10 and may not sum due to rounding. Cash terms cancelled visits. The Department does not hold the figures as reported by local authorities in England as at 12 January 2010. information to allow us to answer this question. 141W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 142W
Departmental Internet Education: Staffordshire
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost was of maintaining Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for his Department’s website in the 2008-09 financial year; Children, Schools and Families (1) how much funding and what the forecast cost is of maintaining websites has been allocated for capital expenditure on within his responsibility in the 2009-10 financial year. educational establishments in Staffordshire in (a) 2010 [302411] and (b) 2011; [310470] (2) how much was allocated for capital expenditure Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Digital Communications on education in Staffordshire in (a) 1997 and (b) in Unit was created in 2008. The programme budget in the each year since 2007. [310471] year 2008-09 was £12.5 million and in 2009-10 planned expenditure of £10.8 million. The remit of the unit covers all online services from Mr. Coaker: The following table sets out total school the Department including elements of Direct Gov, Teachers allocations to Staffordshire for the financial year 1996-97, TV and essential e-mail communications and phone and for the financial years 2006-07 to 2010-11 line support services to local authorities, regional government offices and to all schools. Total allocations (£ million)
The cost of maintaining/developing the Department’s 1996-97 3.7 website at: 2006-07 61.9 www.dcsf.gov.uk 2007-08 43.1 is as follows: 2008-09 38.6 2008/09—£1,009,484 2009-10 67.1 2010-11 35.3 2009/10—£515,415
Departmental Pay The £61.9 million allocation in 2006-07 includes £23.0 million for an academy. The £67.1 million in Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State 2009-10 includes £14.7 million advanced from 2010-11 for Children, Schools and Families how much was as part of the Government’s fiscal stimulus. claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in Capital funding is allocated to local authorities and his Department in each of the last three financial years. schools who will prioritise how it is spent. This can be [303769] prioritised for direct capital expenditure such as classrooms, or for expenditure which is more of an establishment Ms Diana R. Johnson: The information requested is nature such as administration offices within schools. as follows: Records are not maintained centrally of the different In 2006-07, reimbursable expenses totalled £7,740 types of expenditure. In 2007-08, reimbursable expenses totalled £10,042 In 2008-09, reimbursable expenses totalled £11,621 These reimbursable expenses are in large part due to the work of the four regional press officers, who frequently Free School Meals accompany Ministers on visits across the country. These expenses also cover the costs of press officers being on duty at the weekends and cover the costs of Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, purchasing newspapers and the rental of BT lines for Schools and Families how many (a) key stage 1, (b) work-related telephone calls made at the weekend and key stage 2 and (c) key stage 3 pupils in each local out of office hours in the evenings. authority are eligible for free school meals; and if he will make a statement. [310090] Departmental Research Ms Diana R. Johnson: The requested information has Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for been placed in the House Libraries. Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has allocated to research related to children and families in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and how much it Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, allocated to such research in 2008-09. [305301] Schools and Families how many children under the age of 16 years received free (a) primary and (b) secondary Ms Diana R. Johnson: Overall, the Department expects school lunches in (i) England, (ii) Leicester and (iii) the to spend in the region of £33 million on research and East Midlands in the latest period for which figures are evaluation in 2009-10. The figure for 2008-09 was available. [311164] £32 million. We are currently in the process of finalising our research and evaluation plans for 2010-11. Further details of our research and evaluation programme are Mr. Iain Wright: The available information on free set out in our Analysis and Evidence Strategy. school meals (FSM) is shown in the following table. 143W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 144W
Maintained primary1 and state-funded secondary1,2 schools: school meal arrangements for pupils under 163 as at January 2009: in England, East Midlands Government Office Region and Leicester parliamentary constituency Primary schools1 State-funded secondary schools1,2 Percentage of Percentage of Number of pupils pupils eligible for Number of pupils pupils eligible for Number of pupils4 eligible for FSM5 FSM Number of pupils4 eligible for FSM5 FSM
England 4,077,350 653,600 16.0 2,883,770 418,000 14.5 East Midlands 351,320 45,350 12.9 256,150 29,730 11.6 Leicester 27,900 5,860 21.0 17,450 3,850 22.1 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes CTCs and Academies. 3 Pupils aged 15 and under at 31 August 2008. 4 Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. 5 Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free school meal for various reasons e.g. through preference or through non-attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim. Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census
Free School Meals: Crewe schools in Crewe and Nantwich constituency receive free school meals. [310067] Ms Diana R. Johnson: The requested information is Mr. Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for shown in the following table, together with the numbers Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in of children eligible for free school meals.
Maintained primary1 and state-funded secondary1,2 schools: school meal arrangements as at January 2009: in Crewe and Nantwich constituency Number of pupils Number of pupils Percentage known to be taking free school Percentage taking free known to be eligible for eligible for free school Number on roll3 meals4 school meals free school meals3,4 meals
Primary1 8,020 900 11.2 1,080 13.5 Secondary1,2 6,280 450 7.2 660 10.5 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes City Technology Colleges and Academies. 3 Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. 4 Number of pupils taking a free school meal on the day of the census. Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free school meal for various reasons e.g. through preference or through non-attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim. Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census
GCSE: Crewe Nantwich constituency obtained five or more A* to C GCSE grades in each academic year since 1997. [310061] Mr. Coaker: The information requested is given as Mr. Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, follows. Data below local authority level for 2008/09 is Schools and Families how many pupils in Crewe and not yet available.
Pupils at the end of key stage 4 in maintained schools in Crewe and Nantwich constituency achieving five or more GCSEs or equivalent1 at grades A*-C, 1996/07 to 2007/082 Number of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at Percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs grades A*-C at grades A*-C
2007/08 798 61.3 2006/07 667 53.3 2005/06 666 55.0 2004/05 682 55.2 2003/04 640 53.7 2002/03 626 55.0 2001/02 593 50.7 2000/01 560 48.6 1999/2000 559 48.5 1998/99 522 47.5 1997/98 549 50.8 1996/97 496 45.7 1 From 1997/98 includes GNVQ equivalences and from 2003/04 other equivalences approved for use pre-16. 2 Figures for 2004/05 onwards are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. Data for previous years are based on pupils aged 15 years old at the start of the academic year. Source: National Pupil Database and Achievement and Attainment Tables (final data). 145W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 146W
GCSE: Disadvantaged (a) rural, (b) non-rural and (c) inner London schools in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [310542] Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Ms Diana R. Johnson: The information requested for Schools and Families what proportion of pupils the academic years 2004/05 to 2007/08 is provided in the entitled to free school meals achieved five GCSEs at following table. The first year for which the requested grades A* to C including English and mathematics in information is available is 2004/05. School level data for 2008/09 is not yet available.
Pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) at the end of Key Stage 4 in maintained schools in (a) rural areas (excluding inner London), (b) non- rural areas (excluding inner London) and (c) inner London schools achieving five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C including English and maths GCSEs, 2004/05 to 2007/08 Pupils eligible for FSM in rural schools Pupils eligible for FSM in non-rural Pupils eligible for FSM in inner London (excluding inner London) in England schools (excluding inner London) in schools England Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C Percentage of pupils Percentage of pupils at GCSE or achieving 5+ A*-C at achieving 5+ A*-C at equivalent including GCSE or equivalent GCSE or equivalent Number of English and maths Number of including English and Number of including English and pupils GCSEs pupils maths GCSEs pupils maths GCSEs
2004/05 4,947 18.4 66,056 16.9 8,332 27.2 2005/06 4,969 21.3 63,751 18.2 8,432 30.7 2006/07 4,896 20.9 63,434 20.1 7,812 33.3 2007/08 4,736 22.7 61,724 22.3 7,900 37.2 Source: National Pupil Database and Achievement and Attainment Tables (final data)
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Headteachers Children, Schools and Families in what proportion of schools in each decile of the index of multiple Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, deprivation less than 30 per cent. of pupils obtained Schools and Families whether he plans to end the three five GCSEs including English and mathematics at A* hour limit on lesson observation by headteachers; and to C grades in the (a) earliest and (b) most recent year if he will make a statement. [310672] for which figures are available. [310645] Mr. Coaker: The statutory framework for performance Mr. Coaker [holding answer 14 January 2010]: The management in England is provided by The Education information requested for the academic years 2004/05 (School Teacher Performance Management) (England) and 2008/09 is provided in the following table: Regulations 2006, SI 2006 No. 2661. Proportion of schools1 in each Index of Multiple Deprivation decile2 in The amount of observation that is planned and agreed which less than 30 per cent. of pupils3 obtained five or more GCSEs or should reflect and be proportionate to the needs of the equivalent at grades A*-C including English and maths GCSEs, individual teacher and reflect their individual circumstances. 2004/05 and 2008/09 The regulations specify a limit of three hours in any Percentage review cycle for classroom observation. However, where IMD Decile2 2004/05 2008/09 evidence emerges which gives rise to concern about a 0 to 10%—most 63 25 teacher’s teaching performance a revision meeting is deprived held and additional classroom observations may be 10 to 20% 56 15 arranged. There are no plans to change these arrangements. 20 to 30% 40 15 Health Education: Diabetes 30 to 40% 36 8 40 to 50% 29 9 50 to 60% 25 6 Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps have been taken to 60 to 70% 19 3 inform children in (a) primary and (b) secondary 70 to 80% 16 4 schools about diabetes. [311159] 80 to 90% 11 3 90 to 100%—least 51 deprived Ms Diana R. Johnson: Teaching about a healthier lifestyle is a major part of the framework for Personal, All 29 8 Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) which 1 Including only those open maintained mainstream schools with results published in the relevant years Achievement and Attainment schools deliver throughout all four key stages (5-16). As tables and with more than 10 pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 on a consequence teachers are free to cover particular roll. topics, such as diabetes or asthma, as part of their 2 2007 Indices of Multiple Deprivation at Super Output Area level lesson plans if they feel it is appropriate. The Government based on the location of the school. have stated its intention to make the teaching of PSHE 3 Pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Source: education statutory and provisions are contained with Achievement and Attainment Tables (2004/05 final data, 2008/09 the Children, Schools and Families Bill which is currently revised data). being debated in the House of Commons. 147W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 148W
Health Education: Sex Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for has made of the state of relations between home Children, Schools and Families whether sex and educators and local authorities. [311284] relationships guidance issued under Section 403 of the Education Act 1996 would apply to the teaching of Ms Diana R. Johnson: Graham Badman’s Review of understanding physical development health and well-being Elective Home Education in England identified excellent in primary schools under the provisions proposed in the practice where local authorities have engaged in a proactive Children, Schools and Families Bill. [311025] and supportive manner with home educating parents. His review also recognised that in some circumstances Ms Diana R. Johnson: We plan to consult on revised these relationships may be strained or non- existent. guidance on sex and relationships education (SRE) If the registration and monitoring arrangements in shortly. The revised guidance is set within the current the Children, Schools and Families Bill are to work legislative framework, the statutory programmes of study well, local authority officers and others engaged in the for science and the non-statutory framework for Personal, monitoring and support of elective home education will Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education and need to be appropriately trained. This training must Citizenship for key stages 1 and 2. It includes guidance cover the essential differences, variation and diversity in on teaching primary school pupils about physical home education practice, as compared with schools. development and how to develop a healthier, safer Our guidance on monitoring will also place an emphasis lifestyle. Subject to the passage of the Bill, further on supporting home educating families so that local guidance will be developed to support the implementation authorities work collaboratively with home educating and delivery of statutory PSHE education in schools parents in providing the best possible arrangements for which will build upon, rather than replace this guidance. home educated children. Higher Education Home Education: Coventry Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State percentage of pupils who were (a) eligible and (b) not for Children, Schools and Families how much funding eligible for free school meals applied to (i) a university he expects to be made available to support home and (ii) a Russell Group university in each year since educators in Coventry following the proposals made in the report of the Badman review of secondary 1997. [309185] education. [311283] Mr. Lammy: I have been asked to reply. Ms Diana R. Johnson: In October 2009, in our response Information on the free school meal status of applicants to the Badman Review of Home Education, we published to higher education is not held centrally. estimates of the overall costs of the monitoring and Home Education registration proposals (£21 million first year/£9.7 million ongoing) and for an additional support package for home-educating families (c.£21 million per annum). We Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for have also published estimated costs in an impact assessment Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has for the Children, Schools and Families Bill. made of the cost of establishing and maintaining an annual register of home-educated children. [310288] We are currently reviewing the estimated costs following discussion with the Local Government Association and Ms Diana R. Johnson: In the October response to in light of the recommendations rising from the Select Graham Badman’s ″Review of Elective Home Education″ Committee Inquiry on Home Education. A revised and in the Impact Assessment (IA) published as part of impact assessment will be issued shortly. the Children, Schools and Families Bill, we estimated We do not have figures available yet for allocations that the cost of the registration and monitoring proposals below national level. We will develop detailed funding for home-educated children would be around £21 million methodologies for local authority allocations in line in the first year and £9.7 million in subsequent years, with passage of the Bill and following additional discussions based on 25,000 home-educated children. We said at the with the Local Government Association and local time that the cost estimates for the Home Education authorities. proposals were subject to discussion with the Local Government Association (LGA) and would be reviewed Parenting Fund in light of their comments. We received the LGA’s comments in December 2009 Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for and we are now having further discussions with the Children, Schools and Families (1) how much his LGA and local authorities to review our thinking on Department has spent on Parents’ Week in each year what should be included in the overall costs. We will since it was established; [308971] also need to take into account the recommendations on (2) which (a) public, (b) private and (c) voluntary costs arising from the 16 December Select Committee sector organisations have received payments from the response. We plan to publish a revised IA as early as Parenting Fund in each year since 2004; and how much possible in January 2010. was paid in each case; [308973] We have already pledged to support in full the cost of (3) how much PricewaterhouseCoopers has been these proposals and there has been no change to that paid for services associated with the Parenting Fund in position. each year since 2004; [308974] 149W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 150W
(4) how much funding his Department has allocated £ to the Parenting Fund in each year since its inception. [308975] 2000-01 19,972.57 2001-02 22,442.97 Ms Diana R. Johnson: Parents’ week was first established 2002-03 38,110.82 in 2000 and is organised and delivered by the Family 2003-04 53,266.74 and Parenting Institute (FPI) in partnership with a 2004-05 100,031.02 number of national parenting support organisations. 2005-06 35,683.50 The week co-ordinates activities for parents and children 2006-07 64,144.00 across the UK with many hundreds of local events 2007-08 8,867.66 taking place. Each year there is a different theme. The 2008-09 6,769.97 theme of Parents’ week 2009 was “The Changing Face of Families”. No payments from the Parenting Fund (which is Since 2005, the Government have contributed funding managed by FPI on behalf of Government) have been made to Parents’ week through FPI’s strategic grant. to public organisations. The only private sector organisation The total amount of strategic grant received by FPI to receive funding has been PricewaterhouseCoopers, as from DCSF is set out in table A. This strategic contribution set out in the following table. enables FPI to provide a national platform to promote parenting and family support on a national level. As £ part of this, for Parents’ week FPI provide guidance, 2004-05 355,242 information and support to local organisations and 2005-06 334,574 local authorities to run events across the country that 2006-07 119,150 celebrate parenting. 2007-08 0 Table A 2008-09 118,034 Strengthening Families Children, Young People Total 997,000 Grant Programme (£) and Families Grant (£)
2005/06 783,000 — Payments to voluntary sector organisations in receipt 2006/07 — 850,000 of Parenting Fund grants since 2004 have been placed 2007/08 — 973,000 in the House Libraries. 2008/09 — 1,232,000 The following table sets out the total amount paid to Direct costs from FPI strategic grant for Parents’ a range of strategic voluntary organisations to support week are set out in the following table. FPI with the delivery of the Parenting Fund contract.
Round 2 and Voluntary sector Round 1: Round 1: Rounds 1 and 2: Round 2: transition organisation 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2008-09 Total
Parenting UK — — 76,504 — 41,497 — 118,001 AFCS — — — — — 3,150 3,150 Family Action — — — — — 46,000 46,000 Family Action — — — — — 55,500 55,500 Fatherhood — — — — — 64,244 64,244 Institute Families Need — — — — — 36,000 36,000 Fathers Institute of — — — — — 60,030 60,030 Wellbeing Institute of — — — — — 60,813 60,813 Wellbeing OneplusOne — — — — — 77,290 77,290 Marriage Care — — — — — 60,000 60,000 REF — — — — — 48,700 48,700 REF — — — — — 48,700 48,700 TCCR — — — — — 85,100 85,100 Relate — — — — — 28,000 28,000 Total — — 76,504 — 41,497 673,527 791,528
Total DCSF funding allocated to the Parenting Fund Total DCSF funding from the Parenting Fund for a since 2004 is set out in the following table. range of telephone helplines since 2004 is set out in the following table. £ million £ million Round 1: 2004-06 16.4 1 Round 2: 2006-08 16 2003-04 1.7 2004-06 4.6 Transition round: 2008-09 8 2006-07 3 Round 3: 2009-11 16 2007-08 3 151W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 152W
of 11 January 2010, Official Report, column 728W, on £ million pupil exclusion: disadvantaged, what the equivalent 2008-09 3 figures are for pupils on free school meals whose 1 For 12 national organisations and helpline projects. ethnicity is recorded as (a) white Irish, (b) white Traveller of Irish heritage, (c) white gypsy/Roma and Pupil Exclusions: Disadvantaged (d) any other white ethnicity. [311114]
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Coaker: Information for 2007/08 is shown in the Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer following table.
Primary, secondary and special schools,1,2,3 number and percentage of pupil enrolments receiving one or more fixed period exclusions or a permanent exclusion by pupil characteristics4; England, 2007/08 (estimates)5 Permanent exclusion5 One or more fixed period exclusions Number of pupil Number of pupil enrolments eligible for Percentage of applicable enrolments eligible for Percentage of applicable free school meals6 school population7 free school meals6 school population7 Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total
Irish8 20 9— 20 1.08 9— 0.61 240 90 330 11.75 4.83 8.42 Traveller of Irish 10 9— 10 0.98 9— 0.60 150 60 210 13.11 5.29 9.31 heritage8 Gypsy/Roma8 20 10 30 1.02 0.39 0.71 270 100 370 14.70 5.89 10.40 Any other white 50 10 60 0.29 0.06 0.18 1,050 440 1,480 6.07 2.61 4.37 background8 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). 3 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. 4 Pupils may be counted more than once if they were registered at more than one school or changed schools during the year. 5 Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil-level data. 6 Free school meal eligibility as at the time of the January 2008 School Census. 7 The number of pupil enrolments who received exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) by ethnic group, in January 2008. 8 Includes pupils of compulsory school age and above only. 9 Less than 5 or a rate based on less than 5. Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census
Pupil Exclusions: Yorkshire and the Humber Pupil Referral Units: Gloucestershire
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils from (a) primary Schools and Families what the average per capita cost and (b) secondary schools were permanently excluded was of providing full-time education provision for a in (i) Leeds West constituency and (ii) West Yorkshire in secondary school aged pupil in a pupil referral unit in the 2008-09 academic year. [306616] Gloucestershire in 2008-09. [309378]
Mr. Coaker: Information on exclusions for the 2008-09 school year will be published in summer 2010. Mr. Coaker: Consistent financial reporting 2008-09 provides income and expenditure data across a wide Information on exclusions for the 2007/08 school range of categories on a consistent basis for all local year is provided in the table. authority maintained schools in England. The data Maintained primary and state-funded secondary1,2 number of pupil underpin the Schools Financial Benchmarking website enrolments with permanent exclusions 2007/08 in Leeds West which provides schools with the tools to parliamentary constituency and West Yorkshire compare their income and expenditure profile with that State-funded of schools in similar circumstances so that they can 1 1,2 Primary secondary make informed decisions on how to manage their resources Leeds West3 010effectively. 4,5 West Yorkshire 20 230 While a CFR return is optional for pupil referral 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. units all four PRUs in Gloucestershire submitted a 2 Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). return in 2008-09. They received on average £11,300 per 3 Figures are as reported by schools and are known to be incomplete. pupil from Government sources in 2008-09. It is not 4 West Yorkshire consists of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds possible to split this by phase of education. This includes and Wakefield local authorities. funds delegated by the LA; funding for sixth form 5 Estimates based on confirmed local authority figures. students; SEN funding; funding for minority ethnic Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. pupils; Standards Fund; School Standards Grant (SSG)— Source: pupil focused; pupil focused extended school funding School Census and/or grants and other Government grants. 153W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 154W
Pupils: Per Capita Costs rural and (ii) non-rural areas in the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, statement. [310540] Schools and Families what the average per student funding was of primary schools of (a) fewer than 50, Mr. Coaker: The average per student funding of (b) from 50 to 99, (c) from 100 to 199, (d) from 200 to primary schools of varying size is set out in the following 299, (e) from 300 to 399 and (f) over 400 pupils in (i) table.
The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations. Total budget share (plus grants)1, 2 per pupil3 in primary schools4 in England with an urban/rural split: 2009-10. Cash terms5 figures as reported by local authorities as at 11 January 2010 Total budget share (plus grants) per pupil Number of pupils in school <50 50-99 100-199 200-299 300-399 400 plus All school sizes
All primary 5,960 4,370 3,890 3,690 3,590 3,630 3,730 schools Rural schools 5,940 4,310 3,590 3,270 3,120 3,070 3,640 Urban 6,860 4,800 4,070 3,760 3,630 3,650 3,750 schools 1 Budget share plus grants allocated to schools is the combination of the schools individual budget share plus any revenue grants allocated to the school at the start of the financial year. This does not include any capital funding allocated to schools. 2 The amount of money allocated to a school depends on the school funding policy of each local authority. There will be differences between authorities in the amounts of funding held centrally to spend on behalf of their schools. 3 The pupil numbers used to calculate the per pupil amounts are as reported by the local authority on their Section 52 Budget Statement (Table 2), comprising the full-time equivalent number of pupils registered at the school, used for the initial determination of the school’s budget share under the local authority’s allocation formula. 4. Included are all local authority maintained primary schools which are reported by their LA as being open for the entire final year (schools that are reported as either opening or closing during the financial year have been removed). 5. Figures are rounded to nearest £10.
Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for at a local authority level. The available information on Children, Schools and Families how much has been how much has been spent per pupil in Lancashire local spent per pupil in Preston in each year since 1997. authority is shown in the following table: [311235]
Mr. Coaker: Figures are not available for the parliamentary constituency of Preston as data are collected
School based expenditure per pupil in Lancashire local authority1 from 1997-98 to 2008-09 England Pre LGR Lancashire Lancashire
1997-98 Pre-Primary and Primary Education 1,740 1,670 — Secondary Education 2,360 2,400 — Special Schools 9,830 10,830 — Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,080 2,060 — — 1998-99 Pre-Primary and Primary Education 1,870 1,820 Secondary Education 2,450 2,450 Special Schools 10,110 10,220 Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,190 2,170
1999-2000 Primary Education 2,010 1,950 Pre-Primary and Primary Education 2,050 1,980 Secondary Education 2,610 2,550 Special Schools 10,900 10,350 Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,390 2,320 Total (excluding Pre-primary) 2,370 2,300
2000-01 Primary Education 2,210 2,160 Pre-Primary and Primary Education 2,280 2,220 Secondary Education 2,830 2,740 Special Schools 11,860 11,130 Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,620 2,540 155W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 156W
School based expenditure per pupil in Lancashire local authority1 from 1997-98 to 2008-09 England Pre LGR Lancashire Lancashire
Total (excluding Pre-primary) 2,590 2,520
2001-02 Primary Education 2,480 2,450
Pre-Primary and Primary Education 2,570 2,530
Secondary Education 3,150 3,070
Special Schools 13,030 12,690
Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,940 2,880
Total (excluding Pre-primary) 2,900 2,840
2002-03 Primary Education 2,530 2,520
Secondary Education 3,230 3,060
Special Schools 12,820 12,640
Total (excluding Pre-primary) 2,950 2,890
2003-04 Primary Education 2,750 2,780
Secondary Education 3,550 3,360
Special Schools 14,050 13,670
Total (excluding Pre-primary) 3,230 3,170
2004-05 Primary Education 2,910 2,900
Secondary Education 3,800 3,610
Special Schools 15,110 14,630
Total (excluding Pre-primary) 3,440 3,360
2005-06 Primary Education 3,150 3,160
Secondary Education 4,070 3,940
Special Schools 16,430 15,720
Total (excluding Pre-primary) 3,710 3,670
2006-07 Primary Education 3,360 3,300
Secondary Education 4,320 4,150
Special Schools 17,480 16,270
Total (excluding Pre-primary) 4,210 4,200
2007-08 Primary Education 3,580 3,640
Secondary Education 4,620 4,510
Special Schools 18,650 17,130
Total (excluding Pre-primary) 4,210 4,200
2008-09 Primary Education 3,780 3,770
Secondary Education 4,890 4,790
Special Schools 19,790 18,880 157W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 158W
School based expenditure per pupil in Lancashire local authority1 from 1997-98 to 2008-09 England Pre LGR Lancashire Lancashire
Total (excluding Pre-primary) 4,460 4,420 1 Local government reorganisation (LGR) changed the area covered by Lancashire local authority. Notes: 1 School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. 2. 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the R01 form collected by the CLG to the Section 52 form from the DCSF. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. From 2002-03 school based expenditure is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table A line 51 net current expenditure (NCE). For 2001-02 and earlier years the expenditure is calculated as lines 1 to 12 less lines 29, 30, 35 and 37. This differs from the old Net Institutional Expenditure (NIE) calculation only in the treatment of meals and milk which is no longer excluded and no adjustments for balances are now made. This is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table 3 for 1999-00 to 2001-02 and from the R01 form previously. 3. The calculation for 2002-03 onwards is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001-02 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses. In 2001-02 this accounted for approximately £70 per pupil. From 2002-03 onwards only the schools element of these categories is included and this accounted for approximately £50 per pupil of the 2002-03 total. Also, for some LAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LA part of the form from 2002-03, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources. 4. Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments within each sector and are drawn from the DCSF Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis. 5. Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place during the mid to late 1990’s and those LAs that did not exist either pre or post LGR are shaded out for those years. 6. Spending in 1997-98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998-99. 7. The 1999-00 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance. Consequently Las where there entire pupil provision were educated in GM schools will show a unit cost of zero prior to 1999-2000. 8. Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999-00. 9. School based expenditure in LA maintained nursery schools was not recorded in 2002-03 and comparable figures are not available for 2003-04 onwards. 10. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 and are in cash terms.
Schools investigation into the performance of a head teacher or other member of school staff; [310942] Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, (3) how many cases in each local authority have been Schools and Families whether he plans to encourage referred to his Department for advice on an local authorities to publish the annual balances of investigation into the performance of a head teacher in individual schools in their areas. [310940] each of the last two years; [310943] (4) how many staff of his Department are trained to Mr. Coaker: Local authorities must make a copy of provide advice to local authorities on suspensions of their section 52 outturn statement, which includes the school head teachers or other staff. [310944] raw data on school balances, available on a website maintained by the authority and accessible by the public. Mr. Coaker: There are no plans to review the respective Revenue balances for individual maintained nursery, roles of the chair of governors and investigating officers primary, secondary and special schools in England are where dealing with staff suspensions. The operation of also publicly available on the Department’s website at disciplinary procedures, including those that result in http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/strategy/ suspension, is a matter for local determination. To financeandfunding/informationforlocalauthorities/section52/ support schools in this area there are a variety of schoolbalances/s52sb/ sources of advice available to help governing bodies The 2008-09 figures for each school in England were with their responsibilities. The School Staffing (England) published on 7 January 2010 alongside data for 1999-2000 Regulations 2009 and accompanying guidance, alongside to 2007-08. This information is taken from local authorities’ the DCSF’s/Guide to the Law for School Governors published section 52 outturn statements for the years in provides both governing bodies and local authorities question. with details of their responsibilities in relation to staff suspensions and sets out the statutory responsibilities Schools: Disciplinary Proceedings falling to schools and local authorities as employers. This guidance is available through Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, www.governornet.co.uk. Schools and Families (1) whether he plans to review the and respective roles of investigating officer and the chair of a board of governors in investigating the suspension of www.teachernet.co.uk. a head teacher or member of school staff for the These sources also provide access to an extensive range purpose of distinguishing those roles; and what of additional guidance material including materials from guidance his Department provides to local authorities the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Schools on the suspension of school staff; [310941] and local authorities are therefore able to draw from a (2) advice his Department provides to local wide variety of guidance when devising their policies authorities on whether the chair of the board of and handling disciplinary cases, including suspension. governors acting as an investigating officer should be In respect of both head teachers and other teaching able to choose the panel for a hearing in respect of an staff our guidance makes it clear that suspension is a 159W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 160W neutral act allowing time to assess the situation before a LA name Predominantly final decision is taken. It does not imply guilt but provides an opportunity for matters to be investigated. Enfield Urban Decisions on how any investigation is conducted are Haringey Urban best left to schools to determine, drawing on the guidance Harrow Urban that is available and where appropriate on advice and Havering Urban support from local authorities. Hillingdon Urban There is no requirement on local authorities to report Hounslow Urban suspensions of head teachers to the Department and Kingston upon Thames Urban there are no centrally held records setting out when and Merton Urban to what extent the Department and/or the Secretary of Newham Urban State have been involved in such cases. Redbridge Urban Staff in the Department who are experienced in the Richmond upon Thames Urban provisions of the regulations and guidance associated Sutton Urban with school staffing matters will provide advice on the Waltham Forest Urban processes relating to disciplinary procedures. They do Birmingham Urban not, however, provide advice on whether disciplinary Coventry Urban procedures should result in suspension or any other Dudley Urban sanction. That is a matter entirely for the disciplinary Sandwell Urban panel. No records are maintained of the number of Solihull Urban requests for advice that has been sought from, or provided Walsall Urban by, the Department. Wolverhampton Urban Schools: Finance Knowsley Urban Liverpool Urban Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for St. Helens Urban Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer Sefton Urban of 7 December 2009, Official Report, column 148W, on Wirral Urban schools: finance, which local authorities are classed as Bolton Urban (a) predominantly rural and (b) predominantly Bury Urban urban; and if he will make a statement. [307286] Manchester Urban Oldham Urban Mr. Coaker: The classifications are shown in the Rochdale Urban following table. The classification of local authorities Salford Urban into those which are predominately urban and Stockport Urban predominately rural is based upon the Rural and Urban Tameside Urban Area Classification (2004) sponsored by the Countryside Trafford Urban Agency (CA), the Department for Environment, Food Wigan Urban and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Office for National Statistics Barnsley Urban (ONS), the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) Doncaster Urban and the Welsh Assembly Government. Predominantly Rotherham Urban rural local authorities are classified as those which Sheffield Urban consist of more than 50 per cent. rural output areas. Bradford Urban Calderdale Urban LA name Predominantly Kirklees Urban City of London Urban Leeds Urban Camden Urban Wakefield Urban Greenwich Urban Gateshead Urban Hackney Urban Newcastle upon Tyne Urban Hammersmith and Fulham Urban North Tyneside Urban Islington Urban South Tyneside Urban Kensington and Chelsea Urban Sunderland Urban Lambeth Urban Bath and North East Somerset Urban Lewisham Urban Bristol, City of Urban Southwark Urban North Somerset Urban Tower Hamlets Urban South Gloucestershire Urban Wandsworth Urban Hartlepool Urban Westminster Urban Middlesbrough Urban Barking and Dagenham Urban Redcar and Cleveland Urban Barnet Urban Stockton-on-Tees Urban Bexley Urban Kingston upon Hull, City of Urban Brent Urban North East Lincolnshire Urban Bromley Urban York Urban Croydon Urban Bedfordshire Urban Ealing Urban Luton Urban 161W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 162W
LA name Predominantly LA name Predominantly
Buckinghamshire Urban Shropshire Rural Milton Keynes Urban Cornwall Rural Derbyshire Urban Cumbria Rural Derby Urban Norfolk Rural Dorset Urban Northumberland Rural Poole Urban Somerset Rural Bournemouth Urban Durham Urban Schools: Gloucestershire Darlington Urban East Sussex Urban Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Brighton and Hove Urban Schools and Families for what reasons Graham Badman Hampshire Urban was asked to undertake a review of National Challenge Portsmouth Urban schools in Gloucestershire; and what the reasons were Southampton Urban for the timetable set out for the review. [310343] Leicestershire Urban Leicester Urban Mr. Coaker: Graham Badman was asked to undertake Staffordshire Urban a review of National Challenge schools in Gloucestershire Stoke-on-Trent Urban to help the authority increase the pace of improvement Swindon Urban in the National Challenge and to explore options for Bracknell Forest Urban developing sustainable solutions for schools most at Windsor and Maidenhead Urban risk of not reaching the National Challenge benchmark. West Berkshire Urban The review was conducted with urgency in order to Reading Urban ensure that all schools will be sustainable above the Slough Urban National Challenge benchmark by 2011. Wokingham Urban Peterborough Urban Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Cheshire Urban Schools and Families what discussions Graham Halton Urban Badman has had with Gloucestershire County Council Warrington Urban on National Challenge schools in the county. [310344] Plymouth Urban Torbay Urban Mr. Coaker: Graham Badman had discussions with Essex Urban officers of the local authority, the Cabinet Member for Southend-on-Sea Urban Schools and Deputy Leader, Jackie Hall and National Challenge Advisers when conducting his review of the Thurrock Urban National Challenge. These discussions covered all the Worcestershire Urban schools supported by the National Challenge programme Kent Urban in Gloucestershire. Medway Urban Lancashire Urban Blackburn with Darwen Urban Schools: Inspections Blackpool Urban Nottinghamshire Urban Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Nottingham Urban Children, Schools and Families what recent Telford and Wrekin Urban representations he has received on the new framework Gloucestershire Urban for inspections issued and implemented by Ofsted; and Hertfordshire Urban if he will make a statement. [304017] Isle of Wight Urban Lincolnshire Urban Mr. Coaker: Matters concerning the school inspection framework and its implementation are for HM Chief Northamptonshire Urban Inspector, Christine Gilbert. The Department is aware Oxfordshire Urban of recent press coverage and has also been contacted Suffolk Urban about the new school inspection arrangements. Surrey Urban Warwickshire Urban West Sussex Urban Schools: Preston Isles of Scilly Rural East Riding of Yorkshire Rural Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for North Lincolnshire Rural Children, Schools and Families how much funding his North Yorkshire Rural Department and its predecessors have provided in Rutland Rural respect of (a) computers and (b) information and Wiltshire Rural communications technologies in schools in Preston Cambridgeshire Rural since 1997. [311065] Devon Rural Herefordshire Rural Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department does not collect the information requested by constituency area. 163W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 164W
Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Vauxhall Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent repairing schools in Preston in each year since 1997. [311239] Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will set out, with statistical Mr. Coaker: Repairs which bring schools back to evidence relating as closely as possible to Vauxhall their original state constitute a revenue expense, and are constituency, the effects on the constituency of changes paid out of revenue funding. Repairs which amount to to his Department’s policies since 1997. [310336] capital improvement, such as better insulation, are payable from capital allocations. The Department does not maintain records of revenue funding spent on repairs, as distinct Mr. Coaker: Since 1997 the Government have from other revenue costs such as salaries, as this is transformed education and child care with improved decided locally. outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing School capital allocations are not made directly to the improvement in performance at Key Stage 2 and at Preston, but to Lancashire county council, and the GCSE and equivalents in Vauxhall are given in the Department maintains no central records of the amounts following tables: prioritised by Lancashire to Preston. Allocations by the Key Stage 2 results of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Vauxhall Department to Lancashire during the period 1997-98 to constituency 2009-10 amount to £1,010 million. Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above Percentage point Secondary Education: Coventry 1997 20093 improvement 1997-2008 Vauxhall— 45 79 34 Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State English1 for Children, Schools and Families what representations Vauxhall— 46 79 33 maths1 his Department has received from Coventry City Council Vauxhall— 52 87 35 on the recommendations made in the report of the science1 Badman review of secondary education. [311282] England— 63 80 17 English2 Ms Diana R. Johnson: Coventry city council responded England— 62 79 17 to the recent public consultation ‘Home Education: maths2 England— 68 88 20 registration and monitoring proposals’ ending 19 October science2 2009 which was launched following the publication of 1 Pupils attending schools in Vauxhall constituency. the Badman review into home education in June 2009. I 2 The average for all schools in England. will write separately providing a copy of the full response. 3 Revised data. GCSE and equivalents1 results for pupils2 attending schools in the Vauxhall Secondary Education: Teachers constituency Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above Percentage Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, point Schools and Families how many secondary schools improvement have at least (a) three, (b) five and (c) 10 deputy 1997 2008 20093 1997-2008 headteachers; and if he will make a statement. [308180] Vauxhall—5 plus 23.0 56.8 n/a 33.8 A*-C Mr. Coaker: The Department does not collect this Vauxhall—5 plus 79.1 90.6 n/a 11.5 information centrally. A*-G National 45.1 65.3 69.7 20.2 Sixth Form Education: Finance average—5 plus A*-C National 86.4 91.6 92.5 5.2 Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Average—5 plus Schools and Families whether capital funding provided A*-G 1 From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other for school sixth form provision under the Building Schools qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and for the Future programme is predicated on an expected GNVQs only. level of retention of pupils transferring from year 11 to 2 From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Prior to 2006 results are based on pupils aged 15. year 12; and if he will make a statement. [310500] 3 Provisional data.
Mr. Coaker: When local authorities enter the Building Further information by constituency is provided within Schools for the Future (BSF) programme they formulate the Department’s ‘In Your Area’ website available at 10-year pupil projections for 11 to 19-year-olds in secondary schools. These projections will make assumptions about http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea the retention rates as pupils move into sixth form and Information available at constituency level includes the should be informed by discussions with the local strategic number of specialist schools, number of operational partnership, further education colleges and the local academies, number of teaching assistants and other Learning and Skills Council. The projections are submitted support staff, number of teachers and pupil:teacher to Partnerships for Schools (PfS) for scrutiny and will ratios. Where information is not available at constituency be challenged where necessary. Once the figures have level it has been provided at local authority level. been approved by PfS they are used to generate the funding allocation to the local authority for the BSF Additional information could be provided at only programme. disproportionate cost. 165W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 166W
Young Offenders: Crime Prevention type of learning contributes to the health and well-being of communities by building the confidence and resilience James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for of the individuals involved. For the low-skilled and Children, Schools and Families how the funding under-confident, informal learning can also be an important provided by his Department under the Youth Crime stepping stone to further learning and a more skilled Action Plan has been spent. [311230] future. We are working across Government and with our partners in every sector to make “The Learning Mr. Coaker: Implementation of the Youth Crime Revolution” a reality. During 2010-11 we will work with Action Plan is underpinned by a £100 million funding the Skills Funding Agency to determine how funding package, which is being used to: for Adult Safeguarded Learning can be routed most effectively to secure local ownership and underpin strong Increase support in all local authority areas for families with most entrenched and complex problems; local partnerships. Deliver an intensive programme of action in the 69 priority Aimhigher Programme: Finance areas where the problem of youth crime is greatest; and Provide expert support and guidance on recommended approaches to reducing youth crime for these areas, achieving the right Michael Gove: To ask the Minister of State, balance between enforcement action to tackle the problems on Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how our streets and early intervention to prevent them from happening much money has been allocated to Aimhigher (a) in the first place. directly from his Department, (b) via the Higher Young People: Antisocial Behaviour Education Funding Council for England and (c) via the Learning and Skills Council for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [309857] James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Mr. Lammy: The information is given in the following Department is taking to reduce levels of youth crime table. and anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement. [311229] 2009-10 2010-11 Mr. Coaker: The Youth Taskforce Action Plan and BIS1 56,900 56,900 the cross-departmental Youth Crime Action Plan set HEFCE 32,300 229,000 out the Government’s approach to preventing and tackling LSC3 00 youth crime and antisocial behaviour. The YouthTaskforce Department for 600 4600 is driving delivery of both action plans, working with Health more than 80 local authorities and their partners across Total 89,800 586,500 the country to ensure that every area can deliver an 1 The amounts given for the Department for Business, Innovation appropriate response to the needs of vulnerable young and Skills (BIS) include £9 million each year for the Aimhigher people. Associates scheme. 2 HEFCE committed to fund the Aimhigher programme at £29 The most recent Youth Taskforce progress report is million per year for the three years 2008 to 2011. In light of the available at: recent funding situation the Council is currently reviewing all its funding lines and final confirmation of all allocations for 2010-11 www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/Youth/youthmatters/ will be made, as is usual, shortly after their January board meeting. youthtaskforce/ytf/ The council’s additional £3.3 million allocation to support Aimhigher summer schools was committed until July 2010. Continued commitment after this date is also subject to the review. 3 The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills provides BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS £9.338 million to the LSC each year in the form of a ring-fenced grant for Aimhigher. This amount is included in the BIS figures in Adult Education: Finance the table. 4 The Department for Health has not yet confirmed its contribution for 2010-11. Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department 5 Subject to confirmation. for Business, Innovation and Skills under what headings Note: the Adult Safeguarded Learning budget for 2010-11 All figures are in £000. will be spent; and if he will make a statement. [309504] Apprentices Kevin Brennan: Our funding priorities for 2010/11 are set out in the strategy document, “Skills Investment Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Strategy 2010-11”, published in November 2009. In the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how 2010-11 financial year we will invest £210 million in many people completed an apprenticeship in each year Adult Safeguarded Learning supporting: since 1997. [310876] Personal and Community Development Learning Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows the total number of Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy people who have completed a full apprenticeship framework. Wider Family Learning Framework completion data was not published in the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities. pre-LSC era, so figures are not available prior to 2001/02. In the strategy document we have re-affirmed our Table 1: Apprenticeship framework achievements commitment to implementing the vision for informal Academic year Framework achievements adult learning, including learning for personal, family and community development, described in “The Learning 2001/02 39,000 Revolution” White Paper (2009). We recognise that this 2002/03 42,700 167W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 168W
Table 1: Apprenticeship framework achievements Basic Skills: Preston Academic year Framework achievements
2003/04 49,300 Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, 2004/05 67,200 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what 2005/06 98,700 funding his Department and its predecessors have 2006/07 111,800 made available to improve adult (a) literacy and (b) 2007/08 112,600 numeracy in Preston since 1997. [311135] 2008/09 143,400 Note: Kevin Brennan: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Volumes are rounded to the nearest hundred. Source: WBL/ERILR provides funding to further education (FE) colleges and training providers to support adults (aged 19 and older) undertaking courses in literacy, numeracy and English Apprentices: West Midlands for speakers of other languages (ESOL). Since the launch of the Skills for Life Strategy in Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, 2001, it is estimated that £5 billion has been invested in Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what Skills for Life provision (for those aged 16 and older) up recent steps his Department has taken to increase the until 2008. Nearly 6 million adults (aged 19 and older) number of apprenticeships in (a) Staffordshire and (b) across England have taken courses to improve their the West Midlands. [309441] literacy, language and numeracy skills since 2001. LSC funding is not allocated at the local authority Kevin Brennan: We are taking a wide range of measures level. Planned investment in Skills for Life at a national to increase the number of people taking up an level is based on estimated levels of activity for an apprenticeship and to encourage more employers to academic year. The amount of funding routed through offer high quality places. We have increased spending to Adult Learner Responsive and Train to Gain routes for over £1 billion in 2009-10. Apprenticeship starts in Skills for Life is estimated at nearly £600 million for Staffordshire increased from 3,800 in 2003/04, to 4,600 2008-09 financial year and around £630 million for in 2008/09 and in the west midlands increased from 2009-10 financial year, as set out in the Skills Investment 22,200 to 27,800 over the same period. Nationally, Strategy 2010-11 (November 2009). The actual amount apprenticeship starts increased from 65,000 in 1996/97 spent on Skills for Life literacy and numeracy provision to a record 240,000 in 2008/09. will depend on learner and employer demand. The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has responsibility for the delivery of apprenticeships and Building Colleges for the Future provides a single point of contact for employers and apprentices, and across the west midlands is working Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department with employers to increase the number of people starting for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to and completing apprenticeships. announce which further education colleges will receive the £300 million for capital projects in the next spending review period, as referred to in the letter from Basic Skills the then Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to the Chair of the Learning and Skills Mr. Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department Council on 3 June 2009. [309512] for Business, Innovation and Skills what modifications there have been to skills courses relating to financial Kevin Brennan: Budget 2009 announced an additional services funded by his Department as a result of the £300 million of capital investment in further education economic situation. [304569] as part of a fiscal stimulus package which has enabled a number of projects to be funded this year. Following an Kevin Brennan: Awarding organisations and sector open and transparent prioritisation exercise the Learning skills councils work closely together to determine the and Skills Council announced on 26 June 2009 that 13 content of vocational qualifications, and any modifications projects had been successful. All of these projects have to them, based on agreed national occupational standards now received final approval and are underway. For reflecting employers’ views and labour market intelligence. those colleges that have not been selected to proceed We are currently building more flexibility into the this round, the next steps have already started with the vocational qualifications system through the new LSC undertaking a process to determine how future Qualifications and Credit Framework, and through funds will be allocated to achieve the best value for strengthening employers’ say in what qualifications are money while keeping bureaucracy to a minimum. The developed, to ensure greater responsiveness to changes size and scope of the programme will depend on the in employers’ skills needs. outcome of the next spending review. The Financial Services Skills Council is working on reforms to all vocational qualifications in its footprint Business Links: Leeds so that they can be accredited to the Qualifications and Credit Framework. This includes developing new national Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, occupational standards for financial advisers and using Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how the expertise of established awarding organisations together many businesses in Leeds North West constituency with input from sector professional bodies to ensure have received a health check from Business Link. that the skills needs of the financial industry are met. [309382] 169W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 170W
Ms Rosie Winterton: Business Link ‘Health Check’ Business: Tamworth figures are not routinely collated by constituency.However, between 23 October 2008 (when the Health Check was Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, launched) and 30 November 2009 (the date of the most Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent figures) over 10,500 individual businesses have steps his Department is taking to encourage young benefited from the national Business Link ‘Health Check’ people to obtain support from small business start-up in the Yorkshire and Humber region, of which more schemes in Tamworth constituency. [309657] than 1,580 were delivered in the Leeds area. In December 2008 Business Link Yorkshire also Ms Rosie Winterton: BIS, through Business Link introduced an intensive financial health check for businesses, West Midlands (BLWM), encourages young people to funded through Yorkshire Forward and working closely seek support in starting up businesses through the with Yorkshire’s accountants. By 31 December 2009, following routes: 1,368 businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region (1) As part of a contract with BLWM, Business Enterprise had taken up this service, of which 192 were in Leeds. Support (BES) has held an awareness event with Connexions in Tamworth and delivered training on self employment to students Business Links: Tamworth at Tamworth college. (2) Business Link also sub-contract business start up support Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department activity to the Princes Trust. The funding enables outreach workers for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in south Staffordshire to build relationships with young people in in Tamworth constituency have received a health check order to introduce them to start up support schemes and encourage them to make full use of the support available. from Business Link to date. [309658] (3) Business Link works very closely with Job Centre Plus (JCP) who refer young people on benefits who are interested in Ms Rosie Winterton: In the year to date, 95 businesses exploring self-employment. Business Link speaks to each young in Tamworth have received a health check from Business person to discuss the realities of running a business and to Link. In the same period health checks have been encourage them to join a scheme designed for young people provided to 1,759 businesses in Staffordshire and 9,806 considering setting up a business. businesses across the west midlands. Out of 23 businesses started in Tamworth with assistance from BLWM since April 2009 12 were established by individuals who Business: Leeds are under 25-years-old. Community Learning Champions Support Programme Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, Development Fund Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage young Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, people to obtain support from small business start-up Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how schemes in Leeds North West constituency. [309384] many applications for grants under the Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department for Business, Fund have been received from (a) local partnerships Innovation and Skills (BIS) is taking proactive steps to and (b) national, regional or cross-regional organisations; promote small business start-up schemes to young people how many such applications (i) related to each local across the UK. BIS has recently funded initiatives, such authority area and (ii) were for amounts (A) up to as, “Flying Start”—Make It Happen (MIH) aimed at £1,000, (B) from £1,001 to £2,000, (C) from £2,000 to unemployed graduates, Enterprise UK; “Make Your £5,000, D) from £5,000 to £10,000, (E) from £10,000 to Mark” campaign aimed at young people between 14 £20,000, (F) from £20,001 to £30,000 and (G) over and 19 years, and supports the work of the Prince’s £30,000; and what proportion of these applications Trust, aimed at unemployed young people—particularly have been granted. [309487] in the most deprived areas. With local chambers and further education colleges, Kevin Brennan: Applications for Development Funding Yorkshire Forward has run a range of enterprise initiatives under the Community Learning Champions Support for young people, such as The YoungPeoples’ Enterprise Programme were received between 29 September and 26 Forum and their Graduate Enterprise Programme. In October 2009. In answer to point (a), 157 applications addition, Business Link—BIS’s main gateway to support for grants were received form local partnerships and on for new and established businesses run by people of all point (b), 14 applications were received from national, ages—works closely with Yorkshire Forward, the Prince’s regional or cross-regional organisations. Details of the Trust and Young Enterprise to ensure young people get applications relating to local authority areas and funding the support they need to start their own business. amounts are set out in the following tables.
Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund—aapplications received Local partnerships—157 applications received Funding band Proportion successful Number of applications to work in this area Eligible LA districts received1 A B C D E F G Number Percentage
Adur 10000010 1 100.0 Amber Valley 10000010 0 0.0 Ashfield 30000120 2 66.7 171W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 172W
Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund—aapplications received Local partnerships—157 applications received Funding band Proportion successful Number of applications to work in this area Eligible LA districts received1 A B C D E F G Number Percentage
Ashford 10000010 0 0.0 Basildon 10000010 0 0.0 Bassetlaw 20000020 2 100.0 Barking and 30000030 0 0.0 Dagenham BarrowinFurness10000010 0 0.0 Birmingham 40000040 1 25.0 Blackburn with 10000010 0 0.0 Darwen Blackpool 10000010 1 100.0 Bolsover 10000010 1 100.0 Bradford 80010340 1 12.5 Brent 10000010 1 100.0 BrightonandHove10000010 1 100.0 Bristol, City of 10000010 1 100.0 Burnley 20000020 1 50.0 Camden 40000040 2 50.0 Carlisle 10000010 0 0.0 Chester 10000100 1 100.0 Copeland 10000010 0 0.0 Coventry 20000020 1 50.0 Croydon 20000020 0 0.0 Darlington 20000020 1 50.0 Derby 10000010 0 0.0 Doncaster 10000010 0 0.0 Dudley 20000020 0 0.0 Durham 10000010 1 100.0 Ealing 20000110 0 0.0 Enfield 10000010 0 0.0 Gateshead 10000010 0 0.0 Great Yarmouth 10000010 1 100.0 Greenwich 10000010 0 0.0 Hackney 50000230 1 20.0 Hammersmith and 10000100 0 0.0 Fulham Haringey 40000130 1 25.0 Hastings 10000010 1 100.0 Hyndburn 10000010 1 100.0 Ipswich 20000020 1 50.0 Islington 30000120 1 33.3 Kingston upon 10000010 1 100.0 Hull Kirklees 20000020 1 50.0 Leeds 30000111 0 0.0 Leicester 40000040 1 25.0 Lewisham 40000130 0 0.0 Liverpool 50000140 0 0.0 Manchester 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0.0 Mansfield 30000120 2 66.7 Newark and 20000110 2 100.0 Sherwood Newham 10000010 0 0.0 North East 20000020 1 50.0 Lincolnshire Norwich 10000001 0 0.0 Nottingham 70100060 2 28.6 Nuneaton and 10000010 0 0.0 Bedworth Oldham 10000100 0 0.0 Oxford 10000010 0 0.0 Pendle 10000010 1 100.0 Portsmouth 20000020 0 0.0 173W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 174W
Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund—aapplications received Local partnerships—157 applications received Funding band Proportion successful Number of applications to work in this area Eligible LA districts received1 A B C D E F G Number Percentage
Preston 20000020 1 50.0 Plymouth 10000010 1 100.0 Redditch 10000100 0 0.0 Rochdale 20000020 0 0.0 Rotherham 10000010 0 0.0 Salford 30000030 1 33.3 Sandwell 40000040 1 25.0 Sedgemoor 20000020 1 50.0 Sefton 20000020 1 50.0 Sheffield 20000020 0 0.0 South Tyneside 10000010 1 100.0 Southampton 20000020 0 0.0 Southwark 20000020 1 50.0 StokeonTrent 20000020 1 50.0 Sunderland 10000010 0 0.0 Swale 20000020 0 0.0 Swindon 10000010 0 0.0 Tameside 20001010 0 0.0 TelfordandWrekin10000100 0 0.0 Thanet 30000030 0 0.0 Thurrock 10000010 0 0.0 Tower Hamlets 40000220 1 25.0 Wakefield 10000010 0 0.0 WalthamForest 10000010 0 0.0 West Cheshire 10000100 1 100.0 West Somerset 20000020 1 50.0 Wigan 10000010 0 0.0 Wirral 10000010 1 100.0 Worcester 20000110 0 0.0 Total 176 0 1 1 1 23 148 2 50
Regional or cross regional projects—12 applications received Funding band Proportion successful Number of applications to work in this Areas covered area received1 A B C D E F G Number Percentage
Nottingham 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Derby 10000010 0 0 Leicester 10000010 0 0 Redcar and 10000010 0 0 Cleveland Middlesbrough 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Stockton on Tees 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Burnley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Calderdale 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Manchester 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Bradford 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Not stated 8 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 1 12.50 Total 1800001170 1
National projects—2 applications received Funding band Proportion successful Number of applications to work in this Areas covered area received1 A B c D E F G Number Percentage
Islington 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Kingston upon Hull 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Doncaster 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Newcastle upon Tyne 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 175W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 176W
National projects—2 applications received Funding band Proportion successful Number of applications to work in this Areas covered area received1 A B c D E F G Number Percentage
North Lincs 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Sheffield 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Not stated 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100 Total 70000070 1 1 NB Total is a higher figure than the number of total bids as some bids aimed to work in more than one LA area
Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Kevin Brennan: Applications for Development Funding Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how under the Community Learning Champions Support many grants have been distributed through the Programme were received between 29 September and 26 Community Learning Champions Support Programme October 2009. In answer to point (a) 34 grants have Development Fund to (a) local partnerships and (b) been distributed to local partnerships and on point (b), national, regional or cross-regional organisations; and two grants have been distributed to national, regional how many such grants (i) related to each local or cross-regional organisations. authority area and (ii) were for amounts (A) up to £1,000, (B) from £1,001 to £2,000, (C) from £2,000 to Details of the grants relating to local authority areas £5,000, (D) from £5,000 to £10,000, (E) from £10,000 and funding amounts are set out in the attachment as to £20,000, (F) from £20,001 to £30,000 and (G) over follows. £30,000. [309488]
Community learning champions support programme development fund—successful applications, local partnerships—34 applications granted Funding band Number of successful projects to work in Eligible LA districts this area A B C D E F G
Adur 10000010 Ashfield 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Bassetlaw 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Birmingham 10000010 Blackpool 10000010 Bolsover 10000010 Bradford 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Brent 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Brighton and Hove 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Bristol, City of 10000010 Burnley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Camden 20000020 Chester 10000100 Coventry 10000010 Darlington 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Durham 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Great Yarmouth 10000010 Hackney 10000010 Haringey 10000010 Hastings 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Hyndburn 10000010 Ipswich 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Islington 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Kingston upon Hull 10000010 Kirklees 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Leicester 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Mansfield 20000020 Newark and Sherwood 20000020 North East Lincolnshire 10000010 Nottingham 20000020 Pendle 10000010 Preston 10000010 Plymouth 10000010 Salford 10000010 Sandwell 10000010 Sedgemoor 10000010 177W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 178W
Community learning champions support programme development fund—successful applications, local partnerships—34 applications granted Funding band Number of successful projects to work in Eligible LA districts this area A B C D E F G
Sefton 10000010 South Tyneside 10000010 Southwark 10000010 Stoke on Trent 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Tower Hamlets 10000010 West Cheshire 10000100 West Somerset 10000010 Wirral 10000010 Total 5000002480
Regional or cross regional projects—one application granted Funding band Number of successful projects to work in this Areas covered area1 ABCDEFG
Not stated 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Total 10000010
National projects—one application granted Funding band Number of successful projects to work in this Areas covered area1 ABCDEFG
Not stated 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Total 10000010 1 Total is a higher figure than the number of total bids as some bids aimed to work in more than one LA area.
Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, in sound recordings. Any extension should more closely Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what match the expected lifetime of performers and should estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of also be accompanied by a package of measures that (a) establishing and (b) administering in each of the deliver real and lasting benefits to all performers and next three years the Community Learning Champions musicians. We believe that the current proposal of the Support Programme Development Fund. [309489] European Parliament for an extension of term from 50 to 70 years, together with a number of permanent Kevin Brennan: Organisations and consortia were measures designed to assist performers and musicians, invited to tender to set up and manage the Community will deliver this. Learning Champions Support programme in July 2010. The text proposed by the European Parliament is still A budget of up to £3 million was made available to the before the Council and I expect discussions to continue successful contractor to deliver the commitments outlined under the new Commission when it is appointed. The in “The Learning Revolution”White Paper. Clear emphasis UK will continue to work to deliver a satisfactory was placed on the need to provide excellent value for outcome. money in order to maximise spending on the support programme and the sharing of resources with local Degrees champion schemes. Funding is available for two years only and comprises Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister of State, £1.7 million for 2009/10 and £1.3 million for 2010/11. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) All administrative costs are to be met from this budget. how many (a) animation and (b) design students have The proposal for a development fund was a feature of graduated with an honours degree from a university in the successful tender which, along with the contractor’s England in each year since 1997; [310612] management and administration costs, is covered by a contract with the Department and as such is subject to (2) how many (a) art, (b) mathematics, (c) video commercial confidence. games, (d) computer science and (e) IT students have graduated with an honours degree from a university in Copyright: EC Law England in each year since 1997. [310613]
Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Mr. Lammy: The latest figures from the Higher Education Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what Statistics Agency (HESA) are shown in the table. his policy is on negotiations at EU level on the Comparable figures prior to 2002/03 are not available extension of copyright term limits. [310448] due to changes in the coding of subject of study. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January Mr. Lammy: The Government have made clear their 2011. support for an appropriate extension to the term of The level of detail of individual subjects is not consistently protection for sound recordings and performer’s rights recorded by institutions. Subject of study is only required 179W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 180W at the subject line level (i.e. Computer Science), though to code as “Computer Science”. The same applied for some institutions choose to record subjects at a lower “Animation Techniques”, as some institutions may have level (i.e. Multimedia Computer Science). As such, the chosen to record the subject line level of “Cinematics figures may undercount the numbers studying “Multimedia and Photography”. Computer Science”, as some institutions may have chosen
First degree qualifiers by subject of study English higher education institutions academic years 2002/03 to 2008/09 of which: Multimedia Animation Computer Computing Academic year Techniques Design Studies Fine Art Mathematics Science Science
2002/03 90 10,640 3,310 3,730 11,610 520 2003/04 130 10,945 3,265 3,970 12,025 845 2004/05 215 11,490 3,300 3,805 11,210 1,080 2005/06 295 11,820 3,285 4,060 10,335 1,220 2006/07 320 11,920 3,345 4,295 9,320 1,320 2007/08 385 12,450 3,720 4,485 8,450 1,420 2008/09 440 12,095 3,505 4,710 8,115 1,260 Note: Figures are based on a qualifications obtained population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Departmental Pay Although I have not had recent discussions with European counterparts on this matter, BIS officials Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department continue to work closely with the Food Standards Agency for Business, Innovation and Skills on what pay band to develop the UK negotiating position and feed into his Department’s chief information officer (CIO) is Commission proposals. employed; whether the CIO is employed on a fixed-term or permanent contract; and what the size is of the Foundation Degrees budget for which the CIO is responsible in the period 2009-10. [307573] Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Mr. McFadden: The Department’s CIO is employed many students enrolled on a foundation degree course on pay band SCS PBl, on a permanent contract. The in each of the last five years; and if he will make a size of the budget for which the CIO is responsible is statement. [311119] £29 million (period 2009-10). The budget incorporates all ICT and Information Strategy and Services activities. Mr. Lammy: The latest available information from the Higher Education Funding Council for England Dietary Supplements: EC Law (HEFCE) is provided in the following table. The numbers of students enrolled on foundation Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, degrees at English higher education institutions (HEIs) Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what and English further education colleges (FECs) are provided recent assessment he has made of the effects of EU for each of the last five years. Food Supplement Directive (2002/46/EC) in setting maximum levels of vitamins and minerals on (a) small Foundation degree enrolments1: English HEIs and FECs academic vitamin and food supplement producers, (b) consumer years 2003/04 to 2007/08 choice, (c) the availability of products from unregulated Academic year Enrolments vitamin suppliers from countries outside the EU and 2003/04 23,945 (d) sales of vitamin and food supplements in the UK; 2004/05 37,820 and what recent discussions he has had with his European 2005/06 46,780 counterparts on this matter. [310450] 2006/07 60,580 2007/082 71,915 Kevin Brennan: The Department has been actively 1 Covers enrolments of all domiciles to full-time and part-time engaged in the ongoing development of a full impact courses. assessment by the Food Standards Agency who lead on 2 Figures for 2007/08 are provisional. this issue for Government, we have not, however, conducted Note: an additional assessment of our own. The Food Standards Figures in the table have been rounded to the nearest five. Agency impact assessment addresses the effect of these Source: proposals on all stakeholders, including small vitamin and HEFCE report 2008/16 supplement producers, UK sales of supplements, availability Furniture: Foam of unregulated supplies and ongoing consumer choice. The assessment has been informed by recent constructive Mrs. Moon: To ask the Minister of State, meetings between industry, the Food Standards Agency Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what and BIS officials as well as the recent impact assessment discussions he has had with the Office of Fair Trading carried out by industry representatives following discussions on changes in the cost of foam supplied to furniture with Food Standards Agency, DEFRA and BIS. manufacturers over the last 12 months. [308838] 181W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 182W
Kevin Brennan: I have had no discussions with the Internet: Copyright Office of Fair Trading on this matter. Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Further Education: Finance Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence between Ministers in his Department Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department and (a) the Federation Against Copyright Theft and for Business, Innovation and Skills under what (b) the British recorded music industry in the last 12 headings the Further Education Development, months. [306024] Capacity and Quality budget for 2010-11 will be spent; and if he will make a statement. [309505] Mr. Lammy: There is regular correspondence between Ministers and officials from this Department and both Kevin Brennan: The Skills Investment Strategy, setting the Federation Against Copyright Theft and the British out investment in Further Education (FE) and Skills for Recorded Music Industry. It is not common practice to 2010-11, was published in November 2009. £3.5 billion, put copies of such correspondence in the Library of the an increase of 3 per cent. on 2009-10, will be routed House. through the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) to support training places. King’s College London: Medicine In addition, the SFA will invest £241 million in FE development, capacity and quality in 2010-11. Detailed Michael Gove: To ask the Minister of State, allocations of this resource will be made by the SFA in Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how due course. This funding supports a wide range of many places the Higher Education Funding Council initiatives aimed at promoting the effectiveness and for England (HEFCE) is funding on the extended quality of FE, including, for example, information, medical degree programme at King’s College London advice and guidance services for adult learners. The in 2010-11; what the cost is of each such place; and final allocations of this resource will continue to support whether HEFCE is funding places on extended medical Government priorities, as set out in the Skills Investment degree programmes at other universities. [309964] Strategy. Mr. Lammy: The Higher Education Funding Council Higher Education for England does not specify how many places should be available for the extended medical degree programme at King’s College; the number of places is decided by Mrs. Moon: To ask the Minister of State, King’s College from their overall funding allocation. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what Approximately 50 places are usually made available. assessment has been made of the likely effect of a For a student beginning the course in 2010-11 and reduction in the length of undergraduate courses to completing the full six years of the extended medical two years on the global ranking of English universities. programme, HEFCE calculate that the notional grant [310627] through its mainstream teaching allocation would be £64,855 in total based on current funding assumptions. Mr. Lammy: Two year honours degrees are but one This figure is based on funding through the teaching example of the increased flexibility we believe is important and learning allocations, but does not include any element for the future development of higher education, as set of other targeted allocations such as that for widening out in our recent strategy document “Higher Ambitions”. participation, or any income from fees. Funding is They are targeted at a specific sector of the student available through HEFCE for extended medical degree population. Students cover the full content of an honours programmes at other universities. degree in two calendar years, by working through university Learning and Skills Council for England vacations. An interim evaluation of pilot projects currently in train in eight institutions was published by the Higher Education Academy in August 2009. It confirmed that Margaret Moran: To ask the Minister of State, the quality of curricula, the student learning experience Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how and the standard of student work were at least comparable many Learning and Skills Council-funded capital with traditional three year degrees and in some cases projects relating to colleges originally planned to be higher. completed before or in 2012 (a) are now expected to be completed later than 2012 and (b) have been discontinued; and how much (i) was originally planned Higher Education: Finance to be spent and (ii) has been spent on each such project. [310001] Michael Gove: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Kevin Brennan: There are currently 64 projects currently much Higher Education Funding Council for England under way (on-site) with a further two projects due to recurrent spending on widening participation is go on-site by March 2010 which are in receipt of LSC planned for 2010/11. [309858] grant support. Of these projects, all 66 are scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2012. Mr. Lammy: Provisional recurrent grant allocations, As with all building projects, slippage can occur including the element for widening participation for the however the LSC are not aware of any projects with next academic year 2010/11 will be made by the funding major delays. All projects approved and funded by the council in the usual way in March. LSC are expected to have in place detailed contingency 183W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 184W plans to mitigate against any outcomes. As reported by In the period September 2008 to October 2009 MAS the NAO report “Renewing the physical infrastructure Yorkshire and Humber helped 122 companies in the of English further education colleges”—most FE college Leeds area. This support resulted in assisting these capital projects come in on budget and to time. companies to achieve Gross Value Added (GVA) The 64 projects currently under way have already improvements of over £3.6 million creating 13 new jobs received, or will receive over the next four years, and safeguarding 345 jobs. £1.761 billion in total in grant support from the LSC. In Yorkshire Forward set up a manufacturing task group this current financial year (2009-10), the LSC plans to in February 2009. This group is working on a long term spend £818.6 million in grant support to those projects. strategy for manufacturing in the region building on The remaining two projects due to go on-site by March key growth sectors. These include low carbon technologies; 2010 will receive a total of £32.7 million in grant digital and new media; life sciences and advanced support in this CSR and the next. engineering and materials. I will continue to work with There are zero projects that have received final approval this group to ensure both the region and Leeds maintains from the LSC that have been discontinued. its reputation as a strong manufacturing base. Leave: Preston Maternity Leave: Preston
Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many residents of Preston qualify for paid leave many and what percentage of women resident in entitlements. [311133] Preston have taken 26 weeks maternity leave since 1997. [311132] Mr. McFadden: All workers resident in Preston qualify for paid annual leave entitlements; at least 5.6 weeks Mr. McFadden: From April 2007 all employed mothers statutory minimum (28 days), as set out in the working are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave, of which 39 time regulations. Numbers of workers resident in Preston may be paid. Employers are not required to record or are not available, however, there were a total of 91,300 report the uptake of maternity leave to the Government. employees who worked in Preston (but did not necessarily No figures are available at the constituency level. live there) in 2009, who would qualify for paid annual The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity leave entitlement. leave are based on the DWP “Maternity Rights and Manufacturing Industries: Leeds Mothers’ employment decisions in Britain: Survey of Mothers” (2007). In 2006, when mothers included in John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, Department the study went on maternity leave, the statutory entitlement for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his to ordinary maternity leave (OML) was 26 weeks, while Department has taken to safeguard manufacturing jobs mothers who had worked for their employer for a in Leeds during the economic downturn. [305986] qualifying period of 26 weeks were also entitled to additional maternity leave (AML) of 26 weeks. Ms Rosie Winterton: Solutions for Business is a For mothers taking maternity leave in 2006: streamlined package of publicly funded support offering 84 per cent. took 26 weeks or more maternity leave; help for companies to start, grow and improve their competitiveness. This support is accessed in Yorkshire 35 per cent. took exactly 26 weeks maternity leave; and The Humber through Business Link Yorkshire. 46 per cent. of mothers took between 27 and 52 weeks and only 3 per cent. were off for more than 52 weeks; Since they were introduced on 23 October 2008 Business 16 per cent. of mothers took less than the statutory minimum Link has arranged for over 10,500 health checks for entitlement (i.e. 26 weeks in 2006). businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber. This includes 1,580 businesses in the Leeds local authority area of The next maternity rights survey will be based on which 225 are involved in manufacturing. mothers who took maternity leave starting in summer 2008. It is due to report in 2010. The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is part of the Government Solutions for Business portfolio. Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries MAS plays a vital role in helping manufacturers improve their productivity and competitiveness. Dr. Richard Taylor: To ask the Minister of State, Business Link Yorkshire works closely with MAS to Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how promote services available to manufacturers. As an many requests from businesses for help from the example, Business Link Yorkshire in partnership with Automotive Assistance Programme have been (a) MAS and Leeds City Council organised a “Leeds received and (b) approved. [311121] Manufacturing - Looking to the Future” event on 22 January 2009. This event provided advice to help Ian Lucas: The Automotive Assistance Programme businesses improve their competitiveness and survive (AAP) Team has had contact with over 90 companies the downturn. It was attended by over 200 manufacturing and continues to seek and receive new applications. Two businesses in Leeds. formal offers of support have been made which were In Yorkshire and The Humber MAS has 150 not taken up due to success in accessing financial support manufacturing specialists who can advise on all aspects elsewhere. Five further companies who received positive of manufacturing to deliver business improvements. Its indicative support also saw this prompting external range of services includes “manufacturing mentoring investment. 11 other companies remain in detailed through the downturn”where the focus is on safeguarding negotiations with BIS over applications worth some manufacturing jobs. £2 billion. 185W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 186W
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Research: Finance Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy Mr. Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, of the car scrappage scheme. [311364] Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress the Government have made in meeting its Ian Lucas: A BIS assessment of the UK scrappage target to increase research and development spending scheme has estimated a short-term stimulus to the value to 2.5 per cent. of national income under the Science of UK vehicles sales worth approximately £2.1 billion. and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-14; and On 28 September 2009 the Government announced an what steps he is taking to ensure that the target is met. extension to the scheme. The revised cumulative figure is currently expected to be approximately £2.8 billion by [309705] the time the scheme comes to an end. Mr. Lammy: The Department reports annually on progress on all aspects of the Science and Innovation Parental Leave Investment Framework, the fifth and most recent report is available on the Department’s website at: Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, http://www.dius.gov.uk/~/media/publications/A/annual- Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how report-2009 many people took (a) paternity and (b) maternity The focus solely on research and development spending leave in the latest period for which figures are available. fails to capture the breadth of investment in innovation [310467] in the UK economy. It is for this reason that the Innovation Nation White Paper committed the Government Mr. McFadden: The most recent estimates of take-up to developing an Innovation Index for the UK. of maternity leave are based on published findings from The pilot Innovation Index, developed by the National the DWP survey of “Maternity Rights and Mother’s Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) Employment Decisions” (published by DWP in 2008). was published in November 2009 and is available at: The survey is based on face-to-face interviews with a http://www.nesta.org.uk/library/documents/innovation- random sample of 2,000 mothers who had a baby index.pdf between February and May 2006. Of mothers in paid work, all (100 per cent.) took at least some of their Progress on a number of the original innovation entitlement to maternity leave. measures will be reported on in the second Annual Innovation Report which will be published shortly. Mothers interviewed for the 2007 DWP survey reported that the overwhelming majority of fathers (91 per cent.) took some time off when the baby was born. No distinction Skills Councils: Finance was made between whether this time-off was taken as paternity leave, annual leave or any other paid or unpaid Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department arrangement with employers The Department’s most for Business, Innovation and Skills how much of the up-to-date estimates of fathers taking paternity leave UK Commission for Employment and Skills budget are from the “Maternity and Paternity Rights and will be allocated to sector skills councils in (a) 2009-10 Benefits in Britain: Survey of Parents”, conducted in and (b) 2010-11. [309509] 2005. 93 per cent. of fathers interviewed took some time off around the time of the birth. Of the 93 per cent. Kevin Brennan: In 2009-10, the UK Commission for who took some time off, 79 per cent. took paternity Employment and Skills have been allocated £72,724,000 leave. The 2005 survey is based on a random sample of to fund Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) for both their core mothers who had a baby in December 2003 and their activity supporting skills development within their sectors partners. and other work creating and maintaining vocational qualifications and diplomas in England. Regional Development Agencies: Recruitment The grant in aid arrangements for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills in 2010-11, including the allocation for SSCs, have still to be finalised. Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2009, Official Report, column Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department 988W, on regional development agencies: recruitment, for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his how much has been spent on the contract with the Department plans to provide to sector skills councils search consultants. [309947] other than funding from the budget of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. [309510] Ms Rosie Winterton: The cost of the search consultants for filling three chair vacancies for East of England Kevin Brennan: The Department for Business, Innovation Development Agency, ONE North East and Yorkshire and Skills provides some funding to two of the Sector Forward is £55,000. Skills Councils—Government Skills and Lifelong Learning The consultants not only undertake the search, they UK. undertake many of the administrative elements, for Government Skills, the Sector Skills Council for central example sifting the applications, undertaking long listing Government, is a part of the Department. As well as its interviews and giving feedback to candidates who have funding from the UK Commission for Employment applied. and Skills, Government Skills received £2.3 million in 187W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 188W
2009-10 from the Department’s Vote, of which £1.5 However, up until the end of the academic year million has been contributed by employers across the 2008/09, 4,600 people with the home postcodes lying sector. within North East Lincolnshire have started Train to For Lifelong Learning UK the Department provided Gain courses. Funding will have been provided to support funding of £16 million in 2009-10. Lifelong Learning this number of learners as they develop their skills. UK’s 2010-11 funding level has still to be finalised although there will be a significant reduction in funding. Vocational Training: Finance Supermarkets Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department Andrew George: To ask the Minister of State, for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Department expects to spend on adult skills other than whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the through the Skills Funding Agency in 2010-11; and on buying practices of larger supermarkets on (a) the what projects such expenditure will be incurred. ability of their suppliers to innovate and (b) the [309506] economic visibility of their suppliers. [310418] Kevin Brennan: In financial year 2010-11 the Kevin Brennan: A draft impact assessment will be Department’s planned DEL expenditure on adult skills, produced and published as part of the Government’s other than through the Skills Funding Agency, is £422 consultation following its response to the Competition million. Commission’s proposals for a groceries supply code of Detailed plans for the use of the £422 million resource practice ombudsman. The assessment will consider and have not been confirmed yet. However it will support a take into account the effects of the CC’s proposals, range of activity to support learners and employers including the ability of supermarkets’ suppliers to innovate identify and access the skills they need and to support and the economic visibility of their suppliers. the Government’s priorities and reforms set out in the Skills Investment Strategy. For example, through support Trade Agreements for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills to strengthen the employer voice in the skills system, the Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister of State, development of National Skills Academies and supporting Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what implementation of the new Adult Advancement and (a) discussions and (b) correspondence Ministers in Careers Service. his Department have had on the negotiation of a proposed anti-counterfeiting trade agreement in the Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department last 12 months. [310445] for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) departmental spending and (b) annually managed expenditure will be Mr. Lammy: I have been kept informed by Intellectual incurred on (i) the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and (ii) Property Office (IPO) officials on a regular basis regarding adults skills expenditure not routed through the SFA in the progress of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (A) 2009-10 and 2010-11. [309508] (ACTA) negotiations. Over the last 12 months, my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State and I have received two letters raising concerns over the content Kevin Brennan: The following table sets out the planned and conduct of the ACTA negotiations. Furthermore, level of skills expenditure requested. As detailed in the the Department has received two requests under the Skills Investment Strategy in November 2009, the 2010-11 Freedom of Information Act. I have instructed officials allocations will allow for a 3 per cent. increase in to press for more transparency in the negotiations. funding for training places compared to 2009-10.
Train to Gain Programme: Lincolnshire £ million Financial year Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, 2009-10 2010-11 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Skills Funding 4,934 4,501 much has been paid out in Train to Gain funding in Agency1 North East Lincolnshire since the inception of that Of which: scheme. [309767] DEL 4,934 4,501 AME 0 0 Kevin Brennan: Between its inception in April 2006 and the end of the academic year 2008/09, over 1.4 Other BIS skills 646 616 million qualifications were started under the Train to expenditure Gain programme. Investment in this programme will Of which: continue to increase; for 2010-11 financial year, we plan DEL 461 422 to invest a total of £983 million. AME2 186 194 Funding for the Train to Gain programme is not 1 As noted in the Skills Investment Strategy, these figures include anticipated allocated through Local authorities (LAs) but distributed end year flexibility and allocations expected from the Department’s Unallocated Provision. The figures for 2010-11 are reduced by an estimate of directly from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to the administration cost currently within the Learning and Skills Council which further education (FE) colleges and training providers will transfer to the Young People’s Learning Agency when established at the on the basis of the volume of learning they deliver. It is beginning of the 2010-11 financial year. 2 This expenditure relates to the Construction Industry Training Board and therefore not possible to provide a total figure for the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board. Expenditure is money paid out to North East Lincolnshire as an LA. matched by levy receipts from employers in the relevant sector. 189W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 190W
Vocational Training: West Midlands create a step change in the competitiveness of UK manufacturing performance focused around assembly, joining and fabrication technologies. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, (v) AWM has committed around £20 million to support Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what development of clinical trialling and experimental medicine facilities steps his Department is taking to encourage innovation within the translational medicine part of the Science City programme, in the West Midlands. [307314] as well as investing in a Health Technologies Design Institute at Coventry University. Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 16 December Working Hours: Preston 2009]: As part of its objective to build a strong economy Government are taking a range of measures to encourage Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, innovation in the West Midlands and across the country Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how as a whole. many residents of Preston have received a reduction in We are doing this through, for example the UK their working hours as a result of the reduction in the Innovation Investment Fund (UKIIF) which will ensure maximum length of the working week to 48 hours. that venture capital is available by early 2010 to invest in [311134] innovative British businesses across the United Kingdom in key sectors (life sciences, clean technology, digital Mr. McFadden: The working time regulations provide and advanced manufacturing). In the PBR we announced workers with the right to refuse to work more than 48 that Government’s investment of £150 million in the hours on average, if they do not want to. It is not UKIIF has leveraged £175 million in additional money, possible to estimate how many people have received a creating a pool of funding initially worth £325 million. reduction in their working hours as a result of the Support for innovation is also provided through the reduction in the maximum length of the working week R&D Tax Credit scheme, which allows companies to to 48 hours either at the national level or in Preston. claim tax relief against R&D expenditure. Latest figures show that up until 31 March 2008, 425 SMEs and 115 large companies in the West Midlands had their claims TREASURY for R&D Tax Credits approved. The establishment of the Technology Strategy Board Banks: Currencies (TSB) in 2007 has given Britain a successful business-led body whose programmes channel public funds into Mr. Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer driving business innovation in areas where there are what recent assessment he has made of the effects of major opportunities for future growth. foreign currency liabilities of UK banks on (a) the The Government funded Regional Development public purse and (b) the UK economy. [309698] Agencies (RDAs) are also supporting innovation. The West Midlands RDA, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), Sarah McCarthy-Fry: As a result of the financial has aligned around £157 million of funding with TSB crisis, HM Treasury has taken a stake in a number of priorities over 2008-11. The Agency is the lead RDA on banks. two of the national Innovation Platforms, Low Carbon RBS, in which our stake is managed at arm’s length Vehicles and Assisted Living and is working on initiatives according to commercial principles, is part of the Asset related to other platforms: Protection Scheme (APS). Details of assets covered in Intelligent transport systems and services and low the scheme were published on 7 December (‘Royal impact buildings as well as exploring opportunities in Bank of Scotland: details of Asset Protection Scheme possible future platforms such as immersive education. and launch of the Asset Protection Agency’, available on the HMT website at: Key innovation-based projects supported by AWM http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ include: financial_stability_agreements.htm) (i) The £77 million investment in the Birmingham-Warwick Any actual liability to HM Treasury occurs only in a Research Alliance through Birmingham Science City creates a stress scenario where the scheme is triggered. The expected platform on which to build university-business collaboration and loss from the APS is £0. business access to research equipment and expertise, in the areas of energy, advanced materials, and translational medicine. Lloyds Banking Group did not participate in the (ii) The Advanced Sensors Innovation Project has created an APS and therefore the Government have not offered investment fund of over £6 million to exploit intellectual property protection for any assets they hold. It is a decision for within QinetiQ at Malvern in conjunction with industry. A further Lloyds as to the nature of particular disclosures, which project to exploit Quantum Technologies is under development in can be seen in their published accounts. a partnership between QinetiQ, AWM and industry. Bradford and Bingley and Northern Rock are also (iii) AWM is investing £30 million over the next three years to run at arm’s length according to commercial principles support the Low Carbon Vehicles (LCV) plan from the National and so it is their decision as to the nature of particular Automotive Innovation Growth Team. Part of this will go to a disclosures. Foreign currency liabilities can be seen in programme based at a regional hub and part will be co-invested their published accounts. with the TSB in support of its Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform. Banks in which the Government have no stake are (iv) AWM is investing £40 million, in partnership with emda, not required to submit information to HM Treasury on in the Manufacturing Technology Centre. Bringing together Tier the nature of their liabilities. As such, it is impossible to 1 manufacturing companies, and their supply chains, key Midlands’s isolate the impact of banks’ foreign currency liabilities universities and The Welding Institute (TWI), the MTC will on the economy as a whole. 191W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 192W
Boilers: Government Assistance Departmental Travel
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the whether expenditure in England on the boiler Exchequer what the (a) destination, (b) cost, (c) class scrappage scheme will be subject to the Barnett of ticket purchased and (d) type of fare was for each formula and consequential funding made available for flight taken by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at Wales. [310506] public expense in the last six months; and what the purpose was of each overseas trip. [310740] Mr. Byrne [holding answer 12 January 2010]: The Boiler Scrappage Scheme was announced in the pre Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Since 1999, the Government Budget report. The devolved Administrations received have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas Barnett consequentials on additional funding at that visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as time. well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Departmental Surveys Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the with the “Ministerial Code”. Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the results from his Department’s most recent staff survey; Economic Situation which organisation carried out the survey; and what the total cost of the survey was. [310767] Mr. Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which five sectors of the economy contributed the (a) Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The results of HM Treasury’s most and (b) least to the UK economy in each of the latest staff survey, undertaken in October 2009 are not last five years. [311395] yet available. HM Treasury will publish its staff survey results on the public website in early February, once Angela E. Smith: I have been asked to reply. they have been received and communicated to staff. Following publication we will place a copy of the results The information requested falls within the responsibility in the Library. of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority The supplier for HM Treasury’s staff survey in October to reply. 2009 was ORC International who were procured by the Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: Cabinet Office to deliver the first cross Civil Service As Director General of the Office for National Statistics People Survey. The People survey replaced all existing (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question staff surveys in the civil service with a single questionnaire. concerning which five sectors of the economy contributed the (a) The cost of the 2009-10 People Survey for HM most and (b) least to the UK economy in each of the last five years. (311395) Treasury was £23,142. By procuring a single supplier for staff surveys in 2009-10, the civil service has saved Economic activity as measured by the gross value added by 35 per cent. on the total cost of staff surveys in 2008-09. industry is published in the “UK National Accounts—The Blue Book”. Table 2.3 of the 2009 publication shows the contribution The results from HM Treasury’s previous staff surveys of the main industrial headings, and contain the information can already be found in the Library. requested.
2.3 Gross value added at current basic prices: by industry1, 2 £ Million 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
A,B Agriculture, QTOP 8,532 8,334 9,008 9,807 10,670 7,530 7,911 9,302 hunting, forestry and fishing
C,D,E Production C Mining and quarrying CA Mining and quarrying of energy producing materials C10 Mining of coal QTOQ 607 545 538 472 380 343 346 379 C11 Extraction of QTOR 22,174 20,825 19,911 19,451 20,657 24,995 29,631 29,127 mineral oil and natural gas CB Other mining and QTOS 1,782 1,750 1,469 1,520 1,848 2,115 2,330 2,690 quarrying C Total mining and QTOT 24,564 23,120 21,918 21,442 22,885 27,453 32,307 32,196 quarrying D Manufacturing DA Food; beverages QTOU 19,963 20,655 20,834 21,408 22,101 22,019 22,133 22,587 and tobacco DB Textiles and textile QTOV 5,813 5,343 4,818 4,282 4,071 3,888 3,985 4,031 products 193W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 194W
2.3 Gross value added at current basic prices: by industry1, 2 £ Million 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
DC Leather and QTOW 747 645 590 462 398 391 344 333 leather products DD Wood and wood QTOX 2,294 2,332 2,479 2,655 2,744 2,759 2,863 3,016 products DE Pulp, paper and QTOY 20,187 20,129 20,008 19,780 19,784 19,479 20,082 19,831 paper products; publishing and printing DF Coke, petroleum QTOZ 2,336 2,488 2,435 2,377 2,396 2,492 2,258 2,708 products and nuclear fuel DG Chemicals, QTPA 15,040 16,077 16,083 16,149 15,644 16,771 18,553 19,508 chemical products and man-made fibres DH Rubber and plastic QTPB 7,609 7,656 7,569 7,516 7,545 7,400 7,077 7,188 products DI Other non-metal QTPC 4,965 5,033 5,296 5,417 5,253 5,298 5,379 5,700 mineral products DJ Basic metals and QTPD 15,903 15,525 14,897 14,774 15,075 16,093 16,381 17,064 fabricated metal products DK Machinery and QTPE 12,346 12,256 12,085 12,146 12,373 12,245 12,958 12,693 equipment not elsewhere classified DL Electrical and QTPF 20,337 18,347 16,468 15,545 15,651 16,493 16,876 17,358 optical equipment DM Transport QTPG 15,987 16,091 16,178 15,903 16,110 16,216 16,526 15,770 equipment DN Manufacturing not QTPH 6,477 6,643 6,567 6,429 6,546 6,569 6,646 7,131 elsewhere classified D Total QTPI 150,004 149,220 146,307 144,843 145,691 148,113 152,061 154,918 manufacturing E Electricity, gas and QTPJ 15,798 15,660 16,052 16,405 16,106 16,685 20,005 21,086 water supply C,D,E Total production QTPK 190,366 188,000 184,277 182,690 184,682 192,251 204,373 208,200
F Construction QTPL 45,626 50,526 54,684 59,522 66,029 69,868 74,509 80,148
G-Q Service industries G Wholesale and QTPM 103,408 110,250 113,776 120,520 127,366 129,811 134,525 140,904 retail trade (including motor trade); repair of motor vehicles, personal and household goods H Hotels and QTPN 25,605 26,927 28,638 30,120 31,870 32,901 34,275 35,289 restaurants I Transport, storage and communication Transport and QTPO 42,476 43,184 44,501 47,022 48,703 50,203 51,845 54,303 storage Communication QTPP 26,726 27,317 28,562 29,566 30,317 30,684 30,928 32,551 I Total QTPQ 69,202 70,501 73,063 76,588 79,020 80,887 82,773 86,854 J Financial QTPR 44,990 48,202 63,368 71,530 75,117 79,554 90,790 103,646 intermediation K Real estate, renting and business activities Letting of QTPS 57,261 61,352 64,249 69,298 74,249 76,817 80,222 88,248 dwellings including imputed rent of owner occupiers Other real estate, QTPT 131,099 142,689 150,599 162,909 174,427 183,299 195,669 205,958 renting and business activities K Total QTPU 188,360 204,041 214,848 232,207 248,676 260,116 275,891 294,206 L Public QTPV 42,711 45,025 47,528 51,302 55,485 60,066 62,260 63,084 administration and defence (PAD) M Education QTPW 48,111 51,675 55,099 58,328 61,934 65,739 68,993 73,477 195W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 196W
2.3 Gross value added at current basic prices: by industry1, 2 £ Million 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
N Health and social QTPX 55,282 59,549 64,493 70,592 75,154 79,965 84,715 88,170 work O,P,Q Other social and QTPY 42,086 44,561 48,312 51,804 54,947 57,962 60,126 62,455 personal services, private households with employees and extra- territorial organisations G-Q Total service QTPZ 619,756 660,729 709,122 762,988 809,569 847,001 894,348 948,085 industries
B.1g All industries ABML 864,285 907,594 957,094 1,015,008 1,070,951 1,116,648 1,811,141 1,245,735 1 Components may not sum to totals as a result of rounding. 2 Because of differences in the annual and monthly production inquiries, estimates of current price output and gross value added by industry derived from the current price Input-Output Supply and Use Tables are not consistent with the equivalent measures of chained volume measures growth given in 2.4. These differences do not affect GDP totals
Financial Services: Qualifications Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Since 1999 the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as Exchequer what information his Department holds on well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. the likely length of time that would be required to From 2007-08 the list was extended to include all Ministers. complete the QCF Level 4 qualification for financial The list also provides information on the number of advisers proposed by the Financial Services Authority. officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available [310954] in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2009-10 will be published as soon as the information is available. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Retail Distribution Review All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken is a matter for the FSA, as the independent regulator. in accordance with the “Ministerial Code” and “Civil Although the qualification requirements have yet to be Service Management Code” respectively. finalised, in its most recent consultation, “Delivering the Retail Distribution Review”, the FSA explained Pension Credit that it expects new qualifications intended for its transitional qualifications list to meet the broad criteria for a Level 4 Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer ‘Diploma’, as defined by the Qualifications and Credit how many pensioners his Department has contacted in Framework (QCF). A QCF Diploma must be at least relation to its pension credit tax back campaign; how 37 credits, where one credit is equal to 10 hours of many such pensioners have responded to that notional learning time. campaign; how much has been claimed back (a) on Gaming Machines and Lottery Machines average per pensioner and (b) in total; and if he will make a statement. [308307] Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations (a) he and (b) HM Sarah McCarthy-Fry: As part of the Taxback campaign Revenue and Customs have received on the separate announced at Budget 2009, HM Revenue and Customs definitions of a gaming machine and an automated (HMRC) have written to all 3.4 million beneficiaries of pension credit to encourage those who are overpaying lottery machine. [310698] tax on their bank and building society interest to claim Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Treasury Ministers receive it back and, where eligible, to register to receive future representations from a wide range of organisations and interest payments without tax deducted. individuals in the public and private sectors as part of The final letters went out on 3 December and so the usual policymaking process. As was the case with claims are still being received and more are anticipated. previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s An accurate estimate of the full impact of the campaign practice to provide details of all such representations. could not be provided until all responses have been HM Revenue and Customs have received representations received and evaluated. about the tax liability of certain machines that are Public Expenditure sometimes referred to as automated lottery machines. A number of appeals have been lodged with the Tribunals Service so it would not be appropriate to comment Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the further at this stage. Exchequer if he will publish his Department’s projections for overall departmental expenditure limits Olympic Games: Canada for the years (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [309296] Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Mr. Byrne: Departmental expenditure limits are set Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics within a spending review. Beyond the current spending in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he review period no overall or individual departmental has made of the cost of such attendance. [310850] expenditure limits have been set. 197W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 198W
Mr. Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Tax Yields he will estimate the amount of revenue to the public purse generated in England which is spent under the Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the block grant system on (a) free care for the elderly and Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010, (b) free prescriptions for people in other parts of the Official Report, column 176W, on tax yields, when he UK. [309861] expects the data relating to Pay as You Earn tax for (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 will be available. [310611] Mr. Byrne: Under the Barnett formula the devolved Administrations receive a population based share of Mr. Timms: Estimates for 2007-08 Pay-As-You-Earn comparable changes in spending by UK Government tax deducted from pay (excluding pension), by industry, Departments. These calculations are based on overall will be published as National Statistics in Table 2.10 on changes in Departments’ provision rather than HM Revenue and Customs website in March 2010: disaggregated by individual programmes. The costs of http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-10.pdf devolved policies, for instance on free care for the elderly or free prescription charges, are met by the in accordance with pre-announced publication dates for relevant devolved Administrations within their existing National Statistics: block budgets. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/updates/index.htm The publication date for estimates for 2008-09 will be Strategy and Delivery Units published on the above website page in due course.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent officials were Exchequer how many people informed HM Revenue employed in the Prime Minister’s (a) Strategy Unit and Customs by 4 January 2010 of previously and (b) Delivery Unit in each year since 2007; what the undeclared overseas income and gains under the most cost of employing these staff was in each of those recent tax amnesty; and if he will make a statement. years; and how many staff were employed in each unit [310673] at the latest date for which figures are available. [309850] Mr. Timms: Approximately 10,000 people have registered an intention to disclose previously undeclared overseas Mr. Byrne: The total number of full-time equivalent income and gains under the new disclosure opportunity. staff employed at year end (31 December) was: The opportunity to register with the scheme closed on 4 January. Those who have registered now have until Strategy Unit Delivery Unit 12 March 2010 to provide full details of their disclosure through our online facility, and pay what they owe. 2007 46.09 33.64 2008 44.63 34.67 VAT 2009 38.50 37.11 The cost of employing these staff in each of these Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the years was: Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the temporary reduction in the rate of value added £ tax on the economy during the recession. [311365] Strategy Unit Delivery Unit Mr. Timms: The Government expect the package of 2007-2008 3,108.000 2,744,011 stimulus measures announced in the 2008 pre-Budget 2008-2009 3,043.000 2,177,317 report to have increased GDP by around 0.5 per cent. 2009-2010 2,682,457 2,172,796 percentage posts in 2009. The VAT reduction was a key element of this stimulus and reduced the tax liability for Costs of employing staff include salaries, bonuses, both businesses and households by around £11 billion. overtime and other allowances, as well as other social It has benefited consumers, where passed on via lower security and other pension costs. prices, and otherwise has helped to support businesses and jobs, by strengthening cashflow and profits. Tax Allowances VAT: Alcoholic Drinks Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a version of table 5.2 in Mr. Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer chapter 5 of Budget 2009, HC 407, showing the what estimate has been made of the additional revenue number of persons with marginal deduction rates of which will accrue to the Exchequer from (a) all alcohol (a) 60 per cent. or over, (b) 70 per cent. or over, (c) 80 sales and (b) beer sales in 2009-10 as a consequence of per cent. or over, (d) 90 per cent. or over and (e) 100 the change in the rate of value added tax on 1 January per cent. or over. [311108] 2010. [311310]
Mr. Timms: Tables estimating the numbers facing Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The increase in revenue over marginal deduction rates over 60 per cent., over 70 per the period 2009-10 comes solely for the months after cent., over 80 per cent., over 90 per cent. and over 100 VAT was returned to 17.5 per cent. In other words, per cent. are published in Budget and pre-Budget report January 2010 to March 2010. The increase in revenue documents. The Government have no plans to change from VAT rising on 1 January for 2009-10 is estimated the format these tables are published in. at £160 million. 199W Written Answers18 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 200W
The figures for alcohol are in table 1.2 of the 200 (2) how much has been allocated for interim or pre-Budget report available at: emergency payments of tax credits in (a) 2009-10 and http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr08_repindex.htm. (b) 2010-11; [308192] A breakdown for beer was not published. (3) how many requests were received for interim or emergency payments of tax credits in (a) 2005-06, (b) Welfare Tax Credits 2006-07, (c) 2007-08 and (d) 2008-09. [308200] Mr. Timms: The information requested is not collated John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer centrally and would be available only at disproportionate (1) how much was paid in interim or emergency cost due to the work required to aggregate data from payments of tax credits in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07, across HM Revenue and Customs. No separate allocation (c) 2007-08 and (d) 2008-09; [308191] is made for interim/emergency tax credits payments. ORAL ANSWERS
Monday 18 January 2010
Col. No. Col. No. CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT...... 1 CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT—continued BBC ...... 5 Sport (Integrity and Reputation) ...... 4 Channel 4...... 8 Sports (Young People) ...... 11 Competitive Sports (Schools)...... 3 Television Licence Fee...... 6 Domestic Film Industry...... 12 Topical Questions ...... 14 Holiday Lettings (Taxation)...... 10 Libraries ...... 13 OLYMPICS ...... 18 Local News Services...... 13 Crystal Palace ...... 21 Museums and Galleries (Admission) ...... 9 London 2012...... 18 National Lottery...... 7 London 2012 (Multi-Media Coverage) ...... 20 Premier League 4 Sport ...... 1 London 2012 (UK Businesses)...... 19 Product Placement ...... 2 Olympic Delivery Authority...... 22 WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS
Monday 18 January 2010
Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS...... 1WS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 3WS Fair Access to the Professions ...... 1WS Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Territory ...... 3WS AFFAIRS...... 2WS Agriculture and Fisheries Council...... 2WS PETITION
Monday 18 January 2010
Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS...... 1P Post Office (New England) ...... 1P WRITTEN ANSWERS
Monday 18 January 2010
Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 165W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS—continued Adult Education: Finance...... 165W King’s College London: Medicine...... 182W Aimhigher Programme: Finance ...... 166W Learning and Skills Council for England ...... 182W Apprentices...... 166W Leave: Preston...... 183W Apprentices: West Midlands ...... 167W Manufacturing Industries: Leeds ...... 183W Basic Skills...... 167W Maternity Leave: Preston ...... 184W Basic Skills: Preston ...... 168W Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries...... 184W Building Colleges for the Future ...... 168W Parental Leave...... 185W Business: Leeds ...... 169W Regional Development Agencies: Recruitment ...... 185W Business Links: Leeds ...... 168W Research: Finance...... 186W Business Links: Tamworth ...... 169W Skills Councils: Finance...... 186W Business: Tamworth ...... 170W Supermarkets ...... 187W Community Learning Champions Support Trade Agreements ...... 187W Programme Development Fund...... 170W Train to Gain Programme: Lincolnshire ...... 187W Copyright: EC Law...... 177W Vocational Training: Finance ...... 188W Degrees ...... 178W Vocational Training: West Midlands ...... 189W Departmental Pay ...... 179W Working Hours: Preston ...... 190W Dietary Supplements: EC Law...... 179W Foundation Degrees...... 180W CABINET OFFICE...... 45W Furniture: Foam ...... 180W Central Office of Information...... 45W Further Education: Finance...... 181W Civil Servants: Travel ...... 45W Higher Education...... 181W Deaths: Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs ...... 45W Higher Education: Finance ...... 181W Deaths: Obesity...... 47W Internet: Copyright ...... 182W Departmental Information and Communications Technology ...... 49W Col. No. Col. No. CABINET OFFICE—continued COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT— Departmental Surveys...... 49W continued Iraq Committee of Inquiry ...... 49W The London Plan...... 110W Manufacturing Industries: Manpower ...... 50W Married People ...... 49W Ministers: Travel ...... 52W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 85W New Businesses: Preston ...... 52W Arts Council of England: Pensions ...... 87W Official Residences ...... 52W Community Radio Fund...... 87W Unemployed: Qualifications...... 53W Competitive Sports: Schools ...... 87W Unemployment: Older Workers ...... 53W Departmental Electronic Equipment ...... 88W Unemployment: Preston ...... 55W Departmental Manpower...... 88W Unemployment: Young People...... 56W Fraud: Telephones ...... 88W Free Swimming Initiative ...... 86W CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES ...... 136W Gambling: Crime ...... 88W Academies: Sevenoaks ...... 136W Holiday Lettings: Taxation ...... 86W Academies: Sponsorship ...... 136W Legal Deposit Libraries Act...... 85W Academies: Standards...... 137W Olympics 2012: Tourism...... 85W Children: Barnsley ...... 137W Parliamentary Questions: Administrative Delays ... 88W Children: Disabled ...... 138W Radio: Licensing ...... 89W Children’s Rights Director of England ...... 138W Radio Services...... 89W Children’s Services: Finance ...... 138W Serpentine: Swimming ...... 90W Classroom Assistants: Preston ...... 140W Sports and Culture: Job Creation...... 91W Departmental Buildings...... 140W Television: Advertising...... 91W Departmental Conferences...... 140W Televisions: Licensing...... 91W Departmental Domestic Visits ...... 140W Tourism...... 91W Departmental Internet ...... 141W Tourism: Local Government ...... 92W Departmental Pay ...... 141W VisitBritain: Expenditure ...... 93W Departmental Research...... 141W World Cup 2018...... 86W Education: Staffordshire ...... 142W Free School Meals...... 142W Free School Meals: Crewe...... 143W DEFENCE...... 11W GCSE: Crewe...... 143W Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations...... 11W GCSE: Disadvantaged ...... 145W Armed Forces: British Overseas Territories...... 11W Headteachers ...... 146W Armed Forces: Deployment ...... 11W Health Education: Diabetes ...... 146W Armed Forces: Health Services ...... 12W Health Education: Sex ...... 147W Armed Forces: Hearing Impaired People ...... 13W Higher Education...... 147W Armed Forces: Uniforms ...... 13W Home Education...... 147W Armoured Fighting Vehicles ...... 13W Home Education: Coventry ...... 148W Atomic Veterans Claimant Group...... 13W Parenting Fund ...... 148W Civil Servants: Pensions ...... 13W Pupil Exclusions: Disadvantaged ...... 151W Defence: International Cooperation...... 14W Pupil Exclusions: Yorkshire and the Humber...... 151W Departmental Billing ...... 14W Pupil Referral Units: Gloucestershire...... 152W Departmental Carbon Emissions ...... 14W Pupils: Per Capita Costs...... 153W Departmental Food...... 15W Schools ...... 157W Departmental Internet ...... 15W Schools: Disciplinary Proceedings...... 157W Departmental Pay ...... 15W Schools: Finance...... 159W Departmental Public Expenditure...... 15W Schools: Gloucestershire ...... 162W Future Large Aircraft ...... 16W Schools: Inspections...... 162W Haslar Hospital...... 16W Schools: Preston...... 162W Israel: Armed Forces...... 16W Secondary Education: Coventry...... 163W NATO Cyber-security Centre of Excellence: Secondary Education: Teachers ...... 163W Overseas Aid...... 17W Sixth Form Education: Finance ...... 163W Radioactive Materials: Imports...... 17W Vauxhall...... 164W RAF Fairfield ...... 18W Young Offenders: Crime Prevention...... 165W Young People: Antisocial Behaviour ...... 165W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE...... 131W Boilers: Government Assistance ...... 131W CHURCH COMMISSIONERS ...... 2W Carbon Emissions...... 131W Church of England: Pay...... 2W Climate Change: International Cooperation ...... 131W Coastal Areas...... 132W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 106W Departmental Advertising...... 133W Affordable Housing: Staffordshire ...... 106W Departmental Buildings...... 133W Buildings: Energy...... 106W Departmental Domestic Visits ...... 133W Fires: Injuries...... 106W Departmental Internet ...... 133W Government Departments: Energy ...... 108W Departmental Training ...... 134W Housing: Bexley ...... 108W Energy: Infrastructure...... 134W Housing: Dorset...... 109W Government Departments: Energy ...... 134W Local Government: Inspections ...... 109W Met Office...... 135W Planning Inspectorate: Fees and Charges...... 109W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 135W Regional Planning and Development: South West . 109W Rain Forests: Guyana ...... 135W Social Rented Housing: Greater London ...... 110W Wind Farms: Finance...... 136W Col. No. Col. No. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL HOME DEPARTMENT—continued AFFAIRS...... 8W Departmental Sick Leave ...... 32W Domestic Waste: Elderly ...... 8W Detention Centres: Children ...... 33W Genetically Modified Organisms: Regulation...... 8W Entry Clearances...... 33W Waste Management...... 8W Entry Clearances: Overseas Students ...... 35W Foreign Workers: Immigration Controls ...... 35W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 93W Illegal Immigrants...... 36W Afghanistan ...... 93W Immigrants: Detainees ...... 37W Afghanistan: Reconstruction ...... 94W Immigration: Chelmsford...... 41W Aminatou Haidar...... 99W Passports...... 41W Belarus: Elections...... 100W Passports: Biometrics...... 42W British Overseas Territories...... 100W Police: Essex...... 43W Departmental Flags ...... 100W Police: Nottingham ...... 43W Departmental Training ...... 101W Police: Preston ...... 43W Government Hospitality: Wines...... 101W Thames Valley Police: Manpower ...... 43W Haiti: Earthquakes...... 101W Vetting ...... 44W Iraq Committee of Inquiry ...... 101W Visas: Tourism ...... 44W Israel: Attorney General ...... 102W Languages...... 102W HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION...... 2W Morocco: EU External Trade...... 102W Manpower...... 2W Nosratollah Tajik...... 102W Sri Lanka ...... 103W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 104W Yemen ...... 103W CDC ...... 104W Yemen: Foreign Relations ...... 104W Departmental Buildings...... 104W North Korea: Food ...... 105W HEALTH...... 110W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 105W Baby Care Units...... 110W Brain Injuries: Prisoners...... 111W JUSTICE...... 20W Bridlington and Scarborough Hospitals: Courts: Interpreters...... 20W Ambulance Services ...... 112W Departmental Buildings...... 21W Cancer: Staffordshire ...... 111W EC Immigration...... 22W Departmental Buildings...... 113W Freedom of Information: Academies ...... 23W Departmental Fines ...... 113W Iraq Committee of Inquiry ...... 23W Departmental Internet ...... 113W Legal Aid ...... 24W Direct Payments...... 115W Legal Systems: Islam...... 23W Disabled: Social Security Benefits ...... 115W Prison Sentences ...... 24W Drugs: Preston ...... 116W Prison Sentences: Mentally Disturbed Offenders ... 25W General Practitioners: Bexley...... 116W Prisons: Drugs ...... 25W Health Services: Isle of Man ...... 116W Victim Support Schemes: Finance...... 26W Health Services: Youth Custody...... 116W Voluntary Work: Offenders ...... 27W Hospitals: Waiting Lists...... 117W Youth Custody...... 27W Influenza: Milton Keynes...... 118W Mental Health Services: Prisoners...... 118W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 1W Mentally Ill: Young Offenders...... 119W Departmental Pay...... 1W Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust: Hospital Departmental Training ...... 1W Wards...... 119W Employment Tribunals Service...... 1W Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust ...... 120W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 2W Midwives: South East...... 120W Monitor: Directors...... 121W OLYMPICS ...... 3W Monitor: Operating Costs...... 122W Departmental Billing ...... 4W Monitor: Pay...... 122W Government Olympic Executive: Pay ...... 5W NHS: Early Retirement...... 122W London 2012: Legacy...... 4W NHS: Finance ...... 123W London 2012: UK Businesses ...... 4W NHS: Interpreters ...... 123W Olympic Games 2012 ...... 5W NHS: South East ...... 124W Olympic Games 2012: Bexley...... 6W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 127W Olympic Games 2012: Manpower ...... 6W Social Services...... 127W Olympic Games 2012: Marketing...... 7W Statins...... 127W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 7W Supported Housing...... 129W Olympic Village...... 3W Surgery: Technology ...... 129W Swine Flu...... 129W SCOTLAND...... 3W Swine Flu: Vaccination ...... 130W Departmental Internet ...... 3W Vauxhall...... 130W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 3W
HOME DEPARTMENT...... 28W TRANSPORT ...... 67W Borders: Personal Records ...... 28W Automatic Number Plate Recognition ...... 67W Departmental Advertising...... 29W Aviation: Security...... 67W Departmental Buildings...... 29W Body Searches: X-rays...... 69W Departmental Data Protection...... 29W Borders: Personal Records ...... 69W Departmental Official Cars...... 30W Dartford-Thurrock Crossing...... 69W Departmental Public Expenditure...... 30W Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Air Pollution ...... 69W Col. No. Col. No. TRANSPORT—continued TREASURY—continued Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Road Traffic ...... 70W Tax Yields ...... 198W Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls ...... 72W VAT ...... 198W Departmental Advertising...... 73W VAT: Alcoholic Drinks...... 198W Departmental Buildings...... 74W Welfare Tax Credits...... 199W Departmental Conferences...... 75W Departmental Fines ...... 75W WALES...... 9W Departmental Food...... 79W Departmental Billings ...... 9W Departmental Public Expenditure...... 79W Departmental Buildings...... 9W Driving: Safety...... 79W Departmental Food...... 9W Heating: Housing...... 81W Departmental Internet ...... 10W Local Government: Parking...... 81W Departmental Training ...... 10W Motorways: Road Traffic ...... 81W Human Trafficking ...... 10W Parking ...... 82W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 10W Passenger Ships: Liverpool...... 82W Railways: Bus Services ...... 82W WOMEN AND EQUALITY ...... 18W Roads: Police...... 82W Equality and Human Rights Commission...... 18W Roads: Repairs and Maintenance...... 83W Equality and Human Rights Commission: Roads: Safety ...... 83W Manpower ...... 19W Roads: Snow and Ice...... 83W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 57W TREASURY ...... 190W Cold Weather Payments ...... 57W Banks: Currencies ...... 190W Departmental Pay ...... 58W Boilers: Government Assistance...... 191W Employment: Preston...... 59W Departmental Surveys...... 191W Employment Schemes ...... 59W Departmental Travel ...... 192W Jobcentre Plus ...... 60W Economic Situation...... 192W Jobseeker’s Allowance ...... 60W Financial Services: Qualifications ...... 195W New Deal Schemes: Preston...... 61W Gaming Machines and Lottery Machines...... 195W Pensioners: Poverty ...... 62W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 195W Social Security Benefits: Publicity ...... 64W Pension Credit...... 196W State Retirement Pensions...... 65W Public Expenditure...... 196W Winter Fuel Payments: Barnsley ...... 65W Strategy and Delivery Units ...... 197W Winter Fuel Payments: Preston...... 66W Tax Allowances...... 197W Winter Fuel Payments: Walsall ...... 66W Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. The Bound Volumes will also be sent to Members who similarly express their desire to have them. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied, nor can corrections be made in the Weekly Edition. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,
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CONTENTS
Monday 18 January 2010
List of Government and Principal Officers of the House
Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 1] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport Minister for the Olympics
Pedicabs [Col. 23] Bill presented, and read the First time
Crime and Security Bill [Col. 24] Motion for Second Reading—(Alan Johnson)—on a Division, agreed to
Charity Trustees [Col. 130] Debate on motion for Adjournment
Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 1WS]
Petition [Col. 1P] Observations
Written Answers to Questions [Col. 1W] [see index inside back page]